A car on the tracks in Fair Lawn was struck by a NJ Transit train on Tuesday evening A NJ Transit spokesperson said the incident happened just before 5:30 p.m near the Radburn Station involving "a train not in passenger service being moved eastbound along the Bergen County Line." The driver of the car was taken to a local hospital There was no word on the severity of the driver's injuries NJ Transit service in the area was temporarily suspended The New Jersey Transit Police led the investigation A .boston.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the City of Boston supported by newly launched Boston Acquisition Fund makes all units affordable while keeping Fairlawn residents in their homes which helps mission-driven developers buy and preserve existing affordable housing and ensure it stays affordable for current households and in perpetuity Mayor Wu made this announcement today in Mattapan at the site with Related Beal Fairlawn Tenants Association and various elected officials Fairlawn Estates has been a pillar in our community that tenants and neighbors have organized and advocated to protect and preserve,” said Mayor Michelle Wu “Today’s acquisition is a major step toward protecting our communities and preventing displacement in Mattapan By securing these homes as permanently affordable we are continuing our efforts to make Boston a home for everyone and ensuring that families can continue to live and thrive in their neighborhood without the fear of being priced out I’m grateful to Related for their partnership on this acquisition and City Life Vida Urbana and the Fairlawn Tenants Association for their years of organizing that made today possible." The Fairlawn Estates is a collection of 12 apartment buildings and a leasing office located on Fairlawn Avenue Originally constructed by the Flatley Companies in the 1960s the property was known for its affordability In the last several years following the most recent sale and rebranding of the property as SoMa at the T residents faced increased rents that resulted in evictions for households unable to keep up with rent hikes has committed to restricting all 347 units as permanently affordable housing The conversion of Fairlawn from market-rate to fully deed-restricted affordable residences ensures these residents can remain in their homes and community “Ensuring that our housing remains affordable is one of the most important steps we can take to stabilize our families and neighborhoods,” said Chief of Housing Sheila A “This acquisition by Related Affordable means that hundreds of families and older adults will no longer worry that their housing costs will exceed what they can afford This administration prioritized the use of ARPA to keep our residents safe and for that we are grateful.” all of which allowed Related to acquire the property and immediately begin improvements to ensure safe and stable housing for residents additional renovations will focus on making the buildings more energy efficient "Today is a victory for the Fairlawn tenants and their unyielding advocacy,” said City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune I have stood alongside them and advocates as we fought to keep Mattapan residents in their homes with dignified living conditions This purchase is reflective of collective action and what it means to stand up for your community I am grateful for Mayor Wu's commitment to prioritizing affordable housing and preventing displacement especially in neighborhoods that are ripe for gentrification." "I am pleased to learn that more affordable housing is coming to District 5 The conversion of Fairlawn Estates into permanent affordable housing ensures that families in Mattapan can remain in the community they have built and call home,” said City Councilor Enrique Pepén “I vividly remember standing alongside long-time residents and City Life/Vida Urbana in the heart of winter in 2023 calling on property owners to keep these units affordable This crucial housing investment serves as a response to longstanding concerns of residents who have been advocating for housing stability in our community I am grateful to Mayor Wu and all the partners who made this possible demonstrating that when we prioritize Boston residents we can prevent displacement and strengthen our neighborhoods for generations to come." "This $10 million investment is a crucial step in keeping Mattapan affordable and preventing displacement,” said Representative Brandy Fluker-Reid (D-Mattapan) “Securing these 347 permanently affordable homes is exactly the kind of investment that strengthens communities I’ve emphasized that our community knows what it needs—this investment reflects what residents have long advocated for and delivers real solutions to help our neighbors thrive.” “I’m grateful to Mayor Wu and the administration for making this a reality tenants have organized protests and advocated for years," said Senator Liz Miranda (D-Roxbury) "Long-term affordability and preserving our affordable housing stock is critical in preventing the displacement of residents who have lived in our communities for decades.” The City’s $10 million investment will ensure that half of the apartments will be reserved for households earning no more than 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) while the other half will be for households earning no more than 80% of AMI The agreement with Related also includes protections for existing tenants limiting rent increases to no more than 2% per year and ongoing support for households with housing vouchers In addition to creating affordability for the residents Related plans to invest $6.4 million in immediate repairs and building upgrades including roof replacements which has overseen the property for the past six years ensuring a smooth transition for residents The City of Boston will monitor the improvements and require long-term affordability protections to be in place at the time of purchase “Affordable housing is core to Related’s DNA and we are thrilled to provide a more sustainable living solution in such an important transit-oriented location in Mattapan,” said Kimberly Sherman Stamler and our financing partners for collaborating on this important opportunity that will protect hundreds of residents within the Mattapan community." Today’s acquisition and conversion of market-rate housing to permanently affordable housing at Fairlawn Estates follows years of advocacy and organizing by Fairlawn tenants City Life/Vida Urbana and neighbors in Mattapan who have called for fair rents and true housing stability for all community members This announcement was made possible through the combined efforts of the Fairlawn Tenant Association and City Life/Vida Urbana to advance tenant rights and housing justice “After six years of fighting for fair rents and housing stability at Fairlawn we’re ecstatic to say that we can stay in our homes that all 347 units at Fairlawn will now be affordable,” said Betty Lewis “The constant stress of facing huge rent increases and eviction weighed on us every day over the past six years and it wasn’t right – but we want people to know that housing is a human right and we can win the homes we deserve This is a community victory won by neighbors working together and it’s not just for us: we hope it inspires organizing for housing stability all across Boston and across the state stable homes.  We thank Mayor Wu and everyone at the City who stayed dedicated to making sure all 347 of our homes at Fairlawn will be affordable.” “Mattapan and all of our communities deserve to have both public transit and stable affordable housing: we shouldn’t have to choose,” said Gabrielle Rene “That’s why we continue to push for rent stabilization and the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) in the State Legislature so that residents in buildings like Fairlawn across the state can have housing stability which will provide them the foundation to thrive in their lives Thank you to the Fairlawn Tenant Association Mayor Wu and the City of Boston for their work to keep all Fairlawn residents in their homes and improve housing affordability in Mattapan.” Related Beal is a fully integrated real estate firm focused on development and investment opportunities in Boston and its surrounding areas The firm has expertise across all asset classes including residential Related Beal has developed and is undertaking the development of some of the most recognized buildings in the area including The Clarendon/One Back Bay The firm is the Boston office of Related Companies the most prominent privately-owned real estate firm in the United States and one of the largest developers and preservationists of affordable and workforce housing in the country The Boston Acquisition Fund provides low-interest loans to nonprofits and socially-minded developers to acquire tenanted multi-family properties The goal is to expand the City of Boston's ability to prevent displacement and combat private investor competition in the housing market The fund is managed by the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation (MHIC) MHIC is able to make low-interest loans due to investments from the City of Boston A view of the Fairlawn Estates as seen from Bismarck Street in Mattapan a large rental housing development in Mattapan has been purchased by a Boston company