NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ – The Board of Education (BOE) introduced its $54.7 million tentative school budget for the 2024-2025 school year at its Thursday, March 14 meeting. Finance Committee Chairwoman Amanda Marano presented the tentative budget.
The total budget of $54.7 million includes debt service cost of approximately $4 million. Approximately $46.3 million will be raised by taxes. Marano explained that the district developed the spending plan within the 2 % cap. She noted that the district received additional state aid which is factored in the tentative budget. However, the state aid was less than the district anticipated. The tentative budget uses healthcare adjustments and banked cap. “We’re using $1,728,000.00 less of surplus and the remaining surplus is 1.99%,” she said. The max surplus that the state allows is 2%.
The tax levy increase for the tentative budget is 2.87%, which equates to $1,211,470.00. The estimated tax increase for the average borough home including the debt service will be $282 per year. This includes the new bond projects from 2023.
The tentative budget will now go to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools for approval.
A public hearing will be held at the New Providence High/Middle School Media Center on April 25, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
]]>NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ -- In her three full varsity seasons as a member of the New Providence girls basketball team, Jasmine Miller filled a variety of roles, and she didn't have to score a lot to play an integral part on championship squads.
Miller, a Class of 2024 forward, could take on the responsibilities of being a scorer and creating mismatches with her ability, at her 5-foot-10 height, to shoot from outside. She could make the smart pass to an open teammate. She could control the defensive glass. And she could block shots.
In fact, in games where she may not have attempted many shots herself, she was always a threat to swat away the shot of an opponent, becoming a critical ingredient of the Pioneers' state-renowned defense in the process.
"For the last three seasons, Jasmine has led our team in rebounds and blocked shots, and certainly has the most blocked shots of anyone in my tenure," New Providence coach Cap Pazdera said.
In her just completed senior season, Miller blocked 76 shots, an average of 2.5 per game. In her career, she had 160 blocked shots. As a senior, she nearly doubled the number of shots she had rejected the year before (42).
Miller, who finished with 544 career points, had exactly the same number of points and rebounds as a senior -- 189 (6.3 per game).
"Jasmine is not one who craves the spotlight, but is ever so deserving for all the little things that she has done over her career," Pazdera said. "These little things may not have been recognized by the ordinary basketball fan, but anyone who knows the sport knows that Jazz is a major reason why we have had success over the last three seasons."
Those last three seasons have included: three division championships, two Union County Tournament championships, two sectional championships and a Group 2 state championship. New Providence is 79-11 over those three seasons.
Miller is the Joe Eberle Weichert Realtors Pioneer Athlete of the Week.
"From boxing out to being a phenomenal help defender to covering the other team's best post player, Jazz did the dirty work to help this team win," Pazdera said. "Besides her defense and ability to do the little things well, time and time again she has made clutch shots or free throws when it was most needed by her team. Jazz has consistently done all the behind the scenes work to help this team be successful."
Miller reflected on her career and future this week.
Q: What was the most memorable game of your high school career?
A:The Rumson-Fair Haven game my sophomore year, because it was the first time I got to experience playing a super competitive game in our home gym. (New Providence came from behind to beat Rumson, 57-51, in the sectional semifinals in March 2022.)
Q: What achievement are you the most proud of during your basketball career?
A: Winning the state championship last season. My teammates and I have put in a ton of effort over the years, and it was very rewarding to see that effort pay off.
Q: What will you miss the most about playing for New Providence High School?
A: I will miss bonding with my teammates, competing with one another in practice, and definitely our pasta parties.
Q: What part of your game did you improve on the most from a couple of years ago until now?
A: I have tried to develop myself as a well-rounded player so that I could step into whatever role needed to be filled each year.
Q: What are your plans after high school?
A: I am looking forward to going to college out of state, but am still deciding between a few schools.
Q: Do you have a subject or a field of study that you're planning to pursue?
A: I am planning to pursue finance in college.
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The Joe Eberle Weichert Realtors Pioneer Athlete of the Week is sponsored by Joe Eberle Weichert Realtors located at 64 Main Street in Chatham. Joe is an over 25-year New Providence resident who is an active member of the New Providence community. Contact Joe anytime, whether it's to get started on helping you realize your real estate goals and dreams, or just to ask a question about the local market. Joe can be reached at jeberle@weichert.com or call 908-868-4800.
