Week in Review: Graduation, Changes on Council, BOE

In 54 years of graduation ceremonies at River Dell Regional High School, the Class of 2012 not only boasts their prowess across athletics, academics and the arts but also the largest senior class to date. The 290 seniors braved the triple-digit heat record in caps and gowns to receive their diplomas. Many will , others will serve their country in the  and some are headed to the work force. But most of all they will each be able to call River Dell their home.

With just a little over three months to go until the November election, Republican Council candidate Anthony Cappola of River Edge will be getting to experience what life is like on the governing body after being sworn in Monday night to fill the seat of Johnny Porco, who resigned from the Council June 5.

After spending the past few years on the River Edge Board of Education, Shawn Kucharski has resigned from his post this week, effective June 12. The five-year veteran of the Board of Education was  this November.

With  in the ranks of the  since February, Chief Thomas Cariddi broached the topic of beginning the search for a third patrol officer to fill an upcoming anticipated vacancy.

After one year running, some of the highest science-minded students at  are left in a lurch as an for Fall 2012 has been cancelled due to scheduling conflicts. But the group, many of which are looking to study medicine later in the life, have taken their fight to the Board of Education in hopes of determining what the conflicts are and how it could be resolved.

Through a generous grant from the Oradell PTA, the  fifth grade classes recently participated in "A Day in the Life of a Continental Soldier" right on Memorial Field. Joe Ryan, a noted Living History teacher, instructor, and re-enactor inducted the students into the Continental Army and putting them through their paces with activities such as erecting their camp tents, following orders, and going through basic drill commands. He supplies them with mock rifles, and tri-corner hats.

After a prior attempt to move an  of all trees in River Edge  the governing body along with the Shade Tree Commission met on Monday to find an amendable solution by removing any language pertaining to trees on private property.

Oradell resident, Tom Belthoff, came before the New Milford Zoning Board to support New Milford residents opposed to the  by New Milford Redevelopment Associates, whose president is Peter Hekemian of the S. Hekemian Group. Members from  appeared before the  on Tuesday, June 12.

alum , pastor of Sacred Heart parish recently co- authored and published "Same Call, Different Men: The Evolution of the Priesthood Since Vatican II," (Liturgical Press 2012), in which Fichter and co-authors explored changes in the priesthood over the past 40 years through interviews with hundreds of priests nationwide.

Oradell resident Paige Fernandez is a multisport athlete at . The junior has been a three-year varsity soccer player and has run winter and spring track since her freshman year as well. She set two new school records this season.

Seven River Dell High School students were among those honored at the Bergen Community College Teen Writers' breakfast and awards event June 7, and the Bergen Teen Playwrights Festival held later that day at the college. Among the honorees were playwrights Kira Cohen, Tyler Jonas, Laura Klepper, Alexandria Pallotta and Erin Walker, along with essayists Yoo Bin Noh and Joan Kao.

Habitat for Humanity is nearly set to begin construction of two two-family homes at the corner of Westervelt Place and Lake Street in Oradell. The four families chosen to live in the homes are expected to provide "sweat equity," to assist with the construction, which will also involve the help of volunteers. Once the homes are completed, Habitat will provide the owners with no-interest mortgages.

River Dell head baseball coach Brandon Flanagan said over the past four years, his teams had the potential to be successful. But the 2012 edition, which went 20-7 and qualified for both the Bergen County and North 1, Group 2 state tournaments, stood out for its team-first attitude and resiliency.