Emergency responders practicing ice rescues on Lake Hopatcong got more than they expected on Wednesday when their training was interrupted by a real-life emergency: an iceboater in need of help Several agencies were participating in the practice when the report came in that an 82-year-old man had fallen through the ice near the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club a sailing craft equipped with runners to glide over the ice the victim was back on shore — after officers made their way to him across broken ice shelves and then pulled him to safety on a tethered rescue sled the Sheriff's Office recounted in a statement Thursday that makes it all worth it," Morris County Sheriff James Gannon said in the news release He praised the rescuers for "responding in a time of need and applying our training to help an individual who is in dire consequences Mayor was eyewitnessThe drama unfolded near the home of Mount Arlington Mayor Michael Stanzilis He witnessed it as he was leaving the house about 11:30 a.m "I'm going out to my car and I see three of my police officers come flying down the street," the mayor said in an interview Thursday "They get out of their cars and run down to the lake And then a fire truck comes up behind them and same thing." Advised in advance of the ice-rescue drills taking place Stanzilis at first wondered if he was watching a training exercise and the sergeant at the desk said somebody fell in." Gannon's office was conducting the training along with the New Jersey State Police the Hopatcong and Mount Arlington police departments and the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Conservation Police The release said they were at Lee’s County Park Marina when they were notified about the incident near the club which is on the Bertrand Island peninsula in Mount Arlington by which time three Mount Arlington Fire Department members were already making their way to the victim who could be seen lying on a sheet of ice near his partially submerged boat "These guys were not kidding around," Stanzilis said Especially when the firemen are volunteers The boater was "safely placed onto the rescue sled and the rescuers on the shoreline were signaled to start pulling them in," the Sheriff's Office said [responders] assisted with carrying the patient from the ice shelf Clare’s EMS unit for further medical evaluation New Jersey state troopers and Mount Arlington firefighters later went back onto the ice and recovered the iceboat "Saving lives is the purpose of our mission and the reason why we train together and ensure seamless performance," Gannon said How is the boater?The victim's name was not released he's pulling his iceboat out of the water and he's putting it on a trailer He actually refused medical attention at the scene More: NJ DOT finds 90 potential void locations under Route 80. Is it a sinkhole ‘Whack-a-Mole?’ Lake Hopatcong is New Jersey's largest lake and a popular year-round site for recreation, including swimming in the summer at Hopatcong State Park. The state police staff a marine station on the lake, where several boat and watercraft drownings have occurred over the years Stanzilis identified the on-duty firefighters he saw respond to the scene He also said Firefighter Arthur Scofield worked on the tether reel that pulled the victim to safety Chief Mario Marcano and Assistant Chief Wesley Martin also arrived to command the operation Participants in the ice training session who responded to the scene included Sgts Ivan Bajceski and Officer Ryan Wood of the Sheriff's Office State Troopers Thomas Gilroy and Shane McClafferty and Officer Matthew Kaiteris of the Mount Arlington Police Department were also involved First Responders Rescue Elderly Man from Icy Waters of Lake Hopatcong An ice rescue training exercise on Lake Hopatcong turned into an actual life-saving mission yesterday when members of the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and multiple first responder agencies saved an 82-year-old man who had fallen through the ice near their emergency drill Responding in a time of need and applying our training to help an individual who is in dire consequences Saving lives is the purpose of our mission and the reason why we train together and ensure seamless performance,” said Morris County Sheriff James M The incident unfolded while the Sheriff’s Office was conducting a joint training alongside the N.J Division of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Police at Lee’s County Park Marina in Mt An urgent report came in that a man had fallen through the lake ice near the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club on Bertrand Island Edward Koster of the Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit Ivan Bajceski and Sheriff’s Officer Ryan Wood of the Emergency Services Unit (ESU) and the N.J State Police Marine Bureau quickly mobilized to assist in the rescue who had been operating an iceboat on the lake was observed lying on the ice and his vessel was partially submerged in the broken ice Arlington firefighters were already making their way across the unstable ice to reach him when Sgt Bajceski reached the scene with the Sheriff’s ESU truck and met the incident commander from the Mt Vernotica and Sheriff’s Officer Wood arrived with the Sheriff’s Heavy Rescue Truck and deployed the MARSARS® Ice Rescue Sled. While tethered to the shoreline State Police Trooper Thomas Gilroy carefully advanced across the ice and maneuvered the sled toward the victim Arlington firefighters had secured a sling around him and rescuers placed him onto the sled before signaling the shoreline team to pull him to safety As the sled reached the edge of the ice shelf Sheriff’s Officer Wood and Mt Arlington Police Officer Matthew Kaiteris waded into waist-deep water to carry the victim to solid ground where he was immediately transferred to St Troopers Gilroy and McClafferty of the N.J Arlington firefighters later returned to the ice and recovered the man’s iceboat The dramatic rescue underscores the dangers of venturing onto the ice and the critical role of specialized training in emergency response. Authorities urge the public to exercise extreme caution on frozen lakes and remain aware of changing ice conditions Photo 1: First responders tending to the victim who fell through the ice on Lake Hopatcong Photo 2: First responders reacting to the emergency at Lake Hopatcong Photo 3: First responders assisting the victim after removing him from the icy waters of Lake Hopatcong Newsletter sign-up and archive The North Jersey county that is located the furthest from New York City Sussex County is known for offering residents more affordable housing spacious lots and an abundance of natural amenities the towns in this county tend to foster a more rural and low-key lifestyle Hopatcong — which is home to a portion of Lake Hopatcong the largest