Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • March 30, 2011
Franklin Lakes
Turn prohibitions approved; one site to be reviewed
by Frank J. McMahon An ordinance that will prohibit left turns at two locations in Franklin Lakes has been adopted by the borough council, but the governing body has agreed to review the prohibition at one of those locations. The ordinance adds two new locations where left turns will be prohibited in the interest of safety. One location is from the intersection of McCoy Road onto Colonial Road at the southwestern end of McCoy Road. This prohibition will be in effect at all times. The other location is from the Franklin Square Shopping Center near Pulis Avenue onto Franklin Avenue from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., the times that children and other pedestrians are crossing Franklin Avenue to go to or from the Franklin Avenue Middle School. Before the ordinance was adopted, Katharine Muscalino, an attorney representing Robert Decker, the owner of the Franklin Square Shopping Center, asked the council to table the ordinance to allow time for her client to address his concerns about the left turn prohibition from his property. Mayor Frank Bivona acknowledged that the borough’s traffic reports indicate that any previous accidents at that shopping center site have been outside the hours listed in the ordinance. He said the suggestion of rerouting the parking in the shopping center’s parking lot is a good one to consider, but he said it would have to be approved by the planning board, and Bivona wanted to adopt the ordinance because he believes the left turn prohibition at the McCoy Road intersection is important and he wants to start enforcing it as soon as possible. “That’s my primary concern,” he said. Bivona’s sense of urgency was based on the fatal accident that occurred on Dec. 24 at Colonial Road and McCoy Road. A motorists who was making a left turn from McCoy onto Colonial was struck by a vehicle that was traveling south on Colonial. There is a rise in Colonial Road heading south, and the road proceeds downhill just before the intersection with McCoy. Borough and county officials believe that road condition makes it dangerous to make a left turn from McCoy Road at that intersection because a vehicle traveling south over that rise in the road is difficult to stop if a car has entered the intersection from McCoy. Borough Attorney Robert Lustgarten advised that the two new locations in the ordinance could not be considered
separately. He recommended the ordinance be adopted and then, based on discussions with the borough’s traffic safety officer, if another solution for the shopping center is agreed upon, the ordinance could be amended in the future. Councilwoman Paulette Ramsey noted that the shopping center is 16 years old and the traffic on Franklin Avenue has changed quite a bit over that time, making it worthwhile to (continued on page 10)
Foundation raises $100K for schools
FLEF Co-vice Presidents Maureen McLaughlin Hebbeler (center left) and Kristen Nihamin (center right) on the Red Carpet with actors posing as Marilyn Monroe and an old-time director.
The Franklin Lakes Education Foundation recently raised more than $100,000 through both a live auction dinner dance at Seasons in Washington Township and a pre-event exclusive online auction. Kristen Nihamin, co-vice president of the FLEF and event co-chair advised that more than 350 people attended the event. Many of the men wore white dinner jackets and the women wore gowns and jewels in keeping with the theme of this year’s event: “FLEF in Old Hollywood.” Nihamin described the affair as “a throwback to that golden era in time filled with true star power and classic cinematography” and many of the attendees at the event dressed in Hollywood costumes. “Inspired by the style and iconic personalities of that period in history, we were able to create an event that evoked glamour and fabulous entertainment,” Nihamin said. “In this way, our guests stepped back in time and enjoyed a fun-filled evening while supporting a truly worthy cause, our children’s education.” In addition to showcasing the golden era of Hollywood, FLEF also introduced a new auction technology to their community through a pre-event online auction which was open to families with children in the Franklin Lakes school district pre-K through the eighth grade, and through the incorporation of handheld bidding devices used at the actual event. (continued on page 10)
Help the Red Cross Assist the Victims of the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
�������� ���������
��� �������
�������������������������
�������������������������������
����
������������������������������� �������� ����������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������
������������������������������������������
������������������
����������������������������� ����������
Spring specials available now for a limited time only. Call Robin at 973-636-7000
�����������������
���������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������
����������������������� �������������������������������� �����������������������������������������
����������������������������� �������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
����������������������������������������������������������
�������������������������
�������������������������������
����
������������������������������������
���������������������������������������������������������� ������������������
���������������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������������
�����������������������