This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Coast Guard Auxiliary will hold one-day boating safety courses at the Lake Hopatcong Senior Center The auxiliary also will conduct four courses at the Lake Mohawk Country Club on April 7-8 Attendance on both nights is required for successful completion of the mandated course participants will receive their temporary New Jersey State Boating Safety certificate The permanent certificate will be mailed to the student on receipt from the New Jersey State Police The course is presented by experienced volunteer instructors certified by both the U.S Coast Guard and the New Jersey State Police materials and state written exam are included The exam is given on the last night of the course Registration is conducted online at wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=053-15-10&category=local-courses There is a $5 discount for those who pay online before the course No credit cards can be accepted on the night of the course - only cash The State Police Marine Bureau has approved the BoatEd NJ online course with an in-person exam Sign up for the online course at boat-ed.com/newjersey/ the minimum age to take the course is 12 years old The online course takes a minimum of five hours to complete print the online course completion certificate which serves as the admission ticket for the state-required in-person exam Passing the online course does not guarantee a spot at the in-person exam; registration is required In-person exams will be held at the Lake Mohawk Country Club at 7 p.m Preregistration is required at least one week before the exam To register for the in-person exam, send email to lmboatingsafety@gmail.com; include your name email address and Lake Mohawk Country Club member number along with a copy of the online course completion certificate The cost for the exam is $60 for club members and $65 for nonmembers A record-breaking $8.25 million mansion with more than 13,000 square feet of living space in Short Hills; a dreamy waterfront property on a quiet private cove on Lake Mohawk; and a luxurious penthouse with New York City views at the former site of the historic Wonder Bread factory in Hoboken were among the priciest properties to sell in North Jersey in December While nearly all of the month's most expensive properties were sold through the typical real estate process Here's a look at the priciest homes sold in each North Jersey county in December: 142 Pine Terrace, Demarest — $3.75 million The home at 142 Pine Terrace in the quaint North Jersey borough of Demarest was named the priciest home sale in Bergen County for the month after it officially changed hands for $3.75 million on Dec The grand home was both listed by and bought with Orly Chen of RE/MAX Properties Plus Custom-built in 2012 by the renowned Westwood-based architect Bob Zampolin eight-bathroom home offers 8,500 square feet of living space on a 0.67-acre lot a gourmet kitchen with high-end appliances a luxurious primary suite with his-and-hers bathrooms and walk-in closets and a finished lower level with a state-of-the-art wine room you'll find a Grecian-shaped saltwater pool and spa a bluestone patio and a built-in barbecue grill Passaic County52 Ravona St., Clifton — $1.7 million The home at 52 Ravona St. in Clifton was sold for $1.7 million on Dec. 4. The property was purchased as part of a private sale and was last sold for $590,000 in December 2002, according to Passaic County deed records offers 4,363 square feet of living space on a 0.27-acre lot 80 Youngs Road, New Vernon — $3.75 million the expansive estate at 80 Youngs Road in New Vernon officially sold for $3.75 million on Dec 27 — making it the priciest single-family home to sell in Morris County for the month The seller was represented by Ashley Christus of Turpin Real Estate and the buyer was represented by Zander Oldendorp of Compass New Jersey This five-bedroom, seven-bathroom shingle-style estate was built in 2008 and boasts more than 8,500 square feet of living space on a 3.42-acre lot. Updated in 2023 and 2024, the home's details include layered crown moldings, wainscoting, white oak floors, mahogany paneling and soaring ceilings. As for amenities, it has a kitchen and bathrooms designed by Short Hills-based Christopher Peacock a spacious great room with a stone floor-to-ceiling fireplace a mahogany library with a cigar lounge and a four-car heated garage with a cold plunge tub 15 Hillside Ave., Short Hills — $8.25 million The most expensive home to sell in North Jersey in December, the lavish home at 15 Hillside Ave. in Short Hills broke records when it sold for $8.25 million on Dec The property was not only the priciest to sell in Essex County for 2024 but also the overall priciest single-family home ever to sell in Short Hills history It was both listed by and bought with Anthony Verducci and Cristian Perez of The NJ Luxury Real Estate Group at Serhant Real Estate this lush home boasts nearly 13,000 square feet of living space on a 1.82-acre lot It was designed by renowned architect Timothy Klesse of Klesse Forbes Architects and constructed by Jan Bronstein of Buildmentor — both based in Short Hills 10-bathroom home features a two-story great room with floor-to-ceiling windows; a lounge and bar area with a two-sided glass fireplace and luxury cabinetry; a family room with expansive windows and a modern fireplace; an open-concept kitchen with high-end stainless steel appliances; and a primary suite with a spa-like bathroom There's also a walk-out lower level with a theater space and an exercise room as well as a backyard with a covered porch 580 W. Shore Trail, Sparta — $1.69 million Shore Trail officially sold for $1.69 million on Dec Listed by Marianne Miller of Prominent Properties Sotheby's International Realty and bought with Erin Ben-Hayon of Coldwell Banker Realty the home had been on the market since August before it changed hands Situated on a 0.29-acre lot on the quiet Three Finger Cove of Lake Mohawk a chef's kitchen with stainless steel appliances an open-concept great room with a stone gas fireplace There's also a master suite with a wall of built-ins a spa-like bathroom and an electric fireplace as well as several deck and patio spaces that provide a view of the lake Hudson County720 Clinton St. PH-701, Hoboken — $3.499 million Located in Hoboken's 83-unit condominium community known as Wonder Lofts at 720 Clinton St — aptly named after the renowned Wonder Bread factory that originally occupied the site — unit PH-701 officially sold for $3.499 million on Dec The property was both listed by and bought with Elizabeth Kee of CORE Real Estate With 2,001 square feet of interior living space this loft-style residence offers floor-to-ceiling windows with views of New York City a kitchen with high-end finishes and appliances a primary bedroom with two walk-in closets and a 1,895-square-foot private terrace that is accessible by sliding doors throughout the unit There is also about 14,400 square feet of community amenities available to residents This includes a rooftop lounge with an infinity pool a screening room an indoor residents' lounge More than 75 dogs and their owners took part in the annual Dog Show & Parade on Sunday About 100 people watched the event at Lake Mohawk Country Club in Sparta said he always wanted to be an announcer for the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York Six candidates will compete for two seats on Sparta's township council Tuesday, with a developer's proposal to build a warehouse complex in town among the chief issues elections for town office are non-partisan meaning candidates do not run as Republican or Democrat they can choose to be bracketed with another candidate as all six contenders have done this year Three tickets are running together for spots on the five-person council: Sussex County 2024 Election Guide: Who's running, how to vote early More: Contentious Sparta race highlights Sussex County school board elections. See who's running The New Jersey Herald asked each candidate to answer a series of questions about their backgrounds and priorities Background: I'm a mother of two younger children and we have lived in Lake Mohawk for seven years Priorities if elected: My first priority is to put residents first by increasing communication between the residents and town council I helped form the subcommittee for the Master Plan rewrite