July 31, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 3 Glen Rock Olsen, Kokolskyj discuss human trafficking Maryanne Olsen Pd.D of New Hope for Children and Marta Kokolskyj, assistant to the Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.N., recently told the Sunset Rotary Club about the horrific world of human trafficking. Human trafficking is now the second largest criminal enterprise in the world, generating over $35 billion a year in revenues to the well- organized gangs in control. Olsen and Kokolskyj explained that human trafficking, or modern-day slavery, affects nearly two million people worldwide each year. Victims of trafficking are forced through physical vio- lence or other threats, to work in slave-like conditions (labor trafficking) or engage in sex acts (sex trafficking, commer- cial sex trafficking). Many victims are afraid to take action or run away because they believe they or someone else in their family will be harmed or deported. Trafficking can happen to people of many different backgrounds, including men and women, boys and girls, people of all sexual orien- tations and gender identities, and people who are born in the United States, and in many countries around the world. Also present at this meeting were Officer Ana Castro, assistant to Chief Higgins of the Bergen County Police Department and Officer Maggie-Lou Mari, assistant unit (continued on page 10) Maggie-Lou Mari, Marta Kolkolskyj Tom Shea, Maryanne Olsen, and Ana Castro. (Photo courtesy of Andy Curshen.) Borough council disavows rumor of turf verdict by John Koster The Glen Rock Borough Council last week disowned rumors that the council was about to make a decision about whether to fund artificial turf at Faber Field. Mayor John van Keuren and the council conducted a 90- minute hearing that included comments from proponents and opponents of using borough money for the proposed project, since so many people had turned out to express opinions about the project. Michael Stewart, a principal proponent, said toward the end of the meeting that his group, Game On, would con- tinue to raise money regardless of whether the borough helped the private group. Some of the sports parents urged the council to take a leadership role in funding the refurbishment of part of Faber Field with artificial turf. The field is widely seen as less than satisfactory. Other residents asked the council to exercise leadership and not fund a project whose proponents originally prom- ised, years ago, that they would raise all the money them- selves without the help of the taxpayers. Toward the end of the meeting, resident Jack Kopf asked to hear alternative solutions on how to establish a playable field without spending $2 million. “I don’t want a turf field at Faber,” another woman said. (continued on page 10)