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 Hackensack man was arrested after allegedly throwing rocks at passing vehicles — including a Mercedes-Benz and a Jitney bus — on Route 4 in Paramus according to Paramus Police Chief Robert M A 67-year-old man told police a rock came through the sunroof of his 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC a 61-year-old Jitney bus driver reported that a man threw a rock at her vehicle near the Hyundai dealership and Officer Clario Sampson located the suspect in the parking lot of 24 Hour Fitness identified as 44-year-old Allan Simpson of Hackensack was positively identified by witnesses and arrested Guidetti said the first rock was thrown from the overpass and the second from the side of the road Simpson was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief He was processed and released on his own recognizance with a pending court date “The Paramus Police Department would like to thank all the witnesses for their assistance in the swift apprehension of the suspect,” Chief Guidetti said The views expressed here are the author's own Discover how students across New Jersey are changing the world—one act of empathy at a time—while enjoying a fun and delicious dine-around dinner with dishes from four local favorites: Biagios an inspiring Open House Showcase hosted by TEEEM (The Empathy Equality Entrepreneurship Mission)—a rapidly growing nonprofit that empowers students to become global changemakers through empathy Whether you're already involved with TEEEM or just curious about how it's shaping future changemakers you're invited to experience firsthand how students are making an impact locally and globally At the heart of the event are student showcase tables where middle and high school students will present what they’ve accomplished with TEEEM this year From trifold displays and interactive exhibits to personal reflections students will share how they’ve partnered with communities around the world to raise funds TEEEM partners with 85+ schools across the U.S reaching over 2,000 students and supporting communities in eight countries: Burkina Faso stay for the impact—and leave inspired by the next generation of social entrepreneurs Follow TEEEM on Instagram and Facebook to learn more about the organization and its Taste of TEEEM event Where:The Terrace at Biagio’s299 Paramus RoadParamus Get tickets here and inspiring award presentations honoring student changemakers Your ticket directly contributes to empowering students with the skills and opportunities to make a real difference in underserved communities worldwide Current TEEEM Students & Advisors - Free TEEEM Supporter - $30 in advance; $40 at the door TEEEM Table Supporter - $180 for a 10-person table A few examples of some of the inspiring initiatives being showcased at this year’s event include: Waldwick High School's Dine & Donate for Kenyan School – Waldwick High School teamed up with a local restaurant to host a special Dine & Donate event Briarcliff Middle School's Run-a-Thon for Uganda – Briarcliff Middle School (Mountain Lakes): Students ran laps and shared personal “I Run” videos with their Ugandan peers raising $8,205 to support vulnerable children Five NJ High Schools' "TEEEM World Cup of Soccer," Raising funds for Kenya and Uganda: Five high schools came together to raise $6,808.17 through a day of soccer and service Fair Lawn & Lyndhurst Middle School's Clothing & Essentials Drives for South Dakoka’s Lakota Nation – Fair Lawn High School & Lyndhurst Middle School students collected over 64 boxes of essential items for the Pine Ridge Reservation Ridgewood High School's Winter Wonderland for Cambodia – Ridgewood High School hosted a festive event blending fun and philanthropy raising $977 to support education initiatives in Cambodia Northern Highland & Pascack Hills High School's Benefit Dinner for Clean Water in Burkina Faso – Northern Highlands & Pascack Hills High Schools students collaborated to raise an incredible $10,320 to support sustainable solutions through the Georgie Badiel Foundation Millburn High School's Pulseras de Perú – Millburn High School students celebrated Peruvian culture while raising funds to empower Andean women artisans through the sale of handmade bracelets Mount Olive High School's Unified Basketball Game for Ukraine – Mount Olive High School students hosted a pledge-per-point fundraiser all proceeds from the event were donated to support those in need in Ukraine Cliffside Park High School's Easter Egg Hunt for Ecuador – Cliffside Park High School students hosted a fun-filled Easter Egg Hunt with a purpose Friday, 12:00 pmRidgewood-Glen Rock, NJ Saturday, 9:00 amNewark, NJ .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Reed Becker | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comMiranda Rivera pitched a five-inning three-hitter in Paramus’ 11-1 win over Saddle Brook in the preliminary round of the Bergen County Tournament in Paramus Katelyn McQuade homered for Paramus and drove in three runs while Haley Kempf went a perfect 4-for-4 with a triple and four runs scored Paramus (6-9) extends its winning streak to three games and will host Saddle Brook again Tuesday while Saddle Brook (7-10) will travel to face Boonton on Monday Reed Becker can be reached at rbecker@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 .