Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • October 12, 2011 Ho-Ho-Kus Students create and distribute 700 ‘Goody Bags’ by Jennifer Crusco As part of the Ho-Ho-Kus Public School’s “respect” program, students recently created and helped distribute approximately 700 bags filled with treats as part of Operation Goody Bag. This national effort was initiated in 2003 as a way to remember those who died in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 and to thank first responders, active duty military personnel, and veterans. Students from the Ho-Ho-Kus Public School decorated brown lunch bags, filled them with candy and personal letters, and sent the majority of them to first responders throughout New Jersey and New York. Recently, students from the service learning class hand delivered 120 of the goody bags to the borough’s own first responders, who graciously received these gifts. “Any thanks and awards given to our volunteer and paid first responders are well deserved,” Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Administrator Don Cirulli said. “They never get enough praise.” Ho-Ho-Kus Superintendent Deborah Ferrara said the original plan had been to have the students in kindergarten through grade four decorate the lunch bags and ask the older students to write the letters that would be included. In the end, the students were all eager to participate in each aspect of the program, so each one decorated a bag and wrote a personal note. According to the official Operation Goody Bag website, the program began with New Jersey middle school computer teacher Jane Cosco, who encouraged her students to express their feelings following 9/11. Their efforts resulted in the production of a show known as “Night of Remembrance & Hope,” which has been presented to various community groups. However, Cosco’s students still wanted to find a way to reach out to soldiers, veter- Energy bill (continued from page 7) of public works building, the sewer pump stations, street lights, and traffic lights, the administrator said. He pointed out that PSE&G still delivers electricity to the borough, but the municipality purchases that power from Hudson Energy Services. The AAES website states that the firm was established to provide commercial entities in energy deregulated states access to multiple energy providers. The company now works in New Jersey, Texas, Maryland, New York, Delaware, Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and in Washington, D.C. Consumers in energy deregulated states are permitted to buy power that is delivered through local energy companies, such as PSE&G, but may be purchased at a lower rate. According to promotional material supplied by AAES, energy customers who sign up with that company still receive the same service and bill. AAES indicates there are no enrollment fees, no deposit, no termination fees, no contract, and no credit check. AAES receives a commission from the company that supplies the consumer. J. CRUSCO Students from the Ho-Ho-Kus Public School’s service learning class present their goody bags to Police Chief John Wanamaker, Police Sergeant Christopher Minchin, firefighter Bart Richards, and Carol Tyler of the Ho-Ho-Kus Ambulance Corps. Councilwoman Maryellen Lennon was also on hand for the presentation. ans, and first responders in a more personalized way. In November 2003, Cosco was listening to a radio show and learned that budget cuts would mean that fewer holiday treats would be available to U.S. soldiers. She and her students brainstormed, and came up with the idea of sending out goody bags like those the students receive at their friends’ birthday parties. That December, the class sent out its first shipment of 1,782 goody bags. An enthusiastic thank you note arrived from a soldier in central Iraq just a few weeks later. The public is invited to participate in Operation Goody Bag by making a donation to cover the cost of stuffing and shipping the bags; decorating the lunch bags; or writing letters. Donated funds, decorated bags, and letters may be sent to: Operation Goody Bag, P.O. Box 542, Montvale, NJ 07645.