NorthJersey.comView CommentsIf the warm, sunny weather and reopening of parks got you out on the road this weekend, you may have noticed something: Gas prices have gone down quite a bit.The AAA on its  listed a statewide average of $2 per gallon for regular on Sunday. That's an 8% decrease from $2.18 a month ago. It is also a significant drop from this time last year, when the average in the Garden State was $2.94.A breakdown by region showed an average price of $1.97 for Bergen-Passaic, while in Parsippany-Troy Hills, it was at $2.03.And driving around a...…NorthJersey.comView CommentsIf the warm, sunny weather and reopening of parks got you out on the road this weekend, you may have noticed something: Gas prices have gone down quite a bit.The AAA on its  listed a statewide average of $2 per gallon for regular on Sunday. That's an 8% decrease from $2.18 a month ago. It is also a significant drop from this time last year, when the average in the Garden State was $2.94.A breakdown by region showed an average price of $1.97 for Bergen-Passaic, while in Parsippany-Troy Hills, it was at $2.03.And driving around a...WW…

NorthJersey.comView CommentsGov. Phil Murphy's 2018 decision to close state lands to bear hunting appears to have satisfied almost no one, with hunters complaining in court this week that they've been deprived of their rights, and animal lovers still feeling betrayed by what they see as the governor's failure to fully deliver on a campaign promise to stop the hunt. Hunters went to court this week trying to convince Administrative Law Judge Susan Scarola that the governor's order directing Environmental Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe to "take all necessary and appropriate...…NorthJersey.comView CommentsGov. Phil Murphy's 2018 decision to close state lands to bear hunting appears to have satisfied almost no one, with hunters complaining in court this week that they've been deprived of their rights, and animal lovers still feeling betrayed by what they see as the governor's failure to fully deliver on a campaign promise to stop the hunt. Hunters went to court this week trying to convince Administrative Law Judge Susan Scarola that the governor's order directing Environmental Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe to "take all necessary and appropriate...WW…

NorthJersey.comView CommentsDUMONT —  A teacher at a borough school has tested positive for COVID-19, leading to a two-week delay for its middle school students to start hybrid learning.In a Monday letter to families, Lovell J. Honiss School Principal Karen Bennett wrote that the school learned the day before that the teacher had tested positive and was in "recent close contact with other staff members."Bennett said the teacher and staff members who came in contact will have to quarantine until Oct. 1. The teacher and other staff were not identified.As a result of...…NorthJersey.comView CommentsDUMONT —  A teacher at a borough school has tested positive for COVID-19, leading to a two-week delay for its middle school students to start hybrid learning.In a Monday letter to families, Lovell J. Honiss School Principal Karen Bennett wrote that the school learned the day before that the teacher had tested positive and was in "recent close contact with other staff members."Bennett said the teacher and staff members who came in contact will have to quarantine until Oct. 1. The teacher and other staff were not identified.As a result of...WW…

Judith PersichilliSpecial to the USA TODAY NETWORKView CommentsAs summer approaches and New Jersey continues to gradually reopen based on improving data, it may be tempting for residents to resume life as if COVID-19 never happened.But the pandemic is not over. Despite the number of cases falling, the virus is still circulating. Many of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 have not exhibited any symptoms. The best way to stop its spread and prevent the resurgence we’ve seen in other states that have reopened their economies is through robust testing and contact tracing.New Jersey...…Judith PersichilliSpecial to the USA TODAY NETWORKView CommentsAs summer approaches and New Jersey continues to gradually reopen based on improving data, it may be tempting for residents to resume life as if COVID-19 never happened.But the pandemic is not over. Despite the number of cases falling, the virus is still circulating. Many of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 have not exhibited any symptoms. The best way to stop its spread and prevent the resurgence we’ve seen in other states that have reopened their economies is through robust testing and contact tracing.New Jersey...WW…

NorthJersey.comView CommentsSmall businesses are at the heart of our communities. The Open for Business series is our effort to document the struggles of our local merchants in these unprecedented times, and to highlight their resourcefulness, resilience and creativity. Haworth Hardware has been a staple in town since 1957, when Robert Sconfienza’s father, Fred, opened his first store a few doors down from its current location on St. Nicholas Avenue.Since late last year, Sconfienza has been winding down business as he nears retirement. The coronavirus has slowed his efforts...…NorthJersey.comView CommentsSmall businesses are at the heart of our communities. The Open for Business series is our effort to document the struggles of our local merchants in these unprecedented times, and to highlight their resourcefulness, resilience and creativity. Haworth Hardware has been a staple in town since 1957, when Robert Sconfienza’s father, Fred, opened his first store a few doors down from its current location on St. Nicholas Avenue.Since late last year, Sconfienza has been winding down business as he nears retirement. The coronavirus has slowed his efforts...WW…