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Dylan McCoy | For NJ Advance MediaRajan Luciano had a three-hit three-RBI performance to lead 34-seed Teaneck to a 6-4 road victory over 31-seed Paramus in the preliminary round of the Bergen County Invitational Teaneck (7-11) scored the first six runs of the ballgame heading into the bottom of the seventh up 6-0 Paramus (6-12) rallied late with four runs spending 6 2/3 innings on the mound and recording seven strikeouts Teaneck will host its first-round matchup on Wednesday awaiting the results of the Bergen County tournament to find out its opponent Paramus will travel to face River Dell on Monday Dylan McCoy can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com Free Admission for all moms in honor of Mother’s Day weekend!!!! Visitation Academy will permanently close after the 2024-2025 academic school year the Archdiocese of Newark announced this week The closure comes due to declining student enrollment and the financial position of the school said the Newark Archdiocese in a press release Aquinas Academy in Livingston will also permanently close along with Visitation Academy The closing date for both schools is June 30 The Office of Catholic Schools is committed to "working closely with families to identify alternative Catholic school options and providing tuition assistance for eligible students," said the Archdiocese of Newark Assistance will also be provided to teachers and staff in both schools through identifying potential opportunities within the network of Catholic schools Information sessions will be held at both schools the week of April 28 to offer guidance for students and parents during the transition which includes identifying alternative educational opportunities The Catholic school taught students from a pre-K up through eighth grade Visitation Academy was part of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Newark which consists of 67 Catholic elementary and secondary schools within Bergen the elementary school earned a Blue Ribbon of Excellence award This is the 4th World Market store in New Jersey The new 14,809 square foot store is located at 500 Bergen Town Center Suite #A-8 next to Nordstrom Rack in the shopping center The store will be open Monday – Saturday 9:30am – 9:30pm and closed on Sunday The specialty retailer is well known for its wide assortment of stylish and thoughtful gifts in addition to one of the largest assortments of candy and international food favorites from around the world World Market buyers search the globe for design inspiration and foods and beverages that are beloved by the different cultures and countries they visit “We are delighted to announce the opening of our new World Market store at Bergen Town Center in Paramus on May 1st,” said Eric Hunter “This location is perfect for connecting with both our loyal customers and new shoppers We’re excited to offer the Paramus community a vibrant shopping experience with a diverse range of stylish furniture and an extensive selection of international foods and treats we’ve planned a variety of festive events We look forward to welcoming everyone to our new store!” The Paramus World Market Grand Opening is taking place on Thursday Festivities start at 9:45am with a ceremonial ribbon cutting followed by food and drink tastings World Market (www.worldmarket.com) operates 246 stores featuring an ever-changing selection of casual home decor and furniture and gourmet foods and beverages offered at affordable prices and imported from more than 50 countries Many items are unique and exclusive to World Market and are regularly supplied by an international network of individual and regional artisans developed in the company’s more than 50 years in the import business © Copyright 2012 - 2023 | citybiz | All Rights Reserved 2025 at 12:30 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Joseph Koppinger (Paramus Police Department)PARAMUS NJ — A dispute in a ShopRite parking lot and an antisemitic threat led to a man's arrest in Paramus on Friday of Maywood allegedly used an antisemitic slur and pointed a firearm at a man during a verbal altercation at the Paramus ShopRite on Route 4 Koppinger opened his car door and it hit the victim's parked vehicle The victim told police that after a "brief verbal exchange," Koppinger walked away and entered ShopRite When he returned he again struck the victim’s car door with his own door and shouted a slur and pointed what looked like a handgun directly at the victim before leaving the area in his white Mustang Paramus police responded to a 911 call and spoke to the victim Paramus Officer Matt Orefice responded to Cook’s location and found Koppinger walking from his vehicle Police found a plastic imitation Colt pellet handgun on the driver's floorboard He was processed and taken to the Bergen County Jail Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. we provide the same world-class orthopedic and rheumatologic care as we do in Manhattan – just closer to you 31,000-square-foot space offers comprehensive care across a variety of disciplines plus convenient evening and Saturday hours it’s easy to get the care you need at HSS Paramus Unique to HSS Paramus is a special procedures unit for outpatient services like pain management injections and platelet-rich plasma injections. We also offer EOS imaging, a sophisticated X-ray technology that uses significantly less radiation than traditional scans. Onsite MRI services are available at our HSS Paramus - Ridgewood Ave location HSS is providing same-day outpatient surgery at our state-of-the-art Northern NJ Surgery Center in Mahwah Patients can now receive comprehensive orthopedic care from their first appointment through to surgery and follow up care Our new and improved New Jersey locations offer the same level of care as our other HSS locations For more information on any of our New Jersey locations call us at 201.599.8000 or book an appointment at HSS Paramus – Midland Ave below Quick access to orthopedic care for sudden injuries and severe pain Learn More Whether it is a first-time injury or a chronic condition HSS expert physicians and surgeons employ the most advanced techniques to establish a precise diagnosis and treatment plan Our unparalleled imaging technologies and expertise means an accurate diagnosis for you Learn more about the imaging services available at HSS Paramus - Midland Ave Two to three weeks prior to your