.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Dylan McCoy | For NJ Advance MediaEmily Ignacio launched a two-run home run and pitched a complete game on the mound pushing Leonia to a 6-4 home victory over Park Ridge Park Ridge (7-6) took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth Leonia (7-6) responded with four runs over the next two innings to secure the result Ignacio recorded six strikeouts in her seven innings on the mound and Nadine Abdel-Razek each recorded an RBI Leonia will have over a week of rest before traveling to face Ridgefield next Friday Park Ridge will be back in action tomorrow in a road matchup against Whippany Park Dylan McCoy can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices Please welcome the AHA’s new Communications Manager What is your educational and work background I was set on going to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy to study musical theater — and go (and graduate) the college part wasn’t up and running yet — just the conservatory — so part of my soon-term plans is to return for my BFA Even while waitressing for far more years than I wanted to I took on side quests like teaching songwriting classes to sixth graders in the South Bronx leading songwriting workshops for college students in Brooklyn I initially launched my business to help other indie musicians with their marketing was in homage to my mom — which felt fitting because she didn’t get enough time with us to pursue her own dreams Every time I got to help someone pursue theirs I eventually branched out to supporting small business owners and then nonprofit leaders and consultants as well I also spent a few years at a nonprofit working in the Black mental and maternal health space during the pandemilovato but I also led planning for their annual event including sponsorship outreach and tapping into my awesome network to help make it a success Being a wedding singer is still one of my favorite jobs There’s just something incomparable about spending time with people on their special day singing my heart out to music that gets everyone dancing and jamming with heavy-duty players on the bandstand I only just learned about it through encountering the AHA I’m genuinely shocked I hadn’t come across it before Did you grow up in a traditional religious faith My great-grandparents on both sides were the last generation in my family to be Orthodox and keep kosher My mom always aspired to “be a better Jew.” I even still have one of her books He came home and told me — I was just a child — that I was going to burn in hell he tried to use her echolalia (a symptom of FTD) to convert her behind our backs I think all of that disrespect led my siblings and me to either subconsciously or intentionally want to strengthen our ties to Judaism It wasn’t until several years ago that I began to unlearn the propaganda that came with my religious upbringing and realized how much I no longer aligned with — especially in light of the atrocities being committed in our name against Palestinians Discovering Humanism helped me understand that everything I cherished about being Jewish — critical thinking social justice — were also Humanist philosophies As someone exploring Humanism for the first time I appreciate how much flexibility of thought it allows especially when it doesn’t require you to impose one’s personal beliefs I’m learning to value that more and more — especially as someone who still misses their mom and isn’t quite ready to let go of the idea that she might be guiding some of the remarkable things happening in my life It’s comforting to feel protected by someone who isn’t here anymore even though I know she would have wanted to be What interested you most about working for the American Humanist Association I was self-employed for nearly two years and knew I didn’t want to settle just anywhere I was looking for a workplace that would “match my freak,” as the kids say on TikTok That meant somewhere that welcomed fresh ideas was brave enough to challenge norms (lots of George Wendts) AHA matched all that and more — I knew I had to be here The way he illustrated his angst and complicated feelings during his travels was deeply affecting — honest Then there’s Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris If you could have dinner with any three people in the world (living or dead) Home/Photos Firefighters had to contend with gusting winds during a fast-moving fire on February 14 local volunteer firefighters were toned out for a fire at the Grand Avenue complex. The dispatcher also reported to incoming unit that calls were received reporting that people were trapped Firefighters were greeted by heavy fire and smoke upon arrival and mutual-aid fire companies were called to the scene.   Chief of Department John Dunn informed the media that the fire appeared to have started in a ground floor garage.  An interior door was left open allowing the fire to extend to apartments.  In addition a car parked outside of a garage was fully involved in flames Firefighters began an interior attack and search of the building.  It was later discovered that the report of people trapped was unfounded.   With the heavy volume of fire and high winds, flames ignited the town house on the other side of a courtyard shared by both buildings, officials said.  As fire was consuming both structures, command issued an evacuation order and established a collapse zone using three ladder pipes and two tower ladders around the complex. Fire burned through the roof and several sections of the buildings collapsed.  the local department of public workspersonnel covered the streets with rock salt to prevent slip-and-fall injuries to first responders.  Fire victims were taken to a local center and assisted by borough officials and the Red Cross.  It was reported that one person was taken to an area hospital.  Firefighters recovered several pet birds in their cage and took took them out to safety. More than 30 people were displaced The fire was placed under control around noon firefighters remained at the scene locating hot spots until the early evening.  At 6:55 p.m. the incident was terminated and a demolition crew were on the scene ready to take down the remains of the structures.  rehab stations were set up by the Teaneck Box 54 Club and the Bergen Countywide rehab unit Mutual-aid companies that operated at the multiple-alarm fire came from Teaneck Above: Gottheimer takes part in the Leonia Turkey Trot5k joined nearly 150 North Jersey residents to take part in the 3rd annual Leonia Turkey Trot 5k Run.  there is nothing more powerful than uniting with your community in a common goal,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5. “A special thank you to all of the organizers of the event and the Leonia Police and EMS for taking the time this Thanksgiving morning to make sure everyone is safe And extra thanks to all of those who are serving at home and around the world.”  