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NJ's Best Elementary, Middle Schools Revealed In New National Rankings NJ's Best Elementary, Middle Schools Revealed In New National Rankings NJ's Best Elementary, Middle Schools Revealed In New National Rankings
NJ's Best Elementary, Middle Schools Revealed In New National Rankings Thousands of elementary and middle schools across the Northeast have been evaluated in new rankings that highlight the top-performing public schools in each state. U.S. News & World Report released its annual Best Elementary and Middle Schools Rankings on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The 2027 list evaluated about 46,000 public elementary schools and more than 24,000 middle schools nationwide based on reading and math achievement. The report highlights schools where students performed well on state assessments while accounting for student backgrounds.  U.S. News said its updated methodol…

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by Chris Spiker
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Surprising Changes In 2026's Most Popular Baby Names List: See Full Rankings Surprising Changes In 2026's Most Popular Baby Names List: See Full Rankings Surprising Changes In 2026's Most Popular Baby Names List: See Full Rankings
Surprising Changes In 2026's Most Popular Baby Names List: See Full Rankings Several names are climbing the rankings of the nation's most popular for babies, according to a new study. BabyCenter released its annual list of the most popular baby names on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Olivia and Noah remained the most popular names for girls and boys, although several other names made major jumps in popularity. Eliana climbed five spots to become the second most popular girls' name, while Evelyn returned to the top 10 for the first time since 2023. Ellie dropped out of the top 10, falling to No. 11. Among boys, the five most popular names remained unchanged for the third straigh…

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by Chris Spiker
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Next Stop: A Trip Back In Time At Maywood Station Museum Next Stop: A Trip Back In Time At Maywood Station Museum Next Stop: A Trip Back In Time At Maywood Station Museum
Next Stop: A Trip Back In Time At Maywood Station Museum All aboard! Get ready to take a look inside a historic railroad station when the Maywood Station Museum opens its doors to visitors next month. The museum is holding an open house on Saturday, Nov. 14, from noon to 3 p.m., according to the museum’s Facebook page. Located at 269 Maywood Ave., the museum offers visitors a look at the trains, equipment, and artifacts that tell the story of the borough's railroad history. The museum occupies a restored railroad station dating back to 1872, once part of the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad. The station was restored by the Maywood St…

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by Karalyn Lee
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Two $1M NJ Lottery Tickets Sold Just Days Apart At Wawa, Liquor Store Two $1M NJ Lottery Tickets Sold Just Days Apart At Wawa, Liquor Store Two $1M NJ Lottery Tickets Sold Just Days Apart At Wawa, Liquor Store
Two $1M NJ Lottery Tickets Sold Just Days Apart At Wawa, Liquor Store Two New Jersey Lottery players became $1 million winners just two days apart, with the lucky tickets sold at a Wawa and local liquor store. The first $1 million ticket, for the $100 Million Diamond Dazzler Scratch-Off game, was sold Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Wawa at 3600 Route 9 in Old Bridge, according to the New Jersey Lottery. Two days later, on Friday, Oct. 16, another $1 million winning ticket was sold for the Black Opal 7's Scratch-Off game at Mak on Main Liquors, located at 1500 Main St. in Asbury Park. The two million-dollar prizes were among 13 New Jersey Lottery wins of at least…

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by Cecilia Levine
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Bergen ZIP Code Among Nation's 15 Wealthiest In New Ranking: See Full List Bergen ZIP Code Among Nation's 15 Wealthiest In New Ranking: See Full List Bergen ZIP Code Among Nation's 15 Wealthiest In New Ranking: See Full List
Bergen ZIP Code Among Nation's 15 Wealthiest In New Ranking: See Full List One of the Northeast's wealthiest regions is climbing the ranks of the nation's most expensive places to buy a home, according to a new study. PropertyShark released its 2026 list of the nation's 100 most expensive ZIP codes by median home sale prices. The real estate data website's report showed the New York City metropolitan area claiming a record 25% of the rankings. The NYC region had 31 ZIP codes on the list, tying California's Bay Area for the most ZIP codes in the rankings. New York state had 20 ZIP codes in the rankings, up from 15 in 2025. The Hamptons dominated New York…

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by Chris Spiker
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Bergen County's Il Vero Breaks Silence On Backlash Bergen County's Il Vero Breaks Silence On Backlash Bergen County's Il Vero Breaks Silence On Backlash
Bergen County's Il Vero Breaks Silence On Backlash Gia Giudice's new Bergen County restaurant has broken its silence following a wave of poor reviews. Il Vero is standing by its controversial no-children policy, saying its adults-only atmosphere was intentional and that not every restaurant is meant for everyone. The Westwood restaurant opened by the daughter of "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice and business partner Maria Sausa, has faced criticism from early diners over everything from its prices and food to a policy barring children. Now, Sausa is responding. "Our decision to create an adults-only dining experience at …

