Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • May 30, 2012 Ho-Ho-Kus Dench to join force; Freeman readies for retirement by Jennifer Crusco Sergeant Ed Freeman, who recently tendered his resignation from the Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department, will be succeeded by Brian Dench. The decision was made official via council resolution at last week’s public meeting. Dench has been dispatching for the police department since 2008, and will begin his six-month course at the Law & Public Safety Institute in Mahwah in July. Freeman’s last day will be Nov. 30, so the department is expected to experience a smooth exchange of personnel. “We won’t skip a beat,” Ho-Ho-Kus Police Chief John Wanamaker said of the transition, acknowledging that he has been actively working to receive the council’s approval to allow Dench to begin his academy training. Chief Wanamaker spoke highly of Dench, whose family has resided in the borough for four generations. Dench is a 2004 graduate of Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale. He attended Ramapo College, and began dispatching for Ho-Ho-Kus four years ago. This life-long borough resident joined the volunteer fire department in 2002 at the age of 16, continuing the family tradition started by his grandfather and followed by his father and brother. Dench’s brother Timothy has served in Iraq and Afghanistan and is a Port Authority police officer. “I’ve been hoping for this since before I started (as a dispatcher),” Dench said of his promotion. “I’m looking forward to continuing to work with this great bunch of guys.” Sergeant Freeman is originally from Teaneck. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and joined the Wanaque Reservoir Police in 1981. In 1984, he was hired by the Ho-HoKus Police Department, and was promoted to sergeant in January of 2002. Asked about his career choice, Freeman said, “I always respected the police, and I always wanted to be a police officer.” While serving as a Ho-Ho-Kus police officer, Freeman earned three Life Saving Medals, including two for performing CPR and one for using the Heimlich maneuver to help someone who was choking. He also received the Apprehension Award for his efforts in a 1986 armed robbery at a business in Upper Saddle River. “Ed and I came on at the same time,” Chief Wanamaker said of Freeman. “We’ve been working together for close to 30 years. I’m sorry to seek him go, but it’s time for him to start the next phase of his life. I hope he enjoys retirement. He’s been a good officer.” Two unrelated truck accidents that occurred at Jacquelin Avenue and East Saddle River Road just eight minutes apart on May 18 have prompted Ho-Ho-Kus officials to request vehicular weight limits from Bergen County. Ho-Ho-Kus Mayor Thomas Randall made the announcement at last week’s council session, noting that it has been approximately a year since the last accident occurred in that vicinity. Randall said the borough would ask the county to reexamine the local truck route, and strongly recommend that the county take action by examining and adjusting the weight limits for the trucks that travel through that area. Ho-Ho-Kus Police Chief John Wanamaker was due to meet with Bergen County officials last week regarding this issue, and was preparing statistics in anticipation of that meeting. Chief Wanamaker explained that the 2011 accident at East Saddle River Road and Jacquelin Avenue had involved two dump trucks that hit each other. In 2007, he said the brakes went out on a garbage truck, which eventually went through the guardrail. Wanamaker said an increase in signage and a potential weight limit for vehicles could improve the situation. In one incident that occurred on May 18, the driver of Borough seeks weight limits for trucks a Mack truck that was traveling west on Jacquelin Avenue lost control of the vehicle and attempted to make a left onto East Saddle River Road. That vehicle struck the guardrail and utility pole and a town tree, causing the vehicle to turn over. The vehicle’s fuel tank ruptured, and its contents were spilled onto the roadway and nearby embankment. The driver was taken to Valley Hospital for observation. The police report notes that the weight of that vehicle was estimated at over 25,501 pounds. The vehicle is owned by a Lyndhurst-based company. The other incident that occurred on May 18 involved a dump truck owned by a Newark-based trucking company. This vehicle was also estimated at a weight of over 25,501 pounds. In this incident, the driver was traveling west on Jacequlin and began to lose control while driving downhill. The vehicle mounted the northernmost curb in front of 33 Jacquelin Avenue, causing damage to the soft grass shoulder. The truck then re-entered the roadway and entered the eastbound lane of travel. The driver continued west through the intersection of East Saddle River Road. A guardrail and a traffic sign were damaged before the truck hit a tree and came to a stop. J. CRUSCO The Contemporary Club of Ho-Ho-Kus will host its second annual Ho-Ho-Kus Hoedown on Saturday, June 9 from 8 p.m. to midnight. This event will be held at the Brookside Racquet & Swim Club in Allendale. Festivities will include a Southern barbecue, saloon, entertainment by a local DJ, a special auction, ping pong tournament, and the announcement of the winner of the Youth Activities Council special contest. Prizes will be awarded to participants who wear the best country costumes. Tickets are $75 in advance and can be purchased at http://hhkhoedown.eventbrite.com/ or at the door on the night of the event for $80. Proceeds will benefit the Ho-Ho-Kus Angel Fund, HoHo-Kus Chamber of Commerce, Ho-Ho-Kus Recreation Association, Ho-Ho-Kus Seniors, and Contemporary Club of Ho-Ho-Kus. The club, established in 1929, is a member of the New Jersey Federation of Women’s Club. Ho-Ho-Kus Hoedown slated for June 9 Stoller resigns For additional information on the 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, visit www.ccofhhk.com. (continued from page 5) and the remaining one-year term will be placed on the November 2012 election ballot. Prospective candidates are asked to outline any qualifications they believe are relevant to this position. By law, trustees must be able to read and write, and must hold citizenship and at least one year of residency in the school district. Trustees may not have any interest in, any contract with, or claim against, the board. They may not hold office as mayor or as a member of the governing body of the same district, and they must be registered to vote in the district and not be disqualified as a voter under N.J.S.A. 19:4-1.