Councilman: Bloomingdale Tax Increase 'Lowest in Years' The Bloomingdale Borough Council unanimously approved a resolution introducing a 2013 municipal budget with a tax levy increase at just over two percent. Kinnelon, Butler Not Ranked Among 'Top' High Schools U.S. News & World Report released their high school rankings Tuesday. Bullying Incidents Down in Kinnelon Schools Interim Superintendent Diane DiGiuseppe discusses the reasons behind the trend. Bloomingdale Girl a Finalist in Honors Program Erin Lime chosen from entrants in Sussex and Passaic counties for the next round of competition…

On Tuesday, the Bloomingdale Council rejected a resolution to bond $2.5 million for flooding repairs in the borough. The borough council did vote in favor of appropriating a total of $50,000 to compensate for budget shortfalls. The council also heard from Paul Darmofalski about the borough's need to map its utilities. Also Tuesday, the Bloomingdale Police Department began asking residents and hikers who park on Glenwild Avenue to hike in the Norvin Green State Forest to be cautious with their belongings as several cars have been broken into recently and items stolen. In Kinnelon, sophomores …

It was a respectful week in the tri-boro and beyond this week as students observed a Week of Respect. All three school districts had special assemblies and we brought you a few photos from the Cassandra's Angel presentation at the Walter T. Bergen School Monday. New Jersey made national news this week as all eyes were on Gov. Chris Christie Tuesday to hear if he would be announcing he was running for president. In the end, he said he has decided not to run, and we'd love to hear what you think about his decision here. The Bloomingdale Board of Education approved for fliers to be sent home for…

On Tuesday, several Butler High School students were honored for spending their summer teaching young English language learners at the Aaron Decker School. Also Tuesday, the Bloomingdale Council an emergency appropriation to clean up the Bloomingdale Animal Shelter, which saw damage in its quarantine building after Hurricane Irene. The council held off on voting on a $2.5 million bond to fund that and other flood-related repairs throughout the borough until a public hearing can be held on Oct. 25. The council also tabled a resolution for an emergency appropriation of $300,000 to pay off …

This week Bloomingdale Board of Education members were able to see the new Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) Law in action as Dr. Terrance Brennan provided his first superintendent's report on two bullying incidents. The board also heard from a parent who asked if more bus stops could be provided to the district's routes so that bussing could be provided to his son. Business Administrator George Hagl said the board has a policy that prevents the district from adding more stops to the routes. Kinnelon police were able to arrest a Paterson man who allegedly robbed a woman's purse, …

Welcome back to Week in Review! With the tropical storm from Hurricane Irene and the first week of the high school football season, we took a couple weeks off. On Monday, the Kinnelon girls volleyball team beat Chatham after Colt Caroline Laton finished the game with 17 kills, 10 digs, two blocks and an ace-a team best. The Bloomingdale Borough Council voted Tuesday to reject the two bids submitted for animal shelter services and instead move forward with competitive contracting. Bloomingdale Regional Animal Shelter Society (BASS) President Ellen Ribitzki said this was just another "stall …

As if natural disasters did not keep the headlines busy enough on Tri-boro Patch this week, we also had a multi-police department search for two alleged burglars on Tuesday. Police were in pursuit of two dark-skinned Hispanic male who were potentially allegedly involved in a home burglary on Harrison Road in Kinnelon. Police apprehended two females outside the residence after the homeowner identified them. While the males are still at-large, police are continuing their investigation and following up on information. Less than two hours earlier on Tuesday, some tri-boro residents felt the earth…

This week, we introduced you to a new series called Dispatches, where we will examine the changing American Dream and what the commonly used term means to the people of the tri-boro. If you have any stories you think would fit the series that you'd like to share, let us know. The Butler Public Library Board of Trustees chose a new library director this week. Rochelle Levin will begin working at the library on Monday. The Bloomingdale Board of Education appointed a new interim superintendent Monday. Dr. Terrance Brennan will assume the role on Sept. 6. A taste of different countries from …

Welcome to Tri-Boro Patch's first Week in Review! Technically, this is not the first Week in Review on this site, but it is the first under our new name, which took effect on Thursday. This week, the Bloomingdale Free Public Library Board of Trustees met and discussed a grant the library received from an anti-trust settlement of the company that produces the George Foreman Grill. The library will be receiving $307.38. On Tuesday, the Borough of Kinnelon picked up a 106-lb. steel beam artifact from the World Trade Center. After it was brought to the borough, OLM Pastor Msgr. John Carroll said …

Happy first week of August! This week, the Bloomingdale Board of Education heard from Engineer Angel Cabello about the district's consideration of pursuing a photovoltaic system at the Walter T. Bergen and Martha B. Day Schools. Business Administrator George Hagl also told the board that the condition of the Walter T. Bergen School roof is worse than district officials expected and that county officials are coming to examine it next week. On Tuesday, Butler Park was filled with hundreds of tri-boro residents as the 14th annual National Night Out event was held. Residents heard performances …

