(Sept. 2, 2010) — You may not have known Rutherford’s Andrew Ortega personally, but chances are you probably saw some of his photographs. This ambitious 13-year-old who left us too early Saturday, Aug. 28, had a brief, but special relationship with The Leader.

I still remember the day when he walked in to our office with a camera in his hand, a friend by his side and enthusiasm in his eyes. He had just returned from the demolition of the old rectory at St. Mary’s Church. His mission was to convince this local news editor to publish his pictures.

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(Sept. 2, 2010) — “The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us.”

— Ashley Montagu, British-American anthropologist and humanist

I’ve never been good at planning surprises. Somewhat of a blabbermouth, I inevitably blurt out small details of the impending festivities, which prevents it from being, well, a surprise.

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(Sept. 2, 2010) — TO THE EDITOR:

On Sunday evening, Aug. 22, Dr. Lina Jacewich’s 1996 Chevrolet Lumina, while parked in front of her residence at 110 Sunset Ave., was viciously and maliciously vandalized. The four tires were slashed and the auto’s body was repeatedly scratched removing the exterior paint.

Since Jacewich’s father passed away in December of 2006, she and her 89-year-old mother, Stella, have been aggressively and repeatedly harassed. Jacewich is respectfully requesting that anyone with information about Sunday’s deliberate vandalism contact the North Arlington Police Department to assist in its ongoing investigation.

Dr. Linda Jacewich / North Arlington

(Sept. 2, 2010) — TO THE EDITOR:

Rutherford Board of Health President Wilms’ unprecedented and vituperous assault upon the professionalism, character and integrity of Dr. Jadwiga Warwas must be dealt with swiftly and decisively.

The good doctor’s public denunciation of waste, abuse and mismanagement at the health department deserves commendation, not castigation. Her contribution to our collective understanding comes at a time when these very issues are being raised in the statehouse, in the press and at our council meetings.

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(Sept. 2, 2010) — TO THE EDITOR:

Where is the justice? Does anyone care?

There has been a shafting of two businesses and three homes (174, 178 and 182 Route 17 South, between Summit and Elizabeth streets in Rutherford). A four-lane highway starts at Highland Cross to Elizabeth Street. Between Highland Cross and Summit, four homes have a 10 to 15-foot buffer. There is no problem for them.

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(Sept. 2, 2010) — TO THE EDITOR:

I start this letter with a short phrase I coined in the past, “When swept up in the whirlwind of a chaotic life, never forget those close to you and pray they never forget you.”

We are in a period in our nation’s history where politically we have all been swept up into a whirlwind of uncertainty. Jobs, career, overall survival. With a government that seems to be running amok, creating more questions than answers. Many of us believe we have the answer, but do we really? Government apparently has forgotten its people and has gone on its way to appease foreign interests and those which benefit a select group of people, including themselves.

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(Sept. 2, 2010) — TO THE EDITOR:

It has come to my attention that Carlstadt is considering building senior citizen housing buildings at vacant school sites. As an East Rutherford senior citizen, I would like my neighboring borough to think long and hard about this decision.

East Rutherford’s senior citizen housing project was a welcomed addition to our borough years back. However, I cannot remember how or when it was taken away from us, but our senior housing building is now owned by the county for years now and is used for public housing. Carlstadt seniors — be forewarned.

It sounds like a great idea now, but will it benefit local seniors in the future?

Carole J. Cosentino / East Rutherford

(Sept. 2, 2010) — TO THE EDITOR:

I truly can’t believe that we are considering laying off police officers. What’s next? Volunteer police officers to fill in when we don’t have coverage for the town?

When emergencies come up and the police officer is the first responder, I hope everyone remembers that there will be two less and so your first responder might not be available as quickly as we would have in the past.

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(Sept. 2, 2010) — TO THE EDITOR:

I am writing this letter in support of the Rutherford Public Library. It is especially essential now, when our freedoms are being slowly eroded, that we support open access to freedom of speech and press. As a democracy, it is vitally important that information be available and accessible at all times from every spectrum of the world. Our strength as a country is in our freedoms. We cannot and should not permit the loss of these experienced librarians from the Rutherford Public Library.

