Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • January 25, 2012 Franklin Lakes Borough council appoints new police chief by Frank J. McMahon The Franklin Lakes Borough Council has promoted Police Captain Joseph R. Seltenrich to the position of police chief of the borough’s police department. Seltenrich lives in Midland Park with his wife Terri and has three grown three sons. He will replace Director of Public Safety Irving Conklin who is retiring from that position when his current contract expires on Feb. 1. Seltenrich has served in the borough’s police department for 35 years and has over 31 years of supervisory experience, having been appointed a probationary patrolman in December 1976. He became a patrolman in January 1978 and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in September 1980 and the rank of lieutenant in September 1989 and then to the rank of captain in January 2007. “Thank you for keeping our town safe in what I consider the best police force in the state,” Mayor Frank Bivona told Seltenrich before swearing him in to his new position. About 50 people attended the public meeting of the borough council including former police chief William Holland and members of Seltenrich’s family, friends, and current members of the borough’s police department. “I want to thank the mayor and the governing body for this appointment and the honor it bestows on me,” Seltentrich said. “I am happy to be here with family and friends and so many members of the police department.” Speaking directly to the members of the police depart- Newly sworn in Franklin Lakes Police Chief Joseph Seltenrich with Council members Charles Kahwaty and Nathalie Lota, Mayor Frank Bivona, Seltenrich and his wife Terri and his three sons. ment who attended the meeting, Seltenrich said, “I appreciate your giving up your evening to show your support. I am going to merit this position and I thank everyone for being here this evening. It really means a lot to me.” After the meeting, Seltenrich said he was happy the governing body decided to reinstitute the position of police chief and he was honored by the appointment and grateful for the opportunity. “That’s healthy for the organization,” Seltenrich said, “and it gives police officers something to aspire to.” Seltenrich advised that, during his career, he spent 20 years as a patrol squad supervisor and the last 15 years in an administrative capacity as the department executive officer. His work has allowed him to gain experience in the patrol and administrative aspects of the department. (continued on page 18) VFW recognizes 2011-12 essay contest winners The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5702 in Franklin Lakes recently recognized six Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School students as local winners of the VFW’s 2011-12 Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Scholarship Program. The Voice of Democracy is an annual contest designed to foster patriotism by giving high school students the opportunity to voice their opinions about their personal obligations as Americans and their responsibilities to the country. The topic this year was: “Is There Pride in Serving in Our Military?” Students wrote and then recorded a threeto five-minute essay on the annual theme and a faculty committee at both high schools judged the entries on the basis of originality, content, and delivery. VFW Post 5702 Advocate Dominick Stimola, Ramapo Social Studies Supervisor Joseph DelBuono, and Indian Hills Social Studies Supervisor Hank Bitten presented the awards at a recent meeting of the regional high school board of education. As first place winners at their schools, Alex Nardi, a sophomore at Ramapo High School, and Kimberly Charles, a senior at Indian Hills High School, each received checks for $100. Matthew Martone, a sophomore at Ramapo, and Christina Manniello, a sophomore at Indian Hills, each received checks for $75. Third place winners, Anna Pokrovsky, a sophomore at Ramapo, and Kaitlyn McWha, a junior at Indian Hills, each received checks for $50. Charles has been a winner of the VFW contest each year since 2008 and was the first place winner in 2011while McWha was the first place winner in 2010. Nardi’s essay describes a young man named John who experiences pride when looking at the American flag outside his school and how he appreciated what the flag means to those service men and women serving in the military. He also goes back in time to describe how pride in the military increased the number of soldiers in George Washington’s army in 1776 and he relates that pride to the young man who, as a senior in high school, was applying to the United States Military Academy. Nardi goes on to explain that the young man’s father was a veteran of the Vietnam War and he told his son of the pride he had in serving in the military and protecting innocent people. Nardi described the pride the young man felt when he learned he was accepted into the U.S. Military Academy. Nardi points out that about 240,000 people join the (continued on page 26) Kimberley Charles, Chrissy Manniello, Kaitlyn McWha, VFW Post 5702 Advocate Dominic Stimola, Alex Nardi, and Matthew Martone. Not shown: Anna Pokrovsky.