Dear Resident,

Yesterday at approximately 6:20am an off-duty NYC Hospital Police Officer was shot in the area of Brownstone Terrace and sustained a non-fatal gunshot wound on his leg. I have attached a copy of the News Release from the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. This is an on-going investigation between the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hawthorne Police Department. Our Police Department’s priority is the safety and well-being of all of its residents; as the Mayor and Director of Public Safety, I am equally committed to ensuring your safety and well-being.

I have been told that there may be a scammer going around Hawthorne posing as a representative from PSE&G and saying that PSE&G is running a rebate for outside lights for commercial and industrial buildings. PSE&G is NOT sponsoring any type of event. Please be aware of imposters. If anyone comes to your home claiming to be from PSE&G, ask for identification. They also must have a solicitor’s permit from the borough. Please don’t engage in a conversation beforehand.

SIGNUPSCRIPT

At our council meeting last Wednesday, I presented on behalf of the Borough and Council certificates of excellence to our fourth graders who won for their artistic ability in the 2023 My County Poster Calendar Contest sponsored by Passaic County Clerk Danielle Ireland-Imhof. Congratulations to 2nd Place winner and February artist Veronika Brazhko from St. Anthony School; winner and October artist Laila Brevil from Washington Elementary School; and Honorable Mention winners Gianna Bueno from Jefferson Elementary School; and Ilyz Cuello and Robert Torres from Washington Elementary School. Congratulations to all our artists! You have made us proud.

Boy Scout Troop 85 participated in the Ramapo Valley District Klondike Derby, a competition that was inspired by the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska. The Derby tested the Scouts on a number of items such as Scout history and team building; nature; fire building; first aid; and map, compass and knots knowledge. Troop 85 entered two sleds, with one placing first, beating out over a hundred sleds district-wide. The troop decorated their sleds using the Derby’s theme “Back to the Klondike”, a twist on the 1985 film “Back to the Future”. This is the first time in almost a decade that the Troop took first place. Congratulations Troop 85! So proud of all of you.

This week the NPP pocket map was made available at the shops on Diamond Bridge Avenue, the public library, and Borough Hall. The pocket map’s purpose is to show the NPP Gateway District and note some of the services available. As this area is revitalized the goal is to stimulate growth not only in that area, but borough-wide as well. The Neighborhood Preservation Program (“NPP”) is a New Jersey state initiative offering grants to promote and encourage social and economic development of targeted neighborhoods such as our Gateway District. This area meets certain criteria that are U.S. census driven and programming requirements to be limited in size. The Hawthorne Gateway District is a mixed-use neighborhood consisting of the borough’s central business district and adjoining commercial and mixed-income areas. The Gateway also contains public facilities such as our municipal building, library, NJ Transit train station, public open spaces, and recreational facilities such as The Hawthorne Memorial Pool and Recreation Complex. Per program requirements, the use of NPP funds is limited to activities and businesses within the designated neighborhood.**BULLSEYE

We have been working on a “Mayor’s Wellness” program. My office, together with our Police Department and the Traffic Bureau, are working together on a few programs for our residents, one of which is a Mayor’s Wellness Walk. I applied for and the Borough received a grant of $1,000 for use in the program, and we plan to purchase reflective vests to be distributed to our adult walkers in town. Given the recent pedestrian fatality and the increase in pedestrian incidents, pedestrian safety is a timely issue.

Baseball and softball registration closes this Sunday, March 5, and practices begin on Wednesday, March 15. Please see the flyer attached for more details.

The Hawthorne High School Class of 2024 will be hosting a “Night at the Races” fundraising event this Tuesday, March 7 at 7pm. The event, being held at the Brownstone, includes various games and tables such as big-ticket raffles, small raffles, 50/50 pull, wine pull, a black-out board, and horse racing betting tables. Please see their flyer attached.**STANDARD

The Hawthorne Police and Officer Jason Minch announce registration for the Junior Police Academy. Pre-Registration is preferred; final registration is Monday, March 13 from 7pm to 8:30pm in the Municipal Building courtroom. For more information and details, please see the flyer attached.

United for Prevention in Passaic County announces a virtual program ‘Prevention Education in Passaic County” on Friday, March 17 from 9am to 11am. For details and to register, please contact Sherrine Schuldt, the Director of Coalition and Prevention Services at 973-720-3146, or email her at schuldts@wpunj.edu

Also on Friday, March 17 at 1pm, the Library will be hosting a Cyber Security Awareness program for our senior residents. This same program will be offered to the general public on Thursday, March 23, at 6pm. **BULLSEYE

The Hawthorne Police Department in conjunction with the Hawthorne Board of Education and the Hawthorne Municipal Alliance will be hosting its annual Lincoln Middle School Leadership Camp in August. For questions and more information, please contact Sgt. Anthony Delallo at 973-949-2997 or adelallo@hawthornepdnj.org. Please see attached for details; the application is up on our website www.hawthornenj.org/469/Leadership-Camp

I’d like to note some dates for the Borough’s 125 Anniversary Celebration: On Friday, March 24, the Borough’s anniversary date, there will be a program at the high school which will be presented by the 125th Anniversary Committee and the Historical Society with a video presentation, followed by light refreshments. Hawthorne’s own Brendan Anthony, who is a composer/singer, will perform his song “Hometown”, and the Hawthorne High School students will be presenting a short play about the formation of the town. A few other dates to note: On June 10 there will be a celebration event at the high school field, on September 30 we will celebrate at Hawthorne Day, and there has been a change of date from December 2 to November 25 for the Hawthorne 125th Anniversary Gala at Macaluso’s. Additional information will be available soon.

The Friends of the Library have announced a Pop-Up Craft Fair that will be held inside the library on Saturday, March 25, from 10:30am to 4pm.

The Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary will be holding a Fish & Chips dinner on Friday, April 7. Mark your calendar. Details to follow.

Dog licenses were due in January; late fee is $15, plus the cost of the license ($15 if the dog is spayed or neutered; $18 if not).

For those of you inquiring as to when you can put large items at the curb for garbage pick up, your ‘bulk garbage day’ is always your first garbage pickup of a month; for metal, electronics, and appliances, please call the DPW office at 973-427-5330 to schedule an appointment for pickup.

Have a good weekend, and stay safe.

Sincerely,

Mayor John V. Lane