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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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." The deep freeze has iced up Lake Hopatcong good and the Knee Deep Club's annual ice fishing contest is a go for this Sunday on the state's largest freshwater lake It's been a couple years since the club held the contest due to milder winters but thanks in part to a steady diet of artic-like temperatures the lake has frozen solid Laurie Murphy at Dow's Boat Rentals at Nolan's Point said there is 6 to 7 inches of ice on the deeper portions of the deeper main lake and eight inches on the shallow coves Fishermen have been dragging sleds out onto the lake and drilling fishing holes with augers in the coves for at least two weeks now pickerel and bass are biting but it's been a slow pick She expects a decent turn out on Sunday for the contest The weather looks like it will be on the side of the contestants A light west breeze and sunshine is in the forecast Air temps should reach up into the upper 30s which would bring a little of warmth to those huddled up on the open lake More: Cold winter brings traditional ice fishing contest back to New Jersey's largest lake A lot of the smaller lakes and ponds across the northern parts of the state are locked up in ice coverage has been on the ice a few times already and pulled some pickerel Wreck FishingIt's been a struggle with the cold temps wind and snow to get out but a few party and charter boats are running trips that are targeting blackfish Chris Dos Santos said a member of his fishing party landed a double-digit tog that weighed a couple of ounces over 10 pounds The fishing did not start out easy because of the wind the conditions began to improve for them around 11 a.m his party boated several four and five pound keeper blackfish The Big Jamaica was offshore last weekend fishing for cod which made it hard for anglers to keep their lights straight to the bottom Melvin Alexander from Philadelphia hooked the big fish for the day which was a 6-pound pollock that won him the pool money Anglers with the high hooks caught around 15 porgies EventsFishing rod building class at Brielle Bait & Tackle $30 non-refundable deposit Call 732-525-5720 for more info or sign up at the shop 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." © 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 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 Maybe try to get to the Wharton back roads If you’re a North Jersey commuter whose life has been disrupted by the sinkholes on Route 80, this morning monologue may sound familiar What started as an extra 10 minutes of stop-and-go traffic has quickly turned into (check all that apply):  I am a commuter who makes the daily trek from Sussex County down Route 15 and into Morris County, and the sinkholes have led me to pretty much rethink the entirety of my life decisions A doable 45-minute commute to and from my teaching job has turned into a daily navigation of an hour-and-a-half war zone of detours and slowdowns even the most captivating podcasts and GOAT albums — A side to B side — fail to alleviate the pain Born in Morris County and raised in Sussex County I feel like I’ve unintentionally become a tourist in my own neck of the woods A once straight-shot commute consisting of two major highways has been replaced by the most indirect resonating with the concept of ‘we’re all in this together’ brings some sort of understanding and peace to the matter Because I personally see a lot of Pennsylvania license plates demonstrating their superior importance over the rest of us flying down the shoulders and passing on double yellows It’s no surprise that if there isn’t a logjam due to the detours tumbleweeds have been blowing through the typical hideouts for police radar traps Local and state police are manning every traffic light in a 30-mile radius in hopes of easing the backed-up traffic flow So if you could actually get above the speed limit for more than 100 feet And here’s the issue with GPS these days: The locals who know the area inside and out can no longer rely on their own niche knowledge to guide them home via the secret passage that nobody else knows exists now they’re joined by every Pennsylvanian Tom and Harry who popped their destination into Waze or Google Maps with the “fastest route” filter toggled on Everyone else is assigned a bit role in the ensemble cast And yet those bit players are ruining my commute I’ve found that some of these alternative routes are not showing accurate traffic levels Evidently 5 mph is the new expected travel rate in North Jersey my “smart” phone told me to take Route 80 home through Denville but upon arrival it became clear that every road in town was .. The more naive in the herd may be tempted to listen to the automated voice coming out of the speakers and allow her to guide their every turn they’ll soon realize that every other driver in the tri-state area is getting the same advice Shout-out to my dad: If you see a guy with a slightly crazed look in his eyes selling “I Got Shafted in Wharton New Jersey” T-shirts at the Route 15/80 merge wave and consider a purchase — this is his new retirement plan He figures he has a captive audience and should clear his first million by July As a Wharton native he’s happy to explain that the source of the sinkholes is old abandoned mine shafts — hence the slogan if you were born and raised in Wharton before 1980 you spent a good portion of your childhood tunneling all over town Kate Finnegan is a Sussex County resident who commutes to Morris County 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.  