Joe MalinconicoPaterson PressView CommentsPaterson is looking for volunteers to participate in a new COVID-19 emergency response initiative that the mayor is launching with the Citizens Campaign nonprofit group.The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members would distribute protective masks, meals and quarantine kits, officials said. The CERT members also may assist the Paterson Health Department with contact tracing involving city residents who have tested positive for the coronavirus.“We want to encourage people to get involved,” said David Lowe of Paterson, a retired John F....…Joe MalinconicoPaterson PressView CommentsPaterson is looking for volunteers to participate in a new COVID-19 emergency response initiative that the mayor is launching with the Citizens Campaign nonprofit group.The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members would distribute protective masks, meals and quarantine kits, officials said. The CERT members also may assist the Paterson Health Department with contact tracing involving city residents who have tested positive for the coronavirus.“We want to encourage people to get involved,” said David Lowe of Paterson, a retired John F....WW…

NorthJersey.comView CommentsSeveral restaurants have joined with the organizer of the annual Bergen County St. Patrick’s Day Parade to send hot meals to hospital workers The Council of Irish Associations of Greater Bergen County since late last month has been collecting money to buy meals prepared by local restaurants, which are then sent to Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck and Englewood hospital in Englewood.“They were overrun with sandwiches and wraps and different things, but not necessarily hot food. So, there was a real need to bring hot meals for people working on these...…NorthJersey.comView CommentsSeveral restaurants have joined with the organizer of the annual Bergen County St. Patrick’s Day Parade to send hot meals to hospital workers The Council of Irish Associations of Greater Bergen County since late last month has been collecting money to buy meals prepared by local restaurants, which are then sent to Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck and Englewood hospital in Englewood.“They were overrun with sandwiches and wraps and different things, but not necessarily hot food. So, there was a real need to bring hot meals for people working on these...WW…

NorthJersey.com BERGENFIELD — There was no ribbon-cutting ceremony or other festivities due to the coronavirus as the borough's new Aldi supermarket opened its doors Thursday morning.An employee pressed a button and the automatic doors opened wide for the first customers who entered the new store in the Foster Village Shopping Center.Bergenfield residents Isabel Cardona and her sister Lennis, who live in an apartment complex behind the shopping center, were the early birds greeted by Aldi District Manager Sam Bensley. Both have shopped at the Aldi in Hackensack and...…NorthJersey.com BERGENFIELD — There was no ribbon-cutting ceremony or other festivities due to the coronavirus as the borough's new Aldi supermarket opened its doors Thursday morning.An employee pressed a button and the automatic doors opened wide for the first customers who entered the new store in the Foster Village Shopping Center.Bergenfield residents Isabel Cardona and her sister Lennis, who live in an apartment complex behind the shopping center, were the early birds greeted by Aldi District Manager Sam Bensley. Both have shopped at the Aldi in Hackensack and...WW…

Morristown Daily RecordView CommentsPARSIPPANY — Township Clerk Khaled Madin could be banned for life from owning firearms and serve a year of probation for allegedly assaulting a woman in two domestic violence incidents over the last year.Township police reports identify the alleged victim only by the initials "M.M." and describe her as Madin's family and "intimate partner" who had recently left him or told him that she planned to leave. The 37-year-old clerk is married to Monica Madin, Parsippany's municipal prosecutor, who owns a Morristown law firm with her...…Morristown Daily RecordView CommentsPARSIPPANY — Township Clerk Khaled Madin could be banned for life from owning firearms and serve a year of probation for allegedly assaulting a woman in two domestic violence incidents over the last year.Township police reports identify the alleged victim only by the initials "M.M." and describe her as Madin's family and "intimate partner" who had recently left him or told him that she planned to leave. The 37-year-old clerk is married to Monica Madin, Parsippany's municipal prosecutor, who owns a Morristown law firm with her...WW…

NorthJersey.comView CommentsThe thousands of cars that regularly funnel through the Holland Tunnel no longer have the option to pay with cash, in an effort to move commuters through the tunnel more quickly, the Port Authority said.On Wednesday, the tunnel began using electronic tolling with E-ZPass, permanently moving away from cash tolls, the Port Authority said in a statement."This new toll collection system upgrades the Holland Tunnel with the most up-to-date cashless technology, which will be more resilient and provide the agency faster processing times," said Port Authority...…NorthJersey.comView CommentsThe thousands of cars that regularly funnel through the Holland Tunnel no longer have the option to pay with cash, in an effort to move commuters through the tunnel more quickly, the Port Authority said.On Wednesday, the tunnel began using electronic tolling with E-ZPass, permanently moving away from cash tolls, the Port Authority said in a statement."This new toll collection system upgrades the Holland Tunnel with the most up-to-date cashless technology, which will be more resilient and provide the agency faster processing times," said Port Authority...WW…