Gottheimer was joined by Leonia Councilman Louis Grandelis and Leonia Councilman Jordan Ziegler Below: Gottheimer takes part in the Leonia Turkey Trot5k 2025PressRELEASE: Gottheimer Hosts Fifth District Service Academy Ceremony Celebrates Accepted StudentsAbove: Gottheimer with this year’s Fifth District students accepted into U.S Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) hosted a ceremony at the Bergenfield VFW Hall to celebrate the 19 Fifth District high school students he nominated and who were accepted to one of the four U.S PressRELEASE: Gottheimer Joins Passaic County Central Labor Council’s Future Leaders Forum Breakfast Celebrates Men and Women of LaborAbove: Gottheimer with Passaic County labor leaders PATERSON Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined hardworking men and women of labor from across Passaic County at the Central Labor Council’s 11th Annual Future Labor Leaders Forum Breakfast The breakfast honors emerging labor leaders who have completed continuing education programs and policymakers who have a track […] PressPHOTO RELEASE: Gottheimer Speaks with Students at Rutgers Hillel and Rutgers University Chabad to Discuss Combatting Antisemitism on CampusAbove: Gottheimer speaks at Rutgers University Hillel Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) visited Rutgers Hillel and Rutgers University Chabad House on campus to speak with students about the alarming rise in antisemitism on college campuses across the country Rutgers University is home to more than 6,400 Jewish […] (202) 225-4465 (201) 389-1100 (973) 940-1117 (973) 814-4076 Every 1st, 3rd, and 5th Thurs, 9:30am–12pm Proudly representing the Fifth District of New Jersey. Accessibility accomplished that on the court down the stretch of this season She had five consecutive games of recording double digits in points rebounds and steals – any three statistical categories can comprise a “triple double” in hoops “I did everything else other than really score – I was mostly [getting] steals and rebounds like the behind-the-scenes type of player,” Do said So much so that she became the eighth Leonia girl to net 1,000 career points earlier this season Do (pronounced “Doh”) has put up all-around numbers that might remind New Jersey basketball fans of Jason Kidd whose exploits brought the Nets to NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003 “My dad did mention Jason Kidd to me before,” Do said I would watch with my dad and my brother” – a triple “Do-ble” – “and my dad would explain certain players and styles.” the 5-foot-7 guard also tunes into women’s basketball for some inspiration no matter how many times people push her down Lions coach Joe Prenenski has praised her hard work in returning from offseason knee surgery 12 seed Leonia made the 56-mile trek out to Sussex County and used a huge second quarter to knock off the No 13 rebounds and 10 steals – roughly her five-game average from Feb 14-27 – and played with a poise that lifted the Lions to their 19th win “Her ‘defense-first’ mindset in the second half of the game was the key to our success,” Prenenski said The key to her success has been a lot of film study “I watched [Newton’s] highlights and games on Hudl and saw the way they play against other teams,” Do said too… he really helps us understand the other team we learn new plays to match the team that we’re playing when I have no work and I’ve finished everything [for class] I’ll the check the film on the other team and just learn a little bit By the time Leonia boards the bus for away games I like to listen to calmer music,” Do said “Being stressed out takes away a lot of energy so I just try to preserve my energy as much as possible I change my music to a little bit more hype to wake me up and keep me going.” Accomplishment: Do led the Lions to a state-tournament upset at Newton logging double digits in points (26) rebounds (13) and steals (10) for the fifth consecutive game and she dished out 3 assists in a 51-40 victory Also nominated: Gabriella Mittelman of Demarest for basketball; Kiana Alvarez of Elmwood Park and Gianna Bonaccorso of Fair Lawn for wrestling; and Jenna Monaco of Dumont and Katherine Keating of Ridgewood for indoor track and field (LEONIA, NJ) -- The Players Guild of Leonia presents the musical Desperate Measures weekends from May 30- June 15 Imagine Shakespeare's Measure for Measure stripped down (pun intended) to its most fun parts This is a fast-paced comedy that will have the audience laughing from start to finish When the dangerously handsome Johnny Blood's life is on the line he must put this faith into the hands of a colorful cast of characters including a mysterious governor they face uncharted territory as laws are broken and hearts are won will they be able to rise up and pull off the greatest act yet The production is directed by Carol Fisher The cast includes Joshua Switala (Johnny Blood) Angelina Aragona (Susanna/AKA Sister Mary Jo) Owen Sheridan (Governor von Richterhenkenpflichtgetruber) and Danielle Melken (Bella Rose).Townspeople include Joellen Tierney Performances take place Friday and Saturdays at 8:00pm; Sundays at 2:00pm. Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling 201-947-9606.The Players Guild of Leonia is located at 130 Grand Avenue in Leonia The production features Book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg There will be talkbacks with cast members and Peter Kellogg (June 8th) and David Friedman (June 14) Peter Kellogg has two Tony nominations for book and lyrics to a musical of Anna Karenina (composer Dan Levine) which toured in Japan and was broadcast on Japanese Public TV he created Desperate Measures which won 2018 Drama Desk Awards for Best Music and Lyrics and Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical (CD available on Amazon); Chasing Nicolette (based on the French romance the Prince Theatre and Village Theatre in Seattle; and Front Page Girl (based on the life of Nellie Bly he created a musical based on the Sheridan play which premiered at Bristol Riverside Theatre and Penelope or How the Odyssey was really written books and a teaching and lecturing career that spans the nation David Friedman is truly someone who has made a major mark in all areas of show business and the Human Potential movement David has written songs for everyone from Disney to Diana Ross conducted and vocal arranged 6 musicals on Broadway and numerous Disney Animated Films (including Beauty & The Beast Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and produced all of the late/great Nancy LaMott’s CD’s and wrote many of her best known songs Outer Critics’ Circle and Off-Broadway League awards for his hit New York musical which can now be seen in productions all over the nation Listen To My Heart – The Songs of David Friedman David spent 10 years writing and performing a song-a-month for the Today Show’s Everyone Has a Story Segment  In an effort to give back some of the lessons he’s learned in his fulfilling and varied career David has written a groundbreaking metaphysics book called The Thought Exchange®-Overcoming Our Resistance to Living a SENSATIONAL Life and other books including Help is on the Way - From Places You Don’t Know About Today and We Can Be Kind – Healing Our World One Kindness at a Time Founded in 1919, the Players Guild of Leonia is a non-profit resident acting company at the Civil War Drill Hall Theater (built in 1859)  They are New Jersey's oldest continuing community theater group (since 1919) and are located just five minutes from