ROXBURY, NJ - The Roxbury Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a township man who has not been seen for almost two weeks.
The man, Altariq Hickson, was last seen at his residence in Roxbury on March 6, police said in a statement released today. They described Hickson as being 20 years old, black with black hair, about 215 pounds and 6-feet, 1-inch tall.
Police did not offer any details related to Hickson's disappearance. It released the information after being asked about a helicopter that was seen flying low over Kenvil on Sunday morning. One source said police were looking to see if a body was in Sunset Lake, on the Roxbury/Mine Hill border, the scene of a double-drowning in 2022.
"The only thing I was told was someone on Gregory Drive in Kenvil found someone's wallet and cell phone," said Mine Hill Mayor Sam Morris today. "They were trying to find the person ... I'm not sure how a wallet and cell phone turned into a drowning rumor. I think that's a little improper."
Roxbury police are asking anybody with information regarding Altariq’s whereabouts or the investigation to call them at 973-448-2100.
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]]>ROXBURY, NJ – This year’s Rox-THON event at Roxbury High School, which took place last Friday and Saturday, raised about $77,000 to help fight pediatric cancer, according to organizers.
While coming up a little short of the $82,000 raised in 2019, the 2024 installment’s total is the third-highest since Rox-THON began a decade ago. Last year’s Rox-THON raised about $56,000.
“RHS Rox-THON was another huge success this year,” said the Roxbury High School Rox-THON Club on Facebook. “This puts us at $514,000 raised lifetime.”
The students thanked all who supported the cause through donations and otherwise. Money raised by the overnight event - where participants were not allowed to sit or sleep from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. while playing games, dancing and eating - will be donated to offset the medical bills of patients at Goryeb Children's Hospital in Morristown and to fund cancer research through the Four Diamonds program at Penn State Health Children's Hospital in Hershey, Pa.
“Our students continue to make a difference for families at Goryeb Children's Hospital and Four Diamonds,” said the club.
The high school students were not the only Roxbury students who recently raised money to fight cancer. About $12,000 was gathered this year by pupils at Kennedy Elementary School for the annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation head-shaving event, according to Roxbury Rotary Club member Steve Alford, who attended the March 15 celebration dressed as a leprechaun.
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]]>ROXBURY, NJ – The first phase of a Roxbury Rotary Club project that will improve the appearance of Black River Park in Succasunna is tentatively scheduled to begin next week.
Announced in July, the project will entail volunteers from the club – with some help from the Roxbury Department of Public Works (DPW) - removing invasive plants from the Black River Pond shoreline, said DPW Assistant Director Steve Senese.
Discussing the project at the March 12 Roxbury Mayor and Council meeting, Senese said the goal is to trim the unsightly plants all the way from the Black River Barn to the Black River Park trailhead across Main Street from Suburban Furniture.
“The first thing you see coming into Roxbury off Route 10 is Black River Park and – unfortunately, because of all the invasive species we have there - it’s gotten overgrown and the vista to the lake itself, which is beautiful, is impacted negatively,” he said.
Senese said members of the club will endeavor to remove the “heavy brush” along the shoreline. “That will open up the vista from the parking lot,” he said. “We have a lot of invasives there, and they are very difficult to treat So we are going to tackle it through a couple of different means. The first is removing the brush at the root.”
However, he said the roots will not be torn out of the ground in the first phase because doing so might result in too much soil erosion. Removal of the roots is likely to take place “later in the year” when the second phase of the project is tackled. At that time, grass will be planted as a temporary way to prevent erosion, with the goal being to eventually plant native species of aquatic vegetation, Senese said.
“It’s a wonderful project,” said Roxbury Township Manager John Shepherd, pointing to the work the club did in restoring Conkling Pond on Mooney Mountain.
Senese said the Black River Park work is scheduled to begin March 21 at 1:30 p.m. “Rotary has a bunch of volunteers, but they’re certainly looking for more,” he said. “The more hands the merrier.”
Related TAPinto Roxbury stories:
New Project for Roxbury Rotary: Black River Park Cleanup
Roxbury Rotary Continues Conkling Pond Beautification
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]]>The topic was raised at the March 12 meeting of the township Mayor and Council, a session that saw Succasunna residents Michael Dinnocenzo and Nicole Ehrgott-Haslett, speak during the public session and urge action. An online petition started by Ehrgott-Haslett had more than 250 signatures as of today.
The intersection was the scene of two accidents last weekend, including one - caught on video by a motorist – in which the driver of an SUV on Pleasant Hill Road blew right through the stop sign. The vehicle struck a car on Eyland Avenue and flipped before coming to rest against a utility pole.
During the council meeting, Roxbury Police Chief Dean Adone said there have been 13 accidents at the site since January 2022. “Of those 13, 70 percent of them were for failing to yield, which means they didn’t actually go through the stop sign,” he said. “They came to a stop, maybe misjudged the cross-traffic and came out and caused an accident by failing to yield.”
Adone said the remaining 30 percent of the crashes involved “people going right through the stop sign.”
The chief also said his department did not find that speeding of drivers on Eyland Avenue played a part in accidents. The speed limit there is 35 mph, and most vehicles clocked by police during traffic surveys were found to be traveling less than 40 mph, according to Adone.
“I drive through that intersection myself ten times a week with my children,” said the chief. “I share the concerns that a lot of you have. We have tried some calming features in the past: Blinking stop signs … a ‘stop ahead’ sign. It has not worked. We are still looking for some other options there.”
Roxbury Councilman Jim Rilee, noting he also lives near the intersection, suggested installing a stop sign on the left side of Pleasant Hill Road at the intersection. Doing so might help people “catch the (stop) sign quicker" as they come around the right-hand bend in the road near Avon Terrace, Rilee said.
“We have been looking and will continue to look (for a solution), he said. “We’re not going to stop looking at it … I know it’s frustrating. All I can say is we are aware of what’s going on.”
Promises to work toward improving the crossroad’s safety were also made by Roxbury Mayor Jaki Albrecht and Roxbury Deputy Mayor Shawn Potillo.
“We hear you,” Potillo said. “We understand there needs to be more looking at this intersection. There has been mitigation done at this intersection, but that doesn’t mean it has to stop there.”
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]]>ROXBURY, NJ - They play good defense and take care of the basketball. What more could you ask for?
Those two characteristics have carried Roxbury's 5th grade girls basketball team this season. The team’s strategy was on display March 8 at the Jersey Basketball League (JBL) semi-finals where Roxbury took on Westfield.
The young Gaels jumped out to a big early lead through a series of well executed offensive plays, maintaining possession of the ball and hitting easy shots. Westfield would then come back into the game, where the Gaels would have to dig deep and lean on their defense to close it out.
A few well-run plays would get the Gaels the baskets they needed to stay in the lead. Roxbury would wind up winning 33-32, earning a trip to the JBL championship.
“We have really hung our hat on doing those two things really well, and it has carried us so far," said Roxbury Recreation Director Brett Douglas. "Hopefully we have one more win in the tank.”
