Paramus in 2012: A Look Back on July through December

July

Paramus Valedictorian Killed While Jogging

The valedictorian of the Paramus High Class of 2010 died Saturday when she was struck by a pickup truck while jogging in the Poconos. Gabrielle Reuveni, 20, was out for her daily run at her family's vacation home in Pennsylvania when she was struck and killed by a man driving a Chevrolet pickup truck.

Developer Destroys Zabriskie House To Make Luxurious Homes

A piece of African-American and Bergen County history was turned to rubble after a Paramus developer chose not to preserve the 18th century structure slated to become a museum. The rare Dutch sandstone known as the Zabriskie Tenant House which stood on Dunkerhook Road was once home to the prominent Zabriskies, one of Bergen County's founding families. It was also once home to the Bennett and Stewart families, slaves that built the structure in 1790.

Paramus High Principal Officially Resigns from District

After three years as principal of Paramus High School, Kurt Karcich officially resigned effective July 31 after accepting the same position at Point Pleasant Borough High School in Ocean County. A month earlier a large group of parents, teachers students came to a Paramus Board of Education meeting on his behalf asking the members to renew his contract. The contract, which would have secured tenure for his career, was not renewed.

August

BOE Hires Interim High School Principal

Paramus School Board selected Anthony Panico to be the new interim principal of Paramus High School for the 2012-2013 school year. Panico is a retired educator who served as principal of Northern Valley Regional High School in Old Tappan for 22 years from 1984-2006. He came out of retirement to accept a one year deal at Paramus High School at the rate of $600 per diem. There are no benefits or pension included with his contract.

Cement Truck Topples into Massive Construction Site Hole

The Tanis Concrete truck was making a delivery to a single family home being built on Nevada Street in Paramus when it fell into the construction site. Although the truck sustained serious damage as a result of the mishap, its driver was uninjured, according to a witness at the scene. 

September

Paramus Students Honor 9/11 Responders with Goody Bags

Students from Paramus High School, East Brook and West Brook middle schools joined together in honor of our troops and first responders this week taking part in Operation Goody Bag at Time Square in NYC. The students have been involved in the Goody Bag Exchange for a number of years. The students along with their chaperones brought 1,000 goody bags for the FDNY to honor first responders of 9/11.

UNIQLO Opens to Hundreds at Garden State Plaza

More than 500 people lined up inside Garden State Plaza to be the first to enter the brand new two-story 43,000 square foot UNIQLO store, the Japanese clothing retailer which held a big grand opening event to mark the Paramus opening. Paramus joined a growing list of more than 1,100 major cities all around the world to be home to a UNIQLO store.

Paramus Houses Bergen's First Project Medicine Drop Box

Paramus Police Department became the first in the county to serve as a Project Medicine Drop location. State and local officials joined to officially mark this new tier of this expanding statewide initiative that disposes of unused drugs safely and helps prevent young people from a path towards prescription drug addiction. In just a year's time the initiative expanded from three drop boxes at three police departments in the state up to 27 locations.

CareOne Receives Unanimous Approval for Paramus Road Location

After spending the summer hearing testimony and reviewing initial and amended renderings, the Paramus Zoning Board of Adjustment unanimously approved CareOne's application Thursday night to construct a two-part project for an Alzheimer's residential complex on Paramus Road.

October

Latest Luring Incident Reported in Paramus

Throughout the month of October approximately 15 luring incidents had been reported across Bergen County and Paramus Police received its first reported incident on Oct. 23. According to police a 10-year old boy had been approached by a man driving along Lucky Hollow Drive in a black or gray vehicle. The man asked the youth if he needed a ride home and subsequently drove off when the boy did not respond, police said.

Hurricane Sandy hit Paramus hard leaving about half the town without power, downed trees all over the borough In the days that followed the storm schools remained closed as well as most businesses. Garden State Plaza mall was reopened and served as a warming center and charging center for those without power.  

Paramus Remembers Gabby During Annual Run

This year's Lou Lanzalotto Memorial 5k Run at the Terri Roemer Paramus Run was held in honor of PHS alum and local runner Gabrielle Reuveni, a 20-year old resident who was killed when she was struck by a drunk driver while jogging in July. Friends and Family turned out donning purple "Run for Gabby" shirts to participate in the race.

DPW Workers Band Together for One of Their Brothers

Paramus DPW workers put together a fundraiser for one of their very own workers Sean Cullen, a husband and father of two young boys battling Hodgkins Lympohona. The efforts were widely received by the community and the fundraiser dinner was sold out.

November

Blue Laws Reinstated in Paramus After Two-Week Suspension

Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera stood behind the Blue Laws following County Executive Kathleen Donovan’s urging of the governor to suspend the Sunday shopping ban in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Paramus malls and shops were open on two consecutive Sundays during the Blue Law suspension. After the first Sunday malls were open, Donovan fought Paramus in court over the suspension and a county judge ruled Friday to allow stores to open once again this past Sunday. Mayor LaBarbiera publicly thanked the governor for reinstating the Blue Laws  stating that it is “absolutely essential for protecting our quality of life.”

Democratic Majority Takes over Borough Council

The Nov. 6 election brought change to Paramus as voters elected Democratic political newcomers Patsy Verile and Donna Warburton giving the council Democratic majority.  Warburton and Verile led the unofficial ballot results with 5,256 and 5,022 votes over Republican incumbents Michael Rohdieck (4,671) and Dennis Arslanian (4,580). In the first-ever November Board of Education  residents chose to return incumbents Bernadette McCausland (2,056) and Anthony Feorenzo Jr. (1,953) to the Board of Education along with newcomer Alison Donoghue (2,813).

Gas Demands Cause Gridlock on Rte. 17

Cars backed up for miles on Route 17 in Paramus as people came from all over to fill up their tanks as the gas shortage in the area continued in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Dozens without vehicles lined up at the pumps each armed with one or two red canisters hoping to bring back gasoline to keep their generators running at home as they continue to go without power for several days.

December

Winter Wonderland Arrives in Paramus

 Paramus held its annual tree lighting at Borough Hall in honor of the upcoming holidays. The Paramus High School choir along with entertainer Ron Albanese kept the chill away from the crowd's spirits while waiting for Santa, Frosty, Rudolph and special guests, the Caruso and Bonastia families, to arrive and help light the tree.

Maple Street Hotel Proposal Denied; Residents Applaud Ruling

After more than a year of lengthy hearings, Oster Apartments was denied its request to build a 135-unit, six-story extended stay hotel on a quiet street off Spring Valley Road. A group of residents, who had pleaded with Zoning Board members to vote against the proposed hotel, cheered and embraced each other when the decision came down.

Paramus School Community Looks to Cope in Wake of Newtown Tragedy

 The Paramus school community immediately took all necessary measures to help its staff members, students, parents and all in the commuity cope in the wake of the horrific tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. The district's counselors formed a crisis team to serve at all schools for those who needed assistance. Parents came together to discuss safety concerns and numerous people in the school community donated stuffed animals and gift cards to be sent to the Newtown school district.

Get the first half of the look back 2012 from January to June here.