Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • September 19, 2012 and admired him. He sounds like the sort of person who would have preferred to be remembered through social and cultural activities. There is an additional reason not to set a plaque on The View. At this site, 11 years ago, a number of people -- some reportedly with friends or relatives in the Twin Towers - watched the World Trade Center collapse. Can there be any site in Ridgewood more likely to turn depression into desperation? Ridgewood Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli had a concept that works: Plant a tree in Campanello’s memory. Taking that one step beyond, perhaps every person who wishes to honor Campanello should plant a tree in his memory -- on public property with public permission, or on their own properties if they want to act immediately. The time for tree-planting -- when the leaves fall spontaneously -- is now drawing near. This idea is not just sentimental, but especially appropriate. This young man died as a result of an asthma attack. While I do not have the specific details, asthma and other respiratory diseases can be aggravated by poor air quality. Dr. Jill Stein, MD, a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, said she went “green” because of the drastic increase in infant mortality since she started practicing medicine in the 1970s. Dr. Stein has pointed out while running for president on the Green Party ticket that neither the Republicans nor the Democrats have done much to control atmospheric pollution. Both major parties are in hock to Wall Street moneymen who make some of their best money from industries that pollute, and little if any from industries that promote “green” energy. Since Dr. Stein’s onslaught is bipartisan, I would call it objective, even though my own integrity compels to point out that Richard Nixon was the president who signed the Clean Air Act, while Ronald Reagan said the White House did not need solar panels. Both political parties seem to support fracking. I think that the Clean Air Act may have delayed the impending environmental catastrophe, but considering both major candidates running today, we are far from out of trouble. Senator Bernard Sanders from Maine shared some of the concerns. He said something has to be done about corporate pollution, but nothing will be, regardless of who is elected, unless the people take environmental responsibilities upon themselves. He pointed out that a number of small communities in Maine have already done so. Others in Bergen County have also taken action. Planting trees is one of the best ways to combat air pollution, global warming, and minimize the chronic autumn flooding of Ho-Ho-Kus Brook. This is a citizen-based effort if ever there was one. Ridgewood is said to be down to one full-time tree man, and he is the person who removes the dead and dying trees, not the person who replaces them. Yet the trees must be replaced judiciously. For example, towering oaks with limited root bases should not be planted near power lines. The towns obviously do not have the person-power to handle the whole job. They most certainly do not have the person-power to uproot the allergenic ragweed that is once again sprouting along various local and county rights of way, so planting saplings would obviously be too much to ask. Here is a tentative plan with absolutely no legislative power behind it. People close to Campanello’s family should find out if he had any particular favorite type of tree. Every time a spot opens that is not beneath a power line, they should plant a tree of that type, with or without a plaque. A living greener greater Ridgewood area, without reference to any particular party, would be a better and safer memorial to a fine young man. The other night, the friends of Nick Campanello spoke before the Ridgewood Village Council urging that a plaque be set in the stone wall at “The View,” that overlooks a large part of Ridgewood and the distant New York skyline. These people presented their concept with dignity and decorum. The sentiment was noble. The behavior was immensely touching and responsible. It’s the proposed location if the memorial plaque that is a cause for concern. Campanello aroused admiration in a large number of the people who knew him for his generous spirit, warmth, humor, and what was undoubtedly real courage in dealing with the asthma that claimed his life at 16. He was the sort of young man who should be remembered with respect and affection. However much he may have loved the vantage point at “The View,” this seems to be the worst place for a memorial to a premature death as it could inspire tragic emulation. The previous sad teen death that put Ridgewood on the map around the nation took place through a leap on a tragic impulse from another high place, specifically the George Washington Bridge. For the benefit of those youngsters who might make the same decision, we should not offer opportunities for responses by mourners to go beyond tears in expressing their sorrow. I once listened to a speaker talk about suicide and I can tell you she did not have the slightest idea what she was talking about. My niece by marriage has two degrees in psychology and has conducted professional suicide counseling, and I knew a number of people who flew that final mission under their own power. Where my niece, my wife, and my math tutor