that plans to keep all of its 347 units “affordable” with the help of a $10 million grant from the city of Boston The acquisition was announced during a press conference at the complex off of Cummins Highway on Monday morning who has agreed to buy out the ownership stake in the apartment village from DSF Group for $90 million according to Boston housing officials familiar with the deal DSF would completely exit its ownership position in the property The sale is hailed as good news for tenants who have raised alarms about rental increases and eviction proceedings by DSF since 2018 Boston’s Housing Chief Sheila Dillon said: “The long-term affordability on this number of units is wonderful especially along an area where there is new rapid transit and gentrification pressures.” Existing residents who have been fighting back evictions and rent increases for several years – including holding several vigils and rallies – said the acquisition brought peace of mind and it wasn’t right – but we want people to know that housing is a human right and we can win the homes we deserve,” said Betty Lewis “This is a community victory won by neighbors working together and it’s not just for us: we hope it inspires organizing for housing stability all across Boston and across the state.” Dillon said the city also provided a $900,000 loan from the Boston Acquisition Fund for renovations with the commitment from Related Beal to commence $7 million worth of upgrades to the property “We heard in early November [that] DSF had selected Related Beal’s affordable arm out of a sales process and so we made the $10 million commitment of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds in December,” said Adam Goldstein of the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH) “We’ve been working with them ever since…Our $10 million commitment leveraged about nine times that in private market financing.” Mayor Michelle Wu said the community has organized towards this goal for years “Today’s acquisition is a major step toward protecting our communities and preventing displacement in Mattapan,” she said “By securing these homes as permanently affordable (we are) ensuring that families can continue to live and thrive in their neighborhood without the fear of being priced out." Fairlawn had been an affordable option for tenants for decades with market rate rents remaining low for years But after a new commuter rail stop opened across the street it became a pressure point in the gentrification and rent increase battle after it sold to DSF in 2018 and was renamed “SoMa at the T.” Long-time tenants have organized protests against large rent increases and one tenant fought her eviction case for “unwarranted conduct” in Housing Court Gordon won her case last November after a jury trial in the Eastern Division of the Housing Court Dillon said the deal began last summer when they heard DSF Group might be interested in selling Fairlawn and at the same time Mayor Wu had just started a program with significant money from ARPA to purchase and preserve affordable housing “We thought that would induce them to take action because ARPA dollars had to be spent quickly – by December,” said Dillon “We talked with them and said if they wanted our help DSF put the property on the market with the stipulations of it being in the city’s program and eventually chose Related Beal for the opportunity transit-oriented location in Mattapan,” said Kimberly Sherman Stamler There are also special protections for existing tenants who might be above those income levels so that no one gets kicked out of their home because of the changes Those existing tenants will have their rent increased by 2 percent every year for as long as they want to stay at Fairlawn “The program we’re using is an anti-displacement program so our intention is to make sure the existing folks aren’t displaced either,” Goldstein said The final piece of the deal is to wipe the slate clean for existing tenants who are fighting eviction cases in court with DSF Dillon said Related Beal isn’t likely to continue those cases brought for non-payment of rent “We know there are active eviction cases…and Related Beal is very anxious to work with residents and to reduce as many of those cases as possible,” she said “We are hopeful as a city these situations will get worked out with the owner and residents can finally relax and enjoy life again in their homes and they won’t have an owner pursuing eviction cases against them.” affordable housing: we shouldn’t have to choose.” Fairlawn/SoMa Apartments consists of a single-story leasing office/maintenance shop and 12 four-story apartment buildings completed between 1965 and 1968 by the Flatley Companies and 115 two-bedroom/one & a half bath apartments with an average unit size of 829 square feet Download this week's Reporter print issue or subscribe today to "Dorchester's Hometown Weekly Newspaper!" Just $50 for 52 Issues in the continental US Download this week's Reporter print issue or subscribe today to "Dorchester's Hometown Weekly Newspaper!" Just $60 for 52 Issues in the continental US FAIRLAWN — On the Professional Bowlers Association tour "I just didn't know what to do with myself," he said Svensson claimed his second PBA TOC title with a 221-197 win over Jakob Butturff in the final It was Svensson's second PBA major title and first since he won the TOC in 2016 in Oklahoma Winning the title at AMF Riviera Lanes meant a lot to the Swede It's probably the most historic venue that we have," Svensson said to be able to walk through the doors over there with famous slogan on it then to get to enter the lanes and compete against the best in the world it's pretty wild when you think about it." Svensson came into Sunday's final as the No He said he felt he was on all through qualifying and match play at Riviera Lanes "I felt like I had a chance all week," he said It's always tough coming down to the very last game Svensson took control early with four straight strikes while Butturff left an open frame the fourth and got no strikes until the sixth frame Svensson said it was about "controlling the atmosphere" as he clinched the title with a strike in the ninth frame The Iceman needed to cool off a red-hot bowler as Butturff won five consecutive match-play games to reach the final Definitely ran out of a little bit of steam I think I just made a wrong move when I bowled the title match." Butturff defeated Kevin McCune in the first match Sunday 231-215 He then survived a bumpy 196-190 win over E.J Tackett before routing Graham Fach 234-182 in the semifinal Here's how the tournament took place in live updates "The Iceman" cometh for his second PBC Touanament of Champions title Jesper Svensson claimed the title with a 221-197 win over Jakob Butturff with a strike in the ninth frame It was Svensson's second major championship and he became the first southpaw to win the title since he won it in 2016 Actor Ben Stiller in the crowd as Jesper Svensson leads PBC TOC finalA bit of Hollywood has come to Fairlawn as actor Ben Stiller is in the gallery at the PBA Tournament of Champions top-seeded Jespen Svensson has the lead after starting with six consecutive strikes as Graham Fach endured two split frames and finished with five strikes Butturff did not have any open frames in a 234-182 win Top seed Jesper Svensson awaits him in the final Jakob Butturff keeps rolling, leads PBA Tournament of Champions semifinalButturff continues his roll who could not convert a split in fourth frame but Jakob Butturff won his second straight match advancing to the semifinal at the PBA Tournament of Champions with a 196-190 win over E.J Butturff converted a spare and strike in the fifth frame to win it Graham Fach awaits Butturff in the semifinals His win assures the champion will be a left-hander for the first time since 2016 Carrying his momentum from the first match Tackett midway through the second match of the finals Butturff has three strikes and two spares through five frames Jakob Butturff recovered from throwing an early open frame to defeat Kevin McCune 231-215 in the first match of the TOC Butturff threw eight strikes to get the win Tackett is looking for his third major title this year Kevin McCune has the lead midway through match one of the PBA TOC finals He has four strikes and two spares through six frames PBA Tournament of Champions finals match one: Kevin McCune vs. Jakob ButturffWe are underway at from lanes 27 and 28 at Riviera Lanes First match of the day pitting Jakob Butturff of Tempe Both men looking to win their first TOC title The televised finals will include four match-play games with the top four qualifiers and the winner of Saturday's ladder prelims The first match will pit Jakob Butturff of Tempe against fourth-seeded Kevin McCune of Munster 6 seed and defeated Matt Sanders 234-221 and Keven Williams 278-247 Saturday to advance The winner of match one advances to face third-seeded E.J The winner of match two advances to face second-seeded Graham Fach of Urbana where they will face top-seeded Jesper Svensson of Sweden Tackett and Svensson have each won the TOC before Fach is looking to become the first Ohioan in decades to win the TOC title The Tournament of Champions is one of five major titles on the Professional Bowlers Association tour It is the lone invitational-only tournament on tour