To the Editor:

Call it a bailout or don’t. But the action by the Fed to guarantee the purchase of Bear Sterns by JP Morgan/Chase has highlighted some dangerous faults in our current monetary policy, and created some new ones.

It’s bad enough that this private transaction is being funded by taxpayer dollars - and we will see zero return on that "investment." But the precedent it sets is something even more chilling to consider. The Fed’s action is likely to have the opposite effect one would hope it would have on the future actions of these large investment firms, namely to assess risk more responsibly and take their lumps when they don’t. Like the rest of us.

By allowing firms such as Bear Sterns to insinuate themselves so inextricably into the fabric of our economy in the first place, and then in effect reward them for their irresponsible business practices by insuring that they do not fail, our government is virtually ensuring that a crisis like the one before us now will happen again in the future. Probably many times.

We hear a lot about the controlling effect of "market forces" by those who manipulate them and then reap their benefits. But it seems the "market forces" argument doesn’t apply when the application of it means a loss on investment for them. When that happens, it’s up to We the People to prop them up. That’s not to disregard the plight of the innocent investors hurt by this debacle. Many of the Bear Sterns employees will take a hit, no doubt. But the rest of us will be taking hit after hit after hit if we continue to allow our government to let large investment firms take positions in the market that generate huge profits for them when things are going well, and then let them dump their mistakes in our laps when things go south because "they cannot be allowed to fail."

Without responsible government oversight of these industries, taxpayers will find themselves routinely salvaging the fortunes of the few at the expense of the many.

Christopher Bosco

Closter

Why name John Rooney?

To the Editor:

It’s really becoming tiresome. Whenever someone raises an issue concerning Northvale, which is in any way, even a bit critical of John Hogan, there is an immediate counter attack, usually by one of the Mayor’s close political allies.

The latest apologist for Hogan, throwing his two cents into Northvale’s major environmental issue, is often-appointed, never elected former Councilman Bill Sillery who seems now unfortunately to have sunk into the depths of paranoia.

He claims that I exercise control and influence over the Republicans on the council. This is absolutely untrue. If I did, why then was my wife removed from her position as President and member of the Board of Health by these same people I supposedly control?

Mr. Sillery just can’t seem to understand that I love Northvale as both a resident and an Assemblyman and it is my responsibility and duty to address problems within my district especially those in my own town.

The environmental problem in Northvale is directly related the appointment of politically- connected, unqualified and inexperienced professionals by the Hogan Administration in order to pay off his campaign contributions by "Boss Ferriero" and his legions of political hacks.

The only way to curb corruption of this type is by instituting meaningful and strong "pay-to-play" regulations. If we had strong laws, Hogan could have never fired our former and, thankfully, now restored, environmental engineering firm (ranked 5^th in the world in environmental clean up) and replacing them with one who received 13 deficiencies issued by the D.E.P. The most significant of the deficiencies were that 5 of 13 homes were not monitored for vapor intrusion, potentially endangering the health and welfare of a number of our residents.

This same firm is now suing Northvale for payment on this botched job and has yet to put forth a plan to correct the deficiencies. Now, that’s chutzpah.

Should not every responsible public official be concerned about reforming the political system and protecting the public? Apparently not the Hogan Democrats.

With his unreasoned attack, Hogan-apologist Sillery even blames me for the Danzig-mess, which incidentally, became contaminated during the term of present day Hogan’s father’s administration and prior to my moving into Northvale.

My administration appointed one of the top environmental engineers and was responsible for the removal of over 500 barrels of chemicals from the Danzig site and with their reinstatement, that clean-up will continue.

As the ranking member of the Assembly Environment Committee, I have been working with the Department of Environmental Protection to fix the problems of the Site Remediation Program. The greatest of which is the appointment of "unqualified engineering firms.

Many of the officials have commented during these meetings, that the experiences I have gained in Northvale are invaluable as a "how to" or in the case of the Hogan administration "how not to" conduct site remediation.

If the Democrats believe they can continue their antics without oversight they have another think coming.

John E. Rooney

Assemblyman, Northvale

Make sure to vote April 15

To The Editor:

I would like to urge all Tenafly registered voters to turn out on April 15. In addition to electing three Trustees to our Board of Education, you will be voting on a budget that in my opinion has been carefully and frugally crafted to meet the needs of our Students and provide staffing needed to open our fantastic new 80,000 square foot facilities in the Middle and High Schools. Factoring out the needs for the new facility, the under 4 percent increase in base budget is the lowest in anyone’s recent memory.

Additionally, I would like to urge you to re-elect our two incumbent trustees to the board for an additional term, Rick Fooshee and Don Kaplan. I have had the privilege of serving our School District these last two years and working with both of these individuals. Both Rick and Don bring their unique and thoughtful perspectives to the challenges facing the Board in its never ending effort to maintain and improve the educational experience for our children. As chairs of the Facilities Committee and the Planning Committee, Rick and Don respectively have contributed greatly to their success. Although change is good, we have in these incumbents, proven commitment and ability. Allowing both Rick and Don to continue in their roles will in my opinion be good for our children and our community.

