Street Sign Dedicated to State Champs

The Mayor and Council honored the Paramus Little League team before its Tuesday meeting, temporarily renaming Jockish Square "2011 Little League State Champions Plaza."

Mayor Richard LaBarbiera helped team member Danny Criscione place the sign at the entrance to the Borough Hall parking lot.

"It's an amazing recognition for their accomplishments," assistant coach Jim Rendine said.

LaBarbiera said the state champions join a select group of Paramus citizens who have been honored with an honorary street. The other names that have earned a place at the corner of Jockish Square and Carlough Drive include Neil Hanley, a state champion wrestler in 1981 and Elaine Zayak, a U.S. champion figure skater who competed in the 1984 Winter Olympics.

The team, which was a win away from competing in the Little League World Series, will also be recognized on the welcome signs that greet drivers as they enter Paramus. LaBarbiera said the signs will say "Home of the 2011 Little League State Champions."

From early July to mid-August, the 12-year-olds made a run that landed them on ESPN (second baseman James Rendine even made the top 10, at No. 9).

"It feels great," team member Jimmy Criscione said. "It's an honor to have the sign put up."

While the boys joke now about how weird it was to watch themselves on TV, their manager, Frank Smith, said the enormity of their summer would take time to sink in.

"It will be years when they finally sit down and realize what they've accomplished," Smith said.

Other Accolades

The 12-year-olds weren't the only residents the Mayor and Council recognized Tuesday. They also recognized Rachel Marichal for organizing a food drive that took place during the Terrific Tuesdays concert series, as well as Public Works employee Dean Wright for helping an injured resident.

D'Arco Criticized Again

Former Borough building inspector Steven Mercer attacked the Mayor and Council during the meeting, saying they hadn't done enough to punish Borough Administrator Joseph D'Arco for.

"Everybody's just trying to push it to the side," Mercer said.

Councilman Alan Brundage returned fire, saying the Council had voted to for anything other than Borough purposes.

Eileen McDowell, director of the Senior Center, urged all parties to move on.

"Let's move forward," she said. "It's been addressed, it's been done, it's been handled."

Vote on Chief Contract

The Mayor and Council went into closed session until nearly midnight after the public portion of the meeting, and held a vote afterward to amend Chief Christopher Brock's contract. The changes won't be disclosed until Brock signs the document, Councilman Michael Rohdieck said.

Rohdieck and Councilman Eric Nazziola both voted against the changes, rounding out the losing side of a 3-2 vote to approve them. Brundage wasn't present for the vote, but generally abstains from decisions on police matters, since he is a Bergen County Police officer.