Top prize is $100,000 with $50,000 for seconds place and $30,000 for third NJ - The Valley Hospital has successfully completed its first implant of the .. NJ - Jersey’s Best magazine has named 43 physicians from The Valley Hospital .. NJ - Bergen magazine has named 258 physicians from The Valley Hospital’s medical .. NJ - More than 40 Glen Rock residents gathered on April 1st to celebrate the .. NJ - It's EMS Week and if you're feeling stress as a first responder NJ - The Police Department added another Class 3 Special officer to its .. NJ - Police launched a new safety initiative aimed at protecting residents who .. Join us this Memorial Day Weekend as we come together to honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country Graceland Fairlawn is proud to host a series of meaningful tributes throughout the weekend Volunteers and team members will begin placing the Avenue of Flags across the cemetery grounds to create a powerful display of remembrance May 24 at 9:00 AM – Avenue of Flags Service and pay tribute to those who served with dignity and courage May 25 – Community Greeting & Flag Distribution Our FSA team and local Boy Scouts will be onsite to greet families and hand out flags to visitors coming to pay their respects May 26 at 11:00 AM – Memorial Day Service at Graceland Cemetery We invite you to join us for our main Memorial Day ceremony as we gather in gratitude and reflection and to unite in honoring our nation's heroes We welcome all to take part in this meaningful tradition Star of Hope Mausoleum:Sun - Sat: 8am - 4pm Sunday by AppointmentLocated at Graceland Cemetery Sunday by AppointmentIsle of Assisi Pet Cemetery OfficeMon - Sat: 8 am - 5 pmSunday by AppointmentCemetery Hours: Sunrise-Sunset Copyright © 2025 Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home FAIRLAWN, Va. – Regular bus riders in Pulaski County face significant transportation challenges as Radford and Pulaski Transit Services prepare to discontinue service to a popular Fairlawn Plaza stop near Kroger and Rural King. The service elimination, scheduled for May 12, comes at the request of the property owner and local businesses, leaving many dependent riders concerned about access to essential shopping. “It’s a real convenient stop for me because I don’t have to wait,” said Carmen Mason, a regular rider. “The buses loop around so I can get off, do some quick shopping and catch the same bus back home, and make it a one-hour trip instead of a two-hour, three-hour trip.” Mason, who relies on the bus for shopping and previously for work, faces a drastically longer commute after the change. “Now to get my groceries, it’ll take me two buses and approximately five hours round trip,” Mason said. Melissa Skelton, Radford City Director of Community Development and Transit Coordinator, explained the reasoning behind the closure. “I know that there have been some concerns from some of the tenants that some of the unhoused population that’s been affecting some of the businesses there,” Skelton said. The impact extends beyond individual riders. Barbara Williams, who uses the bus service daily, expressed shock at learning about the closure. “Oh god,” Williams said upon hearing the news. “It’s a necessary service for people that don’t have a vehicle, or people that are unable to drive for whatever the reason.” William Cunningham, the property owner of Cunningham Real Estate, acknowledged the difficulty of the decision in a written statement. “It is unfortunate that we have respectfully requested that the bus service that services our Shopping Center be relocated. Unfortunately, problems associated with those stops created an environment which negatively impacted our tenants and their customers. The safety and well-being of our tenants and customers must be our primary focus. While we acknowledge that some of those using the bus services are loyal and respectful customers of some of our tenants, that is not true of everyone who tends to congregate around these bus stops. We have offered suggestions on alternative sites and hope there can be a solution that can benefit the entire community." Transit officials and riders alike hope an alternative solution can be found before the May closure. Copyright 2025 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved. Thomas grew up right here in Roanoke and is a graduate of Salem High School and Virginia Tech. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Internships at WSLS 10 Careers at WSLS 10 Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 WSLS.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group DULUTH — Easter lands late on the calendar this year a Peeps Art Contest is just one of the sweet events to hit this week Since Pennsylvania candy maker Just Born introduced Peeps in 1953 the sugar-coated marshmallow checks have become iconic in American pop culture — particularly in the Easter season The chicks' ranks have since expanded to include other critters and using the critters to populate whimsical dioramas has become something of a national pastime This year's celebration of America's libraries runs from Sunday The Duluth Library Foundation is presenting a series of events designed to encourage community engagement with local libraries and bookstores (Disclosure: This reporter assisted with organizing the National Library Week event as part of a Leadership Duluth service project.) William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" has never exactly gone out of fashion but the 428-year-old play is definitely having a hot moment right now Two recent Broadway productions have featured stars like Rachel Zegler ("Romeo + Juliet") and Charli D'Amelio ("& Juliet") Minnesota Ballet is doing its part by tapping Sergei Prokofiev's searing score for the final production of its 60th season "Our dancers have poured their hearts into this performance and we are so excited to share it with our audience," artistic director Karl von Rabenau said in a news release The fact that it's being staged at the Depot Theatre means audiences will be up close and personal for all the action AJ Atwater is an abstract artist based in the comfortable confines of a Lakeside neighborhood studio and gallery which she is opening to the public Saturday A news release describes this selection as the "cream-of-the-cream" from Atwater's oeuvre including 20 paintings made in New York under famed artist Ronnie Landfield Other pieces are inspired by Lake Superior The Beatles famously sang "All You Need Is Love," and whether or not that was ever entirely true you can share the love with Zenith City Horror's talented troupe of drag artists as they celebrate the Fab Four on Sunday we’re here to support your visit with care and compassion FAIRLAWN — As the sign says, "The World's Finest Bowlers" pass through the doors again this week at Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn Regarding the PBA's Tournament of Champions the bowlers' sentiments seems to be unanimous "This place is the best," former TOC champion Jason Belmonte said We seriously put on our best show because of it." A standing-room only crowd packed Riviera Lanes Wednesday to see the final qualifying rounds at the TOC Defending TOC champion Marshall Kent could make a case Kent was surrounded by local fans in "Team Kent" T-shirts all day "It's always incredible coming here," Kent said Having the high schools out here means even more because you want to be a good influence on the future of the sport he will not get the chance to defend his title Kent finished 26th in the qualifying rounds with the top 24 bowlers advancing to match play "They're always been there for me," Kent said and I appreciate them more than they'll ever know." There was no letdown for former TOC champion E.J who finished the qualifying rounds as top bowler 37 more than fellow Indiana native Kevin McCune Tackett saved his best for last in the qualifying rounds as he rolled a perfect 300 in his final game "I honestly didn't feel like a bowled bad in the first round," Tackett said I felt like I was feeling better and better." "I've never won in this building," he said how special this building is to professional bowling Tackett was given pause when his rival — Belmonte — edged into match play with a late rally "I've seen this act before of him squeezing in and then coming second or third place on the TV show," Tackett said "No matter how many pins I am ahead of him now As long as there's an opportunity and there's enough pins on the board to get there Belmonte needed a three-strike 10th frame in the 18th game to secure his match-play spot finishing with 4,032 pins and in 22nd place heading into match play England's Dom Barrett is another international player who has taken to Fairlawn The 2023 TOC champion was eighth with 4,163 pins through qualifying and said he has plenty of fond memories and I just try to play it for what it is." 2025 at 2:31 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A Fair lawn man was arrested Friday after pills and weapons were found in a home NJ — Police who searched a home in Fair Lawn on Friday as part of an assault investigation found two machetes and "numerous indicators of drug distribution and manufacturing," said police Wednesday Police said they were investigating a two-week-old assault when they obtained a search warrant for a residence on Pellington Drive possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose distribution of narcotics within 500 feet of a public park and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute Rodriguez was taken to the Bergen County Jail Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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Home » Scio Fairlawn Cemetery will hold annual meeting on May 21 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Fairlawn Cemetery Association of Scio New York will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday 2025 at 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Scio Library at 3980 State Route 19 Matters being discussed include election of board officers The meeting is open to lot owners and the general public.  