The squad will take on Rockaway for the championship on March 16 at 12:45 pm. The game will be played at the Bound Brook Rec Center.
The team is coached by Douglas, Diane Naugle-Douglas and Bill Weischedel. Fans are encouraged to wear blue and gold to the game on Saturday. Go Gaels!
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ROXBURY, NJ – The owner of an average home in Roxbury will see a $45-per-year increase in municipal taxes under a 2024 township budget introduced Tuesday by the Roxbury Mayor and Council.
That figure, offered by Roxbury Township Manager John Shepherd, is based on the 1.8 percent tax rate increase that will be required if the proposed $32.8 million spending plan is approved. The approval vote will follow a public hearing at the April 16 council meeting.
Shepherd noted the tax increase, if approved, would amount to about $3.75 more per month for the average homeowner.
Municipal taxes account for only about a quarter of the annual taxes paid by property owners. The bulk of those taxes, about 64 percent, go to the Roxbury School District, which has yet to introduce a 2024 budget. County, county open space, township open space and Roxbury Public Library taxes made up the remainder.
Last year, Shepherd initially proposed a budget that had a similar small tax increase. However, he subsequently introduced a 2023 spending plan, approved by the council, that required no tax hike.
Roxbury Councilman Bob DeFillippo thanked Shepherd, Roxbury Township Finance Director Valerie Wyble and others for the effort put into creating the new budget and for the time they spent going over it with the council.
“What I like to do every year is compliment Valerie, staff and John for the weeks and weeks of review that we go through with the council where you guide us through, line by line, every penny that comes in in taxes and every penny that goes out to provide services to the community,” he said. “So, once again, we’ve been through that process with the council. I always enjoy being part of that.”
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]]>ROXBURY, NJ – The intersection of Eyland Avenue, Unneberg Avenue and Pleasant Hill Road in Succasunna is “a threat to the well-being of our community,” asserts a petition that presses township officials to make it less dangerous.
The petition was created March 10 by Succasunna resident Nicole Ehrgott-Haslett. She - and others sharing her concerns - plan to attend this week’s Roxbury Mayor and Council meeting to make their feelings known.
In the petition, Ehrgott-Haslett says she is “deeply concerned about the safety of our town and especially our children” because of the accidents that happen at the intersection “due to poor traffic flow.”
Two crashes took place at the crossroads over the weekend, said Michael Dinnocenzo, one of the concerned residents who, until last fall, lived right at the intersection.
“There have been five accidents in the past three weeks,” Dinnocenzo said, noting the one that took place Saturday morning “was so severe they had to extract a woman and child” out of their vehicle. A video shows a white SUV blow through the stop sign and flip in the air after striking a vehicle on Eyland Avenue.
Dinnocenzo, who moved to another part of town last September, said he tried for years to get something done to make it safer. “I’ve been on the phone with multiple mayors, the township manager, the police chief, two officers on the police department,” he said. “The police literally posted in my driveway and did a survey three years ago.”
He said the survey found many approaching Eyland Avenue - both from Pleasant Hill Road and from Unneberg Avenue - failed to stop fully.
“They’re rolling through and the people on Eyland are doing 45 to 50,” Dinnocenzo said. “People start rolling out and think they can make it. I had numerous people end up on my property, some missing my house by only feet.”
There are stop signs with flashing red lights on both sides of the intersection, the only place in Roxbury to have them, according to Roxbury Department of Public Works Director Rick Blood. He said the township also “cleared some trees out of there in 2023 to improve the sight distance … as the result of some accident data.”
Blood said the township traffic committee “has been reviewing” the situation and is aware of the site’s accident history. “What happens next, I’m not sure,” he said.
In the petition, Ehrgott-Haslett points out the proximity to the intersection of Kennedy Elementary School, something that adds to the traffic volume.
“We need immediate action from local authorities to redesign this intersection in a way that will ensure safe and efficient traffic flow for all road users - pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike,” says the petition. “Let us prioritize safety over convenience. Let us make sure that every child who crosses this intersection reaches their destination safely.”
Dinnocenzo conceded making the intersection less dangerous will be a challenge. He said some suggestions, such as the installation of a traffic light and speed bumps, would present their own problems.
“I don’t know what the solution is going to be, but they have to do something,” he said.
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]]>ROXBURY, NJ – A Roxbury High School sophomore and a Mount Arlington eighth grader were among 12 students from throughout Morris County honored last week at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) in Morristown.
The Roxbury High School student, Alex Fullam, and the Mount Arlington School student, Philip Biase, joined the other young musicians in being named “Outstanding Band Members” and MPAC Music Students of the Month. The students were honored prior to the March 7 performance by Spyro Gyra and Jeff Lorber Fusion at MPAC.
Fullam was nominated by Roxbury High School Director of Bands Jeffrey Conrad.
“Alex is a sophomore member of our band program,” said Conrad. “He is involved in all aspects, including our marching bands, jazz program, chamber music/solo recitals as well as our curricular band program.”
Conrad described Fullam as being “incredibly hard-working, talented and kind,” and noted Fullam recently earned a spot as a trombonist in both the North Jersey Region 1 Wind Ensemble and the NJ All State Wind Ensemble/All State orchestra (where he placed third in the state).
“Alex leads by example, is always willing to help and sets incredibly high standards for himself in all his musical as well as non-musical endeavors,” said the band director. “We are lucky to have him as a member of our band program.”
Biase was nominated by Mount Arlington School music instructor Michael Aberback.
“Philip Biase is an outstanding band member,” said Aberback. “He has been a dedicated percussionist in my band program for the past five years. He currently plays in our school Concert Band and Percussion Ensemble.”
Aberback said Biase “attends before-school morning rehearsals three times a week. He is never late for rehearsal, has not had a single unexcused absence this year and he always arrives prepared and ready to play.”
The teacher also said Biase recently participated in the school talent show, performing an original drum set solo.
“Philip is a well-rounded percussionist,” said Aberback in nominating Biase for the honor. “He has made great progress in both his mallet playing and drumming over the last several years. Philip is hard-working, good-natured and very responsible. He is a pleasure to work with.”
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]]>ROXBURY, NJ – The township might find some state money to install curbs and a sidewalk along a narrow section of Eyland Avenue in Succasunna, a project being studied at the request of Roxbury Councilman Mark Crowley.
Roxbury Township Engineer Melanie Michetti said funds for the proposed project, roughly estimated to cost $500,000, could come in the form of a “pedestrian safety grant” from the state Department of Transportation (DOT).
If unable to secure the money that way, Roxbury might also consider applying for a municipal aid grant to help pay for the sidewalks and curbs, she said. Michetti also noted that some Roxbury funds would likely be added to fund the work.
In late January, Crowley expressed concern about the danger facing people – especially children -forced to walk in the roadway on Eyland Avenue between South Hillside Avenue and Alcott Way. He said the need for a sidewalk there is especially important because the section is close to the township’s Kiwanis Park.
Michetti and the engineering staff went to work and crafted a plan that would entail installing curbing and a sidewalk along a section - about 3,100 feet long - between Alcott Way and Nyma Way.
