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 Frasier Crane for 20 years on “Cheers” and “Frasier” is opening up about a dark family tragedy Karen Grammer was just 18 years old when she was raped and murdered mourning for loss and how he worked to heal from her loss His sister had moved to Colorado Springs where she was subsequently kidnapped by several men who raped her before stabbing her to death Grammer says he aims to help others who have experienced a similar loss offering solace and encouragement to those in mourning For more information on the signing, click here. Authorities safely removed a car that crashed into fuel pumps at a gas station in Ridgewood on Sunday afternoon The car hit the pumps at an Exxon station on Route 17, Ridgewood firefighters said on Facebook and fire officers were able to safely shut down the fuel system A towing company removed the vehicle once the area was deemed safe The vehicle was turning right into the Exxon lot when a tire struck a curb causing the driver to lose control and strike the gas pumps RIDGEWOOD – The village will sponsor its annual Daffodil Festival and Earth Day in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square on April 27 The event is sponsored by the parks and recreation department Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands and Green Ridgewood This year's theme is “H2O Optimize: Protecting Our Water.” It reflects the challenges being addressed by the village through conservation Vendors will be on hand who specialize in sustainability The Daffy Dog Parade will be held at 12:30 p.m and feature leashed dogs and their owners in costumes Participants can register beginning at noon at the Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital booth Memorial Park is located south of East Ridgewood Avenue between Oak and South Walnut streets Parking is available at the nearby Hudson Street Garage call the Ridgewood Parks and Recreation Department at 201-670-5560 an anticipated Ridgewood deli opens very soon — and more intel at 7 p.m; people can get notified if seats become available The team behind Bed-Stuy Italian restaurant Daphne’s is going to be opening their anticipated Italian Queens deli really soon. Arrigo’s is opening in Ridgewood at 71-08 Fresh Pond Road It’ll start off with lunch services only; dinner will begin on Sunday The 25-seat restaurant makes sandwiches like the Italian combo Then there are house-made pastas such as rigatoni and casarecce with short rib ragu 1’s projected opening month in Union Square All the new restaurant openings in New York this month RIDGEWOOD — A $1.5 million capital budget project to remove contaminated soil from the Schedler-Zabriskie property was part of the village's $64.8 million 2025 budget introduction Village Manager Keith Kazmark confirmed after the April 9 meeting that the entire 1,100-foot long, 4-foot-high berm along Route 17 north on the west border of the historic Schedler property is contaminated and will have to be removed along with soil that previously was spread on flat portions of the 7-acre site at 460 W "Later this spring the testing will be done and the report will outline for us exactly what needs to be done on the property from a remediation standpoint," Kazmark said The remediation is in addition to $350,000 in the 2024 capital budget for soil testing and archeological study of the site The berm was installed in 2018 to 2019 under the administrations of Mayors Ramon Hache and Susan Knudsen as a sound/safety barrier along its western border by Route 17 Of the 11,020 cubic yards of fill brought to the site 8,000 cubic yards came from the former Brogan Cadillac dealership at 152 S A revised May 2024 application to the State Office of Historic Preservation to build an adult-size multipurpose artificial turf field north of the house is being held "in abeyance" as a result the village has already spent $5.4 million on the site — $3 million for purchases a common byproduct of combustion and cooking The village oversaw and submitted results of tests taken by various consultants on soil samples from the six locations but the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection deemed the tests inadequate in number and scope said a December 2023 letter from the DEP's Bureau of Solid Waste Compliance and Enforcement Kazmark said the village is holding "weekly roundup meetings" with its historical consultant soil testers and archeological experts on how the dirt will be removed to minimize the possibility of damaging or destroying artifacts that may remain on the site "It's too soon to tell what's going to happen," Kazmark said Salvo’s is opening a day-to-night spot in Ridgewood Salvatore La Rosa, who initially found success with selling sandwiches via a circa 1970s moped, is settling down. La Rosa says he’s signed a lease for Salvo’s at 66-01 Forest Avenue Salvo’s began selling Italian lunch by way of Instagram in 2023. Some of his earliest offerings included a mortadella sandwich with fried zucchini A former graphic designer and punk band member by night he decided to leave the computer screen behind to use his hands It would work like so: Announcements for the rotating specials went up via fliers, with pre-orders taken via DM, requesting a drop-off time frame, and La Rosa would deliver it, provided it was within his radius. More recently, he upgraded his wheels to a blue mini truck the kind that would’ve once been used for parking ticket enforcement The new Salvo’s spot will allow him to expand his offerings with a day-to-night set-up “I want it to feel like a modest spot in Italy like a trattoria that’s really comfortable — my favorite kind of places where you can hear the clanking of silverware and people talking loudly to each other.” “It’s pretty wild to me because this