Drop in School Violence Incidents, First Borough Carnival Top This Week's News



The Violence and Vandalism Report for the 2011-2012 school year shows that the two elementary districts have few reported incidents while the regional district has a handful of violence and vandalism incidents and 18 HIB related reportes. Over the past year, the tri-districts saw six reported incidents of violence, seven vandalism reports and 23 HIB violations.

Over four days, St. Peter's Parish held its inaugural Parish Carnival full of exciting rides, games and food for borough and Bergen County residents.

With over 30 years of experience working in and helping create Special Improvement Districts (SID), Don Smart appeared in River Edge this week to tout the many benefits of a SID and improve the three business districts on Kinderkamack Road (Midland Avenue to River Edge Road; Madison Avenue to Windsor Road; and Main Street to Grand Avenue).

According to Smart, some of the benefits to River Edge with a SID would be the ability to institute design standards for signage, prohibit and restrict peddling and street foodcart vendors, provide a unified voice to recruit businesses to town, foster economic developement for better land use, and assist in negotiating new developments and redevelopments.

Once again the American Legion has received a grace period from its potential demolition after the River Edge Mayor and Council opted to delay discussing and voting on a  funding ordinance until after the November election. The delay also affords the borough's Planning Board to determine how the demolition fits into the Master Plan.

After two failed referendums, years of seeking donations, and delays in construction, the Certosimo Field House was officially opened for business before friends, family, and community members who wished to continue honoring Matty "Coach" Certosimo and his wife Angie.

The field house was dedicated in memory of Coach Certosimo who died in February 2008 and wife Angie who followed suite a year later. Coach was the Athletic Director of River Dell High School from 1960 to 1978, taught in the high school and coached both the football (1959-1969, with a 65-23-2 record) and baseball (1972-1978, with a record of (117-67-1) teams. Angie was considered a positive influence and inspiration for all those who shared many loving meals at her home.

Bergen Catholic’s Crusader Soccer program has not limited its talents to only the soccer field, but has continued its rich tradition of serving the local Bergen County community. On Sunday September 30, the Crusader Soccer team volunteered their time at the 2012 Bergen Bike Tour held at Darlington Park in Mahwah.

The state Department of Treasury is working to assist residents in many Bergen County towns whose mail, sent to government offices between Sept. 7 and Sept. 10, burned in a truck fire last month, according to NorthJersey.com.

Affected zip codes begin with 070 to 076, 078, 079, 088 and 089. 

Just in time for Halloween, an exhibit of borough resident Scot Ryersson's unique works is returning to the River Edge Library. Ryerson's exhibit, 'Something Nasty in the Nursery,' includes 20 new pieces inspired by many beloved children's tales, such as Lewis Carroll's "Alice Through the Looking Glass," J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan," Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen," Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," as well as numerous Mother Goose nursery rhymes.

The long-delayed redevelopment of the former Huffman Koos site in the borough could face another twist, as an appeal filed by the property's owner proceeds before state tax court. Route 4-Main Street LLC, which purchased the 62,000-square-foot property for $5 million in 1999, filed appeals in 2010 and 2011 claiming that the land's appraised value does not reflect the environmental condition of the site. Those appeals are finally moving through the court process.

The Friends of River Dell inducted 10 honorees into the 2012 Athletic Hall of Fame at a dinner held on Thursday, Sept. 27 at Seasons Restaurant in Washington Township.

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