Same Old Same Old

You may recall that in 2006 the Council retained C3 Company to develop a web site for the town. After the site was rolled out, folks complained 1) that the cost was too much, at $72,000, although, the cost was passed on to Holy Name Hospital, 2) that there was not enough transparency in the selection process, 3) the the web developer was a crony of County political boss Ferriero, 4) the town had no local control over content, in fact after the contract ith C3 was severed, all content was encrypted so the Town has to start over from scratch and 5) that the site was poorly designed and difficult to navigate.

Last year, the town severed ties with C3 and hired independent consultant, Patrick McGilloway to develop a new site for $9,600. At that time, there were a number of discussions on this and other blogs about flaws in the vetting process and questions about how much it costs to develop and maintain a decent township web site.

Roll the clock forward and we're stuck with a sloppy dysfunctional website and a non-responsive contractor. It would appear that in the town's zeal to save money, they entered into a contract without thoroughly vetting the contractor and without thinking about how to negotiate a scope of services that will accommodate not just initial website development, but ongoing maintenance and staff training.

Here's a link to an article from this week's Suburbanite about the current status of this perpetual controversy:

New Web site, same problems

When it was unveiled in March, the township's new Web site was heralded as both cheaper and greatly improved over the previous Web site. But eight months later, the current Web site is haunted by some of the same problems as the discarded one.

At Monday's council meeting, Township Manager William Broughton said he is unable to move forward with phase two of the Web site's development because Patrick McGilloway, the contractor, does not return phone calls and is otherwise difficult to deal with.

"There has been a problem getting the contractor to live up to the obligations and goals of the contract. I am at my wit's end with this individual," Broughton told the council.

McGilloway, whom Broughton identified as a one-person operation, contracted to set up the Web site for a total of $9,600.

Councilwoman Barbara Toffler, who first brought McGilloway to the council's attention after seeing his work on the Montclair Web site, suggested that she join Broughton and township attorney Stanly Turitz in a meeting with McGilloway to redefine the scope of work. Toffler noted that the $9,600 fee was very low.

"I don't think he understood what he was undertaking to do for $9,600," Toffler said.

But Councilman Adam Gussen said that he was not in favor of such a meeting.

"We have a contractor who agrees to do a particular work for a particular dollar amount. Hold the contractor to the contract," he said.

See the rest here.

2009 Teaneck International Film Festival

Friday, November 20th - Sunday, November 22nd TIFF Website

Tickets for all programs are available at Brier Rose Books, 450 Cedar Lane, Teaneck, after 12 Noon, Tuesdays through Sundays. Updates: Anne Meara will be joining us for the opening night screening of "When the Evening Comes." She'll participate in the talkback following the screening. And congratulations to the filmmakers - "When the Evening Comes" just won a Spirit of Independents award from the Ft. Lauderdale Intl. Film Festival. Meet Yuta Silverman at "Arranged" Screening, 11/22 Yuta Silverman, on whose experiences the film "Arranged" is loosely based, will participate in a Q&A with Rabbi Lawrence Zierler, following the 10 a.m. screening of "Arranged" at the Jewish Center of Teaneck, 10 a.m. on November 22. The screening is sponsored by the Jewish Center of Teaneck. All About the Films Note: Films are in English unless otherwise noted. Many films are unrated; parental caution is advised for certain films, as indicated.

$9.99 Director: Tatia Rosenthal Screenplay and short story by Etgar Keret Runtime: 78 minutes Rated R for language and brief puppet sexuality and nudity A New Jersey premiere Official Site - IMDb - Trailer Have you ever wondered “What is the meaning of life? Why do we exist? The answer to this vexing question is now within your reach! You'll find it in a small yet amazing booklet, which will explain, in easy to follow, simple terms your reason for being! The booklet, printed on the finest paper, contains illuminating, exquisite colour pictures, and could be yours for a mere $9.99.” This is the ad that alters the life of the unemployed 28-year-old who still lives at home, Dave Peck. In his struggle to share his find with the world, Dave’s surreal path crosses with those of his unusual neighbors: an old man and his disgruntled guardian angel; a magician in debt; a bewitching woman who likes her men extra smooth; a broken-hearted man who befriends a group of hard partying two-inch tall students; and a little boy who sets his piggy bank free. Their stories are woven together, examining the post-modern meaning of hope. This remarkable film has received critical praise for its “gorgeous moments of animated surrealism and smart moments of emotional truth.” Kirk Honeycutt of the Hollywood Reporter said, “There’s something undeniably hypnotic and bewitching about $9.99, which may be the most unusual movie of 2008.” The film features the voices of Geoffrey Rush and Anthony LaPaglia.

