FAIR LAWN, NJ - Over the weekend, police tracked down complaints of a burning car that "had driven off the roadway from Saddle River Road," according to a police Facebook post. Two officers had minor injuries and were released at the scene.
The car drove into the park area "behind a home," police said, on Saturday, March 16.
"It was reported the operator of the vehicle was driving recklessly up and down Saddle River Road" prior to the incident.
A woman exited the burning vehicle, claiming her child was in the back seat, police said.
"Officers quickly reacted and determined they didn't see anyone in the vehicle, while they were doing this, the victim fled into a home nearby and was detained," police said.
"The child was never in the vehicle and was safe at a different location."
The woman was transported to New Bridge Medical Center for evaluation.
Police said charges are pending per the outcome of an investigation.
]]>FAIR LAWN, NJ - The borough is celebrating its 100th anniversary, so it's rather fitting that various areas in the borough are undergoing a renewal process, including Broadway.
Tiolora Lumbantoruan is now part of that process, an urban planner who will spend the next two and a half years on a Broadway Vision Plan.
Lumbantoruan, who hails from Jakarta, Indonesia, and graduated from Cornell graduate school in 2021, said part of her focus is the train station and the ease of circulation around it.
"I'll be reviewing priorities, existing plans, and talking to the stakeholders," she said.
Ryan Greff, Fair Lawn Main Street Executive Director, introduced Tiolora as the borough's "new economic recovery fellow who will be working on the revitalization of Broadway."
Greff said the project entails "district planning and design, beautification, customer attraction strategies, stakeholder engagement, and program delivery."
"The Economic Recovery Corp Fellow will conduct regular community outreach and engage with local government in developing design guidelines and exploring new grant programs to spur private investment to implement various beautification initiatives such as streetscaping and public art," Greff said. "The outcome envisioned is a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly business corridor with low vacancy rates and increased foot traffic. The impact will be felt by residents, businesses, and visitors alike, contributing to the economic vitality of a thriving Main Street corridor."
Announcement of the project, which occurred in early February, comes through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Tiolora is part of the Economic Recovery Corps (ERC), which was launched in 2023 through a $30 million cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA).
The ERC is designed to build capacity in some of the hardest-hit and most economically distressed areas across the United States while cultivating the next generation of economic development leaders, according to the IEDC. In February, the 65 Fellows began their two-and-a-half-year field placements with host organizations across the nation.
That's how Tiolora landed here in Fair Lawn.
Authorized under the CARES Act, "the Economic Recovery Corp was created to address long-standing economic issues in America that surfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for historically underserved populations and communities," according to the IEDC.
These communities and regions have undergone economic distress that led to vastly different outcomes that continue to impact economic recovery today, according to the IEDC.
Greff said Tiolora's salary is "completely paid for by the IEDC," which received its money through the CARES Act.
Greff said the value of such an urban planner for the borough is "in excess of $275,000" over the course of her 2.5-year fellowship.
Tiolora has a big task. Broadway, at least for the last 30 years, has seemed somewhat disjointed. While there are sidewalks, it never quite seems pleasant enough to walk. During the past 10 years or so, though, the Broadway Improvement District has made a difference by encouraging sprucing-up storefronts, adding large flower planters, and attracting new businesses, such as AutoZone, medical complexes, and educational facilities, while keeping community staples like Dunkin' Donuts and Columbia Bank in place.
And just as Route 4 leads into Elmwood Park where the KMart used to be, there is now a much-welcome ShopRite.
The Broadway Train Station, located on an overpass above Route 4 and originally known as a passenger stop called Warren Point, dates to 1934 when Route 4 was built between Paterson and the George Washington Bridge, according to Wikipedia.
]]>PARAMUS, NJ - In the center of the Garden State Plaza's finest cuisine and food mecca sits Chocolate Moonshine Co., a delightful kiosk serving delectable treats.
