School Rankings, Train Accident and American Legion Top August News

While was listed in the top 100 schools in the state of New Jersey in 2010, it has since dropped 77 positions from 27 to 104 in 2011 according to the New Jersey Monthly’s biennial report. 

According to the report, RDHS had 219.5 students enrolled with an average class size of 24.9. The school has a graduation rate of 93.25%, an average combined SAT score of 1591, and 18 AP classes offered.

The exact reasoning for the fall is yet to be determined as River Dell had actually imrpoved in four of the magazine's rankings since 2010. At this time, Superintendent Patrick Fletcher and the rest of the administration are seeking a cause for the change from New Jersey Monthly.

A 54-year-old River Edge resident, later identified as Pastora Reyes, by New Jersey Transit spokeswoman Nancy Snyder, died after being  on the Pascack Valley line at New Bridge Landing station earlier this month.

Reyes was struck on the west side of the train tracks by a Hoboken-bound train. According to police and witnesses she was not walking at a grade crossing and the train engineer, while applying the emergency brakes was unable to stop in time. Following the accident, Reyes was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center with severe head injuries but succumbed to her injuries.

With a 329-page document by Brinkerhoof Environmental Services providing an inconclusive report for the  the governing body decided to move forward with seeking demolition estimates this week.

The  was initially intended to determine if there is an underground oil tank on site along with any use of lead paint or asbestos inside the building. Brinkerhoof's research and their $2400 report resulted in finding no historical data to prove the existence of the three environmental concerns. Additional testing could be performed to determine the status of the three environmental concerns, although at this time it is not likely.

On July 22, Orsino was one of two men that  to rescue 82-year-old Elizabeth Moore of River Edge after she apparently hit the wrong pedal exiting a car wash and plunging the vehicle into the river. Spotless Auto Laundries employee John Goez of Teaneck was joined by Orsino in rescuing the woman as water flooded the sinking car. The River Edge Police Department which recognized the efforts of Sgt. Curt Wilhelm and Officers Michael McGinty and Michael Varrecchia in their week-long investigation into the  and . Officer Dennis Griffith was recognized by the State Attorney General's Division of Highway Safety for being responsible for one-third of all DUI arrests in the borough during 2011. Officer Gary Faustini now has a new role to utilize his talents in after having been promoted to the rank of sergeant and fill the opening left by Sgt. William Haggis who recently retired.

While audience members and the New Milford Zoning Board heard from traffic engineer Elizabeth "Betsy" Dolan Tuesday night on the possible traffic impact and trip generation by the development of the United Water property, the Oradell governing body listened to its own residents concerns and considered what steps could be made on their part.

With a struggling economy, tight budgets, and empty storefronts along the Kinderkamack Road corridor in River Edge, the governing body may seek input from local businesses regarding the creation of a Special Improvement District (SID).

The SID is a model for managing the municipalities commercial corridor by providing business and property owners the ability to organize as a single entity, raise funds for activities that enhance or expand upon municipal services, and through a District Management Corporation, to manage themselves to become a more effective destination for commerce.

With unanimous approval, Subway franchise owner Sanjeet Patel was granted a hardship relief to open his new sandwich shop on Kinderkamack Road after  to Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Patel, who operates Subway franchises in Hoboken, Weehawken and Paramus, proposed to refit the vacant 957-square foot  storefront into a Subway sandwich shop, with seats for 14 customers and an externally lit sign on the front of the building. His Kinderkamack Road location, between  and , would be open Monday through Saturday, 7am to 9pm and Sundays 7am to 8pm.

In the beginning of the month, Gov. Chris Christie tapped Oradell native Julia Orlando as a direct appointment to the Interagency Council on Homelessness. She is one of 15 New Jersey residents who were appointed to the Council and the lone representative from Bergen County.

Orlando is the current Director of the Bergen County Housing, Health and Human Services Center where she manages the nutrition program, shelter beds and daily drop-in programs.

Similar to many other districts,  will begin transitioning from the New Jersey core curriculum standards to the national common core standards. Students will take part in a new science curriculum restructuring, entitled "Physics First" where freshman will now begin with learning physics instead of biology which will become their sophomore-level course. Chemistry would become the junior-class level instruction. 

The middle school recently completed upgrading two science rooms and a special education classroom. The science rooms have undergone a complete renovation with new equipment and the special education room (formerly utilized by the ) will now be set aside for a life-skills program.

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