Per New York State Division of Cemeteries, notice of annual meetings must be posted for three consecutive weeks prior to the meeting.https://sciofairlawncemetery.org Edward Kwaku Boateng Joins Wellsville Creative Arts Center as Studio Manager Alfred State earns Military Friendly recognition Morgan Griffith (R-VA) introduced bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives to designate a unique ZIP code for Fairlawn Fairlawn has unfairly missed out on tax revenue that would otherwise fund education and public services due to confusion regarding its ZIP code,” said the lawmakers we were dismayed to find that Fairlawn residents facing loss and catastrophe after Hurricane Helene could not access individual assistance through FEMA’s online portal simply because they possessed a Radford ZIP code We are proud to introduce this legislation to give Fairlawn its own ZIP code and avoid further confusion and stress for this community.” Fairlawn – a town in Pulaski County – is currently included in the City of Radford’s zip code (24141) this has caused significant issues for Fairlawn and Pulaski County residents including a loss of tax revenue and confusion regarding representation this ZIP code created a barrier to disaster assistance after Hurricane Helene when Fairlawn residents discovered they could not access Individual Assistance (IA) through FEMA’s online portal because the City of Radford was not part of the disaster declaration at that time This legislation would direct USPS to designate a single It notes that Virginia is the only state in the U.S where all cities are independent from their surrounding counties and the impact that has on revenue collection and distribution practices related to roads Griffith – who spoke on the House floor in support of his measure in 2024 – introduced an identical version of this bill in the 118th Congress which directed the United States Postal Service to designate a single Warner, Kaine, Griffith introduce bills to establish Fairlawn ZIP Code 👉 https://tinyurl.com/bdn3cm5f Or we could merge with the City of Radford–it’s closer than the Town of Pulaski or the Town of Dublin cities are independent from counties in terms of local government and geographical boundaries “merging” doesn’t exist outside of annexation and that has been outlawed by a statewide moratorium for decades now Fairlawn is an integral part of Pulaski County and will remain so in the future Kathy Trunzo Sowder no taxes higher in city of Radford and utility bills higher Kathy Trunzo Sowder In the Commonwealth of Virginia There aren’t any amenities except for downtown which is too far for me to go If I wanted to attend a parade or a tree lighting or fireworks I would go to Radford They only deliver mail to the Po zip and most places say our house addresses are invalid so they won’t ship here The article says it’s 24241 🤣 Yes it’s shared would be nice to have own for distinction As the elected Board of Supervisors member representing Fairlawn and Congressman Griffith for introducing this legislation My fellow Pulaski County Board of Supervisors members and County Administration have been advocating for a separate ZIP Code for Fairlawn for many years so we are encouraged by this bipartisan approach by our congressional representation and Congressman Griffith for your leadership on this issue Chris Stafford for Supervisor who do we need to contact about getting mailboxes in the Belspring/Parrot areas So many places we order from won’t accept a PO Box as an address to deliver packages to Michele Nester Let me check on this and will get back to you My whole life people thought we lived in the city Why not use the 24129 that New River was using before they closed the post office Pulaski, Grayson, Floyd & Wythe Giles County Police, Fire, EMS Montgomery County Blacksburg Rescue Riner Fire Shawsville Rescue A Fair Lawn animator with a passion for stories about mental health hopes that her indie animated film called "Arcade" can spread a simple message: It’s OK to admit you need help “Be kind to yourself,” said 23-year-old Erica Travia “Especially with what’s going on in the world people need to understand how to take time to love yourself and know it’s OK to not be OK and express these feelings A lot of people tend to forget about that.” "Arcade," a short film that Travia created and directed in 2023 explores themes of anxiety and panic as experienced by a fictional college student named Milo Milo is pursued throughout the 8-minute movie by a manifestation of his anxiety known as "Annie." The film was a semifinalist in the New York Indie Short Awards an official selection at the Manchester International Film Festival in 2023 and a winner the same year in the Best Amateur category at SHORT to the Point Next month, it will be featured at the Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival in New York City a competition that will spotlight works focusing on mental health Changing Minds will be held on May 17 at the Village East Cinema in Manhattan "Annie's torment becomes so intense that Milo is unable to sleep or even use the bathroom," Travia's website explains "Milo eventually finds comfort in the arcade only to discover that he can't escape his fears so easily." Travia's work "offers a fresh and thoughtful perspective on the complexities of anxiety and mental health," said Jordyn Rosenthal, the advocacy director at Community Access a housing and mental health provider behind the festival we believe storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for breaking down stigma and 'Arcade' adds meaningfully to that conversation." has been interested in animation from an early age with Nickelodeon’s "Avatar the Last Airbender" one of her biggest inspirations that was when I knew I wanted to make cartoons and create animated films,” she said she attended the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia Even when COVID hit during her sophomore year forcing her to take her classes back in New Jersey she was thrilled to finally find friends with the same goals “After [making] 'Arcade,' I still have a really big network of people to contact just to chat The idea for "Arcade" came during her senior year and started as a class project she saw that "everyone’s mental health just dropped.” so it comes from personal experience,” said Travia that people really don’t talk about their mental health enough and they don’t take care of their mental health enough even if they want to.” She wanted her film to remind people that they have friends or family ready to support them “no matter what.” starting with her college friends and classmates but eventually spreading to connections she made online she was leading a team of 85 collaborators around the world “The hardest part was the beginning since nobody knew of 'Arcade,'” Travia said “I would really have to persuade people that 'this was very good Travia said the accomplishment didn't hit her until "Arcade" screened in a student showcase at school “To see your ideas that were on your iPad for a class project people actually enjoy your story enough to want to work on it.’” With contributions coming from around the globe maintaining a consistent style of animation was a challenge Travia worked on some backgrounds and also helped take care of marketing “Because I was the one who created the idea I wanted the whole team to put their creative freedom into the film.” More: Fair Lawn bakery's mission is to break barriers for workers with autism While "Arcade continues" to reach new audiences which she hopes to complete by the end of the year this time focusing on obsessive-compulsive disorder having it be more professional,” said Travia who's again assembled a large cast of artists The process is slower than when she was in school as Travia is now an art teacher at the One River School in Englewood But she's still excited about her future in the industry With money tightening in the movie business big studios are canceling animation productions and greenlighting fewer of them But that's opened up more space for indie projects which have grown more popular in recent years It's allowing more animators to pursue their visions without corporate interference “Things are a little dark right now with animation strikes “Indie animation is getting popular and I’m all for it and I want to be a part of that I want to show my creative freedom to people.”    