Opening about a month ago, right outside of Macy’s, Fogo de Chão, and Shake Shack, Chocolate Moonshine CO. is a chocolate lovers delight. The menu consists of 30 different flavors of gourmet fudge, 20 flavors of truffle bars, luxury sipping chocolates and more!
When first walking up to the kiosk, I was welcomed with smiles from owners Ameya and Sonali, a mother and son duo. At first glance, there is a plethora of sweets to choose from. Flavors of fudge like Toffee, Peanut Butter Whiskey, and Mango Habanero initially caught my eye, and of course, I just had to try them.
One thing I loved about the whole buying experience was being able to try new things and, to my pleasant surprise, liking flavors I normally wouldn't even think of trying. Ameya was adamant that he did not want his customers to have any buyer's remorse, so you can sample almost everything. Allowing people to sample something new before buying is something that makes this kiosk unique.
Ameya started his franchise journey as a franchise lawyer, but franchises have always been in his life going back to the ‘90s when his father opened the family's first Dunkin' Donuts. This latest endeavor was all about happy tastebuds for Ameya.
"I fell in love with the taste," Ameya explained. This, after dealing with plenty of brands, was how he knew Chocolate Moonshine CO. was a perfect fit.
His first location was nearby in Macy's at the Paramus Park Mall. With great success there, he decided to venture to the Plaza when a prime location opened up. A majority of the products are shipped in from the factory located in Grove City, PA, but the Luxury Sipping Chocolates and whipped cream are made fresh almost every morning right on site.
After trying a little taste of everything, I came to the conclusion that the bestseller, Panned Blueberry Explosion, holds its title for a reason. The way the chocolate mixes with fresh fruits changed my mind about how I like to enjoy the milky dessert. It’s truly an explosion of bright blueberry flavors complimented by the creamy, but not overpowering, chocolate. Their other panned chocolates, including chocolate covered raisins and espresso beans, were also incredible.
You can choose a variety of flavors to be mixed together and be purchased by the tube.
Trust me, you do not want to miss out on these delightful treats.
Runner-up belongs to the Artisan Truffle Bars. These log-shaped bars, that come in 20 flavors, have a shell made from imported Belgium chocolate that is hand painted with French cocoa butter, and filled with a creamy ganache. There are alcoholic flavors like bestseller Irish cream or cranberry pomegranate, a personal favorite, as well as mom and son’s favorite.
A must-try is their Sipping Luxury Chocolates! A far cry from your everyday hot chocolate, you can try a variety of flavors, hot or over ice. I was pleased with the iced Piña colada hot chocolate. The drink is made with both dark and milk chocolate, making it not too sweet and really allowing whatever flavor you choose to shine through. This drink has the perfect sweetness, but it wasn't too thick, making it the perfect after-dinner beverage.
Chocolate Moonshine Co. is the perfect place to stop by after a savory meal or after a long day of shopping and running errands. Next time you're in the Garden State Plaza, stop by and allow yourself to indulge in one of the many decadent treats Chocolate Moonshine Co. has to offer.
]]>GLEN ROCK, NJ - Local roads will be torn up throughout the next several months as PSE&G replaces cast iron pipes with new, "durable' piping, according to borough officials.
PSE&G will be working in Glen Rock to replace aging cast iron gas pipes with new, durable plastic and/or coated steel piping – ensuring the continued safety and reliability of our gas system well into the future.
Work will take place Monday through Friday between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., with the potential for Saturday work. The gas main replacement and services portion of the work is expected to take place throughout 2023 and 2024, according to the PSE&G website.
When PSE&G technicians need to coordinate access to your home to connect the service line and gas meter to the new main pipeline, they will contact the homeowner to arrange a date and time to do this work.
If you reside on one of the streets listed, more information will come directly to your home.
The exact locations PSE&G will be working varies from day to day. There is also unexpected work that is scheduled with little notice. Residents can visit PSE&G's website here for weekly updates on the progress of the work.
