21-September-2024
On early Sunday morning-22-September-2024, Bogota Blog NJ passed over 2 million viewers. This occurred just over three years Bogota Blog NJ has added its first 1 million viewers to this website. This 1 million viewers milestone happened on Saturday-28- August-2021 over 11 years after Bogota Blog NJ first went live on the internet. Started in March of 2011 Bogota Blog NJ was created to fill the gaps in coverage of the Borough by the then Bergen Record, and the former Bogota Bulletin. The first postings occurred on Thursday-17-2011 and it was the announcements that the Bogota Band Parents would be holding a fundraising pasta dinner, and Girl Scout troop #4744 would hold a blood drive. Just over a week later, the first “story” would go live, it would be a photo essay showing scenes from the pasta dinner. The first month would have 9 posting with a total of just 400 viewers.
Over the past 13 years and 2 million views Bogota Blog NJ has highlighted the story of events, information and sports in Bogota NJ. This the first Information & Event website dedicated to Bogota NJ. During that time Bogota Blog NJ has been asked to provide story and photos which aided in a few scholarships for the Student Athletes. It was also arranged for other news outlets such as News 12 NJ, NJN (the PBS outlet) The Bergen Record and the Newark Star-Ledger to feature Bogota to a greater New Jersey Audiences. These includes stories about the Bogota Emergency Service Youth Academy, Bogota Student Athletes Competing in Varsity and Little league sports. Local Student Volunteer groups aiding residents, and the Bogota 125 Anniversary Celebration.
Bogota Blog NJ was a mix of a Photo Blog, and a community events announcement board. One of those announcements was the sign-up information of a new Summer Youth Academy started by the Bogota Police Dept, under the direction of Sgt. Craig Lynch. This was the beginning of a long cooperation between Bogota Blog NJ and what will become the Bogota Police and Emergency Service Youth Academy. Over the first 8 Classes of the Emergency Service Youth Academy, Bogota Blog NJ was honoured to be allow be given full access to the daily Duty Day of the Cadets. Bogota Blog NJ, under is parent corporation of Mazzway Photos LLC, was able to expand the coverage of the Youth Academy to the rest of the State of New Jersey. Bogota Blog NJ photos and story have been seen statewide on News 12 NJ Spotlight New Jersey Segment. Mazzway Photos LLC also worked with the Bergen Record, NJN Public broadcasting and other magazines to cover and promote the Youth Academy and to be a small part of having it recognized as one of the premier summer youth training academies in New Jersey. Photographer and Editor Mr. Stephen Mazzella has been awarded with a number of honours from the Youth Academy including two academy dog tags, only give to each graduating Cadet, Instructors, and a limited number of others.
For most of its first several years Bogota Blog NJ was mainly using photographs to tell its story. Captioning of photos and brief stories were added to give more detail to a particular event. Coverage then started to include stories about local government including Borough Council and Board of Education Meetings. Bogota Blog NJ has tried its best to (as a few readers have said) “keep the story straight down the middle” Sometime there have been criticism from all political sides. All constructive criticism has been welcome and accepted. Ideally this informational outlet will stay as a neutral and trustworthy source of local information.
Recently Bogota Blog NJ has started to include the neighboring Communities including Ridgefield Park, Teaneck, and Hackensack to its coverage area. This is to increase awareness of more stories that may have an impacted-on Bogota, and how Bogota effects its neighbors. Part of this process is the re-posting of stories from establish news sources. Bogota Blog NJ has worked with these outlets to provide the type of information that this website cannot proved.
Another main goal of Bogota Blog NJ has been to highlight the achievement, and successes of the Students of Bogota. While the Varsity Sports program is the most visible, the creative and academic achievements have also been highlighted. The most recent is the awarding of Steen School as a National Blue Ribbon School, and Bixby School for their top 50 ranking of Elementary school in the State of the New Jersey. Bogota High School Varsity sports in these last 13 years have won: numerous Championships in Womens and Men's Cross County. Division Championship in Varsity Football and a league championship in Junior Football. Both Women's and Men's Basketball Division titles. And the Lady Bucs Volleyball team winning a Division and State Group 1 Championships All of these with a High School that has one of the smallest enrollments in the State. While these may be considered “only sports” The Student have used their achievement and Bogota experiences earn scholarships (many Full Scholarships) to continue their education. Many of the High School Alumni returned to their hometown and became leaders in Business, Politics and in other way to keep improving their town.
Bogota Blog NJ has recorded the changes and improvements in the Borough. Starting with the 125th anniversary in 2019 of the founding of Bogota. The replacement of the two bridges over the Hackensack River. The closing and removal of the of the old Hess Oil Terminal so it could be redeveloped into an apartment complex, along with the building of more apartments on the empty Dewey School lot. Which is adding to the growing population of the Borough. A new Department of Public Works Building, the expansion of the Bogota Police Department, and the growth of the Bogota Public Library. While some changes may not have been wanted, like the closing of the St. Joseph School in 2020 was a loss. This led to the creation of the new Bogota Middle School to meet the influx of more Students. Along with the starting of the all-inclusive Pre-School program to prepare the next generation of Bogota Students for the future. And now the refurbishing of Fiegel Field, Olsen Park, and the creation of a new Community Center.
As the next third million viewer log-on. Bogota Blog NJ it is hoping to continue the goal of highlighting and sharing with the world the specialness of this small corner of New Jersey. With the addition of other online sites for, by and about Bogota and a community saying that goes “All Roads Lead Back Bogota “. Bogota Blog NJ is proud to be about a part of what it means to be a Bogotian.
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please contribute at: donate to Bogota Blog NJ)
Select photos from the Bogota Blog NJ collection of Bogota are now available for purchase.
These may be order from the Bogota Blog NJ Zenfolio store at: https://bogotablognj.zenfolio.com/
(To help support Bogota Blog NJ with its coverage of Local stories & sports
please contribute at: donate to Bogota Blog NJ )
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