Afghan Star Director Havana Marking Runtime: 87 minutes Screening sponsored by WOW (Wise Older Women) In Dari, Pashto and English A New Jersey premiere Official Site - IMDb - Trailer In Afghanistan you risk your life to sing. After 30 years of war and Taliban rule, pop culture has returned to the country - and since 2005, millions are tuning in to Tolo TV’s wildly popular American Idol-style series Afghan Star. Like its Western predecessors, the show features ordinary people competing for a cash prize and record deal. More surprisingly, the contest is open to everyone across the country despite gender, ethnicity or age. Two thousand people audition, including three extremely brave women. And when viewers vote for their favorites via cell phone, it is, for many, their first encounter with the democratic process. Winner of the Directing and Audience Awards in Sundance’s 2009 World Documentary competition, Havana Marking’s timely and moving film follows the dramatic stories of four young finalists - two men and two women - as they hazard everything to become the nation’s favorite performer. By observing the Afghani people's relationship to its pop culture, Afghan Star is the perfect window into a country’s tenuous, ongoing struggle for modernity. What Americans consider frivolous entertainment is downright revolutionary - and more human - in this troubled part of the world.

Against the Current Director: Peter Callahan Writer: Peter Callahan Runtime: 87 minutes A New Jersey premiere IMDb - Trailer Paul Thompson (Joseph Fiennes) is a successful, married 30-something financial writer and a happy, expectant father. But when tragedy strikes, Paul’s world is turned upside down. Five years later, he decides to fulfill his dream by swimming the entire length of the lower Hudson River – all 150 miles of it. He enlists the aid of his best friend Jeff (Justin Kirk) and Liz (Elizabeth Reaser), a woman he meets at a bar, to come along. All three are doing some soul-searching and looking for meaning in their lives. At once tragic and humorous, the film is a compelling and uncompromising exploration of grief, loss and the right to determine one’s own fate, as well as the limits and responsibilities of friendship. The film was shot in sequence along the Hudson River, which serves almost as much as a fourth character, as well as stunning backdrop. Joseph Fiennes did his own swimming for the film. Also notable: a brief cameo by Mary Tyler Moore.

Arranged Director: Diane Crespo & Stefan C. Schaefer Writer: Stefan C. Schaefer Runtime: 90 minutes Meet Yuta Silverman at the screening Screening sponsored by Jewish Center of Teaneck Official Site - IMDb - Trailer Two young women - one an Orthodox Jew, the other Muslim - meet and become friends as first-year teachers at a public school in Brooklyn. Over the course of the year they learn they share much in common, not least of which is that they are both going through arranged marriages. The story is based loosely on the experiences of Yuta Silverman, an Orthodox Jewish woman from Borough Park, Brooklyn. The film was shot in 17 days on location in Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights and at the Jewish Education Center in Elizabeth, NJ, where Yuta's father is an administrator. Sweet, touching and often funny, the film was praised in New York magazine as a “surprisingly winning indie drama ... the understated, natural performances by leads Zoe Lister-Jones and Francis Benhamou lend the film a sense of intimacy that serves it well."