which will help keep mega warehouses out of our town Assisting with the completion of this project is another top priority Experience: I served one term as the mayor's designee on the Planning Board in Sparta Community involvement: Since moving to Sparta volunteered at several functions including projects to keep our community beautiful and safe and charity events to help those in need What else should voters know?: I am a former officer of a nationwide union and have experience with strategic research and member involvement Background: I am 51 and live in Lake Mohawk I moved to Sparta with my husband and son from Staten Island who suffered from primary progressive multiple sclerosis but I quickly fell in love with Sparta’s serenity atmosphere and quality of life for my family Priorities if elected: My main focus is and will continue to be the Master Plan for Sparta My first goal will be to see the document through to completion and be sure ordinances align appropriately to the new Master Plan document I know we will get to where Sparta needs to be sustainable ratables and a walkable downtown are a priority With balanced development and much needed reformation projects we will be able to attract and keep businesses that can be sustained by creating a walkable downtown Safe passage by means of a walkable downtown doesn’t just facilitate commerce Residents are concerned about traffic and pedestrian safety I am also deeply concerned about the affordable housing numbers that have just been released by the Department of Community Affairs Because 60% of Sparta is in the Highlands Council’s preservation area there is not a large portion of our town that can be set aside for the 427 units proposed by the DCA Careful consideration must be given to the impact of this number on the infrastructure of Sparta and as a member of the Sparta Township Planning Board I have been working to balance the needs of our town and the state’s requirements appointed to the Sparta Township Planning Board and unanimously voted in as Chairwoman I am a member of the Master Plan Subcommittee and am involved in the historic undertaking of reworking the Master Plan which has not been accomplished since 1984 Reexaminations and amendments have not done enough for the Sparta of today That became painfully obvious when an application for a mega warehouse was presented in 2022 and I am looking forward to continuing to work closely with the community over the next several months to create a document that reflects the needs of the residents I have enjoyed the benefit of monetarily supporting charitable organizations such as: Celebrating Courage for the benefit of DASI (Domestic Abuse Service Inc.) and domestic abuse survivors; the Sparta Benevolent Society as a benefactor for their annual Casino Night; and the Lake Mohawk Ski Hawks as an annual boat sponsor Whatever time I’m not dedicating to my family or business is spent as a volunteer on the Sparta Planning Board reviewing and hearing land use applications and on the Master Plan Subcommittee promoting the Master Plan Survey and working with the community on creating a new Master Plan document What else should voters know?: I consider myself extremely fortunate to be able to take part in so many worthwhile organizations and causes I am an everyday person with everyday values and a small business owner who loves my town and shows it nor do I blame others for what’s happening Because I believe that anything can be achieved with communication and collaboration I prepare to do the work and get the job done Putting in sweat equity is how I serve my family I bring a unique perspective to problem solving Priorities if elected: Stop overdevelopment in town revise Sparta's current ancient master plan and promote open spaces Experience: Sparta Community Food Pantry; Lake Mohawk Preservation Board Community involvement: I have been a member of the Lake Mohawk Ski Hawks since the 1970's; spearheaded the building of the SHS Snack shack in 2001; sponsored many projects for the Sparta Diamonds softball as well as the SHS softball scoreboard What else should voters know?: My family moved to Sparta in the 1940's from Brooklyn and my father was part of Crane Co real estate until he opened his own Murphy Realty My mother taught at Helen Morgan for many years My mom instilled the love for our community into my heart and soul The serenity and beauty and community of Sparta will disappear if we don't stop the overdevelopment warehouses and selfish people that are opening us up to all of this Please vote for Mark Scott and Marjy Murphy to protect our open space Background: Quinn said she's lived in the Alpine section of Lake Mohawk for just over 30 years Priorities if elected: Establish a Source of Truth:In an age where misinformation spreads rapidly I am committed to creating a reliable source of truth for residents that will empower individuals to independently fact-check the opinions and information they encounter on social media promoting transparency and informed decision-making within our community it’s critical that everyone (on all sides of the issues) feels heard I remain committed to taking a balanced approach in decision-making based on research (facts) as well as discussion I remain committed to ensuring that every resident AND local business owner feels heard and represented Equally: Leverage my extensive experience for community success Draw on my extensive experience on the council and various boards to contribute insights to help Sparta effectively navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead Experience: Current member of Sparta Town Council; Sparta Mayor (2016 2021);  member of Planning Board (2016- 2022); current president Awards and Achievements: “Sussex County Outstanding Women Tribute” (2019); “Outstanding Spartan”(2021); Sussex County Mayor of the Year (2021); co-founder of Salute 07871 Hometown Heroes and Sparta Community Emergency Response Team Current Council Liaison To:  Recreation Advisory Committee Community involvement: Serving our community for three decades and had the privilege to work with hundreds of families thru volunteering as a coach and board member within the Sparta Youth Football and Cheerleading organization Cheerleading for four years; served as Booster Club Chair for Sussex County Community College Skylanders Football Program What else should voters know?: My running mate and I have applied our conservative values with positive results during our time in leadership: We have done what other candidates (past and present) have only promised by taking action to safeguard and balance the needs of our community (residents and businesses) without triggering costly litigation at taxpayers expense has lived in Lake Mohawk for 34 years; married to Marjy Murphy and father of two daughters both graduates of the Sparta school system Priorities if elected: Stop the mega warehouse. There are moves to be made to stop it. It is not a "done deal." Work on cleaning our water, which is over the EPA PFAS limit Secure new Master Plan and oppose new state COAH housing mandate for Sparta Continue fiscal austerity and support our fire 2006-2017; Sparta Business Development Board 2022-present; Freedom House (drug and alcohol rehab) Board Community involvement: I am in commercial real estate finance I have seen the negative impact of Mega Warehouses on communities Every warehouse I have financed is within three miles of an interstate highway Taxes will not go down with a new Mega Warehouse Let's keep Sparta the rural community it is Marjy Murphy and I have no other motives than to do the best for Sparta We are beholden only to Sparta residents to perform Email: bscruton@njherald.com Twitter/X: @brucescrutonNJH He had a way of making everyone feel welcome leaving a lasting impression on all who were fortunate enough to know him in Jersey City to Genevieve and Frank Redfern His family cherished their summers at Lake Mohawk a place that would become the heart of many family memories and where he raised his family After graduating from Villanova University He went on to build a distinguished career in the insurance industry beginning with Marsh McLennan in New York City and culminating at O’Gorman and Young in Chatham leadership and unwavering dedication to his clients and colleagues Their 56-year marriage was filled with love creating a lively home filled with joyful chaos Pete’s