residents may want to get in their last licks on local lakes kayak or canoe; climb aboard a paddleboard; or jump on a jet ski It has not been a safe summer on some local waters The upper portion of the Delaware River had one accidental drowning this season chief of interpretation at the National Park Service (NPS) She is responsible for the Upper Delaware River Scenic and Recreational Division A few days later on July 7 another drowning occurred further north in the Shohola area a drowning took place at the Bushkill Access area of the river another drowning took place at Lake Sebago in Harriman State Park in New York the body of a 79-year-old Roxbury man was recovered from Lake Hopatcong and an 18-year-old man from Randolph was found dead after disappearing while swimming with friends in Clinton Reservoir in West Milford a teen was seriously injured by a boat propeller in Greenwood Lake and an off-duty Vernon police officer came to his aid Peterec said there are between one and three drownings a year in that area on average chief fire marshal and assistant fire chief for Hopatcong Borough (these events) turn out be a recovery more than a rescue.” the service was able to retrieve the victim’s body “very quick which was great for getting families closure.” Sometimes it takes weeks to recover a body “We work with fire departments and dive teams The Delaware Water Gap has a dive team in the park as well as some of the fire departments.” The NPS in the Upper Delaware division does not work alone Peterec said the rescue team “generally (consists of) two to three members of emergency teams .. We rely on fire departments and dive teams for rescue - hopefully - or recovery; it’s always a team effort.” 1 drowning activity on the (Delaware) River is swimming-related,” Peterec said “(It) could be people on shore trying to swim ‘X’ river the river has swift currents and steep drop-offs “We’ve never had anyone drown when they’re wearing a safety device,” regardless of activity Lake Hopatcong is bordered by Hopatcong in Sussex County and Jefferson All share responsibilities for rescues in Lake Hopatcong Jefferson has two fire department boats and a pontoon boat used in its rescue operations Kotchkowski said there’s a “dividing line” down Lake Hopatcong Jefferson usually goes out first to attempt rescues the Morris County Dive Team will be called out The ambulance squad that serves Lake Hopatcong is “totally separate from the Fire Department,” Kotchkowski said and all the emergency services members “do drills and (take training) courses.” Team members practice on the squad’s boat as part of their drills private citizens with boats may be called upon to assist and - more often than not - Hispanic or Black “Stats are very low for women,” Peterec said “Males tend to underestimate the power of the river; women tend to be more cautious.” Kotchkowski offered a similar profile based on his experience: Victims more often than not are male and are from South Asian communities there is a greater danger for people who use “patio boats,” or pontoon boats a big party,” with people jumping from boat to boat alcohol is absolutely a contributing factor to accidents He told of an unusual fatal accident involving a man using a weed harvester most incidents are caused by “carelessness and ‘patio boats’ with just a railing around (the sides),” he said “Wear a properly fitted life jacket when you’re near or on the water,” Peterec said “People are very surprised how fast the water is” and how steep the drop-off is in the Upper Delaware Float on your back with your feet pointed downstream to kick away rocks “Have some kind of boater safety course.” Also Coast Guard Auxiliary at Lake Hopatcong offers several boating safety courses during the year Courses may be taken as a one-day class or on two evenings participants receive a New Jersey State Boating Safety certificate The Coast Guard Auxiliary website states: “The Recreational Boating Safety Outreach (B) Directorate’s mission is to prevent loss of life property damage and adverse environmental impact associated with recreational boating through outreach to the recreational boating community We envision a world with no boating-related accidents The site offers resources for finding an examiner for boaters and paddlers including vessel safety checks; finding boating safety classes; and making a float plan It also offers safety forms and checklists; provides boating rules and regulations; and provides life jacket information and cold-water safety tips • Plan ahead - make a “float plan,” so friends and family know where you’ll be and when you’re expected back • Learn about your boat by taking a kayak or canoe safety class float on your back with your toes pointed down to kick away obstacles • Be aware of changing currents and obstacles in and overhanging the water Editor’s Note: The subjects interviewed were discussing their experiences managing and overseeing two local bodies of water: a specific portion of the Delaware River and its currents Pascack Hills linebacker Jordan Morrell (24) brings down Cliffside Park runner Jeremiah Turner in Friday night's high school football showdown in Montvale 10/07/2022Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Mike Gurnis | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comComing through in the second half has become a calling card for Pascack Hills this season Through its first seven games of the season the Broncos had to rally from deficits late in three games and managed to come through in all three of them a fourth can be added to the list after Thursday’s win over Hopatcong to close out the regular season Pascack Hills erased a one-point halftime deficit behind a pair of second-half rushing touchdowns from quarterback Connor Ohnikian and its defense made plays late to secure a 20-13 win over Hopatcong in Hopatcong The win secured at least a tie for first place in the SFC-Ivy Red Division for the second-straight season It finished 5-1 in the division and will await the outcome of Friday’s Fair Lawn-Teaneck showdown to see if it will have first place heading into next week’s crossover games “It means a lot,” offensive/defensive lineman Devon Buonnano said But we’re all coming together week by week We’re just going to take it from there and hopefully keep it going.” gave Pascack Hills fits throughout the game Behind the tough running of Ryan White (16 carries Hopatcong rushed for over 200 yards on the ground and took a 7-6 lead into half after a 27-yard score from White as it opened the second half with an 11-play 85 yard drive which chewed up nearly seven minutes of time capped off by Ohnikian’s 3-yard score to put the Broncos in the lead for good “We just needed to come together,” Ohnikian said “It was quiet in the locker room and then