]]>NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - In the heart of New Providence, New Jersey, lies a school district dedicated to student success and cutting-edge learning. Led by Superintendent Dr. David Miceli, the district prioritizes student needs above all else, ensuring they are well-prepared for higher education and future careers.
Recent initiatives include the introduction of full-day kindergarten and early intervention services for young learners. The district also emphasizes literacy through a balanced approach and promotes STEM education from kindergarten to high school.
Safety is paramount, with updated security measures and strong partnerships with local law enforcement. Infrastructure projects, including HVAC upgrades and flexible classroom furniture, enhance the learning environment.
Valued partnerships with community stakeholders further enrich the educational experience. Looking ahead, the district is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and is preparing for a smooth transition as Dr. Miceli retires in 2024.
For a detailed look at New Providence School District's innovative strategies, click [here] for article as published by Business View Magazine.
]]>Greetings, New Providence!
The New Providence Memorial Library had a fantastic year in 2023, including updates, changes, and growth. The most significant changes were marked increases in library usage by the community, reflected in over 70,000 visitors to the library, over 80,000 books borrowed, and over 10,000 attendees at library programs. Take a look through our 2023 Library Year in Review for a closer look at our successful year.
Our Library expanded access for all in 2023, improving physical access with an updated layout, removing financial barriers by going FINE FREE, and expanding our community’s access to materials by joining a consortium!
The library interior has been spruced up and spaced out, increasing mobility between collections. We have more book covers on display in all areas of the building, allowing you to enjoy browsing and find more new materials. New shelf spacing has let in more light, so you can see multiple rows at once, tempting your interests and encouraging deeper learning and discovery!
Our Fine Free and Auto Renewal policies are intended to simplify borrowing library materials without the dread of overdue fines and late returns. If no one else has a hold on your book, it will be automatically renewed for an additional 28-day period, extending your loan to almost two months. We no longer penalize readers for enjoying materials a little too long. We ask for prompt returns when you are finished, and only charge a replacement fee if a book or item is lost. It is our pleasure to remove these frustrating financial barriers, and we hope it helps you to feel more connected and welcome at your library!
As members of the MAIN Library Alliance, all New Providence Library cardholders can now place holds on materials across 50 member libraries, and have them delivered to your home library right here in New Providence. Membership in MAIN is also allowing us to explore new offerings for everyone, like free online subscriptions to the Wall Street Journal, Consumer Reports and Mango Languages, as well as affordable technology updates, including brand new public computers!
We would be remiss if we didn’t gratefully acknowledge the collaboration between so many fantastic New Providence groups and organizations in 2023, too. We had great successes working with the NP School District, NP Senior Center, NP Recreation, NP Sustainability Committee, NP Mental Health Committee, NP Diversity Committee, NP Garden Club, NP Chess Club, NP Historical Society, local preschools and day cares, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and, of course, the Friends of the Library volunteers. We look forward to continuing these successful partnerships in 2024 and beyond, and offering even more wonderful FREE programs to our community!
If you weren’t one of the 70,612 visitors to our library in 2023, we hope you’ll come by for a visit this year and get to know YOUR library! The New Providence Memorial Library invites you to spend time in the community’s living room, where you can Discover, Collaborate, and Connect!
We hope to see you here soon!
Sincerely,
Stacey Maisch
Library Director
]]>NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ – Andrew Hipolit and Marie Raffey from Colliers Engineering attended the Tuesday, March 12 Borough Council meeting to give an update regarding the potential community pool pedestrian bridge upgrade project. Prior to council business Mayor Al Morgan led a moment of silence for two long-time borough volunteers Leo Piovano and Hugh Cahill, both of who passed away recently.
Hipolit explained that the pool pedestrian bridge has been deteriorating for a while and microcracking has become more and more visible over the years. The bridge has reached its lifespan and has to be replaced, he said.
Raffey noted that the bridge does not need to be closed now but repairs need to be done sooner rather than later. She said that the support structure is still in a good shape. The borough could opt to go for a prefabricated bridge, similar to the new bridge on Commerce Street. Depending on the design and material the new bridge would cost between $450,000-$800,000. Council members pointed out that since the bridge is used throughout the year by pool-goers and high school students there is no good time to start the project.