lake in New Jersey at 2,500 acres — offers both seasonal and year-round living for those who want to be near the water Some neighborhoods in this town offer relatively newer homes with larger lots and wider streets while other neighborhoods are more narrow and steep the county's third-hottest town for homebuying this year is a popular spot for those looking to live a slow and quiet life lots of natural amenities and a variety of small businesses The hottest ZIP code in Hopatcong for 2024 is 07843, where a home sold for $429,000, according to Joel Bergen, Realtor.com's senior economist who compiled a list of the top homebuying ZIP codes for each of the five North Jersey counties in 2024 These rankings were based on the number of unique views of property listings and the number of days listings remained active The ZIP codes with the hottest market demand had a high number of unique views per property and listings that remained on the market for a short period of time Rankings are based on data collected from January to November 2024 More recent headlines from the Hopatcong areaRevitalized: New Lake Hopatcong pavilion set to open in January mirrors century-old original Changing hands: Sussex County moves closer to sale of old jail in Newton. This is the final hurdle Bear hunt: Where were the most bears killed in NJ? State releases numbers as hunt concludes Sussex reigns supreme: Where does it snow the most in NJ? One spot is 'heavyweight snow champion' of state Applications are slated to open in just over a day for a $5 million pot of relief money meant to help businesses slammed by traffic from the Route 80 sinkhole mess But advocates and local officials from Hopatcong a town along the western shore of Lake Hopatcong argue that although their businesses have been affected by the diverted traffic they are not being allowed to apply for the state aid And only businesses in Morris County qualify for the aid a representative for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority Phil Murphy issued a state emergency declaration that paved the way for the state to put together the business relief In order for Lake Hopatcong businesses to qualify for the relief he would have to amend his order to include all or parts of Sussex County declined to say whether the governor would amend the emergency order “Our office is considering all options to build on this support to ensure these businesses receive the critical funding they need to counter the decline in sales and revenue,” Jones said in an email Friday Businesses in downtown Wharton say that in recent weeks they have faced the brunt of traffic being redirected to local roads from the Route 80 sinkhole closure Due to the traffic, residents and shoppers said they’ve avoided downtown Wharton, as well as nearby big-box stores and the Rockaway Townsquare mall But the traffic has also snarled the roadways around Lake Hopatcong Cambiotti’s Tomato Pie Cafe at the south end of Lake Hopatcong has seen less business during lunch hour thanks to traffic from the sinkhole Worsening things for local residents and businesses president of the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce “Certainly Morris County’s been severely impacted but it doesn’t mean that businesses surrounding them aren’t feeling the effects as well,” she said in a phone interview Three state elected officials representing Lake Hopatcong — Sen Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia and Assemblyman Michael Inganamort — wrote a letter to Murphy last week asking that he expand his emergency declaration “It is fair to say that the negative effects of the closures do not recognize county boundaries as a line of economic impact,” the three said in the joint letter Space told NorthJersey.com the impact is clear “A lot of people are avoiding coming in this direction.”  Grants will first be available to businesses within 5 miles of the sinkholes followed by businesses 5.01 miles to 10 miles away There should at least be enough funding for businesses within 5 miles of the sinkhole but beyond that the program may be “oversubscribed,” Bruce Ciallella the Economic Development Authority’s chief operations and compliance officer There is an initial $5 million for the grant program plus the potential for an additional $15 million in county the number of full-time equivalent employees is “based on weeks worked and wages compared to the state’s minimum wage” in a business’ filings with the state Labor Department Federal loans also availableBusinesses affected by the sinkholes can apply for federal low-interest loans of up to $2 million from the U.S The SBA is operating a “Business Recovery Center” at the Wharton Municipal Building at 10 Robert St For the federal disaster relief loans, businesses can apply by calling 800-659-2955 or visiting sba.gov/disaster If you’re an affected business interested in sharing your experience in applying for and obtaining government relief, reach out to NorthJersey.com Business Reporter Daniel Munoz at 201-270-9870 or munozd@northjersey.com labor and the economy for NorthJersey.com and The Record Email: munozd@northjersey.com; Twitter:@danielmunoz100 and Facebook A Hopatcong fire captain collapsed while leading a drill last week in his station Fellow firefighters immediately performed CPR and revived Capt He had been with the department for 13 years.  This brings to 56 the number of firefighters to die on duty this year Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976 Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post a member of the pike family known for chain-like pattern on its greenish body were in a biting mood for last Sunday's ice fishing contest on Lake Hopatcong The contest, which hadn't run in a couple of years due to mild winters was a great success with over 60 fish weighed in from the 100-plus anglers who entered the contest 9-ounce one chain pickerel landed by Walt Hewitt of Dunellen was the biggest fish of the day though the contest doesn't award a grand prize winner the top three finishers in three categories: chain pickerel yellow perch/crappie and an "All Other Species" get awarded prize money Kids have their own categories and the winners get an ice fishing pole won the "All Other Species," category with a 4-pound of Bernardsville was the final top winner with 1-pound The first place prize winners each took home $168 More: Ice fishermen pull in pickerel, perch as New Jersey lakes freeze up While the deep freeze appears to have broken the temps are still dropping below freezing at night and as of Thursday Laurie Murphy at Dow's Bow Rentals at Nolan Point said they had a solid 7 to 10 inches of ice coverage She said it melts a little during the day and freezes right back up night There have been plenty of fishermen on the lake and they have been joined by wildlife She says fishermen have enjoyed the company of a blue heron