love for animals reflected his gentle and compassionate nature spending countless Sundays perfecting his game on the course whether at Lake Mohawk or down south on Kiawah Island His passion for golf was rivaled only by his love for Villanova basketball and Giants football he could be found coaching his daughters’ softball teams indulging in a crunchy loaf of Italian bread or simply enjoying the company of those he loved Jillian Stelben (Robert Stelben) and Julie Davis (Harris Davis) He was a proud and devoted grandfather to four granddaughters along with numerous extended family members and dear friends Memorial donations in Pete’s honor may be directed to the Sparta Ambulance Squad spartaambulance.org or Father John’s Animal House What could be better than a secluded lakefront home in one of New Jersey's largest lake communities One that is also situated on a private island with an acre of property six-bathroom home at 41 Island Trail in Sparta was listed by Christine Dehnel of RE/MAX Platinum Group in March The property is just one of 24 homes on the private Manitou Island of Lake Mohawk "The island is the most exclusive part of the lake there and you have to cross the bridge to get to it it almost has its own community within a community," she said "There's just something about crossing the bridge and leaving the rest of the world behind you." Lake Mohawk is the largest man-made body of water in New Jersey The community was created throughout the 1920s and 1930s by developer Arthur Crane who envisioned the area as a daily or weekend destination for wealthy New Yorkers the home on Island Trail is one of the original homes created by Crane during the community's development And while there are still several original homes throughout Lake Mohawk Dehnel said this property is one of the few that was renovated to maintain its unique design characteristics "The original Crane houses had original fieldstone fireplaces and each one was unique and no two fireplaces in the whole lake were the same I think he brought seal stone in from Pennsylvania and he used some very expensive pecky cypress on the interior of the home and the woodwork was all beautiful," she said "A lot of people have kind of renovated with having to tear out some of that original stuff but one of the nice features of this home is that as my sellers renovated they were good at keeping some of the most beautiful original features while still making it luxurious and contemporary." The home is on one of the biggest lots available on the lake Because the typical lot size for a lakefront property on Lake Mohawk is about 120 feet by 60 feet this home has four to five times the amount of property available but it also creates one of the best panoramic views on the lake you'll find expansive windows overlooking the lake as well as vaulted ceilings and open-concept living spaces there is a luxury chef's kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances and a spacious formal dining room with French doors leading to the home's deck space There is also a primary suite with a private balcony and a spa-like en suite bathroom a home gym and a walkout basement with a den and I think there's only one other home on the lake that has one," Dehnel said "So that's another level up from the second floor where you go up a spiral staircase and there's a daybed and you can sit up there and see the whole lake." despite the home being located on an island Dehnel said its easy to walk into town to nearby businesses and restaurants she said you can walk across the bridge and take the walking path into town "It's like having your own exclusive resort," Dehnel said – The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued a $10,000 fine against Carroll County for discharging 8,000 gallons of untreated sewage into Lake Mohawk following a mechanical failure "Discussions with the county are ongoing," said James Lee a public relations officer for the state EPA A pump within a Carroll County Environmental Services lift station malfunctioned and failed in mid-September More: Ohio Forest Sanctuaries looking to create 68-acre nature preserve in Carroll County More: Voters reject Carroll County Park tax request but rather than capture the untreated sewage they discharged the substance into a catch basin The untreated sewage eventually flowed into Lake Mohawk a 507-acre, manmade lake that includes a gated community of the same name.  "We had to pump out that lift station," said Ralph Castellucci superintendent of Carroll County Environmental Services "Unfortunately this happened when the backup pump was out for repair It was just a mechanical failure and equipment failure." Carroll County has not paid the $10,000 fineAs of now Carroll County officials have not paid the $10,000 fine "That is in arbitration," county Commissioner Jeffrey Ohler said "We are hoping they lighten up a little on that The thing that amazes me is all these things the EPA is saying The state EPA responded to a couple complaints filed shortly after the sewage discharge incident the state EPA is demanding Carroll County officials submit a plan that provides details and a schedule for routine maintenance of the pump stations.  "We don't agree with everything that was in the report We are going to put together an emergency plan. We are sorry that it happened There is an evacuation truck they could have used I guess the evacuation truck was inoperable." State EPA officials are viewing Carroll County's action as a violation of Ohio water pollution laws A discharge of untreated sewage presented a health risk to people engaged in recreational activities at Lake Mohawk according to a statement from the Ohio EPA The discharge could have impacted water quality and the habitat for fish and animals "There are recreational activities at that lake," county Commissioner Robert Wirkner said The county is very interested in preventing a repeat occurrence." A lot of Carroll County's maintenance plan will be developed by Castellucci "Ralph is putting together a plan of the top two or three things that can be done to lessen the maintenance," Ohler said "Ralph thinks he has a schedule on what pumps need to be replaced There also are electrical boards next to those pumps Castellucci already has sent a reply to the Ohio EPA in response to the state's earlier correspondence Now Carroll County officials are waiting to hear back from the EPA.  "There could be some things that come out from their findings that we may not agree on," Ohler said "We really won't know what our response will be until we get the response from the EPA We are not paying anything until we get the response." The Carroll County Health Department administered some testing at Lake Mohawk "We have not had any health issues reported to us as a result of the sewage in the lake," Health Commissioner Kelly Engelhart said in an email statement "We also sent a letter to the (Lake Mohawk) association members of their risk to recreating in the water and had it posted at the public beaches We advised the association to begin a water testing program at their beaches." community manager for Lake Mohawk Property Owners Association MALVERN ― The Lake Mohawk Paddle for Pink fundraiser to help combat breast cancer just keeps getting bigger and bigger every year held at the lake located 1.5 miles south of Malvern in Carroll County all of which will go to patients at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital in Canton raised more than $5,000 and the 2021 paddle raised more than $15,000 More:Lake Mohawk residents host Paddle for Pink to raise money for breast cancer survivors and it's just great the way that community comes together for a cause like this," said Kim Frantz and everything that we're drinking was all donated by local businesses and local people They asked their neighbors and their friends All the money goes for breast cancer patients." About 110 people participated in this year's event paddling around Lake Mohawk for nearly 3 hours participated in the event on behalf of her mother Demarinis had been unable to participate in the previous two paddles because of work commitments I told my boss how important it was that I be here," she said residents of Lake Mohawk have had a golf outing to raise money for breast cancer care But they were unable to do so in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic So several women who like