For young creatives who want to delve into the business Travia emphasizes one thing: people will like your ideas Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community please subscribe or activate your digital account today Email: noda@northjersey.com; X: @snoda11 SUPERIOR — From annual ice cream socials to yoga to reported 180-year-old house guests Fairlawn Mansion has activities for everyone Fairlawn Mansion was built in 1890 by lumber industry tycoon and three-time Mayor Martin Pattison The American castle served as a private residence for the Pattison family for 30 years Martin died in the mansion in December 1918 moved to California and donated the Victorian mansion to Superior Children’s Home and Refuge Center The residence served as a children’s home from 1920-1962 housing hundreds of children over the years The city of Superior bought the home and converted it into a tourist attraction in the 1990s Guides have been giving tours and providing information ever since There have been two recorded deaths inside the walls of the Victorian mansion A janitor also died of a heart attack inside the home It is not uncommon for employees and guests alike to feel as though they are not alone in the 107-year-old house Superior Public Museums Manager Jordan Stish has heard doors slamming at odd hours Fairlawn’s security system occasionally picks up on movement while the house is empty bedroom lights in Martin’s room can be seen lit long after closure The most active areas of the house include Martin’s bedroom and office and some have reported smelling Martin’s cigar smoke A server’s bell can also reportedly be heard on occasion Faint whispering and laughing have been reported outside the bathroom outside of Martin's office prompting some employees to refuse to use that bathroom Do you want to take your prom pictures in a 19th century mansion Are you 16 or older looking for a part-time job and enjoy history Want to do a flashlight tour while the house is in “Victorian mourning?” All of the above are available through Fairlawn “Don’t knock it (Fairlawn) until you try it.” Stish said Tanner Leno and Evan Blomfelt are Superior High School seniors and members of the Spartan Spin Continental Cuisine in Fairlawn has a menu that’s incredible The family-owned restaurant is located in a small plaza at 55 Ghent Road across from Summit Mall. My wife, Susie, and I went there for lunch on the recommendation of her co-worker Tom Guarino reasonably priced and excellent for dining in or taking out The friendly owners treat customers as if they are family New food newsletter: Sign up for new Bites for Akronites newsletter to enjoy food news all in one place had cooked at Lebanese church festivals for years before opening the restaurant in 1998 in a former Dairy Mart Many of the recipes come from the family’s native Lebanon but there are also Greek and Italian dishes on the menu Continental Cuisine serves everything from lasagna to broiled scrod to fried chicken to gourmet pizza to sauerkraut balls Business was steady on the snowy day we visited Customers enter a small Middle Eastern market where an inviting aroma whets the appetite A radio station supplies music in the background We studied the menu for a while, asked our server questions and ordered more than usual for lunch because we wanted to try a variety of dishes. The experience reminded me of going to the Lebanese Festival at Our Lady of the Cedars although it probably could have been a smidge hotter I abandoned the soup for a couple of minutes to devour a kibbe ball ($3.50) a croquette-like sphere of seasoned ground beef onions and pine nuts tucked inside a crispy shell of bulgur wheat especially when dipped in the side cup of yogurt Continental Cuisine makes fresh hummus and baba ghanoush each day We spiced things up with an order of roasted bell pepper hummus ($7.50) and puffy bread ($3.50) “That’s got a lot of air in it,” Susie said as she cut it in half It’s nice having really hot pita on a cold day.” The peppers give it a little more zing than plain hummus “It’s hard to stop eating the puffy bread,” Susie said I slurped up the last spoonfuls of soup just in time for the main course contained fried patties of seasoned ground fava beans with lettuce The delicate falafel was bursting with flavor but I couldn’t resist adding a dollop of roasted bell pepper hummus I’ve eaten a lot of falafel over the years My wife ordered the super chicken gyro ($10) the hearty pita sandwich comes with charbroiled chicken although Susie requested no tomatoes or onions “This is going to be a messy one,” she said As we munched contentedly on our sandwiches my wife motioned for me to wipe the sesame sauce off my chin I looked up and motioned for her to wipe the cucumber sauce off her cheek but we decided to split a piece of pistachio and ricotta cake ($6) for dessert The Italian cake isn’t baked on the premises Yellow sponge cake separates green and white layers of pistachio and ricotta The whole thing was light and airy with a hint of sweetness We needed a box to take home our leftover hummus and puffy bread answered all of our menu questions and juggled all of our plates She took our order and that of the booth behind us without writing anything down — and it all came out from the kitchen exactly as we had requested we would definitely get again — although maybe not all at the same time we would’ve been quite content with just the soup Or maybe some of the other 18 billion things on the menu at Continental Cuisine Mark J. Price can be reached at  mprice@thebeaconjournal.com More info: http://continentalcuisine.com/ and 330-864-1777 The old Fair Lawn Nabisco plant is being dismantled slowly but surely but plans to replace it with a warehouse are now a “question mark,” a borough official said which is being redeveloped by Greek Real Estate Partners has been “slowly coming down,” Borough Manager Kurt Peluso said at a Borough Council meeting last week responding to a resident who asked for an update Peluso said he'd been told that Glen Rock residents who are direct neighbors of the site had issues with the position of a crane and noise coming from the property the developer has to get approval from both the local and state building departments to “make sure everything is clean that is coming down.” “Because of the process of checking everything before it comes down it has slowed down the process quite a bit but it is coming down safely and in a very clean manner,” Peluso added at the March 25 meeting Nabisco closed its bakery in 2021 and sold it to the developer It's been almost two years since Greek canceled plans to implode the remaining tower amid concerns from local residents about the release of asbestos or other potential contaminants The East Brunswick company then promised to clear the site through an "alternative method" that would not involve explosives Once the building is removed, Greek Real Estate Partners has approvals to build a warehouse covering 644,000 square feet, about the size of Prudential Center in Newark, along with 10,000 square feet of office space and 256 parking spaces. The project was approved by Fair Lawn's Planning Board in 2023. Why Nabisco warehouse is now a 'question mark'Peluso said he “doesn’t know” what’s going on with the warehouse proposal saying it is a “question mark now.” He said there “might be another proposal” from the developer eventually but nothing has been filed with the borough “I know the developers, as you look at the market, there’s been a lot of changes at the national level, especially with some of these new tariffs going into place,” Peluso said “There has been a lot of warehouse distribution centers popping up throughout New Jersey so the demand isn’t as high as when they first purchased it.” New Jersey warehouse vacancy rates last year reached their highest levels in a decade the result of a surge in new construction and uncertainty over the economic impacts of President Donald Trump's promised tariffs told The Record and NorthJersey.com in February that many potential warehouse tenants "have paused or slowed plans for expansion." Peluso said no new application had been filed for the property as of yet Greek Real Estate Partners did not immediately respond to a message asking about the timeline for dismantling the building and the state of the warehouse plan More: Fair Lawn diners got a good meal, and this food pantry got $3,000 to help the hungry For decades, the bakery churned out Oreos, animal crackers and other treats, producing a sweet-smelling aroma that wafted over neighboring streets. But Mondelēz International Inc., Nabisco's Chicago-based parent, shut down the plant in July 2021, letting 600 workers go. Greek Real Estate purchased the 40-acre property for $146.5 million Soon after Oradell's Kelly Castro learned that her son had autism she began hearing the tough truth from other parents: School programs and other support for autistic children largely disappear after kids turn 21 they all described it the same way: Once they turn 21 Instead of accepting that fact, Castro has set out in her own way to change the status quo. On Saturday, she'll open her second business designed to provide work opportunities and training to adults with autism. Her new Fair Lawn bakery, Just a Taste of New Jersey will hold a ribbon-cutting at noon on Saturday The store at 25-05 Broadway not only works with adult students with autism it also features goods and products from other local businesses that employ people with disabilities “There’s all this