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(Sept. 2, 2010) — TO THE EDITOR:

Annette Bortone, president of the Woman’s Club of Lyndhurst, would like to thank her club members who have graciously given their time throughout the entire summer volunteering at the Lyndhurst food pantry. Chairman Diane Cichino and Judy Cardella get a special thank you for coordinating the volunteers and doing all the grocery shopping when food runs low. Thanks also to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel seniors and AARP 4866 for their donations.

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(Sept. 2, 2010) — TO THE EDITOR:

On Wednesday, Aug. 18, I began with an early walk with my dogs. I noticed a few trash pails curbside in my neighborhood. I thought it a bit odd, since by Rutherford Sanitation/Recycling Schedule, Section 1A was due for either M (metals ) or V (vegetation) — the 18th being an M week. I thought a few folks had just made a mistake.

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RUTHERFORD (Aug. 25, 2010, 3:20 p.m.) — The storied history of The Leader Newspaper, South Bergen’s premier weekly publication, has seen a full suite of improvements and enhancements throughout its more than 100 years of publishing. For several years, it has lived up to its motto of being “The Pulse of the Meadowlands” for the local area.

Now, the newspaper, which serves eight communities in southern Bergen County, is ready to take a bold step into the 21st century media marketplace — and it has a few new friends to help it along the way.

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(Aug. 26, 2010) — This week’s front page is dedicated to two individuals in the local area who have chosen not to sit back and let the harsh conditions of local and state government rule their lives.

Carmine Randazzo is fed up with the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s decision to reduce the size of the highway shoulder in front of his house. Randazzo lives right on the busy corridor of Route 17 in Rutherford. His efforts — although they may be too little too late — are appreciated. He serves as an inspiration to local residents.

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(Aug. 26, 2010) — This week, college students will start heading back to the dorms and lecture halls of their university or college. First-time college students deserve to be named “The Leader of the Week.” They are venturing into uncharted territory, unsure of expenses and work commitments. They are inspiring for their fortitude and willingness to take a jump into the future. After high school, they made the decision to continue their studies and work toward a more prestigious academic degree. That decision is a tough one, and they should be commended for their bravery.

Have someone you’d like to nominate? E-mail The Leader at John@LeaderNewspapers.net.

By Salvatore Pizzuro / East Rutherford

(Aug. 26, 2010) — The New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate was created in 1974 as part of the State of New Jersey’s executive branch of government. At the time, the state asserted a goal to become “more accountable and responsive to the needs of New Jersey residents.” The department’s mission was to provide opportunities for the vulnerable members of our state citizenry, including the elderly and those with disabilities, to assert their civil rights.

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(Aug. 26, 2010) — TO THE EDITOR:

I’d like to address the lack of both leadership and vision by Rutherford’s mayor and council. First we are asked to pay more in taxes, then our services are cut. But to me a huge slap in the face is given when they decide to close our borough down on Fridays. While this is bad enough, their lack of planning is unthinkable.

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(Aug. 26, 2010) — TO THE EDITOR:

On behalf of the Mission Committee of the First Presbyterian Church of Rutherford, I would like to thank the many, many people who came to support our recent “Back-To-School Supply Drive” for the Rutherford Community Pantry.

On Saturday, Aug. 7, our volunteers were thrilled to see people arrive by car and on foot all morning with not only school supplies, but food, cleaning items and cash donations.

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(Aug. 26, 2010) — TO THE EDITOR:

On June 25, 2009, while I was out running along Orient Way and Third Avenue in Lyndhurst, I experienced sudden cardiac arrest, a fatal heart attack. I was medically dead, and if it wasn’t for the swift response and professionalism of the Lyndhurst Police — officers McSweeney and Ricigliano — I would not be alive today.

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(Aug. 26, 2010) — TO THE EDITOR:

At the commissioners meeting Wednesday, Aug. 11, the issue was brought up as to who should pick the next police chief — not that Chief James O’Connor is going anywhere. He is right for the job. Nicholas Uliano is 100 percent correct that Commissioner Robert Giangeruso should not be the one to choose.

Jerry Aquino / Lyndhurst