Little Falls Public Library Kicks-Off Summer Reading With Carnival Fun

By Tina Pappas

The Little Fall Public Library welcomed summer with a bang during its first-ever Summer Reading Program Kick-Off Carnival on June 17.

The celebration featured bounce houses, cornhole, Giant Jenga, Giant Connect-Four, axe-throwing, crafts, and even button-making! Refreshments and ice cream were also served, including hot dogs for a donation to the local Boys Scouts Troop 14.

On-hand for the festivities was Mayor James Damiano, Councilman Chris Vancheri, Councilwoman Christine Hablitz, Councilman Mike Murphy, Councilwoman Jayna Patel and Library Board President Anne Kahwaty. The library’s staff was also on-hand consisting of Jennifer Cole, Library Director; Michelle Jordan, Adult Services; Linda Belen, Youth Services; Joseph DeCesare, Circulation and Digital Services and Matthew Hardy, Community Outreach and Marketing Coordinator.

With this year’s library theme of “All Together Now,” attendees also gathered to enjoy some face-painting and add their names to a cut-out of their hand to add to the “hand leaf tree” inside the library’s children section. The tree signifies unity within the community.

Cole said that the entire library staff was thrilled to see the turnout for the Summer Reading Kick-Off Carnival.

“It was great to see so many people signing up for the summer reading and enjoying the festivities,” said Cole, adding that she and the entire library staff are thankful for the continued support of the library’s patrons, the Little Falls Library Board of Trustees, the Little Falls Police Department, the Little Falls Department of Public Works and the Little Falls Township Council.

Councilwoman Hablitz also commented on the library’s initiatives.

“I am so proud to see all these events coming to fruition for the library,” she said. “Jennifer Cole, our library director, and her staff, have done amazing things.”

Carnival Fun

Siblings Abigail and Tyler Mugleston showcase the “hand leaf tree” inside the Little Falls Public Library during the annual Summer Reading Program KickOff Carnival.

Acting Mayor Kallert Sworn in

Boy Scouts Troop 14 fundraise during the Little Falls Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Program Kick-Off Carnival.

Woodland Park Councilwoman

Tracy Kallert was sworn in as Acting Mayor on July 9, following the resignation of Mayor Keith Kazmark, who has vacated his roles as both Borough Administrator and Mayor to take a position as Village Manager in Ridgewood.

Kazmark was first elected to public office in 2002 at 23 years old and served three terms as a councilman. In 2011, he was elected as the mayor and he was reelected in 2014, 2017 and 2020.

Acting Mayor Kallert will seek a full three-year term as Mayor in November. As a lifelong Woodland Park resident, Kallert has been a member of the Borough Council for 11 years, serving as Council President in 2015, 2020, and 2023. She has also served on the zoning board and flood board.

Acting Mayor Kallert after taking the oath and being presented with the gavel by Kazmark, former Mayor Pat Lepore, and former Mayor Gary Colletti, noted that she does not take the position lightly.

“I'm excited. I'm nervous.

I'm everything I should be feeling to keep myself in check and to make sure every morning I wake up and realize the responsibility I have to the 14,000 people who are now trusting me to deliver a finer life for them,” she said. “Woodland Park has been there for me, and I plan on leaving my mark just as Woodland Park has always left the stamp on my heart.”

Courtesy Dr. Anant Joshi

When you are experiencing pain, a good thing to do is look down to see if your feet look the same. Is there swelling, redness, both, or something else that is different about one foot?

Having a good one to compare the bad one too does make it easier for us to make an accurate diagnosis. It’s also easier for you to determine whether you should be concerned.

A common condition that happens just below the ankle often makes one foot look different than the other. Sometimes the appearance is subtle and sometimes it’s quite obvious.

The affected foot often has swelling and sometimes redness.

To see it best, looking down while you are standing gives you the best picture.

Pain and swelling in this area is a sign of a common form of tendinitis.

This condition usually occurs without an injury. Women who are over 40 years of age are more prone to it than males.

People with flat feet typically are the most prone. There is a simple test you can do at home that indicates whether this tendon is the culprit. It would be best to hold onto the wall or something while doing it.

Start with keeping 1 foot on the floor and the other raised just off the floor.

Try to go up on your tiptoes on the foot that’s on the floor.

If this is no problem for you, then the tendon isn’t affected. Switch to having the other foot on the floor and the opposite raised, and then try to go up on your tiptoes again. It’s a classic sign of this major tendon being a problem when the affected foot can’t raise up onto the toes. When there is pain and swelling caused by this form of tendinitis, ICE, rest, better shoes, anti-inflammatories, and physical therapy will have a minimal affect. The longer this condition exists the higher, the risk of the tendon tearing.

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Tri-Town Fishing Derby

The Borough of Woodland Park, Township of Little Falls, and Borough of Totowa recently held the annual tritown fishing derby at Henderson Pond at Zaccaria Park. Over 40 families took part.

Great Falls Bassmasters President Antonio “Go Go” Gomez's team was on hand to measure the fish caught and help the children out. During the three-hour fishing window, when a child would catch a fish they would bring it to the pavilion to be measured and logged. Following the serving of refreshments, prizes were awarded in three age groups to those who caught the most fish and those who caught the biggest fish.

The most fish caught during the event was 10. The smallest fish caught was 4 inches and biggest fish caught was 12.5 inches.

The event was organized by the Woodland Park Recreation Department Events