that has been drinking from the holes in the ice created by the fishermen Some timid fox have been begging for a fish on the periphery and any fish not claimed on the ice will be picked up by a resident eagle Wreck FishingOcean going trips have slowed to a crawl of the Dauntless said the ocean water temperature dropped from 48 to 37 degrees Right now there is one area where he is able to catch ling but he's not seeing much else life on the bottom — not even eels or dogfish which seem to thrive in the cold conditions More: What's biting: get the latest fishing reports here On the surface he has read and seen bunker about seven miles off the beach on more than one occasion He has not observed any mackerel or whiting which would certainly would be a welcome and perhaps bring people down to the docks and overall slow fishing very few people have been coming down to the docks to board the boat At this point he said he will just be sailing weekends When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Dylan McCoy | For NJ Advance MediaBrady Reardon struck out 11 and only allowed three hits in a complete game shutout pushing 10-seed Delaware Valley to a 7-0 home victory over 19-seed Hopatcong in the first round of the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament Delaware Valley (8-5) did most of its scoring in the first three innings to advance in the tournament Carter Glacken came around to score two runs for Delaware Valley and drove in an RBI and Logan Giuliano each recorded a base hit for Hopatcong (4-8) Delaware Valley will face Pingry tomorrow before traveling to battle seventh-seeded Phillipsburg on Saturday in its second-round matchup Hopatcong will return to regular-season play on Sunday at home against Kittatinny Dylan McCoy can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com The N.J. 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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 Fountain Turned On Again 99 Years To The Day Since It First Opened     Morris County officials joined the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum the Lake Hopatcong Foundation and a host of other state and local dignitaries and residents today in reactivating the restored Hopatcong State Park Fountain – 99 years to the day after it was first opened to visitors View a Short Video Highlighting the Reopening of the Hopatcong Fountain helping the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum in conjunction with the Lake Hopatcong Foundation to complete the work “This project brought the fountain back to being operational for the first time in more than two decades provides much-needed aeration for the Musconetcong River and returns a beloved asset to the community to enjoy for another 99 years,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw President of the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum with a Morris County Historic Preservation plaque that will be affixed to the fountain Forests & Historic Sites at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) View More Photos from the Reopening of the Hopatcong Fountain $286,981 in Historic Preservation Trust Fund grants supported restoration of the fountain including: The water took about 15 to 20 minutes to fully flow from the restored fountain after the public officials and many guests took turns cranking a valve at the headwaters exactly 67 rotations to get things started The nearly 100-year-old hydraulic system behind the foundation was restored and improved through a project undertaken by engineering students from Stevens Institute of Technology was created by the Morris Canal and was the highest point and largest source of water on the canal is one of the most important structures that remains from the Morris Canal abandonment process “This restoration would not have been possible without the support of the County Commissioners and the Historic Preservation Trust Fund,” said Kane Since the inception of the Morris County Historic Preservation program in 2003 the Commissioners have awarded 533 grants totaling more than $50 Million to aid in the preservation protection and restoration of 123 historical properties in 34 towns throughout the county To learn more about the Hopatcong State Park Fountain, view this video narrated by Marty Kane Commissioner Stephen Shaw and Senator Anthony Bucco standing in front of the Lake Hopatcong State Park Fountain Photo 2: Lake Hopatcong State Park Fountain The Hopatcong Dam fountain reopened at the perfect time on July 16: amid a heat wave Dozens of residents and local officials gathered at a reactivation ceremony that morning celebrating their ability to bask in the mist of the century-old fountain for the first time after three decades of inactivity But the reawakening didn't last for long. The fountain in Roxbury closed just two days later, after the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection said it had found potentially dangerous levels of bacteria related to an algae bloom in nearby Lake Hopatcong Exacerbated by the high temperatures. concentrations of cyanobacteria, the type of algae in the lake, had climbed to a cell count of 86,875 in the waters near Hopatcong State Park and Byram Cove The levels triggered an "advisory," during which the state recommends that public beaches be closed and the public avoid contact with the water "The Hopatcong State Park Beach is closed for swimming and the fountain at the State Park will remain off while the beach is closed due to possible aerosol conveyance of cyanotoxins," the Lake Hopatcong Foundation Advisory-level blooms can lead to flu-like symptoms and rashes both the beaches and the fountain on the eastern bank of the Musconetcong River remained closed until further notice While the recent heat waves made life uncomfortable for local residents, they provided the perfect conditions for algae blooms. Marty Kane, chairman of the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, told NorthJersey.com last month that recent readings of water samples in the lake reached 86 degrees Fahrenheit Earlier: How century-old Lake Hopatcong fountain was turned back on after 30 years in disrepair The Hopatcong Dam fountain opened 99 years ago but was shut down in the 1990s due to maintenance problems, including clogged pipes. The fountain is gravity fed with a wheel controlling a gate in the dam that can be open or closed to control the height of the geyser Repairs were funded by $287,000 in grant money The fountain's "wake-up call" took 10 years executive director of the Lake Hopatcong Foundation said he didn't have any updates regarding the algae blooms and closures "I wish we knew more; I want it to be open The lake itself is not closed though," he said and there may be an update today or tomorrow depending on the test results." LANDING − With a turn (actually 67 turns) of a wheel the Hopatcong