to paddle decided to paddle around Lake Mohawk and raise money It was a way they could help out but still remain socially distant a registered nurse who is breast cancer coordinator for Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital watched the event from a pontoon boat on the lake "It's just absolutely amazing that they raised this much money for our patients," she said She noted that the money raised does not go to administration it is used to help patients with mortgage bills "We have a lot of patients who are underinsured," she said BYRAM — Three Sussex County residents celebrating Independence Day were charged after a fireworks display went wrong and injured at least one person and set fire to a homemade barge and a 22-year-old Ogdensburg man were arrested following the accident that took place at a home on Birch Parkway Monday night according to a press release from the Byram Township Police Department Officers responded to the home on Lake Mohawk just over the Sparta border at 9:42 p.m they noticed a homemade barge on the lake that had apparently caught fire during a fireworks display North Jersey news For 20 years, North Jersey horse farm has helped riders with disabilities hit their stride Police determined that some of the fireworks accidentally ignited and struck a group of people standing on the barge where they were picked up by a boat and brought back to shore One person suffered severe burns and was transported by the Lakeland Emergency Squad to the hospital for treatment An investigation revealed that some of the fireworks used on the barge were commercial-grade and not to be used by the public The trio were each charged with reckless endangerment possession of dangerous fireworks and possession and use of prohibited fireworks All three were released pending a Sussex County Superior Court date Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker SPARTA - The Township Council introduced a zoning ordinance change Tuesday which could allow the public to have access to the Lake Mohawk County Club parking lot The introduction - Ordinance 19-19 - would add “parking” as a principal permitted use to the zone which includes the club’s lot on West Shore Trail The club and the lot predate by several decades The club had announced that effective today it would begin enforcing a dormant “no parking” policy for the lot and have non-members’ vehicles towed The club’s threat to enforce the no parking was the result of the town’s Planning Board and later the Zoning Board of Adjustment both rejecting a request from the club to allow it to begin charging the public for parking in the lot The club took the two boards and the town to court claiming there was no legal justification to reject the club’s request for a zoning variance to allow them to charge the public to park in the private lot The two sides had been unable to come to an agreement and last month it would begin enforcing its right to have non-members vehicles towed off the club’s private property “This is a big first step by both sides,” said Megan Ward referring to the council’s action to introduce the zoning change When the club announced it would begin towing the town countered by saying it would lease a former auto body shop adjacent to the club’s parking lot and allow the public to park there although there would be considerably fewer spaces than in the club’s lot Ward said that when informed about the pending introduction the trustees at its monthly meeting voted to delay the parking enforcement action until Nov the council will be able to hold a public hearing and possible final vote on the ordinance change at its Nov The parking lot and club were established in the 1930s when Lake Mohawk was created along with the housing which surrounds the lake The development also included what came to be known as White Deer Plaza a small business district which now includes boutiques parking for those businesses is limited to about 44 on-street spaces so the public began parking at the country club lot within easy walking distance the club’s trustees decided it needed to restore the parking lot make improvement to sidewalks and drainage and install some new lights Instead of charging extra dues to its members - all residences in the Lake Mohawk community must pay yearly dues - it wanted to charge the public for parking to help defray the cost of improvements does not allow paid parking lots in the zone which includes the country club SPARTA — An 80-year-old township man drowned after he fell from his dock on Lake Mohawk in late morning on Labor Day attempted to use an inner tube to get back on land after he had trouble exiting his boat Botts lost his grip when the tube started to drift away and officers arrived on the scene at 11:50 a.m. Police were told that Botts had been underwater for about 15 minutes by that time Officers tried to find Botts with the help of lifeguards from the Lake Mohawk Country Club and boaters in the area. Rescue and dive teams were also called to assist but were canceled after lifeguards recovered Botts' body at 12:29 p.m. More: Drive to collect back-to-school supplies for families with low incomes ongoing More: Head of Sparta private school barred minorities, ran a 'dysfunctional' entity, suit claims Lamon said. Police are handling the death as an accidental drowning of Lake Mohawk in Sparta still remembers when Barney O’Donnell took his daughter Karen for a vacation to Cypress Gardens Cypress Gardens was the first commercial theme park in Florida and became known as the Water Ski Capital of the World Although small in comparison to the better known Florida theme park that would open four years after the O’Donnell family’s visit Cypress Gardens became the inspiration for a Lake Mohawk tradition of more than 50 years that still is going strong today O’Donnell came home to Sparta with the memory of a show that he believed could be replicated on Lake Mohawk He started sharing his vision with other members of the community and the Lake Mohawk Ski Hawks were born a year later Murphy joined the team that year when she was 12 years old performing shows on Lake Mohawk as well as at other venues Although she eventually left the area for 20 years Murphy found the Ski Hawks were still a mainstay of the Lake Mohawk community and signed up again it is the sense of community that keeps her with the Ski Hawks “It’s a camaraderie you know will last a lifetime,” she said It is also something that entire families can be a part of “I joined with my husband because we wanted his girls to see this because it was something we could all do together,” said Murphy That sense of family is a big part of what has kept new generations of skiers joining the Ski Hawks joined the Ski Hawks with her parents and younger brother when she was 11 “We joined because we loved to ski and wanted to do something together,” she said The fact that the Ski Hawks welcome all ages and ability levels is a big part of why the team has flourished since the 1960s “The reason that generation after generation returns to the Ski Hawks is because it is such a great family activity.” Although children may be the first to sign up their parents are quickly brought on board because there is so much that needs to be done to make a show happen “We have about 30 skiers in any given year on the Ski Hawks and double that when you add the support personnel,” said Lieb Getting parents involved adds to the camaraderie that builds throughout the summer “We love spending time with our families and it also becomes one large family on the Ski Hawks,” she said The Ski Hawks is the only competition show ski team in New Jersey They compete every year at the Eastern Region Tournament in Massachusetts the Fourth of July and Labor Day at Beach 1 at the Lake Mohawk Boardwalk The team has been the launching pad for several nationally ranked water skiers over the years community and love of the sport that keeps people like Murphy coming back year after year The Ski Hawks’ final show of the 2023 season will be held at 11 a.m Citing safety concerns due to its growth over the past 19 years the Lake Mohawk Country Club Board of Trustees has announced the club will no longer host the popular German Christmas Market — news that has come as a “blow” to the market’s Board of Trustees held in the club and on the boardwalk of the Lake Mohawk Country Club has grown in popularity and has drawn