Letters to the Editor

Resident Urges Makeover for Butler's Main Street

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My neighbors have put their beautiful house on one acre with an antique barn on the market for $349,000. They were told that if their home were located in any place other that Butler, they could get around $200,000 more for it. They said Butler isn't recovering from the economic downturn as fast as other towns; there are lots of short sales coming on the market. I'm sure the condition of Main Street has a lot to do with this. Butler was just voted the most walkable community. We have great schools, we are close to everything on Route 23. So why does this town look so downtrodden? Butler could be a quaint setting if Main Street were spruced up: Plant trees on the sidewalks. Have hanging baskets off the light posts. Little things like that …

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mimi

2:12 pm on Friday, April 19, 2013

That would be a great step forward. And what I said about the Mill was a suggestion so I don't understand the "Check your facts" comment. I'm just putting forward what would be a beautification project for the town. Flowers hanging from the lights, trees planted along the streets, etc.   more ›

Substitute Crossing Guards Wanted in Butler

Local residents preferred for the job.

Employment opportunities are available for substitute crossing guards in the Borough of Butler. The borough prefers local residents apply. According to a posting on the borough website, applications can be submitted to Sgt. Robert Findura of the Butler Police Department at 10 High Street, Butler, NJ, 07405.

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Butler Municipal Taxes Could Increase $45 For Average Home

Council introduces budget, discusses filling potholes.

The Butler Borough Council voted unanimously to introduce its 2013 municipal budget on March 19 as one council member said he is waiting to see how much money is available before being able to say what borough road projects will be completed this year. The introduced budget, as Council President Edwin Vath explained, totals $10,492,539 and came in just under the 2 percent state-mandated increase cap at 1.998 percent higher than last year's budget. The council's Finance Committee and CFO Jim Kozimor began drafting the 2013 municipal budget in January. Under the introduced budget, taxes on the average assessed home of $251,793 in the borough would increase by $45.33. Vath was proud to say that the introduced budget also reflects a year-over-…

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Ken Montanye

4:42 pm on Friday, March 29, 2013

I understand they also get a pension.   more ›

Past Butler Police Chiefs Honored

Facebook gallery takes a look back at leaders of local police department.

The Butler Police Department is honoring past police chiefs through a gallery of photos of the chiefs on the department's Facebook page. Five chiefs are honored in the gallery, beginning with Chief Arthur Ferris, the first department chief, who served from 1939 through 1959. Following him was Kenneth Shippee, who served from 1959 through 1960. Chief F. Earl Dean served from 1964 through 1983 and Chief Gerald J. Napoleone served from 1984 through 1996. Following was Chief Passenti. Which past chief do you feel made the greatest contributions to the borough and why? Tell us in the comments.

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Municipal Budget, 'Butler Day' to Be Discussed by Butler Council

Recognition of Warren Frerichs for his commitment to the Butler Planning Board also on meeting's agenda.

The Butler Council will continue discussion on plans for the borough's first "Butler Day" during its meeting on Tuesday night. Specifically, the council will discuss a request from organizer Shelli Taggart for vendors who wish to participate in the event, a community gathering with fireworks and activities, to have permit fees waived. Earlier in the meeting, the council will recognize Butler Planning Board Member Warren Frerichs for his years of service on the board. A public hearing will be held relating to vacating the public interest on Marion Avenue and the council will consider voting to oppose a state bill that would place the burden of proof on government employers in a situation where an employee has an injury or illness that is …

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'Butler Day' Could Include Fireworks, Vendors, Rides This Year

Recreation Commission members presented concept for borough's first community pride event.

The Borough of Butler could join neighboring communities in offering a day of town pride should plans for the first ever Butler Day go through. Two members of the Butler Recreation Commission, Shelli Taggart and Robert Soules, approached the Butler Council Tuesday to talk about their preliminary plans for an event to be held on May 25 (rain date on May 26). Taggart explained that she envisions fireworks over one of the school fields with vendor booths, music, possibly rides and neighborly fun. "These were just ideas that were thrown out," Taggart said. Although without fireworks, Bloomingdale hosts its own Pride Day and Kinnelon has hosted K-Fest for the past two years. Some council members had concerns with the initial plans for Butler's …

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Pedestrian Struck by Butler Driver, Hospitalized

Man issued a summons for allegedly failing to yield to a pedestrian.

A Harrrison woman was hospitalized after she was hit by a van on Feb. 1, Chatham Borough Police spokesman Kevin O'Shea said. The van was driven by Leon Tomaskowicz, 64, of Butler, who was issued a summons for failure to yield to a pedestrian. The woman, Beatriz Valeiro, 45, was crossing Main Street with a green light when she was struck by a van turning onto Main Street from Fairmount Avenue, O'Shea said in a statement released Monday. Patrolman Roy George responded to the accident at Main Street and Fairmount Avenue just before 2 p.m. Valeiro was transported to Morristown Medical Center by the Chatham Emergency Squad for treatment.

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Zoo Keeper

7:27 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013

There is a new law on the books that you MUST cross at a crosswalk otherwise you are "J" walking with a $54 fine. The smae hold true for waling in a parking lot, you MUST walk in the crosswalks or you are "J" walking. Many drivers and residents are not aware of this law. The police rarely enfore it, but, its on the books. Cross at the cross walks and not inbetween......be SAFE !   more ›

Municipal Budget Planning Underway in Butler

Road repairs list will be released after budget numbers are finalized.

Butler Borough department heads are hard at work drafting budget figures to feed into the 2013 municipal budget, according to Councilman Edwin Vath. Vath, chairman of the Butler Council's Finance Committee, spoke briefly about the budget process at the council's Jan. 15 meeting. He commended all of the borough's department heads, and in particular two supervisors in the Department of Public Works, for working on their own line items. "They're really making sure they're doing a diligent job and getting accurate numbers," he said. Vath said the borough, as a whole, did a good job in 2012 of curbing costs with limited expenses. As a result, based on preliminary information, Vath anticipated that the borough may be able to add funds to the …

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Butler Townhouse Development Beginning Second Phase

Argonne Woods planning to open second set of homes for purchase this spring.

Argonne Woods, a townhome development on Route 23 in Butler, has announced plans to open a second phase of units this spring. The property is being developed by Badanco Holding Co. LLC and MNB Realty Co. LLC, with the townhomes listed by Weichert New Homes. While some homes are still available in the first phase of the 69-home property, the recent sale of several townhomes prompted the developer to schedule plans to open the second phase. In October, Mounir Badaan of MNB had approached the Butler Council to talk about pursuing a zone overlay to instead rent some of the townhomes, which are sold beginning at $399,900. Badaan had cited the economy as creating difficulty for the developers to sell the units. But in December, Badaan decided …

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Car Burns in Lowe's Parking Lot

Police said owner came out of store to find Buick on fire, cause still under investigation.

Butler police and fire officials are continuing to investigate the cause of a Buick catching fire Saturday in the Lowe's parking lot on Route 23. According to a report released by Butler police Capt. Ciro Chimento, officers responded just before 5 p.m. When Ptl. George Beyloune arrive on the scene, Chimento said a 1996 Buick was engulfed in flames. Butler Fire Department volunteers responded and put out the fire while the owner, James Blodgett, told officers that when he walked outside the store, he noticed his car was in flames. Chimento said Blodgett had told police that he had recently had his car services for faulty ignition. No injuries were reported from the incident.

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