focus on these individuals in school or early intervention before they are even in school on 'how do we get them to progress?'” Castro said and then they turn 21 and don’t have anything to do with the skills they worked so hard to get.” Just a Taste is an expansion of the operation she started out of her home in 2023, Carson’s Cookie Dough The business was inspired by Castro's 8-year-old son who was diagnosed with autism at an early age His mother was "terrified" after hearing about the diminishing prospects for kids like Carson once school support runs out But that changed at a retreat where Castro met the owners of Maplewood-based Beloved Bath Their bath-products company employs many who have autism “A lightbulb went off in my head," said Castro She started renting time at a kitchen in the Westwood Community Center where she would work with two to three adult students with autism at a time helping them learn to prepare and make her cookies as the kitchen was shared with other people Castro searched for a bigger space to call her own and found something unexpected: a former bakery in Fair Lawn that provided both a kitchen and a storefront she also could sell products of businesses with a similar mission and body lotions and candles from Beloved Bath “Every product that we have in there is made by a company which specifically hires adults with autism and differently abled adults,” Castro said Having her own storefront has been a “complete game changer” for Castro's efforts About 20 adult students can now participate five days a week to learn job skills The volunteers are people ages 18 to 21 who attend autism programs at Cresskill public schools Northern Valley Regional High School and the Park Ridge school district and in Little Falls “Our mission for both companies is to support adults who are differently abled with the ultimate goal of hiring these adults,” Castro said noting that the organization is still in its infancy we are able to work with these adult students from various adult programs throughout Bergen County.” The Just a Taste kitchen is set up with the students in mind Its accommodations include step-by-step instructions near the cash register and in the kitchen Castro learns something new every day with her workers as each brings different skills and personalities to the bakery “I think ‘if this person is having difficulty with this task what can I do to make it easier for her?’” she said “Maybe we can add a different seating option Our kitchen is set up very specifically and labeled very specifically We want the adults to not only succeed at the tasks but also interact with each other to build socialization skills that can also be challenging.” “It’s cool to see their confidence,” she added “You can see them interacting with the customers That’s an unexpected element we’re beginning to see.” a job coach from the Cresskill school district’s Community Steps to Independence program said three of her students visit Just a Taste twice a week They enjoy the feeling of growing independence Castro "really makes them feel so comfortable and so welcomed," Van Cleft said "One boy goes in and has learned how to make the dough himself It’s really a nice thing she’s doing for her family and the community.” Castro hopes her example will encourage other employers to be more inclusive Her goal for Carson’s Cookie Dough and Just a Taste isn’t to have employees who work there for 20 years; she wants to be a launchpad that helps students gain skills to work at other businesses as well More: Bergen girls launch gift drive for HIV/AIDS patients at Paramus' Harrison House “The unemployment rate is over 80% for adult who are differently abled and it’s such a staggering number,” she said ‘People don’t want to hire someone just because they have autism?’ I see how hard my son works and how hard his classmates work I think this hasn’t been on anybody’s radar ‘What steps could I do to add these individuals to our workforce?’” Just a Taste's initial hours of operation will be Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m Castro said the hours will expand in the coming weeks “These individuals are such a delight,” she said The town of Fair Lawn has been absolutely incredible We’ve had a very warm welcome across the board.” Families in the Northland are invited to welcome the season with a day of festive fun at the Children’s Easter and Spring Party The event will take place this Saturday at Fairlawn Mansion offering a variety of activities designed for children and adults alike “This is going to be a really fun community event,” said Jordan Stish and an Easter egg hunt on the lawn of Fairlawn Mansion We have over 500 eggs hidden throughout the grounds.” Fairlawn Mansion will serve as the central hub for the festivities while also highlighting the museum’s sister sites the SS Meteor and the Old Firehouse Museum “The Easter egg hunt will take place on Fairlawn’s lawn which offers the perfect space for this kind of event,” Stish said “We’ll also have information available about our other two museums which we’re excited to welcome visitors back to soon.” Admission is designed to be affordable and accessible Tickets can be purchased in advance at superiorpublicmuseums.org Stish shared her personal excitement for the event “I’m especially looking forward to that part,” she said “I stuffed all of the eggs myself — we’ve hidden some great surprises including free ice cream tokens from Culver’s and plenty of candy It’s been a lot of fun planning the hiding spots even without the help of the Easter Bunny!” the Children’s Easter and Spring Party promises a memorable outing for families across the Northland Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public file should contact Vicki Kaping at vkaping@wdio.com or (218) 727-6864 Deputy Mayor Cristina Cutrone became Fair Lawn’s new mayor after Gail Rottenstrich stepped down from her position Thursday night. council members unanimously voted for Cutrone to take over Rottenstrich's role Deputy Mayor of Community Affairs Josh Reinitz was voted as the borough’s new deputy mayor while Rottenstrich was voted to take on the role of deputy mayor of community affairs Fair Lawn's government is run by its five elected members, who each year select one of their own to be mayor. Rottenstrich, who has served as a councilwoman since 2017, was sworn in as mayor last March, filling a vacancy left when her predecessor, Kurt Peluso, was hired as borough manager when Rottenstrich announced she would step down the Democrat said it was her “greatest honor” to serve Fair Lawn She said in a Facebook post that she will not be seeking reelection when her council term wraps up at the end of this year “My decision to step down as mayor is based entirely on my decision to not run for reelection,” said Rottenstrich at the meeting adding that she was in good health and will be a five-year cancer survivor in April “It’s a decision I struggled with because I love being mayor and I love being a member of this council and working with these wonderful people.” was appointed to the borough council in 2017 and was later elected to the position in 2018 She has worked as a public school educator for 18 years and currently serves as the chairperson of the social studies department at Tenafly High School Cutrone is also the vice president of the Tenafly Education Association and was a former trustee on the Bergen County Board of Education for Special Services She is also the co-founder and president of a grassroots organization called WE DO (Women Empowered Democratic Organization) which supports women running for public office a longtime friend of Cutrone who also served as a president of WE DO Way once served as president of the Passaic County chapter while Cutrone serves at the Bergen County chapter president has truly been an inspiration to me,” said Way Cutrone thanked everyone for their well wishes and said Rottenstrich has always inspired her to take on challenges that she never thought she could and step outside of her comfort zone “As I step into this role during these deeply uncertain times I recognize the weight of this moment,” said Cutrone after being sworn in “When we look at the challenges facing our nation sometimes feel powerless or tempted to give up I feel a profound responsibility to help restore hope and to show a path forward.”   