Debris Chokes Passaic River: Post-Storm Visit Raises Questions for Berkeley Heights Mayor and Council
Debris Chokes Passaic River: Post-Storm Visit Raises Questions for Berkeley Heights Mayor and Council -Michael Leblond Last week’s town council meeting brought renewed attention to debris in the Passaic River, with one resident saying an eight-foot section of fencing was swept away in the July 14 flood. The following day, I visited Passaic River Park at the end of Lawrence...
Three Floods, Zero Answers
Joseph and Jacqueline Cinque Are Residents of Berkeley Heights, NJ Recently, my husband and I attended the August 7th township meeting regarding the bond that the town seeks to remedy storm damage. I was particularly disappointed to not see anything mentioned on measures that can be taken to mitigate future flooding, particularly in the neighborhoods of Briarwood Dr E, Lawrence,...
Governor Murphy Visits Berkeley Heights After Deadly Storm Hits Union County
Governor Phil Murphy visited Berkeley Heights on Tuesday following a fast-moving storm that caused serious damage across parts of Union and Somerset counties. Speaking alongside local officials and first responders, Murphy described the impact bluntly: “We got crushed.” He confirmed that two people died during the storm, including someone in a vehicle that was swept away. Some injuries were reported...
The Future of Turf Fields in New Jersey
It’s interesting, sometimes, the things you find when you’re looking for something else… the part to the broken item you finally threw away a month before, the twenty in the pocket of a jacket you haven’t worn for a year, or dozens of tiny paper cutouts of penguins with hockey sticks drawn by children when they were young, and stashed...
Zoning Board Approves Westminster Project
Residents expressed concerns about the Westminster project during last week’s Zoning Board Meeting, and the Township’s push-back on the project ranged from being anemic to nonexistent. The Zoning Board was threatened with a lawsuit, and the Township had previously allocated $10,000 for a defense; however, the Board approved the project. Deegan did not vote, West abstained, and Pereda voted “No”....
Westminster Project Coming Back A Year Later
The Westminster property is back on the Zoning Board agenda for 09/26/2024. The township vetoed the original project, and the builder is returning with a proposed settlement agreement. Interestingly, it is a meeting connected to yet another significant issue on a Back to School Night, and, unlike the Board of Education – the township does not allow for remote participation....
Town Council and Environmental Committee Members Discuss Trees, Water and Zombies
Town Council Members Manuel Cuoto, Jeff Varenrin, and Members of the Environmental Committee (Former Town Council Member Alvaro Medeiros, Rich Leister, and John Leo) discuss Trees and Strategies Surrounding Water Concerns in Berkeley Heights. See All Night Watch Episodes See All Content Connected to Environmental Concerns
Is Curbside Recycling a Scam?
The Skeptics May Have a Point.. As the Western World seeks to explore recycling of ever more complex materials (lithium-ion batteries, anyone?), it may be worthwhile asking how we’re doing on just the simple materials. Where did the scam idea come from? Many skeptics repeat this, which implies that they have also given up and thrown recyclables in the trash:...
Why Are We Flooding?
Increased Flooding and What We Can Do. I’ve addressed it all in my own short time in this region: standing water after a “sort of” wet monsoon, flash flooding from tropical storms, and basement flooding. We have to ask, why are we flooding? There are a few reasons, but perception is the first thing to consider. We are hyper-aware of...
Resident Presentation During the 06/22/2023 Zoning Board on Westminster
We are better served when we use evidence to hold expert opinion accountable… In this clip, a resident provides the Zoning Board with important information about the environmental impact of the Westminster project. Listen carefully to how the expert responds to the resident’s presentation and how the resident counters with on-the-ground knowledge of the area. One thing I would advise...
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