we all just brought it together and got it done in the second half We just needed to come together as a team.” 100 yards) helped Pascack Hills control the game in the second half After its defense stopped Hopatcong on a 4th-and-1 in its own territory Ohnikian and Morrell orchestrated another long drive which culminated in the quarterback’s 1-yard score with 8:24 left to put his team up by two scores “We knew from the get-go watching film- and we played them last year- we knew it was going to be a war,” Morrell said Things certainly took an interesting turn late when Hopatcong cut the deficit to seven on Certo’s 1-yard score with 5:02 left But the Pascack Hills defense forced a turnover on downs with 1:50 left and then when Hopatcong was looking for a miracle in the final seconds it broke up two consecutive passes- the latter an interception on the final play- to seal the win “Nobody knew the game was going to be easy,” Buonnano said “We knew it was going to be a war in the fourth quarter TOUCHDOWN: Connor Ohnikian runs 22 yards to put Pascack Hills back in the lead. Extra point is good and the Broncos now lead 13-7 with 5:17 left in the third pic.twitter.com/ui9oxHnrKr a Pascack Hills program which went 4-6 two years ago has now clinched its second-straight seven-win season It has its sights set on a strong showing in crossover games in the next two weeks after suffering a 13-0 loss to Fort Lee in its crossover game last season I feel like it was a great turnaround in the whole program,” Morrell said so we’re expecting two more really hard games and looking forward to seeing what spot we’re in The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook |Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) Mike Gurnis can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices TOUCHDOWN: Connor Ohnikian runs 22 yards to put Pascack Hills back in the lead. Extra point is good and the Broncos now lead 13-7 with 5:17 left in the third pic.twitter.com/ui9oxHnrKr This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The slow drip of football coaching openings has turned into a waterfall at Morris and Sussex county high schools There will be seven new head coaches this fall a mix of rookies and familiar faces in new places The game of musical chairs began when Morris Knolls veteran Bill Regan announced his retirement after 49 years at the helm. Bryan Gallagher, a Golden Eagles alumnus To fill their coaching vacancy, the Bombers brought Sean Norton home from Hopatcong after two seasons. About the same time, longtime Parsippany Hills coach Dave Albano announced he'd be going up Route 10 to Randolph Former Hopatcong assistant Mark Certo gets his shot at the top job there, made official by the Board of Education on Feb. 26 The newest addition to the head coaching circle is Jim Hamill at Wallkill Valley. The Rangers head track and field coach was formally approved by the Board of Education last Tuesday The Parsippany Hills position is the only one still open with plenty of applications for new athletic director Claire Herman to evaluate Add in Bill Percey's elevation from assistant to head coach at High Point in late November and that's the most moves in recent memory – just in these two counties Mark Certo has been around the Hopatcong football program for decades He coached many of the rising sophomores and juniors in the youth program Certo made clear that he's here for the long haul that's what motivated me to apply for the job," he said "I wanted to keep some consistency that Sean (Norton) had started More: Boonton brings Sean Norton home to lead football program and follow family tradition Hopatcong spent the last two seasons in the SFC Ivy Red but has shifted to the National Blue – which sets up a game against former coach Norton and Boonton in Week 3 the Ivy forced the Group 1 Chiefs to go up against much larger schools Certo was proud of Hopatcong's four victories last fall and said the team was "two two-point conversions away from a winning record." The Chiefs lost at Teaneck and they lost their NJSIAA crossover finale Certo plans to bring in the Wing-T with his son Hopatcong alumnus Austin Brown is staying on as defensive coordinator as is longtime assistant – and former Chiefs head coach – Gary Andolena "When we go back to mostly Group 1 schools we should be competitive again," Certo said "That's what I want to see and what I want to coach: being competitive knowing your assignments and knowing your technique Dave Albano has been at Parsippany Hills for 24 years Albano will be driving Route 10 West to Randolph The 57-year-old already has gotten a head start meeting the players two weeks ago before moving on to the Randolph Bulldogs youth program and booster club Albano is also in the process of rebuilding the coaching staff most of whom have been with him for much of his time at Parsippany Hills and we're starting a new one at this point putting all the pieces in place to get to work," he said After the first back-to-back sub-.500 seasons in Albano's tenure in 2021 and 2022, the Vikings went unbeaten in the SFC Liberty Blue and finished 7-3 last fall. The Vikings won North 2, Group 3 in 2014 and 2019 the Rams enjoyed a run of five consecutive titles from 1986 through 1990 They won 59 consecutive games during that run Albano and offensive coordinator Brian Francis plan to bring their pro-style offense to Randolph Longtime defensive coordinator Ross Tarlowe chose not to make the move Randolph football was the mecca of public schools," Albano said "To have the opportunity to go for this job More: Morris County’s longest serving head coach retires, opening new era for Morris Knolls he met with the Wallkill Valley football team he was at Ocean Breeze on Staten Island for the NJSIAA Meet of Champions The longtime track and field coach is blending his new role as head football coach with life as a new dad he heard Bobby Leach had stepped down as the Rangers' football coach Hamill was defensive coordinator at Wayne Valley last fall but had been looking for "a change of scenery," he said because I'd been there my whole coaching life," said Hamill "It didn't sit right not being around for football season." Hamill's father and older male relatives played for Regan at Morris Knolls. He grew up in Byram, and played running back, linebacker and safety for another legendary coach: Lenape Valley's Don Smolyn After a year of learning from longtime Wayne Valley coach Roger Kotlarz Hamill felt ready to take his shot at the top job back home the former offensive coordinator at Pope John and Bayley-Ellard "The biggest thing right now is to develop a culture," said Hamill who has one year left in a Seton Hall University online program to become a school counselor "That culture's going to set how everything goes: how we practice; how we train in the offseason; when things happen in games That's something we've done a great job building in our track program which has helped us be successful the past 10 years." Jane Havsy is a storyteller for the Daily Record and DailyRecord.com, part of the USA TODAY Network. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis, subscribe today Email: JHavsy@gannett.comTwitter: @dailyrecordspts Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates Animal activist and Lake Hopatcong native Leslie Jane McKenna-Contreras died Friday Nearly $6,000 had been raised as of May 1 on a GoFundMe to support the hospital and funeral costs of animal activist and Lake Hopatcong native Leslie Jane McKenna-Contreras Leslie was born April 8, 1987 in Morristown and raised in White Meadow Lake. She graduated from Morris Hills High School, her obituary says Leslie is known for her recent role as founder and operator of The None Furgotten Dog and Cat Rescue a charity that helps treat and find homes for abused and abandoned animals Nearly $6,000 had been raised as of May 1 on a GoFundMe to support Leslie’s hospital and funeral costs Leslie is also known for her passion for art and had donated numerous paintings to animal shelters where they would be auctioned to help support the animals Barbara and John McKenna; her sister and brother-in-law Lauren McKenna-Mazur and Joseph Mazur; her mother-in-law “We are comforted in knowing that Leslie is at peace and will be always looking over us,” reads the fundraiser “Leslie is so loved and will be missed by so many.” Click here to view/donate to Leslie Jane McKenna-Contreras’ GoFundMe. Adriel Perez (10) of Teaneck catches a pass and races down field for a touchdown during the football game between Teaneck and Ferris at Teaneck High School in Teaneck .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Ryan Patti | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comSuper Football ConferenceIvy Red DivisionDivision breakdown: The Ivy Red and White Divisions were created in 2020 for teams struggling with participation The two leagues have seven teams and the season ends with an Ivy “championship game” between the best teams in both leagues Fort Lee defeated Pascack Hills 13-0 in that crossover contest.Predicted order of finish: 1-Teaneck; 2-Dover; 3-Pascack Hills; 4-Indian Hills; 5-Fair Lawn; 6-Hopatcong; 7-Bergen TechPlayers to watch: Dylan Asgarian RB/LBTeam-by-team previewsBergen TechPlayoff section: North 5Coach: Peter Barno (first year)Record last three years: 3-4 What to watch for: The Knights have a new coach at the helm but Peter Barno isn’t exactly new as he worked under Ryan Lynch for five years Barno welcomes back six returning two-way starters Brandon Kadakia (OL/DL) and Thomas Godlewski (WR/LB) made an enormous impact a year ago junior Adian Peterson (RB/LB) and sophomore Gyumin Kwon (OL/DL) are expected to make a leap after also playing both ways last fall Look for this team to run the ball a lot and lean on its 4-4 defense What to watch for: Bill Goble takes over for Justin Hartman and head coach and expectations are high after a 7-3 campaign in 2022 Senior quarterback Anthony Trongone has fielded FCS interest and is entering his fourth year as starter Dover runs a spread Wing-T offense and junior Emilio Mendez will be a primary target for Trongone in the receiving game The offense has eight returning starters and the defense has nine Leading the way on the defensive side of the ball will be junior linebacker Alex Chambers Fellow junior Brandon Flynn tandems with Chambers in the Tigers’ 4-2-5 system What to watch for: The Cutters were a Wing-T offense years back but the team is seeing its spread offense come into place in Year 4 under head coach Brendan Walis Senior quarterback Cooper Peck is a second-year starter and he has weapons at his disposal in senior Travis Colaianni (WR/DB) junior Nick Shahinian (RB) and Bergen Catholic transfer and junior wideout Eddie Guy Fair Lawn has its leading tackler in senior linebacker Dan Elias back in the fold and some size up front What to watch for: Second-year head coach Sean Norton thinks highly of the Ivy Red Division and sees it as a great test but his confidence in his kids is high this year as well They lose just three starters on both sides of the ball Norton is eager to see his leading rusher in senior Ryan White back in action along with the team’s second-leading runner in senior quarterback James Kirschner Senior Jaysin Burgos rushed for over eight yards per clip in 2022 and played a huge role in Norton’s option offense All three are hard hitters at linebacker too It’s ball control and defense that will win the Chiefs games this fall What to watch for: Indian Hills has a lot coming back in the trenches and it starts with the Asgarian brothers Dylan and Grant have been two-way starters since they were freshmen and now they’re entering their senior campaign Head coach Dominic Mulieri has enjoyed watching their growth both from a physical and leadership standpoint Senior Joe Cortese headlines several returning members of the backfield and is additionally a key contributor in the linebacking core Senior QB/DB Chris Weaver will be getting his first varsity reps but he has had a strong offseason and Mulieri is confident he can step into the large role What to watch for: The Broncos lose their top rusher from last year in Alejandro Camarena but head coach Evan Lampert believes in senior Jordan Morrell as the bell cow this fall He’ll be running behind an offensive line led by Tyler Duffy who plays on the defensive line and also wrestles in the winter Junior Connor Ohnikian will handle the quarterback duties and give Pascack Hills a chance to open things up offensively Seniors Cuddy Zhu (RB/DB) and Charlie Stewart (OL/DL) took their junior seasons off but are back for one last go at it in the brown and orange Lampert’s goal is to always win the league but he has his kids focusing on how good they can be one day at a time What to watch for: The Highwaymen return most of their players from 2022 and “second-year” head coach Harold Clark believes his bunch is capable of winning the division after finishing runner-up to Pascack Hills One of the their biggest graduates was Alex Caba who’s now playing defensive back at Lafayette He was also the team’s running back and now those duties are being handed to senior Adriel Perez Clark sees four-star athlete potential in sophomore Demetrius Owens at wide receiver Senior two-way lineman Travis Brown-Miller is often the largest human on the field and senior Zach Strickland headlines Teaneck’s second level of the defense The N.J. High School Sports newsletter now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now and be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. To