the George Washington Bridge and a short bus ride from Manhattan A clothing drive and multiple fundraisers have been organized in the wake of a devastating fire at an apartment complex in Leonia that left several families displaced on Valentine's Day Red Cross volunteers were on the scene Friday helping 34 people in 10 families, according to Red Cross New Jersey which wrote in a post on X that its volunteers provided emergency assistance for things like temporary lodging community and family members have created multiple fundraisers to support the victims of the fire through these tough times other items for displaced familiesIn the wake of this devastating fire the Leonia Public Library is collecting items for the displaced families "Want to donate clothes and shoes to our neighbors impacted by the fire at Schor and Grand We have a collection bin at the library," wrote the library in a post on Facebook non-perishable food and water are also welcome including women's and men's clothing sizes large through XXX large women's and men's shoes sizes eight through 13 children's clothing sizes three through 10 and children's shoes sizes seven and four Donations can be dropped in the collection bins at the library at 227 Fort Lee Road in Leonia donations can also be made at All Saints Church in Leonia GoFundMe fundraisersIn addition to the clothing drive multiple fundraisers have been created to financially support the families impacted by this fire The daughters of one of the Grand Avenue residents organized a GoFundMe for their father and the other affected families on Saturday they plan to distribute the money equally among the affected families "What was meant to be a day of love and joy turned into a day of heartbreak and tragedy," said GoFundMe creator Maria Diaz in the fundraiser's description "We are beyond thankful that everyone made it out safely without injury the aftermath of this three-alarm fire has left these families without their homes and possessions - all lost in the devastation." this fundraiser has raised more than $3,300 Others have followed suit with one GoFundMe having raised more than $6,000 for the Cha family lost everything in this fire from clothes to furniture and so much more The son of another Grand Avenue family created a GoFundMe in hopes of supporting his family while he is away at college and is unable to physically be with them during this difficult time "I am organizing this fundraiser for my family who is currently left homeless after a massive fire tore through their house along with the houses of seven other families neighboring," said GoFundMe organizer Joram Kim in the fundraiser's description they have lost all of their possessions- clothes and all the basic necessities of daily life." A New Jersey Transit bus crashed into a building in Leonia Wednesday morning according to NJ Transit and Leonia Police Chief Scott Tamagny an NJ Transit bus that was not in passenger service crashed into a building near Grand Avenue and Fort Lee Road in Leonia the bus was traveling east on Fort Lee Road and turned right onto Grand Avenue when it left the roadway and hit the building at 340 Grand Ave Two NJ Transit employees were on the bus including a driving instructor and a student driver No customers were on the bus at the time of the crash and no injuries were reported The building was vacant and unoccupied at the time of the crash Leonia Building Department employees assisted at the scene as the building received some structural damage in the crash The cause of the crash is currently under investigation .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Matt Cosentino | For NJ Advance MediaAnnabel Sohn struck out nine in a four-inning no-hitter and Emily Ignacio blasted two home runs and knocked in five as Leonia defeated Palisades Park 16-0 in Leonia The Lions jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the first inning and went on to improve to 5-4 Juliet Gramuglia and Demetra Stamboulos also homered in the win The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! The Fort Lee Fire Department is hosting a fundraising event to support a longtime member and his family who lost everything in a Valentine's Day fire in Leonia The fire, at an apartment complex on Grand Avenue, broke out Friday morning, sweeping through two apartment buildings and leaving at least 10 families displaced and two pets missing In the wake of the fire, family, friends and members of the community have organized several fundraisers to support the victims including GoFundMe campaigns and clothing drives On Tuesday, the Fort Lee Volunteer Fire Department announced on Facebook that it will be holding a fundraiser in support of Mike DeGidio and his family The post said DeGidio has worked with the Fort Lee Volunteer Fire Department for more than 40 years serving as the chief and then coming back as a lieutenant "It's our turn to help our brother in need after a fire ravaged his home last week in Leonia," says the post "Mike is the kind of human who would give anyone at any time the shirt off his back Other donations and gift cards will also be accepted Checks can be made payable to Hook & Ladder Co a dedicated 40-year veteran of the Fort Lee Fire Department Now it's our turn to help him," says the post "Let's come together as a community and show support for one of our own." .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Matt Cosentino | For NJ Advance MediaVincent Caruso went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs and Pompton Lakes pushed a run across in the bottom of the 10th inning to earn a 5-4 walk-off win over Leonia in Pompton Lakes two RBIs and a run for Pompton Lakes (5-3) which had tied the game at four in the bottom of the fifth Caruso tossed five scoreless innings in relief to pick up the victory Residents were able to safely escape a fire that swept through two apartment buildings on Grand Avenue in Leonia on Valentine's Day But two pets have been missing since the Friday fire that destroyed their home: A 3-year-old light brown dog named Nala and a black cat named Nico Fire officials told the press that the fire is believed to have started in the garage No injuries were reported but at least 10 families have been displaced by the fire don't immediately rush over and grab it because the animal could be afraid or stressed You should instead "approach slowly with your body turned to the side which is less intimidating than a head-on approach Next squat down and reach out with your hand so the dog may smell you Keep your body sideways and look away to help the dog feel comfortable with you Only reach for the collar when the dog seems happy to be at your side you may clip on a leash or fashion a temporary slip lead from a length or rope You can also try using treats to coax the dog closer." Anyone who locates the pets is asked to contact the Leonia Police Department at (201) 944-0800 Jake Capra directed the Leonia baseball team to a wonderful week His last name and that particular adjective often get lumped together best known for the 1946 Christmas classic It’s A Wonderful Life “I get it all the time,” Jake said with a laugh The topic might not have come up in conversation with the Leonia senior Alexis' job led the Capra