Glen Rock June 13, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 3 Glen Rock Mayor John van Keuren is generally a friend of things Asian, but that friendship does not extend to the Asian tiger mosquito. He is on record as opposing this particular Asian infiltrator. Informally known as the ATM, the Asian tiger mosquito is a possible carrier of West Nile Virus and other diseases. Mayor warns residents of impending menace from Asia Mayor van Keuren, who is also honorary mayor of Onomachi in Japan, was asked to pass on the warning to residents by Freeholder Maura R. De Nicola. The mayor complied by reading De Nicola’s letter at the first June council meeting. According to De Nicola’s letter, the Asian tiger mosquito first arrived in Texas in 1985 in recycled tires. The Asian tiger mosquito was discovered in Monmouth County in 1995. Due to the recent mild winter, these mosquitoes are now being reported in Bergen County. The Asian tiger mosquito is black with bright white markings and is about a quarter of an inch long. This type of mosquito is a daytime biter and a container breeder that lays its eggs in small containers of standing water left in the shade. “We are asking in your communications to residents (that) you remind them to be prudent in eliminating standing water on their properties including in buckets, flower pots, old tires, empty containers, and on the bases of portable basketball nets,” Freeholder De Maura wrote. “Screens should be placed over rain barrels. Eliminating trash is also important as the ATM will breed in water on plastic bags and in bottle caps.” Mayor van Keuren concurred that the elimination of standing water in shaded areas is a good way to eliminate both the Asian tiger mosquito and the more familiar domestic type of mosquito, which can also transmit a number of diseases. In other business, students and chaperones from Onomachi are expected to visit Glen Rock again this summer on a tour funded by the students, their families, and the taxpayers of Onomachi. Each year, a number of Glen Rock residents voluntarily open their homes to the students and older Onomachi residents for a week in July. This November, the Glen Rock Board of Education election will feature six candidates who will be running for three available seats on the board. The candidates for the fall election include Elizabeth Carr, Sean Michael Massaro, long-term incumbent Barbara Steuert, long-time incumbent Gene Calde- Six compete for three seats ron, and James Chung. Former Glen Rock Councilwoman Theresa Moore, who was recently appointed to the Glen Rock Board of Education, will be running as an incumbent Her name was not listed on the roster of candidates provided by the Bergen County Clerk. J. KOSTER