Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • May 25, 2011 Ho-Ho-Kus Residents appreciate CERT’s effort during recent flood by Jennifer Crusco The Ho-Ho-Kus Council recently acknowledged receipt of a letter from two borough residents who thanked the Community Emergency Response Team and CERT Coordinator Stan Kober for pumping out their flooded basement on two recent occasions. Mayor Thomas Randall went on record adding his appreciation for CERT’s efforts on the residents’ behalf. According to the April 27 letter, the residents had major flooding problems due to heavy rains and a backed-up storm drain. “On both these nights, Stan Kober and the Community Emergency Response Team came to our rescue,” the residents wrote. “The first time, we had three feet of water in our basement. The police and the volunteer fire department, who were also at our home, called Stan, who got out of bed at three o’clock in the morning to pump us out. “We undertook work to correct the problem, but it was not completed when there was another storm and, once again, Stan and his team came to our assistance, this time at 10 p.m. on a Saturday night in the pouring rain. “Without CERT’s help, the water might have reached the first floor of our house. We will be eternally grateful to Stan and the other volunteers…It is citizens like these who make Ho-Ho-Kus such a wonderful place to live.” Addressing the residents’ drainage situation, Mayor Randall noted that some areas of the borough have private drainage systems from the 1930s that are now experiencing difficulties. Kober told Villadom TIMES that CERT’s emergency pumping service is relatively new. “It was primarily designed for handicapped and elderly residents who are living in private homes,” he said. In the event of a basement flood emergency, Kober said residents should contact the police department, which will contact the fire department. “The fire department determines whether we’re needed, and turns off the electricity and gas, etc. (in the home) before CERT comes out,” he added. Residents must also contact Public Service Electric & Gas to notify the utility of the flood and have a PSE&G employee respond to turn off the gas at the street level as an added precaution. Homeowners are also required to sign a hold harmless agreement to allow a CERT volunteer to proceed. Kober explained that CERT volunteers use a portable pump that moves 10,000 gallons per hour and discharges the water from the basement away from the house. Because the pump can only remove the water down to the last half-inch, Kober said homeowners are advised that they may contact a private firm to finish the job if they cannot use a ShopVac or a sump pump to remove the last of the water. “This service is only for emergencies,” Kober stressed, noting that CERT can only service one house at a time, and must prioritize any simultaneous incidents in conjunction with the fire department. Kober said a link will soon be available on the borough’s website, ho-ho-kusboro.com, where residents with special needs will be able to register for this emergency pumping service. “This is another reason why the CERT organization is important to the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus and its residents, and why we need more volunteers to join. We are volunteers helping our neighbors,” Kober added. To learn more about joining CERT, contact Stanley Kober at (201) 445-1121, pick up a card at Ho-Ho-Kus Police Headquarters, or visit the CERT website: ho-hokusCERT.org. Life-saving skills (continued from page 3) 2005. Speaking about Officer McBain, Cirulli reported, “While on vacation in the Dominican Republic, HoHo-Kus Police Officer Greg McBain was dining at the Melia Caribe Tropical resort restaurant when he saw a gentleman at another table slouching in his chair, unresponsive and turning blue. Officer McBain performed the Heimlich maneuver, dislodging some food from the man’s throat. However, the man remained unresponsive, so the Heimlich maneuver was repeated, dislodging another piece of food from the man’s throat. The man then became responsive and able to breathe.” Cirulli said the police department subsequently received a letter of commendation from White Rose Foods, the employer of the man McBain saved. McBain studied criminal justice at Fairleigh Dickinson University and at Ramapo College, where he also played basketball. He joined the Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department as a dispatcher in 2004. After Cirulli’s report, the governing body and those in the audience applauded Borchers. Mayor Thomas Randall noted that both borough employees are well trained. “You never know then those skills will be needed,” Randall added. “It’s a wonderful gift to give someone – to save a life!” ! s eed s Now N r e nte u Vol ������������������������������ You can make a difference in the life of a needy woman or child when you volunteer your time at OASIS, A Haven for Women and Children in Paterson. • Food Pantry Drives (4,066 bags of food were distributed last year) • Baby Supplies Drives • Office Help • After-School Program (85% of the children enrolled showed significant improvement on their report cards) • Holiday Events • Students ages 11-17 also welcome (ask us where they can help) ������ ���� By participating in this very special supplement to The Villadom TIMES, you’ll get the selective exposure you need in 56,000 households in your market area. • Serve Lunch (60,000 meals were served last year) • Hold Babies in our Nurturing/ Children’s Center • GED Tutoring • Distribute Clothing to the Needy • Computer Classroom Assistant • ESL Tutors (English as a Second Language) • Workplace Readiness Workshops • Social Club Leader (yoga, crafts, journaling, other fun activities) Publication Date: Wednesday, June 22 Advertising Deadline: Wednesday, June 15 Call today to place your advertisement: Volunteers are needed in all areas. Monday through Friday. Once a week or every other week. Bring a friend or two! To volunteer or for more information, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Jean Gaviglio at jeangaviglio@oasisnj.org or call 973-881-8307, ext. 133. 201-652-0744 or email: sales@villadom.com 59 Mill Street • Paterson, NJ 07501 • www.oasisnj.org Oasis is changing lives, one woman and child at a time. 5-25-11 karen/janine