an ever-growing crowd reaching into the tens of thousands family and visitors from all over descend upon the boardwalk each December in search of Christmas gifts and traditional German food and entertainment But it is because of the event’s success and growth that the market has “transcended Lake Mohawk Country Club’s capabilities as an event location,” said the Lake Mohawk County Club Board of Trustees in a statement to the New Jersey Herald Saturday Board of Trustees — a group of volunteers that plans organizes and runs the non-profit market each year — said it was informed Friday night of the Lake Mohawk Board’s decision during a private meeting between the entities “The news came as a blow to the Market Board,” the statement reads the Lake Mohawk German Christmas Market has grown from a small afternoon affair consisting of a handful of vendors to a three-day event heralding in the holiday season.” The Lake Mohawk German Christmas Market Board has had a mission of giving back to the community Once overhead costs of the event are settled all remaining profits from the event are donated to local charities the market donated $39,400 to more than 20 community agencies and hopes to match that amount again this year it has donated over $350,000 to local charities The 2019 market included just shy of 125 vendors The Lake Mohawk Country Club’s Board indicated in its statement that the market’s contributions to local charities and organizations have “positively impacted many in Sussex County over the past 19 years,” but said the event has grown to a point where it poses a safety concern “The event attendance produces crowds and traffic that now exceed what the physical club boardwalk and reservation can accommodate safely,” the Country Club board said indicated that it had hoped the recent efforts to partner with the LMCC’s trustees to address their concerns would have been met with equal enthusiasm who spoke on behalf of the entire Market’s Board Saturday said that they were exploring ways to bring in extra money over the years to keep up with the increased attendance the board designated the Sparta High and Sparta Middle schools as park-and-ride locations with eight buses — the most they’ve ever had — transporting attendees to and from the event who was still trying to wrap her head around the club’s decision said the future of the German Christmas Market is now on hold is expected to meet soon to discuss the market’s future and if it will relocate the Lake Mohawk CC Board of Trustees said that if the German Market Board decides to hold the event at another location “we will assist in the transition,” adding that they wish the Market’s Board “continued growth and success.” While the 2019 event ended just over a month ago vendors have already signed up to take part in the 2020 market Beelaert said vendor packets were expected to be mailed out on Feb sponsored and/or supported their efforts over the years it would not have been possible,” the statement says which depends on sponsorships and donations to run was started by a group of four women of German heritage The event has grown over the years with local food The Lake Mohawk Country Club serves as the homeowners association encompassing approximately 2,500 homes and membership lots within the boundaries of the Lake Mohawk Reservation the LMCC Board of Trustees held its annual meeting to conduct business and elect trustees and club members Three members departed the trustees — former president Bob Atkinson Ernie Hofer and Eleanor Young — and the board welcomed new members Christina Repka Lori Comstock can also be reached on Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LoriComstockNJH or by phone: 973-383-1194 The Lake Mohawk Country Club reacquired ownership of the Lake Mohawk Pool this spring the recreation facility became the first landmark in the community to be bestowed with a marker courtesy of the Lake Mohawk Historic Committee The pool was also rededicated in a short ceremony led by Historic Committee chairperson Holly Fiorella the pool was chosen to be the first recipient of a marker due to its recent return to the Lake Mohawk Country Club fold Originally named the Marine Pool and Tennis Club the pool was built in 1937 by the Arthur D developers of Lake Mohawk and other lake communities throughout New Jersey including Lake Shawnee in Jefferson and Rainbow Lakes in Denville designed to look like the deck of the luxury liner SS Normandie and featured an ozone purification system eliminating the need for chlorine it was renamed the Cruiser Club in the late 1960s before becoming the Lake Mohawk Pool under the last private holding company The facility came back under ownership of the Lake Mohawk Country Club in April of 2019 LMCC General Manager John Stanley said that restoring and re-staffing the pool this spring was a labor of love which has been paid back in kind The Olympic-sized pool was drained and repainted and features areas for shallow and deep-water swimming Other amenities include multiple seating decks and a playground and open grassy area for activities The former tennis courts serve as a parking lot for the pool compound “But membership has doubled and we’re at capacity.” Fiorella said the pool rededication and the placement of the historic marker was a group effort by the committee which are green with white lettering and shaped like an arrowhead will be a major initiative of the committee The next markers will be dedicated in the White Deer Plaza we expect to recognize all landmarks of historic distinction within the Lake Mohawk Reservation,” Fiorella said For more information on the Lake Mohawk Historic Committee and their upcoming events the group maintains a Facebook page under the committee name They can also be reached by email at lakemohawkhc@gmail.com Information on pool membership can be found at www.lakemohawkcc.com or by sending email to pool@lakemohawkcountryclub.com SPARTA — Embers in wood stove's ashes placed in a bucket on the front porch are the apparent cause of a fire Tuesday afternoon that destroyed a Lake Mohawk home Flames from the fire could be seen across the lake Sparta police received multiple 911 calls and responded to the fire on Maple Parkway he saw flames on the left side of the house and the homeowner sitting inside “He (Schomp) knocked on the door and the man answered,” Proctor said “He told him his house was on fire and the man just nodded and closed the door Frank opened the door and went after him.” The unidentified homeowner was later taken to Newton Medical Center to be checked Proctor said the man's wife appeared on the scene and talked with him in the back of the ambulance had trouble with low water pressure in the fire hydrants and had to chop a hole in the ice of Lake Mohawk to draw water to fight the flames Proctor said detectives at the scene said the homeowner had earlier emptied the ashes from a wood-burning stove into a container and put it on There apparently were still live embers in the bucket but two dogs were apparently inside the house and perished in the flames Lifeguards from North Jersey converged on Lake Mohawk in Sparta on Monday night 14 for the annual Sussex County Lifeguard Competition White Meadow Lake and Green Pond competed in speed White Meadow Lake in Rockaway Township was the host this year; the competition was moved to Lake Mohawk because White Meadow was closed because of algae Twenty-eight lifeguards competed in five events: a 400-yard Open Water Swim a Ring Buoy Relay and a Submerged Victim Team Scenario Lifeguards at Culver Lake in Frankford won the overall competition while Lake Mohawk lifeguards Lifeguards at Green Pond in Rockaway were third by one point behind Lake Mohawk White Meadow Lake lifeguards placed fourth with Tara Wiarda first and Indyia Weinmann third in the 400-yard Open Water Swim John Postma of Culver Lake placed first in the men’s division with Jack Elsevier of Green Pond a close second All four teams led in at least one leg of the Run/Swim/Paddle/Kayak event Heidi Van den Heuval of Culver Lake was the single female in the first leg Catherine Gaines of Lake Mohawk pulled it out in kayak at the finish again this year to win the event Lake Mohawk and Green Pond lifeguards were close on the Rescue Tube Relay with Green Pond taking first in the Ring Buoy Relay The final event was the Submerged Victim Scenario While one entered the water