Acupuncture in Madison, NJ

The Roxbury School District will begin the next school year with a young new superintendent who brings extensive experience in supporting the mental and emotional health of students in three New Jersey counties.

Frank Santora, currently an assistant superintendent for pupil personnel services in the Madison School District, has been hired to lead Roxbury. His unanimous appointment was announced at the Monday meeting of the township Board of Education.

Santora "has broad and deep experience as an educator, with a focus on expanding and maximizing learning opportunities for all students," board President Leo Coakley said in the announcement. "His work has included bolstering support for both special education and general education students."

Santora, 38, who previously worked in the Saddle Brook and Westfield school districts, will begin his new post on July 1 at a salary of $205,000, public records show.

He will replace the retiring Loretta Radulic, who announced her retirement in January after seven years leading the district, one of Morris County's largest with more than 3,000 students.

In addition to announcing Santora's hiring, the board on Monday offered a moment of silence for Radulic's son, Cameron, 24, who died on Saturday.

"Roxbury will forever hold a special place in my heart," Radulic wrote in her retirement letter. "I am grateful for having the honor to lead this amazing district."

'Hand up,' not handout:Family welcomed to Roxbury student-built Habitat for Humanity home

Prior to Madison, Santora served as the director of special services and building principal in the Saddle Brook school district, and as a school psychologist and member of the child study team in the Westfield's public school district.

He earned his doctoral degree in educational leadership from Saint Elizabeth University in 2014.

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Heather Shelby and her family, who lived at 91 Woodland Road in Madison since 1976, made the difficult decision to sell the home after her mother was diagnosed with dementia.

“My mother first forgot who I was five years ago,” said Heather Shelby. “I lost any lucid time she had left during the pandemic when her care facility went into complete isolation.”

It was a tumultuous time, worsened by the fact that their home — known as the Wingate House — was historic, built in the 18th century. As the eighth family that had ever lived there, the Shelbys not only believed they were caretakers of a local landmark, but some of their best memories of their mother were bound to the home. They sought a buyer that would promise to preserve the Colonial-era home where some believe General George Washington marched by en route to ending the war in Yorktown, Virginia.

“Mentally she‘s not here. But I always thought as long as the house is there a piece of her would always be there,” Shelby said.

So the Shelby family sold the home this past April to Steve McCann, owner of Historic Homes by McCann, a development company that specializes in restoration. All seemed to go according to plan. However, Madison’s town historian Scott Spelker informed her family weeks ago that the new owner had applied for a demolition permit. Needless to say, the Shelby family felt betrayed.

“We left antiques with them, including an antique cradle my mom used to rock us in because they had just had a baby,” Shelby said. “We left a doll that my mom had handmade.”

Madison has a small collection of surviving 18th-century homes. One of them — the Sayre House at 31 Ridgedale Avenue — is individually listed on the National Register. Five others on Ridgedale Ave, have landmark protection as part of the Bottle Hill Historic District.

The Wingate Home was never landmarked, although the family had considered it. “We talked about that as a family and we were concerned about how much time it would take,” Shelby said. “We had to put time and money toward my mom’s care. If we weren’t facing what we were facing, we would have.”

Shelby also said that, because the house was in need of repairs, she feared a landmark designation could scare off potential suitors who might not want to deal with a preservation commission’s oversight.

“It didn’t seem like the best way to get the house sold,” Shelby said.

A handful of homes in Morris County share a common history as places where Revolutionary War soldiers and generals were quartered. New Jersey was a major battleground because it was located between the two strongholds, Philadelphia and New York City. At the Sayre House, there is evidence that General Anthony Wayne was billeted there. Most famous is Jockey Hollow in Morristown where General George Washington overwintered. The Shelbys believe the Wingate House could have been used as an inoculation clinic based on a painting that was commissioned by the home’s first owner. Though that claim hasn’t been substantiated yet.

Without a local, state, or national landmark designation, there is no legal maneuver that can prevent the demolition. The town historian Spelker, who organized an online petition, has been trying to persuade McCann, even inviting him to a public forum.

“I was just trying to appeal to him that he could go down in history as the guy who saved a Revolutionary War house in Madison,” Spelker said. “I want to put the word out there for everyone to know. Because with enough groundswell of support maybe, just maybe, the builder will decide not to tear it down.”

The news of this proposed demolition comes in the wake of the loss of an 18th-century home in Maplewood, Jersey Digs reported. Spelker, who is a realtor, said that tearing down a historic home on a large acreage for the purpose of building a subdivision is common. But tearing down one a small lot and replacing it with a newly built one is a fairly new phenomenon in real estate.

“It doesn’t usually make financial sense to tear them down,” Spelker said.

8/26/23 Update:

Since publication, Mayor Richard Conley published a statement claiming that the township worked with McCann to save the home, but said township’s construction official “determined the house was stucturally unsound and unsafe.”

