Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-November 10, 2010 Issue

Franklin Lakes November 10, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7 Republican candidates best Democrats in general election by Frank J. McMahon The Republican council candidates in the Borough of Franklin Lakes defeated two Democratic candidates in last week’s general election, and incumbent GOP Councilman Frank Bivona, who ran unopposed for mayor, received the voters’ endorsement. Forty-five percent of the borough’s 7,592 registered voters cast ballots in last week’s election. Mayor-elect Bivona will replace Maura DeNicola, who is completing her first term as mayor. DeNicola was elected as a Republican member of the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders in last week’s contest. Republicans Natalie Lota and Frank Pedone defeated Democrats Joan Mokray and Lorenzo Puertas for two seats on the Franklin Lakes Council by a margin of more than 2-1. Lota was elected to her second term on the council, and Pedone will be joining the council in January for the first time. Bivona received the highest number of votes in the borough with 2,518, while Lota received the second highest number of votes with 2,365, and Pedone received 2,353. Democrats Mokray and Puertas received 901 and 818 votes, respectively. “I am excited about the opportunity to serve our residents,” Bivona said after the election results were announced, “and I look forward to working with our council and borough employees in a collaborative way for the betterment of Franklin Lakes.” Lota said her focus in her new term will be on the budget, the improvement of the efficiency of municipal departments, and the improvement of lines of communication between the employees and elected officials. “I believe there are further opportunities for shared services that need to be explored and I support developing plans for our downtown area that reflect the charm and beauty of Franklin Lakes and meet the needs of our community,” Lota said. Pedone promised to be an unbiased representative of all the residents of the borough and he said his goal is to ensure that every Franklin Lakes resident has municipal services and a high quality of life with the least tax burden. The borough’s voters also chose Republican Scott Garrett over his Democratic opponent by a vote of 2,547 to 864 for the U.S. House of Representatives. Garrett was reelected to represent the Fifth Congressional District. Franklin Lakes voters cast 801 ballots for incumbent Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney, a Democrat, and 2,520 ballots for Republican challenger Kathleen Donovan. Bergen County voters elected Donovan with a tally of 116,597 to 103,720. Michael Saudino received more votes in the borough than incumbent Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire by 2,432 to 255, and he was elected by a county-wide vote of 113,113 to 103,887. All three Republican candidates for Bergen County Freeholder positions were elected by wide margins over their Democratic opponents. Republican John Mitchell received 2,449 votes in the borough and 108,877 votes in the county, DeNicola received 2,417 in the borough and 108,527 votes in the county, and John Felice received 2,313 borough votes and 107,371 votes in the county. Borough voters of the borough also favored the amendment to the state constitution that will prohibit the state’s collection of assessments on employee wages and salaries for any purpose other than for paying employee benefits by a 1,623 to 454 vote count. The amendment was also approved by the majority of the voters in the county and the state. Area The Hermitage Museum, located at 335 North Franklin Turnpike in Ho-Ho-Kus, will host a festive evening of “Champagne & Candlelight” on Thursday, Dec. 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. to usher in this year’s holiday season. The evening will begin with a champagne reception inside this historical Victorian home. The Ho-Ho-Kus Garden Club will decorate the house in a “Light up the Holidays” theme. Featured will be leaded- The Hermitage to host festive evening glass crystals and multifaceted prisms to provide warm glow and sparkle. For the most part, the holiday decorations will be composed of natural plants materials, including a favorite Victorian flower, the hydrangea, which club members have been collecting and drying throughout the summer. Each room will be distinctively decorated. Following the reception, visitors will enjoy specialty (continued on page 11) � � � �� Decorating Den Interiors Comes to Your Doorstep! ertiﬁed Interior Decorators Lucia Palmeri and Lauren �� Woods provide a complete in-home or in-ofﬁce interior decorating service by bringing thousands of samples directly to their clients. 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