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Hardyston, NJ

News
Ten Skiers Score NJ Lift Tickets After Perfectly Reciting Gettysburg Address Ten Skiers Score NJ Lift Tickets After Perfectly Reciting Gettysburg Address
Ten Skiers Score NJ Lift Tickets After Perfectly Reciting Gettysburg Address Knowing the Gettysburg Address can help you ace history class and also hit the slopes for free in New Jersey. Ten people were able to recite the famous speech from memory on Monday, Feb. 12 and earn free lift tickets to Mountain Creek in Vernon, the ski resort confirmed. The annual event, which celebrates the 16th president's birthday (215 years young!) was held Joe C's Cafe in the Red Tail Lodge at the resort Lincolnheads were required to recite the 272-word two minute speech, delivered on Nov. 19, 1863 at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, without headphones, airpods or a…

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by Sam Barron
Schools
Essex County Schools Closed, Delayed Due To Major Winter Storm Essex County Schools Closed, Delayed Due To Major Winter Storm
Essex County Schools Closed, Delayed Due To Major Winter Storm New Jersey school districts are announcing closures and delays ahead of a winter storm expected Monday night into Tuesday, Feb. 13. Between 6 and 18 inches are expected across North Jersey, but the National Weather Service "the Tuesday morning commute will be either snowy, slushy, or wet for our entire area." The following districts have announced closures Tuesday, Feb. 13: Belleville Bergenfield Bloomfield Butler Clifton Closter Cresskill Demarest Denville Dover Dumont Englewood  Englewood Cliffs Elizabeth Elmwood Park Fair Lawn Fort Lee Franklin Lakes Fredon Garfield Glen Rock Hack…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
L.E.A.D VP, Retired NJ Police Chief Bret Alemy Dies During Florida Retreat L.E.A.D VP, Retired NJ Police Chief Bret Alemy Dies During Florida Retreat
L.E.A.D VP, Retired NJ Police Chief Bret Alemy Dies During Florida Retreat Bret Alemy, an Air Force veteran who later served as police chief in Hardyston, died on Thursday, Jan. 4, while attending a retreat in Orlando. He was 50 years old. Alemy was serving as Vice President of Program Development for Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence (L.E.A.D.) at the time of his death, the organization said.  "The L.E.A.D Family is in mourning over the unexpected passing of our cherished, admired and beloved Vice President of Program Development Chief Bret Alemy," L.E.A.D. said on Facebook.  "The organization is stunned but focused on serving the Alemy family …

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Sussex County Police Officer Stole $1.2K Item While On Duty: Prosecutor Sussex County Police Officer Stole $1.2K Item While On Duty: Prosecutor
Sussex County Police Officer Stole $1.2K Item While On Duty: Prosecutor A police officer in Sussex County has been charged in an on-duty theft, authorities said. Konstantinos Protogeropoulos, 26, a Hardyston police officer, stole a "certain movable property valued at $1,225," Acting Sussex County Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart said. Taggart did not say what the item was, but that he knowingly deprived that person thereof on Tuesday, Sept. 5. Protogeropoulos was charged with third-degree theft and second-degree official misconduct, Taggart said on Wednesday, Sept. 27.

