Opinion

from e-Newspaper for May 26, 2021

Sports

Thoughts & Views

EDITORIAL In thanks to all who made the supreme & ultimate sacrifice

How fortunate are we to live in a time where, for the most part, our world is at peace.

It is, indeed, very sad there are some places — the Middle East, Israel and several other locations come to mind — where peace just doesn’t seem possible.

But for us, in America, we can say that there has not been a major terrorist attack on our soil since that awful Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, when nearly 3,000 lives, many Americans, were lost in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., nearly 20 years ago.

We may say this because our military is the strongest in the world and so many women and men have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might live freely and without the fear of attacks — whether domestic or international.

Among many offensives, including the first Gulf War, Korea, Vietnam, World Wars I & II and the most recent ones in Afghanistan and Iraq, countless lives have been lost in battle. And many of those lives were most recently lost by people who decided, on their own and without a draft, that it was important to serve this great country.

Most asked for nothing in return. And as the old saying goes, all gave some, while some gave all.

Having had a muted celebration of Memorial Day 2021, still in large part because of the Coronavirus, we take time to pause to remember all the lives lost by those who served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

And though Memorial Day’s stated intent is to remember those who died in service, we also take time to remember all those who are currently serving — or who have served — and fortunately made it home alive.

We are grateful to the countless women and men who put on the uniform to fight so that we may all live without fear.

Our world may not be perfect — we’ve learned that all too well in the last two years — but the sacrifices our military makes in service to the “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave” have, indeed, made us a more perfect union.

May we never forget those who left their homes, loved ones and friends one day, never ever to return.

Editor’s note: This editorial originally appeared May 27, 2020. It was slightly updated for 2021.

In honor of Joseph ‘Pal Joey’ Bianchi

Photo courtesy of Mayor Daniel Pronti

The Borough of North Arlington recently dedicated a monument on Ridge Road in a cove park — outside Holy Cross Cemetery and directly across the street from his business — to the late former Mayor Joseph P. ‘Pal Joey’ Bianchi. The monument includes ‘The Fireman’s Prayer,’ as Bianchi was a long-time firefighter whose illness was attributed, in part, to the time he spent at Ground Zero, following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Seen here are borough officials and Bianchi’s family at the dedication on May 2.

The Observer’s correction policy The Observer strives to bring our readers the best and the most accurate news. However, from time to time, there may be mistakes in what we report. As such, we take our obligation to report errors seriously. If you believe we’ve made an error, please send an e-mail to editorial@theobserver.com, indicating what is to be corrected. We will ensure a correction is noted (if necessary) in a future print edition — and online.

In Memoriam Mary A. Tortoreti 1942-2016

39 Seeley Avenue • Kearny, N.J. 07032 • (201) 991-1600 Fax: (201) 991-8941 • www.theobserver.com

Lisa M. Feorenzo

lisa@theobserver.com Co-owner/Advertising Dir.

Tina Feorenzo

Co-owner/Advertising

Kevin Canessa

kc@theobserver.com Editorial/Broadcaster

Michelle Rybeck

advertising@theobserver.com Graphic Artist/Real Estate

Jim Hague

ogsmar@aol.com Sportswriter

Robert P. Pezzolla

gm@theobserver.com General Manager

Kimberley Pezzolla

kimpezzolla@theobserver.com Sales/Classifieds

Deadlines (until further notice)

• Classifieds: 3 p.m., Monday • Obituaries: 10 a.m., Monday • Display/Real Estate: noon, Thursday • Help Wanted: noon, Monday — all ads must be sent to classified@theobserver.com. The Observer on Social Media

facebook.theobserver.com

twitter.theobserver.com

THE SANTOS TEAM IS Moving Kearny Forward!

Mayor Al SANTOS

Mayor Al Santos has been a tireless advocate for the residents of Kearny since taking office. He’s a licenced attorney who currently serves as the Clerk to the Hudson County Board of Commissioners. Mayor Santos is committed to fiscal responsibility and keeping property taxes stable for Kearny residents. His leadership over the past four years led to the closure of the Keegan Landfill and secured the necessary resources to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Councilwoman Marytrine DeCastro is a mother, registered nurse, product of the Kearny Public Schools and active in organizations like the Portugese Cultural Association and Harrison Lions. Councilman Richard Konopka is a volunteer coach with the Kearny Recreation programs and proud father of three boys.

Councilwoman Carol Jean Doyle is a dedicated volunteer in local organizations, including the Kearny Domestic Violence Task Force, the Woman’s Club of Arlington and American Legion Auxiliary #99.

Councilman Gerald Ficeto is a retired Kearny school teacher, a founding member of West Hudson Arts & Theater Co., an active volunteer with community organizations and a lifelong resident of Kearny.

Let’s continue the progress we’ve already made, together.

SantosTeamforKearny santosteamforkearny.com

HEALTH

Continued from Page 1

Santos looked to the multitude of services the Health Department provides, whether to humans — and even pets — especially since the pandemic hit.

“There is so much the department provides,” he said. “Whether it’s TANF assistance, food, rabies clinics for our pets, or dog licensing, or animal control, they’re there. We also ask the health department to look at over-grown properties. When the grass is high, who has to go out and inspect? It’s the health department. It’s the staff here. And then when there’s an outbreak, long before COVID, there were things like West Nile, bacterial viruses ... there were Anthrax scares in town. Every time we ask the health department to respond. So this is a vital service to our community.

“During the pandemic, we learned how important it is, but even before pandemic, this was a vital service in our community.”

Santos then praised all of the department’s employees, from Pincus, to Nellie Albizu, to all.

“You are much appreciated and we thank you very much,” he said, before noting how much the department also does for the town’s senior citizen population, including the operation of the jitney bus and Dial-a-Ride.

“And the Keegan Landfill — when Hudson Regional didn’t respond, who was there? The health department,” he said.