come from, killing yourself because the college exams did not go well is almost routine. Unhappy love affairs are also cited in farewell notes. Suicide by extreme courage in battle or political assassination is extolled. Westerners may comfort ourselves but most people do not kill themselves because of genetics. They kill themselves when social pressure -- sometimes self-induced, sometimes political -- convinces them their lives are worthless or an embarrassment. Voluntary death in the destruction of tyranny is a form of suicide -- and an act of great nobility where the assassination target is genuinely evil. John Wilkes Booth gave assassination a bad name in America because he killed a good president. Killing Stalin a century later would have made the doomed assassin a Russian hero. Some kids who commit suicide do it because of intense personal grief or because they set their sights impossibly high and should have been told to be more realistic. Some others do it because their friends did it. “Cults” that form to assuage personal grief or guilt in the aftermath do not help other kids avoid the same tragic decision. Campanello, however, did not plan his death. He was a brave young man with a health problem who tried to live the most normal and helpful life possible. He did a great job with the time he had, and a lot of people obviously loved An idea for a greener, safer monument to a fine young man Letters to the Editor Dear Editor: I find it unconscionable that this newspaper made no mention of 9/11. How is it that subjects like water restrictions are a priority but not write of the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil or the lives lost and the heroes who Concerns expressed gave up their lives to help save others? I would hope that the Villadom TIMES would write and pay tribute to all those lives that were lost and let it be stressed we will never forget them or the heroes of 9/11. Cassie Wentworth Ho-Ho-Kus Ho-Ho-Kus Learn how to better prepare for the threats of terrorism, disasters, public health issues, and similar events whether at home, at work, or on vacation, by joining the Ho-Ho-Kus Community Emergency Response Team training. CERT was developed in 1985 by the Los Angeles Fire Department, whose leaders recognized that citizens would very likely be on their own during the early stages of a catastrophic event. The LAFD decided that basic training in disaster survival and rescue skills would be necessary to improve the ability of citizens to survive until emergency personnel could arrive. Teams were created to provide vital services in the absence of emergency responders. Today, almost every state and several foreign countries use the CERT system. In Bergen County alone there are over 3,000 CERT members. The events of Sept. 11, 2001 will never be forgotten; also not forgotten is how the spirit of America was awakened that day and citizens came forth to volunteer. President George W. Bush harnessed this spirit of volunteerism with the Citizen Corps Program, of which CERT is a part. CERT members have been used to: ● Search for lost or kidnapped children ● Promote community awareness of potential hazards and preparedness measures ● Assist in evacuations and traffic control ● Staff Emergency Operations Centers ● Emergency Operations Center security; driving, information, assisting disabled visitors and minor first aid ● Supplement staffing at special events such as parades ● Manage “spontaneous/convergent” volunteers ● Assist Red Cross and other relief organizations on mass care ● Light search and rescue operations Citizens encouraged to join CERT Ho-Ho-Kus CERT recently received seven Presidential Volunteer Service Awards, making Ho-Ho-Kus the only CERT group from Bergen County and, according to State Police personnel, the only known CERT unit in the state, to have done so. Ho-Ho-Kus CERT also has several ham radio operators and its own Ham Radio Club (W2HHK), which is used for RACES (Radio Amateur Civilian Emergency Service) activities. Ho-Ho-Kus CERT personnel have been activated for pedestrian and traffic control for school evacuations, Halloween, Bergen County H1N1 clinics, borough events, the Ridgewood Fourth of July Fireworks, and shelter operations. CERT members have also been guards for downed electrical wires, and have provided child safety seat assistance for the local police and assistance at Valley Hospital’s drills. They have also been participants in the active shooter exercise with county police departments. Visit www.ho-ho-kuscert.org for an application and schedule, pick up a CERT expression of interest card at HoHo-Kus Borough Hall or the Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department, or contact Stanley Kober, Ho-Ho-Kus CERT program manager, at (201) 445-1121. The basic course will be conducted for eight Mondays at the Bergen County Law & Public Safety Institute, 281 Campgaw Road, in Mahwah. Sessions will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., Oct. 1 through Dec. 5. Those who do not reside in Ho-Ho-Kus should contact Det. Gidget Petry, at Petry@bcoem.org or (201) 785-5757, Bergen County OEM, Bergen County Law & Public Safety Institute, 285 Campgaw Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430 for an application or further information. Once participants have completed the basic course, additional training is available at the local and county levels.