entire thing happened accidentally I’m so grateful that it got to this point where I actually need to expand I’ve reached this threshold of what I can do in my apartment,” he says “I’m only capable of making so many myself so the hope is with the new space people who haven’t gotten to try the food — either because it sold out or they couldn’t get to it — will get to and the people who have tried the food will be able to have it two Though sandwiches are his so-called bread and better, since his early days, he’s used the platform for a wider menu of simple-but-tasty Italian cooking: from tomato salad and oyster mushroom frittata to lasagna Bolognese and handmade pasta. He also sells house-made tomato sauce He estimates that he has made thousands of sandwiches so far After looking at several spaces, he decided on this Forest Avenue storefront in Ridgewood (right across from red-sauce institution Joe’s), where he’s lived for years. The earliest he’s looking at opening Salvo’s is this August. In the meantime, he’s hosting Saturday pop-ups — weather permitting — nearby at Grover Cleveland Park with panini and pantry items and he’s considering how to use them going forward La Rosa says: “Maybe a farmer’s market stand or something like that.” Every product is independently selected by editors Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission who teamed up with two friends for the endeavor But he was still shocked when combing the internet “We were like ‘Wow there are so many available!’ he said and digital prints to audiences of around 40 or 50 who are invited to mill about the lobby before the show and browse a collection of old tapes and oddities Classic movie-theater carpeting (tiny popcorn boxes) leads up to a curvy concession stand lined with a campy print of fake brick and lit with a vintage promotional Diet Rite Cola light that Wilson sourced on Facebook “I just wanted everything to be kind of maximalist across the board,” Wilson explained “The design of everything is pretty loud because where else can you use a lot of this material?” guaranteeing small crowds that come to watch what they may never see again film — a print format that can’t be squeezed into such a small space — Wilson plans to specialize in the more intimate 16-mm. and he ended up finding a wormhole of odd prints made for military bases and prisons (Recent mail orders have included the 1996 Denzel Washington film Courage Under Fire.) “I’m really excited to show more punished formats here,” he said But Low is not just for the cinephiles who came out for Wilson’s series at Anthology Film Archives also a reference to Wilson’s taste for what the culture deems lowbrow By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York RAMSEY – Don Bosco coach Matt Lane called it a gut check the Ironmen demonstrated why they're still the No 1 team in North Jersey and one of the favorites to repeat as state champion From an impeccable man-down unit to some clutch faceoff wins and a hat trick from Brady Scioletti the top-ranked Ironmen had it all working in a 10-3 victory over No The Gibbs Division battle came at an interesting point for Don Bosco (5-3) Three losses in the first three weeks raised some questions of the Ironmen on the heels of a dominant rookie season under Lane While the losses all came against elite teams outside New Jersey Lane admits that the the level wasn't up to the standard he had in mind It's what made a comprehensive win over the Maroons so reassuring "It builds a lot of team morale and confidence in us," senior goalie and Siena commit James O'Hara said "We always knew we could play at a high level The Ironmen got contributions from up and down the lineup with Scioletti and Ridgewood native Johnny Devir scoring three goals and Scott Conte leading a 10-for-17 game in the faceoff circle Don Bosco also showcased its depth in goal with O'Hara making a rare start after sitting behind Rutgers commit Brody Corey for most of the season feeling good and feeling ready," O'Hara said It's a great opportunity and I'm really proud of myself." O'Hara finished with six saves in the victory native held Ridgewood scoreless for over 37 straight minutes midway through the match "He's always been pushing the people in front of him whether it was Colton [Carfello] or Brody or both of them," Lane said "We just saw throughout practice that he had been playing well and we wanted to give him a shot." What it meansThe road to the Bergen County title still runs through Don Bosco Although the Ironmen were missing offensive starters Brady Kushner (upper body) and Dash Lane (undisclosed) there was still enough firepower to clinch the program's sixth straight win over Ridgewood and the 17th in a row against a New Jersey opponent the Ironmen are 34-1 against Bergen opponents "They shared the ball really well on offense," Lane said When we're able to make the simple one more pass and work for great looks as opposed to good looks I think we'll be a really tough team to beat." That ball movement and plenty of time on the offensive side helped Don Bosco go up 6-1 at the half and 7-1 after three The Ironmen made sure the lead stuck by going 5-for-5 on the penalty kill including a sequence with two players in the box in the fourth quarter Carson Cherven and Michael Marino and midfielder Aidan Kang puncuated a perfect night on the man down "We had a pretty good idea [on what to do] and I think the guys played good disciplined lacrosse tonight," Lane said "So they were able to give up shots from further distances as opposed to letting things from inside." Ridgewood will take the long drive down to Moorestown on Saturday Don Bosco will face another division opponent in Mountain Lakes on the road next Tuesday "It's great but now we see the standard of how we have to play every single game," Devir said "We have to use the momentum for the next games." Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker RIDGEWOOD — A prank by a group of students alleging an upcoming shooting at the village high school caused an increase police presence on Monday who acknowledged rumors of a potential threat linked to a student’s 18th birthday A letter to the district community dated April 6 from Superintendent Mark Schwarz reads: "There are rumors circulating concerning a specific RHS student who has claimed that on their 18th birthday This rumor has been circulating for several years." in coordination with the Ridgewood Police Department is aware of the rumors and has determined that the "threat is not credible." However the letter says that "these rumors have been and will continue to be investigated." Although law enforcement found no evidence of an imminent threat Schwarz said additional police would be on site Monday “to maintain a security presence” as a precaution Schwarz provided an update that the school had heard rumors about a "kill list" of students circulating through social media containing intended targets was not authorized by the student named in the rumors Schwarz said in a release to the school community "We have now confirmed that a different group of students has admitted to creating and distributing this list as a misguided prank." “We are grateful for the many individuals who reached out to report this rumor,” the earlier letter says “We are safest when our community remains vigilant.” Students and parents with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the district directly 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ridgewood Infrastructure ("Ridgewood") a leading investor in essential infrastructure in the U.S today announced the final close of its second fund Ridgewood Water & Strategic Infrastructure Fund II LP ("Fund II") significantly surpassing its $1 billion target Fund II attracted a diverse mix of leading institutional investors including returning and new public and corporate pensions A continuation of Ridgewood's established strategy Fund II is focused on investments in essential infrastructure businesses and assets that provide critical services in sectors including water value creation approach emphasizes scaling and enhancing the strategic positioning of its investments "We are grateful for the continued significant support from our existing partners and are excited to welcome several new LPs from across the globe," said Ross Posner Managing Partner of Ridgewood Infrastructure "This is a meaningful milestone for our firm and we are deeply appreciative of the trust our partners continue to place in our team and strategy." added: "We look forward to continuing to deliver value for our investors and the many communities in which our portfolio companies operate." Fund II has already made several notable investments including the Prospect Lake Clean Water Center the third-largest water public-private partnership in U.S which will provide approximately 80% of Fort Lauderdale's fresh water under a 30-year concession agreement Ridgewood has also had notable recent exits from its inaugural fund ("Fund I") Fund I sold its controlling interest in the Vista Ridge Water Pipeline America's largest water public-private partnership which supplies approximately 20% of San Antonio's fresh water under a 30-year concession agreement Fund I also sold its controlling interest in SiEnergy one of the fastest growing regulated utilities in America "Our achievements reflect the exceptional capabilities of our team and the strength of the Ridgewood platform," said Matthew Swanson Founding Partner of Ridgewood Infrastructure "We look forward to building upon this strong foundation of success in the years to come." and Vinson & Elkins LLP served as legal counsel for the fund About Ridgewood Infrastructure Ridgewood Infrastructure is a leading infrastructure investor in the U.S. lower middle market with sectors of focus including water, energy, transportation, and utilities. For more information, visit www.ridgewoodinfrastructure.com Contact Information: Ridgewood Infrastructure527 Madison Avenue, 18th FloorNew York, NY 10022Phone: (212) 867-0050Email: [email protected] Ridgewood Infrastructure ("Ridgewood") a leading infrastructure investment firm focused on essential infrastructure in the U.S Banking & Financial Services Utilities Construction & Building Do not sell or share my personal information: RIDGEWOOD — An ordinance expanding the village's ban on wildlife feeding to include private property is up for a council vote on Wednesday The ordinance, if passed, will amend the village's code that previously prohibited wildlife feeding only on public property such as parks The ordinance proposes that all wildlife feeding "The feeding of such wildlife is both detrimental to the animals and causes a public health nuisance and safety hazard," the ordinance states "Of special concern to public health is the increasing spread of bird flu and that deer and rodents such as mice and rats carry ticks that carry Lyme disease." The ordinance reads that feeding wildlife "also increases the risk of exposure to rabies for humans and domestic pets by attracting potentially rabid wildlife," such as raccoons An exception in the proposed ordinance is made for bird feeders which must be 6 feet high from the ground and include a seed-catching device to minimize attracting other wildlife No more than three feeders are allowed on any property BLACK BEAR PRECAUTIONS Black bears are roaming NJ again. These safety tips can help you avoid encountering one "We've had feedback for some time from residents concerned that feeding deer brings them and their ticks and the possibility of Lyme disease closer to homes," Deputy