Azur & Asmar Director: Michel Ocelot Writer: Michel Ocelot Runtime: 99 minutes Hosted by Bob McGrath Official Site - IMDb - Trailer Azur and Asmar is the story of two boys raised as brothers. Blonde, blue-eyed, white skinned Azur and black-haired, brown-eyed, dark-skinned Asmar are lovingly cared for by Asmar's gentle mother, who tells them magical stories of her faraway homeland and of beautiful, imprisoned Fairy Djinn waiting to be set free. Time passes, and one day Azur's father, the master of the house, provokes a brutal separation. Azur is sent away to study, while Asmar and his mother are driven out, homeless and penniless. Years later, as a young adult, Azur remains haunted by memories of the sunny land of his nanny, and sets sail south across the high seas to find the country of his dreams. Azur's nanny has become a wealthy merchant and Asmar has grown into a dashing horseman. Reunited but now as adversaries, the two brothers set off on a dangerous quest to find and free the Fairy of the Djinns. Empire Magazine said of this beautiful animated film: “Quite simply, it’s a visual masterpiece that combines cut-outs with CGI and the mesmeric beauty of Islamic art to create a magical world, in which scarlet lions with blue claws and birds with rainbow wings stand between Azur and Asmar, as they try to rescue the Djinn Fairy from her crystal cell.”

Gotta Dance Director: Dori Berinstein Writers: Dori Berinstein & Adam Zucker Runtime: 93 minutes Screening sponsored by Classic Residence by Hyatt Official Site - IMDb - Trailer Several members of the NETSational Seniors dancers will be on hand following the screening to answer questions and demonstrate some of their signature moves. Who says you can’t hip-hop if you’re 80-years-old? Who says your days as an athlete are long gone? Who says you can’t shake things up and light up a jam-packed sports arena with your hot moves and cool attitude? Just because you’re a card-carrying member of AARP, do you have to give up on your dreams? No. You don’t. Absolutely not. GOTTA DANCE chronicles the debut of the New Jersey Nets, first-ever, senior hip-hop dance team, 12 women and 1 man, all dance team newbies, from auditions through to center court stardom. As smooth dance moves are perfected and performed in front of thousands, aging myths and misperceptions are pulverized. Despite swollen ankles, exhausting rehearsals, personality clashes and seemingly impossible dance steps, the NETSational Senior’s go for it, spreading joy, inspiration and cool dance moves as they hip-hop their way into the hearts of Nets fans and beyond.

Karma Calling Director: Sarba Das Writers Sarba Das & Sarthak Das Runtime: 90 minutes In English and Hindi Screening sponsored by New Jersey South Asian Independent CineFest Director Sarba Das will participate in a Q&A following the screening Official Site - IMDb - Trailer The Audience Award Winner at the recent Los Angeles Asian American Film Festival, posits that when karma calls, you can’t hang up. What happens when a bunch of hapless Hindus from Hoboken get mixed up with an underworld don with connections to an Indian call center? And what happens when a good Jersey girl falls for a smooth operator thousands of miles away? For one thing, the phone keeps ringing. The Raj family is deep in denial about its creeping credit card debt, dodging collection notices and phone calls. When eldest daughter Sonal finally picks up the phone, she meets a call center operator like no other, Rob Roy. Little does she know that he’s oceans away. Her brother Shyam, a college drop out, is too busy dreaming of becoming the next Dr. Dre (peddling his hip-hop album Hapa Means Weed in Japanese) to notice the bills piling up. But romance is in the air for him too, in the form of Radha, a village girl from India, arriving in America to marry a Dollar Store mogul. As for the youngest daughter Jamuna, well, she just wants a Bat Mitzvah. Narrated by award-winning actor Tony Sirico (aka “Paulie Walnuts” of The Sopranos), the film is a snapshot of our hyper-globalized world through the eyes of a Garden state family just trying to get by. It’s a quintessential American tale about unlikely alliances, outsourcing, and outwitting. And at its heart, it is the story of a family learning to live together.