Dam fountain slowly gushed to life late Tuesday morning On a set of stairs overlooking the century-old fountain a woman recalled "swimming" here as a youngster And on the hillside which forms the Morris County side of the dam nearly a hundred people gathered to watch as the landmark came back to life there were leaks around the top of the "fountain," with water dribbling down the side of the circular support Then the sound of rushing water grew louder and the dribble became a stream; the stream became a torrent and finally the torrent becoming a geyser 20-25 feet tall 67 turns of that wheel took more than three minutes to go from leak to geyser The fountain is located on the eastern bank of the Musconetcong River (dividing line between Sussex and Morris counties) and is located within what is now Hopatcong State Park which includes a formal swimming beach In addition to clearing the pipes and updating the mechanical equipment the grant money also went to installing a circular iron fence in suitable Victorian-era style around the top of the rock wall which creates the fountain's base an insurance requirement to deter waders and swimmers said the "wake-up call" for the fountain was a "10-year-process," beginning with a full assessment of problems that needed to be corrected for the fountain work correctly The county received three grants totaling $287,000 The county paid for the work and has transferred "ownership" to the state parks department Lake Hopatcong was made even larger a century ago by the current dam on the Musconetcong River Lake Hopatcong had been flooded to nearly its current shape Like many fast-moving rivers in the northeast water-powered mills grew up along the Musconetcong and the owners of those mills were concerned about losing their power was a way to show the factory owners that water was being released from the lake to keep the river flowing enough to power the mills the need for water to power mills gave way to other sources rather than a measuring device became a focal point of gatherings and a summer "swimming hole" although it was more the falling water from the fountain's spray that kept the kids cool The fountain was turned off in the 1990s due to maintenance issues and concerns about liability from people swimming without lifeguard protection The fountain is gravity fed with the "wheel" controlling a gate in the dam opening into a 24-inch diameter pipe which feeds the fountain The height of the geyser is determined by the water level in the lake behind the dam In addition to the money from grants obtained by the county Shaw said a significant donor was Peter Kellogg a second generation Wall Street businessman who owns considerable land in Byram Shaw said the control gate was opened full on Tuesday and the height of the geyser is "as much as it will get." He didn't know about whether the fountain would run year-round The lady on the stairs - echoed by others - remembers when the fountain used to run year round and in winter would form an 'ice castle' on bitter cold days Shaw said those kinds of decisions would be made in the future since ownership has reverted to the state Division of Parks and Forestry Entrance to the park's parking lot is off Lakeside Boulevard while there is also a stairway from the boulevard down to the fountain's level at the Musconetcong River bridge .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Dylan McCoy | For NJ Advance MediaAlison Leibensperger led the way with three hits and four RBIs as 12-seed Voorhees clinched a postseason victory at home defeating 17-seed Hopatcong 15-3 in five innings as part of the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament’s first round Voorhees (7-5) scored 11 runs in the first inning Hopatcong (7-6) pushed across three in the fourth but Voorhees responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning to invoke the run rule after the fifth Ava Zielinskie pitched a complete game for Voorhees Keira MacMillan reached base in all three of her plate appearances Kelsey Weber drove in two RBIs for Hopatcong Voorhees will travel for its second round matchup A slate of harsh critics of the Sparta school district were poised to sweep four board of education seats while Hopatcong voters were backing a $9.9 million referendum for school improvements in unofficial results from Tuesday's election Two incumbents on the Sparta council were also in danger of losing their seats in a race that focused on a controversial warehouse proposal in town considered lifting a ban on cannabis sales in town Tuesday's election saw record turnout with an estimated 67% of registered voters casting ballots Here's a look at what we know so far. Check back for updates to Sussex County election results as more numbers are released incumbent County Commissioner Chris Carney received 49,838 votes with his running mate according to preliminary results from the Clerk's Office The results in the race for two seats mean the GOP will retain all five spots on the county board While most elections are contested by candidates running as Republicans or Democrats there are two municipalities in Sussex County in which local municipal offices are sought in non-partisan fashion Sussex County: Election turnout 'by far a record' with 67% voting Newton council electionIn the non-partisan contested race in Newton incumbents John-Paul Couce and Michele Teets defeated challenger Ludmilla Mecaj Couce polled 2,098 votes with Teets receiving 2,084 Sparta council raceIn the non-partisan race for Sparta Township Council husband and wife Mark Scott and Marjory Murphy ran under the slogan "Protect Sparta's Future - No Mega Warehouses" and were in the lead as of early Wednesday well ahead of incumbents Christine Quinn and Joshua Hertzberg who ran together under the banner of "Conservative Values." Scott and Murphy received 5,108 and 4,618 votes with Quinn and Hertzberg following with 3,865 and 3,539 votes Emily "Ramos" Serafino and Rebecca Williams − part of a "Stop Raising Taxes" ticket − were the three top vote-getters in a race for three seats a running mate with the other three winners received nearly 60% of the vote to defeat Daniel O'Malley Republican incumbents Melvin Dennison and Robert J after making the ballot by virtue of successful write-in campaigns in the June primary Branchville council electionIn Branchville Democrat Jeffrey Lewis polled 245 votes to win a seat on the Borough Council Voters approved issuing a $9.9 million bond for the school district for several projects including roof replacements at the high school and Tulsa Trail school The money also would pay for removing old oil tanks at the Middle and Durban Avenue schools with the possibility of converting to gas heat if supply lines come into the area on time The vote was 5,057, or 68%, in favor with 2,359, or 32% opposed. According to the school district's referendum website