“The poor structural integrity also made relocating the house to another site impossible,” Conley said.

McCann told the Madison Eagle that after two different inspections, it was determined that the historic building didn’t comply with the current building code, meaning the renovations “would be so extensive that any historical components of the house would be lost.”

RIDGEWOOD — Mark Schwarz, superintendent of the five-school, 2,560-student Madison school district in Morris County, has been named superintendent of the Ridgewood school district, the largest in Bergen County, with 10 schools and 5,705 students.

Board of Education President Michael Lembo announced the appointment at Monday's meeting. Schwarz will join the district July 1. His starting salary is $260,000.

Schwarz, 43, will succeed Thomas Gorman, who announced his resignation from the district in March 2022 to become superintendent of the Montville school district, ironically in Morris County. Leonard Fitts was named interim superintendent in Ridgewood in May 2022 and has been serving in that capacity since July, its first Black superintendent.

The announcement comes a month after the Ridgewood Board of Education voted to initiate a "later school start" for its high school students next fall, among the few in Bergen County to undertake this still-debated policy, which was embraced this past fall by the entire state of California.

Schwarz grew up in Green and Lafayette townships in Sussex County and was a shared-time high school student between High Point High School and Sussex County Vocational Technical School.

Schwarz has a bachelor's degree from Ramapo College of New Jersey and a master's from Seton Hall University, where he is also a doctoral candidate.

SUPERINTENDENT RESIGNSRidgewood schools superintendent is leaving to run Montville district

He has served as superintendent of Madison Public Schools since August 2017. He previously served the Rockaway Borough Board of Education in Morris County for five years: as vice principal from July 2012 to June 2013, principal from June 2013 to June 2015, and superintendent from July 2015 to August 2017.

Previously, Schwarz served Jefferson Township Public Schools for nine years as a high school teacher; the K-12 supervisor of social studies, visual art, and technology; and the founding head coach of the district’s volleyball programs.

Schwarz is married with two children.

LATER START APPROVEDRidgewood approves later start time for high school this fall, schedule details to follow

The Ridgewood district has been debating a later school start for middle school and high school students for the last year, part of a national trend based on recommendations dating back to an American Academy of Pediatrics September 2014 paper "School Start Times for Adolescents."

The report argued that adolescents go through a temporary disruption of their circadian sleep rhythms, need to sleep later, and benefit from starting middle school classes no earlier than 8 a.m. and high school no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

Ridgewood is not the first to adopt a later start. Tenafly converted in 2019. Chatham High School in Morris County and Princeton High School in Mercer County have also switched to later starts.

Patch has your complete guide to Independence Day fireworks shows, parades and other celebrations around Madison.

MADISON, NJ — Independence Day is quickly approaching, which means it's time to fire up that barbecue and find out what Fourth of July fireworks and festivities are going on in and around Madison for 2023.

We gathered up all the fireworks shows, parades and festivals happening in and around the area so you can start planning now.

Here's what's in store this July 4 in and around Madison:

July 4 Festivities

Mendham Township Fireworks:

Find out what's happening in Madisonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Mendham Township will celebrate the Fourth of July with a bang! On Friday, June 30, beginning at 6:30 p.m., join them for fireworks, entertainment, food, and tons of community fun at Mosle Field.

Entertainment:

In addition to the scheduled entertainment, there will be a bounce house and obstacle course for the kids to enjoy. Kids can use the bounce house and run through the obstacle course for $10.

Gates open at 6 p.m., so make sure to arrive early for a good parking spot.

Fireworks in Parsippany-Troy Hills:

The Parsippany-Troy Hills concert will begin at 7 p.m. on July 4, followed by a fireworks display. The rain date is July 5. The event will take place at Parsippany Hills High School.

Chatham Borough Fireworks:

In Chatham Borough, the Fourth of July parade begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Morristown National Historical Park:

Morristown National Historical Park and the Washington Association of New Jersey will celebrate the park's 90th anniversary and Independence Week with a variety of programs from July 4 to 9, all at the park's Washington Headquarters.

Celebrate the Declaration of Independence with July Fourth activities beginning at noon on July 4 at the park's Washington's Headquarters grounds with a "Warm-Up for the Declaration" featuring eighteenth-century stories, jokes, and riddles, followed by the Declaration's reading at 1 p.m. on the grounds of the Washington’s Headquarters Museum.

For more information, click here.

Lake Hopatcong Fireworks:

More Details: The fireworks in Lake Hopatcong are being launched from the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club, with the club having hosted its yearly display since the 1950s. Residents around and visitors to the state's largest lake, like to drop their anchors for a view within the yacht club; or at restaurants on the water.

Town of Dover Fireworks:

More Details: Food will be available for purchase, and seating will be limited to the bleachers or track.