Kid Flix Mix 2009 (Short Films) The Best of the New York International Children’s Film Festival Animation - Recommended for ages 3 to 8 Runtime: 65 minutes Hosted by Bob McGrath of Sesame Street The world renowned New York International Children’s Film Festival presents this kaleidoscopic collection of the best animated short films from around the world, for ages 3 to 8. The program features musical and narrative works from Sweden, France, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Switzerland, the UK, and the US, and offers a spectacular array of traditional, CGI, collage, and stop motion animation styles. Program is in English. 7 Days of the Week Animation, McBride/Cowles, USA, 3 min Knuffle Bunny Animation, Mo Willems, USA, 8 min Breaking the Mould Animation, Manley/Paulli, UK, 1 min The Bridge on the River Zzzeee Animation, Thomas Szabo, France, 5 min Dinosaur Song Animation, Christian Robinson, USA, 3 min Hedgehug Animation, Dan Pinto, USA, 5 min Horsie Animation, Sarah Wahl, Finland, 2 min The New Species Animation, Evalds Lacis, Latvia, 10 min No Monkey Animation, Harry Flosser, Germany, 4 min Sooner or Later Animation, Jadwiga Krystyna Kowalska, 5 min Spot and Splodge in Snowstorm Animation, Geffenblad, Sweden, 8 min The True Story of the Three Little Pigs Animation, Konstantin Bronzit, USA, 10 min … and more!

Pressure Cooker Directors: Jennifer Grausman & Mark Becker Runtime: 99 minutes Screening sponsored by Whole Foods Market Official Site - IMDb - Trailer In this compelling documentary, three seniors at Philadelphia's Frankford High School find an unlikely champion in the kitchen of Wilma Stephenson. A legend in the school system, Mrs. Stephenson's hilariously blunt boot-camp method of teaching Culinary Arts is validated by years of scholarship success. Against the backdrop of the row homes of working-class Philadelphia, she has helped countless students reach the top culinary schools in the country. And under her fierce direction, the usual distractions of high school are swept aside as Erica, Dudley and Fatoumata prepare to achieve beyond what anyone else expects of them.

Prince of Broadway Director: Sean Baker Writers: Sean Baker & Darren Dean Runtime: 100 minutes A New Jersey premiere Official Site - IMDb - Trailer This film tells the story of Lucky and Levon, two men whose lives converge in the underbelly of New York's wholesale fashion district. Lucky, an illegal immigrant from Ghana, makes ends meet by soliciting shoppers on the street with knock-off brand merchandise. Levon, an Armenian-Lebanese immigrant, operates an illegal storefront with a concealed back room where counterfeit goods are showcased to interested shoppers. Lucky's world is suddenly turned upside down when a child is thrust into his life by a woman who insists the toddler is his son. While Lucky copes with his new domestic dilemma, Levon struggles to save a marriage that is falling apart. The seedy side of the wholesale district is revealed through a journey that continually confronts the interplay between what is fake and what is real. The film – written after extensive discussions and improvisations with members of the subculture it depicts – is as much a brutal drama as it is a tender comedy. It is fast-paced and gritty, peppered liberally with street language. Definitely not for children.

Treeless Mountain Director So Yong Kim Writer: So Yong Kim Runtime: 89 minutes IMDb - Trailer When their mother needs to leave in order to find their estranged father, six-year-old Jin and her younger sister, Bin, are left to live with their Big Aunt for the summer. With only a small piggy bank and their mother’s promise to return when it is full, the two young girls are forced to acclimate to changes in their family life. Counting the days, and the coins, the two bright-eyed young girls eagerly anticipate their mother’s homecoming. But when the bank fills up, and with their mother still not back, Big Aunt decides that she can no longer tend to the children. Taken to live on their grandparent’s farm, it is here that Jin comes to learn the importance of family bonds in this beautiful, meditative, and thought-provoking film. Variety’s Robert Koehler said of Kim’s film: “drawing out beautifully natural performances from her child actors, Kim has a distinct way of letting her camera observe her characters with kind thoughtfulness, allowing for a quiet mood to wash over the scenes.”

