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Building Study

Woodland Park Borough Council

President Tracy Kallert and Councilman Vincent DeCesare recently announced that Woodland Park Police Department Capt. Jeffrey O’Brien will be the honored officer at this year’s “Families Behind the Badge” Softball Tournament, which will be held on Saturday, June 3 (rain date June 4) at the Memorial School field complex. Jeffrey’s parents George and Dorothy O’Brien joined the Mayor and Council for the announcement. Capt. O’Brien passed away on Nov. 21, 2022, after an eight-year battle with brain cancer. A resident of Woodland Park since 1995, he joined the police department in 2000 and rose to the rank of Captain. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his son Sean O’Brien; stepson Victor Trzuskot; grandmother Jeanne Lekston; sister Charlotte O’Brien; brother Daniel O’Brien and his wife Caryn; and his nieces and nephews.

By Richard Mabey Jr.

One of the saddest things

I’ve endured in my life is listening to a father complain about his son, or vice versa. The solemn sadness those words would bring to my heart, would be of such an immense depth.

For over 20 years, I served as an Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 170. For over 15 years, I served as a parttime Youth Minister. And, I have worked with young people through organizations such as 4-H and Toastmasters. Sadly, it was not uncommon to hear a father complain about his son, or to hear a son complain about his father.

I was blessed beyond my wildest dreams to have a strong father with a kind heart. My father was a veteran of the Second World War. As a boy, he survived the tough times of the Great Depression. These

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