surgical procedure you may be directed to make an appointment with our Presurgical Department Bring official proof of identification with you A driver's license or passport is preferred It is very important to eat and drink as usual on the day of your visit Above: Gottheimer joins local leaders to mark the one-year anniversary of Valley Hospital in Paramus “Valley Hospital has been a central part of our community for more than 70 years Paramus already had an incredible reputation for growth and economic opportunity and Valley Hospital has made it an even greater destination for world-class medical services — improving medical care across our region,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “From clawing back more of our federal dollars to improve our hospitals here in Jersey to fighting for critical legislation — including Cameron’s Law to increase investments in rare disease treatment research — I’m going to continue doing everything I can to support Valley Hospital and help keep our families healthy and safe.” In 2019, Gottheimer helped break ground on Valley Hospital’s new and the hardworking women and men of labor Gottheimer was joined today by Assemblywoman Lisa Swain (LD 38) Bergen County Commission Chair Mary Amoroso Bergen County Commissioner Germaine Ortiz Bergen County Commissioner Thomas Sullivan Below: Gottheimer at the Valley Hospital in Paramus 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 PARAMUS − Protesters and counter-protesters both rallied outside the Tesla dealership on Route 17 on Saturday afternoon Unlike prior organized protests at the location by people opposing Elon Musk and his DOGE cuts under the Trump administration pro-Musk supporters turned out en masse to offer their support for Tesla and Musk An estimated 60 people were there protesting while about 80 people turned out to support Musk The peaceful demonstrations saw protesters line Route 17 in front of the dealership holding signs and waving flags at passing motorists Republican Billy Prempeh who staged unsuccessful campaigns in the 9th Congressional District although the demonstrators were mostly keeping to themselves and not engaging the other side The Paramus Police Department may have a situation — but an awesome situation Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino from the iconic reality show "Jersey Shore" congratulated the Paramus Police Department on 100 years of service in a video posted on the department's Facebook page to the Paramus Police Department," Sorrentino said in the post "We are about to live our best life right now and don't forget we always have an awesome situation The video is introduced with Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti opening a folder and saying the department does with nearly 400 likes on the department's Facebook page The Paramus Police Department recently celebrated its 100th anniversary with a gala Sorrentino, a New Jersey native who attended Manalapan High School, is not only a reality star but a bestselling author. He also recently opened mental health and substance abuse facilities, called Archangel Centers in East Windsor and other locations in Middlesex NJ - The Valley Hospital has successfully completed its first implant of the .. NJ - Jersey’s Best magazine has named 43 physicians from The Valley Hospital .. NJ - Bergen magazine has named 258 physicians from The Valley Hospital’s medical .. NJ - The Relay for Life event is scheduled for June 6 this year the first games of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ will kick .. NJ - While the borough is making plans to add a cricket field to its list of .. NJ - Donate blood and you will be entered for a chance to win one of two epic .. NJ - It's EMS Week and if you're feeling stress as a first responded More than two months after vowing to explore legal options, Paramus officials still haven't filed a lawsuit against the American Dream mall But borough attorneys are working to prepare the litigation Town officials said in late January that they were considering legal action after The Record and NorthJersey.com reported that shops at the Meadowlands mall had been open for business on Sundays for almost a year, in defiance of Bergen County blue laws that businesses in Paramus and elsewhere must follow Mayor Chris DiPiazza said borough attorneys are still researching and drafting a lawsuit He said he didn't have a timeframe yet as to when the town will be ready to file The blue laws prohibit the sale of nonessential items such as furniture appliances and clothing within Bergen County They've been upheld at the polls by county voters with supporters seeing the bans as offering a welcome respite from North Jersey's shopping and traffic overload DiPiazza called American Dream's decision to stay open on Sundays a “slap in the face to the residents of Paramus and Bergen County as a whole.” “The businesses in town are now at a disadvantage and unlevel playing field which had been level for decades,” the Republican said More: American Dream told officials it would abide by Bergen blue laws. That's not happening The mall has argued that because it was built on state-owned land at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in the same way that the Jets and Giants are allowed to sell T-shirts at MetLife Stadium during a Sunday football game the Canadian company that owns American Dream said in a statement that his company was "ecstatic that our extensive list of offerings operates on Sundays allowing everyone to enjoy the very best of American Dream whenever they want." Staff Writer Daniel Munoz contributed to this article Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community please subscribe or activate your digital account today Email: noda@northjersey.com; X: @snoda11 A fire broke out in a house in Paramus early Monday destroying the home and displacing a family of five Members of