approval means Hopatcong is eligible for state aid that could cover about a third of the project cost voters backed a nonbinding referendum advising the Borough Council to approve an ordinance allowing retail sales of cannabis products within the town The measure gained the approval of 55% of voters Email: bscruton@njherald.com Twitter/X: @brucescrutonNJH MOUNT ARLINGTON — One hundred years after Clarence and Thomas Lee first opened their historic lakeside pavilion on Lake Hopatcong the new pavilion at Lee’s County Park Marina in Mount Arlington is a mirror image of its predecessor the old pavilion was a cornerstone of Lake Hopatcong’s vibrant recreational culture in the 20th century The new one is about 90% complete as of early December the director of recreation and visitor services for the Morris County Park Commission the pavilion is expected to be available to rent for weddings baby showers and family gatherings and as a venue for meetings and group gatherings "Our vision for the pavilion was to create a versatile space," Biase said Originally founded by brothers Clarence and Thomas Lee in 1919 the marina on Van Every Cove became a thriving summer destination at a time when North Jersey's lakes were the place to be on hot summer days Work started in September 1923 on the square pavilion to draw even more swimmers according to a report from HMR Architects of Princeton when county officials decided to rebuild the pavilion from the ground up citing the costs and challenges of rehabilitating the deteriorating historic building to meet modern safety codes Initially a modest structure offering refreshments and shade and serving as an administrative hub the pavilion was the central feature of the park Lee's park was born in the immediate aftermath of Clarence Lee's return from World War I in 1919 It captured tourists seeking respite from the sweltering city summers and became a thriving public beach and marina packed with families eager to escape the heat The Lee family managed the marina until the mid-1990s he donated the 14-acre park to the Morris County Park Commission in 1994 the pavilion stood little used for nearly 30 years and fell into disrepair Preservationists and local historians grew increasingly concerned the deteriorating pavilion landed on Preservation New Jersey’s list of the 10 most endangered historic sites expressed frustration with the county’s inaction despite available funds.“We have tons of lake communities in New Jersey but very few of these original structures left,” Mercer said in 2019 A feasibility study funded by the Lake Hopatcong Foundation in 2014 determined the pavilion was structurally viable and suggested repurposing it for food service or event rentals progress stalled as community debates over its future continued Several weeks after a $2.8 million contract was awarded to ZN Construction of Elmwood Park for its reconstruction in September 2023 county officials said the high cost of bringing the structure up to modern safety codes made a complete rebuild was the most practical option Initially slated for completion by late 2024 unforeseen subsurface drainage issues delayed the project pushing the anticipated completion date to January 2 Biase said it may be a few weeks later as "there may be slight delays due to some construction setbacks." 2025 at 8:34 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Hopatcong Firehouse at 43 Hopatchung Avenue is currently open to residents as a warming center NJ — River Styx Road is currently closed on Tuesday morning from old Lakeside Boulevard to Hopatchung Road A downed tree caused a telephone pole and wires to collapse over River Styx Road is now open to residents as a warming center Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. When Kevin Fitzpatrick saw the Instagram post saying he'd been nominated for U.S. Soccer’s 2024 Male Deaf Player of the Year Fitzpatrick needed to rally online fan votes But the Internet cheerleading which had helped Kevin Fitzpatrick earn the fan vote had to be tamped down "I was very shocked that I was nominated," said Fitzpatrick who has made 20 international appearances with the Deaf national team and the other two guys who were nominated with me are phenomenal." He was selected by a committee of extended national team coaches Soccer Athlete Council and Board of Directors Kevin is a tremendous role model and teammate." More: NJ defender started for Deaf national soccer team at world championships in Malaysia The genes for hearing loss run in the Fitzpatrick family though Kevin wasn't formally diagnosed until age 2 Though Kevin and Kathleen use hearing aids Kevin and Kathleen took advantage of the Lake Drive Program in Mountain Lakes which provides educational services for deaf and hard-of-hearing kids as young as 3 Though Kevin attended Mountain Lakes High School he simultaneously played soccer and was a sprinter at Hopatcong running up and down the field during his sister Kristen's travel practice He played with the Hopatcong Hawks rec program then with the Green Machine under-9 team when he was only 7 Fitzpatrick always used hearing aids on the field, and verbally called out to teammates like anyone else did. However, with the Deaf national team, no assistive devices are allowed during matches playing with and without (hearing aids)," said Fitzpatrick who is working for a cousin's construction company near Charleston the feeling of being part of a family of likeness I'd never played with teammates who had the same hearing loss as I had It was definitely an eye opener of how we all can be the same." After graduating from Mountain Lakes in 2013, Fitzpatrick went on to Sussex County Community College, then played three seasons at Gallaudet University school dedicated to the education of Deaf students with an eye toward bridging the gap between local police departments and the Deaf and hard of hearing community Fitzpatrick was called into his first national team camp in 2017 Fitzpatrick earned his first cap at the 2019 Deaf Pan-American Games in Chile. He and Gallaudet assistant coach James Rummo of Butler, another Lake Drive alumnus were part of the Deaf national team's first tournament championship Fitzpatrick is keeping his skills sharp playing in local soccer leagues around Charleston. He expects to have a couple of U.S. Soccer training camps before the Deaflympics in mid-November in Tokyo I couldn't have done it alone," he said of his new honor "I don't really play to be Player of the Year Party City going out of business really cuts like a knife my dad used to take me to the East Hanover store instead of hitting the Chuck E While other toddlers were floating in ball pits I was perusing the costume-laden aisles of North Jersey's discount disguise epicenter in search of my next Teletubby facade Was it because he really wanted to see me parade around in a Lala suit I just think my dear