Graduation has a ‘Star Wars’ theme this year

GLEN RIDGE, NJ — It is time once again for Project Graduation. Co-chairing for the second time in three years is Laura Buchmann. Her co-chairwoman is Beth Barry. “They usually try to get someone to chair with someone who hasn’t done it before,” Buchmann said in a telephone interview this week. Project Graduation is an opportunity […]

Health Dept: Meningitis shots needed by students going to Rutgers, Brunswick

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Two Rutgers, New Brunswick, students were diagnosed with bacterial meningitis this spring. As a precaution, the Bloomfield Department of Health has issued an alert to nurses at Bloomfield and Glen Ridge high schools that students planning on attending this college campus in the fall are advised to be vaccinated against meningitis B. “Two […]

Venezia and team win primary by a landslide

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Concluding a tumultuous Bloomfield primary race season, registered Democrat voters chose Mayor Michael Venezia over Councilman Joseph Lopez by a 2-1 margin, according to uncertified figures released by the Essex County Clerk’s Office. The results have Venezia with 4,588 votes, or 67.8 percent, and Lopez with 2,166, or 32 percent. For the three […]

Resident dies in fall in Maine

GLEN RIDGE, NJ — The body of Glen Ridge resident Mark Simon was recovered off the coast of Maine on Monday night. It is presumed Simon fell from a bluff, to his death. According to John Kelly, an Acadia Park spokesman, Simon, 68, fell 40 feet while attempting to take a photograph. His body was carried […]

Jury: Historic train station worth $2.9 million; town vows to appeal

Following two weeks of testimony, a six-member jury in Newark Superior Court determined that Bloomfield would have to pay investor Howard Haberman $2.9 million as fair and just compensation for the historic train station property on Lackawanna Place. The verdict, which was announced Friday, June 3, was 5-1. Haberman owned the property until the township […]

Testimony continues in appraisal hearing for train station

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The civil trial to determine the monetary value of the privately owned property containing the downtown Bloomfield historic train station continued for a second week in Newark Superior Court. Judge Robert Gardner is presiding. The oblong-shaped property being contested runs parallel to the westbound New Jersey Transit tracks, between Glenwood Avenue and Washington […]

Threat of rain cancels the town’s Memorial Day parade

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The Bloomfield Joint Memorial Day Committee cancelled the Memorial Day Parade which was scheduled for Monday, May 30. With a storm headed in from the south, a dire but inaccurate weather forecast for northern New Jersey prompted the cancellation decision to be made early Sunday evening. The parade was to begin at 9 […]

Primary candidates discuss issues of upcoming election

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — During the last few weeks, the Bloomfield candidates running in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, June 7, were interviewed by The Independent Press. Registered Democrats will have an opportunity to vote for a mayoral candidate and three council candidates. The top vote-getters in each category will run against Republican, and possibly independent, candidates […]

Price of historic train station argued in court

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A trial to determine the monetary value of the abandoned historic train station located on Lackawanna Place in Bloomfield, across from the Glenwood Village redevelopment project, began in Newark Superior Court on Wednesday, May 18. The trial is by a jury of six with Judge Robert Gardner presiding. Township officials have hailed the […]