the Paramus fire and police departments responded to the single-family home on Harrison Street shortly after 2 a.m Heavy black smoke and fire were coming from the garage and a 2008 Infiniti SUV parked in the driveway was fully engulfed in flames Two Tesla vehicles were also parked in the driveway but were not involved in the blaze said Bill Rice of the Paramus Fire Department his wife and their three children were asleep in the house when a burning smell woke him he found heavy smoke coming from the garage door He opened the door and found the garage fully engulfed in flames The family immediately evacuated without issue A post on Facebook from Paramus Fire Company 2 said members of Engine 2 the Paramus Fire Department and mutual aid battled a fire in the garage and second floor of the home for over an hour It was reported as knocked down and under control by 3:30 a.m. Several local fire departments responded to assist One firefighter was taken to The Valley Hospital for treatment after sustaining a wrist injury The 34-year-old firefighter was released Monday morning fire officials remained at the scene assessing the damage The Paramus Fire Prevention Bureau is conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the fire A 30-year-old Saddle Brook man reported missing Saturday April 26 from the Westfield Garden State Plaza who authorities previously said was armed with a knife was found by Hackensack police around 2 a.m according to a statement from Paramus Police Chief Robert M The man is currently receiving the appropriate medical care Paramus police extended their sincere thanks to the surrounding law enforcement agencies and the public for their assistance and support during the search​ CareersPatient Portals1-800-VALLEY 1 not-for-profit hospital serving more than 440,000 people in 32 towns in Bergen County and adjoining communities Learn More 1-800-VALLEY 1 facebook instagram twitter youtube linkedinTikTok  Sign Up Now Now available on the App Store and Google Play 2025 at 3:15 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}David Cohen (Paramus Police Department)PARAMUS NJ — A man was charged with assault on Friday after headbutting a child and screaming at her at a local mall was charged with simple assault and endangering the welfare of a child Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti said on Sunday Guidetti said that police responded to the Bergen Town Center Mall after 6:30 p.m due to a report of a "disturbing" incident in which a man physically assaulted a juvenile female Officer Hugo Rodriguez-Pena arrived and was approached by witnesses directing him to Cohen and the girl Witnesses said the man struck the girl multiple times in the face with an open hand Witnesses also said that he repeatedly screamed at her The prosecutor's Special Victims Unit and New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency were notified The child’s mother was also notified and responded to the scene Cohen was taken to the Bergen County Jail to await a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court "The Paramus Police Department takes these matters seriously and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children in our community," Guidetti said Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. PARAMUS — Over 100 people gathered in front of the Tesla dealership on Route 17 in Paramus on Wednesday afternoon to protest Elon Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration Almost every person who showed up at the protest had a poster expressing displeasure with Musk deeming him responsible for federal funding cuts Some passing drivers supported the protesters by honking their horns “The main reason we are protesting is the cut of federal programs in addition to attacking the basic foundations of democracy,” said Chris McGowan McGowan said he posted the time and location everywhere on social media, and soon organizations such as Indivisible, the Disruption Project and Action Network helped spread the word of the “Tesla Takedown.”  “I’m here to protest everything this administration is doing who drove an hour from Atlantic Highlands to express his frustration with the Trump administration’s involvement with Musk Hespe held up a sign at the protest that read “Do you really want to deport your neighbors?”  a black vehicle zoomed on the shoulder of the highway Wednesday’s demonstration was the second one held in front of the Tesla dealership in Paramus Numerous protesters said people gathered at the same location last week at the same time with a similar turnout “I’m terrified for the world I’m leaving for my kids," said Dale Kopel of Cresskill with two officers appearing about an hour after the gathering started and the demonstrators stayed until around 5:30 p.m The Paramus protest gained the attention of far-right commentators Conservative Laura Loomer mentioned it in a post on X the same crew of Marxists and Islamists shouting 'Long live the Intifada!' will yank off their keffiyehs and hightail it to four different Tesla Takedowns." Many individuals at the protest said it was necessary for their voices to be heard to inspire change maybe he'll stay out of the government," said Marcus Johnson of Paramus who added that he was at the protest last week as well You have two people set on destroying what we have Lin Hayes said she has been participating in protests since the 1960s You have to go out and make your voice heard She said a protest against those who favor Trump is set to happen April 5 in Westwood's Veterans' Memorial Park Hayes said she heard about the protest from the group Indivisible and she learned about the organization through news anchor Rachel Maddow "The loss of democracy is what inspiring us to come out here," said Harry Danner of Englewood soon for other protests against the administration Demonstrations against Tesla have been held throughout the country. Last