Roxbury has been awarded a $215,000 state grant to pave that section of the road, a project that will cost about $240,000 and was slated to take place this year. However, the township has until the fall of 2025 to collect the grant money; officials said it would make sense to postpone that job if they are going to move forward with the curbing and sidewalks.
“The interesting part of this is we have some time,” said Roxbury Manager John Shepherd. He and Michetti said the township will try to secure a separate grant for the curbs and sidewalk with the goal being to do everything at once.
When presented with the proposal at a recent meeting, Roxbury Councilman Jim Rilee was lukewarm about the idea, noting the Eyland Avenue paving was planned long ago and that money spent on the curbs and sidewalks would be money not spent on other necessary projects. “What’s not done elsewhere if we do this?” he asked.
Roxbury Councilman Bob DeFillippo said pedestrian safety improvements should have been considered when the township sought the paving grant.
“What Councilman Rilee says is well taken,” he said. “We should have thought about the sidewalks when we thought about this (paving) project, and it would have bene built into it. It makes enormous sense to me to put sidewalks in this place … I’d like to see us think more about this when we design a project: Where it’s possible, expand it so it includes safety for pedestrians and bikes.”
Shepherd said there are about 20 property owners along the stretch of road being studied. “We will need to hear from them and see what they have to say,” he told the council.
Michetti said the sidewalk plan is likely to require the felling of “a lot of trees,” and the removal or relocation of some rock walls. “There’s going to have to be some grading work, possibly on private property,” she said. “We’re going to have to evaluate that to see where right-of-way line is.”
The engineer said she would draft a resolution, to be presented at the next council meeting, authorizing an application for the state grant money for the proposed project.
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]]>ROXBURY, NJ - A silent, online auction - launched this week by the Roxbury High School RoxTHON club - is offering people the opportunity to help fight pediatric cancer and to help families dealing with it.
RoxTHON's auction, which can be accessed here, "was a no-brainer," said Roxbury High School teacher Mike Gottfried, the club's advisor. He said the idea came from a parent of a RoxTHON club member.
“Our leaders already solicit donations, so I knew I could put them on this and they would run with it,” he said.
Bidding went live March 7 and will stay open until March 10 at 8 p.m.
RoxTHON Director of Hospitality Yuriy Hrytsay took the lead and began to catalog items already donated. He and his committee brainstormed ideas and went to the administration and the community for help.
“We knew that people would bid on a Starbucks gift basket, but we needed more,” said Hrystay. But the committee needed to take it to the next level, so they began to use their resources.
For example, RoxTHON Vice President Tyler Benedetto reached out to the Roxbury Police Department for assistance. “The police have been very supportive of the students, and we thought we could count on them again,” said Hrystay.
The effort resulted in one of the auction items being a ride to school by a Roxbury police officer. “Having a police officer drive you and two friends to school, and having them escort you to first period, will be really cool,” said Hrytsay.
Another prize in the auction is called "Parking Like a Principal." The winning student will get to park in the high school principal’s parking spot for a week. Among the other things being auctioned are a signed photo of N.Y. Giants Quarterback Daniel Jones and tickets to N.Y. Red Bulls games and Paper Mill Playhouse shows.
“We’re excited to open this to the students and community of Roxbury, and we’re really hoping for another avenue to add more donations to our cause of raising money for pediatric cancer,” said RoxTHON President Kylie Haughey.
Since it began ten years ago, RoxTHON has raised more than $480,000. The majority of the money is donated to Goryeb Children’s Hospital, a part of Morristown Medical Center.
“We’re hoping to hit an overall fundraising record this year, pushing our fundraising efforts to half-a-million dollars,” said Margery Richman, co-advisor of Rox-THON.
To bid, click "Google Form Bid" and enter your name, email and phone number. Bidders will not receive an automatic notification if they are outbid, so they are asked to keep checking the "Bid History" spreadsheet, especially if they want to enter new bids.
Winning bidders will be notified via email with instructions on how to claim their prizes. Items can be picked up at Roxbury High School starting the week of March 18.
Anyone who would like to make a general donation towards the cause can click this link.
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ROXBURY, NJ – A 33-year-old man from Orange provided the gun used in an October robbery at Roxbury Motel in Ledgewood, an incident that resulted in the robbery victim being shot in the leg, according to law enforcement authorities.
The man, Jean Omar Rockson, was named in an indictment charging him with three counts of first-degree robbery, one count of second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, one count of second-degree aggravated assault, one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and one count of third-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, said officials.
They said the same charges were filed by the grand jury against an Irvington woman named Auraceli Maldonado, 24.
Although Maldonado was arrested in Florida shortly after the Oct. 18 incident, Rockson wasn’t arrested until Feb. 15, said Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon and Roxbury Police Chief Dean Adone.
They said Rockson was arrested outside his home “following a thorough investigation,” and is now being held in the Morris County jail. Maldonado is also being held there, said the officials.
Both defendants are slated to be arraigned before state Superior Court Judge Ralph Amirata on March 11, according to the prosecutor’s office.
“At approximately 8:54 p.m., authorities were notified that a man had been shot at (the motel),” said a statement released today. “Roxbury Police officers arrived on scene, located a male victim with a gunshot wound to the leg and provided lifesaving medical aid. The 36-year-old victim was transported to a medical center with severe, but not life-threatening, injuries.”
Maldonado and Rockson “fled the scene immediately after the incident,” said the officials.
“Subsequent investigation revealed the victim had planned to meet with an unknown suspect at the motel,” they explained. “On the date of the incident, surveillance video captured a Honda Accord with New York registration arriving to the motel parking lot, and a man and a woman are depicted exiting the vehicle.”
Law enforcement asserts the victim was shot in the leg during a struggle for the gun. The victim has not been identified by authorities, but his brother, Xavier Martinez, said he is Selwyn Torres of Roxbury.
A GoFundMe page on his behalf was created by Martinez. On it, he says his brother's leg had to be amputated due to the gunshot wound.
“Sadly, and tragically, because of the injury that left complete and irreparable skin, nerve, muscle and bone damage, his right leg above the knee had to be amputated on October 26th, 2023,” wrote Martinez.
“Selwyn … has the rest of his life to make a difference for himself and his children, which range in ages 16, 15, 14, 10, 9 and 8 years old,” Martinez wrote.
For their actions at the scene of the shooting, Roxbury Company One Fire and EMS Fire Engineer/EMT Ryan Fischlein and Roxbury Company One Fire and EMS EMT Pamela Sawyer Karkovice will be honored in April by the 200 Club of Morris County.
To learn more about that, click here.
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]]>ROXBURY, NJ – The township is moving forward with a plan to purchase a new fire truck for Roxbury Fire and First Aid Company 2, a vehicle expected to cost at least $1.2 million.
The Roxbury Mayor and Council, on Tuesday, endorsed the proposal to replace two old vehicles at the Landing firehouse with one new vehicle, noting it will not have to pay for the new apparatus until it is delivered in about three years.