and recovered a submerged manikin the awaiting team was ready with backboard bag valve masks and an automated external defibrillator to perform 10 minutes of high-performance team cardiopulmonary resuscitation Culver Lake placed first with 19 of 20 points; Lake Mohawk was second with 18; Green Pond had 16; and White Meadow Lake had 15 Chris Young and Rich Carlson of the American Red Cross were judges for the competition The Lake Mohawk Golf Club Women’s Association Garden Club recently announced that its first project will be an herb garden spearheaded by Garden Club Chair Esther Kashkin and undertaken in collaboration with chef Brian Vaughn and General Manager Tom Smith will be brought to life by Greens Superintendent Tim Burtrum and his horticultural team Holly Gouger and Jill Cadorin an outing to Well-Sweep Herb Farm in Port Murray provided the advice and herbs for the creation of a “chef garden” for Lake Mohawk Golf Club’s culinary recipes Gouger and Cadorin have also been working on creations for submission to the NJ State Fair’s Flower and Garden Show Last year they came home with a LMGC record: one First Place three Second Place and one Third Place award in the professional and artistic divisions LMGC Women’s Association will also host its 18-Hole Member Guest Tournament on Wednesday Committee Chairs Lori Healy and Carol Gordon have created a theme day of “Fun and Games;” Mulligans best carts are only a part of the entertainment Women interested in joining the LMGC Women’s Association should contact the LMGC for membership information at 973-729-9200 SPARTA -- A sculpted wooden statue of Princess White Deer was installed on the Lake Mohawk Country Club boardwalk last week as a memorial to Frances Smith longtime general manager of the club and leader in promoting lake improvements Commissioned and funded by the LMCC House Committee the 1,300-pound statue was created by local artist Brett McClain and was sited on what was formerly a stone diving platform on the grotto on the boardwalk that was transformed by stonemason Ciro Coticelli and his sons of One Guy from Italy The statue's custom-hammered copper bowl spilling water into the lake was hand-wrought by silver artisan Liza Nechamkin Glasser in her Nechamkin Silver Studio in Andover assisted with bronze plaques and the monument was put into place last week by WeighBridge Industries and A&J Enterprises Princess White Deer was part of the 10th anniversary re-dedication celebration at the lake on Aug 1937 and stood on the grotto and spoke these words: I invoked the Great Spirit to look kindly upon the efforts of those who brought about this colony I said ‘May there be many homes in the woodland and many canoes upon the waters.' I asked that your race might find health and happiness here The Great Spirit was kind; he heard the voice of White Deer The valley of my people is now the valley of your people and ask again that you continue here in health and happiness NEWTON -- The Lake Mohawk German Christmas Market distributed $39,400 to more than 20 community agencies on Sunday as part of the proceeds of the 2018 edition of the market held last December This is the 18th time the market has given back to not-for-profit groups a board member who emceed Sunday's event held at the Romano Conference Center at Newton Medical Center was founded in 2001 by a group of four women of German heritage -- augmented by a handful of other community residents -- who missed the traditional Christmas markets of their homeland they attracted 20 vendors and gave back $1,500 to local charities The 2018 event attracted 150 vendors and was held in two locations and spread along the Boardwalk at the Lake Mohawk Country Club and onto the adjacent beach This year's disbursement brings the 18-year-total to more than $325,000 Included the 2018 numbers was $2,700 of "in-kind" donations of vendor space to several not-for-profit groups to showcase their own services to the community Providing entertainment at Sunday's event was No Strings A Cappella which was also among the musical groups which appeared at the December market A total of 14 hours of entertainment was provided during the market The groups which benefited from the market were selected by a committee Presented checks on Sunday were Birth Haven Catholic Charities Food Pantry/Partnership Social Services Northern New Jersey Veterans Memorial Cemetery Sparta school district's German Department; the Culinary Department at Sussex County Technical School The first few years of the German Christmas Market opened right after the annual First Friday in December lighting of the Christmas tree and was open on Saturday the market began a Saturday-Sunday run with some of the local businesses opening to allow indoor space the market began replacing the canvas tents with wooden "huts" for vendors which replicated some Old World architecture the market has been ranked among the Top 10 holiday events in New Jersey The 2019 application packets for vendors as well as for charities is available at: lakemohawkgermanchristmasmarket.com/ MALVERN – Mammograms detected both of Theresa Green’s breast cancers.  a mammogram during a routine doctor’s appointment identified a non-invasive cancer that required multiple rounds of radiation doctors used the X-ray examination to spot an invasive tumor that led to a mastectomy and ongoing medication to keep cancer at bay.  More: More women delaying mammograms during pandemic, raising concerns Green not only advocated for all women to get regular screenings but joined a group of pink-clothed paddleboarders canoers and kayakers in helping to raise money so other women could get the lifesaving checkup Green was among the more than 80 participants in the second annual Paddle for Pink fundraiser at Lake Mohawk a private community about a mile south of Malvern in Carroll County whose centerpiece is a 507-acre manmade “It’s just so important to get those regular screenings,” said Green a Lake Mohawk resident who began kayaking about four years ago. “So it’s great that this event helps with that.” Lake Mohawk resident Kim Franz came up with the idea for the fundraiser in 2020 as she and friends were making plans to paddleboard along the roughly 6-mile shoreline of the lake at the end of the summer who has friends who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, had been looking for a more physically distant way to raise money for breast cancer after the coronavirus pandemic challenged her plans for another golf scramble charity fundraiser She believes what has made the event so attractive to participants is that it's not a race but a social event where people can decide how far they want to go Tuesday’s event raised $15,365  – nearly triple the amount raised in the fundraiser’s inaugural year that included 55 participants and generated $5,500. The proceeds will benefit the Mercy Hospital Development Foundation’s cancer services.  a breast cancer nurse navigator for Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital said the money will help patients who need financial support and other direct care as well as help those whose insurance won’t pay for mammograms.  “Mercy has always been a community hospital so we have a lot of patients who are underinsured or have no insurance at all,” Thiel said a two-time breast cancer survivor who underwent chemotherapy at Mercy a year ago drove from Columbus to participate in Tuesday's event The former Lake Mohawk resident who began kayaking earlier this year wasn’t sure she’d finish the entire 6-mile route Tuesday but that really wasn’t her goal anyway “Don’t fall in,” answered Pierson jokingly when asked about her strategy for getting around the lake ‘Don’t sink my kayak.’” Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com On Twitter: @kweirREP Jack Buettner gazed at what likely was an insignificant-looking little creek after he traveled dozens of miles south of his Cleveland-area home Buettner still is gazing at that body of water which over time swelled to become 507-acre Lake Mohawk in northwest Carroll County He is among more than 1,000 people who live  — permanently or seasonally— in the private gated community called Lake Mohawk which is celebrating a half century of existence “At that time there was a small creek running through the center of it,” said Buettner now president of the Lake Mohawk board of directors The community was started in 1963 by a development group called American Realty Corp After selling enough lots to get the project off to a healthy start passed on ownership to the Lake Mohawk Property Owners Association The man-made lake sits in the midst of 1,728 acres of residential and recreational development about a mile south of Malvern in Brown and Harrison townships Lake Mohawk extends about two and half miles south “There are a number of springs that feed the lake as well as runoff from land around it,” Buettner said The lake association has guarded this lake We have had good boards over the years and they took pains to protect it.” That means paying to keep it clean to guard against algae blooms “We put a lot of effort in maintaining the ecosystem of the lake,” said Scott Noble manager of the Lake Mohawk business office “We stock the lake (with fish) every year to maintain a balance.” Joseph DeMarinis became enchanted with the community as a young man about 40 years ago property owners also pay $521 in annual dues and another $521 one-time initiation fee I had some people tell me I would be sorry also a member of the Lake Mohawk board of directors Lake Mohawk living appeals to aficionados of water sports and activities “there are probably 1,500 to 2,000 year-round,” Noble estimated “And probably close to 3,000 in the summer.” Security is provided by an assigned Carroll County sheriff deputy “A little over 50 percent of the residents live here year-round,” Buettner said “And about 48 to 49 percent are seasonal.” The community consists of more than 900 households As part of the 50th anniversary observance Lake Mohawk will be open to the public from 11 a.m “We have had events all summer long in observance of the 50th (anniversary),” said Noble Carroll County and township officials do not maintain the roads “It is an asset to the area,” Brown Township Trustee Rodney Wise said “It increases numbers (enrollment) to your schools SPARTA -- When Steve Demmer became the general manager of Lake Mohawk Golf Club in early 2016 the pro shop was empty and he was still finding his footing in Sussex County as the golf season teed up for an early-season start following a mild winter It was very much a transitional period for the club Demmer was the club's third GM in as many years following a one-year stint from Scottie Hield and the retirement of Ernest Hofer from the position in 2014 Much like the walls inside the pro shop upon his arrival Demmer saw the opportunity as a blank canvas to squeeze all of the potential out of the golf course and reinvigorate the membership base One year away from celebrating the club's 90th year anniversary including Demmer and assistant golf professional Cameron Gunn "The reputation of the club is built over time," Demmer said "They need to be tended to and you need to build them through what you're doing here at the club this is place is really neat,' they're starting to see a difference from where they are out at other clubs in the area." It is very much a new era for the club that is nestled in among the Sparta community along the lake's west shore Demmer is hoping to pull from his time at The Kittansett Club in Marion to bring the same type of culture to the private club in Sparta 67 on Golf Digest's America's 100 Greatest Courses list this year For Lake Mohawk's general manager and director of golf the biggest thing to building a successful club is making sure that the setting never gets stagnant and there is a steady commitment to the membership An added challenge comes with the numerous recreational opportunities that have sprouted up for people in the county over the last decade "We're dealing with all the dynamic changes on that side of it plus how all of the family dynamics have changed," Demmer said "People are committed to doing a lot of other stuff and our job is to provide them the opportunity to enjoy this place who is one step away from earning his status as a Class-A PGA Professional have had to work quickly to establish relationships with members that have seen two other general managers come and go in the last four years They have established new programs like a junior clinic that runs twice a week and a ladies margarita league that serves as a fun setting for women that are still trying to learn the game "The thing that I feel is most important to me is drive new golfers and improve golfers that are already here to get them showing up to the club more," said Gunn who also came on board at the club last year "If I'm giving a lesson and I help their game and help them become a better golfer They're going to show up to the club more because they're playing better." the kids don't spend all of the time on the range they go out on the course and see the game from a different perspective than most lessons can provide The kids toss frisbees and throw water balloons to make sure that the environment never gets too tense And it's about getting to know the rest of the membership during lessons and building up their trust "I think it's showing that you care," Gunn said "It's not just getting them out on the golf course It's getting to know them on a personal level as well not only as the golfer that comes to your golf course That's what's really nice about our golf course is our members open up to us." While Lake Mohawk provides a private golf course experience Demmer hopes that its members appreciate the other social elements that come with playing the sport as well they've had tournaments where they decorate their carts and have costume contests Demmer knows that a key to keeping the membership happy while enticing new members is providing a different type of experience for golfers to enjoy playing the sport in a non-competitive arena "You have to break the ice in a reasonable fashion for anyone coming into the game," Demmer said "No one is born knowing all of this stuff that I know after playing golf for 46 years of my life there's such a low-pressure situation that they really enjoy it." The members that returned to their home course this year also began to see a different golf course As part of a master plan that will be ongoing for at least another five years more than 100 trees were removed in the offseason to promote the health of the golf course and the playability for its players trees were removed from the left side of the approach that allows golfers to see down to the first fairway and enjoy the sun rising over the lake during a morning round Not only did the change improve sight lines but it also allowed the green to soak in more sunlight and become healthier as well Similar changes were made near the back tee box on the seventh hole and along the left side of that hole's fairway where hanging branches had provided an unnecessary obstacle to reaching the elevated green on the par 4 in two shots A large tree was taken down near the 18th green that had hindered tee shots from the 10th hole and impeded shots from the left of the green we're really talking about how do we put our name out there people are starting to take notice about what we're doing," Demmer said you have great topography of a golf course The new staff at Lake Mohawk has made numerous different changes it's about seeing how those changes take hold moving forward into a different era at Lake Mohawk "It's all about the service to your customers," Demmer said "It's been the lack of change over the last few decades ‘Wow.' They didn't know what they didn't know." The Lake Mohawk Preservation Foundation will hold its annual Recognition Celebration on October 2 to celebrate and honor the contributions from two honorees: Sparta resident Kathy Romine and Lake Mohawk’s Balanced Rock Beach (Beach 6) This year the foundation will present Romine with the Fran Smith Award and Balanced Rock Beach with the Organization Leadership Award “Our annual event is an opportunity to recognize the Foundation’s accomplishments over the past year,” said Board President Bill Askin “We honor contributions from exceptional individuals and organizations who align with the initiatives of the Lake Mohawk Preservation Foundation and work to keep our environment healthy.” Romine was selected for her continued volunteerism over the years and her “positive contribution to our community,” which helped make Lake Mohawk and the Sparta community “a cleaner and better place to live.” which is reportedly one of the most popular beaches at the lake will be