family to live in Beverly Hills and I’ve pretty much lived there my whole life since.” Leonia’s April 14 home game against Park Ridge followed a fairly dramatic script The 5-foot-11 right-hander pitched eight scoreless innings allowed three hits and struck out 10 before reaching the NJSIAA-mandated pitch limit The performance pushed Capra past 100 career strikeouts But he didn’t officially get the win because the game stayed scoreless until the bottom of the 13th thanks to five shutout innings by junior reliever Josef Kim and the Lions walked it off without recording a hit “It was a hit-by-pitch that got me on,” he recalled That culminated the second true pitchers’ duel in Capra’s first three starts Leonia was on the opposite end of things in the season opener when Midland Park’s Anthony Carrea pitched a shutout and scored the game’s lone run “This has been a rollercoaster of a season … All of our games usually go to the distance The Lions’ ace gets the lion’s share of the credit in multiple instances “Jake continues to be stellar on the mound this season,” Leonia coach Joe Prenenski said he gave up zero earned runs and had 30 strikeouts.” Although Capra has narrowed his focus to one sport he was able to hone his leadership skills playing football for Palisades Park/Leonia until his junior year He was the starting quarterback and a team captain for the co-op’s 2023 season but we were a pretty competitive team,” he said “I stopped playing football so I could concentrate on baseball but I decided to stick with club baseball year-round.” has coached most of his teams outside of high school he is strongly considering Caldwell University to continue his education “I definitely am going to play baseball at the next level,” Capra said “That’s been one of my aspirations since I was young.” but Jake Capra’s “show business” happens on the diamond Accomplishment: Capra batted an even .500 (4-for-8) for the week and stole four bases including two in the 13th inning against Park Ridge that led to him scoring the decisive run He also pitched the first eight innings of that 1-0 win notching his 100th career strikeout in the process Also nominated: Jacob Greenberg of Fort Lee and Freddy Fland of Cliffside Park for baseball; and Mikey Rickard of Paramus for lacrosse .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Mak Ojutiku | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comNatalia Nieves went 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead Wood-Ridge in a 5-3 win over Leonia Woodridge (5-7) led 4-0 by the fourth inning Emily Ignacio struck out seven and gave up one walk for Leonia (5-5) A 25-year-old Leonia man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder after an alleged carjacking of an Uber driver Tuesday morning in Fort Lee Marson has been charged with attempted murder possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose possession of a weapon and resisting arrest the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office announced in a release Tuesday evening Fort Lee police responded to Duncan Road and found a 37-year-old man with serious stab wounds He was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center and was listed in stable condition with "multiple lacerations to his head and puncture wounds to his shoulder and arm," prosecutors said Marson was identified as a suspect and caught in a nearby backyard on Buckingham Road after a short foot pursuit Investigators say Marson was a passenger in an Uber vehicle when he stabbed the driver multiple times and tried to steal the vehicle Marson is being held by the Bergen County Sheriff's Office pending his first court appearance Ryan Hicks with Jeff Parsons in a scene from The Normal Heart (LEONIA, NJ) -- The Players Guild of Leonia presents The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer weekends from March 21 through April 6 Larry Kramer's largely autobiographical play depicts the rise of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in New York City from 1981–1984 The production is directed by Claudia MacDermott a gay writer and reluctant activist who becomes an outspoken advocate for the “cancer” affecting the gay community Ned fights to raise awareness and care for his dying friends and lovers while facing indifference and hostility from the gay community and public officials  Other members of the cast are Howell Mayer Performance dates are March 21-April 6 Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, Sundays at 2:00pm. For tickets and other info  visit leoniaplayers.org The Players Guild of Leonia is located at 130 Grand Avenue in Leonia Founded in 1919, the Players Guild of Leonia is a non-profit and located just five minutes from the George Washington Bridge and a short bus ride from Manhattan Their historic Civil War Drill Hall Theater is located at 130 Grand Avenue in Leonia Firefighters worked to control a fire at a multi-unit residential building in Leonia Friday morning The fire broke out on Grand Avenue shortly before 9 a.m Smoke and flames could be seen billowing out of the building as fire trucks and first responders surrounded the scene There was no word on the extent of the damage or any injuries as of 10 a.m Check back for updates on this developing story Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Virginia went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston Salem She was born in Patrick County on January 19 to the late Samuel Anderson "Sam" Handy and Almira Elizabeth "Lizzie" Boyd Handy she was preceded in death by her two children Tina Renee Goad-Tatum and Marion "Allen" Goad; four sisters Cassie Mae Cockram and Ruby Jean Handy; seven brothers Leonia was a faithful member of Mary Horner Walker Memorial Presbyterian Church and loved her church family She enjoyed quilting and was known for her famous pumpkin rolls To her granddaughters she was the best grandmother in the world and their best friend.  Left to cherish the memories of Leonia are her two adoring granddaughters Joe of Patrick Springs; Nathaniel Thomas Ciaffone Jayden Johanknecht and Baby Boy Johanknecht; and numerous nieces and nephews  A celebration of life service for Ms at Mary Horner Walker Memorial Presbyterian Church with Dr The family will receive friends prior to the service at the church on Sunday afternoon memorial donations may be made to Mary Horner Walker Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund Moody Funeral Home in Stuart has been entrusted with the services and online condolences may be sent by visiting www.moodyfuneralservices.com Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By N.J. High School Sports DeskDumont rode the arm and bat of Alexander Martin to a 7-4 home victory over Leonia Martin went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and two stolen bases allowing one run on two hits and striking out one He combined with Aidan Ramos (three runs in 3.1 innings) and Joseph Sutera (two scoreless innings) to limit Leonia to seven hits Dumont took advantage of nine Leonia errors in the win run scored and two stolen bases for Dumont (5-5) Vin Tarabola (run scored and RBI) and Christian Harshman-Smith (one run) each had two hits for Leonia allowing one run on two hits while striking out one and