add your name, click here Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription Ryan Patti covers the Super Football Conference and NJIC. He can be reached at rpatti@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @ryanwpatti The operator of a personal watercraft was hospitalized after crashing into a 25-foot boat on Lake Hopatcong and causing both vessels to sink Monday night The watercraft struck the boat on a portion of the lake near Liffy Island around 7:30 p.m. NJSP Trooper Lawrence Peele told Daily Voice and the watercraft operator was taken to Morristown Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries Two other passengers on the boat were uninjured in the crash The cause of the crash remains under investigation A new Wawa store is now open on Route 15S in Morris County The opening of the new Lake Hopatcong location was celebrated Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Jefferson Township Mayor Eric Wilsusen “Welcome and congratulations to Wawa!” Wilsusen said “Thank you for choosing our community to open your business in and thank you for your generous donations to our first responders!” The new store’s menu features all the brand’s beloved hoagies Plus, Wawa is offering free coffee every Tuesday for its rewards members. Other new Wawa stores set to open this fall will be in Burlington Spark the scientific breakthroughs that innovate treatments to improve the lives of patients Call (877) 272-6226, email info@pancan.org or Bruce and Linda Hill at a Labor Day 5K in New Jersey Editor’s note: Bruce Hill died of pancreatic cancer in January 2019 but we share his story here in hopes that it inspires others to continue to Demand Better in the fight against this disease Bruce and Linda Hill have experienced a lot of events most married couples typically do Bruce is currently battling pancreatic cancer Their daughter-in-law is also recovering after her own battle with breast cancer Having three cancer diagnoses in one family at one time they have each found courage in each other’s determination to beat their form of cancer It was Linda who found out about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) through online research She called PanCAN Patient Services for information on Bruce’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis Bruce stated that his diagnosis first came as a huge blow “The initial diagnosis was shocking and devastating for my family But I was positive from the beginning that I was going to beat this Bruce Hill wearing his Wage Hope jacket at the beach The resources and support the Hills received from PanCAN inspired the couple to devote their time to volunteering after attending their first local New Jersey affiliate meeting Bruce and Linda are now the Survivor & Caregiver Engagement Chairs for the Northern New Jersey Affiliate Bruce and his family found out that his tumor is no longer responding to his current chemotherapy regimen maintaining his status as a stage IV pancreatic cancer patient While he is looking into other treatment options Bruce has completed several 5Ks and advocated for more pancreatic cancer research funding with his wife on Capitol Hill during Advocacy Day this past June He and the New Jersey delegation met Senator Cory Booker and the Edge what do you do the day after your doctor tells you that your abdominal mass is inoperable?” Linda mentions in a recent blog post where she and Bruce share updates I’m so proud of my husband!” Linda shines with positivity even as she endures her own health struggles the couple has received tremendous support and outpouring of well wishes Members of New Jersey’s affiliate have helped drive them to various doctors’ appointments They have even managed to make more PurpleStride and pancreatic cancer connections While at a chemotherapy treatment in August Bruce met a man named Mike who was wearing a PurpleStride T-shirt “As soon as he walked in wearing a PurpleStride shirt Turns out he lost his wife to pancreatic cancer two years ago Mike mentioned that he and his family had participated in PurpleStride New Jersey 2017 The Hills participate in the event each year with their team Mike told Bruce that he might not be able to participate in New Jersey’s event this year Bruce told him that he would walk in tribute to Mike’s wife other survivors and those who have lost their battle with pancreatic cancer Our team inspires me by helping others facing this battle.” It came as a shock when Bruce and Linda’s daughter-in-law Bruce and Linda gained inspiration from Laura with her positive energy She underwent months of chemotherapy and had surgery this past summer Linda was amazed to find out that she and Bruce served as Laura’s motivation Laura told Bruce and me that we were her inspiration “But I can tell you now that the situation has reversed Bruce and I look to Laura for strength and inspiration our family will fight the beast of cancer!” For anyone who is currently on their own cancer journey or has a loved one battling a diagnosis He also credits the resources PanCAN has provided him including the opportunity to connect with others hospitals and treatments; contact PanCAN and never give up Linda is a caregiver with the Survivor & Caregiver Network Volunteering connects you to other survivors and caregivers and those who’ve lost loved ones to this disease 7 Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms and Signs You Should Know FDA Approves New First-line Treatment Option for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: What You Need to Know The Current State of Federal Funding for Pancreatic Cancer Research: A Call to Action 11 Easy-to-Digest Foods Your Quick Guide to Itching and Pancreatic Cancer Letter to Congress from PanCAN President and CEO Julie Fleshman in Response to President Trump's Proposed Budget Cuts to the National Institutes of Health The Current State of Federal Funding for Pancreatic Cancer Research: A Call to Action Personal Values and Treatment Decisions: Questions to Ask PanCAN PurpleStride 2025 Highlights Strength of Community PurpleStride NYC Premier Sponsor Just Salad is Committed to Health, Sustainability and PanCAN You can expect a response within 3 business days If you would like to speak with a Case Manager directly please call (877) 272-6226 for more immediate assistance 2101 Rosecrans Ave, Suite 3200 El Segundo, CA 90245 - Map Email: info@pancan.org accessories and more to show off your purple pride ©2025 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy A 25-year-old Morris County man was sentenced to nearly a year in jail for a drunken boating accident that killed his friend in 2019 Jason Gil died in a 2019 boating accident in which his friend operating the boat Nicholas Zarantonello was sentenced to three years probation