December 19, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 25
Wyckoff Wanderings
Opportunities for blood donors Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff will hold a Community Blood Drive on Dec. 19. The Community Blood Services bloodmobile will be in the Commons parking lot at 301 Sicomac Avenue in Wyckoff from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. To prevent long wait times, schedule an appointment by calling Barbara Lucia at (201) 848-5872. On Jan. 6, the Wyckoff Family YMCA will host a Blood Drive in honor of Wyckoff resident Mike O’Shea from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Y is located at 691 Wyckoff Avenue in Wyckoff. Call Community Blood Services for any further information at (201) 251-3703. All types of blood are needed, especially types O- and O+. Any healthy individual age 17 through 75 and weighing at least 110 pounds can donate blood. Donors should eat a moderate meal before donating and must bring identification showing signature. All donors receive a complimentary cholesterol screening with every blood donation. Parish Council to host Greek Taverna Night The Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Parish Council will host a Greek Taverna Night on Saturday, Jan. 12. The 7 p.m. event will be held in Fellowship Hall at the church located at 467 Grandview Avenue in Wyckoff. The event will include an evening of music, traditional Greek dancing, Greek appetizers, souvlaki, Greek desserts, and a cash bar. The cost to attend is $60 for adults, and $30 for those age 18 and younger. Reservations will be accepted through Jan. 5. RSVP to Teena Grant at (201) 512-1156, Claire Melissas at (201) 742-5521, or Rea Hunter at (201) 934-7659. Seniors plan Installation Luncheon The Wyckoff Seniors will hold an Installation Luncheon for new officers on Tuesday, Jan. 8 at Giuseppe’s, 5 Sicomac Road in North Haledon. For details, call Lorraine at (201) 891-2344. The seniors meet at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesdays at the Larkin House, 380 Godwin Avenue in Wyckoff. Chamber encourages membership renewals The Wyckoff Chamber of Commerce reminds current members that it is time to renew their memberships. The renewal fee is $110 if received before Jan. 30, 2013. After that date, the cost will be $135. Chamber members enjoy monthly breakfast meetings, networking opportunities, inclusion on the Chamber website, and participation in the organization’s seasonal events. New members are welcome. To complete a renewal or to join the Chamber, visit www.wyckoffchamberofcommerce.com or contact Barbara Petruccelli at (201) 468-1999 or wyckoffchamber@gmail.com.
Michael Teegan and William Reade received their new special police badges from Chief Benjamin Fox and the Wyckoff Township Committee at last week’s public meeting. Teegan, a Wyckoff Police dispatcher since 2010, is a graduate of the University of Binghamton with a degree in philosophy. He is a qualified EMT and CPR instructor with computer technology skills. Reade has been a Wyckoff Police dispatcher since 2007. He holds an associate degree in criminal justice from Bergen Community College. Pointing out that appoint- Michael Teegan, left center, and William Reade, right center, are flanked by Wyckoff Township ment as a special police Committee members Doug Christie, Mayor Christopher DePhillips, Brian Scanlan (center) officer is a traditional career Rudy Boonstra, and Police Chief Benjamin Fox. stepping stone to becoming a sworn police officer, Chief Fox said Teegan and Reade extra pay on the two dispatchers except for possible stihad completed a full course at the Bergen County Law & pends for work beyond their regular duties. Public Safety Institute, except for firearms qualification. Fox noted that he had served as a special policeman for Teegan and Reade have been trained in self-defense, road three years before he officially joined the force as a sworn stops, and traffic duties. They have been exposed to mace officer in 1977. in case the mace backfires and they have to defend themThe chief and the members of the township committee selves while temporarily unable to see their assailants. welcomed the two young men to their new role in the world The special police postings are essentially volunteer of law enforcement. positions and the award of the badges does not confer any J. KOSTER
Special policemen receive new badges
Graglia to be next fire chief
(continued from page 7) their efficient work and long hours the department put in during the Hurricane Sandy emergency. Officials said that the fact that Rose would probably be living some distance from the borders of Wyckoff had posed a question of how he, as Wyckoff’s chief, might be able to function if an emergency similar to Hurricane Sandy cropped up. The department had also helped significantly with the late October snowstorm and with Hurricane Irene, both of which hit in 2011. Township committee members said they were pleased to resolve this issue and that Rose would remain active in the department. His knowledge of computer and communication technology and his leadership in general, have made him a respected asset to the township. Rose’s appointment to a second year as chief was already on the agenda for the Jan. 1, 2013 reorganization meeting. Each year, large numbers of firefighters turn out at the reorganization session in full uniform to be honored for promotions or for length of service. Graglia joined the Wyckoff Fire Department in 1991, and has served as a lieutenant, captain, and most recently as battalion chief with Community Engine Company #2 for three years before his promotion to assistant chief on Jan. 1, 2012. Graglia’s father served as a firefighter in Clifton. Graglia resides in Wyckoff with his wife Sue and their three sons: Christopher, Andrew, and Thomas. “The Wyckoff Fire Department will be in good hands with Lou at the helm and I have every confidence in his abilities and his vision for the future of the department,” Chief Rose said. Wyckoff’s three-company, 100-person department is said to be the only volunteer department in northern New Jersey to hold annual competitive inspections with awards to the winning company, followed by an awards banquet. J. KOSTER
New bank
(continued from page 6) machines. The bank will have safe deposit boxes available, Streker said, and a number of offices to conduct private banking transactions. Robert Spiak, senior project manager for the bank, provided the board with testimony in support of the signage and the number of queuing spaces in the drive-through. He also advised that the bank would have six to eight employees during the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays with private client appointments in the evenings to 8 p.m. at the latest. Paul Grygiel, a professional planner, also provided an overview of the shopping center property. He testified that the ordinance limiting the property to three buildings would be maintained and that the viability of the shopping center justified a third free-standing building on the site. He said the site plan poses no substantial detriment to the borough’s master plan or zoning ordinance. Finally, Meese confirmed that a crosswalk to the McBride Field across the road from the shopping center would be constructed by the bank or the shopping center owner as required by the county and at no cost to the borough.