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
Active Shooter Reports Prompt Lockdown At Sussex County High School, Police Say Active Shooter Reports Prompt Lockdown At Sussex County High School, Police Say
Active Shooter Reports Prompt Lockdown At Sussex County High School, Police Say Reports of an active shooter prompted a lockdown and a swift police response at a Sussex County high school in the morning on Friday, Oct. 14, authorities said. The Hardyston Township Police Department responded to Wallkill Valley Regional High School after receiving several 911 calls of a potential active shooter situation around 9:30 a.m., the department said. Officers arrived, performed a search of the area, and confirmed that the threat was not credible. The school was released from the lockdown. No one was hurt during the investigation, police said. **********Press Release******…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Firefighter Suffers Heat Exhaustion As Crews Battle Blaze At Sussex County Diner (PHOTOS) Firefighter Suffers Heat Exhaustion As Crews Battle Blaze At Sussex County Diner (PHOTOS)
Firefighter Suffers Heat Exhaustion As Crews Battle Blaze At Sussex County Diner (Photos) A firefighter had to be treated for heat exhaustion as crews battled a stubborn blaze at a Sussex County diner, authorities said. The Sparta Township Fire Department responded to the Sparta Classic Diner just after 11:55 p.m. on Thursday, July 21, the squad said. Upon arrival, crews confirmed heavy flames coming from the kitchen and billowing through the roof. Firefighters worked diligently, stretching multiple hose lines through the building to get the blaze under control just before 1 a.m., the department said. Meanwhile, one firefighter suffered from heat exhaustion and was treated at…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Loaded Handgun Found During Traffic Stop Of Stolen Car In Sussex County, Police Say Loaded Handgun Found During Traffic Stop Of Stolen Car In Sussex County, Police Say
Loaded Handgun Found During Traffic Stop Of Stolen Car In Sussex County, Police Say A Sussex County man driving a stolen vehicle was found with a loaded handgun during a traffic stop, authorities charged. Jose M. Colon, of Hamburg, was charged with second-degree eluding, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, and several other related indictable offenses following the traffic stop on Monday, May 30, Franklin Borough Police said in a release on Wednesday, July 6. Colon, 19, was being sought by police in Hamburg and Hardyston after allegedly stealing a second vehicle within the span of eight hours, the release said. Police in Ogdensburg also assisted with the inves…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Dump Truck Fire Shuts Down Route 515 In Sussex County Dump Truck Fire Shuts Down Route 515 In Sussex County
Dump Truck Fire Shuts Down Route 515 In Sussex County UPDATE: Route 515 has reopened to traffic, police said. ------------------------------------ A dump truck caught fire and shut down Route 515 in Sussex County Tuesday afternoon, police said. The truck caught fire in Hardyston shortly before 12:10 p.m., police departments in Hardyston and Vernon confirmed. Route 515 was closed from 638/Mountain Top to Snufftown Road as emergency crews worked to douse the blaze. ***** Traffic Alert ***** County Route 515 will be temporarily closed from 638 / Mountain Top to Snufftown Road due to a dump truck fire in Hardyston. Posted by Verno…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Crews Douse 2-Alarm Blaze In Sussex County (PHOTOS) Crews Douse 2-Alarm Blaze In Sussex County (PHOTOS)
Crews Douse 2-Alarm Blaze In Sussex County (Photos) Fire crews made quick work of a blaze that broke out in the basement of a Sussex County home Thursday evening. The fire was reported at 160 Mountain Rd. in Hardyston around 4:40 p.m., the local volunteer fire department said. Upon arrival, crews were met with heavy smoke and determined that an electrical fire was coming from the basement. Fire departments in Franklin, Hamburg, McAfee, Vernon, and Sussex worked together to fully extinguish the blaze with no injuries reported. “A great team effort between our department and our mutual aid departments made this a huge success,” said the Har…

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by Valerie Musson
Lifestyle
Support Surges For Sussex County Single Mom After Death Of Beloved ‘Miracle Baby’ Support Surges For Sussex County Single Mom After Death Of Beloved ‘Miracle Baby’
Support Surges For Sussex County Single Mom After Death Of Beloved ‘Miracle Baby’ Support is on the rise for a Sussex County single mom left heartbroken after the death of her beloved “miracle baby.” Hope M. Mattina, 7, died unexpectedly on Saturday, Feb. 26. Mattina was diagnosed with Trisomy 18/Edwards syndrome before she was born, according to a GoFundMe launched for her final expenses. “Doctors predicted she would never even live to her birth,” reads the fundraiser, launched by Rosemary Martinez. “But by the grace of God and the strength and determination of her mother and her family we were blessed to have Hope brighten our lives for nearly eight years.” Meanwhi…

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by Valerie Musson
Obituaries
Sussex County Girl Dies Unexpectedly, 7 Sussex County Girl Dies Unexpectedly, 7
Sussex County Girl Dies Unexpectedly, 7 Beloved Sussex County 7-year-old Hope M. Mattina died unexpectedly on Saturday, Feb. 26. Born in Hackensack, Mattina lived with her family in Jersey City and Newton before moving to Hardyston, where she lived at the time of her death, her obituary says. Mattina was absolutely adored by her loving family, who describe her as a “strong and courageous fighter” and a “true princess.” Mattina loved watching Disney movies and was always laughing, her memorial says. “Hope had a contagious laugh that would easily spread joy to those around her,” reads her obituary. “She enjoyed being with her fam…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Windy Weather Challenges Firefighters Dousing Destructive Sussex County Blaze (PHOTOS) Windy Weather Challenges Firefighters Dousing Destructive Sussex County Blaze (PHOTOS)
Windy Weather Challenges Firefighters Dousing Destructive Sussex County Blaze (Photos) Windy and icy weather conditions created a challenge for firefighters who doused a Sussex County blaze late Sunday night into Monday morning. The fire broke out at a home near Maple Grange Park in Vernon, the McAfee Fire Department said. Also responding to the scene were the town’s three other fire departments — Vernon FD, Pochuck FD, and Highland Lakes FD. The fire took several hours to fully extinguish and seriously damaged the home, the department said. “Icy and windy conditions created a challenge for everyone operating on scene, and ultimately the operation continued into the early …

