Mayoral Challenge, Farmers Market, Police Speed Survey Top This Week's News

D'Urso Challenging Sobkowicz For Washington Township Mayor Seat

Washington Township Councilman Joe D'Urso has put his name in to run for mayor this year, and incumbent Janet Sobkowicz is also running to keep her seat.

Both officials are Republicans who previously ran together for their current positions. Councilman Fred Goetz, who also previously ran with them, is running on D'Urso's ticket to keep his seat.

New Farmers Market Coming to Westwood

Westwood is going to be home to a new weekly farmers market starting later this month.

The market, organized by the Westwood Chamber of Commerce, was given the go-ahead by borough officials at their council meeting Tuesday. It will feature local vendors selling food and demonstrations from chefs, according to chamber Executive Director Joseph Abou-Daoud. It won't "turn into a flea market," he said.

The farmers market will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays in the commuter parking lot at the borough Municipal Complex. They plan to hold the markets through November.

Westwood Police: 'Perception' of Speeding Worse Than Reality

The worst speeders in the Sand Road area of Westwood are the neighborhood's own residents, according to Westwood Police Capt. Frank Durante.

Westwood Police conducted a speed survey on Sand Road during February and March following complaints from neighborhood residents that drivers were racing down the road to cut between Old Hook Road and Harrington Avenue.

Police spent three weeks tracking the speeds of cars for a few hours each day on Sand Road, gravitating toward the morning and evening rush hours. The average speed police clocked was 23.59 miles per hour, Mayor John Birkner said. The survey included a total of 546 vehicles, Durante said.

Federal Program May Provide Flood Insurance Discount in Westwood

A federal program could save Westwood residents 10 percent on their flood insurance rates, Councilman Ray Arroyo said Tuesday night.

The National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System offers a point system similar to that used by Sustainable Jersey, but with flood mitigation, according to Arroyo. The benefits of the program are reduced flood insurance rates for property owners in flood plains while simultaneously taking some action to better prepare for floods, he said.

Broadway Improvement Work Could Start This Summer

A project designed to ease traffic congestion in downtown Westwood could get started by the time schools let out, if everything goes well, borough engineer Stephen Boswell said Tuesday.

The plan calls for the intersections of Broadway with Irvington Street, Washington Avenue and Jefferson Avenue to be upgraded with new signals that will allow drivers to continue along Broadway while trains pass. Currently, traffic is stopped in all four directions at the three intersections whenever a train comes.

Eye Level Learning Center Opening in Washington Township

Another new business is coming to the Washington Town Center.

The Washington Township Planning Board unanimously voted to approve an application from Eye-Level Learning Center to open in one of the strip mall's vacant storefronts during their meeting Wednesday night.

Steve Winick, the applicant and Eye Level franchisee, said he plans to open May 1, the same day Original Pizza and Dunkin Donuts are also scheduled to reopen in the strip mall.

Four Candidates Vying For Two Hillsdale Council Seats

There are two seats on the Hillsdale Council up for election this year and four candidates — including two current council members from opposing parties — seeking the positions.

Councilwoman Chris Looes, an incumbent, and Paul Muller will be running for the Democrats. Republicans Frank Pizzella, a current councilman, and John MacEwen, a former councilman, will also be seeking the three-year-term seats.

Westwood Council Decides New Smoking Ban Not Needed

The Westwood Council decided against introducing a new ordinance banning smoking in parks Tuesday because it's already prohibited.

Officials had been considering a new ordinance at the suggestion of Global Advisors on Smokefree Policy (GASP), an anti-smoking group, and the borough's Recreation Advisory Board and Board of Health.

State law has banned smoking in "indoor public places" including government buildings, though towns can make stricter laws, a GASP rep said. Borough ordinance already prohibits smoking "in any indoor or outdoor park or recreation facility."

Four Candidates Seek Two Westwood Council Seats

Four candidates have filed to run for the two open seats on the Westwood Council this year.

Incumbent Robert Miller and Robert Bicocchi will be running for the Republicans. Ruth Nass and Angelica Perkins will be running for the Democrats.

Councilwoman Ingrid Quinn, whose term expires at the end of the year, is not seeking to keep her seat.

Washington Township Council Introduces $12.3M Budget

The Washington Township Council voted to introduce a $12.3 million budget during their meeting Monday night.

The $12,393,000 budget would include a tax levy of $8,901,699, excluding the library's portion. Taxes would rise $31 for the owner of the average township home assessed at $534,000. The majority of the raise — $27 for the average homeowner — was caused by the high number of tax appeals, according to Mayor Janet Sobkowicz.