MOTORIST ALERT
Ridgewood Water Pipeline Construction on Franklin Avenue in Wyckoff
(from Lawlins Road to the Franklin Lakes border)

Ridgewood Water will continue the construction of a water line along Franklin Avenue in Wyckoff to connect with a United Water line in Franklin Lakes.  The final phase of construction involves the installation of an underground vault at the border of the two towns.  The work is expected to begin on or about Monday, November 5 and is anticipated to be complete by Friday, November 9.

This work will require the closing of Franklin Avenue from time to time based on the progress of the construction.  The Police Department will attempt to utilize alternating lanes of traffic to limit road closures.  The work will be performed Monday through Friday, 7 am to 6 pm.  No work is planned for weekends or evenings unless required by an emergency.
Motorists traveling on Franklin Avenue should anticipate delays, plan for extra time, plan an alternate route or follow the detour.

Please click on Township News on Wyckoff on the Web, www.wyckoff-nj.com for any updates regarding the road closures.  (For example, if inclement weather delays the construction, notification of an extended road closure/detour will be posted).  If you register your email address at “site registration”, updates will be emailed to you when they are posted.

Thank you for your patience during this temporary inconvenience.  Please drive safely and drive with caution.  Motorists should anticipate delays, plan for extra time and plan an alternate route.

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Township’s Annual Leaf Collection Started October 15

Today is Thursday, November 8. The leaf collection crews are collecting in District 8. They anticipate entering District 1 sometime on Saturday, November 10. As a reminder the leaves are falling later than usual, the leaf collections will continue (weather permitting) until the leaves are picked up.

The Township’s annual leaf collection process started on Monday, October 15, 2007.  The Department of Public Works staff will begin this important service to our residents but they need your assistance.  The vehicles have been maintained and other preparations are complete.

As with any successful undertaking, it can only be as good as the people who are involved in its implementation.  Therefore, in order that this year's leaf collection process goes smoothly and quickly, we ask residents to carefully follow the guidelines set forth which include the new State mandated stormwater pollution regulations.  For those residents who hire a landscaper, it is your responsibility to pass these guidelines along to them.

                                    IMPORTANT FACTS FOR LEAF COLLECTION

1. Do not wait until late November/December to rake leaves to the curb.  Use Rounds l and 2 for leaves already fallen
2. Leaves are to be raked to the edge of the lawn and spread along your entire frontage.  Do not rake them into the street.  
3. Leaves must be free of branches and twigs.  If your leaves contain branches or twigs, they will not be collected.
4. If the leaf collection schedule is inconvenient for any reason, leaves may be taken to the Township's facility on West Main Street, which is open Monday through Saturday from
   9 am to 3 pm.
5. Leaves must be at least 10 feet from storm sewer drains.
6. Leaves should not be placed earlier than 7 days before the leaf crew’s arrival.
7. If you have Internet service at your home, register your e-mail address at the site registration quick link on Wyckoff on the Web (http://www.wyckoff-nj,com) and receive weekly leaf updates directly.  Read the leaf updates in the Villadom Times newspaper and the Wyckoff Suburban News during the weeks of October and November through the end of December.  The Township attempts to provide precise information as to the district location of the leaf crews.  
8. The Fall, 2007 Township newsletter MUNICIPAL UPDATE details the entire leaf collection program.  Extra copies are available in Town Hall in the first floor public information bookcase.  You may also view the Fall MUNICIPAL UPDATE online.  Visit the Township News page of Wyckoff on the Web (http://www.wyckoff-nj,com) and click on the Newsletter.

The goal of this effort is to collect leaves before the first snowfall.  Residents should rake leaves in the first and second rounds.  This will aid in getting the most leaves collected before the arrival of snow.

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PREVENTION of MRSA
(methicillin- resistant STAPHYLOCOCCUS aureus)
and other communicable diseases

Basic Information:

MRSA is a bacterial infection (not a virus) surfacing in schools and other settings.  MRSA is the abbreviation for methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus.  It is primarily a skin infection often resembling a pimple, boil or spider bite at its onset.  It quickly worsens into an abscess or pus filled blister or sore and becomes serious when it enters the blood stream.  This lesion should not be squeezed or drained as this can spread the infection to other parts of the skin or deeper into the body via the bloodstream.

The vast majority of MRSA infections have historically occurred within hospital settings.  However, up to 15% occur in the community among otherwise healthy people.  This population includes those who are prone to cuts and scrapes particularly children and athletes.

How is MRSA communicated?

MRSA spreads by skin to skin contact, crowded conditions and the sharing of personal items.

Who is at risk?

1. Those who have regular contact with patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or have recently been discharged with MRSA.
2. Those who have regular contact with health care workers.
3. Those who have recently taken antibiotics such as fluoroquinolone or cephalosporin.
4. Men who have sex with men.
5. The misuse or overuse of antibiotics allows bacteria to evolve and develop resistance to drugs.  Antibiotics should be taken only when necessary and patients should take the full course of medication as prescribed by their physician.
6. Scrapes and sores must be kept clean and bandaged until healed – minor cuts and scrapes are the way MRSA takes hold.
7. People who have sores that will not heal or that are filled with pus should see a physician and request a test for staph infection.

