Dear Editor:
Thank you so much for writing that wonderful piece on the Hudson River and sharing the story of Catherine Portman-Laux and Burton Laux’s experiences on the river. I picked up The North Bergen Reporter at a local car wash and expected to have a quick glance at something while my car was being cleaned. Never in a million years did I think I would become so engrossed in your article, that I would bring it with me to breakfast and read it out loud to my father, where we shared stories and reminisced about the river ourselves.
I was raised on the Hudson River, in West New York, where the heights of Blvd. East allowed the views of New York to be the back drop for so many milestones in my life, There is something magnetic and magical about the allure of the Hudson, that I never went far, as I currently reside in Edgewater, where I have inched even closer to the river, this time literally at the water’s edge. The Hudson River and NYC skyline is the first thing I see every day and I thank God for it daily. Needless to say I have seen the immense metamorphosis of the river front over the years. I am 43 years old and the change in the last 20 years has been impressive, but to have a glimpse into the past, as your article describes what once was, really put a smile on my face.
Burton’ Laux’s Hudson River childhood, seeing his sketch of Guttenberg and to realize there is a genuine and sincere love for the Hudson River, reminded me how special our waterfront truly is.
Thank you for your coverage, for reawakening my interest and enthusiasm for the Hudson River and for reminding everyone of the unique and valuable history of the waterfront that is the Gold Coast.
Best,
Jennifer Fernandez