conditioned on 364 days in Morris County Jail and 200 hours of community service Zarantonello also can not operate a boat for one year or drive for three months Carroll said in a joint release with Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan Friday's sentencing by Presiding Morris County Judge Stephen Taylor was for the Aug 2019 incident on Lake Hopatcong in Jefferson Township in which Zarantonello was operating a boat with two passengers One of those passengers, Jason Gil, 24, of Mount Arlington, went overboard. His body was spotted two days later by another boater on the lake. "Further investigation revealed that Zarantonello had consumed alcohol prior to operating the pontoon boat and was intoxicated at the time of the incident," Carroll said to one count of third degree Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide before Judge Taylor He also entered a guilty plea to the boating regulation violation of Operating a Vessel Under the Influence New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit contributed to the prosecution A scholarship fundraiser on GoFundMe in Gil's memory had raised $840 as of Saturday County College of Morris Radiography program will be giving out a few scholarships in memory of Jason," campaign founder Martha Korovich wrote we will be celebrating his life on earth and all the lives he touched and will continue to touch Thank you in advance for your contribution of spreading the joy of Jason." Saturday, 9:00 amNewark, NJ A 38-year-old Lake Hopatcong man was killed while working on a demolition job in Pennsylvania Luke Marzano was working on the Martin Tower property when the accident occurred Thursday Luke Marzano was working on the Martin Tower property site in Bethlehem when he sustained crushing injuries to his pelvis and abdomen around 11:50 a.m A crew has been working to clean up the remnants of the Bethlehem Steel Corp headquarters Employed by Montville-based CATCO Demolition Services Marzano was pronounced dead at the hospital part of the tight-knit Legends Car community at Wall Stadium was remembered by former stadium announcer Eric Brennan for his positivity and charisma "When Luke and his brother returned to competition at the track, there was a noticeable brightening of that side of the pit area," Brennan wrote in a Facebook tribute.  "Not just because of the bright yellow color of their race cars but also from the bright smile that Luke seemed to have in that back corner regardless of how the night of racing went "Even though I was 'the new guy,' and didn’t know much about their family history at the track aspaulding@njherald.com HOPATCONG — Matt Moscatello needed to supply only one statistic Saturday to show that his Jefferson wrestling team could compete for an NJAC Freedom Division championship this season after battling in the American Division the past two years "In the last two years when we were in the other league both to High Point," the eighth-year Falcons head coach said the Falcons feel they can accomplish their goal of claiming their first division crown since 1994-95 after starting the year 2-0 in the Freedom Their latest Freedom win came against Hopatcong a 57-22 beating during a quad meet Saturday at Hopatcong High School where they also smashed former American foes Pope John "It's absolutely important," Moscatello said of the Falcons' trying to win the Freedom "We're always looking for a division title or a sectional title but it seems we've had a road block every year we got Kittatinny and a tough Lenape Valley team we are going to battle it out with." "Yea definitely," Jefferson sophomore Luke Bohn said The Falcons (4-0) want the Freedom crown after finishing second to High Point the past two years in the American and was tied for fifth in the Freedom in 2009-10 the Falcons had problems winning the SCIL because of teams like High Point "It's been frustrating to say the least," Moscatello said The Falcons believe they can overcome their division-title woes after returning 12 grapplers from last year's squad that put together a 15-7 record and got to the North 1 The biggest returners they brought back were juniors Bryan Damon and Bohn Damon was 32-5 at 106 pounds last year and won the District 3 title including wins Saturday against Hopatcong's Joey Ioffredo and Pope John's Dominic Koert He pinned Ioffredo in 43 seconds and won against Koert by injury default Bohn was 29-7 at 145 and was second in District 3 Bohn is 7-1 while splitting time at 152 and 160 he won both bouts against Hopatcong's Eric Hughes and Pope John's Hunter Guzzo by pin Though Damon and Bohn are the top grapplers the Falcons have quality wrestlers in Tyler Zimmerman (182) Erik Harsanyi (160) and Breiland Marion (220) who all went a combined 18-0 on Saturday with seven of the wins coming against Hopatcong "We're working better as a team this year," Damon said "A lot of kids got stronger and have stepped up." they know the Freedom title and season is a long way from being decided Moscatello said he "beefed" up the team's schedule Brick Memorial and Toms River South to help them prepare for their teams like Kittatinny "It's early in the season," Moscatello said Hopatcong picked up its first and second wins of the year by beating Morris Hills and Pope John Bongiovanni won two matches at 145 and one at 152 to go to 5-1; Troy Bongiovanni captured all three of his wins at 170; and Aumann won two at 106 and one at 113 it lost all three matches and went to 0-7 on the year Hopatcong and American foe Morris Hills (41-38) were not the biggest blows for the Lions as they saw Koert suffer a neck injury against Damon that forced him to default the match be taken out of the gym on a backboard and rushed to Morristown Medical Center Bob Stewart was upset to see Koert get hurt like he did Hopefully he is OK and it's something minor and can bounce back Support is pouring in for the family of a New Jersey boy who suddenly and tragically died in his sleep at just nine years old Musolino died while sleeping in bed at his family's Hopatcong home on Tuesday Mario C. Musolino died while sleeping in bed at his family's Hopatcong home on Tuesday, Sept. 28, his obituary says Mario was a thriving third grade student at Hopatcong Elementary School and was known for his love of animals as well as music and being with his family More than $12,700 had been raised as of Tuesday on a GoFundMe for Mario’s funeral expenses putting the family more than halfway toward the $17,000 goal “We are absolutely devastated by Mario’s passing and are struggling to find the funds to cover the cost of the service,” reads the fundraiser Mary Dunn of Hopatcong; his paternal grandmother Linda Musolino of Parsippany and numerous extended family members 9 at the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home on High Street in Newton “Please consider donating if you are able to do so,” Musolino writes “We are so very grateful for every donation during this difficult time.” Click here to view/donate to ‘Donations for Mario Musolino Funeral Expenses’ on GoFundMe. High school senior and lifelong Sussex County resident Rylee Clare Crouch died at home on Friday Crouch was born in Denville, her obituary says She lived in Hopatcong and was in her senior year at Hopatcong High School Crouch loved to go camping and spend time with her family and close friends She is predeceased by paternal grandmother as well as numerous extended family members and close friends Memorial services will be held privately. Donations can be made in Crouch’s memory to SMILE of Hopatcong.  