week, protesters at the Portsmouth Green shopping plaza in New Hampshire showed their disapproval of Musk's unelected role in the Trump administration There has also been vandalism at some Tesla dealerships since Trump took office in January 2025 at 10:11 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Jonathan Valentin and Nathale P NJ — A man and woman were arrested on Monday after police saw them driving on Route 4 at a high rate of speed and gave chase The pair only stopped after their Mercedes lost a wheel of Maywood was charged with eluding police of the Bronx was charged with hindering apprehension Officer Sean Casey saw a black Mercedes-Benz E30 traveling at a high rate of speed on Route 4 West but the driver accelerated and made "evasive maneuvers," police said the car was spotted in the parking lot of Miller’s Ale House in Paramus The Mercedes fled police onto Route 4 East "yet it continued to travel recklessly on three wheels posing an imminent threat to public safety," police said The car eventually came to a stop near Teaneck Road Valentin was taken to the Bergen County Jail Mangubat was charged and released on her own recognizance Luxury apartments next to the Paramus Park mall are anticipated to open by the end of the year The project by Carlstadt-based Russo Development, to be called Vermella Paramus will bring two mixed-use buildings with 260 one- and two-bedroom apartments The complex would be the company’s fourth Bergen County development A later phase is expected to add another 100 units next to Paramus Park said the project will open at the end of the year "Russo Development is thrilled to bring its Vermella luxury apartment brand to Paramus on From Road near the Paramus Park mall," Edward Russo with easy access to transportation and a vibrant community filled with world-class shopping We are confident that Vermella Paramus will provide an unparalleled living experience for our residents coupled with the ultimate convenience of the area.” The project will also have 8,000 square feet of onsite retail space. It will be built adjacent to the mall and the new Valley Hospital said a description on the company’s website In December 2023, the Paramus Planning Board approved a proposal by R&O Paramus an affiliate of Russo Acquisitions and Russo Development The complex would be built on land north of the mall and on part of its parking lot taking over about 60,000 square feet outside the Macy's department store More: Housing developer will buy chunk of Paramus' Bergen Town Center mall for $25M The project was meant to create “connectivity” between the new hospital and an existing office complex on From Road as well as pocket parks in the area and the four retail plazas that Russo plans to create said at a 2023 Paramus Planning Board hearing borough officials have signed off on plans to add 426 housing units Paramus Park and Garden State Plaza to add hundreds of apartments Ted Goldberg | April 4, 2025 | Business, Housing A changing business environment has led some malls in New Jersey to pivot it’s less of a pivot and it’s more of an addition,” said Stephen Fluhr senior vice president of development at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield the mall business was stratifying between the malls that were simply getting stronger and stronger versus other malls that are good pieces of real estate but meant to be something else further into the future,” said Fluhr In the first phase of redevelopment of Garden State Plaza 575 apartments will be added between two buildings with the groundbreaking expected later this year The development “is going to be a new kind of town center” for Paramus “Part of our project is creating an acre-and-a-half town green that provides the needed connection between the first phase of the project and the mall itself.” the foundations have been laid for a new apartment building that is scheduled to open next spring Adam Pasternack of Russo Property Management said the mall “makes for a great location for health care Ted Goldberg is a correspondent for NJ Spotlight News with nearly a decade of experience telling stories about a wide variety of topics SUBSCRIBE NJ Spotlight is part of The WNET Group and is operated by WNET a non-profit organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code PARAMUS — Hearings for an application to build a Costco on Route 17 at the former site of a Stop & Shop began on Thursday as the borough Planning Board considers a plan to replace several existing stores and about a dozen people showed up Thursday to ask questions about the potential impacts including a fence that would be built along adjacent homes The hearing is scheduled to continue next month Route 17 Costco seeks several variancesCostco is seeking about a dozen variances to deviate from local zoning regulations including those concerning the amount of land covered its side- and rear-yard setbacks and the height of the fence New parking would include 33 spots with electric vehicle charging stations on the ground level and the site would get additional improvements such as landscaping lighting and a stormwater management system She said there will be some changes to the plan in the future that will be ready by the project’s next hearing The hearing included testimony from Costco's project engineer 6-foot-tall fence separates the property from the nearby residential neighborhood; the project would replace it with an 8-foot-tall The property previously had no stormwater management system but Costco would add four basins to the site More: 'We Are the World,' Jersey-style: Local artists rerecord holiday classic to help Paramus nonprofit Costco also is asking for a lighting variance to put 34 cutoff lighting poles at ground level that would be 36½ feet tall 20-foot lighting poles to conform with existing zoning Cutoff lighting poles emit light downward and don't let as much