Trading Normal: A New Year's Note from the Editor

When former New Milford Patch editor Tracy Montgomery asked me if I could cover for her while she vacationed with her family in August, I thought, “Sure, why not?” 

At the time I was writing a daily and a weekly column for Fort Lee Patch and thought being a guest editor for New Milford Patch might be an adventurous diversion. 

Before saddling my minivan for the Yellow Brick pot-holed congested road of Route 4, my Fort Lee editor, Erik Wander, made me promise that I would come back home, to Fort Lee, where my writing had been anchored to the place and to the people for a very long time. 

With great confidence I told him that my passport did not extend to lands west of Englewood or south of Fairview, and that I would soon return. And I did. Tracy came home and as Irene blew in, I blew out of town. 

But there was something remarkably exhilarating in landing in a spot where no one knows who you are; where there is no past to connect you to the present; where every road--from Henley to Graphic is, quite literally--a crossroad. 

And so when Tracy decided to pursue other ventures, I decided to leave behind everything I knew to be normal, and journey to the land where everything was unfamiliar to me. Without question, it is one of the best decisions of my life. I have met extraordinary people, listened to heartbreaking stories and, most importantly, learned that I still have much to learn. 

As I look forward to the New Year with my name on the masthead, I cannot help but reflect upon how far New Milford has taken me in three short months. Here are some of the discoveries I’ve made in this land north of Route 4 West. 

1. There really is such a thing as Republicans. Coming from Fort Lee where there has been a Democratic mayor and council for a generation, I had heard that there was a such a thing as Republicans, but I thought it was an urban myth, like a gaggle of tofurkey.
2. There is another river other than the Hudson. However, rather than descending to meet it, the Hackensack rises to meet you. 
3. All roads in, near, or around Brookchester are Dante’s fifth circle of hell to me. I have never successfully navigated those roads or found my way out in less than an hour. 
4. April showers don’t necessarily bring May flowers, but they do bring FEMA. 
5. Never come to town without flood boots in the trunk or a press pass around your neck. (I was briefly mistaken for a looter.)
6. “What’s Cooking?” is not a pick-up line, but a wonderful Main Street eatery.  
7. Two 7-11’s on opposite sides of town allow me to ping-pong my caffeine habit all day long. 
8. The Garden Cafe is the central hub of the town and the New Milford branch of my office. (Free wifi!)
9. The bartender at Jersey Boys makes a mean Bombay Sapphire martini straight up with olives. Some days (strike that), nights, they even make two!
10. When driving home through Snow-tober and using the back of a Teaneck Police car to stop your minivan, no number of New Milford Police business cards will get you out of the pinch, but lots of crying, apologies and hyperventilation will. (Also, having a transformer explode overhead while said cop was questioning me was an unexpected treat neither of us anticipated.)

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank all the people in New Milford who make me feel so welcomed every day.

Lou Denis of Garden Cafe and Wine & Roses who has been the great and powerful Oz to me. He has been my ambassador, my confidante, my networker and my own personal PR guy. 

Chief Frank Papapietro, his secretary Laura, and all the men on the police force, who never tire of me when I’m chasing a story and who have helped me find my way out of Brookchester when I thought I would never see River Road again. Special thanks to the Chief for giving me a quick 101 in geography by informing me that I was really lost in Teaneck when I swore that I was lost in River Edge.     

Peggy at the Records desk who always assures me every week as she hands me the police blotter that my name is not on it. Yet.

Everyone at Borough Hall who always helps me whenever I’m looking for information and the ladies in the Borough Administrator's office who always manage to make me laugh at those times when I need it most. 

Superintendent Michael Polizzi, the Board of Education, and all of the principals and teachers who have opened their doors and included me in every exciting venture the schools have embarked upon. 

The Mayor and Council, and all of the candidates, for seeing me through this first election season in a land where there were actually viable contestants. 

And to all of the people in New Milford who continually welcome me every single day, into your town and into your lives, I raise my coffee cup and wish all of you a healthy, happy and safe New Year. Here's to 2012!