Mayor Pamela Perron said on Tuesday Assembly Bill A360 proposes a similar ban aimed primarily at attracting black bears to populated areas That bill proposes regulating private bird feeders from April to November any bird feeder must be suspended by a cable at least 10 feet off the ground and the area below the feeder must be kept free of debris The feeder must be brought indoors or emptied every night Village Manager Keith Kazmark said the ordinance would be similarly updated ELIZABETH — The dominant inside presence of 6-foot-10 NaJai Hines the sublime backcourt play of sophomore Micah Gordon and a sold-out crowd that was at least 95% in its favor were not quite enough for Plainfield in Wednesday’s Group 4 semifinal The slender 6-3 junior poured in a career-high 14 points and claimed six rebounds and earn a berth opposite Montgomery in Sunday’s Group 4 state final at Rutgers More: Boys basketball: Plainfield rolls to North 2 Group 4 championship More: Ramapo basketball again knocks out Colonia in Group 3 semifinals scoring 10 points and sinking six of eight free throws in a decisive fourth quarter that began with the schools deadlocked at 40 apiece five boards and eight assists as the Cardinals (28-3) extended their winning streak to eight games “Ridgewood might be one of the most underrated basketball teams in the state,” Plainfield coach Mike Gordon stressed Hunter asserted himself in the second quarter scoring six points and claiming five caroms holding Hines and the physical Cardinals to a mere 19-17 advantage on the boards with 10 offensive rebounds and it was Hunter’s efforts that kept the contest close we knew how physical this game was going to be,” Hunter said after his first double-figure performance “We communicated and my number was called today We all came together and fought together.” Hunter added six more points in the third quarter and accounted for six of Plainfield’s 11 baskets over the middle two quarters he had an amazing game,” Gordon said of Hunter rebounds the ball and I think he did a hell of a job defensively.” Plainfield had not competed in a single-digit contest since trimming Elizabeth in the semifinals of the Union County Tournament guys just toughed it out,” Coach Gordon explained Down the stretch of this game we just executed and I thought we did a better job of rebounding the ball in the second half.” Ridgewood (26-4) held its last lead at 42-40 as Jake Roth opened the fourth quarter with an inside bucket off a feed from Mac Radossich Plainfield broke a 44-44 tie by closing out the contest with a 16-7 run including an 8-0 spurt that extended its lead to 55-46 with two minutes remaining as Hines reasserted himself inside “I think that he got enough touches,” Coach Gordon said of Hines “I think we did a little too much in the guard area I thought we were a little stagnant in the first half got a little scrappier and started to press a little more Plainfield will not enjoy the homecourt advantage on Sunday it had on Wednesday when its fans gobbled up tickets online the way Hines gobbles up rebounds and practically shut out the Ridgewood fan base The Elizabeth gymnasium may as well been called the Rico Dunn Center Whether Cardinal Nation can turn Rutgers in Jersey Rico’s Arena this weekend is another story RIDGEWOOD — Seven years after village officials agreed to tear down the "structurally unsound" brick bus shelter at the corner of Van Neste Square and Dayton Street The structure will be replaced by a three-sided glass "bus stop" type enclosure for customers boarding NJ Transit buses said Deputy Mayor Pamela Perron after the demolition on Wednesday originally scheduled to take place in 2018 was stopped that August when the Historic Preservation Commission identified the brick building as having "historic significance" and an "iconic" example of mid-century modern architecture by Vincent Parrillo The 1960s structure was a favorite project of Bergen County architect J who also designed the Sheraton Crossroads in Mahwah But Perron said the structure proved "too far gone" for preservation Local: Ridgewood school employee named New Jersey 2025 Communicator of the Year "We had several architects look at it," Perron said "Even the architect's son was not interested in preserving it." NJ Transit officials did not respond to a request for additional information 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ridgewood Infrastructure a leading investment firm focused on essential infrastructure in the U.S today announced its investment in Valley Cold Storage & Transportation ("Valley Cold") a premier provider of temperature-controlled storage and logistics solutions in strategically located markets "Valley Cold provides essential services that are critical to its customers' supply chains," said Ryan Stewart "We are enthusiastic to start working with our partners at Valley Cold as we continue offering these vital services and explore new opportunities to grow and enhance their operations." This investment in Valley Cold comes at a time when the cold storage industry is experiencing significant growth Valley Cold is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend and continue its expansion in both existing and new markets "We are thrilled to join forces with Ridgewood Infrastructure," said Clay Bush "Their deep understanding of the infrastructure sector logistics and supply chain management and commitment to long-term growth make Ridgewood the perfect partner to help us take Valley Cold to the next level." "Ridgewood Infrastructure is excited to welcome Valley Cold to our portfolio," said Ross Posner Managing Partner at Ridgewood Infrastructure "This acquisition aligns with our strategy of investing in essential infrastructure that supports critical supply chains We've been evaluating