Pequannock Township

Pequannock Little League 12 yr. Old Girls playing tonight for the State Title. Once again our town can be proud of the Little League program here in Pequannock Township.
Go Girls, bring it home!

Flag Planting along the Turnpike & Jackson Ave.

Yes, our office has been planting flags for several years now up and down the Turnpike & Jackson Ave. Every year on the Thursday before Memorial Day which much appreciation from the township residents throughout the years.
We receive phone calls, letters expressing thanks and even newspaper articles. This year in perticular. Recent front page of the Suburban Trends had us (Century 21 Crest Real Estate) dissing the American Flag, because a resident on the Turnpike went to the Town Council complaining of how the flags were laying on the ground and what a disgrace it is that we did if for advertising purposes.
This simply was not the case. In fact I paid a few local kids to go pick up the flags that had fallen over, blew into the bushes, where place mysteriously in other areas than first put. Not only did I do that but when the same resident called our office to complain, one of our assistants went promptly over to her home to collect and replace the flags that were by her house.

After reading the newspaper article, I was extremely disappointed on how our Town Council handled it. So, off I went to the office to gather up some of the agents so we could go get all the flags that where left up. We do send an annual letter every homeowner on the turnpike & jackson ave. asking them to take the flags in after the Memorial Day Holiday. This however didn't happen prompty.
Off 5 of us went, collecting the flags. We were stopped several times, "What are you doing said a resident on Jackson Ave", I want my flags up. This of course was from a veteran. A proud one! We left his up but took his neighbors down. He was going to make a point of contacting the Town Council to tell them they had nerve not supporting the Troops and the Veterans of this township.
We continued on to pick up more flags, more stops along the way. The best way to handle this was to tell the residents that "one of their neighbors complained" and this just makes our office not want to continue to good deeds for the town we live in and love so much.
Not only does Century 21 Crest put flags up, we have supported several different organizations in town. Whether our own police departement, Little League, Friends of the Library, The Township Newsletter (of past) The Relay For Life, PTHS Wrestling, Football, Field Hockey, Pequanncok Chamber of Commerce etc....the list goes on and on.

When something this negative happens, you really do not want to participate in events.

Ok, back to picking up the flags...so we're finished. Back to the office we went but I wanted to stop by and see the mayor. 5 Of us stopped in and saw Jay Vanderhoff.
I tried to be very professional and to explain to him that we understand the residents concern but to have no backing from the township and especially Mr. Kapotes was truly disappointing. And, please relay to Mr. Kapotes that next time he makes a statement, have the facts. Yes, we send a letter to each owner on the turnpike and Jackson Ave. and the best....the Municipal Building received their letter, I guess Mr. Kapotes wasn't copied that letter.

Back at the office with many of us very upset, I announced that we shouldn't put the flags up next year, many agreed, however our broker, Pat said, "are you crazy" you're going to let one person ruin a good thing. I suggested we concentrate on another town (this comes from me, someone who was born and raised in Pequannock) thinking that maybe the residents would miss the flags and appreciate what our office does for this town. We also wanted to to show our support to the Veterans and those service men and women.

A week goes by, not only does the broker receive phone calls but now letter's to the editor on our behalf. Again this week another positive letter.
To all those who write or call the Town Council, thank you. I just may agree to put the flags next year.
I shouldn't let 1 person and 1 politician spoil a good deed.