illumination leak upward “It’s a better and more even light when the poles are higher,” Carlson said residents asked about the buffer between the property and the surrounding houses There is an elevated slope between the homes and the proposed parking lot and Mazawey said the applicant will look into the possibility of placing the fence higher on the slope to be closer to the Costco building The application will be heard again on Feb welcomed the proposal when it was announced in August noting that it would revitalize a vacant property with a similar business the application does not include any Costco gas stations "That's important because of traffic concerns," DiPiazza said last year Stop & Shop closed the Route 17 store in January 2022 after what the supermarket chain called a "difficult" review of the operating performance of its location a clay-colored landmark stands apart from the usual array of department stores and vendor stalls the towering steel statue depicts a crested rider atop an unusual and far more heavily feathered steed Titled "The Wild Turkey," it stands as a tribute to the history of Paramus a modern commercial hub with a name that honors its Indigenous roots and early European settlers Before it became a major suburban retail center Paramus was occupied for thousands of years by the Lenni Lenape Native Americans spelled by early European settlers as "Parames," supposedly comes from “Parampseapus” or “Peremessing,” thought to be Lenape words for “where there is worthwhile (or fertile) land” or “place of wild turkeys.” The name Paramus may also derive from the Lenape word(s) for “turkey river,” according to Patricia A Wardell's compilation "A Dictionary of Place Names in Bergen County local lore claims the fertile ground in Paramus was ideal for growing maize and Despite the readily available food provided by Lenape farmers there are sadly no tales of birds big enough to ride Paramus is the “Crossroads of Bergen County,” defined by the intersections of major highways — Route 4 Route 17 and the Garden State Parkway — that have played a significant role in its transformation from rural farmland to suburban Black Friday destination Paramus Park was built on 64 acres of farmland east of Route 17 and west of the parkway Even though the interior of the mall is packed with ficus trees its construction made the exterior landscape decidedly less green than it was when it harbored hunting grounds for residents who spoke Munsee and built large multifamily wooden dwellings along the local rivers and creeks burnt-orange bird and its young rider were there to greet shoppers at the mall's north end the 20-foot-high steel sculpture serves not only as a visual focal point but also as a symbol of the region's rich natural heritage and its Lenape people The evolution of Paramus took a significant turn toward what it is today in the mid-20th century Kicked off by the opening of the George Washington Bridge in 1931 and fueled by the expansion of Route 17 and Route 4 the town was left almost unrecognizable by the rapid development of the 1950s and 1960s More: Have a Christmas Eve feast at these North Jersey restaurants accessible land made Paramus an ideal location for developers major malls including Bergen Mall and Garden State Plaza were established This development transformed the borough from a quiet farming community into a thriving commercial hub reshaping the the town's economic landscape largely untouched by the rapid suburbanization seen elsewhere in Bergen County Midland had fewer than 2,500 residents when Paramus broke away in 1922 Disputes over taxation for streetlights and a desire for home rule of public schools led to the eventual separation of Paramus from the rest of Midland Paramus' modern foundation nonetheless stretches back even further The Paramus patent granted to Albert Saboroweski a Polish immigrant whose descendants became the Zabriskie family Saboroweski gained the patent holding 1,977 acres of land from a group of Lenape as a show of contrition and goodwill in order to teach him their language and make him a much-needed translator before eventually returning him home Drivers headed into Ridgewood on Route 17 South faced major delays Wednesday as roadwork brought traffic to a standstill The left lane between Linwood Avenue and Ridgewood Avenue was shut down for construction major backups were reported in the southbound lanes leading into Ridgewood No estimated time was given for when the work would be completed The Valley Hospital celebrated the one-year anniversary of its move to Paramus with a celebratory event for staff and distinguished guests The celebration reflected on the efforts and hard work of Valley staff and the community that have led to a successful first year of patient care “Planning and building this incredible facility and then safely moving almost 200 patients from Ridgewood to Paramus in one day were incredible accomplishments,” said Robert Brenner “These accomplishments were quickly followed by our success in overcoming all the challenges that accompany operating a new facility all while experiencing unprecedented volume across all services.” Brenner thanked each member of the Valley team members of Valley Health System’s Board of Trustees and members of The Valley Hospital Foundation’s Board of Trustees and administration of this award-winning System have risen to every challenge and overcome every obstacle,” said Dr and what is more important to remember is that our staff has touched the lives of so many with the highest quality care and service.” The Valley Hospital cared for more than 58,000 inpatients treated more than 78,000 emergency department patients conducted more than 44,000 diagnostic procedures and local government officials attended the celebration New Jersey’s 5th District; Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco; Assemblywoman Lisa Swain 38th District; Bergen