father was afraid of boogers overpriced tokens and a bad salad bar dressing selection I have a lot of great memories inside of the place and the fact that I'll never see it again kind of stings if the abandoned shopping destination becomes the next great hibachi steakhouse Because — as much as I love a good Tinky Winky jumpsuit — nothing compares to grill-fried noodles and garlic-coated Here are three things I ate in North Jersey this week that could similarly ease the hurt of losing something (bizarrely) special Nothing says New Jersey like Taylor ham, and the salty delicacy took centerstage in this T & L Rinaldi's stuffed bread showstopper Featuring stacks of the meat layered between melty slices of American cheese the dough-wrapped dish was similar to a stromboli but with the bread only around the outside rather than rolled throughout the center like a spiral though varieties of the dish including ingredients such as those were also available) When I cut a slice from the crisp-crusted loaf — opting for a center piece for maximum cheese drip — I was blown away by the steam that exuded from each hand-placed layer when I sunk my teeth into the portion I'd selected I understood why the Essex County hole-in-the-wall had become famous for (its 20+ varieties of) the dish Go: 313 Union Ave., Belleville; 973-759-3509, tlrinaldis.com I'm ready to start playing baseball with your negative feedback on this concept and consider that concern smashed down the third base line Read my top 10 dishes of 2024 article and know your charge has been ground and fielded "Kara doesn't belong in Union County because it's not North Jersey!" AKA; regardless of what you say, I have a comeback — so get your butts to Roselle Park and give this Joe's Rotisseria special (which boasts top-grade salmon teriyaki sauce and more over a sesame seed crust) a try Go: 547 Westfield Ave. W, Roselle Park (with a second location in Asbury Park); 908-245-9003, joes-rotisseria.com Lobster ravioli isn't a super complex dish nothing about it screams out-of-the-ordinary that it's become nothing short of a coastal summer staple: Comforting and cheesy, refined-yet-simple, the accessible entrée lies at the perfect intersection between junk food and fine dining fare; as is demonstrated at The Windlass whose version highlights flawlessly-cooked lobster decadent cream sauce and the most delicate Go: 45 Nolans Point Park Road, Lake Hopatcong; 973-663-3190, thewindlass.com Want more on this week's latest food news? Check out some of my (and others') best articles at NorthJersey.com/food And, as for next week? I'll be checking out Ridgewood's hottest new Greek spot, so be sure to follow me on @northjerseyeats to see if the calamari grilled haloumi or Aegean Shrimp Pasta live up to the hype The latest heat wave to hit North Jersey may have snapped but the effects left from the steamy weather has led to the formation of a harmful algal bloom in Lake Hopatcong forcing the beach area of the state's largest lake to close The closure of the popular Hopatcong State Park beach area in Landing comes just over a week after lake officials feared the rising temperatures and oppressive humidity could pose a threat to the nine-mile-long freshwater attraction A water sample tested from the beach the morning of July 16 showed concentrations of cyanobacteria, the type of algae in the blooms, at 86,875," according to an interactive map on the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's website The concentrations triggered an "advisory," which goes into effect when counts pass the 80,000 threshold during which the DEP recommends public beaches close and warns the public to avoid water contact in the area The Lake Hopatcong Foundation alerted the public to the findings and announced the beach's closure for swimming in a Facebook post Tuesday afternoon The notice also indicated HABs were found in the center of Byram Cove further north an area also placed by the DEP under "advisory." The state park's fountain, which was turned on Tuesday morning for the first time in 30 years to a large crowd of onlookers will remain off while the beach is closed "due to possible aerosol conveyance of cyanotoxins," the foundation said are caused by cyanobacteria that grow out of control and mammals and birds and can cause illnesses to humans Exposure to the cyanobacteria cells can cause rashes Ingestion of water containing the toxins the blooms produce and more serious health effects including liver toxicity and neurological effects The water in Lake Hopatcong had been tested several times since May and was negative for HABs on July 10, the DEP map shows. The region's heat wave, which lingered for days before breaking on Friday proved to be the perfect storm for the creation of the blooms Marty Kane, chair of the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, told NorthJersey.com last week recent readings of water samples in the lake reached 86 degrees He also raised concerns about the formation of the blooms had the extreme heat not subsided noting that he believed the lake might hit record water temperatures this summer Harmful algal blooms are more likely to grow in still slow-moving water that is warm and nutrient-rich all properties exacerbated by prolonged periods of hot Updates on the closure of the beach can be found on the NJDEP's Hopatcong State Park Page Email: lcomstock@njherald.com; Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH or on Facebook .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Jack McKenna | For NJ Advance MediaA complete game out of Jillian Miller and perfect day in the batter’s box for Raedyn Kirchner helped Hopatcong knock off Dover by a score of 5-3 in Hopatcong Dover jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two and a half innings but Hopatcong responded by plating one run in the bottom of the third and one run in each of the fifth and sixth innings and come around to score once while going 2-for-2 but her biggest contributions came in the pitcher’s circle striking out nine Dover batters while walking two and giving up two earned runs for Hopatcong (2-2) and came around to score twice for Dover (0-4) Jack McKenna can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Matt Cosentino | For NJ Advance MediaAnna DeCola had two doubles five RBIs and two runs and Sarah Graber tossed a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts as Somerville rebounded from its first loss with a 13-0 win over Hopatcong in Hopatcong Emily Smith went 4-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs for Somerville (8-1) Kelsey Weber had the lone hit for Hopatcong (5-4) The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! The body of an elderly Roxbury resident was recovered from Lake Hopatcong Monday morning ending a multi-agency search that began Saturday night The Morris County Prosecutor's Office confirmed William