A congratulation was given to newly appointed Acting Borough Clerk Marie Darlington who took office earlier in the month.

Public hearing and second readings were read and carried for several items including an ordinance amending chapter 75A entitled \”brush, grass and weeds\” to change the notice provisions for violations and an ordinance amending chapter 66B entitles \”peace and good order\”.

Commissioner Andy Gilmore read the fire department report submitted by Fire Chief Mario Scullan including answering 45 calls and conducting 3 drills for the month of November. Commissioner Gilmore also reminded residents of the Annual Christmas Parade that will commence at 7:00 pm on December 13 that will proceed up West Kings Highway from the John West Senior Housing Center. The Celebration Committee has constructed a holiday float for the parade and will be collecting new unwrapped toys along the parade route for their Toys For Tots Drive. Various drop off sites are located through-out the town at major businesses and also at the borough hall. For more information you may visit www.mtephraimcelebration.com.

The fire department who hosts the annual Christmas parade for the 14^th year in a row has also constructed a \”Supporting Our Troops\” holiday float (that will also carry special guests Santa and Mrs. Claus for the parade) where the members will be collecting items to send to our troops for the holiday season. Items can also be dropped off at the Bell Road Firehouse on Thursday nights after 7 pm. For more information you may visit www.mefd.org.

The police department received 467 calls for the month of November. Offenses for the month included 26 ambulance assists, 10 criminal mischief, 4 driving while intoxicated, 16 drug related, 1 fraud (bad check), 2 hindering, 6 juvenile complaints, 2 liquor law violations, 4 missing persons, 21 motor vehicle accidents, 2 robbery’s, 4 burglary’s, 1 sexual assault and 7 for shoplifting. 47 adults were arrested with the most for possession of a controlled dangerous substance and 1 juvenile for harassment. 45 out of town warrants were served. All officers received firearms familiarization training during the month.

Commissioner Gilmore, Director of Public Safety wanted to remind everyone to be aware of your surroundings when out and about this holiday shopping season and to keep your eyes and ears open. Report any suspicious activity for the police to investigate.

Commissioner Bruce Greenwald reported that the Department of Public Works collected 78,100 pounds of single stream recycling material for the month. D.P.W. Superintendent Kenny Jones reported that 8 months out of the first 11 months of the year, the borough has collected more recycling compared to last years monthly totals. Bruce is excited that more residents are recycling and applauds them for their efforts on saving the borough month. Kudos goes out to the D.P.W. Workers who solved a major sewer problem on Linden Avenue by finding a buried manhole cover. The result of this finding saved the town big money.

The commissioners and mayor on behalf of the entire borough staff would like to wish everyone a warm, safe and healthy holiday season.

The next meeting will be held on January 8, 2009 commencing at 8 pm in the borough hall meeting room.

Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress; lawn mower in his hand, and dish-towel in hers. It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep.

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there\’d always be more.

But then my mother died, and on that clear summer\’s night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn\’t any more. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away…never to return. So… While we have it… Its best we love it… And care for it…. And fix it when it\’s broken….. And heal it when it\’s sick.

This is true… For marriage…. And old cars…. And children with bad report cards….. Dogs and cats with bad hips…. And aging parents….. And grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

 Some things we keep. Like a best friend who moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special…. And so, we keep them close!

I received this from someone who thinks I am a \’keeper\’, so I\’ve sent it to the people I think of in the same way… Now it\’s your turn to send this to those people who are \’keepers\’ in your life. Send it back to the person that sent it to you if they too are a keeper. Good friends are like stars…. You don\’t always see them, but you know they are always there.

Related When East Meets West