County Commissioners Mary Amoroso Also in attendance were Paramus Mayor Chris DiPiazza and Paramus council members Ace Antonio “This milestone is not just a celebration of the opening of a first-class it is a celebration of Valley’s commitment to serving the residents of Bergen County and providing high-quality compassionate care,” said Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco “As someone who has been to Valley many times with my kids and so many different parts of my life many great years ahead to grow and become more innovative and with even more top-notch caregivers,” said Congressman Gottheimer The construction of The Valley Hospital project was generously supported by the collective efforts of those in the community The Valley Hospital Foundation’s capital campaign Transform: The Next Chapter of The Valley Hospital exceeding its goal by more than $20 million was enriched by generous community support and donations of all sizes from more than 15,000 donors including more than 37 gifts over $1 million Valley’s presence in Paramus has strengthened our district in countless ways which includes making this area a top destination for exceptional patient-centered medical care,” said Assemblywoman Lisa Swain “Care like no other is not just the saying of this hospital It hits home now that Valley is right down the block,” said Mayor DiPiazza Valley staff members will be honored for their hard work over the year with an anniversary gift; sweet treats; special menus at Café Maitri “The same ideals that pave the road to our new hospital here in Paramus will continue to guide us for decades to come,” said Dr “To the entire Valley team of more than 6,500 physicians deliver care like no other to our community.” For more information about The Valley Hospital A pedestrian was struck and killed Wednesday evening on Farview Avenue in Paramus Guidetti said officers responded to "a serious motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian" in the area of 278 Farview Avenue at about 6:50 p.m The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office was notified about "a fatal pedestrian crash" on Farview Avenue and the Bergen County Fatal Accident Task Force responded to the scene to assist the Paramus police in the investigation said Jeff Angermeyer of the Prosecutor's Office Farview Avenue will be closed in both directions near Haase Avenue "for an extended period," he said Guidetti advises motorists to avoid the area Check back for updates to this developing story Conor Smith has spent a lot of time on volleys and returns The Paramus senior remembers trying tennis at age 5 and he began playing competitively a few years later and it was all about just finding the sport that felt right for me “The first time I picked up a racquet was actually at the Paramus High School tennis courts… playing tennis just always felt right.” especially after winning their first three matches of the spring They are coming off their first winning record (12-11) since the 2011 season when two-time Bergen County runner-up Ryan Lugtu began his career as a freshman Smith’s career at Paramus did not start until his junior year I had to quit playing around around the beginning of COVID,” he said “Coming back to Paramus High School gave me a chance to come back to the sport healed of all my injuries The 2024 season marked his second return to public school in his hometown Smith attended Hawthorne Christian Academy in third and fourth grade He volleyed between Paramus (fifth through seventh) and HCA (eighth through 10th) again but since the Defenders do not have a tennis program his only way to play varsity was to return home “Paramus High School is a lot more convenient for me because I live right next to it,” Smith said “And they have more of a selection of sports.” The 6-footer did try basketball at Hawthorne Christian football and baseball in town rec programs growing up Nothing has been able to overtake his love for tennis “I enjoy the fact that even though it is an individual sport tennis can also be a team sport,” Smith said “You have teammates who are playing on the next court over that you can encourage or talk to during the changeovers and all these other things.” Roger Federer is his guy when it comes to watching the pros Smith often took advantage of the fact that Wimbledon occurs over summer vacation and followed the grass-court ace through his best tournament and I always watched him growing up,” Smith said “I kind of tried emulating his game – it doesn’t always work but he’s definitely always been my favorite player Smith does prefer live tennis to the TV version with his family and seen exactly how intense the competition can get the ball seems to be moving so much slower,” he said Much like Paramus boys tennis when Smith takes the court at first singles the defending Bergen Invitational Tournament first singles champ He dropped only five games in six sets and helped Paramus to a 3-0 start one season after leading the Spartans to their first winning record in 13 years and Seldon Kolkebeck of Old Tappan for baseball; and Justin Vitale of Indian Hills for lacrosse A vehicle crashed into a pair of businesses on Route 17 in Paramus on Monday afternoon an SUV crashed into F45 Training and the UPS Store Both businesses temporarily closed because of damage to the front windows and frames No serious injuries to the driver or anyone else were reported Local: Paramus bans cash payments for taxes at Borough Hall. Here's why accidently hit the accelerator instead of the brake on her Mercedes SUV Paramus officials say they're exploring a lawsuit against American Dream after learning that retail shops at the Meadowlands megamall are open for business on Sundays in defiance of Bergen County's Blue Laws The stores at American Dream have been operating in violation of those laws for nearly a year The Record and NorthJersey.com reported