Bogota Year in Review December 2012

31-Dec.-2012

1-December-2012
   The Bogota High School drama club presented their version of Cinderella  "once upon a trial"


1- Dec.
   Dan Klima was appointed new Chief of the Bogota Volunteer Fire Dept. while  Lt. Joseph DiMaurio was named Firefighter of the Year.

2-Dec.
   The First 'Tree of Hope" event held by Save the Animals Recuse Team II was held at the Rec. Center

6-Dec
   Officer Kevin Geraghty was sworn in to become the newest member of the Bogota Police force.

12-Dec.
  The Tree in front of Borough was finally able to be lighted up ( in a series of weather related delays that happen through -out this year)

13-Dec
   Steen School held their first Pizza with Santa.

13-Dec.
 The Bogota High School Music Dept. held their Holiday concert.

15- Dec.
   The Bogota Community Alliance held a Holiday Party  to help celebrate their 1st anniversary.

16-Dec.
   A number of awards for the Fall sports team of Bogota High School.
The Cross County teams place  Elizabeth O'Brien, & Anais Fernandez for the All-Bergen Girls 1st Team, Jay Mahoney as Girls Coach of the Year, & Team of the year for the C-D group. Jovanie Sotomayor  placed on the All-Bergen 2nd team.
  The Lady Bucs Volleyball placed Rebecca Keleman, Julia Topor, and Carly O'Sullivan on the All-North Jersey 1st team with Brad DiRupo being named Coach of the Year

Some of the notable passing from Bogota :
  James Carr  
  Charles Corders
  Marilyn Gibbons
  Leo Grady
  James Hoyt
  John Miller
  Joseph Speciale Jr.
  Donald Viviani
to name only a few.
And it was learned that a DNA match in July of 2002 was that of Patrica Viola who went missing in February of 2001. Her Family and friends never gave up hope that she would  return safely, but now knowing that she could rest in peace.

Bogota Blog NJ would like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement thought-out the year. I personally want to thank-my Wife (as of 1-Sept-2012) and our children for their help, and understanding as I try and grow this blog along with the borough. I look forward to the upcoming year, and hope to keep improving , and informing the citizen of Bogota, NJ.

Bogota Year in Review Oct.-Nov, 2012

30 - Dec.-2012

7- October-2012
   Trinity Lutheran Church held their second annual ' Blessing of the Animal" service.

7-Oct.
   The Bogota Lady Bucs Volleyball became the first New Jersey team to win the Garden State Classic.

13-Oct
    The Bucs- Emerson home game was used to help fight cancer as a Cheerleaders , and Players, from both teams wore pink. Along with tables set-up to buy products to help with fundraising which went to the Avon walk in New York, and the "Laps for Ladies " in Bogota the next day.

14-Oct.
   The first "Laps for Ladies" was held in Olsen Park. This year's charities were the Avon Walk in New York , and the" Friends of Patty Brickley"

14-Oct
   Republican party of Bogota held a cook-out in Olsen Park to have a Meet & Greet for their candidates running for Borough Council in November. Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan was also in attendance.

16-Oct.
   Both the Girls  & Boys Cross County team won their NJIC Championship meets at Garret Mountain. Elizabeth O'Brien finishing first over all  in the Girls races. and Jovanie Sotomayor taking second over all for the Boys.  They both would go on to complete a double by winning the Patriot Division title the next week.

20-Oct.
   The "Friends of Patty Brickley" held a pasta dinner at the High School to help raise money to help Ms. Brickley with her treatment for Multiple Myeloma.

28-Oct.
   The Bogota Lady Bucs Volleyball team won their third tournament of the season by becoming the first Group 1 school to win the Bergen County Volleyball Championship.

29-31- Oct.
  The Borough of  Bogota was affected by Hurricane Sandy. Fortunately there was little damage compared other parts of the State. Some residents were black-out for over a week, all schools within the Borough were closed and a suspension of  Public Transportation, and street park came into affect. The VFW hall was used as a shelter for those in need, while all Bogota's emergency  services, and DPW personal worked around the clock to assist when needed. For the first time in recent memory Halloween events were forced to be canceled along with some sporting events.

1-2- November
   More affects of Hurricane Sandy cause the polling for the election in November to be moved to the Kennedy EMS building on W.Main St.