the cold storage space for some time and what Clay and Jenny have built is special We are looking forward to helping Valley Cold realize its growth potential." About Ridgewood InfrastructureRidgewood Infrastructure is a leading infrastructure investor in the U.S. lower middle market with sectors of focus including Water, Energy Transition, Transportation, and Utilities. For more information, please visit www.ridgewoodinfrastructure.com Ridgewood Infrastructure527 Madison Avenue, 18th FloorNew York, NY 10022Phone: (212) 867-0050Email: [email protected] Supply Chain/Logistics Supply Chain/Logistics Transportation, Trucking & Railroad Machinery RIDGEWOOD — The Ridgewood Guild will present its 14th annual International Film Festival from April 8 to 24 The festival begins with two free events at the Ridgewood Public Library The first free event will be held on Tuesday from 6:30 to 9 p.m It will show short film entries with question-and-answer sessions with attending filmmakers The second will be on Thursday from 6:30 to 9 p.m International Night is celebrated with the showing of the Swiss film "Golden Years," about a couple celebrating their retirement with a Mediterranean cruise Call the library at 201-670-5600 to register to attend The festival's main event will be on April 24 starting at 4 p.m This event requires tickets and offers several viewings at the following locations: Different films will be shown at different venues. Exact films to be shown at each venue can be found at the festival's website, ridgewoodguildfilmfest.com POLICE PRESENCE Ridgewood High School rumor 'circulating for several years' behind police presence A Filmmakers Lounge networking event will be held at Sugar and Spice Tickets for the screenings are $15 for adults, and $10 for students and seniors age 55 and above. Separate $60 tickets are required for the after-party and awards ceremony. Tickets must be purchased online at filmfreeway.com/RidgewoodInternationalFilmFestival/tickets MANLIUS - The Bureau Valley softball team was a play or two away from defeating Ridgewood, the defending Class 1A State champion, in a 1-0 loss Tuesday in eight innings. Two days later, it was a whole different story when the same two teams met at Manlius. The Storm (10-9) managed just two hits while committing eight errors in the field and proved no match for the Spartans, falling 11-1 Thursday by the 10-run rule in six innings. “It was confusing,” BV coach Dave Shepard said. “On Tuesday, we go eight innings, got beat 1-0. We talked the next day in practice about the little adjustments we should and could have made to win that game. And we all had the intentions of doing it tonight and for whatever reason that girl (Ridgewood pitcher Courtney Thomas) had our number and we couldn’t put the bat on the ball. “I think we had three balls on the left side of second base. As I look at the scoreboard, still trying to think what happened. We had eight errors, only two earned runs. Errors kill.” Storm starter Carly Reglin. who was tagged with a loss with just one of the eight runs charged to her earned, said it was a tough day. “After we’d make one (error), we’d hang our heads and that’s something you can’t do,” she said. Reglin was able to keep it close at 2-0 until the Spartans broke it open with six runs in the fifth inning. She scattered seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts before giving way to Mallary Maubach with two outs in the fifth. Ridgewood added two more in the sixth to go up 11-1. Danni Benavidez, who singled and scored in the fifth inning, and Kadyn Haage had the only hits for the Storm. Thomas allowed just the two hits with three walks while fanning seven. Mackenzie Peck had three hits, including two doubles with two RBIs to lead the Spartans (11-6). Emma Poppy had two hits and a RBI and Thomas doubled. Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network Johnny Jackson will forever be remembered in North Jersey basketball lore as “that kid from Ridgewood who had cancer.” a two-time sectional champion and a prolific scorer headed toward becoming the 19th boy to join North Jersey’s 2,000-point club Jackson’s physically demanding senior season continues when Ridgewood faces St Joseph in the Bergen County Jamboree semifinals at 1 p.m Sunday at Fairleigh Dickinson in Hackensack Bergen Catholic battles defending champion Don Bosco in the 3:30 semifinal with the winners returning for the final on Feb While he’s constantly asked how many career points he’s scored – he has 1,920 – Jackson is more focused on the team success that has made Ridgewood (18-2) the best public school team in Bergen and Passaic counties “The successful team is probably the cooler part,” said Jackson who was notified Thursday that he is cancer-free Awesome because Jackson wasn’t supposed to be part of the team, not after being diagnosed over the summer with Stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma The cancer had spread from the lymph nodes in his neck to his chest area and into his sternum Jackson was scheduled for 12 chemotherapy sessions were supposed to leave him too weak to even pick up a basketball Coach Mike Troy invited him to sit on the bench this season and wear a coach’s shirt "We get so wrapped up in game plans and practice plans and then when we get the news about Johnny these things didn’t seem to matter as much anymore.” Jackson decided to “flip the script.” He eats healthier He lifts weights three to five times a week the 5-foot-10 shooting guard has gained more than 15 pounds and weighs about 175 “When they told me I was expected to lose a lot of weight during this it kind of scared me a little bit,” said Jackson who lost a little bit of hair and often wears a hand band “So I kind of just tried to flip the script.” His discipline, work