The retailer's CEO Barry Litwin told employees Friday that Party City is going out of business as it's immediately “winding down” operations and that it would be their last day of employment, CNN reports The company will be shutting down all of its stores, ending nearly 40 years of business. Despite exiting bankruptcy in September 2023 Party City's “very best efforts have not been enough to overcome,” Litwin said during the call and that the closure process happens immediately Big Lots closing all stores: Here's the list of Greater Akron locations said Friday employees were restricted from giving comment on the closures People were seen walking in and out of the store picking up orders Party City was the largest party retailer in the U.S Aurora: 7555 Market Place DriveCleveland: Steelyard Commons Market St.Mentor: 9134 Mentor Ave.Middleburg Heights: 6935 Southland DriveNorth Canton: 5557 Dressler Road NWNorth Olmsted: 24800 Brookpark RoadWilloughby: 36315 Euclid Ave.To find a Party City location near you A Fair Lawn Public Library worker says he faced discrimination for being a man and was fired and replaced by a woman who was less qualified Alexander Cardillo has been an employee at the library since 2004 which requires extensive knowledge of available library resources A lawsuit he filed in state Superior Court on Feb 13 says Cardillo has a master's degree in library science and a state librarian certification the library and its director and board are named as defendants in the suit Borough Manager Kurt Peluso did not respond to an email for comment The suit says the library's staff of 30 is overwhelmingly women and Library Director Adele Puccio had hired only one other man since becoming director in 2016 and only to fill in when no one else is available to work Local: Fair Lawn mayor stepping down after year at helm. Who's next in line? Cardillo's suit says Puccio violated the state's Law Against Discrimination by denying his annual raise since 2022 cutting his hours and chastising him about a conversation held with other library workers about being paid during a repair He said his hours were cut to harass him or get him to resign and that Puccio told him she had hired a female employee who wasn't certified and they would alternate hours The lawsuit says Cardillo spoke to two library board members and his hours were restored The suit says Cardillo received an email on Feb notifying him that he would be removed from the schedule until further notice required before a discussion of a person's job Several days later he received a preliminary notice of disciplinary action accusing him of using a library computer to contact an employee which would violate the library's confidentiality policy Cardillo said Puccio immediately removed him from his position "until further notice." The lawsuit says Cardillo's position at the reference desk was filled by a female employee "who was neither qualified nor had the credentials to be assigned to such a location." Cardillo said he was falsely accused of harassing another employee and eventually was fired after a disciplinary hearing it was transferred to the Office of Administrative Law Cardillo reached a settlement agreement with the library board he returned to his work and his previously established schedule from 2021 at the library Cardillo said the library board and Puccio "immediately undermined" him by cutting his hours denying him the ability to work discretionary hours Puccio sharing the contents of the agreement with outside parties He accused Puccio of favoring the female employees by exclusively offering jobs to them and offering a new female hire the Sunday shift that previously belonged to him He said Puccio "made it a point of discussing her animus towards men" and made comments at a December 2024 library board meeting about some people coming into the library "to perform an audit of the First Amendment Rights." The suit says Puccio "disregarded the question and answered those are guys who live in their mother's basement." The suit says Cardillo suffers from physical emotional and economic damage because of these actions and is seeking several kinds of damages attorneys fees and the cost of the lawsuit Fair Lawn has expanded one of its two special improvement districts, this time looking to support and boost growth for businesses in the Fair Lawn Avenue area “We as a community are now giving Fair Lawn Avenue the attention it deserves and desperately needs,” said Ryan Greff executive director of Fair Lawn Main Street Inc. the economic development group that manages the districts Fair Lawn's borough council has created two special districts in town: one on Broadway and a second that includes River Road and now Fair Lawn Avenue Businesses in those areas are required to pay a special assessment into a pool of money used to promote the economic and general welfare of the neighborhood supporting tasks like sidewalk beautification and litter cleanups Not everyone is enthused about the expansion Some local businesses balked at the added fees required by the new designation questioning whether they are worth the benefits "I’m a town person. I love Fair Lawn and I hope this makes some sort of miraculous impact on the downtown Fair Lawn area," said Dave Drahouzal, owner of the Dutch House Tavern Owners of Fair Lawn Avenue businesses will be charged a rate of 9.7 cents per $100 of the property's assessed value the same as retail locations in the River Road area Extending onto Fair Lawn Avenue will add 23 properties to the district It will generate an additional $40,000 per year for the SID on top of the $150,000 contributed by River Road took a more active role and “the benefits of being in a special improvement district have become significantly more visible,” store owners in other parts of town became interested in receiving similar services “It was kind of weird that Fair Lawn Avenue was not a SID while River Road was,” he said Property and store owners and community members spoke for and against the proposal during a December meeting prompting the borough council to table a planned vote But the ordinance was eventually approved with a unanimous vote at the end of February there was litter throughout the Radburn business area which is included in the Fair Lawn Avenue district is served by a private sanitation service twice a week in addition to the borough’s sanitation department contracted with Dare Commercial Services LLC of Franklin Township for supplemental cleanup on Fair Lawn Avenue twice per week Native Fields Landscaping of Wharton was also contracted for landscaping and weeding services starting in spring there is a sticker that says 'Clinton/Gore ’96,'” said Greff illustrative point of how little attention this area has gotten we have something coming out every other week Looking ahead, Greff also hopes to bring a facade improvement program that has benefited River Road and Broadway to Fair Lawn Avenue too president of the Fair Lawn Chamber of Commerce said Radburn-area store owners often ask her why they don't get holiday decorations during Christmas or “how come River Road and Broadway gets this or that More: Fair Lawn eatery reopens, six months after strip-mall fire. What’s next for other shops? “They don’t realize there’s an added cost to it,” she said Those same business owners have been asking for extra garbage pickup and planters some business owners have also come to her with concerns saying they can’t afford to pay their Chamber membership dues support other town efforts like the Rotary Club and also absorb the cost of being in the district Chamber dues can vary from $175 to $400 a year depending on the number of employees “We’re trying to work with these businesses to try to help them understand the value that they’re going to get by having the area more kept up,” said Lemberg Dutch House owner Drahouzal said that while there is some litter in local parking lots he doesn’t feel the need for a special improvement district in the corridor The move will force some businesses to withdraw from town groups mentioning he has quit the Chamber of Commerce since the SID expansion was approved “This is basically replacing it,” said Drahouzal “I have a problem with paying for something that I already do but I don’t think they will apply to my business that well.” are looking forward to the services the SID will provide who owns two cafes and a beauty salon in town said one of the main concerns for her Fair Lawn Avenue businesses was that garbage was “all over the parking lot and the landscaping.” “It just wasn’t being picked up enough,” said Zvanets. “Even when we first opened CoZie Café we got a message from a person who was happy that we were here but [added] that it was just so dirty around the building.” The cafe and Zvanets' The Beauty Loft are now part of the Fair Lawn Avenue business district while her Better Daze Café is on River Road Now that the additional sanitation is in place Zvanets said she’s “really looking forward to not having to experience that anymore for myself and people coming to my business.” “I know some other businesses have shared the same concerns of the tidiness of the area,” said Zvanets who mentioned she was also looking forward to new holiday decorations and landscaping “We just want it to be a more walkable space which brings more people to our businesses.” Fair Lawn’s mayor will be stepping down from her position but will remain on the council for the rest of her term Gail Rottenstrich, who has served as a councilwoman since 2017, was sworn in as mayor last March, filling a vacancy left when her predecessor, Kurt Peluso, was hired as borough manager At a council work session and in a Facebook post this week the Democrat announced she would step down as mayor effective Feb saying it was her “greatest honor” to serve Fair Lawn She said in yet another Facebook comment that she will not be seeking reelection when her council term wraps up at the end of this year “Stepping down from mayor will give me the opportunity to focus on the priorities that have been so dear to my heart, promoting diversity and inclusivity, sustainability, smart economic development historic preservation and financial stability,” Rottenstrich said in the Facebook comment Fair Lawn's next mayorThe council will likely vote for a new mayor during its Feb Fair Lawn's government