Click here for the full obituary .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a} A sledder enjoys a day on a hill near Somerset County Vocational and Technical school in Bridgewater By Kelly Roncace | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Mother Nature has finally dropped enough white stuff on parts of New Jersey to cover the slopes While the southern counties were spared for the most part north Jersey may see up to 10 inches of snow once today’s storm concludes All that snow means those who love that icy chill will be headed out to the nearest hill to take a fun sled ride to the bottom Here are 15 spots throughout the state to go sledding A rider flies down a hill at Mosquito Park in Jersey City (Photo by Molly J Known as the home of the best sledding in the state, Mosquito Park in Jersey City, Hudson County offers rolling hills and stunning views of the Pulaski Skyway The park is six acres of hilly terrain on the western slope of the Palisades between Kennedy Boulevard and Liberty Avenue in Jersey City Bayonne's Stephen R Gregg Park is located on the east bank of Newark Bay and offers spectacular waterfront views and several hills for a fun day out in the snow A young sledder goes head first down a hill at Liberty State Park in Jersey City Surrounded by the metropolis that is northern New Jersey, with a view of the Manhattan skyline, Liberty State Park in Jersey City is a great place to jump onto a sled and slide Miles of trails also provide a great route for pulling the little ones on their sled Jonathon DeMicco takes his daughter Natalia for a sled ride at Meadow Breeze Park in Washington Township Meadow Breeze Park offers hills and trails perfect for sledding Meadow Breeze Park is located at 22 Meadow Breeze Lane in Washington Township Kristen Spence of Phillispburg reacts as she begins to flip while sledding down a hill behind Target in Phillipsburg Phillipsburg is situated on the Delaware River among rolling hills that are a sledder's paradise One popular area is behind the local Target store where the hills provide hours of sledding fun is all smiles as he spends the afternoon sledding near Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville (Saed Hindash | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Saed Hindash | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The wooded area near Notre Dame High School on Lawrenceville Road in Lawrenceville is a favorite spot for local sledders Jayden Melicharek slides across frozen Lake Hopatcong in Hopatcong State Park in Landing Hopatcong State Park sits on the southwest corner of Lake Hopatcong in Landing which was originally created as part of the Morris Canal the 9-mile park is a popular sledding spot for those fun-filled snow days Hopatcong State Park is located on Lakeside Boulevard in Landing A sled goes airborne after hitting a snow ramp in South Mountain Reservation in Millburn Covering portions of Maplewood, Millburn, and West Orange, South Mountain Reservation is composed of more than 2,100 acres and is located between the first and second ridges of the Watchung Mountains South Mountain Reservation is located on Brookside Drive in Millburn Kids sled down Summer Arts Hill in Echo Lake Park in Westfield Tom Wright-Piersanti | Star-Ledger file photo When snow falls in Union County, kids of all ages head to the "Summer Arts" concert area of Echo Lake Park in Mountainside for a day of sledding Echo Lake Park is located on Springfield Avenue in Mountainside screams as she heads down the hill with her children William and Adessa on top of her at Duke Island Park Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Located on the historic Raritan Power Canal, Duke Island Park is 343 acres of rich, natural beauty, perfect for a snow day of sledding. Duke Island Park is located on Old York Road in Bridgewater Taylor Sparks of Monroeville smiles as she gets turned around while sledding at Fort Mott State Park As part of a 3-fort defense system built in 1876, Fort Mott State Park in Pennsville provides a huge man-made hill that was created to hide the battery from enemy ships passing by on the Delaware River sledding enthusiasts come from miles around to try out the Fort Mott hill Jessica Taylor (left) and CJ Wood (right) get ready to sled down the Deepwater overpass hill The Route 49 overpass between Pennsville and Deepwater overlooking the Delaware Memorial Bridge has provided countless snowy smiles for many years These kids are all smiles as they sled down on a hill at Holly Hills Nature Preserve in Alloway Holly Hills Nature Preserve and sledding hills that are just waiting for a coating of snow keep an eye out for an American Bald Eagle or two that are known to frequent the area Carissa Smith sleds with her parents Carson and Linda at Chestnut Branch Park in Mantua Chestnut Branch Park was named for the Chestnut Branch of the Mantua Creek and offers athletic fields and rolling hills for hours of fun in the snow Dale Givler and Brianna Green ride a pair of sleds down a hill in Waltman Park in Millville Grab your sled and head to Waltman Park in Millville as soon as the flurries start to fall the open space makes for a great sledding wonderland Waltman Park is located on City Park Drive in Millville 2017 at 1:50 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}You may not realize it but your house — and your family — could be exposed to cancer-causing gas that's killing hundreds of New Jerseyans each year New Jersey officials are warning people about radon cancer-causing radioactive gas with no color that is responsible for 566 deaths among New Jersey residents each year At least 23 Patch communities are considered to have a high risk of exposure to the gas while another 57 towns have a moderate risk and the remaining 24 have a low risk (see list and map below) The New Jersey Department of Health is joining with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection this month in urging all residents to protect their family’s health by testing their homes for radon Chris Christie issued a proclamation declaring January as Radon Action Month in New Jersey noting that radon moves from the soil and into homes through cracks and openings in the foundation One in six New Jersey homes has elevated levels of radon but only 30 percent of households across the state have been tested “Testing your home is the only way to know if your home’s radon level is high,” Health Commissioner Cathleen Bennett said in a press release “Radon problems can be fixed by installing a radon mitigation system.” Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 86 percent of radon-related lung cancer deaths occur among current or former smokers “The risk of developing lung cancer is highest among smokers who are also exposed to radon,” Bennett said “If you smoke and your home has high levels of radon your risk of getting lung cancer is especially high smokers should also take steps to quit smoking.” The state Department of Environmental Protection has a list of certified companies that provide radon testing services or residents can purchase do-it-yourself test kits from hardware stores home centers or directly from certified companies through mail order For more information about the NJDEP radon program call the NJDEP Radon Program at (800) 648-0394 Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Morris County is mourning the loss of a longtime mechanic and dedicated father of two Kristopher J. Leek died in a crash on Friday, Oct. 27, his obituary says Kristopher grew up in Netcong and lived in Byram Township Kristopher had been working as a Master Diesel Mechanic Manager at Nationwide Truck Repair of Mine Hill since 2009 and picking up mechanic and woodworking projects He had also recently joined a bowling league with his uncle and father Kristopher embraced his role as a devoted dad and loved spending time with his family and Kyler (Erick); as well as several extended family members and close friends Tributes and condolences quickly flooded social media following Kristopher’s tragic passing: “Tragically the family and friends of Kris Leek have lost the best Dad cousin and friend there is,” reads one of several tributes “Always there to help anyone whenever they needed something Fond memories of time spent together having so many laughs.” 3 at the Bermingham Funeral Home in Wharton “Such a loving Dad to Mason and Ethan,” the post continues “You could just see the pride in his eyes whenever they were around…This world isn't going to be the same without him.” Click here to view the full obituary of Kristopher J. Leek. Jason Meza of Morristown reacts as he wins the Boys 400 Meter Hurdles at the 2024 NJSIAA Track and Field Meet of Champions Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Corey Annan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comCoaches across the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference made their choices their postseason honors teams see the athletes and relay teams who were picked dashes for the finish line in the group 2 boys 100 meter dash during the NJSIAA Group 2 3 and Non-Public B Track and Field Championships at Delsea High School in Franklinville Luke Riordan of Hanover Park finished second in the Group 2 boys shot put during the NJSIAA Groups 2 & 3 Track and Field Championships at Delsea in Franklinville Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Luke Schagelin of Morris Knolls wins the Group 3 boys 800 during the NJSIAA Groups 2 & 3 Track and Field Championships at Delsea in Franklinville Division champions: Morris Knolls and Randolph Corey Annan can be reached at cannan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him @coreyannan360 High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter)Sign up now! NorthJersey.com reported that a former music teacher has been charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with students at two different schools in Bergen County Kurt Zimmermann has been employed at Hopatcong High School since 2013 He initially served as a band director for a decade and subsequently took on the role of coordinator of student discipline for the past three years According to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella Zimmermann "engaged in sexual conduct" with a student between the ages of 13 and 17 while he was the band director at Westwood Regional Middle School and Westwood Regional High School The alleged incidents occurred over a decade ago has also been charged with additional counts of sexual assault involving a student between the ages of 16 and 18 while he was teaching in the Morris Hills Regional School District The new charges stem from an investigation earlier this year which was initiated after the Hopatcong Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office about reports of alleged sexual misconduct between a teacher and student in Westwood Assistant Prosecutor Sara Wilson outlined the disturbing details of the allegations against Zimmermann Wilson said the second accuser described a "prolonged relationship" with Zimmermann that began when she was a junior in high school in 2003 and lasted into her college years The victim claimed that the relationship turned physical and she described a "prolonged grooming process" that involved hugging the victim told police that Zimmermann would spend the night at her home while she was still in high school The prosecutor also said the victim spoke of multiple instances when she thought she was being followed and that Zimmermann would tell her to hide under a window in his apartment to avoid being seen Zimmermann has been charged with three counts of second-degree sexual assault as well as three counts of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child During his second detention hearing on Wednesday Assistant Prosecutor Wilson argued that Zimmermann should remain in jail but state Superior Court Judge James Sattely ruled that the prosecution had not met its burden and Zimmermann would be released under strict conditions Zimmermann will be confined to home detention without GPS monitoring He is prohibited from having any contact with the alleged victims or witnesses and he must appear at all court proceedings he is not allowed to travel outside of the United States without the court's permission and cannot leave his listed address and meetings with his pretrial services officer the community is left grappling with the disturbing allegations and the decision to release Zimmermann on such lenient conditions The victims and their families will undoubtedly be seeking justice and accountability for the alleged abuse and exploitation they endured Following the shocking news of a former music teacher accused of sexual misconduct with students to discuss the legal rights and options available to