Franklin Lakes
February 27, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7
Mayor honors senator, local sports teams
by Frank J. McMahon At a recent Franklin Lakes Council meeting, Mayor Frank Bivona honored State Senator Kevin O’Toole for the support the senator and Chief of Staff Al Baralis provided to the borough during the power outage caused by Hurricane Sandy. Bivona also recognized the accomplishments of four regional high school athletic teams. “Kevin really works hard every day for the people of New Jersey, as does Al,” Bivona said of O’Toole and Baralis. “I’ve been involved in local government politics over the past three years, and I can tell you, over that period of time, there has not been an official outside of Franklin Lakes who has given more to help this community than Senator O’Toole. In his role, he has worked closely with the governor to give municipalities the ability to control property taxes and various other initiatives that really support us as residents here. “More recently, he was there for us during and after Hurricane Sandy, more importantly after Hurricane Sandy, when Orange and Rockland was telling us what a great job they were doing. The senator and Al were on the front lines with us, really fighting and trying to help us recover from the storm. We may have had it easier compared to some, but we were still without electricity for 11 days, and a lot of us were suffering through tough times and the senator and Al consistently put us in touch with the right people, helping us get the resources we needed, including finding fuel for our emergency vehicles. “I’m afraid to think what it would have taken without the senator and Al and it hasn’t stopped there. The senator has proposed legislation that could give municipalities more self-help such as the ability to clear roads that are blocked and things of that nature to help ourselves and not have to rely solely on the utilities to do so. So I’d like to thank the senator and Al for everything you do for this town and everything you continue to do.” “I appreciate those kind words, mayor,” O’Toole responded. Referring to the governing body, he said, “Thank you, council, for this fine gesture. I was the mayor of Cedar Grove many years ago, and I understand that this is where the front lines are. This is how government works to get the service that the towns do. “I can tell you that he, your manager, attorney, and all the council members every few hours were on the phone, faxing, texting, e-mailing, and making conference calls during the storm to serve notice on Orange and Rockland that they were not going to let them push off Franklin Lakes so bigger towns could get done and so it has been a wonderful honor to work with your mayor. He is a real advocate for the residents. I’m moved by your kind words, but this is where it really gets done.” Bivona then read proclamations honoring the Indian Hills High School’s boys’ cross country team and the Ramapo High School football team, the girl’s gymnastic team, and the boys’ soccer team. Bivona congratulated Head Coach Tom Zaccone and the assistant coaches of the Indian Hills cross country team and pointed out that the team had an undefeated season and won the State Group 3, Section 1 State Cross Country Meet to become the state sectional champions. He also pointed out that the team won the Season Opener Invitational meet at Darlington Park; won the Great Adventure Invitational meet Varsity B championship, and was named the best team at the meet; won the Shore Coaches Invitational meet; won the Brett Taylor Invitational meet; won the Big North Freedom Division for the fourth straight time; and won the Bergen County Championship. Bivona also commended Ramapo High School Gymnastics Team Head Coach Jenn Levirne, who was named The Record Coach of the Year, and Assistant Coach Liz Sellitto for their undefeated season (8-0) which was capped with a state championship. The
gymnasts won the state championship with a team score of 111.875, the highest score in state history. The team also won the league championship for the third year in a row, became Bergen County champions for the second year in a row, and became New Jersey Section 1 champions for the second year in a row. The Ramapo Raiders Head Coach Drew Gibbs, his assistant coaches, and the players were commended for their exceptional accomplishments topped off by defeating Sparta at Kean University to win the Group 3, Section 1 state football championship for the second time in four years. Bivona pointed out that the team was trailing 267 at halftime but came back in the second half to tie the score at 34 with just over two minutes left to play. Then an interception set up field goal kicker David Bonagura, who kicked a 48-yard field goal to win the (continued on page 25)