5-6- Nov.
  After a Hurricane a heavy snow storm then came. But Schools re-opened, and even the children were allowed to go trick or treating.

6-Nov.
   The 2012 General Elections were held after some questions about the readiness after the Hurricane.
Nationally President Barack Obama, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, and U.S. House of Representative Scott Garrett all were re- elected.
   In Bogota Councilman Jorge Nunez was re-elected, while Robert Robbins won the other Council seat. Three new Board of Education members were elected. And the Voters of Bogota approved the LOSAP question. 

 10- Nov
  The Bogota  Bucs Football team returned action with a 7-6 victory over Lodi.

12- Nov
   Bogota's  VFW Ralph Hall Post selected Mr. Earl Coppock as it's Citizen of the Year. Along with Ms. Casey Murphy as it's Young Volunteer of the Year.

   

17-Nov.
   The Bogota Lady Bucs Volleyball team won their third straight State Group 1 Championship by beating Secaucus at William Patterson University.

17- Nov.
  The 101 Pub host a benefit concert for " The Friends of Patty Brickley".

17-Nov.

    The Bogota  Bucs Football team won their NJSIAA Consolation game with a 27-16 victory over Becton to finish with a 6-4 record.
 

Bogota year in Review August- September

29-Dec-2012


  12- August-2012
       The Bogota Recreation Commission held a Junior Football day for the upcoming season. It was a chance for both Girls, & Boys to sign-up for Rec Football. Children had a chance to learn basic skills, and to see what atypical practice would be like.

16-Aug.
    The Bogota Borough Council looked at the the recommendation the Officer Regina Tasca be removed from her position as a Officer for the Bogota Police Dept. After hearing from Ms. Tasca attorney the council postponed the voted in order to hear more evidence from both sides.

21-Aug.
    A new Principal was hired for Steen School. Mr. Thomas Conroy was selected as the new Principal.

26-Aug.
    Councilman Jorge Nunez hosted a block party to official kick-off his campaign for re-election. Also attending were Adam Gussen who was running for the U.S. House of Representative, and Robert Menendez looking to be re-elected to the U.S. Senate.

1-September- 2012
    The Parents for Bogota Football  held their 6th annual Kickoff Dinner  at the 101 Pub to help raise money for the High School Football program.

7-Sept.
    The L/Cpl Harold J. Dillard Memorial Bridge  was reopened  after years for refurbishing of the old Court Street Bridge. Named for the  for the first citizen from Hackensack to lose his life in the Vietnam War, the 1908 structure was reopened, and rededicated today. After over two years and $19 million, most of which came from the Federal Stimulus program, the Dillard Bridge has been opened for all traffic.

8- Sept.
 The Bogota Bucs opened their season with a 14-19 loss to New Milford. This mark the fact that Nick DeStefano was the Bucs Head Coach for a second straight season, for the first time in a number of years.

15-Sept.
   The Bogota Lady Bucs Volleyball team won the Northern Valley Invitational Tournament at Demarest. 

21-Sept.
   The Bogota Borough Council officially fire Officer Regina Tasca from the Police Dept. The Borough continues to try to work out a settlement agreement with Ms. Tasca. 

23-Sept.
    St.Joseph's Church held the annual Carnival despite the first & last days being rained out.

27-Sept
   The Bogota Volunteer Fire Dept. Engine #1 and Hook & Ladder #1 held their first blood drive at the W.Broad St. Station.

Bogota Year in Review: June-July

28-Dec-2012

3- June-2012
    The ARC of Bergen-Passaic Counties held their 2012  " Step-up for ARC' Walk- A- Thon at Olsen Park in Bogota. Lead by the Bogota High School Band to help raise money for those with developmental disorders. 

4-June
   Bogota High School held their awards night for the Student Athletes of the school. The Lady Bucs Volleyball has honoured for their successful defense of the the State Group 1 title, and Carly O'Sullivan being named North Jersey Female player of the Year. The Girls Cross Country team had an undefeated record in League races, and Patriot League, & Group "D" Championships. The Boys team finished wit a 3rd in Patriot League, and 2nd in Group "D".  The Football winning their consolation playoff game.
  In Basketball both the Girls ,& Boys team making the Playoffs, with Jillian Marino scoring over 1,000 points for her High School career. In Baseball Andrew Gilbert received a standing ovation, not only for his play but to recognize the fact after graduation he decided to join the U.S. Marine  Corp. 

