Home Care In Packanack Lake, NJ

A New Jersey community has shown support towards a Muslim family after flyers were sent around a neighborhood expressing outrage at an "un-American" Arabic sign displayed outside their home.

The anonymous handwritten letter was sent to residents of Packanack Lake, Wayne, after a painted sign which translates to "What God has willed. God bless," appeared on a house on Lake Drive West. The home is currently being remodeled after it was recently purchased by an Egyptian family.

The flyer calls for the community to "Fly our Flag" and attend an upcoming association's meeting to discuss the "un-American building," claiming the structure "will affect all of us."

"Already, a realtor has stated her clients prefer not to see listings in Packanack," the flyer adds.

While some residents told local media they were concerned about the appearance of the Arabic sign—which appears next an American flag—others were quick to condemn the rhetoric expressed in the flyer.

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"The only people that are not welcome here are the people who wrote that letter," Linda Cattuna told WABC.

"There's going to be a small element of people that are afraid and intimidated by what they don't understand," added Mike Lamb.

Wayne Mayor Chris Vergano also criticized the letters after receiving one in the mail. "What's wrong with 'God bless' on a sign? It doesn't violate any municipal laws," he said. Vergano confirmed he would attend the meeting to discuss the sign, fearing the tensions surrounding it would interfere with the family's enjoyment of the home.

José Rosario, co-owner of the Gecko Construction Group which built the home, told NJ.com it was his idea to erect to the sign before the new family move in.

"Some people have been less than comfortable with it," Rosario said. "But they don't understand the First Amendment. The level of hate and ignorance is unlimited."

The homeowner, Dr. Mahmoud Elsanaa, 35, a physical therapist who moved to the U.S. from Egypt five years ago, questioned why someone would send the letter, considering his family already live on the same street. "Everyone knows me," he said. "Everyone is friends with me. Why do they do this?"

Elsanaa also questioned what the letter writer meant by the term "un-American."

"What is the meaning of this word?" he asked. "What is the criteria? Where is the book that says what this means?"

The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations also praised the reaction to the flyer.

"To suggest that a sign written in a foreign language is un-American is in itself un-American," CAIR-NJ Executive Director James Sues said in a statement.

"The fact that the Arabic language posted in public would cause this kind of reaction is symptomatic of the Islamophobia that grips this country today. We applaud Mayor Vergano for meeting with members of the Muslim community and taking a stand against bigotry."

By Jon "Ferris" Meredith

PublishedJune 6, 2023 at 2:00 AM

WAYNE, NJ – During his administrative report, Dr. Mark Toback, the Superintendent of Wayne Schools announced the recommendation of two candidates to take over the Principal positions at both Packanack and Pines Lake Elementary Schools. He also announced the district's recommendation for the Floating Assistant Principal of Math and Science for the Middle Schools. The Board then voted and approved the hirings.

Long-time Packanack Principal Roger Rogalin is retiring after this school year and the school district has now hired Kenneth Doolittle, ES to take his place.

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Kenneth Dolittle, ES

“Kenneth Doolittle currently serves as the Principal of Haskell School which is a PK-8 school in Wanaque, and he has held that position for the past five years,” said Toback during the meeting. “Prior to that, he was a K-12 language arts supervisor in Hopatcong for three years. Altogether, Mr. Doolittle has eight years of administrative experience as well as five years of teaching experience at the elementary and middle school level.”

Doolittle also has a great sense of humor. Toback told an anecdote shared by the new Principal during an interview. He said that should he continue his education and receive his PhD, he would then become “Dr. Doolittle.” This was met with good humor from the board and public in attendance at the meeting.

Toback added that one of Dolittle’s strengths was “his ability to foster a positive school culture.”

In a statement regarding Doolittle’s hiring, the Wayne Schools shared this background: “Doolittle graduated from Mercyhurst College in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and from Scranton University in 2015 with a Master of Science in Educational Administration. He spent nine years in the classroom teaching many subjects including middle school Language Arts and Math, fourth grade, and third grade. Mr. Doolittle also served as a third to fifth grade literacy coach prior to transitioning to a K-12 Literacy Supervisor role in Hopatcong School District.”

“We’re very excited to have Ken join the team at Wayne Township Public Schools. With a strong background in education and a passion for supporting student success through a positive culture, Ken brings a wealth of experience and dynamic leadership with him.”

For Pines Lake, the schools have hired an in-house candidate to take over for interim Principal Jean Schoenlank – who took over for Principal José Blankley-Celis earlier this year.