combined with Aidan Ramos (three runs in 3.1 innings) and Joseph Sutera (two scoreless innings) to limit Leonia to seven hits Vin Tarabola (run scored and RBI) and Christian Harshman-Smith (one run) had two hits apiece for Leonia The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Will Harrigan | For NJ Advance MediaRaniel Medrano had himself a monster day doubling and driving in five runs to lift Paramus Catholic to an 11-0 victory over Leonia in Paramus Justin Diez tossed five hitless innings in a mercy-rule shortened game for the Paladins who improved to 8-7 with their third straight victory Jake Capra and Sam Klein each drew walks to serve as the only baserunners for Leonia The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now and be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. To add your name, click here the family attraction in Overpeck County Park in Leonia will be under new ownership as a nonprofit for its 13th season next year The exhibit features about three dozen animatronic dinosaurs games and activities designed to bring the long-extinct creatures to life for children and their families The change is meant to ensure Field Station: Dinosaurs continues for years to come “This is all about setting us up for the future,” he said “We want to make sure the park can continue its mission and its ability to serve the people of Bergen County and New Jersey for the next 15 the park will be able to accept donations and apply for grants People who want to volunteer their time will be able to work as docents Field Station also hopes to hire a full-time education director to steer the curriculum and bring new educational experiences to the exhibit “There are so many people who are interested in the exact type of educational shows and lessons that we teach and they want to support that sort of thing,” Gsell said “Now this gives them an opportunity to be a part of our team and deliver this programming to kids.” Gsell will stay on as executive director for three years during the transition and is one member of the foundation’s new board of directors The foundation is looking to raise $25,000 ahead of the park’s planned May opening to help with costs associated with settling up the nonprofit and other expenses to “ensure success next year,” Gsell said Gsell and the other founders and owners of Field Station: Dinosaurs have agreed to donate all the park’s assets including its life-size animatronics to the newly formed tax-exempt nonprofit Field Station Education Foundation three new dinosaurs — two T-Rexes and a Spinosaurus — will join the others on display Field Station: Dinosaurs moved to Leonia in 2016 from its original location in Secaucus the exhibit signed a five-year lease with the Bergen County Improvement Authority to remain in the park and it became an official education partner with the county which is set to expire at the end of next year The new nonprofit entity must engage with the county and BCIA to establish a new contract WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University men's lightweight rowing team will travel to Overpeck Park in Leonia New York to race against Columbia and Harvard on Saturday The lightweights posted mixed results against Cornell and Yale in Princeton "So far this spring we have raced some very good teams. This weekend will be no exception. Harvard and Columbia both have traditions of success at the highest level of our league. We know what we need to do on the race course. Now is the time to start doing it." - Lightweight Coach Ethan Shoemaker  Coxswain: Claire Duchesne 7: Hayden Friend 6: Jameson Weyhrich 5: Finn Murphy 4: Richard Kelley 3: Finn Callaghan 2: Jack Lionette Bow: William Anthony Coxswain: Mya Carter 7: Jonathan Hale 6: Sean Rybus 5: Matteo Balentine 4: James Weld 3: Sam Rosenblum 2: Neelam Govindaraj Bow: Carter Walsh Coxswain: Ella Hastings Stroke: Dukes Plum 7: Devin Viscusi 6: Brad Rhodes 5: Clay Rybus 4: Michael Balsamo 3: Andrew Lundgren Bow: Thomas Cullen Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Jake Tiger | For NJ Advance MediaEmily Ignacio propelled Leonia to an 8-2 win over Dumont in Leonia Ignacio allowed only one earned run while scattering nine hits Leonia’s Luna Sanabria launched a solo home run Jake Tiger can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com Whether she's handling the ball in a basketball game playing a mean shortstop in softball or playing running back and safety in a flag football game she brings passion and joy to everything she does on every field or court "Playing ball is all about joy,'' says the versatile Leonia sophomore you can't have joy and if you can't have fun playing the games but her speed and athletic ability is a tier over anyone else,'' said Leonia basketball coach Joe Prenenski "Last week we had half the team out with the flu and we ended up with two regular varsity players on the floor with three jayvee girls and she had to do everything But she's really more of a distributor than a scorer and her biggest asset may be on defense.'' Daproza grew up playing little league baseball in town following in the footsteps of older brother Devin who graduated from Leonia in 2023 and played a year at Emory & Henry College in Virginia before transferring to William Paterson "Playing baseball was the best part of growing up,'' said Dani Daproza who transitioned to softball at age 12 and began playing travel basketball at the same time Daproza's versatility can be traced to what she thinks are her best athletic traits -- her footwork and hand/eye coordination "It seems like you can put me in any sport and I can pick it up quickly because of those things,' she says But she also realizes that talent and natural ability alone are far from making the finished athlete "It doesn't come easy because in order to get better you've got to put the training in at the gym and stay after practice,'' she said "I usually stay 30-60 minutes after basketball practice is over and shoot 20 threes each from five different spots on the floor and 20 free throws I try and do the same thing in softball after practice who both work in New York City but manage to get home in time to shuttle her between club and high school practices in basketball and softball and especially in the spring when she's at her busiest − softball practice at the high school takes the bus to the city and then gets home hops in the car and sometimes we go from practice to practice,'' said Dani who hasn't yet decided which sport she'll pursue in college "I know I want to go into forensic science and I guess I'll end up doing the sport where I have the most success.'' This season it's basketball and in the spring both of which has led to all-league honors as a freshman But she sees flag football as an up-and-coming sport "It seems like the most fun,'' says Daproza my teammates and I just laugh and laugh and have a great time.'' And it isn't why kids play sports -- to have fun Accomplishment: She set a single game school scoring record with 40 points against Passaic Charter and in two games for the Lions last week Allie Shenloogian of Park Ridge and Charlotte Auty of Ramsey for basketball; and Jocelyn Danbe of River Dell and Sydney Murri of Fair Lawn for wrestling (LEONIA, NJ) -- The