The decision means Roxbury can issue a bond anticipation note that it will present to the truck manufacturer as proof the municipality will have the money when the vehicle is ready for delivery. However, Mayor Jaki Albrecht and her colleagues on the council stressed Roxbury will not borrow money for the purchase.
To get the project going, the township will send the manufacturer a $100,000 deposit, money it received as a “developer donation” from the builders of The Villages at Roxbury project.
The new vehicle will be a multipurpose unit that will replace the fire company’s Engine 22 and Rescue 24 vehicles.
Roxbury Fire Chief Chris Skomial last month told the council that 28-year-old Engine 22 should have been taken out of service eight years ago and that Rescue 24 - also nearing the end of its life. He said repairing Engine 22 would cost more than $70,000.
By ordering a new vehicle soon, the township can lock-in a price, said the chief, noting fire engine prices continue to increase.
“It’s overdue, in my opinion,” Albrecht said. “All of our professionals agree we need to replace these vehicles.”
Roxbury Councilman Fred Hall concurred. “This goes to public safety,” he said. “This is a much-needed piece of equipment for the township of Roxbury, and I’m all for moving forward with this.”
Roxbury Councilman Bob DeFillippo and Roxbury Councilman Thomas Carey, while saying they support buying the new apparatus, said the township should have a better system of forecasting, and budgeting for, fire truck replacements.
“We all agree there’s nothing more important than public safety in Roxbury,” DeFillippo said. “What I appreciated more this time was the deep dive that the mayor and deputy mayor took in looking not just at the current needs but at future needs. I think we need more of that; more attention to some strategic idea of where we are going to be five years, six years, seven years down the road. This is a step in that direction.”
“The key thing is to fund this one first,” said Roxbury Township Manager John Shepherd.
He said it’s “tough” to plan for, and budget for, fire truck replacements “with all the other capital needs that we get … but if we get this one funded it’s a big step forward.”
Roxbury recently bought a $1.8 million ladder truck for Company 1 Fire and EMS.
To the manager’s comment that “hopefully” the township will be able to pay for the new Company 2 vehicle with cash, Albrecht and Roxbury Councilman Jim Rilee were quick to state there would not be an alternative.
“We will not do anything but pay for it with cash,” the mayor stated. “100 percent,” added Rilee.
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]]>ROXBURY, NJ – The Roxbury School District will lose nearly $1.9 million in state aid this year, making it the second hardest-hit district in Morris County and the 25th in the state.
The reduction in state aid continues a trend for the district. Roxbury lost $7.25 million in funding from Trenton since 2020, according to Roxbury Schools Business Administrator Joseph Mondanaro.
District officials learned of the aid cutback last Thursday. Figures released by the state Department of Education (DOE) show Roxbury will get about $6.875 million in aid for fiscal year 2025. The district received about $8.74 million in FY2024.
That’s a 21.29 percent reduction; the only district in Morris County facing a more drastic cut is Butler, which is being hit with a 28.43 percent drop in state aid.
Conversely, districts surrounding Roxbury are all in line for state aid increases: Mine Hill will get 22.27 percent more, Mount Olive will get 14.68 percent more, Chester will get 12.81 percent more, Mount Arlington will get 9.17 percent more and Randolph will get 5.9 percent more.
Sharpening the Pencil
Mondanaro said he expected a state aid cut this year but had no idea it was going to be so drastic. “The original projection for this year was a cut of about $260,000,” he said.
Mondanaro said he’s crafted a “skeleton plan” that includes some budget-balancing tactics including spending cuts and dipping into reserves. He said a tax increase has not been discussed.
“I think we are going OK, but this was the last thing I anticipated,” said the business administrator. “The state thinks we’ve been overfunded for 10 years. The state came in, in 2019, and said, ‘You were overfunded. But for all those years you were overfunded, we didn’t do anything. But now we want our money.’ So they came in, and they took money from us over a 5-year period.”
On top of the state aid decrease, the district is facing increased costs, particularly related to health insurance and liability coverage. “Insurance increased $1.2 million, a 10 percent increase,“ Mondanaro said.
'Actively Working' on a Plan
Roxbury Schools Superintendent Francis Santora spoke about the situation at Monday’s school board meeting.
“I can tell you that as a central office team, as a district, we have been actively working to secure a plan to address this unexpected cut while not compromising the instructional or learning experience of our students, staff and families,” he said. “So please know that we take every single decision in terms of fiscal responsibility seriously, and we are actively working to address this plan. We have sought clarification to make sure this number’s accurate - because we would not be doing our due diligence if we did not do that - but know that we have a plan moving forward.”
The school board finance committee is planning to meet to discuss the budget situation on March 19. Mondanaro must submit a proposed budget by March 25 to Morris County Superintendent of Schools Nancy Gartenberg. A public hearing by the school board, and vote to approve the spending plan, is slated for March 29.
The current district budget of about $82.5 million required a school tax rate of 1.724 percent, an amount that equated to a school tax of about $5,172 for the owner of a home assessed at $300,000. That was about $62 more in taxes than was paid by the same homeowner the prior year.
School taxes are the biggest part of a property owner's annual tax bill. In 2023, the school tax was 64 percent of the total while 23 percent was for municipal taxes, 11 percent was for county taxes and the remainder was for the township library, township open space fund and county open space fund.
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]]>ROXBURY, NJ - Members of the Roxbury School Board on Monday showed their support for Roxbury High School's RoxTHON pediatric cancer fundraiser.
They did so by wearing pink RoxTHON T-shirts to the board meeting after being requested to do so by Roxbury School Board Member Anne Colucci.
"I'd like to thank all the board members for all getting together and wearing the pink shirts to support the kids of RoxTHON," she said. "This is such a good cause. My husband suffered and died from cancer. Can you imagine a child, what they're going through?"
The board heard from three leaders of the RoxTHON Club at the high school, club president Kylie Haughey and operations captains Emily Freeland and Alysa Talmadge.
"The RoxTHON team is as successful as we are thanks to the generosity of the Roxbury community and the board of education," said Freeland. "For those who aren't aware, RoxTHON is a student-led organization at the high school that raises funds for the fight against pediatric cancer. Our team leaders spend a tremendous amount of time outside of school planning and carrying out an overnight dance marathon for students."
Through soliciting donations, selling T-shirts and other efforts, the club hopes to surpass the $82,000 raised by the 2019 RoxTHON. Last year's event raised about $56,200. The money helps offset medical bills of patients at Goryeb Children's Hospital in Morristown and helps fund cancer research through Penn State Health Children's Hospital in Hershey, Pa.
This year's RoxTHON event is scheduled to take place March 15-16.
"There is still time to contribute to our cause and help us reach our goal," Haughey said at the board meeting. She said there will be an online auction running from March 7 through March 10 that will feature prizes including gift cards, signed posters from Jets and Giants players and a "police department escort to school."
Information about this year's RoxTHON - including links to donate online - can be found here.