Richard H. Press

Trustee, Tenafly Board of Education

Supporting Lynn Stewart

To the Editor

I am pleased to endorse Lynne Stewart for the Tenafly Board of Education.

I have known Lynne for over six years as both a friend and colleague on the Maugham H.S.A. I have had the pleasure of working side by side with her on numerous school related matters.

Lynne has an excellent understanding of the issues that all the schools in Tenafly face both as a former co-president of the Maugham H.S.A. and as a parent with children in both the middle and high schools.

I believe Lynne has a strong commitment to the Tenafly School system and will act in the best interest of the taxpayers of Tenafly.

Mary Beth Wilmit

Tenafly

To the Editor:

We are writing in support of our friend and colleague, Lynne Stewart, who is seeking election to the Tenafly Board of Education. Lynne’s problem-solving skills and her ability to work effectively as part of a team would make her a great asset to the Tenafly Board of Education, and would help ensure that our schools maintain their excellent reputation and continue to serve the needs of all students.

Lynne has been actively involved in our community since moving to Tenafly in 1997. She has served as Co-President of the Maugham Elementary School Home & School Association, and has also been a trustee of the Tenafly Nature Center and a board member of the Tenafly Youth Basketball league. Over the past year, Lynne has attended Board of Education meetings as a representative of the Tenafly High School H.S.A., and thus is well informed of the issues facing the Tenafly schools today.

We have worked with Lynne on several committees and projects during our tenure as Co-Presidents of the Tenafly Middle School H.S.A. Lynne has a strong commitment to the Tenafly school system and a good understanding of both the educational and financial challenges facing our school district. She believes that it is important to view every child as your own, while also treating every taxpayer’s wallet as your own.

Lynne is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and would bring years of professional experience to the Board of Education as a consultant to Fortune 500 companies and the owner of a firm specializing in marketing and branding solutions.

We urge all Tenafly citizens to vote on April 15, and to elect Lynne Stewart to the Tenafly Board of Education.

Naomi Waltman and Nadia LaMastra

Tenafly

To the Editor:

I am writing this letter on behalf of Lynne Stewart who is running for one of the Tenafly Board of Education seats on Tuesday, April 15.

Having worked with Lynne side by side as H.S.A. Co-president of Maugham Elementary School in Tenafly (2006-2007), I can tell you that devotion to our school system and community efforts is a top priority. Lynne’s educational background (University of Pennsylvania) as well as professional (brand marketing) is a fantastic dynamic for understanding what it takes to succeed. Her vision and drive will be immeasurable as a member of the Board of Education. She will always look for the path of success for our children and understand the mechanisms to make it happen.

If you are looking for an intelligent, visionary with enthusiasm and drive on behalf of our children - then vote for Lynne Stewart for Board of Education.

Alison Teicher

Tenafly

To the Editor:

I have known Lynne Stewart for 11 years personally and professionally. I believe she is the perfect candidate for the open seat on the Board of Education. Lynne understands the challenges facing Tenafly schools not only today but in the future. She has been a past Co- president of the Maugham School H.S.A where Lynne was able to successfully fundraise for the school, garner volunteer recruitment and most importantly problem solve. I have seen numerous times Lynne’s ability to navigate difficult situations through hard work, perseverance and diplomacy. She is passionate about generating creative solutions to keep our Tenafly schools excellent and relevant and serve the educational needs of all our children. I am a Middle and High School parent who encourages voters in Tenafly to cast your ballot for Lynne Stewart on April 15.

Lisa Frankel

Tenafly

Support Strompf on April 15

To the Editor:

I am writing this letter to support Sharon Strompf for the position of Tenafly Board of Ed Trustee. Sharon and I have known each other since our children started Kindergarten and she has been actively involved in the school ever since. We served 2 terms together on the HSA board and Sharon always had creative ideas, with boundless energy to manage and implement them. She has served the school in so many capacities such as TEF rep, BOE rep, class parent, committee chairperson, HSA secretary and the HSA co-president. I cannot think of another individual who has a bigger heart to serve the community.

Sharon is always willing to listen to others and is very sensitive to the needs of the community. On countless occasions, she will reach out to friends, neighbors, teachers and parents to listen to their concerns and help in any way that she can.

I am a life-long resident of Tenafly and I would love to see Sharon elected to the school board this April 15. I hope that you will join me on that day to vote for Sharon Strompf — an individual who is willing to give so much of herself to serve the town that we care so much about.

Moonsun Park

Tenafly

To The Editor:

Sharon Strompf has been an active and engaged member of the Mackay School community who has also effectively represented Mackay on district wide initiatives. Sharon has displayed excellent communication skills in her role as Home School Association co-president. She pays careful attention to detail but has common sense about identifying solutions to a situation.

The Suburbanite article titled ‘Your Vote in April Matters’ explained the role of the local school board. I am confident that if elected Sharon will take the role of trustee and be a team player who will act in a non-partisan manner to ensure accountability. I know that Sharon will work within the board to ensure that resources are distributed equally among the Tenafly schools.