is run by its five elected members who each year select one of their own to be mayor Rottenstrich said she is planning to nominate Deputy Mayor Cristina Cutrone to fill the position Rottenstrich said her decision to resign as mayor was tied to her choice not to run for a third term in office this year “I think it’s better for consistency that the person who is in the mayor’s office is staying a longer term,” she said “I have very much enjoyed being Fair Lawn’s mayor but for the rest of my term on the council I really feel I need to focus on the things that I started.” Those priorities included sustainability, supporting local small businesses, the borough's Green Team, its Shade Tree Committee and Fair Lawn Main Street Inc. More: Fair Lawn office building sells for $22M as medical firms expand “Having been elected twice to the council in a town I love so much has meant a tremendous amount to me,” said Rottenstrich who has lived in the borough for almost 30 years “Having the confidence of the residents to make significant and important changes has really been very satisfying Rottenstrich said she intends to remain active in town on the environmentally focused Green Team and Shade Tree committees and with other groups “I definitely plan to continue with Fair Lawn Main Street My commitment to Fair Lawn remains the same; it will just be a little different.” Before becoming mayor, Rottenstrich served as deputy mayor and in the separate position of deputy mayor of community affairs. She is also the CEO of Zago Manufacturing Co. a Newark business that manufactures sealing fasteners and components Six months after a strip-mall fire destroyed the newly opened business, Fair Lawn Roadhouse has returned to the borough at a new location Moshe Berow, owner of Fair Lawn Roadhouse, said it had been open only five months when a July 26 fire destroyed the Fair Lawn Avenue strip mall that housed his kosher eatery Berow's is one of several businesses still picking up the pieces after the overnight blaze “It was pretty deflating,” Berow said Tuesday in the midst of Fair Lawn Roadhouse's soft opening “We were just hitting a point where we knew what we were doing Berow said he immediately went to work dealing with insurance and searching for a new site an 'incredible' responseThe community's response after the fire was “incredible,” with people reaching out constantly with offers to help and leads on new locations People from outside the community also supported the restaurant when he held a pop-up event in Teaneck around the holidays “There were some places that were available in Teaneck and Paramus that I saw, and I took a look at them, but Fair Lawn came out to support me immediately after the fire so it was critical to us to share that love and stay close to home.” The store has reopened at 22-08 Morlot Avenue When the space became available in October and he and his staff got to work preparing for this week's soft opening An official grand opening ceremony should come in about four to six weeks Fair Lawn Roadhouse has many new staff members but has retained its executive chef and prep cook The restaurant is offering a limited version of its original menu as workers learn the meals but Berow plans to add more items back as time goes on Fire Lawn Roadhouse will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m but prepared foods and takeout will be available from 9 a.m “I went a few times to the other location and they’ve been gone for awhile because of the fire,” said Clem Batelli a customer who came to support the restaurant during its soft open Fair Lawn Roadhouse isn’t the only business to land back on its feet after the fire: Flynn’s Barbershop has also been back in town for a while leasing space monthly from pet groomer Coat Tales since August the move has allowed the barbershop to continue to serve its customers and even launch a new hair balm as Flynn's waits for the next step said he’s been waiting to hear back from the owner of the strip mall to see what the plans are Flynn would like to go back to his original location More: Fair Lawn seeks new school board member after 18-year veteran leaves. Why he resigned Borough Manager Kurt Peluso said the owner of the Fair Lawn Avenue strip mall has been in contact with the town's building department and to the "best of his knowledge," they "plan to rebuild it the way it was."  The barbershop's current location at 14-12 River Road is only a half-mile from the original shop but the business has lost a lot of regulars who didn’t know it was back “Even this week and almost every week since we’ve been here people are coming in to say ‘I didn’t know you were here,’” Flynn said It's not clear what will happen to some of the other businesses forced out by the fire. On its website, Zadies notes that the popular kosher bakery "no longer has a retail location" but adds: "You can still purchase our products at many local supermarkets We thank everyone for their kind words and support during this difficult time." Email: noda@northjersey.com; X: @snoda11 Banana and Reese's Cup will be the special flavors of the day when Stricklands of Fairlawn celebrates its grand opening from noon to 9 p.m will run those special flavors for three days Franchise co-owners Shane and Lindsey Price of Wadsworth chose the "hugely popular" banana fruit flavor and the ever-popular Reese's Cup candy flavor to launch their business which also offers vanilla and chocolate daily Shane manages the ice cream shop half of the day and Lindsey the other half They both make the famous Stricklands ice cream in proprietary batch freezers in softer small-batch amounts that have less air whipped in for a creamier taste "We're making fresh ice cream during the day when the customers are here," Shane said "The key is that customers who come in here are getting fresh ice cream rather than frozen ice cream." Stricklands has finally returned to the west suburbs of Akron after a former Stricklands store closed in 2020 after being open for 19 years in the Montrose area of Bath Township The Fairlawn shop had been slated for a July opening At the new location at Sand Run Parkway and Merz Boulevard the Prices plan to develop some new flavors of their own which were popular at the former Montrose store The new Fairlawn franchise follows other franchises in Cuyahoga Falls, Streetsboro and Costa Mesa, California. The original, seasonal Strickland's stand in Ellet, owned by third-generation family member Scott Margroff, remains on Triplett Boulevard and was founded in 1936. Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com. READ MOREMeteorologist visits Fairlawn Local Schools ahead of annual Team Tornado programby Natalie Walters Chief Meteorologist Natalie Walters spoke with 3rd graders at Fairlawn Local Schools about severe weather safety students created the sounds of a thunderstorm talked about the difference between a watch and a warning students had time to ask questions about the weather and having a career in meteorology Dayton 24/7 Now's annual Team Tornado program kicks off where our team of meteorologists visit schools across the Miami Valley and we are excited to continue to educate and inform kids across the area about severe weather safety If you are interested in on of our meteorologists visiting your school you can email Natalie at nwalters@dayton247now.com Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInTOPEKA (WIBW) - You can see work from dozens of artists all in one spot this weekend The Topeka Art Guild has its Fine Art Fair on display at Fairlawn Plaza Mall in Topeka Marie Plinsky visited Eye on NE Kansas to share the details More than 30 artisans will take part in the show They will have a range of styles and forms of artwork on display Find further details at www.topekaartguild.org opened its first location in Bergen County on Saturday The 32,000-square-foot club at 18-01 Pollitt Drive has 12 fully fenced “oversized” indoor courts with “outdoor-style court surfacing,” the company says The Fair Lawn location also features a store selling pickleball equipment and a private event space The club celebrated the grand opening on Saturday with raffles a food truck and meetings with a physical therapist “We opened because we want to build a community,” said Fair Lawn location co-owner Wai Yiu “People from different ages can play together We see grandparents play with grandsons and different age groups coming together from different backgrounds.” The price of a monthly unlimited membership is $199 and a one-year unlimited membership is $2,089 The drop-in fee for non-members is $30 and allows full-day use of the club A membership at The Picklr gives nationwide access to other locations four clinic passes per month and four guest passes per month The Utah-based franchise started four years ago and Fair Lawn marks the group’s 37th location The Picklr is hoping to have 88 locations nationwide Russell said the facility was built with a sound baffle system that absorbs the loud sound of the pickleball games and makes it easier to hold conversations with teammates and opponents offered at The Picklr are aimed at everyone who is interested in learning more about the sport “We have opportunities for you to come and learn,” Russell said “We have a pathway where you don’t have to be a member We invite anybody who’s curious about it to come on in.”