]]>GLEN ROCK, NJ - Wilde Memorial Park was closed for several hours after the most recent heavy weekend rain and subsequent windstorm that lasted well into Monday, but some residents were not heeding the police department's safety warning.
On Tuesday and Wednesday this week, police closed the park as tree crews worked to remove "numerous" trees. And the public was warned through email and other visible means: "DO NOT ENTER THE PARK FOR ANY REASON."
The Department of Public Works located a "large limb that came down near the shack in Wilde Park on Monday," according to Police Chief Dean Ackermann.
Borough officials conducted an emergency assessment and 16 trees needed to be removed, the chief said.
"The DPW needed the Police Department's assistance as people ignored the notices on social media, electronic signs on both sides of the park stating "Danager Ahead - Park Closed", and police line tape," Chief Ackermann said.
Individuals "drove around cones closing the entrance from Maple Avenue, and climbed over and damaged locked gates, continuing to use the park. One would expect this from children, but I am referring to adults of all ages," the chief said.
The chief said they had to "station one of our Special Officers in the park to keep people away from the work crews."
]]>GLEN ROCK, NJ - Glen Rock Middle School drama students are preparing for their performance of Annie Jr. this weekend bringing Broadway to Glen Rock.
These actors have been working hard on the stage and behind the scenes to bring audiences this spectacular production of the beloved musical on Friday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 16 at 4 p.m. in the Glen Rock Middle School/High School auditorium, 400 Hamilton Avenue.
Tickets ($15 for adults, $10 for students & senior citizens) can be reserved by emailing grmsmusicaltickets@gmail.com and will be available at the door 30 minutes prior to the start of each show.
GLEN ROCK, NJ – See the power of poetry through the hearts and pens of local artists during a special event, "Verse & Visuals, The Art of the Poem", at the library.
The Arts Council of Glen Rock, in partnership with Friends of the Glen Rock Public Library, has launched a special event in celebration of National Poetry Month – “Verse & Visuals, The Art of the Poem.”
Original poems by nine writers of all ages, all with ties to Glen Rock, are the centerpiece of a month-long exhibition in The Gallery at the Glen Rock Library beginning April 4.
“The Arts Council celebrates all forms of the Arts and is excited to continue our tradition of supporting the written word,” said Arts Council co-president Mona Milbrodt. “To paraphrase the words of Ogden Nash, ‘We think poems are very useful, although they’re not consumeful or produceful.’”
The Verse & Visuals exhibition was conceived and developed by Amanda Marcalus, Art Curator of the Library; John Blackman, on the board of both the Friends of the Glen Rock Library and the Arts Council; and Mona Milbrodt.
In support of the Arts and the written word, two Glen Rock businesses – Catalano Coffee and The Curious Reader – have stepped up to sponsor this special exhibition.
Twelve artists from Glen Rock and nearby locations were invited to create artwork inspired by one of the four central poems submitted by adult writers. The results of this combined effort will make a multimedia exhibition, with poems set in LARGE print, making the layouts both eye-catching and thought-provoking.
As an added treat, five poems by Glen Rock students will be on display in the exhibit. Two entries are from Mobius, the Glen Rock High School literary magazine, and three are 5th graders at Byrd Elementary.
Celebrating five years of working to build a vibrant arts scene in Glen Rock, the Arts Council marks its fourth year of Poetry Month activity. In 2021, poems appeared on Glen Rock storefronts to start the tradition. Then in 2022, inspired by a podcast, the Arts Council undertook Poetry Aloud, featuring a new poem performed on video daily throughout April and posted on social media. 39 residents of all ages participated. Then last year, the Arts Council featured 11 poems performed on video by former and current Glen Rock residents on social media and on artscouncilgr.org.
]]>GLEN ROCK, NJ - On a cold and rainy Saturday night, Glen Rock residents filled the Glen Rock High School cafeteria to show solidarity against antisemitism.