Further reading:
Roxbury Rox-THON Seeks Donations to Fight Childhood Cancer
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ROXBURY, NJ – The new Landing Road Bridge could be equipped to accommodate a sewer line, but that doesn’t mean the owners of nearby buildings will soon be saying goodbye to their septic systems.
There currently are no plans to extend sewers to the area in Landing near the bridge, Roxbury Township Manager John Shepherd said last week. However, anticipating that the areas on both sides of the new bridge might get sewers in the future, town officials are pushing to have the span's builders include a sewer line.
The bridge replacement project is a Morris County affair, not a township job. Shepherd said the county seems amenable to having the new structure include a sewer line or, at least, a system for easy future installation of one. “They would be providing the hanger mechanism, but they are not paying for it,” he said.
Roxbury Mayor Jaki Albrecht initiated the Landing sewer discussion at the Feb. 27 Roxbury Mayor and Council meeting, suggesting residents are asking about it. “I have a question, again, as to whether we’re going to have sewers put in when the new bridge is going in,” she said.
Shepherd said that, while a sewer pipe attached to the new bridge could be paid for with the township’s “sewer fund,” further extension of the line and hooking it up to the existing sewerage system might be prohibitively expensive. He acknowledged there was talk of running a sewer pipe down Landing Road all the way to the Landing Park softball fields.
“I’m not sure who’s asking, but … I think the cost might be significant,” he told Albrecht. “It’s one thing for the sewer fund to pay for getting the line across the bridge, and we can have a future discussion as to whether that cost should be factored into any line extension that occurs in that area. But even without that piece, it’s not going to be an inexpensive project. People might think the town puts in sewers for free, then you connect, and then you pay your monthly fee. It’s not like that. “
If the town somehow found a way to fund sewer line extensions into the Landing Bridge area, property owners would have to pay to be connected. “You have to run the sewer lateral, and you have to pay the tap-in fee, which is about $6,400 per residential unit,” Shepherd said. “There can be some sort of a payment plan, but it’s not inexpensive.”
Unlike some other municipalities’ neighborhoods near Lake Hopatcong, where sewers were funded with the help of grant money in an effort to prevent contamination of the lake from failing septic systems, the Landing Road Bridge area of Roxbury does not pose a major lake pollution concern, according to the manager.
“We have not been able to locate any grant money for that project,” Shepherd said. “It just doesn’t drain there the same way as some other areas around the lake that have had this problem, otherwise we would have done those areas years ago.”
The county is replacing the 117-year-old, 2-lane bridge – built by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad - with a four-lane structure. The project, being discussed for about two decades, has been repeatedly delayed and seen its estimated cost nearly quadruple.
Related coverage:
Wrecking Ball Coming to Roxbury for Landing Bridge Project
First Demolitions Imminent for Landing Bridge Project
County Being 'Fair' in Taking Properties for Landing Project, says Roxbury Councilman
Roxbury Unveils New Bridge, Park Designs as 'Landing Gateway' Plans Advance
New Landing Bridge Project: $22 Million and Four Years Away
A Long Time Coming - New Bridge on the Horizon for Landing
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]]>ROXBURY, NJ - Three members of the Roxbury Mayor and Council on Saturday helped the Roxbury Public Library celebrate Read Across America by donning outfits and reading Mo Willams books to children.
Participating in the event were Mayor Jaki Albrecht, Deputy Mayor Shawn Potillo and Councilman Fred Hall. The trio came dressed as characters from Willems' Elephant & Piggie & Pigeon books, with Albrecht being Piggie, Hall being Pigeon and Potillo being Elephant.
"I had such a great time at Read Across America," Albrecht said. "The Roxbury Public Library staff does a terrific job organizing these programs. I was walking around afterward and everyone I spoke to had the same thing to say: The Roxbury Public Library is a lifeline to the community ... it makes a town of 22,000 people feel like an old-fashioned, small town. I am so very proud of that."
Potillo had similar comments.
"Roxbury Township's Public Library does an amazing job hosting great events," he said. "It was an honor to be invited to read to the children today for Read Across America and to support the library."
The councilman said he and his colleagues "had a lot of fun" and he said he looks forward "to supporting more events in the future at the library."
The library, on its Facebook page, thanked the officials "for being such good sports."
Read Across America was honored by the council at its Tuesday meeting. Albrecht read a proclamation stating "the citizens of the Township of Roxbury stand firmly committed to promoting reading as the catalyst of our students' future academic success, their preparation for America's jobs of the future and their ability to compete in a global economy."
It called on every adult resident to take some time to read to a child, noting that March 2 "would have been the 120th birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss."
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ROXBURY, NJ – Although it failed in its 2023 attempt to secure state grant money to advance the rehabilitation of the historic Lafayette School in Lower Berkshire Valley, the township is not giving up on the building.
The Roxbury Mayor and Council this week agreed to apply to Morris County for some grant money that would help pay for exterior renovations of the 103-year-old structure. The application must be submitted by March 28, according to Roxbury Township Manager John Shepherd.
The first phase of the exterior renovation is estimated to cost about $302,000. If approved, the county grant would cover 80 percent of that cost, with Roxbury obligated to come up with the remaining $60,000, said Shepherd.
He said the money could come from Roxbury’s Open Space Trust Fund.
“The remaining exterior work will consist of a similar budget as 2024 so in a future year, possibly 2025, the township will again need to commit approximately $60,000 from the Open Space Trust Fund if the county funds the remainder of the project cost,” Shepherd told the council in a Feb. 21 memo.
He said Roxbury could “continue to apply for grant funds to restore the interior” once the outside of the building is in good shape. “The restoration of the interior will not be urgent since the exterior restoration will result in a weatherproof building,” he said.
The township does not have a plan for how the restored building will be used. The Canal Society of New Jersey was going to use the structure as its headquarters, but it backed out of the deal.
Shepherd said the state’s refusal last year to provide money for the project appeared to be partly related to the building’s uncertain future. “It is my understanding that the most significant drawback from receiving state funding is the planned use of the building after renovation,” he told the council in his memo.
He reiterated that point at Tuesday’s council meeting: “They were not satisfied with our re-use plan for the building and just thought we weren’t quite in the position to get state grant funding.”
In an interview, Roxbury Mayor Jaki Albrecht said the main concern right now is protecting the building from further deterioration.
Related TAPinto Roxbury stories:
Former Roxbury School Still Needs a Purpose
Help On The Way for Historic Former Roxbury School
Roxbury Mulls Future of "Sweet, Little" Old Lafayette Schoolhouse
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ROXBURY, NJ – (Updated March 1 with further comments by NJNG) Having dealt for a year with rough pavement in front of her Kenvil Avenue house - due to a New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) gas main replacement project - Roxbury Mayor Jaki Albrecht this week said the company needs to do better.
Albrecht was driven to complain by NJNG’s current work on Main Street in Succasunna. The company is installing about two miles of new, 12-inch-diameter steel gas main, according to spokesman Michael Kinney.
“During construction, short sections of Main Street will be closed and detours posted,” Kinney explained. “At the end of each workday, the roadway will be reopened for normal traffic. Work on this system reinforcement project is expected to take approximately two months to complete.”