ethic and positive attitude have been an inspiration to the team. In a season-opening 64-48 win over St. Joseph, when he poured in 30 points he proved he could still play the game at an All-North Jersey level “He’s been a motivator for us,” said senior Charlie Schwanewede who trims his hair and wears a headband to honor Jackson “If my body’s feeling a little bit out of shape and ‘I’m tired and I don’t want to do this,’ or ‘I feel a little sick,’ I just have to think about how he’s feeling He’s pushing through and staying strong and putting on a smile every single day and being a pillar for everyone else.” “Playing with John all season has given us a lot of extra motivation a lot of fight that we didn’t have before,” senior Tyler Nesland said “It’s given us a reason to get up every morning and a reason to stay late because we know that everything he’s doing is harder than anything we’ve ever imagined While Jackson shows little emotion on the court “almost like you’re being shocked a little bit.” He drinks plenty of water between quarters and during timeouts and sometimes asks to be taken out of a game for a short break He has gotten stronger since chemo treatments ended last month “and I think that should start to get better.” “Every minute we’re here is a gift,” Troy said "You better be giving it everything you have it’s an absolute waste and it would be a disservice And it’s made him work harder to be able to achieve the things he loves This experience has matured Jackson well beyond his 18 years Even though he averages 23 points per game he has the ball in his hands less than last season He has become more appreciative of his teammates and the people around him He’s even improved from what he had before when he was one of the hardest-working kids I know,” Nesland said “I think he’s definitely opened himself up more and allowing us to be a part of his life more than before.” Jackson says he’s more disciplined and more grateful for where he is and what he has He better understands that what’s here today can be gone tomorrow He’s in the final weeks of his high school career with anywhere from six to 12 games remaining depending on the outcome of county and state tournament games “It’s changed me in a bunch of ways,” Jackson said but this has pushed me beyond the limits a little bit It’s kind of made me appreciate every little minute now Your life can kind of just change on you really fast and you just have to not take every moment for granted.” Handmade pastas and hearty plates for under $25 at Il Gigante It’s only been open for about a month, but ll Gigante Trattoria (880 Woodward Avenue a Bolognese-leaning trattoria that took over the Porcelain space in Ridgewood The place was buzzing on a recent rainy Wednesday night and Ridgewood resident Lorenzo Pizzoli worked the room and greeted guests at the door “We’re a hundred percent a neighborhood restaurant,” Pizzoli told Eater I’m talking like 95 percent of the people who come in this place are from Ridgewood We’re constantly seating people at tables and they’re sitting next to people that they know The local love is not really a surprise. Losing Porcelain was a blow to many in the area “I went a little bananas when it closed,” said Pizzoli If you live here you have a connection to it.” The new team didn’t mess around too much with the old-school vibe of the interior which was used as a location for Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman The Il Gigante menu is stacked with bangers where eight dishes vie for attention — particularly since none of them cost more than $20 You could eat here a couple of times a week and not get bored All the pasta is made fresh in house by chef Davide Bugamelli and his team all are sauced and or stuffed in various ways so you can comfortably split a pasta or two depending on the size of your party then sample some things from elsewhere on the menu Although Il Gigante’s gentle pricing encourages exploration are your ideal meals for several scenarios Eating alone at the bar is one of the distinct pleasures of any great neighborhood place and the one dish that any meal at Il Gigante should include — especially if it’s your meal’s only dish — is a Bolognese specialty not often seen in New York loaded with crumbles of sweet sausage from nearby butcher DiMarco’s “We are lucky to have a chef who worked for twenty years in trattorias in Bologna,” said Pizzoli “Not even back home do you find many gramigna as good as ours.” Shots fired you should add the Tortelloni Burro e Salvia ($17) oversized pasta pillows filled with creamy ricotta and lolling in a luxurious buttery bath It makes for a luscious counterpoint to the zippier also get either the Pecorina salad ($15) of radicchio so much cheese; or the Cotoletta alla Bolognese ($25) breaded and cooked in broth (“the proper Bolognese way,” as Pizzoli put it) then blanketed with funky aged prosciutto and melting Parmigiano Reggiano a boat of dense meatballs in red sauce; and or the Salsiccia e Fagioli all’Uccelletto ($14) a snappy DiMarco sausage on a bed of saucy beans; and or the Pappardelle al Ragu ($19) starring the thinnest version of this pasta I think I’ve ever been served The desserts all read pretty generic — tiramisu a vanilla affogato — but the cannoli are incredible The shells are from iconic Ridgewood bakery Rudy’s the just-sweet-enough ricotta is made in house and they’re scented with a sprig of rosemary which surprised me at first glance but was actually … perfect Don Bosco will start the drive for five straight Bergen County boys lacrosse titles as the top seed in the bracket Seeding was completed on Monday night with 12 teams accepted into the championship bracket 4 Ramapo will join the Ironmen in skipping straight to the quarterfinal round The tournament starts with opening