Students Top Teachers in Annual Game, Open Space Funds, Police Procedure Top Weekly News

Open Space Funds Provide for Lightning Detection System

Utilizing the estimated  for 2013, River Edge will look to use a portion of that amount to install a Strike Guard Lightning Warning system at Kenneth B. George fields, the Little League field and Veteran's Memorial Park in the coming year. 

The remaining funding would be allocated to park and field maintenance, various committees and set aside almost $40,000 to be used towards the eventual replacement lighting project at KBG.

With unanimous approval, Oradell has joined the few towns in Bergen County that have adopted a Police Promotion Procedure to the rolls. The new ordinance officially outlines the process for officers to be elevated to the rank of sergeant, lieutenant, captain and chief.

Now in its eighth year of existence, the Class of 2013 staved off a St. Joseph School faculty squad in the annual student/faculty volleyball game as part of Catholic Schools Week.

The teachers and staff members team have dominated the annual game for a majority of years in this friendly rivalry. But lately, the students have continued to find a way to win with several come-from behind victories.

Struggling with tax appeals and a declining housing market, Oradell's recently completed reassessment has shown that the majority of housing values in town have all fallen.

After an eight-year hiatus in Bergen County, BBQ bandits David "Fink" Finkelstein of River Edge and New Milford's Robert Gant have resurrected their culinary talents by openingFink's BBQ Smokehouse in Dumont.

The Regional School District alumni joined forces in 2011 at Johnny's Smokehouse in Pearl River and opened their Madison Avenue restaurant late in 2012. Finkelstein previously owned Fink's Funky Chicken and Ribs in River Edge but closed shop in 2005.

Empty for 25 years, the former Department of Public Works lot at the end of Grove Street in River Edge is still awaiting a final appraisal before the borough could move forward with selling the third of an acre property.

Borough engineer Robert Costa will appear for the governing body next week to review what options the borough has regarding potential development. Former borough attorney Sam Cereste suggested selling the lot in October to a developer after merging it into the commercial zone.

Winter has reached a mid-point and to celebrate, the Bergen County Historical Society celebrated the occassion with an Irish concert for Brigit's Day and candle making demonstrations for Candlemas at New Bridge Landing on Sunday. 

The two events, Brigit's Day and Candlemas, annually fall between the winter solstice and spring equinox, when snowdrops, the first flower of spring, make their appearance, signaling nature’s awakening from winter's sleep. 

Shared Property Maintenance Manager Nixed for Now

At Monday's New Milford Mayor and Council meeting, more questions than answers were raised regarding the merits of sharing a property maintenance manager with River Edge.

The first major concern is that both boroughs have differing ordinances that the property maintenance manager would be responsible for working under. Another concern is the cost. According to officials, River Edge has a probationary wage of just over $15 per hour that increases to just over $22 per hour after six-months -- a cost that exceeds the rate New Milford would pay.

The River Edge-based job seekers group was recently profiled on USA Today about their work over the past two years.

The message wasn't in the bottle. The message was the bottle.

When Oradell resident Sam Tripsas dug up an old bottle with the name "Sattely Beverages" on it, he wondered if a neighbor with the same last name was related to the family who owned the New Milford soda company back in the 1890s.

State championships aren't just for sports. For one River Dell High School team, going to "states" takes on a whole different meaning.

River Dell's STEM Club robotics team, the Hypnotic Robotics, has earned a spot in the upcoming state tournament on Feb. 9. 

On the way to a 13-2 record and the No. 11 seed in the Bergen Countytournament, the River Dell High School girls basketball team celebrated a milestone. With a 60-22 win over Fort Lee on Jan. 3, head coach Lou Wejnert earned his 400th career victory.

The victory put him at 400-87 for his 18-year career, spent entirely at River Dell. Wejnert has had 14 seasons with 20 or more wins and has never suffered a sub-.500 season. 

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