When the Evening Comes Director: Craig Geraghty Writer: Leo Marinello Starring Philip Bosco and Anne Meara Runtime: 74 minutes Opening night kickoff party & film Discussion with director Craig Geraghty and actor Philip Bosco and Anne Meara to follow the screening The screening will benefit the Villa Marie Claire Hospice IMDb Charlie Corrado is pushing forty and still lives with his grandparents, Martin and Marion Corrado. Charlie is a “successful” Manhattan attorney, who also works in his grandfather's florist in College Point, where he will always be known as Martin's “delivery boy.” Marion envisions her grandson as a second chance to right the wrongs she made with Charlie's mother. Marion also recognizes a parallel between Charlie’s relationship with his girlfriend, Katharine, and her own marriage to Martin, and Marion does not like what she sees. When Charlie is forced to deal with the inevitable realities of the adult world, his life takes unexpected turns, and Charlie takes his turn at life. Philip Bosco and Anne Meara are outstanding as the long-married grandparents.

Youssou N’dour: I Bring What I Love Director & producer: Chai Vasarhelyi Run time: 102 minutes Film sponsored by Bergen County Links Rated PG Q&A with Chai Vasarhelyi will follow the screening Official Site - IMDb - Trailer This is an uplifting, music-driven journey into the power of one man’s voice to inspire millions. The film unfolds an extraordinary moment in the life of Youssou N’dour - the best selling and influential African pop artist. The Grammy Award winning cultural ambassador has long been renowned for bringing people of diverse nations and backgrounds together through his collaborations with such musical superstars as Bono, Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel –and for rousing global audiences with his honey-like voice, electrifying rhythms and impossibly catchy melodies. But when he releases his most daringly personal and spiritual album yet, N’dour instead rocks his Muslim fans in Africa. Now, even as he garners accolades in the West, N’dour must brave controversy and rejection at home as he sets out to win his audience back Director Chai Vasarhelyi tracks N’dour’s emotional journey over two years – filming his ever-shifting life in Africa, Europe, and America. The portrait is not just of an incomparable musician turning his spiritual quest into art, but also that of a brave new world in which pop culture now has equal power to incite fury and invite new connections.

IT'S ELECTION DAY

For those of you that have ditched the house line, chucked the mailings and fast-forwarded through the seemingly endless array of negative ads, I wanted to remind you that it's election day.

Make sure you get out there and VOTE!

Looks like challenger Chris Christie has beaten Gov. Corzine.
(numbers updated)
According to the NYTimes in Bergen County:
46% voted for Christie
49% voted for Corzine
5% voted for Daggett

Veteran's Day Observance

The following is from Lenny Hennig (via Karin). I don't have all the facts so I can't comment on what's going on here. Perhaps someone from inside the "beltway" can explain what's going on.

WHAT IS GOING ON IN TEANECK MAYOR FEIT??
*****************************************

Please join the members of the Teaneck Veterans of Foreign Wars #1429 and the Veterans of American Legion #128 as we march this coming Veterans Day, November 11, 2009. We will depart from the American Legion / VFW Post (650 American Legion Drive, Teaneck) and travel East on Cedar Lane to the Memorial Monument located on the Municipal Green.

The purpose of this march is to call attention to Mayor Feit and the Teaneck Town Council’s lack of Veteran’s Day observance this year. As of Thursday, October 29th, no plans had been set forth by Mayor Feit and Council to acknowledge the sacrifices of the men and women who proudly serve this country.

Each year, myself, and many residents and families residing in Teaneck, attend the Veteran’s Day ceremony to pay tribute to, honor, and respect these men and women who dedicate their lives to protect our Nation. For Raphael Baez and Steven David (two Teaneck veterans who just returned from Iraq), Veteran’s Day 2009 will not exist in Teaneck. If we left it up to Mayor Feit and some council members, these two men would have to travel to another town to observe Veteran’s Day. Is that how Mayor Feit and some of the Teaneck Council feel these service men should be thanked and welcomed home? As Commander of the Teaneck Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1429, I feel it is a sad day for the citizens of the Township of Teaneck, a place my family has called home for 32 years.

