Drizzle Fog/Mist 45°
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'Joan's Joy' Turns 25: Butterflies To Be Released For Foundation's Silver Anniversary 'Joan's Joy' Turns 25: Butterflies To Be Released For Foundation's Silver Anniversary
'Joan's Joy' Turns 25: Butterflies To Be Released For Foundation's Silver Anniversary Rosemarie D’Alessandro of Hillsdale hopes the sun will be shining Sunday when 25 butterflies are released during the silver anniversary of Joan’s Joy, the foundation she created to bring joy to youngsters and raise awareness of child-safety issues. The 4th annual Child Safety Fest begins at noon at the White Butterfly Sculpture and Garden – named for D’Alessandro’s slain daughter -- in front of the borough train station. Proceeds from the event will go towards child safety education programs at local schools and cultural excursions for disadvantaged children (The most trip brought 75 childr…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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Back To School Means Ice Cream, Face Painting, More For Mahwah Kids Back To School Means Ice Cream, Face Painting, More For Mahwah Kids
Back To School Means Ice Cream, Face Painting, More For Mahwah Kids “Back to school” got really good for a group of Mahwah youngsters, thanks to the Silberstein Group at Keller William's Valley Realty and several other local businesses. “As a Realtor, I sell homes to families moving into town. It can be challenging to make new friends,” said Gary Silberstein, who spearheaded the free event at Memorial Field for 100 or so members of his Mahwah Moms and Dads Facebook group and their children. “This was also a way of bringing the parents together before the kids got submerged in after-school activities,” he said. In addition to a Good Humor ice cream truck, t…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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Want To Donate To Victims Of Hurricane Florence? Here's How Want To Donate To Victims Of Hurricane Florence? Here's How
Want To Donate To Victims Of Hurricane Florence? Here's How As experts warn of damage that could be worse than from Katrina, administrators of one of the area's largest Facebook groups have compiled a list of Hurricane Florence relief organizations. The list in the Bergen County-based Northern New Jersey All Incidents group will be updated, as needed, co-administrator James Bohan said Thursday. “All organizations are, to the best of our knowledge, reputable,” Bohan said. “We encourage everyone to follow their conscience when donating. Unless otherwise specified, what relief organizations need most right now is money,” he added. Unsolicited, physic…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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Middletown's Race 4 Space Competition For Businesses Is Underway Middletown's Race 4 Space Competition For Businesses Is Underway
Middletown's Race 4 Space Competition For Businesses Is Underway Finding the perfect retail location isn’t always simple. Location and rent are major factors to consider when finding the perfect space for a business. But the City of Middletown, New York is making the process a little bit easier. The City of Middletown and Mayor Joseph M. DeStefano recently announced the Race 4 Space Competition at the Rail Trail Commons: a business attraction competition designed to fill four newly created retail spaces in the former Woolworth’s Department Store on North Street. Applicants will compete for one of these spaces along with a matching grant of up to $20,000 …

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Content Partner: City of Middletown Department of Economic and Community Development
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Smoke Shop In Washington Township? Police Officer Mom Says 'No' Smoke Shop In Washington Township? Police Officer Mom Says 'No'
Smoke Shop In Washington Township? Police Officer Mom Says 'No' Washington Township Police Officer Heather Castronova has a unique perspective on the proposal for a smoke shop in her suburban town of fewer than 9,000 residents. "I am a Washington Township police officer, juvenile officer, community policing officer, resident, mother and the creator of the Washington Township Moms Facebook group. I’m blessed and fortunate to hold a unique position in our community. This town is my home and the people in it are my family. People in town know how involved I am in all aspects of my community.  "Therefore, I was approached by a large group of conce…