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 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 The conditions of North Jersey's ongoing heat wave apart from causing discomfort for many residents could pose trouble for area lakes that have already been plagued by environmental problems in recent summers Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake have been temporarily closed multiple times in the past few years due to the presence of harmful algal blooms The bloom concentration has not risen to a level that prompts closures this year but officials are concerned that could change soon if the heat does not subside "We are holding our breath," said Marty Kane in an interview with NorthJersey.com on Wednesday afternoon "Mother Nature is not helping us right now." HABs are caused by cyanobacteria that occur naturally in freshwater, forming dense mats that resemble pea soup or spilled paint, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection The bacteria can cause numerous symptoms in humans if ingested while direct contact with the algae may result in a skin rash The blooms are more likely to grow in water that is still all properties that are exacerbated by prolonged periods of hot Kane said he is keeping an eye on New York, where several beaches in Westchester and Putnam counties closed due to the blooms within the past week Recent readings have measured Lake Hopatcong water samples at 86 degrees and "my guess is we're probably going to set records for the water temperatures this summer." An interactive map on the DEP website shows more than a dozen samples taken from various parts of Lake Hopatcong over the past month that indicate a HAB watch triggered when the cyanobacteria concentration is between 20,000 and 80,000 cells per milliliter An algae "advisory" goes into effect past the 80,000 threshold during which the DEP recommends the closure of public beaches and warns the public to avoid water contact The highest reading at Lake Hopatcong this year was 67,125 cells per milliliter taken from Skytop Road on May 31 yielded a maximum concentration of 50,750 cells per milliliter at the Hopatcong State Park beach officials began consulting with environmental experts on ways to prevent the bacteria from forming Lake Hopatcong will undergo alum treatment in the fall a short-term method that reduces the amount of phosphorus in the water allowing blooms to grow is a large-scale aeration system that diffuses oxygen into the bottom of the lake to break up algae Kane and his colleagues at the Lake Hopatcong Foundation and similar organizations throughout the state have implemented various treatment plans designed to prevent HABs from appearing "We're hoping we've done enough," Kane said "but these are the worst possible conditions for algal blooms." 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 2024 at 1:48 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}His death is not considered suspicious at this time according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office officials recovered the body of a 79-year-old Roxbury man who was reported missing after he went into Lake Hopatcong this weekend His death is not considered suspicious at this time according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office William Ryan went into the water alone in the southern tip of the lake around 7:30 p.m Search and rescue crews from Roxbury Township police and the Morris County Sheriff's and Prosecutor's offices began looking for him aided by a State Police dive team equipped with sonar technology while the Sheriff’s Office deployed a submersible vessel in the search The search was suspended overnight and resumed Sunday but officials said water conditions and visibility hampered recovery efforts before crews paused work for the night Ryan's body was recovered from the lake Monday morning which is a community on the south shore of Lake Hopatcong Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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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 A man suffered serious injuries following a collision on Route 287 in Somerset County on the afternoon of Friday a Ford pickup truck was traveling northbound on Route 287 in Bridgewater Township when it veered off the roadway to the right struck the guardrail and then crossed into another lane a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police said a 66-year-old Lake Hopatcong resident sustained serious injuries News 12 New YorkWhere to WatchDownload the AppNJ Transit Rail StrikeSplashing into some fun at Live The Lake NJ in HopatcongFor this week’s Road Trip: Close to Home News 12 headed to Live The Lake NJ where there's no shortage of things to do.News 12 Staff News 12 headed to Live The Lake NJ in Hopatcong Sussex County where there's no shortage of things to do Impressive Flows of Water in Pre-Renovation Testing  The 96-year-old Lake Hopatcong State Park Fountain where tourists frolicked nearly a century ago and locals continued to splash around until 20 years ago was turned on briefly this week as restoration planning got underway While not able to reach its geyser-like heights of yesteryear the wellspring that flowed was impressive enough Check out the video. “We have tested it a couple of times in the last decade to try to determine if a project was possible but this was the first time it was turned on in some time and actually looked better than we expected,” said Marty Kane President of the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum and Chair of the Lake Hopatcong Foundation located in Roxbury Township at Hopatcong State Park was turned on to allow a full flow for the first time in many years.  “There was one small leak noted in the outer perimeter a possible cracked pipe some 25 feet from the fountain and the fountain itself has some issues not allowing the water to reach its original height.  