round games to be played by Saturday semifinals on May 8 and the championship May 10 Ridgewood’s iconic Bookends bookstore will welcome a number of high-profile personalities this spring and television alike to the heart of Bergen County is known for drawing A-list authors and celebrities turning the suburban bookstore into a hotspot for cultural conversation Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets early through the Bookends website Here's who will be at Bookends through May 6 Tom Simons, better known as TommyInnit one of the most popular YouTubers and content creators today for his book "TommyInnit's Guide to Survival." Fans can expect a lively event celebrating his meteoric rise on social media known for his Minecraft videos and energetic personality that’s earned him millions of followers worldwide Christie Brinkley at BookendsChristie Brinkley will visit for a book signing and photo op April 30 at 6 p.m The model and actress will be there for her memoir Jim Lampley "It Happened: A Uniquely Lucky Life in Sports Television." Tinx at BookendsTikTok sensation Tinx often dubbed “TikTok’s Big Sister,” will host a meet-and-greet Monday The event includes a pre-signed copy of her new book "Hotter in the Hamptons," and a professional photo opportunity Known for her relatable advice and witty social commentary Tinx continues to build her brand beyond the screen On Tuesday, May 6 at 6 p.m., Emmy-winning actor Kelsey Grammer famous for his roles in "Cheers" and "Frasier," will visit to discuss his deeply personal memoir The book reflects on the loss of his sister and the lasting emotional impact of her tragic death honest storytelling offers readers a profound exploration of grief RIDGEWOOD — Improvements to the water utility are included among the village's goals in the $64.8 million budget unveiled on April 9 A public hearing is scheduled for May 14 at 7:30 p.m. when the council is expected to vote on the financial plan Total appropriations are up $3.5 million from $61.3 million in 2024 The amount to be raised by taxes is $42.3 million up $2.6 million from $39.7 million in 2024 Residents will experience a $0.021 increase per $100 assessed valuation over the 2024 tax rate which will translate to a tax increase of 3.14% or $149.63 for the owner of a home assessed at $712,700 The municipal budget accounts for 24.01% of the village property tax bill with the village library tax making up an additional $2.9 million The schools and county taxes make up the rest of the tax bill It serves 61,000 customers in the village and in Glen Rock Among the utility's goals for the upcoming year will be: Other village goals included in the budget for the coming year include: The village's $131 million school budget for 2025-2026 constitutes 63% of the municipal property tax bill and is administered separately by the Board of Education A hearing on that budget is scheduled for April 28 RIDGEWOOD — The Village School District public information officer has been named 2025 Communicator of the Year by the The New Jersey School Public Relations Association The award recognizes "exemplary leadership and commitment to enhanced communication and relationship-building between public schools and the stakeholders they serve," according to the state association's president The award was presented during the association's spring workshop on March 13 Christine stands out as one of the best of the best in the field of school communications here in New Jersey,” Smagala said “In addition to executing a comprehensive communications program for Ridgewood’s stakeholders she also leads many district initiatives and maintains close ties with the community.” Corliss' achievements include a redesign of the district website yielding a 1,600% surge in monthly site visits a rebranding initiative that will unify the district’s visual identity expansion of social media engagement and strengthening the district’s ties to the community using surveys social media engagement and public meetings “In addition to bringing excellent work quality Christine’s responsiveness is unparalleled," said School Superintendent Mark Schwarz ensuring that Ridgewood’s communications remain proactive and professional.” Corliss has served as president-elect and vice president of programming overseeing three days of professional development for her colleagues across the state She previously served on the association's membership and advisory committees "Effective communication isn't just about sending a message; it's about building bridges fostering understanding and empowering our community to thrive together," Corliss said "I am honored that these accomplishments were recognized and I look forward to continuing to make those bridges and our ties to our entire community stronger." Corliss has a bachelor's degree in technical writing and psychology from Carnegie Mellon University and a master's in business administration from Seton Hall University For more than 28 years, the association has provided professional development, training, resources, networking and collateral support in all facets of communication to education communities across the state. The association is a chapter of the National School Public Relations Association. For more information, visit njspra.com or email executivedirector@njspra.com Our take on the interconnected global trends that are shaping the business climate for our clients has been involved in major public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the US water sector throughout his career In a discussion with White & Case partner Dolly Mirchandani Michael discusses how PPPs are transforming the US water sector through innovative financing possible solutions for challenges including PFAS contamination and his vision for the industry's future in an