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Local Government

18-Year-Old Wins Seat On NJ Town's School Board 18-Year-Old Wins Seat On NJ Town's School Board
18-Year-Old Wins Seat On NJ Town's School Board Lifelong Sparta resident Chad Wood has been elected to the town’s Board of Education just five months after graduating from high school. The 18-year-old is one of the state’s youngest to hold a BOE position. Wood ran alongside Jennifer "Lonsky" Grana and Kaitlin Gagnon. The trio incumbents Christina "Longo" Keiling and LeeAnne M. Pitzer. Wood might be young, but he comes with plenty of experience, having served as Student Council President for three years at Sparta High School, and was elected Executive President his senior year. Wood was also elected as the BOE’s Student Representative …
NJ Councilwoman Shot Dead In Car Outside Home NJ Councilwoman Shot Dead In Car Outside Home
NJ Councilwoman Shot Dead In Car Outside Home A 30-year-old Sayreville councilwoman was shot dead outside of her home Wednesday, Feb. 1, authorities confirmed. Eunice Dwumfour was found in a vehicle on Samuel Circle around 7:20 p.m., Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Sayreville Police Chief Daniel Plumacker said. Mayor Victoria Kilpatrick released a statement Thursday morning, Feb. 2 mourning Dwumfour's loss. “Eunice was a dedicated member of our borough council who was truly committed to serve our residents,” Kilpatrick said. “The fact she was taken from us by this despicable criminal act makes this incident all the mo…
'Invincible' Harrison Firefighter Who Served In US Marines, Law Enforcement Dies 'Invincible' Harrison Firefighter Who Served In US Marines, Law Enforcement Dies
'Invincible' Harrison Firefighter Who Served In US Marines, Law Enforcement Dies Vincent Doffont spent much of his life serving and protecting his country as a U.S. Marine and, later, his community in Hudson County as a sheriff's officer, police officer and firefighter. Doffont, 37, died suddenly this weekend, leaving those who knew him in shock and profound grief. "He was one of the hardest men I have ever met," wrote friend Blake Upton. "I always thought of him as invincible." Doffont, indeed, seemed indestructible as a football running back, defensive back and placekicked for the St. Mary's High School Gaels from 1999 through 2002. He was praised for his "speed, s…
'Smackdown' Is Over: Kids Throughout NJ Can Now Sell Lemonade, Mow Lawns Without A Permit 'Smackdown' Is Over: Kids Throughout NJ Can Now Sell Lemonade, Mow Lawns Without A Permit
'Smackdown' Is Over: Kids Throughout NJ Can Now Sell Lemonade, Mow Lawns Without A Permit New Jersey youngsters can no longer be shaken down by local governments when they want to sell sidewalk lemonade. Gov. Phil Murphy signed a measure into law Monday that allows enterprising children looking to make a few bucks to operate pop-up businesses without municipal permits or licenses. Hard to believe, for sure, but dozens of states still make the summer pastime illegal without local government approval. The same goes for mowing lawns and shoveling snow. Health-code violations and child-labor laws are their concerns, officials in those states claim. New Jersey joined nearby New Yor…
NJ Town's Borough Attorney Steps Down After Assault Charge NJ Town's Borough Attorney Steps Down After Assault Charge
NJ Town's Borough Attorney Steps Down After Assault Charge The borough attorney in one Union County town is temporarily stepping down following an assault charge. Mountainside's attorney, John Post, was charged with domestic violence simple assault on July 28, on accusations he punched someone and wrestled with another in an incident that caused a skin tear resulting in bleeding, NJ Advance Media reports. Post sent the following message to the news outlet and council members: “Like many families, there are times when certain family issues can become overwhelming and demand complete focus.  "For that reason, I’d like to inform you that I am t…
'Landmark Turned Eyesore': Budd Lake's Gold Mine Hotel Comes Down 'Landmark Turned Eyesore': Budd Lake's Gold Mine Hotel Comes Down