But overall the test yesterday was a pleasant surprise and both the State Park staff and our folks went away very happy,” Kane explained the Morris County Board of County Commissioners approved a $36,800 historic preservation grant recommended by the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund for the museum to develop pre-restoration construction documents for the fountain The planning involves exterior restoration and addressing the hydrology and filtration of water from Lake Hopatcong to the fountain The museum had received a previous grant of $45,381 from Morris County in 2014 to assess the fountain’s functionality headed by historical architects Connolly & Hickey are students completing their senior project at Stevens Institute of Technology and with the support of personnel at Lake Hopatcong State Park the fountain was turned on so the students could take measurements and check the flow rate where visitors often cooled off while visiting the nearby beach It was built in 1925 to resolve a huge social and political divide in the region that came to a head when the Morris Canal once the commercial lifeline for transporting coal and other goods across northern New Jersey business owners and summer residents of Lake Hopatcong battled with mill owners and others downstream along the Musconetcong River over how much water flowed from Lake Hopatcong The flow into the river was controlled by a damn and locks feeding the canal and the lake levels often dipped below optimal levels for those who enjoyed it year-round particularly during the summer season when Lake Hopatcong was a tourist attraction the mills and other property owners downstream relied on a fully flowing Musconetcong River The fountain was created in conjunction with a state take over the canal property and plans to build a new damn As Kane explained it in one of his many writings about the history of Lake Hopatcong: “The building of the fountain at Hopatcong State Park was the result of a compromise reached between lake residents and the Musconetcong River advocates the consulting and directing engineer in charge of the dismantling of the Morris Canal a 24-inch pipe was placed in the dam leading to the fountain The fountain was placed in the center of a circular concrete basin 40 feet in diameter to catch the falling water Vermeule’s calculations determined that this flow of water into the Musconetcong River would be equivalent to the amount supplied by the lake before the original dam was built and ‘would lower the lake probably not more than six inches or a foot during the season.’ As a side benefit to this measuring tool Vermeule designed the fountain so that the water would spout up to a height of about 12 feet and he purposely placed it in a central position visible from the nearby road.” The fountain worked regularly in the decades that followed with photos of families cooling off in its flow gracing the front of postcards in the 1950s and 1960s even after the state park beach was established nearby bathing was prohibited because of liability concerns and the fountain’s use was abandoned because of maintenance issues debates still erupt from time to time at Lake Hopatcong over how much water should be allowed to flow down the Musconetcong River “The role of the fountain in measuring the flow of water to the Musconetcong River appears to have been forgotten One must wonder if much of the discord about the amount of water being allowed to flow out of Lake Hopatcong in recent years may have been avoided if the fountain had continued to be used for the purpose for which it was built,” noted Kane PHOTOS: Courtesy Lake Hopatcong Foundation Center Left: Family at the fountain edge circa 1930s Maria Shriver is ready to tell the story of her extraordinary life including growing up a member of the Kennedy family and her marriage to Arnold Schwarzenegger along with her attempt to grapple with identity For more information on the signing, click here. A lakefront home with its own boathouse and access to a sandy bottom swimming area This property for sale in Hopatcong is the ideal location for those looking to take advantage of New Jersey's lake lifestyle all year long The four-bedroom, three-bathroom Craftsman-style home at 345 Lakeside Boulevard was listed by Kathy Courter of RE/MAX House Values the home is situated on a nearly half-acre lot on the main stretch of Lake Hopatcong — the largest lake in New Jersey at nine miles long The property features a spacious living room with a wood burning fireplace a wall of windows and access to the home's wraparound covered porch a gourmet kitchen with granite countertops a center island and stainless steel appliances as well as a luxurious primary suite with a private balcony walk-in closets and an all-new custom designed ensuite bathroom "It's just a good recreation location and there's so much to do That particular property stands out because it has that lakefront charm of an arts and crafts-style home but it also blends in with all the new modern conveniences," Courter said "Having the ability to walk into something that still has some vintage charm and sit on that porch and really still enjoy the lake life." North Jersey: Tudor castle replica with dungeon and modern twist listed for $11.5M Courter said one of the home's biggest draws is the property's private boat house She said it is a feature that is often highly desired by those looking to live on a lake like the home's spacious yard — completed with several patio spaces and a fire pit — as well as panoramic views of the lake also help make this lakefront property one of a kind "The sunrise is very stunning and this home is just beautiful Besides just entertaining in your home's waterfront area you can walk down the steps into that sandy bottom part of the lake," she said "It has the vintage charm of a lake house with modern updates that a sophisticated buyer would want today."