recognized for offering a variety of programming and events for the community and then donating the profits from those events to community members in need The public is encouraged to attend the ceremony Tickets start at $40; for those who can’t attend The Lake Mohawk Preservation Foundation created the Fran Smith Lake Preservation Award to pay tribute to Fran Smith a community leader and club general manager for many years there were no benches or flowers on the boardwalk Smith initiated the Preservation Foundation 10 years ago with the vision of helping to preserve the lake The foundation has expanded to ensure that Smith’s vision also includes preserving the headwater of the Wallkill River Anyone interested in sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets, visit: lakemohawkpf.org/lake-preservation-recognition-celebration SPARTA -- Like a favorite ornament unpacked for the holiday season the sight of the little village of welcoming huts nestled against the shore of the frosty lake can mean only one thing: Christmas has returned to Lake Mohawk the annual Lake Mohawk German Christmas Market held at the Lake Mohawk Country Club and boardwalk the market has become a New Jersey institution attracting visitors from all around the tri-state area "Christmas markets have become very popular," said Helena Bould president of the event's Board of Trustees We created the market as a way to give back to our community and that is still our most important objective." staffed entirely by a dedicated group of volunteers donates the proceeds of the event to charitable groups within Sussex County Last year's market raised more than $40,000 for local organizations "That's really what Christmas is all about "This is the time of year to think of those who are less fortunate and to figure out how to give back The amount of community support that this event has attracted over the years -- our volunteers held over a beautiful sunny and unseasonably warm weekend "We're anticipating that kind of crowd again," Bould said The weather this year is supposed to be lovely as many people as possible will be able to come out and enjoy it." The event's 120 vendor spaces were sold out by April the Nicholson family and Suburban Propane among others will feature live music and performances by groups like No Strings A Capella the Sparta High School German classes and Harmony in Motion at scheduled times throughout the weekend local wood carver and long-time Christmas Market vender Brett McClain and will be joined by German carver Florian Linder and two other internationally renowned woodworkers "We've become something of a destination among wood carvers," she said There will be demonstrations held on both days Brett is going to be auctioning off this beautiful eagle that you just have to see to believe." In order to help guests more comfortably navigate all that the market has to offer Bould said that the event has undergone a few changes "We've done some re-arranging of the layout in order to make things more accessible," she said "We've moved the petting zoo and pony rides away from the country club's entrance in order to allow the vendors to spread out in the parking lot It should help to make things flow a little better." Since parking at the country club can be something of a challenge guests are invited to make use of parking lots at Sparta Middle School and the park and ride on Blue Heron Road guests to this year's event will also have a new option "Parking will also be available at the Sparta Train Station," she said because the station is hosting their Toys for Tots train ride on Saturday so people will have the chance to visit both events in the same day so it's a win-win for all of us to be able to work together." Shuttle service will be available from each of the three parking locations throughout the weekend The German Christmas Market will be open to the public from 10 a.m visit www.lakemohawkgermanchristmasmarket.com SPARTA - Although Mayor Molly Whilesmith told the meeting audience that ordinance passage was not assured the council was unanimous in approving a zoning change which will allow Lake Mohawk County Club to operate a paid parking lot Although there were five affirmative votes at least three council members said they personally did not agree with what they were agreeing to do Councilman David Smith said he was not for paid parking slowly limited public use of the privately-owned boardwalk along the shore of Lake Mohawk he was surprised that Lake Mohawk was “using the merchants of White Deer Plaza as pawns.” attorney Kevin Kelly of the firm Kelly and Ward which represented the country club Tuesday’s vote was the start of the final chapter of a years-long effort to allow the club to use paid parking as a way to fund upgrades and future maintenance to the parking lot it owns on West Shore Trail a short walk from the plaza and its businesses There are few on-street parking spaces in White Deer Plaza and just one restaurant has its own lot The on-street spaces do have posted time limits and township police are authorized to write tickets for those spaces which Although privately owned and posted as private property the club has not removed cars of shoppers and diners who parked in the lot to go to the businesses in the plaza as the club’s board began discussing parking lot improvements they also decided that they could not raise member dues to pay for those improvements club and the development all predate the first zoning ordinances of the town The ordinance puts the club and its parking lot in a zone where parking lots are not an allowed use Parking for members was allowed as a pre-existing use the club filed a plan to upgrade the parking lot and to begin charging a modest fee to non-members who wanted to park in the lot The Planning Board went through a set of hearings finally failing to approve plan with a 4-4 vote members often asked about the cost to park with the club’s representatives saying the fee had not been set The club went to court and a Superior Court judge suggested the club go to the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals The vote in that meeting - at which nobody from the public spoke - was unanimous in rejecting the appeal The lawsuit over the rejection of the plans was pending before the Appellate Division when the club announced it would post new signs and begin towing cars of non-members on a certain date That deadline brought out a mixture of merchants which had not appeared at any meetings of the boards or council before the Town Council introduced an ordinance which would allow the town to lease an old auto body shop on West Shore Trail and use its lot for parking The club extended the deadline for enforcement; more people showed up at further council meetings and the lease ordinance was approved the council introduced the amendment which allows: “A parking lot on property owned by a homeowners association of at least 300 homeowners Non-members of the association may be charged a user fee.” It still needs to go through the attorneys before it gets signed.” Kelly said on Wednesday that it will take some time before any plan is finalized which would include what rate non-members would be charged “The club is looking to balance its (parking) revenue against the interests of the merchants,” he said for their efforts in reaching an agreement Kelly said paperwork still needs to be done and a final decision on how the lot will be reconfigured such as parking lot apps for phones which would eliminate the need for gates Smith said that if the majority of the public and merchants doesn’t seem to care about paid parking who sits on the Planning Board as a Township Council member defended that board’s decision as “the only decision they could make based on the rules.“ she complained “the litigation took the place of communication,” in the entire process and during every meeting “the board was looking out for how it would affect the public “I want to thank the attorneys for going to the books” to find the solution Councilman Jerry Murphy said he was reminded of the “old caveat: Be careful of what you wish for.” Councilman Daniel Chiariello said the amount to be charged and the negative effects of paying “was always concerning to me I think we should come back and look at this in two simply asking if a decision would be made that evening just three members of the public remained.