Ryan a 79-year-old resident of the Landing section was found deceased at the southern end of the lake He was last seen entering the lake at 7:30 p.m A search launched by the Roxbury Township Police Department Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and New Jersey State Police Marine Unit was suspended Saturday night and resumed on Sunday morning The Roxbury Fire Department also joined the search Water conditions and visibility hindered recovery efforts before the search was suspended again on Sunday night a Morris County Prosecutor's Office spokesperson said Search efforts included the use of a county submersible device The investigation continues but the circumstances of the incident are not considered suspicious Three of Atlantic Health System’s hospitals NJ – APRIL 2025 – Cardiologists at Overlook Medical Center 2025 at 2:01 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The senator was discharged on Wednesday and was back at the farm feeding the snakes,​ including the eastern massasauga rattlesnake​ that bit him NJ — A New Jersey state senator was hospitalized after being bitten by a rattlesnake earlier this week at the zoo his family has owned for generations State Sen. Parker Space (R-24) was feeding mice to rattlesnakes at Space Farms Zoo and Museum on Monday when one bit his finger who said he has been working with rattlesnakes since he was 12 years old "I thought I was a safe distance away," Space told Patch "And I don't know if he thought my finger was a mouse Space Farms Zoo and Museum has a number of other types of snakes It was the first time Space had been bitten by a venomous snake but there was no pain at all to begin with," he said "And then my middle finger started swelling up." The senator said he drove himself to Newton Medical Center and received more than a dozen vials of anti-venom but the swelling escalated and his skin was in danger of splitting he was flown to Jacobi Medical Center in New York City which has a center specializing in snake bites Space was discharged on Wednesday and said he has been "out and about but not back to normal," as his arm is still bruised and his hand achy He was back at Space Farms feeding the snakes, including the eastern massasauga rattlesnake that bit him Ralph and Elizabeth Space founded the farm almost 100 years ago and the zoo now comprises 400 acres with hundreds of live wild animals including bobcats The Space Farms New Jersey Museum also has a collection of antique and classic artifacts from American history Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Hopatcong State Park’s swim area in Landing is closed until further notice because of a confirmed Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) according to the state Department of Environmental Protection were found in a sample of water taken from Lake Hopatcong on July 16 the DEP closes public bathing beaches although the lake remains accessible for boating Residents are warned not to consume fish from the lake The Lake Hopatcong Foundation said the fountain at the state park will remain off while the beach is closed because of possible aerosol conveyance of cyanotoxins The fountain recently was turned on for the first time since the 1990s after a restoration HABs are caused by cyanobacteria that resemble and behave like algae They occur in fresh water naturally and can grow to high levels in sunlight and hot weather forming dense mats resembling pea soup or spilled paint Exposure to cyanobacteria cells can cause a range of health effects Incidental ingestion of water containing the toxins that the bacteria can produce such as liver toxicity and neurological effects One thing about the history of American chess is that you find yourself reaching for the atlas looking up such unlikely locations as Cambridge Springs Lake Hopatcong turns out to be in sort of central New Jersey Its main selling point was the Hotel Alamac whose owner was a prominent chess organizer.  almost creepy in its silent implacability." You play over his games like you might play through some training video.  Probably his most impressive game of the tournament was the win over Kupchik in which he engaged in prophylactic play to stop Kupchik on the kingside and then seamlessly ground him down on the queenside An intriguing match-up against Géza Maróczy was marred when Maroczy declined a rook sacrifice that he should have accepted. In the tournament’s brilliancy prize game he sacrificed a pawn out of the opening against Edward Lasker and then smoothly outplayed him.  Marshall did but Maróczy found a seamless refutation.  Wawayanda and Hopatcong state parks have reopened for swimming after being closed because of concerns about harmful algae bloom (HAB) According to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Both parks were open for boating and other uses Wawayanda in Hewitt reopened for swimming Saturday and Hopatcong’s swim area in Landing reopened for swimming Thursday Wawayanda was closed for swimming a week earlier “out of an abundance of caution,” a DEP spokeswoman said July 27 A water sample taken from Wawayanda Lake on July 31 showed that HAB was not present according to the DEP’s online HAB Dashboard A sample taken July 24 prompted the closing there A water sample taken from Lake Hopatcong on July 30 also showed no HAB present Samples taken from Lake Hopatcong on July 16 and 23 did show the presence of HABs 2025 at 9:51 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Patch has teamed up with T-Mobile to celebrate five standout athletes with ties to our community (Shutterstock)Sports have a way of teaching invaluable life lessons — building character fostering teamwork and strengthening the bonds within a community these values have shaped some truly remarkable athletes from different eras Patch has teamed up with T-Mobile to spotlight five standout athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on our community there are countless others who have helped shape the rich sports culture in our area Joe Martinek, born in 1989, is a notable football player from Hopatcong. He became the leading rusher in New Jersey high school history during his time at Hopatcong High School Martinek continued his football career at Rutgers University contributing significantly to the team's offense His achievements have made him a celebrated figure in Hopatcong's sports history Helene Reigstad Geissel is a distinguished basketball player from Sparta She was inducted into the Sparta High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002 recognizing her exceptional contributions to the school's basketball program Having continued her basketball career at Catawba College in North Carolina her legacy continues to inspire young athletes in the Sparta community and beyond is a former NFL tight end who hails from Sparta He played for teams such as the New England Patriots Phoenix