'Landmark Turned Eyesore': Budd Lake's Gold Mine Hotel Comes Down Budd Lake's Gold Mine Hotel has been demolished. Built in 1935, the L-shaped landmark on Route 46 and Gold Mine Road has been closed since at least 2001, Mayor Rob Greenbaum said. Caravella Demolition of East Hanover knocked it down last Thursday. Budd Lake officials asked the owner to have it taken down since it wasn't being used and was "unsafe," the mayor said. "He did not respond in a timely fashion and we took appropriate municipal action to take the building down," Greenbaum told the Daily Record. Residents thanked Greenbaum for his efforts. "Goodbye to a landmark that became an e…
New Elmwood Park Program Provides Food, Christmas Toys For Families In Need New Elmwood Park Program Provides Food, Christmas Toys For Families In Need
New Elmwood Park Program Provides Food, Christmas Toys For Families In Need Local businesses, residents and others in Elmwood Park pitched in to buy Christmas toys, gift cards and food cards for borough families in need. Launched this year, the borough's Residents Assistance Program (RAP) also provided meals to the families of 50 local children for Thanskgiving and the current holiday season. Coordinated by Mirella Hernandez and boosted by the mayor and council, the RAP provides a variety of services, including leaf and snow removal, language translation and income tax preparation, in addition to the holiday drives. Participants included the Elmwood Park Polic…
Mahwah Voters Recall Laforet Mahwah Voters Recall Laforet
Mahwah Voters Recall Laforet Mahwah Mayor Bill Laforet has lost his job. Voters on Tuesday decided to recall the twice re-elected mayor, replacing him with former councilman John Roth. Roth challenged Laforet for mayor in 2016 and will take over once the township clerk certifies results later this week. Former Mahwah councilman John Roth will be replacing Bill Laforet as mayor.John Roth Laforet will be the first public Bergen County official to be recalled in more than 25 years. "Every elected official will swear on the bible to uphold the constitution of the United States of America," Laforet said Wednesday on F…
North Arlington Mayor Joseph Bianchi, 77, Dies North Arlington Mayor Joseph Bianchi, 77, Dies
North Arlington Mayor Joseph Bianchi, 77, Dies North Arlington Mayor Joseph Bianchi has died, authorities confirmed Wednesday. "His cancer came back and nobody knew," a colleague told Daily Voice. Bianchi, a 77-year-old Republican who was seeking re-election to a second term in November, owned Pal Joey’s Barber Shop for nearly 55 years. He died around noon Wednesday, colleagues said. Bianchi was a lifelong borough resident, a 26-year borough firefighter, president of Hose Company #1 for four years and, at the time of his death, the department's financial secretary.  He also was among the 9/11 Ground Zero responders. Bianchi …
Westwood Police Chief Rebuts Mayor: Marijuana Isn't A Partisan Issue, It Doesn't Belong Here Westwood Police Chief Rebuts Mayor: Marijuana Isn't A Partisan Issue, It Doesn't Belong Here
Westwood Police Chief Rebuts Mayor: Marijuana Isn't A Partisan Issue, It Doesn't Belong Here LETTER to the EDITOR: "I was shocked and disappointed to read on the front cover of a local newspaper that I was accused by Mayor John Birkner of being involved in a partisan stunt with respect to the ordinance banning marijuana in Westwood.  "Clearly, the marijuana issue is not a partisan one, as both Republican- and Democrat-controlled towns have both banned marijuana and its sales in the confines of their communities. "I have not been contacted by Mayor Birkner at any time about this issue or where my decision was derived from, nor, sadly, has he engaged in any discussion,…
PalPark Mayor's Mom Was 'Protecting Son' In Racial Tirade, Supporters Say PalPark Mayor's Mom Was 'Protecting Son' In Racial Tirade, Supporters Say
PalPark Mayor's Mom Was 'Protecting Son' In Racial Tirade, Supporters Say In a city with one of the highest concentration of Korean immigrants in the U.S., you might not expect to hear the following words -- and especially not from relatives of the mayor. "Go to hell PALISADES PARK, let the GD Koreans have this F'n town," Palisades Park mayor James Rotundo's mother Lorraine Rotundo wrote on Facebook, according to multiple reports. "All of us AMERICANS are so done. I am going to suggest that only English be spoken in our Boro Hall at least while an AMERICAN is still the mayor." Two days after primary elections in which Rotundo was losing to op…