Albrecht is not impressed or happy, especially about the way NJNG seems to dig into roads that are in good condition due to relatively recent paving work.
“I really want to say that New Jersey Natural Gas is absolutely destroying our roads,” she said at this week’s Roxbury Mayor and Council meeting. “Main Street in Succasunna is horrific. We just had it paved … and it is an absolute mess. I feel like every time we’re paving a road, New Jersey Natural Gas is coming in and digging them up and only paving half.”
Kinney said NJNJ expects to install about 200 feet of new gas main per day and doesn’t intend on leaving Main Street bumpy, with temporary patches, forever. “Once the work is complete, the road will temporarily patched, to allow for settlement, and then the final repaving will take place,” he said.
The bumpiness of Kenvil Avenue, a road owned by Morris County, irritates Albrecht not only because she’s forced to drive it daily but also because of the noise – particularly from trucks hitting the patched pavement – she and her family endure.
'Committed to Working Closely With Towns'
Roxbury Department of Public Works Director Rick Blood said it usually takes six months for temporary patches to settle before new, final pavement can be applied. NJNG also pointed out that "once construction work is complete, a temporary patch is installed. This allows the roadway to be reopened while the ground settles – a process that typically takes months to occur. If final paving is done before the ground is fully settled, it can result in an uneven road surface. Once that’s complete, final repaving will take place."
Last year, Morris County Communications Director Vincent Vitale said Kenvil Avenue will get that final layer this spring. He also said the county’s inspector drove the roadway … and reported that, while there is extensive patching, the roadway rides smooth.”
Albrecht, and anybody who drives Kenvil Avenue, knows that’s not the case.
“I just wanted to get my frustration on the record,” she said. “My street is definitely impacted. Trucks go by every day: Bang, bang, bang. Kenvil Avenue is terrible now and Main Street Succasunna is going to be just as bad.”
Albrecht said she is also concerned NJNG’s work on Main Street might be hurting the relatively new Main Street Streetscaping project wherein – using state grant money – Roxbury installed new decorative curbing, sidewalks and streetlamps on the north side of the road.
The gas company's contractors appear to be working on the opposite side of the street, but Albrecht said she's seen impacts to the streetscaping elements.
“If you look at it right now … (NJNG is) totally destroying the streetscaping that we worked so hard to put in,” she said. “What a waste of money and resources New Jersey Natural Gas is putting on these towns, not to mention the traffic delays and reroutes and the frustration.”
Kinney said the company “is reinforcing its system to support safe, reliable service to customers in Morris County” by upgrading the gas distribution system. In a subsequent statement, the company said it is "committed to working closely with the towns to minimize any impacts due to construction," and said it realizes that installation of new gas lines can be disruptive.
"We understand that large scale projects like this can be frustrating, and we appreciate the community’s understanding while work is ongoing," NJNG said. "NJNG is also committed to restoring the affected areas to the original condition or better."
Blood said the line being installed in Main Street is a "trunk line" without connections to individual customers.
"It will just be a single trench," he said. "This line will run the length of Main Stfeet, through Ruethers, across Route 10 and up the rest of Main Street and then out onto Route 46 to Orben Drive (in Ledgewood) where it terminates."
He said NJNG will be starting a gas line replacement project later this month. "This project will begin in Denville and run around the breakdown lane of Route 10 westbound which will terminate on South Street, connecting to the new line currently being installed," Blood explained. "The project is expected to be completed by June of 2025."
Related coverage by TAPinto Roxbury:
A Bumpy Road in Roxbury from Gas Line Work
New Skin for Not-So-Pleasant Piece of Pleasant Hill Road in Roxbury
46 to Stay Open During 3-Month-Long Gas Line Project in Roxbury
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]]>ROXBURY, NJ – Insurance companies representing people served by Roxbury fire and first aid personnel will soon be getting billed by the township.
The Roxbury Mayor and Council on Tuesday, with no public opposition, voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 06-24, a new local law titled “Emergency Services Cost Recovery.” The measure allows the township to seek compensation for expenses incurred when Roxbury fire and emergency medical teams respond to incidents.
First discussed in January, the measure is being described as a way to potentially bring in money that would be channeled to the Roxbury Fire Department. The funds would be considered reimbursements for costs incurred by the firefighters and emergency medical services volunteers when they respond to calls.
In introducing the new ordinance, township officials stressed the money would come via claims against the accident and fire victims’ insurance companies, not the people directly.
But when the idea was presented in January, some people voiced concern on social media, suggesting the measure might increase insurance premiums and even make people reluctant to report incidents.
The practice has gained popularity during the past 15 years nationwide. It has faced legal challenges by insurance companies, and 14 states ban or restrict accident response fees according to www.accidentresponsefees.com.
However, Roxbury officials insist the practice is taking place successfully in other nearby municipalities.
The plan calls for hiring a company to administer the reimbursement efforts. Officials said one company that provides such a service said it would collect 22 percent of any payment it secures from an insurance company.
Initiating the program is expected to cost the township several hundred dollars.
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]]>ROXBURY, NJ - Three Roxbury Eagle Scouts were honored Tuesday evening by the Roxbury Mayor and Council.
Receiving recognition at the council's public meeting were Eagle Scout Anthony Blehl of Boy Scout Troop 54, Eagle Scout Nathan Byrne of Boy Scout Troop 159 and Eagle Scout Jack Demetris, also of Boy Scout Troop 159.
Blehl, the 129th Eagle Scout from Troop 54, told the council and audience that, for his Eagle Scout project he created a garden in front of the high school. "Basically, we re-mulched the whole thing, built the archways and the benches and built chairs and painted them," Blehl said, noting the materials he used were "scraps from shop class."
Byrne, the 103rd Eagle Scout from Troop 159, said he renovated a shed at St. Therese Church in Succasunna. "We had to completely redo the roof and paint all the sides," he said. "We also built a ramp at the front and laid gravel all around for proper drainage."
Demetris, the 102nd Eagle Scout from Troop 159, said he made a fishing kiosk at Black River Pond in Succasunna. "This kiosk provides fishing information and regulations, so it can educate people in case they want to fish, both new people and people who use the lake a lot, like me," he said.
Roxbury Councilman Jim Rilee, in congratulating the Scouts, said there is "a long tradition of Scouting" in Roxbury Township. "I've been involved for 25 years and I can't even imagine how many Eagle Scouts have come through here in one way or another. Just fantastic."
Roxbury Councilman Shawn Potillo also offered praise for the young men. "Its nice to see young people as involved as you all are," he said. "You exemplify what it takes to grow up and lead a productive life. You're doing it already, so congratulations and keep up that hard work."
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]]>ROXBURY, NJ - Just in time for Read Across America on Saturday, March 2, the Friends of the Roxbury Public Library is inviting people to support the library by purchasing a few gently used books at the Read Across America Book Sale.
The sale will take place March 2 through March 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the library's Read Across America celebration and will then run the entire week through March 9 during regular library hours.