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by Heather Castronova
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You Can Help A Garfield Family Burned Out By Fire You Can Help A Garfield Family Burned Out By Fire
You Can Help A Garfield Family Burned Out By Fire GARFIELD, N.J. – A friend is gathering clothing and other necessities for a Garfield family burned out of their home. Robert and Dana, their children and the kids’ grandmother could use shirts, pants, shoes and more, Christopher Fuschini said. Both girls – daughters Casey, 18, and Amber, 18 – take medium shirts and large pants. Shoe sizes: 7 and 8; Robert Jr. 14, takes a large shirt and medium pants. Shoe: 7 or 8; Grandma Jean needs shoes: 6-6½; Robert Sr. takes 34x33 pants, extra large shirts and boots: 11½ wide. They can also use socks, underwear and school shirts, as well as personal hy…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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Cookie Monsters: Mahwah Girl Scouts Selling Bergen-Best 27,180 Boxes Cookie Monsters: Mahwah Girl Scouts Selling Bergen-Best 27,180 Boxes
Cookie Monsters: Mahwah Girl Scouts Selling Bergen-Best 27,180 Boxes MAHWAH, N.J. -- Their top money-maker was a little late, but a rushed delivery made it in time to bring the total number of cookies delivered Saturday to Mahwah's Girl Scout troops to 27,180 boxes -- tops in Bergen County. The delivery company accidentally missed an entire pallet of Thin Mints bound for the 33 troops. And as any of them will tell you, that matters: Thin Mints are by far the most popular of their eight cookie flavors, accounting for 27% of all Girl Scout cookie sales. The Mahwah scouts' total is the second-highest in North Jersey, part of one of the world's best-known fundr…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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WATCH: Paralyzed Ridgewood Actress Stars On Comedy Central WATCH: Paralyzed Ridgewood Actress Stars On Comedy Central
Watch: Paralyzed Ridgewood Actress Stars On Comedy Central Ali Stroker of Ridgewood appeared on Comedy Central's "Drunk History" Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 10 p.m. Based on the popular web series, "Drunk History" is the liquored-up narration of our nation's history.  Stroker, 30 -- who was paralyzed in a car accident when she was 2 -- will be portraying disability rights activist Judy Huemann. The show's all-star cast includes includes Jack Black, Lisa Bonet, Connie Britton, Michael Cera, Bill Hader, Kevin Nealon, Bob Odenkirk and Winona Ryder. Figures such as Teddy Roosevelt, Patty Hearst, Billy the Kid, Al Capone, and Lewis and Cla…

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by Cecilia Levine
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Saddle Brook Dad's Message To Late Son's Peers Will Break Your Heart Saddle Brook Dad's Message To Late Son's Peers Will Break Your Heart
Saddle Brook Dad's Message To Late Son's Peers Will Break Your Heart Frank and Kathy Gutierrez stood on Veteran's Field in Saddle Brook Monday evening looking into a sea of their late son's former classmates, friends and teachers. Three days prior, they learned that their 15-year-old son, Andrew Gutierrez, had taken his own life. "All you kids out there, take care of each other. Be kind to each other." "We don't know what happened," Frank said into the crowd, faces illuminated by candles. "But we're going to make it through this with Andrew in our hearts." Andrew's sister Jackie remembered her beloved brother as beautiful and …

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by Cecilia Levine
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Meet The Roman Twins: Widowed Dumont Dad Hopes Girls Will Remember Mom Meet The Roman Twins: Widowed Dumont Dad Hopes Girls Will Remember Mom
Meet The Roman Twins: Widowed Dumont Dad Hopes Girls Will Remember Mom It's been nearly three months since Dumont's Julia Roman died giving birth to twin girls Grace and Isabella. Her widowed husband and the girls' dad, Victor Roman, says he has his ups and downs. But there's one thing that has yet to get easier. Unlike Julia's older children Dwayne and Valeria, and 5-year-old Victoria with whom she shares with Victor, the twins will never know their mom. "I'm still dealing with that one," he said, teary-eyed. "It's difficult." Victor has been out of work as an MTA employee in New York City since Julia's death Nov. 16 of last year. He's…

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by Cecilia Levine
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Wayne Olympic Bobsledder Is Latest PETA Advocate Wayne Olympic Bobsledder Is Latest PETA Advocate
Wayne Olympic Bobsledder Is Latest PETA Advocate Just ahead of her Olympic competition in Pyeongchang, barrier-breaking athlete Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian of Wayne appears in a new video and public service announcement for PETA. The campaign encourages fans to be champions for animals and always treat their dogs like family. "As a bobsledder, my team is the most important thing to me," said Fenlator-Victorian in the PSA.  "You know who else feels that way? Our dogs! … They need to feel loved and know that they're a part of our team." Fenlator-Victorian piloted the Jamaican women’s bobsled team in its first-ever Olymp…

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by Cecilia Levine
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Crack Pie? Meth Cake? Dumont Rocker Geoff Rickly Killin' It At New Gig Crack Pie? Meth Cake? Dumont Rocker Geoff Rickly Killin' It At New Gig
Crack Pie? Meth Cake? Dumont Rocker Geoff Rickly Killin' It At New Gig “If Milkbar made Crack Pie, then this is Meth Cake.”  What Dumont's Geoff Rickly was referring to was the Original Gooey Butter Cake made by Brooklyn's Gooey & Co in one of his new articles as the head coffee writer and bean critic at "Food. Curated." Last November, founder Liza de Guia -- Rickly's rumored girlfriend -- introduced him as the website's coffee writer and bean critic: Every few weeks, Geoff will round-up his thoughts on single origin coffees for the home aficionado – plus highlights, techniques & new discoveries in the coffee world. So far, Rickly wrote a r…

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by Cecilia Levine