5-June
   Was Primary Election day for New Jersey. The  candidates for national office had been set months before, however there were some choices to be made in local contest. Charles Severino offered his name as a write in candidate for on of the two Democratic choices for Borough Council, and the New Democratic for Bogota had a team running for a place on the  Democratic County Committee. None of the newer candidates had a victory.


 17-June
    The first  of , what is hoped to become an annual event, alumni of Bogota Bucs Baseball held a Homer-run derby , and Softball game in Olsen Park. 

21, 22, 23- June
  The schools of the  Bogota held their graduation ceremonies. Bixby and Steen school promoted their sixth grade on to Middle School. While the High School the class of 2012 was sent off to the next chapter of their live. 
  Another chapter ended at Steen School as Mrs Roensch attended her last promotion, as a teacher, after 35 years of service to the students of Bogota. 

4-July-2012
    The Bogota Volunteer Fire Dept, and First -aid Squads again took part in the Ridgefield Park 4th of July Parade. 

13-July
 Steen Principal Ms. Anna Falco announced that she was suddenly resigning her job at Steen School in order to attend Family matters.

24-July
Class two of the Bogota Police Emergency Services Youth Academy had their graduation ceremony at the Steen School Gymnasium. This marked the second year of what is becoming a highly successful summer program that teaches students basic Emergency skills, as well as developing discipline and confident  in those who took part in the Academy.  

26-July
   The Bogota Library hosted a " Bats in the Library" show featuring  Joseph D'Angeli of the Wildlife Conservation & Education Center of Ridgefield Park, with some of his bats. In order to educated reader of the Summer Library program about the benefits of bats to the local area.  

29- July
  The third annual " Adult Swim" was held at the Bogota Pool. 

 

Bogota year in review April- May

27-Dec.-2012

2- April-2012
   Councilman Michael Brophy announce that he was changing his party affiliations to that of an independent and would not seek re-election for Borough Council.

 5-Apr.
   In a very heated Council meeting, questions were raised about the accountability of the Bogota Recreation Commission. There was a discrepancy of what a Softball league, formed by Councilman Jorge Nunez, owed to the Rec.Commission. Also a matter of record books of the Rec Commission that had been un-accounted for.

 10 Apr.
  The Bogota/ Ridgefield Park chapter of the Police Unity Tour held a dinner and raffle at the 101 Pub in Bogota last night.  The process's from this event goes to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. 

12- Apr.
    The building at 14 E. Ft Lee Rd suffered a partial collapse of it's facade as working were trying to remodel it. As of this posting the building is still boarded-up with rehabilitation work proceeding.

15-Apr.
  Bogota  Volunteer Fire Co. Hose # 2 held it's third annual Comedy night at the Elks club in Ridgefield Park.

2-May
    The Bogota VFW post # 5561 held its Loyalty Day event in which they honoured the members of the Safety Patrol and awarded prizes for their " Voice of Democracy" and " Patriot Pen" essay contest.

8-May
   The first meeting of the Bogota Green Team was held in the Council Chambers in Borough Hall The mission of the "Green Team" is to find a environmentally responsibly way to save energy, and money in order to help grow the Borough of Bogota.

23-May
  The Bogota Advisory Committee on Substance Abuse (BACSA) and the Borough of Bogota emergency services held a demonstration today at Feigle Field. It was held for the Junior & Seniors of Bogota High School to show what happens in an automobile accident. 

24-May
    The Bogota Library hosted a book signing by resident Susan Fries, to launch her first publish work " When Pigs Fly". It is a story about a young girl named Nicole whose life ends after a fight against a Brain Tumor. Based  on a real life story of the lost of a friend's daughter at the age of twelve to the same cancer.

  

28-May
   The Memorial Day service, and parade had a number of special guest come to town. members of   The United States Marine Corp. which was represented by the men of Charlie Company 1st Battalion 9th Marine. The U.S. Navy had ten sailors from USS Roosevelt also attending. Finally  in recognition of the allied forces, Fourth year Cadets from the Spanish training vessel  Juan Sebastian De Elcano attended as well. All came to spend a Memorial Day in a typical small town America way.