This sale will focus on books and DVDs for youth and teens -- from board books to young adult books.
“The community has been so generous with book donations," said Friends of the Roxbury Public Library President Stu Bauer. "It’s time to clear out the old books and make room for new ones. The Friends of the Library need your support in purchasing these materials, so we can support all the incredible youth and adult programs the Library hosts all year long.”
From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on March 2, guest readers at the library will read to kids of all ages.
“Your kids, grandkids, neighbors’ kids, all kids should have easy access to books and encouragement to read. This book sale is the most reasonable way to stock up on great gifts or refresh your favorite young person’s stack of books,” noted Bauer. “You’d be surprised at how many of our gently used books and DVDs are very recent and in excellent condition, suitable for gifting.”
All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Roxbury Public Library, which funds the Library’s substantial program offerings all year long.
This pop-up sale featuring books and DVDs for young people and teens will be in addition to the newly-renovated, ongoing book sale set up near the entrance to the children’s room.
“Funds from the sale support all the youth and adult programming our library is renowned for,” said Bauer. “The Friends will soon be adding a Coffee Bar in the library’s lobby, so patrons can enjoy a tasty hot beverage while combing the stacks or studying or working at a table. We’re trying to make our library as comfortable as possible for our community.”
Cash, checks or credit cards are accepted. Park in the back lot or on Main Street and please bring your own reusable bags.
“Our Friends are the best, and their book sales are a gift to Roxbury Township,” said Roxbury Public Library Director Radwa Ali. “Please come out to support their book sale and make a lot of young people in your life very happy.”
The Roxbury Public Library enhances the quality of life in the Roxbury community by connecting people to each other, to diverse collections and to transformative experiences. Each year, Roxbury Public Library serves more than 23,000 residents and neighbors with more than 200,000 check-outs and engagements through offerings of educational and enriching programs, concerts, lending books and audiovisual materials, and offering a wide array of digital content that allows our community members to access a vast array of books, audio-books, music, and film on their personal devices via their library card.
Roxbury Public Library offers expanded digital services, virtual, in-person and hybrid programs, passport services by appointment, an inventive Library of Things, and an abundance of helpful resources. Visit us in person or at www.roxburylibrary.org.
The Friends of the Roxbury Library is an organized group of volunteers who provide assistance to the Roxbury Public Library through fundraising, volunteer, and advocacy support. They give their time, talent, and/or treasure -- and encourage others to do the same -- so that Roxbury Library can go above and beyond in its service to the Roxbury community. Proceeds from the Friends’ ongoing and pop-up book sales, along with membership and contributions, support Roxbury Library’s Museum Passes, Library of Things, Concert Series, STEAM and arts & crafts events, wellness programs, paid lectures, summer reading, and much, much more.
]]>ROXBURY, NJ – Revenue generated by the municipal court is slowly returning to normal, having been decimated for a while due to COVID-19, according to Roxbury Township Councilman Bob DeFillippo.
The councilman said he and Roxbury Mayor Jaki Albrecht discussed the court revenue situation during a recent meeting with Roxbury Municipal Court Judge Ira Cohen. “We try to meet with him annually,” DeFillippo recently told his colleagues on the council, noting that Cohen also serves as municipal court judge in Randolph.
He said Roxbury is currently bringing in about $200,000 annually in revenue from fines imposed by Cohen.
“Before the pandemic, we were bringing in just over $300,000 a year in fines collected from the court,” DeFillippo said. “That dropped down to almost $150,000 during the pandemic. It’s only gone up to slightly over $200,000.”
The councilman said Cohen usually has a busy docket due in large part to the amount of traffic and other offenses generated by the major thoroughfares in the township.
“Our court is a tremendously busy court because of where we are in connection to the interstate, Route 206 and Route 46,” DeFillippo said. “We get a lot of traffic through here ... Traffic is building up again in the court system, but things haven’t returned to normal quite yet.”
DeFillippo noted revenue generated by the court is being offest somewhat by increased costs related to translation services as Roxbury's demographics change.
“We are spending way more on translation services because more and more people are coming before the court who have English as a second language,” he said. “I think we all need to keep an eye on that.”
During the meeting, Cohen praised the Roxbury Police Department, DeFillippo noted.
“The judge made a point, right off the bat, to tell us what a terrific job our police department does,” he said. “He said it’s just fantastic to work with them. He called them efficient, well-trained professionals. I wanted to pass that on from the judge.”
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]]>ROXBURY, NJ – New Jersey Youth Soccer (NJYS) this month named Roxbury Soccer Club Coach Juan Morales as its Recreation Coach of the Year, according to the organization.
It said Morales was presented with the award at the 2024 NJYS Awards Dinner presented by RWJBarnabas Health.
"Each year, this award highlights the accomplishments and dedication that a recreation level coach has displayed to their players and community," said NJYS. "Juan Morales has proven to be a worthy recipient of the NJYS Recreation Coach of the Year Award. Members of the Roxbury Soccer Club rave about his contributions to the players and families of the teams he coaches."
The organization went on to praise Morales not only for his coaching but also for his community involvement.
"He is known for teaching sportsmanship, player development (on and off the field) and being involved in his community," said the NJYS. "Coach Morales consistently promotes values of fair play, respect and integrity, all while striving to create a training environment that encourages the enthusiasm, creativity and self-confidence that allows each player to realize their full potential."
It said Morales "possesses a well-defined coaching philosophy centered on holistic player development, and his approach emphasizes skill acquisition, tactical understanding, teamwork and character development."
Morales could not be reached for comment. In announcing the award, the NJYS included a quote from the coach: “The beautiful game of soccer has the power to unite the entire world and bring everyone joy for a brief moment,” said Morales. “It is an honor to coach these young players.”
The organization praised Morales for his "inclusiveness and welcoming attitude toward all the diverse families that make up his teams" and provided an anecdote: "One such example of this is when he went out of his way to pick up a father from work and drove him to his son’s game, just so he could watch him play."
In addition to receiving a plaque at the event, Morales was given "a congratulatory video tribute from Juan Carlos Amoros, head coach of NJ/NY Gotham FC, that was played on the video screens for the awards dinner audience to enjoy. He also received a custom ball from SIGND displaying a QR code that provided access to his personalized video."
The awards dinner took place earlier this month at Pines Manor in Edison. More than 1,000 people were in attendance including players, coaches and guests of the soccer community, said NJYS, a non-profit organization affiliated with U.S. Youth Soccer and the U.S. Soccer Federation and composed of more than 100,000 players from 5 to 19-years-old; more than 20,000 coaches and thousands of volunteers.
"Members collectively support the sport of soccer through training, practice, competition and the spirit of good sportsmanship," said NJYS. "The association features recreational, travel soccer programs at multiple skill levels; Olympic Development Programs (ODP); tournaments including the National Championship series; coach and referee training and certification programs; and TOPSoccer, a program for children with disabilities."
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ROXBURY, NJ – A J. Crew Factory store will soon open in the Ledgewood building that formerly served as home to a Ruby Tuesday restaurant.