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by Cecilia Levine
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2-Star Reviews Flood In For Gia Giudice's New Bergen County Restaurant 2-Star Reviews Flood In For Gia Giudice's New Bergen County Restaurant 2-Star Reviews Flood In For Gia Giudice's New Bergen County Restaurant
2-Star Reviews Flood In For Gia Giudice's New Bergen County Restaurant Gia Giudice's new restaurant has barely opened its doors, and diners are already divided over everything from the food and prices to a reported no-children policy. UPDATE: Il Vero has broken its silence on receiving 2-star reviews. Il Vero, the new Westwood restaurant from the daughter of "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice and Maria Sausa, a catering and special events coordinator, has begun welcoming guests, with early reviews praising its atmosphere while raising complaints about service, pricing and the dining experience. While the Center Avenue restaurant has received …

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by Cecilia Levine
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Bus Driver Loses Job Over Roadside Rescue, PETA Just Joined Push To Help Her Get It Back Bus Driver Loses Job Over Roadside Rescue, PETA Just Joined Push To Help Her Get It Back Bus Driver Loses Job Over Roadside Rescue, PETA Just Joined Push To Help Her Get It Back
Bus Driver Loses Job Over Roadside Rescue, PETA Just Joined Push To Help Her Get It Back Helping an injured kitten on the side of a Maryland road has cost a longtime school bus driver her livelihood. Now, thousands of people are fighting to get her back behind the wheel. Cynthia Morgan, 67, spent 11 years transporting students in Harford County. This month, she was removed from her position along the North Harford Elementary School route after allowing a 10-year-old boy to rescue a kitten along Heaps School Road in Pylesville. The incident has drawn national attention, with nearly 12,000 people signing a petition demanding her reinstatement. A GoFundMe is helping offset he…

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by Zak Failla
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Lifesize Trump Cutout Sparks Debate As 40-Year NJ Restaurant Reportedly Closes Lifesize Trump Cutout Sparks Debate As 40-Year NJ Restaurant Reportedly Closes Lifesize Trump Cutout Sparks Debate As 40-Year NJ Restaurant Reportedly Closes
Lifesize Trump Cutout Sparks Debate As 40-Year NJ Restaurant Reportedly Closes A life-size cardboard cutout of President Donald Trump has become a talking point as a New Jersey restaurant that's been serving customers for more than 40 years reportedly prepares to close. Blackstones Bar & Grill, located along Route 46 in Hackettstown, is reportedly closing Thursday, Oct. 15, prompting a debate on social media over the restaurant's food, service and politics. One photo shared in a local Facebook group showed a sign outside the restaurant reading, "BLACKSTONES RETIRING AS OF THURSDAY 10/15." The restaurant, which says on its website that it has been in business sinc…

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by Cecilia Levine
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World's Largest Fish Stuns NJ Fishing Crew 97 Miles Offshore World's Largest Fish Stuns NJ Fishing Crew 97 Miles Offshore World's Largest Fish Stuns NJ Fishing Crew 97 Miles Offshore
World's Largest Fish Stuns NJ Fishing Crew 97 Miles Offshore Passengers aboard a Jersey Shore fishing boat got a rare surprise when a massive shark estimated at nearly 30 feet long appeared alongside their vessel nearly 100 miles offshore. The encounter happened Saturday morning, Oct. 10, aboard the Jamaica, a party fishing boat based in Brielle, Capt. Erik Bogan told Daily Voice. The boat had departed Brielle at 6 p.m. Friday for a 22-hour offshore tuna fishing trip, traveling 97 miles to Hudson Canyon before anchoring around 12:30 a.m. The crew spent the night tossing fish into the water to attract tuna, swordfish and other marine life. Just after…

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by Cecilia Levine
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Bergen County ShopRite Site Gets New Life As Hindu Temple Plans Win Approval Bergen County ShopRite Site Gets New Life As Hindu Temple Plans Win Approval Bergen County ShopRite Site Gets New Life As Hindu Temple Plans Win Approval
Bergen County ShopRite Site Gets New Life As Hindu Temple Plans Win Approval A former ShopRite supermarket in Bergen County is set to become a Hindu temple under a redevelopment plan approved by the Fair Lawn Planning Board.  The property at 17-17 to 17-77 River Road in Fair Lawn, which also includes a Walgreens and a strip shopping center, is owned by BAPS Clifton Fair Lawn LLC.  Plans call for converting the vacant supermarket into a house of worship known as a Mandir, with prayer rooms, classrooms, a recreation area for children, multipurpose halls and living quarters for a priest and his family.  The project also includes a 1,620-square-foot entr…

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by Cecilia Levine
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Pilots Balked At Quieter Teterboro Flight Path: Now Hackensack Is Fighting Back Pilots Balked At Quieter Teterboro Flight Path: Now Hackensack Is Fighting Back Pilots Balked At Quieter Teterboro Flight Path: Now Hackensack Is Fighting Back
Pilots Balked At Quieter Teterboro Flight Path: Now Hackensack Is Fighting Back Hackensack officials are demanding changes to flight paths into Teterboro Airport, saying nearly half of all arrivals use a runway that sends low-flying planes over the city's homes, schools and parks, even though an alternate route is available. The City Council passed a resolution Tuesday, Oct. 6, urging the Federal Aviation Administration and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to require eligible aircraft to use an approved alternate approach along Route 17. The resolution also calls for flights to be distributed more evenly among the airport's runways. The alternate approach…

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by Cecilia Levine