Dr. Lydia Cooper

“After a thorough interview process that starts at the building level and after interviews at the central office, the administration, with the support of the interview committee, is recommending Dr. Lydia Cooper as the Principal of Pines Lake Elementary,” said Toback to the board prior to their vote. “Dr. Cooper is an in-house candidate who has been working as an assistant principal at the elementary level for the past ten years. She worked as one of our floating assistant principals and provided oversight to the math and science programs. Dr. Cooper was a major contributor to the selection process for both our elementary new math textbooks and our science textbook.”

In a statement regarding her hiring, the schools said, “She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Wilmington University, and a Ph.D. in Education Leadership from Kaiser University. She began her career teaching first grade at Providence Creek Academy in Delaware where she was also the Founding Artistic Director of the Providence Creek Ballet Theater. After seven years in Delaware, she accepted a teaching position in Franklin Lakes. While in Franklin Lakes, she taught second and third grades, the ACES (gifted and talented) program, and served as the Math Staff Developer.

While in the WTPS, Dr. Cooper provided curriculum supervision for the math and elementary enrichment programs. She worked on the implementation of enVision 2.0 math program and has provided numerous professional development sessions for elementary teachers. She was recognized as an ‘Exemplary Elementary Educator’ by the NJ Department of Education in 2016. For the past three years, she has also served as a data analyst in the WTPS.”

A third position - Middle School Floating Assistant Principal overseeing math and science is in need of filling. Currently, the position is held by Nicole Rodrigues, but she will be taking over as Assistant Principal at Schuyler Colfax Middle School, replacing Christopher Mucha, who is moving on to another district as a Principal.

The administration named Lisa Crammer for this position, a Wayne resident and a graduate of Wayne Valley High School.

Lisa Crammer

“Ms. Crammer comes to Wayne after serving as Gifted and Talented Coordinator in Bloomfield and currently teaches math and computer science for the Pequannock Township Schools,” said Toback. “She has extensive experience with curriculum writing and is a teacher professional development leader.”

Here’s what the school district shared about Crammer in their statement:

Lisa Crammer graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Rutgers University and a Master’s Degree in Math Education from Rutgers Graduate School. Following her degree, her career began in the Bloomfield Public School District where she fulfilled many roles such as Teacher of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Gifted and Talented. She also served as the K-8 Gifted and Talented District Coordinator and Supervisor of the Elementary Summer School Program. During her time in Bloomfield, Mrs. Crammer continued her education to receive additional certifications in administration from Caldwell University, and later carried on her career as a mathematics educator in Pequannock.

Mrs. Crammer is passionate about education, as evidenced by her involvement in organizations over the years such as the Special Education Parent Advisory Group, National Association for Gifted Children, Association for Mathematics Teachers of NJ, National Epilepsy Foundation, and Essex County Gifted and Talented Steering Committee. She also has experience mentoring new and aspiring teachers, writing curriculum in a variety of content areas, and has provided Professional Development Workshops to both educators and parents at the local and state level.

“Math and Science instruction has always been my passion," said Crammer. "And I feel extremely grateful for the opportunity to work in my hometown. I look forward to working with colleagues, students, and families to provide a positive learning experience for all.”

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Jon "Ferris" Meredith is an award-winning journalist whose coverage of local news has earned his site the designation of Wayne Township’s Official Online News Source for the Town Council and Board of Education.

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WAYNE — A 76-year-old woman was rescued on Wednesday after she accidentally drove her SUV into Packanack Lake, firefighters said.

The woman, of Lake Drive West, mishandled her vehicle in her driveway just before 11 a.m., accelerating through her backyard and into the water, said Fire Commissioner Robert Minarick.

The SUV wound up 50 feet offshore.

As firefighters arrived, Minarick said, a good Samaritan had already rowed in a small boat to the SUV, halfway submerged in the water. The civilian rescuer was the driver's neighbor.

A firefighter put on a drysuit and, carrying a rope, waded to the boat. The lake's depth is no more than 4 feet where the vehicle landed.

The rescuers supplied a life vest to the driver and helped her to escape from her SUV. The rope was tied to the boat, which was pulled to shore by firefighters. The save was made in less than a half-hour, and no one was injured, Minarick said.

The vehicle was later dragged out of the water with a winch.

A dozen volunteers, for P.O.L. Fire Company 2 and Packanack Lake Fire Company 5, responded to the scene.

It was the second rescue that Company 5 made in a matter of hours. A tractor-trailer traveling on Lake Drive East was freed from overhead wires after becoming entangled.

Neither the driver of the SUV nor the neighbor who helped to rescue her returned calls for comments.

Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

WAYNE, NJ – There are many reasons to respect and appreciate Wayne’s all-volunteer firefighters. Not only are they running toward danger as we run away, not only do they risk life and limb to protect us and our property, but they drop everything, no matter if it's a holiday, no matter if they are at a party they’ve been looking forward to, no matter if they are comfortable and don’t feel like going – they go when called.

On Memorial Day, after participating in the township parade, Wayne’s volunteer firefighters were attending their holiday picnic at Company 5’s firehouse at Packanack Lake, when a call came in. A fire had broken out in the parking lot of the US Postal Office on Pompton Plains Crossroad in Wayne.

Hot dogs and hamburgers were left half-eaten, cole slaw and potato salad was left for the flies as the volunteers of Companies #3 and #5 responded immediately.

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“Wayne PD reported that three, possibly four mail trucks were on fire,” said Company #3 Fire Chief John Annaloro, who also told TAPinto that “When we arrived, there was a column of black smoke rising up from the post office parking lot.”

For some reason, yet unknown, an engine compartment of one of the many white, boxy mail trucks that deliver mail to our homes caught on fire and engulfed the entirety of the front of the truck and passenger compartment. Because of how closely they park these trucks to each other, the fire quickly spread to a second truck, engulfing that one as well and was in the process of spreading to a third and fourth when Wayne’s bravest arrived.

Company #5 was first on scene in truck 5-2 and began putting out the fire. Engine 5-1 was not far behind and also arriving were Company #3 on engines 3-2 and 3-1, bringing needed water.

According to Annaloro, the firefighters went through two full tanks for a total of 1,500 gallons of water to fully extinguish the fire and “mop up the area.”

It only took about 45-minutes to get things under control, but things could have been a lot worse. It was someone working at the post office on that holiday afternoon that saved a lot more trucks and perhaps the entire building and all our mail.

“There was one worker inside,” explained Annaloro. “She had the doors open on one side of the building by the loading dock, and she smelled smoke. so she popped her head out and didn’t see anything. Then, I guess she turned her head toward the back of the building when she walked further out and that’s when she saw the black smoke and called 911.”

The quick call and quick response by Wayne FD allowed the fire to be brought under control before it spread down the row of trucks to the building itself. Plus the fast response had the fires out before any of the fuel tanks ruptured in these trucks, which would have also caused severe damage.

So overall, that one postal worker on duty that day, enjoying the fresh air of a beautiful day helped to make the event much less tragic.

On top of this, it helped save the picnic for our heroes. By getting to this fire quickly, the Wayne firefighters were able to get things under control quickly and then were able to get back to their picnic and enjoy the rest of that beautiful holiday Monday.

Once again, Thank you from a grateful town.

All Photos in this Article Courtesy of the Wayne Fire Department

CORRECTION: Previous versions of this story identified Kathleen Engler as the driver of the vehicle. Engler was actually a good samaritan rescuer. She was not driving the vehicle. We apologize for this error.

Updated story below...

WAYNE, NJ – Just before 11:00 a.m. on July 8, a woman lost control of her car which ended up in Packanack lake with her trapped inside. She was rescued without injury by a neighbor and the Volunteers of Wayne Fire Company #5.

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The unidentified woman was “navigating her driveway,” in her hybrid SUV when somehow, she lost control. The car jumped the curb at the end of her driveway, through some bushes, rolled down the short grass slope of the lawn and plunged into the waters of the lake.

The car drifted, somewhat floating a full forty or so feet out into the lake.

Wayne Fire Commissioner Bob Minnarick arrived on scene just after a squad from Packanack Fire Company #5 showed up. In the lake was a small boat piloted by Kathleen Engler the woman's neighbor. “She had been trying to pull the woman from the car,” said Minnarick. “But she didn’t have the leverage to get the woman out and hold onto the boat at the same time.”

Firefighter Dennis Petrusovich rushed into a dry suit and waded through the water to the car, which continued to slowly drift. At this point water was lapping up and into the open car windows. Petrusovich brought with him a tow-line and a personal flotation device. He instructed the driver of the vehicle to put on the PFD and asked Engler to attach the tow-line to the boat. He was then able to help the frightened woman from her car and into the boat which was pulled back to the shore.

The woman was checked for injuries, but besides being shaken up and a little embarrassed, she was fine and very grateful to Engler and the fire department for helping her.

In the meantime, the Fire Company’s rescue boat had been launched and met Petrusovich back at the car. The volunteer firefighters worked together to attach the tow-rope to the car, which was then pulled from the lake by a tow truck.

Just another day at the office for Wayne’s bravest, which in this case included Kathleen Engler.