The apparel retailer, an offshoot of J. Crew that stocks a lower-cost line of clothing, obtained a “tenant fit-out” permit from the Roxbury Township Building Department on Feb. 8, according to township records. Workers have been inside the 5,142-square-foot Shops at Ledgewood Commons unit doing what it takes to convert the former eatery into an apparel retailer.
Roxbury’s Ruby Tuesday closed in August 2016. It was one of about 95 eliminated by the Maryville, TN chain as part of an “asset rationalization” that month.
The unit it vacated, adjacent to the Men’s Wearhouse haberdashery, was envisioned by The Shops at Ledgewood Commons developers as being a good place for a replacement restaurant. With that in mind, they included an outdoor area suitable for tables when they revamped the building.
J. Crew’s corporate press office did not return voice and email requests for comment about the forthcoming Ledgewood store. The company’s J. Crew Factory website indicates it is now searching for a director and assistant managers for the new outpost.
It says its J. Crew Factory outlets are stores, where shopping is “really fun,” and shoppers can find an “exclusive collection of colorful, classic styles at prices that can’t be beat – period.”
The current J. Crew Factory store closest to Roxbury is at Rockaway Town Plaza near the Rockaway Townsquare Mall.
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]]>ROXBURY, NJ - The Roxbury High School bowling team today secured its ticket to the state tournament finals by defeating Morris Hills in semifinal-round competition.
The 16-3 Gaels will take on the undefeated Montville Mustangs for the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 Tournament championship on Saturday, Feb. 24. The big match is scheduled to take place at 9 a.m. at Bowler City in Hackensack.
Roxbury earned the trip to the finals with a 2-0 victory over Morris Hills, a team with a 14-6 record. Today's semifinal battle took place at Circle Bowl in Ledgewood.
"Yesterday's match was against a very tough and well-coached opponent in Morris Hills," said Roxbury High School Bowling Coach Kevin Cantwell. "We split our regular season matches, so we knew we had to focus and make the most of our practice time this week."
Cantwell said his assistant, Tony Rosamillia, "was able to work with each individual bowler on Tuesday and go through their arsenals and get them lined up on the fresh."
On Wednesday, the team "did a simulated match so our bowlers would become comfortable with pressure," he said. "Yesterday played out almost exactly as our practice did in terms of our scores and transition. There is nothing you can do in bowling about what the other team does; you can't stop them from bowling well, so you just have to concentrate on your own game, and we executed our game efficiently yesterday. I am very proud of the work our bowlers put in this week. Our success yesterday was a direct result of our preparation.""
The Gaels got to the semifinals by defeating Wayne Hills 2-0 in a Feb. 15 quarterfinal round match. Roxbury had a bye for the first-round competition, as did the teams from Montville, Morris Knolls and Morris Hills.
The Gaels, in only their second year of competition, won the Morris County Tournament in January. The team is coached by Kevin Cantwell and Tony Rosamilia.
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ROXBURY, NJ - Many students from the Roxbury area worked hard enough to be named to the Honors Lists and Dean's List at Fairleigh Dickenson University, according to the school.
To qualify for the Honors List, a student must carry a 3.5 or better grade point average out of a possible 4.0 and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 letter-graded hours (four courses).
To qualify for the Dean's List, a student must carry a 3.2 or better grade point average out of a possible 4.0 and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 letter-graded hours (four courses).
At the FDU Florham Campus in Madison, these students earned the Honors List:
Kayleigh Majewski of Flanders (07836)
Anthony Russo of Wharton (07885)
Brian Nichols of Flanders (07836)
Paula Giron of Wharton (07885)
Sofia Fuentes of Wharton (07885)
Jacob Kohner of Succasunna (07876)
Alexia Arseniu of Ledgewood (07852)
Toriana Lewis of Landing (07850)
Ethan Pijaca of Ledgewood (07852)
Syed Hassany of Ledgewood (07852)
John Lepes of Flanders (07836)
Amanda Olsen of Succasunna (07876)
Abraham Ruano of Succasunna (07876)
Madison Jones of Wharton (07885)
Anthony Nunez of Landing (07850)
Christopher Merring of Mount Arlington (07856)
Timothy Henningsen of Wharton (07885)
Students Named to Dean's List at FDU's Florham Campus were:
Jaylin Longsworth of Wharton (07885)
Lauren Byrne of Succasunna (07876)
Elizabeth Doyle of Succasunna (07876)
Cassidy Miller of Succasunna (07876)
Kenneth Atehortua of Netcong (07857)
Michael Bang of Succasunna (07876)
Emmanuel Torode of Succasunna (07876)
Joshua Pinto of Succasunna (07876)
Taylor Lane of Succasunna (07876)
Students Named to the Honors List at FDU's Metropolitan Campus in Teaneck were:
Jaricsa Lopera of Succasunna (07876)
Angela Lyons of Netcong (07857)
Matthew Blanchard of Wharton (07885)
At the FDU Metropolitan Campus these students made the Dean's List for the Fall 2023 semester.
Ashleigh Sarafin of Landing (07850)
Marlon Mendoza of Mount Arlington (07856)
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ROXBURY, NJ – The township will apply for a state grant to help pay for proposed improvements to the tennis courts at Kiwanis Park in Succasunna.
A resolution authorizing the grant application was approved this week by the township Mayor and Council at the request of Roxbury Township Manager John Shepherd. He said the maximum amount Roxbury can hope to get from the state is $100,000.
If the township gets the full grant, it would still need to come up with about $260,000 to perform the proposed renovations to the three courts, a plan that includes adding new striping on two of the courts so they can be used for pickleball.
“The courts are in need of renovation because of age,” Shepherd wrote to the council in a Feb. 8 memo. “The projected cost of the project is $360,000 which includes removal of the existing court surface and fencing, the installation of a new court surface, new exterior fencing and court striping.”
Shepherd’s memo notes that the project would not include new lighting, an option that would cost an additional $175,000.
“The proposed plan is to rebuild the existing three tennis courts,” Shepherd explained in the memo. “However, with the changing demand for tennis courts, the plan also includes the over-striping of pickleball courts on two of the three tennis courts. Each tennis court can accommodate two pickleball courts, so the renovated facility will include four pickleball courts.”
The township has already earmarked about $16,000 on engineering and design for the Kiwanis Park renovation.
Shepherd is suggesting the $260,000 come from the township’s open space fund, told the council that the state might not grant the full $100,000. “If we don’t get the entire amount, the council would have to agree to supplement the additional money,” he said.
Roxbury Councilman Bob DeFillippo said the township should be prepared for all possibilities. “Here’s my only concern, because we’ve been here before,” he said. “Do we have a Plan B? A couple things have to fall into place in order to do the plan that you’ve come up with. But if we don’t get the grant, I don’t want everything to stop.”
DeFillippo’s suggested that a partial renovation could take place if the grant is not approved, but Shepherd said the court renovations are an all-or-nothing endeavor.
“I don’t know if you can do this in pieces,” he said.
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