While last Tuesday's council re-organization meeting was steeped in an aura of palpable partisan dissension, there was one thing that everyone in attendance seemed to agree on: 2012 would be a challenging year. As longtime Fair Lawn political operative Marv Levitt said afterward, "I wish the council a lot of luck because they’re going to have problems over the next two years, no matter what party they are." At a time when residents continue to struggle financially in the rocky economy, the primary issue for both parties has become limiting the tax burden. Republican-specific goals include …

Let's face it: There are a lot of big, big businesses out there. And, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Many of these large businesses provide us with some of our most needed services. Many of them employ our friends, our neighbors, our families–and, for that, we are grateful. Still, there is something about a Mom-and-Pop Shop, the local place, the place where everyone recognizes your face. You know more of the money you spend there has a better chance of staying in your community. Not only do these places employ your friends, your neighbors, your families, a lot of these businesses are …

After months of campaigning, debating and plenty of mudslinging, Democrats Lisa Swain, Kurt Peluso and Republican John Cosgrove won seats on Fair Lawn's Borough Council. Next year, the winners will join Republicans Ed Trawinski and Jeanne Baratta on council, which for the first time in over a decade will have a Republican majority. Were you generally pleased with the results of the election? Were you disappointed? Surprised? It's unlikely that all three of the candidates you voted for (if you voted) got in, but going forward, do you feel confident in the new Republican majority? Do you think …

Saturday's snowstorm knocked down hundreds of tree branches and dozens of electrical wires across town that have resulted in power outages for thousands of residents. In Glen Rock, which has also had vast numbers of power outages due to downed wires, for safety reasons some moms are trying to coordinate an "Alternative Halloween" to be held on Friday, Nov. 4 What do you think? With power still out in thousands of home and downed wires or tree branches still a hazard on some streets and sidewalks, do you think Halloween should be postponed? Does allowing children to trick-or-treat Monday pose …

The veil of anonymity that the internet provides users has been a lively topic of discussion since the earliest days of internet forums. It used to be taken for granted that online users should have the right to remain anonymous. But as anonymous online commenters have grown bolder and ad hominem attacks have become more commonplace (even on the Patch), people have started to ask: Should individuals who comment online be forced to provide their real names? A recent New York Times article explained the harm that anonymous online criticism can have in smaller towns, where many people know one …

The future of Memorial Pool is something that's obviously of great  concern to many Fair Lawn residents. If one resident's remarks at last week's council meeting are any indication, rumors about the pool's future are rampant in town. At Sunday's council candidate forum, candidates were asked what they would do with Memorial Pool. Specifically: "For several decades, the municipality has poured millions of gallons of water and hundreds of thousands of dollars each year back into the Passaic River, via Memorial Pool. Do you believe that taxpayers would prefer a larger cost upfront for the …

The League of Women Voters of Fair Lawn is sponsoring a Council Candidate Forum Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Borough Hall. The forum will act like a town-hall debate, where the council candidates will answer questions posed to them by a moderator, as well as questions submitted in advance by members of the public. To submit questions by e-mail, send a note to LWVFL@verizon.net by 5 p.m. Friday. Questions can also be submitted in person at the forum until 2:30 p.m Sunday. I'll be there on Sunday, live-blogging the proceedings so that those who cannot attend will be able to keep track online (or …

Fair Lawn council candidate Stuart Pace's campaign motto is "Safety, Community, Business." He'd like to increase the size of the police force, involve the entire Fair Lawn community in town activities (rather than ignoring certain pockets of town/making them drive to events that aren't within walking distance) and bring quality businesses to town. If you had to choose one of these going forward that you'd like to see happen in Fair Lawn, what would it be? To learn more about Stuart Pace and his ideas for Fair Lawn, read his council candidate profile.

Election Day for Fair Lawn Borough Council is just 50 days away and campaigning around town is beginning to pick up. Seven council candidates (3 Democrat, 3 Republican, 1 Independent) are vying for three open seats. Beginning next week, Patch will run weekly profiles on each of the seven council candidates. The Fair Lawn League of Women Voters will hold a Council Candidate Forum next month on Sunday, Oct. 16. As the election draws near, Patch wants to know what issues are going to inform your vote?

Sunday marked the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 innocent citizens and drastically changed the lives of countless others. Three Fair Lawn residents lost their lives on 9/11: Susan Huie, Richard Rosenthal and Jennifer Kane. The borough's 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony for them and all lives lost that day will be held Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building. How did you spend the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11? Since most municipalities held cermonies this weekend, did you attend a ceremony elsewhere? Did you visit the Memorial Wall in …

Fair Lawn resident Alexis Burke never received a call to evacuate her Bellair Avenue home before flood waters rose to the apron of her driveway Tuesday. Her neighbors across the street, on the other hand, did receive an automated evacuation phone call. "There's a disconnect between the management of Fair Lawn and its citizens," said Burke, who has lived on the street for 13 years and had never previously seen flood water reach her driveway. "They're not letting us as citizens make informed decisions." She said she likely would not have evacuated even if warned, because she wanted to be around…

The media brouhaha leading up to Hurricane Irene was intense. Television news devoted much of the weekend to storm coverage and Patch ran articles like, "Irene Could Be Worst Hurricane in 50 Years." When Irene finally landed, significantly weaker than expected in some places, it prompted criticism from many that the media had cooked up Irene to garner ratings. Howard Kurtz, of the Daily Beast, wrote this column critical of the cable news coverage. The other side of the argument goes that something like Irene, in which families lost loved ones or had their homes severely flooded to the tune of…

The Port Authority's board of commissioners approved an increase in tolls and fares between New York and New Jersey on Friday morning. Tolls on cars using E-ZPass will increase $4.50 roundtrip over the next five years and a single PATH ride will go up by $1 over the next four years. An unlimited monthly PATH pass will go up by $35. The increase will affect all bridges and tunnels from New York to New Jersey, including the Bayonne Bridge and the Lincoln and Holland tunnels. Daily commuters may feel resigned to paying the additional tolls, but what about those who travel into the city for …

Last Wednesday, Fair Lawn Police busted an underage drinking party on Jerome Place and arrested 42 teenagers. The teens were issued a summons for possession and/or consumption of alcohol underage on private property and released. The comment thread for the story has really taken off and posters have been engaging in a healthy debate about the actual necessity for a legal drinking age. Worldwide, the United States is actually in the minority when it comes to setting the legal age for alcohol consumption at 21. Most countries that have drinking restrictions have designated 18 as the bar. Patch …

Standard & Poor's on Friday dropped the U.S. government's credit rating to AA+ from the top rating, AAA. The White House has called it a hasty decision, but the ratings agency said months of haggling in Congress over budget cuts and its dissatisfaction of last week's debt deal -- as well as a lack of confidence that the government will do better in the future -- made the difference in deciding the move. What are your thoughts? And how do you think it affect you?

The price of gas is off its record highs and seems to have leveled off, but travel is still not cheap. Have you altered vacation plans because of it, or did you forego time away altogether? Leave us a comment and let us know. 

There's no denying that social media has become a way of life for our children. Do you think your child is safe? And how much is too much? Let us know by leaving a comment.

The declaration of a mistrial last week in the Roger Clemens case was another low point for Major League Baseball. Care to comment?

New Jersey -- and the surrounding areas -- are chock full of things to do...and it needn't break the bank. Let us know what you might be doing this summer.

Everyone has a favorite -- corn on the cob, hot dogs, watermelon, ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. Patch wants to know, "What is your favorite summertime food?" Drop us a line, or leave a comment.