The March 9 standing-room crowd responded to an invitation that said, "in light of the recent incidents in our school and our borough, let us come together as an entire town to show our community that there is no room for antisemitism in Glen Rock."
Led by Mayor Kristine Morieko, the event featured speakers from government and the religious communities.
"In denouncing antisemitism, we are not just protecting one group. We are protecting the very fabric of our Glen Rock community. And as a Glen Rock community, I ask that we commit ourselves to fostering an environment where the flowers of unity, respect, and support can bloom," Morieko said during her opening comments.
Glen Rock Chief of Police Dean Ackermann discussed how the police department responds to hate crimes and the cooperative agreements that allow them to bring in support from throughout northern New Jersey.
The evening also featured comments by Ed Hayward from the Glen Rock Board of Education; Lisa Swain, NJ State Assemblywoman; Tracy Zur, Bergen County Commissioner; Ruthie Bashan, Clinical Social Worker; Harlan Singh, representing the Glen Rock religious communities; and Rabbi Jenn Schlosberg.
From their diverse backgrounds, the speakers shared personal experiences and talked about the effects of antisemitism from their unique viewpoints. As each speaker finished, Rabbi Schlosberg sprung to her feet and gave them a long, warm hug.
"I wanted them to know we appreciate their support of the Jewish community," she said. "As we come together, we have different politics, different creeds, but hopefully we can all agree that there's no place for hate in Glen Rock or anywhere."
"I felt a lot of love and support in the room," she continued. "There were so many people here, and that really speaks volumes of Glen Rock as a town."
]]>FAIR LAWN, NJ - Residents are invited to participate in a Community Survey regarding the Preservation and Restoration of the Naugle House for a New Jersey Historic Trust Grant Application.
Please click HERE to participate in the survey.
According to Wikipedia, "The Naugle House is a historic house of the American colonial architecture style called Dutch Colonial on Dunkerhook Road in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, adjacent to the Saddle River County Park. It was constructed around 1745 on a small hillside along the Saddle River (Passaic River) and is approached from Dunkerhook Road via a roadway that permits access to the park. The National Park Service Heritage Documentation Programs Historic American Buildings Survey took photographs and made architectural drawings of the house in 1938, and the National Park Service added the Naugle House to the National Register of Historic Places on January 9, 1983."
More from Wikipedia: "In 2010, Fair Lawn purchased the Naugle House for $1,700,000, a combination of borough funds and monies from the Bergen County and State of New Jersey Open Space and Green Acres funding programs, in order to protect the house and to create a greenspace of trees and lawns around the house in perpetuity. That purchase followed plans for the construction of town houses on the Naugle House's property. Although Fair Lawn and Bergen County held a dedication ceremony for the house in the fall of 2011, the year that the historic preservation organization Preservation New Jersey placed the house on its "Ten Most Endangered" List, the Naugle House has come under pressure of demolition or neglect by nature of development plans for the Jacob Vanderbeck Jr. House that involve the construction of parking lots and driveways completely around the Naugle House, thereby endangering its structural and historic landscape integrity. A group of preservationists and concerned citizens continue to fight for its preservation for future generations."
]]>FAIR LAWN, NJ - The Borough is scheduled to begin its annual Hydrant Flushing Program on April 1, 2024. The flushing program will last for a period of approximately ten weeks.
What is Hydrant Flushing and Why is the Borough Doing it?
To minimize your inconvenience, this work will be done only between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday evenings.
Water service will not be interrupted. During this work, you may experience some discoloration of the water. This is expected and a normal occurrence when existing water mains are disturbed. If you experience this, caution should be used in washing white clothes; however, the discoloration poses no health hazard and the water is safe for consumption. Please allow the water to run from your tap for a minute or two until it clears.
If you have any questions regarding this program, call 201-794-5326 during normal working hours or 201-794-5374 at all other times.
The Borough apologizes for any inconvenience during this time and we thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
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