Please excuse the sound of passing cars in my Week in Review introduction at Butler Park. I brought you the Week in Review from that location to remind you that Tuesday, Butler will be hosting its own National Night Out event at the park from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This week, the Bloomingdale Council addressed rumors that a recycling center was being considered for placement behind the senior center. The council also continued to discuss improvements at the Walter T. Bergen School field, speaking specifically about drainage. Bloomingdale Borough Attorney Mark Semeraro also told the mayor and …

If you were lucky enough to not have had to go outside this week, then you would not have known just how hot it was every single day. Most of us were not this lucky, though. The heat wave hit the headlines of not only Kinnelon-Butler Patch, but national news as well. In the tri-boro, we brought you a video story of how residents were beating the heat, tips to avoid fires in the summer, a re-cap of how the heat has affected Kinnelon residents and even a contest to finish a heat-related sentence. We also brought you a story about how the heat could delay a project at the Aaron Decker School to …

If this was a good week for anyone, it was Harry Potter fans, as dozens lined the front of the Kinnelon Mall beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday to catch the premiere of the newest and final Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, at Clearview's Kinnelon 11. We scoured the tri-boro for the biggest local fans prior to the premiere and came up with 13-year-old Butler residents Brian Jewett and Brielle Logan. Earlier in the week, the Kinnelon Council held a special meeting to discuss the underage drinking ordinance being considered for adoption. The ordinance would place …

Americans celebrated the birth of our country on Monday, as Kinnelon residents were able to watch a fireworks display in Smoke Rise. Volunteers helped move furniture and package artifacts at the Butler Museum as they prepare for construction this summer. We brought you a profile of Marie Weber, a Kinnelon volunteer who helps out around town whenever needed, including pruning the bushes at the Kinnelon Public Library. This week, we had four whiz kids who were all honored for achieving Scholars of Distinction for three consecutive years at the Pearl R. Miller School. If you have any questions, …

School is officially out for the summer this week, but we still had a busy news week at Kinnelon-Butler Patch. This week, the Bloomingdale Council adopted its $9.5 million municipal budget after Borough Auditor Dieter Lerch explained it to the public. A Bloomingdale man was found unconscious and covered in blood Tuesday morning at the intersection of Birch Road and Union Avenue. Police are investigating what they believe to be an aggravated assault, while the man is now in stable condition. The Butler Board of Education talked about their goals for next year. Gabriella Montemarano was this …

I was pleased to be joined by a very special four-legged friend in this week's Week in Review introduction video. Red is a Pitbull mix, named appropriately for his beautifully-colored coat, and is getting old (he's between 8 and 10 years old according to volunteers). He's looking for a warm home to comfortably live in for the rest of his life. But Red's quest for a home is not a top story from this week-he's been living at the Kinnelon Animal Shelter for many years. Contact Tri-boro Animal Welfare if you'd like to adopt him. Butler High School seniors graduated this week after an outdoor …

I decided to give you a break from looking at my mug in this week's Week in Review introduction and just bring you the cold, hard review. Frankly, there were too many places I could have shot it to choose from, from the Walter T. Bergen School graduation, or the Bloomingdale Council meeting or Friday's Kinnelon High School graduation. Graduates ranging from kindergarteners to 8th-graders and high school students donned caps and gowns during commencement ceremonies in the tri-boro this week. Also this week, 13-year-old Brandon Bott presented a petition with over 700 signatures to the …

Excited carnivalgoers were lucky as the weather held up long enough Saturday night for the Kinnelon Carnival to open up for the second and final night at Kinnelon High School this year. The carnival wasn't all that happened this week though. Primary elections were held in the tri-boro, and across New Jersey Tuesday. The tri-boro did not have any contested races, which may have contributed to low voter turnout. The Bloomingdale Board of Education met and discussed how the search continues for a new district superintendent. Emily Mazurkiewicz was this week's Whiz Kid for doubling her girl scout…

The Butler Veterinary Hospital opened its doors after a ribbon-cutting at its new location, 417 Main Street, Saturday. We were there to talk to Dr. Dawn Garro about why she decided to open the hospital in downtown Butler. This week, we brought you a story about how the entire Bloomingdale Police Department participated in a fitness challenge which included a three-mile run through Glenwild Lake. Two missing hikers who had gotten lost in the woods were found by the Kinnelon Police Department, search and rescue teams and several other local departments, with additional help from the Morris …

As I shared with you in my first-ever Editor's Notebook, I got a very special opportunity this week to participate in the Walter T. Bergen School Career Day, where business professionals were able to have mock one-on-one interviews with eighth graders. We shot the intro to this week's Week in Review from our "desk" at Career Day. Earlier in the week, Martin Wall was officially appointed to serve as the new Butler High School principal by the Butler Board of Education. This week, we brought you the news that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick would be coming to Butler to sign …