the victims Brian provided valuable insight into the civil and criminal avenues that school sex abuse victims can explore to hold the responsible parties accountable for the alleged abuse and exploitation Editor Darla Medina (DM): Thank you for joining us It's an important topic that needs to be addressed what legal avenues are available for the victims BK: Victims of sexual abuse by music teachers or any individuals in positions of authority at a school One of the primary options is filing a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator and against the school or institution that employed the teacher This allows the victims to seek compensation for the harm they have endured DM: Are there any specific laws or regulations that provide support to these victims the Sexual Abuse Survivor's Bill of Rights provides important legal protections for victims of sexual abuse This legislation extends the statute of limitations allowing victims to come forward and seek justice even if the abuse occurred many years ago DM: That's crucial for survivors who may have been silenced or afraid to speak out Can you explain the process of filing a civil lawsuit for these victims The first step is to consult with an experienced attorney who specializes in sexual abuse cases They can guide the victims through the legal process and build a strong case to hold the responsible parties accountable DM: And what about the emotional support for these victims Are there resources available to help them during this challenging time It's important for victims to seek emotional support and counseling to help them navigate the healing process There are organizations and support groups specifically designed to assist survivors of sexual abuse Connecting with these resources can provide a safe space for sharing experiences and accessing the necessary support It's crucial to raise awareness and ensure that victims have the knowledge and support they need to seek justice If you or a loved one have been affected by sexual abuse by a music teacher or any individual in a school-related position of authority it is crucial to understand your legal rights and options Our team of compassionate attorneys is here to support you Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation We are dedicated to helping victims and their families navigate the legal process and seek the justice they deserve You don't have to face this alone – reach out to us and let us guide you towards a path of healing and empowerment NorthJersey.com The mayor of one Morris County town is celebrating the legacy of a 3-year-old boy tragically killed in a drowning incident two years ago with a holiday named in his honor Jefferson Township Mayor Eric Wilsusen is celebrating the legacy of a 3-year-old Luc Franco who was tragically killed in a drowning incident two years ago Luciano Franco, of Jefferson Township, drowned in Lake Hopatcong on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, according to a GoFundMe campaign that described him as “energetic Jefferson Township Mayor Eric Wilsusen worked alongside Kristin Ruggerio from the Milton Tri-PTA to dedicate Franco’s birthday — Thursday, March 17 — as ‘Luciano Franco Day.’ “[Luciano] has left a tremendous impact on our community and his smile will be one never forgotten,” Wilsusen writes we are inviting everyone to ‘live like Luc!’” and Stanlick can visit the municipal building from 5 to 8 p.m to get a free ice cream sandwich or push pop Luciano Franco Day ultimately encourages residents to embrace the boy’s adventurous spirit and “say ‘yes’ when you may have said ‘no.’” A local school board in Morris County reportedly is paying $980,000 to settle a civil suit brought by the family of a former middle school student whose teacher admitted groping and making out with her who was also a Boy Scout leader and firefighter pleaded guilty in May 2017 to child endangerment and criminal sexual contact for kissing the 14-year-old Hopatcong Middle School eighth grader several times and grabbing her butt over her clothing the year before He was sentenced to three years in state prison In exchange for his plea began a relationship with the girl through sexually explicit text messages and emails It progressed to kissing and groping during school hours and The girl testified that other students harassed her after the allegations against Strand became public, a New Jersey Law Journal report says The girl’s parents sued the Hopatcong Board of Education, the school principal and a Hopatcong high school principal in Superior Court in Newton, alleging negligent supervision and violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, the report says The suit accuses the defendants of knowing of Strand’s “past indecent behavior with students” but failing to protect the girl, it says The parents accused the school of creating a sexually hostile education environment and contended that officials could have installed software on Strand’s computer that would have caught his exchanges with the girl, according to the report anxiety and depression that required mental health counseling throughout her high school years She nonetheless graduated near the top of her class In the board’s defense, its attorneys said that an immediate investigation found that none of nearly a dozen employees who were interviewed had any knowledge of Strand sexually misbehaving with students, the NJ Law Journal report says The board immediately suspended and ultimately fired Strand while taking “reasonable steps to supervise counsel and protect the plaintiff from any retaliation and harassment from peers,” the defense lawyers noted That included offering to pay for her to attend school out of the district The defense lawyers also argued that the girl had pre-existing anxiety was also a Succasunna Boy Scout leader and Roxbury firefighter He also participated in the Special Olympics for 10 years and was a Ski/Snowboard Club advisor for 11 Strand was paroled from the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center for sex offenders in Avenel in May 2018 He remains on parole supervision and on the Megan’s Law sex offender registry -- both for life The state Board of Examiners also required him to surrender his certification as a social studies and elementary school teacher The family of a Morris County woman is turning to the public for help locating her and her boyfriend Nicolette "Nicki" Clark was last seen leaving her Lake Hopatcong house on Oct is also missing and was last seen on Tuxedo Parkway in Newark The couple took off in a silver Chevrolet tracker with a soft The Clarks were not available for comment when Daily Voice reached out Saturday evening Click here on how to contact the Clark family. 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