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by Valerie Musson
Obituaries
13-Year-Old Girl Dies In Sussex County House Fire 13-Year-Old Girl Dies In Sussex County House Fire
13-Year-Old Girl Dies In Sussex County House Fire A 13-year-old girl died in a Sussex County house fire Friday night, authorities confirmed. Firefighters responded to the Nestor Street home in Franklin around 10 p.m., where the girl's body was recovered after the fire had been put out, Franklin Borough police said. More than $1,100 had been raised on a GoFundMe for the family as of Saturday morning. The 13-year-old victim was identified by the campaign founder as Heaven Davenport. The family also reportedly lost a dog. "Heaven was such a funny beautiful girl who had a whole life to live and was constantly surrounded by all her siblings a…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
BUSTED! CT Man Facing 125 Burglary Charges Across NJ, NY Found With 9 Handguns, Crossbow BUSTED! CT Man Facing 125 Burglary Charges Across NJ, NY Found With 9 Handguns, Crossbow
Busted! CT Man Facing 125 Burglary Charges Across NJ, NY Found With 9 Handguns, Crossbow A 30-year-old Connecticut man arrested in connection with a string of burglaries across New Jersey and New York was found with nine handguns, a crossbow and a slew of other weapons and contraband following a multi-jurisdictional investigation, authorities said. Patrick Ryan of Fairfield, CT was arrested Sunday morning and charged with a total of 74 counts of burglary to a motor vehicle and dozens of other offenses, Hardyston police said in release from the Sussex County Detective’s Association. A search of Ryan’s house and car turned up nine handguns, a crossbow and a shotgun, as well as nu…

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by Valerie Musson
News
Sussex County Officials Won't Release Details On Grad Party Linked To Teen COVID-19 Outbreak Sussex County Officials Won't Release Details On Grad Party Linked To Teen COVID-19 Outbreak
Sussex County Officials Won't Release Details On Grad Party Linked To Teen Covid-19 Outbreak A COVID-19 outbreak among six teens in Sussex County has been linked to a graduation party, according to health officials who won't release the details. According to the NJ Herald, County Health Officer Jim McDonald declined to release the date and location of the party, and wont' release the names of towns of those who tested positive. Data released by the county on Monday, however shows the following municipalities have residents who tested positive between Friday and Sunday: Byram (6), Green, Sparta (3), Vernon (3), and one each in Frankford, Hampton, Hardyston, Hopatcong, and …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Hardyston Church Blaze Was Contained Thanks To Closed Door, Authorities Say Hardyston Church Blaze Was Contained Thanks To Closed Door, Authorities Say
Hardyston Church Blaze Was Contained Thanks To Closed Door, Authorities Say A closed office door at a Hardyston church is to thank for the minimal damage sustained in a fire that otherwise could've been much worse, officials said. Fire crews responded to Christian Faith Fellowship Church on Route 94 after alarms sounded in the office around 6:30 p.m. Monday, NJHerald reports. Fortunately, the doors to the church’s office were closed, proving to be a critical factor in keeping it contained to the room and a small carpeted area outside. The Sussex County Fire Marshal’s Office and fire crews from Sparta, Hamburg, Franklin, McAfee, and Ogdensburg were called to assist…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Firefighters Battle Sussex County Barn Blaze For Hours Firefighters Battle Sussex County Barn Blaze For Hours
Firefighters Battle Sussex County Barn Blaze For Hours A barn blaze that broke out in Hardyston took several hours to be extinguished. Flames were shooting out of a barn behind 215 North Church Road when firefighters arrived around 8:30 p.m. Saturday. The fire quickly climbed to a second alarm as Hardyston companies battled with assistance from Mcafee, Lafayette, Ogdensburg, Franklin, Hamburg, Vernon, Pochuck Valley, Sussex and West Milford. Firefighters stayed at the scene digging up hay until around 1 a.m., to make sure the blaze wouldn't reignite. Glenwood Pochuck EMS and St. Clares EMS also responded, although no injuries were reported.

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by Cecilia Levine