this month despite the county's longstanding prohibitions against the sale of nonessential items such as furniture Paramus residents in particular have been proponents of the Blue Laws over the years Supporters say the laws grant them a day of reprieve from the heavy traffic that plagues the borough the rest of the week due to its four malls Mayor Chris DiPiazza said Thursday that he local businesses and residents are all “very upset” about American Dream's Sunday sales which had been level for decades,” said DiPiazza Borough officials have been meeting with a lawyer to investigate legal options He said Paramus has also turned to state representatives and county government for help though DiPiazza declined to identify them before they officially announced their support I know how important the Blue Laws are to our way of life and the peacefulness of Sundays,” he said in an interview They give us "the ability to move around town the ability for our emergency services to have less calls and regroup I’m going to fight like heck for Paramus and the county as a whole.” DiPiazza said that when he hears executives at American Dream are “flaunting that they are open on Sundays,” it’s a “slap in the face to the residents of Paramus and Bergen County as a whole.” County officials have also vowed to fight to make the mall comply More: When will Garden State Plaza redevelopment break ground? Timeline comes into focus didn't reply to a message asking how it might respond to American Dream's Sunday activity senior vice president of development at owner Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield said the shopping center "continues to only operate its entertainment and dining options on Sundays in accordance with both Bergen County and Paramus blue laws." "Our guests can enjoy their favorite restaurants and our premier entertainment concepts like Planet Playskool Pinstripes and AMC Theatres year-round on Sundays," Fluhr said in a statement A spokesperson for American Dream declined to comment on Friday said the business was "ecstatic that our extensive list of offerings operates on Sundays Spokespeople for two other major Paramus malls, Bergen Town Center and Paramus Park also declined to comment when reached Friday Email: noda@northjersey.com; X: @snoda11 attaboys for eating a lot and actual prizes for eating a lot sounds fantastic which opened its fifth New Jersey location in Paramus on Tuesday no-additive sushi served on a conveyor belt and ordered via a touchscreen And did I mention each plate of sushi is under $4 The conveyor belt is now a pretty common delivery method at sushi spots which limits airborne exposure and has plate-tracking technology that monitors how long the item has been circulating It's also just the start of the automated fun To eliminate the need to wait for your favorite dish guests can order from its menu of over 140 plates and have them delivered on an express conveyor belt The Bikkura Pon Prize System — comprised of a prize machine touch panel and plate disposal slot with sensors located at every table in the restaurant — adds an element of whimsy to the Kura experience The system registers the number of sushi plates deposited into the plate disposal slot And the price is right at Kura: each plate of sushi costs $3.95 Kur-B the KuraBot delivers ordered drinks and condiments table side by the way; a waitstaff loads up Kur-B with the requested items and also checks in with guests.) To celebrate the opening of the Paramus location Kura will give the first 50 seated dine-in guests on February 25 26 and 27 who show their Kura Sushi Rewards Member QR code a free sushi towel Kura is open in Paramus Sundays from 11 a.m.-9 p.m Go: Kura Sushi. 1 Garden State Plaza, Space 2311, Paramus; 551-245-6016, kurasushi.com Matt Cortina is a food reporter with NorthJersey.com The Paramus police and Ridgewood firefighters got into the act as well posting photos that drew funny comments from some residents But others became angry and argued without realizing it was April Fool's Day The Paramus police might have won Joke Of The Day on Tuesday with their twist on New York City's controversial congestion pricing "In trying to alleviate traffic issues along Route 17 South," the police wrote on Facebook on Tuesday "we have implemented congestion pricing beginning today." One commenter named Niki went along with the gag it's been getting too cheap to live in Jersey lately." Other people suggested that only those with New York license plates pay the fee and that the road remain free for Paramus residents "Talk about a mass exodus of businesses from Paramus if that happen[s]," warned a commenter "and if that happens skyrocketing taxes for property owners "How about starting from Linwood Ave all the way to Route 80 and onto Route 4," suggested another "Then you can also charge toll pricing to get on Route 4 this way people would stop sneaking up the Route 4 west lane to get into the East lane and cause so much traffic..." Several commenters alerted others that it was an April Fool's joke This is awesome!!!!!!" wrote one commenter For his part, local Rep. Josh Gottheimer has demanded that New York City halt its congestion pricing tax on New Jersey drivers Ridgewood's firefighers' union posted about adding a new member of their department They said the pooch would be trained to accompany firefighters on calls People took the post seriously — so seriously that the department posted an apology later unfortunately Glen was just an April Fools joke that our social media manager didn't expect to gain so much popularity so quickly!" they wrote Apologies to anyone who had to field phone calls this morning about this one The update resulted in about a dozen comments from disappointed people I was ready to start a kitchen fire to get to meet him!!," wrote one woman "I think the only way to get past this is for the department to get a dog."