Players Guild of Leonia New Jersey's oldest continuing community theater group (since 1919) presents The Normal Heart - Larry Kramer's groundbreaking and deeply moving drama about the early years of the AIDS epidemic This limited engagement is playing at the Civil War Drill Hall Theatre for two more weekends from March 28 to April 6 Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos The Normal Heart is based on Kramer’s own experiences as an activist in the 1980s fighting for recognition and support as a mysterious and deadly disease ravaged the gay community The play follows writer and activist Ned Weeks as he struggles against indifference and bureaucracy to bring awareness to the crisis - risking friendships The Normal Heart was selected as one of the 100 Greatest Plays of the Twentieth Century by the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain It was the longest-running play in the history of The Public Theater and was awarded a Tony for Best Broadway Revival in 2011 The Normal Heart remains as urgent and relevant as ever We are living in a time when LGBTQ+ rights are under attack funding for HIV/AIDS programs is being slashed and our government continues to show apathy toward public health crises This show is not just a history lesson - it’s a reminder that the fight is far from over The Normal Heart serves as a powerful reflection of the past - and a warning for the future and care that activists faced over 40 years ago It is about love in all its forms - romantic It is about the love between partners fighting for each other’s survival the love of friends standing together against injustice and the love of a community determined to care for its own when no one else would The Normal Heart is directed by Claudia MacDermott The creative team includes Peter Downing as Consultant Director; Lighting Design by Dan Giordano Set Design and Construction by Steve Moldt and Sound Design by Chris Thorn and Peter Downing Director MacDermott said “It’s a privilege to direct a show to work with creative people and bring a story to life There is only so much time allotted to each of us so when we choose a play to direct The Normal Heart stars Jeff Parsons as Ned Weeks; Jonathan Ryan Hicks as Felix Turner; Jodi Reiss as Dr Emma Brookner; Howell Mayer as Ben Weeks; John L’Ecuyer as Bruce Niles; Peter Vaiknoras as Tommy Boatwright; Joplin James Sell as Mickey Marcus; Ronnie D Carney as Hiram Keebler/Examining Doctor; and Colby Trembley as Craig Donner/Grady Performances are 8:00pm Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:00pm on Sundays. Tickets are available for purchase online The Civil War Drill Hall Theatre is located at 130 Grand Avenue in Leonia Join them in experiencing a story that changed the world—and continues to inspire change today Founded in 1919, the Players Guild of Leonia is a non-profit  They are New Jersey's oldest continuing community theater group St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Home Clinical Investigations and Applied Biomedical Data Sciences MS Programs Jude Children’s Research Hospital Graduate School in December 2024 as an Instructional Learning Designer she collaborates with faculty and subject matter experts to design and develop innovative and engaging learning experiences that support graduate education She ensures courses leverage best practices in instructional design enhancing faculty teaching effectiveness and student success Leonia brings over 15 years of experience in instructional design She holds a Master of Science in Instructional Technology from Mississippi State University and an MBA from the University of Memphis equipping her with a unique blend of technical expertise and strategic leadership in curriculum development Leonia managed large-scale online learning initiatives at the Tennessee Board of Regents and the University of Memphis She is passionate about supporting faculty through instructional design mentorship and implementing innovative learning solutions that drive engagement and knowledge retention 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 Newark man is facing serious charges after crashing into a Leonia police car and taking off on foot near a high school on Saturday morning Ibn Johnson is in custody after ramming a Leonia police vehicle head-on then taking off on foot through town Ray Forsdahl was running a traffic detail at the corner of Fort Lee Road and Grand Avenue Forsdahl spotted a silver 2010 BMW heading north on Grand Avenue with no front license plate and tinted windows the driver turned quickly onto Schor Avenue and sped off The car turned onto Willow Tree Road and then into the Leonia High School driveway at the dead end of Christie Heights Street Forsdahl turned on his emergency lights to stop the driver That’s when the driver hit the gas and drove head-on toward the officer “The driver attempted to go around the marked patrol car and struck the patrol car on the passenger side,” Chief Tamagny said The suspect then fled south on Willow Tree Road Forsdahl chased after him and called for backup Officer Nolan Stendor arrived and stayed with a female passenger who did not run and was later released without charges Officer Dinnell saw the suspect running on Grand Avenue He chased him down and caught him behind a home on Schor Avenue with help from Officer James Park of the Palisades Park Police Department Johnson was charged with one count of second-degree aggravated assault He was taken to the Bergen County Jail and is waiting for a court hearing Chief Tamagny thanked police from Palisades Park and Bergen County Communications for their help “All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” Chief Tamagny said .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Jack McKenna | For NJ Advance MediaChristian Garzon came home to score on a wild pitch for Leonia to cap off an 8-7 comeback victory over Dwight-Englewood in Leonia in walk-off fashion Leonia trailed 7-4 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning before plating two runs to cut the deficit to one run before scoring two in the seventh to walk it off Garzon reached base three times in total for Leonia Christian Harshman-Smith drove in three runs in a 2-for-3 showing at the plate while Sam Klein came around to score once and knocked in a run while going 2-for-4 for Leonia (3-8) Noah Fisher drove in two runs and scored once in a 1-for-3 day while hit a double Jack McKenna can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University men's lightweight rowing team wrapped up its competition against Columbia & Mercyhurst in the morning and against Columbia & Harvard in the afternoon at Overpeck Park in Leonia the Hoyas swept three races against Columbia & Mercyhurst before posting mixed results against Harvard and Columbia in the afternoon Lightweight Varsity A Boat: 1st of 3 (06:02.1) Lightweight Varsity B Boat: 1st of 3 (06:13.6) Boat: Ella Hastings, Dukes Plum, Clay Rybus, Donald Roveto, Thomas Cullen Boat: Adamo Di Carlo, Andrew Lundgren, Devin Viscusi, Quentin Bazar, Brad Rhodes Lightweight Varsity A Boat: 2nd of 3 (05:56.7) Lightweight Varsity B Boat: 3rd of 3 (06:03.3) Lightweight Varsity C Boat: 1st of 3 (06:14.1) Thanks for visiting (LEONIA, NJ) -- The