Tonight I attended the town council meeting and boy it was a real tear jerker! If you recall back in December a 12 yr old boy was hit by a car at the mall. It was really bad - the weather was so bad they could not air lift him and had to stop traffic during rush hour to get him to Morristown Memorial. Well tonight he and his family were on hand to thank all of the members of the police and fire/first aid dept that helped save Alex's life. He wrote a little speech and with just a little difficulty - to be expected 1 month after a major brain trama - he thanked all those who helped him.
It was a proud night for the good men and women of the Rockaway Twp volunteer fire and first aid department and for our police department. THIS IS FRONT PAGE NEWS in my opinion.
A heart felt thanks to all that helped Alex it is great to know that our families have such wonderful people willing to give of their time to help others. This is the Rockaway I know and love - the community that really cares about each other and our future.
In other news you should all be happy to know that they are addressing that nasty flooding problem at that new building on Green Pond Rd - it appears that plastic liners and hay have clogged up the drains and thus the water has pooled up.
Also the old Levelor (or RCA) building will now be the National HQ for Party City and Little Learner Academy will share the space. Due to this new arrangement the plans for the hotel behind Damons have lost there planning board approval due to parking layout issues. The Hotel can re-apply with a new plan if they wish.
Best to all,
Lisa
__________________
The truth wins out over slick PR and personal attacks.
The Christ Church Plan for the redevelopment of 140 Green Pond Rd is just too big for the area.
Awsome news Lisa...we all owe our thanks to our volunteers, it is wonderful to live in such a great town! Keep up the good work - you guys truly are the voice of our town!
Too bad the CC representatives wernt there to hear about the job our FD and FA people did. You know, the same FD that they called, "not a real Fire Dept".
01/27/05 - Posted from the Daily Record newsroom Injured Rockaway boy reunited with rescuers
By Rob Jennings, Daily Record
ROCKAWAY TWP. -- In an emotional reunion, a 12-year-old Rockaway boy who suffered serious head injuries after being struck by a car last month greeted police and firefighters involved in the life-saving rescue.
Alex Roeland's skull was fractured in seven places in the Dec. 10 accident at the Rockaway Townsquare mall and he continues to grapple with short-term memory loss and other cognitive difficulties.
But Alex had recovered well enough to attend Tuesday night's council meeting, walk to the podium and thank police officers, firefighters and an emergency medical technician who helped saved his life.
"Thanks for being there that night," said Alex, who was joined at the meeting by his father, mother and younger brother.
Police Chief Walter Kimble recounted the circumstances that first brought them all together on a foggy, rainy evening, 11 days before Christmas.
It was shortly after 5 p.m. that police began fielding frantic phone calls from drivers at the mall. A young boy had been struck by a car. He was unconscious and bleeding.
The first officer on the scene reported that Alex was having difficulty breathing, Kimble said. A large pool of blood was seen near the vehicle that struck Alex as he walked on a mall road.
Alex needed to get to Morristown Memorial Hospital, and fast, but weather conditions were too poor to deploy a helicopter, Kimble said.
Highway path cleared
So local authorities utilized a backup evacuation plan, in which state police would help clear a path through rush-hour traffic on Route 80 and Route 287, with Morristown police leading the ambulance on its final approach to the hospital.
There, doctors were able to save Alex's life -- and his progress since then has been remarkable. His father, Arnold Roeland, said the boy has problems with reading and short-term memory.
Alex is facing another six to 12 months of therapy, Arnold Roeland said.
Arnold Roeland, said he was grateful for the team effort and that the resources were available for it.
"I know how hard it is to afford the taxes in Morris County, but let me tell you something, if you ever need people," said Roeland, pausing for a few seconds as he choked up, "there's no price you can put on this."
Kimble presented the police department's life-saving award to Sgt. Chris Stahl, officers Marci Lerner, Gary Schmidt and Chris Tom, senior public safety telecommunicator William McGarva and public safety telecommunicator Clinton Oddy.
Awards were also presented to township Fire Marshal James Miller, Fire Lt. Ryan Edwish and emergency medical technician Michael Mondrone.
The driver of the car that struck Alex, a 1993 Saturn, was not charged in connection with the accident, according to a police report.
Police said Alex had been walking on a mall road near the Hilton Garden Inn, where his family was staying.
__________________
The truth wins out over slick PR and personal attacks.
The Christ Church Plan for the redevelopment of 140 Green Pond Rd is just too big for the area.