Janet Horan

Teanfly

To the Editor:

I have been privileged to know Sharon Strompf for over seven years as a friend, neighbor, and fellow Mackay parent. She is a bright, and articulate individual who has the best interests of our children at heart. As a co-president of the Mackay HSA, TEF rep and school board member she worked tirelessly to serve the community with dedication and integrity. She has excellent communication skills and works hard to resolve problems. Her creativity allows her to implement and develop new ideas while respecting the opinions of others.

I wholeheartedly support her run for trustee and have no doubt she will be great asset to the Board of Education.

Elaine Rho

Tenafly

Elect Anna Reduce to the Haworth school board

To the Editor:

I am writing in support of Anna Reduce for Board of Education trustee and urge my neighbors to vote for her on Tuesday, April 15.

I have known Anna and her family since our eldest children were very young and, throughout the years, I have consistently been impressed with her passion and dedication to education and the well being of children.

Anna’s educational background, first as an elementary classroom teacher and later as a literacy consultant at Teachers College, Columbia University, provide her with extensive knowledge and a keen understanding of the educational needs of our children. Her many years of experience working with school districts throughout the country provides her with considerable insight into the best ways to attain programs of quality instruction for our school.

I have seen, firsthand, Anna’s dedication and efforts toward the greater good of our school. She has always been the person that many of us have gone to whenever we have had questions or concerns about our children’s school experience. On all occasions, she has been a thoughtful sounding board and willing to speak out on issues not necessarily popular or of benefit to her own children.

Anna’s efforts on behalf of our children and community extend far beyond educational issues. She is tireless in her volunteer work, on behalf of our Home and School Association as well as other community endeavors. Anna is not one to volunteer for the sake of recognition, but chooses to help out for the greater good and has done much, in quiet ways, to help our community.

Anna has always been a fair and honest individual, willing to listen to varying perspectives before forming her opinion. She has also been willing to rethink her stand when new information has been presented. I believe that this is a necessary trait if communication between our School Board and the community is to be effective.

I hope you will join me and vote for Anna Reduce for School Board Tuesday, April 15.

Melissa Rosenberg

Haworth

Vote for budget April 15

To the Editor:

Please come support the Closter School Budget on Tuesday, April 15th.

It is important to consider how the quality of education in Closter reflects upon our community. Even if you did not have children, you should take great pride in the fact that most of our children who graduate from our schools attend the most desirable colleges.

The challenge posed to our Board of Education is how to keep our schools great without over-burdening the taxpayer. It is a tall order but one our Board of volunteers takes very seriously.

I was impressed with the budget meeting I attended last Tuesday in the Tenakill Middle School Library. The budget makes the most of what we have and the increases that are made seem reasonable under the conditions as, they exist. The current funding process really takes creative budgeting to whole new level, and this year's increase was the smallest in a decade. It seems that although Special Education in our town and state mandated programs are increasing yearly there is little or no extra funding coming from state and federal levels to support these extra costs.

The meeting also cleared up some questions on recent articles I've read about increased aid. The actual amount of the increase is much smaller when explained in its entirety. Only 5 percent of our budget is subsidized by the state, compared to as much as 90 percent for other districts. Certainly there are districts with greater needs, but this difference is staggering, and all of our regional state representatives voted for this.

I am voting to support our budget on Tuesday with the knowledge that a lot of hard work went into keeping it at a minimal increase taking into consideration the hardship of the taxpayers in this community. Good education is costly and the return is priceless.

Krissy McCloskey

Closter

On why running for school board

To the Editor:

Many people have asked me why I’m running for a 4th term on the Tenafly Board of Education, since my younger son is graduating from Tenafly High School this year.

My two sons are very different people and were very different students. However, each of them got an excellent education in the Tenafly school system. I'm grateful for that, and I want to be sure that future Tenafly students receive that same quality of education.

I have lived in Tenafly most of my life and am a product of the Tenafly school system. In the nine years that I have been on the Board, I have held a number of different positions. I was President of the Board from 2004-2006 (during which time the voters of Tenafly approved the referendum).

For the past several years, I have chaired the Facilities Committee, overseeing the construction on the middle and high schools. These additions are in the process of being completed, on time and under budget. They include state of the art science labs and technology, as well as providing additional, much needed space for art, music and athletics.

If I am reelected, I would like to focus on three areas. First, I want to help maintain the high quality of Tenafly public schools. Second, I want to look for ways that we can be more efficient in spending taxpayer money. This might include developing alternative sources of revenue to minimize taxpayer burden. Finally, I would like to be sure that we are helping each and every student discover and develop their potential.

I also ask that Tenafly voters approve the school budget this year. This is an exceptional budget, which includes the lowest tax levy in 5 years, even as we are staffing up for the new additions at the middle and high schools. I’m also pleased to note that this budget includes $626,000 revenue, which we are receiving from the State of New Jersey to offset a portion of our debt service expense.

Rick Fooshee

Tenafly