Leonia Chamber Musicians Society, Inc. perform their second concert of the 2024-2025 Season 2025 at the Presbyterian Church in Leonia (181 Fort Lee Road) but a donation of $25 at the door is suggested This “Romantic February” concert will include French composers with a Flute Cello and Piano Trio by Philippe Gaubert and and a Violin The program will also feature the passionate String Quartet in c minor Op 1 by Johannes Brahms and a lovely Romanze by Adolf Haas for Flute and Strings cello will be joined by guest artists Ashley Horne The final concert of the season will be on Sunday 2025 at 3:00pm at the Presbyterian Church in Leonia “March Winds” will explore music from the 18th century and 20th century using trumpet will be joined by guest artists Kevin Cobb This program is made possible in part by a grant administered by the Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs from funds granted by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts The Leonia Chamber Musicians Society, Inc. enriches the cultural environment of the community by presenting a series of high quality The members of the Leonia Chamber Musicians generate the excitement of a live performance with professional talent: all of them perform in the major concert halls of New York City Tax-deductible contributions to the Leonia Chamber Musicians Society, Inc. are welcome and encouraged to continue the tradition of quality concerts at affordable prices. Checks may be made to the attention of Leonia Chamber Musicians Society, Inc. and mailed to P.O. Box 473, Leonia, New Jersey 07605. To be added to the mailing list, send an e-mail to cmleonia@gmail.com If things had turned out a little differently for Dominique Cameron she might have been the Leonia soccer goal keeper and a shot and discus thrower in spring track Cameron became just the fourth sophomore to win the Bergen County girls cross country championship and is already considered the best distance runner in Leonia High School history in her first season in the sport "If you told me last year this was possible "I had run in middle school for fun and I did pretty well but I went out for soccer last year since I've been playing it my whole life," she said "We didn't have a freshman or junior varsity team so I made varsity they moved me from fullback and I played half the season in goal." A solid basketball season followed with the 5-foot-7 Cameron a solid back up forward on a Lions team that went 20-7 and won the NJIC Liberty championship our middle school went to practice on the high school track and coach (Tim) Ryan saw my sister Danielle and I running with a really good sixth grader (current eighth grader Eleanor Jang)," Dominique said "He gave us a few tips and told us we'd see him next spring." Cameron had given up the idea of throwing but still wasn't sold on the idea of distance running "I started researching running a little bit and initially I only wanted to run the 1,600 and maybe the 800 because I wasn't sure I had any endurance." "I could see right away how talented she was and that her sister "So I put her into the 3,200 in some dual meets." breaking 5:30 and 12 minutes easily and reaching the Group 2 state championships in both the 1,600 and 3,200 where she took a pair of sevenths as the fastest freshman in the state for her group And when she ran 11:20.08 for 12th place among freshmen at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals for two miles her soccer and basketball careers were over "I started running five to six miles every day over the summer then when August hit and official practice started "The start of a race is the hardest part for me trying to get yourself in the right position is so important and if you can get stuck behind too many people early But Cameron has handled every challenge so far setting school records at each of the five courses she's raced including the sectional course at Garret Mountain the state course at Holmdel and the historic two-and-a-half mile course at Van Cortlandt Park And she's done it every step of the way with her fraternal twin The pair has prospered together and are each other's best friends every though they seem to be opposites in nearly everything "I think she's smarter than I am," Dominique said "She seems to get everything in class and she pushes me there I push her back in sports and we seem to be opposites in a lot of things "She's more of a sprinter (Danielle is an outstanding 800 runner) and I'm more about distance and my favorite subjects are english and history She likes rap and I like 80s music and pop they have helped turn Leonia from a good cross-country team into a potential sectional champion "I didn't know what was best for me in sports until I found running," she said "My mom ran cross-country and track in high school in California and dad played football and baseball at Brooklyn Tech so they were supportive in whatever we did I'm learning more about the sport every day and I'm really excited to see what happens next." Accomplishment: In her first year of cross country running Cameron became Leonia's first Bergen County girls champion at the Lou Molino Bergen Meet of Champions running a school record 18:24 for 5,000 meters and Gianna Juliano of Pascack Hills for volleyball; Krista Lilienthal of Pompton Lakes for field hockey; Audrey Marnick of Wayne Hills for gymnastics .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Dylan McCoy | For NJ Advance MediaJake Capra stole home to score the lone run of the ballgame securing Leonia a 1-0 home victory over Park Ridge in 13 innings Neither team was able to get on the board in this pitching duel Capra reached the plate in the 13th to secure a win for Leonia (2-5) In addition to scoring the game-winning run striking out 10 hitters and only allowing three hits Jake Yang recorded two hits and stole two bases Shane Stecz struck out nine in seven innings on the mound for Park Ridge (2-3) Tyler Como registered a multi-hit ballgame It will attempt to continue winning when it hosts Hasbrouck Heights tomorrow Rebuilding the Pal Park/Leonia football program might be the toughest job in North Jersey but new coach Sal DeGennaro believes it can be done “My commitment is full and I plan to be here for a long time and turn this program around and get it on the right track,” said DeGennaro I’m real excited to see where this goes in the next couple of years.” The co-op program hasn’t had a winning season since 2013 and went 0-8 last season “I think the first thing is building a foundation and making sure the kids are 100 percent committed,” said DeGennaro who grew up in Lyndhurst “When you have the kids in a system where they know what coach wants and expects every day that’s when you start building your scheme and the kids can work on getting better and eventually you will see the results in the win column.” Palisades Park/Leonia is one of the oldest co-op football programs in New Jersey DeGennaro has been on the Tigers' staff since 2022 serving as defensive coordinator in 2023 and offensive coordinator last season He’s also a varsity assistant baseball coach at Leonia DeGennaro recognizes that it’s not just two districts coming together but three with Edgewater kids also coming to Leonia High School That can cause