It was also apparent that July 4, 2009 was not important to observe this year either. Without asking for any input from their own Patriotic Observance Advisory Board, they cut the much needed funding for the successful operation of Teaneck’s very popular, Fourth of July festivities. There were also plans at one point to change the date of the July 4th town celebrations to July 3rd. It is important to note that just Lou Tiboldo (Patriotic Observance Advisory Board Chairman) began planning the 2009 July 4th parade the same way he had done for the past thirty-five years; one year in advance.

In addition to the above mentioned reasons, Mayor Feit’s lack of attendance at this past Memorial Day ceremony and his recent forced resignation of Lou Tiboldo as Patriotic Observance chairman (after thirty-five years of dedicated service to Teaneck), shows Teaneck that certain time-honored traditions, and countless years of service by Teaneck residents, are no longer valued by the leaders of the Teaneck community.

Once again, I ask that you join in our support as we continue to honor and pay respect to the men, women, and events that have made America “the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave”.

November 11, 2009 at 9:30 a.m.- American Legion/VFW Post, 650 American Legion Drive (across the street from Stop and Shop)

We pause for a message from the TPD

Due directly to community involvement, the Teaneck Police Department has made an arrest in a recent case involving persons soliciting for magazines subscriptions. These incidents have occurred (throughout the Township) where, persons going door to door soliciting for magazines, have attempted to commit burglaries to homes. Although an arrest has been made, we ask that all residents of Teaneck be alert for any suspicious activity and immediately call 911 if someone comes to your door selling magazine subscriptions. Solicitors in Teaneck must have a permit issued by the Township and these persons did not have the required permits. If you have any questions or information we ask that you call the Teaneck Police Department Burglary Unit at 201-837-8759 or email at: mfalvey@teaneckpolice.org

Guess they didn't see how many gun owners we have in Teaneck. Have you had door to door salespeople come around? If so, when and in what areas of town?

Shared Services: A Pipe Dream?

Reader Henry Frisch suggested that I post a link to this relevent article about the prospects for merging municipal services written by his son Avi for New Jersey Newsroom.   The following is the first half of the article.  You can read the entire article by clicking here. 

Majority of New Jerseyans support school and municipal mergers, but don't bet the house

As many know (though some vehemently deny for various reasons), New Jersey has an inordinate number of municipalities, each providing its own set of services replicating those of all the others with absolutely no economies of scale.

This Jersey system of political economy is generally perceived to be anything but cost-effective. New Jersey taxpayers certainly pay for redundant services, many of which could be provided more cheaply if done on a broader basis, say, of a county.

Interestingly, the consolidation of services is broadly popular as a theoretical proposition. As noted recently in a Quinnipiac poll, New Jerseyans support school district and municipal mergers by a margin of 65-28 percent. The devil, however, is, as always, in the details.

One major area of concern is public education, which is far and away the largest single expense for most New Jersey municipalities. The legislature spent time on reform of educational districts in 2006, when it met in special session to deal with property tax reform.
Little appears to have been accomplished, though the legislature did attempt to create a pilot program to study countywide school districts. Local opposition derailed the pilot project, however.

As it happens, current law allows for merger of school districts, but the school boards of each district and a majority of voters in each municipality must vote to approve any merger.

Currently, there is neither an incentive for individual school boards to vote themselves out of existence, nor a sufficient framework for large-scale mergers of school districts (essentially, the law allows individual districts to negotiate mergers that would then be subject to voter approval in each municipality, but no system for countywide or truly regional districts).

While the procedure for any merger is technically simple, the logistics would be a nightmare, what with all sorts of entrenched interests fighting every move along the way.

More here.

Something for Everyone

On Wednesday, October 28th at about 1:45, members of the Westboro Baptist Church will arrive in Teaneck to picket the offices of the Jewish Standard at 1086 Teaneck Road.

For those who don't know, these are the folks who brings signs that read "God Hates Fags" to the funerals of U.S. soldiers killed in action.