East Hanover Fireworks:

More Details: Food trucks will be available starting at 7 p.m., and the fireworks show will begin at dusk.

Randolph fireworks:

On July 8, Randolph will host a fireworks display at the County College of Morris. The overall event, which includes rides, games, food trucks, and more, runs from 6 to 11 p.m., with fireworks starting at 9:45 p.m. The rain date is set for July 9.

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Plenty of teams talk the talk about sharing the basketball and about how much every member of the roster plays an integral role in the group’s fortunes, but Delbarton this season has definitely walked that talk.

Walking, quite literally, from a spot on the bench to the scorer’s table to check in as one of the more valued reserves in New Jersey.

Complete Box Score »

Junior guard Lincoln Zimmermann rarely ever starts for Delbarton, thus is merely a clapping spectator during all the pregame fanfare of starting-lineup announcements. But no worries there, because he receives his share of hardy claps sooner or later.

Zimmermann came off the bench to help top-seeded Delbarton carve out a double-digit lead in the first quarter on its way to a 58-36 victory over ninth-seeded Madison for its second straight Morris County Tournament title and the program’s eighth overall Saturday evening at County College of Morris in Randolph.

And after the Green Wave (20-4) had secured that championship repeat with near-surgical precision, super sub Zimmermann was named MVP of the tournament by averaging 12.5 points in four tournament games

Senior forward Nick Modugno and junior guard Michael Van Raaphorst scored 13 points apiece and Zimmermann contributed 10 points and also three rebounds, three assists and two steals to become an instant poster boy for every reserve in Morris County who consider his role incidental.

“It just says that we’re really well-rounded. Everyone plays super well with each other and we have great chemistry,” Zimmermann said. “No matter who gets in, everyone has been able to play with each other.”

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Delbarton did that in the opening quarter with a sense of precision that would have made the acrobats from Cirque du Soleil feel clumsy.

The Green Wave executed with that precision on both ends of the floor to force eight first-quarter turnovers on their way to a 17-0 lead that was finally interrupted on a 3-pointer from Madison junior Jackson Maloney with seven seconds left in the period. Madison (18-8) cuts its mistakes considerably the following period, though Delbarton kept on motoring to build a 34-8 leas at the half.

Zimmermann scored nine points in that opening half while Van Raaphorst scored seven and also contributed three of his five rebounds, two of his four assists and all three of his steals, and Mike Vaccaro dropped in six of his eight points, pulled down three of his six rebounds and had two of his four assists. All told, give Green Wavers compiled multiple assists.

Maloney finished with 14 points and Tommy Bland had 12 for Madison, making just its second MCT final appearance and seeking a first title. The young Dodgers made a remarkable run to reach this game as the ninth seed, but hit a wall against an opponent with more big-game experience.

“It was awesome. We had so much energy coming out and our defense was lights out,” Modugno said. “It was all about energy and defense. We did that and just kept our foot on the gas the whole game.

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“It’s a big stage, big moment. It takes a little while to get into it. We know that from last year,” he said. “This year we kind of already knew the ins and outs.”

Madison was faced with the chase of their lives after that scintillating start by the Green Wave, but it did not shrink from the task. Maloney epitomized the Dodgers’ no-quit code in the third quarter with eight of his 14 points and also three rebounds, an assist and one steal. Bland scored seven points to help Madison outscore Delbarton, 17-12, in the period.

Clearly, though, Delbarton had already stated its case and did so with a lot of different people stepping up to stir the pot.

“They care about each other and they work hard together and they’re always pulling for each other. There are no egos involved,” said Delbarton’s Dan Whalen, who earned his sixth county title as head coach of the Green Wave.

“These guys have been really focused on what we’re doing. We’ve played really well the last two weeks,” he said. “They were really dialed in and executed. Plus, they’re really unselfish. All of our guys contribute in some way.”

Delbarton has now won eight straight games and 13 of their last 15 as it prepares for the North, Non-Public A tournament as the No. 2 seed. The Green Wave will play one more recently added regular-season game Tuesday against Immaculata in preparation of the playoffs.

“We’re in a really good rhythm. I don’t want five days off and run the risk of getting stale,” Whalen said.

Madison also is a No. 2 seed in North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 and will be home against Newark Central in the first round Tuesday. The Dodgers will be drawing upon their performances in wins against top-seeded West Morris, fifth-seeded Mendham and eighth-seeded Morris Knolls.

Meanwhile, Delbarton will just try to maintain the level of play it has now for several weeks running.

“We have our game plan. Not really gonna change it for anybody at this point. We just do what we do,” Modugno said.

We’ll give the floor now to the off-the-bench MVP for the last word on that matter:

“We all just want the best for each other,” Zimmermann said. “No one cares about their own stats. We just want to win. That’s our main motive.”

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