Cardinals and Miami Dolphins between 1986 and 1994 Baty's professional football career has been a source of pride for the Sparta community is a former wrestler and current wrestling coach from Hopatcong He represented the United States at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships showcasing his talent on an international stage Rey became a full-time assistant coach for Lehigh University Brynn McCurry is a talented basketball player from Sparta She earned First Team Special Recognition for her outstanding performance during the 2023 season at Sparta High School McCurry has continued her basketball career as a forward at Villanova University This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile Four Republicans are running for two seats on the Borough Council in the June 4 primary Michael Francis and John Young are running on one slate and Esad “Steve” Kucevic and Joseph Falconi are running on another slate Incumbents Dawn Roberts and Ryan Smith did not file to run for re-election No Democrats have filed to run in the general election in November Why are you running for the Borough Council but what I have noticed over the years is that my hometown has started to lose its identity Growing up in a small town put a chip on your shoulder; it gave you determination Our motto was ‘small town big dreams’ and that’s what made this town so great this town lost its identity; it lost its grit its determination to always strive for greatness I am determined to help make people feel proud to call Hopatcong home I want people to hold their head up high when they walk around their community and see beautiful clean parks active communities and strong infrastructure - yeah What are the top three things you aim to accomplish if elected I feel that the notion of “Hopatcong Pride” has lost its way The people of Hopatcong deserve something better we need to change the narrative and progressions of our schools we need to invest in our infrastructure (roadways parks) and finally our overall vision of what our future should look like We cannot be a town where we think frivolous spending and not reinvesting in our town is sustainable where our parks and recreation facilities are empty and dilapidated where our school buildings are falling apart and where roadways and sidewalks are too dangerous to even walk on but I am confident we can turn this ship around in very short time What makes you the best candidate for this position I believe I have what it takes to be as real as possible with my fellow residents Tough conversations need to happen and they will happen We need to look the people of Hopatcong in the eye and say enough is enough we are at a very pivotal crossroads in town do we let the ship sink or do we find our way again I have been very fortunate to have a great deal of success in my professional life; the easy thing is to sell the house wave goodbye to Hopatcong as it passes in my rearview mirror and move on to greener pastures This town is part of the reason why I have been successful in life - its home to my two boys and very close circle of friends and colleagues I plan to make it as fruitful and enjoyable for them as it was to me and I am person who can help bring thoughts and ideas into action My cell phone number is (973) 459-0075 and email is joefalconi7@gmail.com I am more than happy to answer any questions concerns or comments as well as just talk about your feelings about the town in general Having just finished my tenure as fire chief and wanting to continue serving my community running for council is the next logical step where I can make a significant impact I believe in the Hopatcong for Excellence Team’s ideals and core values and think I will be an asset to this team as we listen to and serve the residents of Hopatcong 1) Manage spending to be more effective and less wasteful 2) Create a more meaningful connection between the lake residents and businesses for a more unified community Prioritize and improve Hopatcong’s roads using as much grant funding as possible As a volunteer firefighter for the past 24 years and as chief for the previous 12 years I have significant knowledge of the town and infrastructure budgeting requirements and people management I also have considerable experience coordinating with multiple local county and state agencies to accomplish common goals Married and proud father of three children Hopatcong Fire Department Company #2 chief (2011-2023) President of the Sussex County Firemen’s Association (2022) Sussex County Firemen’s Association life member New York City Department of Buildings licensed construction superintendent .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Matt Bove | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comKaylyn Gunderman finished 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI for Sussex Tech in its 6-5 win over Hopatcong in Sparta Sussex Tech trailed 5-1 after the second inning and scored three runs in the seventh inning to record a walk-off victory Skyler Andrejack allowed two earned runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and two walks in a complete game in the circle 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 Matt Bove can be reached at mbove@njadvancemedia.com ROXBURY — A 79-year-old Morris County man is dead after he disappeared into Lake Hopatcong.  Saturday reporting that a man had gone into Lake Hopatcong according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Numerous agencies including Roxbury police and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office responded to search the lake The recovery effort was suspended Saturday night and began again Sunday it was suspended again Sunday night due to water conditions and poor visibility the 79-year-old Roxbury man's body was finally found Authorities said the death was not considered suspicious The death at Lake Hopatcong was the second at a New Jersey lake this weekend A 33-year-old man drowned when he had a muscle cramp at Crystal Lake in Manchester around 9:30 a.m was declared dead when authorities found his body about 90 minutes later which is actually not a natural lake but an aquifer is private property and is illegal to visit The search on Saturday came just one day after State Police and other agencies conducted a training exercise on Lake Hopatcong The exercise focused on how officers should board another vessel in an emergency such as a medical emergency or domestic dispute Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom Gallery Credit: Mike Brant A 79-year-old Morris County man is dead after he went into Lake Hopatcong on Saturday night and did not return.\nRead More The New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau in collaboration with the Morris County Sheriff's Department,.. Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom such as liver toxicity and neurological effects.