They also apparently don't think highly of Jews. Their visit to Teaneck will be part of two day anti-semitic junket through New Jersey making stops in New Brunswick, Elizabeth, West Orange, Hoboken and Paramus. Here's the webpage listing their upcoming itinerary (warning: the page contains ugly rhetoric. View at your own risk.)

Below is a music video produced by the Westboro Baptist Church that is both scary and hysterically funny at the same time.

I'm not sure what type of response is appropriate. Suggestions?



Update: Here's a link to the detailed Wikipedia description of these folks. Also here's an amusing parody: the Eastboro Baptist Church

Walking and Biking Around Town

Teaneck is a great pedestrian town.  We've got sidewalks almost everywhere and retail and recreational destinations within walking distances from all neighborhoods.  

It's not a terrific bicycling town though.  Aside from the problem of traffic and aggressive drivers,  Teaneck's bicycling limitations are largely attributable to topography, a factor that is difficult to overcome. North/south trips are a breeze while east/west trips can be arduous even for people in superb physical condition like myself.  

(wait for laughter to subside)

The reason I bring this up is that Environmental Commission is seeking community input on pedestrian and bicycle needs and safety.  Here's what they have to say:

"Attention - those who walk, run or bike around town, whether to shuls, schools or stores, or just for fun, exercise or commuting:

The Township of Teaneck resolved, at its meeting on Oct 13, to direct the Environmental Commission to serve as a Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force in consultation with several other township boards. The goal is to improve current bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and develop a bicycle and pedestrian plan for the township, utilizing available state aid.

Any resident with ideas to be included in this plan and/or suggestions for improvement of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, including preferred walking, running or bicycling routes, is encouraged to communicate with the Environmental Commission via the following email address set up for this purpose - TEANECKBP@gmail.com

All relevant suggestions will be given serious consideration.

Harry R. Kissileff, Ph.D.
Chairman, Teaneck Environmental Commission"

The fine line between electioneering and .... oh, who are they kidding?

So, I'm taking a walk around the vicinity of Lowell School and noticed a new sign out front.

According to the NJ School Development Authority, Lowell Elementary has 4 SDA Grants.

One of them, entitled "Renovations to existing facility" is listed as completed and the three others, "Wide Area Network Upgrade", "Partial roof replacement" and "Roof replacement" are listed as Executed.

What then could have prompted a new sign showing up all of a sudden? Oh yea - we have an election coming up!!!








or should we just
make that -->










Will the sign be there on election day, so everyone can see Corzine's name before voting?

Does the President coming to town sway your vote at all?

From CBS News:

Apparently, one Presidential visit may not give Corzine the oomph he needs to get his message to the voters, so according to Rutgers:


[T]he University will see a presidential visit next week before the state’s November gubernatorial election.
Former President Bill Clinton will announce his support Tuesday for Gov. Jon S. Corzine at a campaign event at the University

2009 GUBERNATORIAL RACES: N.J. Gov. Jon Corzine's campaign announced yesterday that President Obama will return to New Jersey to campaign on behalf of Corzine's struggling re-election campaign. Mr. Obama will attend a rally next Wednesday at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck.

Meantime, "The surging campaign of third-party candidate Chris Daggett has turned the New Jersey governor's race into a dead-heat and left Republicans divided over the seriousness of the threat he poses to GOP nominee Chris Christie," reports Politico's Jonathan Martin.

"Daggett, a centrist independent who is currently drawing support in the low double-digits in a series of polls, has been the apparent beneficiary of Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine’s self-funded advertising onslaught against Christie. The result has left the Republican grappling with a two-headed Hydra that could enable a narrow plurality win for the deeply unpopular incumbent.

"Christie, who had been running a traditional anti-incumbent campaign against Corzine, must now reckon with a perennial question faced by candidates who are imperiled by a lesser-known, third-party contender: To attack Daggett is to elevate him, effectively acknowledging that he’s a serious candidate and offering him free publicity. But ignoring him could amount to disregarding the most serious threat to Christie’s campaign, leaving Daggett to siphon away a significant amount of voters who are intent on registering their opposition to Corzine."