logistical issues and make it hard to get the team together for summer workouts “We get a great influx late in the preseason but at that point it can be hard when half the team shows up Aug 15 along with the new freshmen coming in,” DeGennaro said “I have been talking to the athletic directors to get all of the kids ready to go DeGennaro met with the Leonia players already and will meet with the Palisades Park kids on Friday if we can tap into that potential we can be in a really good spot,” DeGennaro said More: Park Ridge football bringing in one of North Jersey's winningest coaches to lead program More: Wood-Ridge football tabs 'underdog' Sparta assistant for head job After playing baseball and football at Lyndhurst where he earned his master's degree in social studies He was hired as a history and government teacher in Leonia in 2022 “The final goal was to get somewhere where I could coach and be a teacher at the same time and I found the golden egg in Leonia,” DeGennaro said He credits the coaches he played for in Lyndhurst specifically football coach Rich Tuero and baseball coach Patrick Auteri He’s also grateful for the support of his father “I have a great staff that is coming with me that has the same vision and same mentality about what we want to build,” DeGennaro said “I have gained experience in great programs since I was young and I want to use that going forward 1/31Swimming: NJIC Championships, February 1, 2025.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Corey Annan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comThis one feels a little bit sweeter for Leonia/Palisades Park girls swimming Leonia (8-1) went into this year’s NJIC Championship meet without All-State swimmer Iris Kim who suffered a injury prior to the 2024-25 campaign that later became season-ending just a few meets into the season this team has had to overcome the loss of losing one of the best distance freestylers in the country adding to the pressure of extending one of longest championship streaks in N.J Leonia has rallied to keep its dynasty alive it culminated in the program’s 11th consecutive NJIC conference title outlasting Rutherford (140) and Garfield/Hasbrouck Heights (52) “These girls have been keeping the standard that came before us when (former head coaches) Bill Eickelberg and Nicholas Colletto were coaching the program,” said Leonia girls head coach Tim Ryan It’s incredible watching them swim and just dominate the pool.” but not many have been on a run like this,” Ryan added and I always have faith that they’re going to get the job done.” Leonia’s other standout swimmer in the pool rose to the occasion to keep Leonia’s title hopes alive Senior Rebekah Jung secured her fifth and sixth individual conference titles on Saturday winning the 200 IM (2:12.51) and 100 back (1:01.75) Jung didn’t swim for Leonia her freshman year but she’ll still finish her illustrious swimming career unbeaten at the NJIC Championships “I’m really honored to have gone unbeaten in this meet,” Jung said “I’m also really glad I’ve gotten to contribute to my team for the last three years I wish I did it my freshman year so I could’ve contributed more Senior Sophie Dahiya contributed to the splurge of wins by taking home conference titles in the 50 free (26.97) and 100 free (58.48) while sophomore Cate Chung earned second-place medals in the 200 free and 500 free HaEun Jung & Sophia Lazarou were also conference runner-ups in two events apiece HaEun got sliver in the 100 free (58.85) and 100 back while Lazarou finished second in the 100 fly (1:08.84) and 100 breaststroke (1:08.84) seven different swimmers earned medals for the reigning NJIC champions between individual events and relays “She is definitely a big hole to fill on our team but just because we lost one swimmer doesn’t mean our team isn’t good I think that the rest of our team also stepped up and wanted to better so could try and fill that hole.” While Leonia won most of its races in dominant fashion they also enjoyed a close win in the 200 free relay just 0.01 seconds faster then Rutherford (1:47.80 Renee Kim was able to recover after being slightly behind with 25 meters to go out touching Rutherford’s Natalie Hower in the final few meters Rutherford is beginning to close the gap in the NJIC After failing to score 100 points at this meet last year Rutherford up their total to 140 points this year’s meet And a big reason for their resurgence was the emergence of freshman Natalie Hower who captured the 100 fly (1:02.41) and 200 free (2:04.33) Junior Gabriella Pakovics also secured her first conference title Corey Annan can be reached at cannan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him or send him a message on Twitter/X @coreyannan360 High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) Sign up now! October is the month for one thing: a haunted dinosaur park "Dinosaurs After Dark" by Field Station: Dinosaurs provides a thrilling experience of realistic dinos living in a spooky park These life-like animatronic dinos make for a popular family attraction during the spooky season “My favorite part about this is that it speaks to the kids who want something spooky and fun but are not old enough for real scary material,” said Guy Gsell this year’s event offers a new show for families – The Dinosaur Séance This comedy takes the audience into a shadowy world filled with ghosts of dinosaurs The show also features new puppets brought to you by Palmieri Puppets Kids can enjoy all sorts of activities from the Case of the Lost Skull These events take place Saturday through Sunday Daytime hours allow for a more laidback experience of the park for those who may be too scared to see a dinosaur ghost in real life Fodors Travel Guide names it “One of the Best Spots for Dinosaur Lovers." Passes can be purchased online at jerseydinos.com Limited tickets are available at $24 per person ages 2 and up (or $19 for season-pass holders) (LEONIA, NJ) -- The Players Guild of Leonia presents William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet weekends from November 8-24  Shakespeare's  world-renowned  tragedy  of  two young "star-cross'd lovers" and the role played by their  tragic suicides in ending a long-running family feud This production explores the darker themes of passion fate over free will and the consequences of unchecked hatred The cast includes Jonathan Bethea (Friar Lawrence) Friday and Saturday, November 8,9,15 (Talkback, Q&A),16,22,23 @ 8:00pm; and Sunday, November 10,17,24 @ 2:00pm. Tickets are available for purchase online Performances take place at 130 Grand Avenue in Leonia There will be an Opening Night Reception following the performance on Friday November 8th and a Talkback/Q&A following the performance on Friday Director Rachel Alt and guests at the Talkback/Q&A dive in as the cast discuss how they prepare to bring to life one of theater's greatest plays Director Rachel Alt discusses why she chose to direct Romeo & Juliet, and other wonderful elements of this Production in this video Kathleen Ruland (Assistant Director/Stage Manager) Founded in 1919, the Players Guild of Leonia is a non-profit and located just five minutes from the George Washington Bridge and a short bus ride from Manhattan.