How can MRSA be prevented?

Parents, children, and teenagers (particularly athletes) must be instructed as to the following facts:

• Personal items should not be shared.  This includes water bottles and any other containers also brushes, combs, razors, lip balm, towels, makeup, cell phones and musical instruments.
• Musical instruments, particularly those that are shared, must have a strict and enforceable policy and procedure for cleaning the instruments in place in all schools.
• Staph grows rapidly in warm, moist environments.  Extra vigilance should be exercised in gyms and health clubs.
• Equipment in gyms should be wiped down using equal parts of bleach and water.

THE VERY MOST IMPORTANT PREVENTIVE MEASURE IS ALWAYS
HAND WASHING

WASH HANDS – WASH HANDS – WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY

Have ready access to a hand sanitizer (Purell is an example) in an antibacterial form, either lotion, wipes or liquid.

Are infected cases reportable?

People who are infected are permitted to attend school as long as they are compliant with infection control measures.

At this time, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services does not recommend parent notification for isolated cases.  The Wyckoff Board of Health will urge the State of New Jersey public health officials to establish a reporting system that will ensure tracking of risks and a means of epidemiological investigation to reduce spread.

For further information you may contact the Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission at 201-445-7217 or at the following web site: www.nwbrhc.org.

 

 

2008 Permits for Commuter
Park and Ride are Available

Township of Wyckoff 2008 Commuter Park and Ride permits for the Cornerstone  Christian Church rear parking lot will be available for sale for Wyckoff residents beginning October 9, 2007 in the Municipal Clerk’s Office.   Parking permits will be available for sale for non-residents beginning October 22, 2007.

     2007 permits expire on December 31, 2007.

**Please Note:   2007 Commuter Park & Ride Permits sold out.

Vehicles using the park and ride facility must obtain a Township commuter park and ride permit from the Township Clerk’s Office at Town Hall.  The program allows vehicles to park at this facility Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. with a Wyckoff issued valid current parking permit.

The fee for a parking permit for the year 2008 for residents of the Township of Wyckoff is $45.00 and the fee for non-residents is $160.00.

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Thanksgiving Schedules

Wyckoff Town Hall will be closed on Thursday, November 22, 2007 and Friday, November 23, 2007 for Thanksgiving.  The municipal offices will reopen on Monday, November 26, 2007 at
9:00 a.m.

The Township Recycling Center will also be closed on Thursday, November 22, 2007, and Friday, November 23 for Thanksgiving.  The Recycling Center will be open on Saturday November 24, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Library will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 and will be closed on Thursday, November 22, 2007 for Thanksgiving.  The Library will reopen Friday, November 23, 2007 at 10 a.m.

No Garbage Collection in Observance of Thanksgiving

There will be no curbside garbage pickup on Thursday, November 22, 2007 in observance of Thanksgiving.  Garbage scheduled for pickup on Thursday will be collected on Friday, November 23.

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Back To School Traffic Safety Reminders

It’s back to school time!  Now is the time of year when many children are walking and bicycling to and from school. Wyckoff Police Chief John Ydo would like to remind motorists on the roadway to stay alert and drive carefully around the Township. Motorists should:

 

• Anticipate more children walking to and from schools and drive cautiously.
• Be especially aware when driving in the areas where schools are located, and even more cautious when driving in the areas during the hours when children would normally be coming or going to school (8am-9am and 2:30pm-3:30pm).
• Observe the 25 mph vehicle speed limit in school zones.
• Be prepared to stop for school buses that are picking up or discharging students. Expect and observe traffic laws regarding school buses and never drive past a school bus with flashing lights.
• Be aware that New Jersey Motor Vehicle laws require that the driver of a vehicle must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk.

 

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It's the Law -

Motorists Must Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalks

New Jersey Motor Vehicle Law requires that the driver of a vehicle must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk, or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.

Simply, this means that a driver must stop their vehicle and allow pedestrians to walk across the roadway at school and pedestrian crosswalks. Pedestrians must also use caution when crossing the roadway, as the law prohibits them from entering the roadway, and walking into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.

The crosswalks are easy to recognize by the painted lines on the roadway and all school crossings and some pedestrian crossings have the black and lime green pentagonal shaped signs with a symbol of a person walking. These marked areas should signal to motorists that there are higher than normal pedestrian crossings at the location.

The Township of Wyckoff has won numerous awards over the years from the American Automobile Association for the efforts of the Township in the area of pedestrian safety, and Wyckoff continues to make pedestrian safety a top priority.

When driving through town, all motorists should yield to pedestrians and obey posted speed limits. Please remember that New Jersey Law also requires that the speed limit on local roads is 25 MPH unless otherwise posted.

 

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Speed Limits vs Common Sense