increasingly fragmented market Michael also highlights the importance of being a good listener and providing a solution that's geared towards the community in which the project is based White & Case means the international legal practice comprising White & Case LLP a New York State registered limited liability partnership a limited liability partnership incorporated under English law and all other affiliated partnerships This article is prepared for the general information of interested persons Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome Vinson & Elkins advised Ridgewood Infrastructure LLC in the successful formation of Ridgewood Water & Strategic Infrastructure Fund II surpassing its initial $1 billion target fundraise The fund will invest in essential infrastructure assets in the United States lower middle market including infrastructure assets related to water For more information, please speak with our media contacts We help our clients navigate the most complex areas of law That’s why we make it our business to know yours If you've been missing Mediterranean eats on E. Ridgewood Ave. since It's Greek To Me shut its doors last November prepare to indulge in moussaka and branzino once again — because a new Greek restaurant just moved into the downtown space The fledgling spot is called Meltemi Greek Restaurant and its menu revolves around "traditional Greek dishes that capture the essence of the Aegean Sea." "We are open for business!," the team wrote on Facebook "We look forward to serving the Ridgewood community!" The interior of Meltemi Restaurant is upscale-yet-casual Pink floral arrangements adorn the dining room while dishes like herb-crusted lamb chops and stuffed calamari fill the plates At the center of each table are white roses and the walls boast imagery of sweeping seascapes taramosalata (Greek caviar) and more under coastal European decor "We are open every day for lunch and dinner!," the team said online with official operating hours being listed as 11:30 a.m Takeout and delivery options are available through Toast A 'must-try,' authentic Greek restaurant"This is a must-try restaurant for anyone considering their next night out," Michele Paccagnini said in an early Google review of Meltemi Fellow community member Ekaterini DeProspo agreed adding "Finally a restaurant that serves actual Greek food then (from the feta-infused bites to the lively Aegean tunes) Meltemi appears to be the place to be for hungry Bergen eaters 2025 at 7:01 am ETPolice were present at Ridgewood High School on Monday Loving)Police were present at Ridgewood High School on Monday NJ — Whlie rumors of a threat to Ridgewood High school have circulated for years a specific threat that drew a police response to the school on Monday involved a "kill list" for Monday's date Ridgewood Police Chief Forest Lyons and Superintendent of Schools Mark Schwart released a letter to the community late on Monday to explain the police presence at the high school during classes The letter followed up a more vague missive that Schwarz had sent on Monday morning saying that rumors of a "potential threat" at Ridgewood High School have been circulating for years The rumors had pertained to a supposed student who planned to "shoot up" the school on his 18th birthday "These rumors have been circulating for some time and have been we have determined that there is no credible threat against any of our schools We will continue to investigate the origins of these rumors." Schwarz and Lyons said that a "kill list" circulated on social media was traced to a group of students who will be dealt with They said it had no factual basis and turned out to be a "misguided prank." "We are writing to provide follow-up information regarding the joint investigation conducted by the Ridgewood Public Schools and the Ridgewood Police Department into recent reports and rumors of potential school violence at RIdgewood High School "These rumors alleged that a student had developed a plan to commit a school shooting on Monday and had circulated a so-called 'kill list'identifying intended targets The widespread dissemination of these claims—along with an image of the alleged list on social media—understandably caused public concern." "Once the safety of our schools had been verified district administrators and RPD officials worked throughout the day in close coordination to investigate all related reports we have determined that there is no factual basis for the claim that an RHS student planned or intended to commit an act of violence The investigation further indicated that the list in question was not authored by the student named in the rumors We have now confirmed that a different group of students has admitted to creating and distributing this list as a misguided prank This action remains under investigation as a police matter and a school code of conduct matter." "We regard the circulation of false information and any actions that cause public alarm as serious matters While we are unable to share additional details due to confidentiality requirements please be assured that appropriate accountability measures are being taken in accordance with school policy and the law there is no evidence of any current or credible threat to Ridgewood High School or any other Ridgewood Public School We are grateful to those who responsibly brought information forward and remind all members of our school community: if you see or hear something Open communication and shared vigilance are essential to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all." Officials invited those with concerns to join Dr. Schwarz at the virtual Superintendent Coffee on Wednesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. Details are here. Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.