With regard to other news Morgan and the council presented community volunteer certificates for the members of the Musical Choir that entertains attendees at the Night of 1,000 Stars.
During the public comment session Sarah Ahrens addressed the council about her continued quest to seek repairs to the damaged chain-link fence and retaining wall that separates her property from the stormwater culvert. Councilman Alex Kogan explained that he and Councilman Matthew Cumiskey had discussed the issue again with the borough engineers. However, it has been concluded that there is nothing that the borough can do to repair the damage done by Hurricane Ida as the property does not belong to the borough.
Zofia Monczka from Radcliff Drive brought the council’s attention to the traffic on Radcliff Drive caused by designating Mee Lane as a drop off location for the middle and high schools. She noted that she has had difficulty pulling out of her driveway in the morning as cars have been parked on both sides of the narrow street. She is also concerned with emergency vehicles not having access to Radcliff Drive homes during school pickup and drop off hours.
Daniel Badgley attended the meeting to urge the council to adopt a Tree Preservation and Removal Ordinance. He has written a letter to the council and provided the Tree Preservation and Removal Model Ordinance as published by the Ten Towns Committee, which represents the 10 municipalities in the Great Swamp Watershed. Borough Attorney Paul Rizzo asked Badgley to provide the model ordinance to him as the borough is working to upgrade its tree ordinances.
The next council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 26 at 7:30 PM.
]]>NEW PROVIDENCE – The Borough of New Providence has been awarded the esteemed New Jersey Governor's "We Value Our Veterans" Award for their exceptional efforts in acknowledging and honoring the sacrifices and bravery of our service members. Executive Director Dillon Chorba of New Jersey’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs presented the award at the March 12 council meeting.
In addition to Chorba, Union County Board of County Commissioners Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, Geoff Smith of Union County Office of Veteran’s Services, and Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis attended the award ceremony along with members of the American Legion Post #433, ALVIS and Veteran supporters.
According to Community Activities and Recreation Director Allison Smith “the award is bestowed upon individuals and communities who actively acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifices, patriotism, and courage displayed by those who have served in the military. Towns are evaluated based on specific initiatives, and New Providence has taken various commendable actions to honor veterans. These initiatives include veteran-only parking spaces, a Memorial Day parade, a Veterans Day event, a park honoring Veterans, a Flag Day flag retirement ceremony, and Hometown Hero Veterans recognition banners.”
“The Borough of New Providence is extremely proud of our Veterans and is always interested in learning about new programs and pursuing opportunities to support the American Legion Post and all veterans in our community,” Smith stated.
Mayor Al Morgan also acknowledged Smith’s role in including veterans in the community events.
]]>NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - "On The Town" at the New Providence High School, auditorium opens this Friday night, March 8, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. Additional evening performances at 7:30 p.m. are March 9th, March 15th, and March 16th. The one matinee performance falls on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. Tickets are on sale now for all performances! Purchase tickets on the New Providence School District website.
"On the Town" is appropriate for all ages.
"On the Town" is a high-energy, dance extravaganza with well-known music by Leonard Bernstein including “New York, New York”. The book and lyrics are by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.
Set during World War II, "On the Town" is a love letter to New York City, following three sailors let loose on a 24-hour shore leave. The sailors quickly meet and connect with three women, and scenes are set everywhere from Carnegie Hall and the Museum of
Natural History to Coney Island. The Big Apple will never be the same!
"On the Town" premiered on Broadway in 1944, with three subsequent Broadway revivals. Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra starred in the film adaptation. In March 2024, "On The Town" will premiere on the New Providence High School stage!
The NPHS production is under the direction of Craig Duke, with choreography by Leslie Ditta.
Caitlin Alongi is the music director and Daniel Mango is the conductor and orchestra director.
Over 50 New Providence High School students in the crew, pit orchestra, and cast have been
working hard since January to bring this show to life. This lively, uplifting show will have you
singing and dancing in your seat! Get your tickets to "On the Town" today!
To show our support for local veterans, the production of On the Town will be hosting a donation
drive during each of the five performances. The following items will be collected and distributed
to the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Lyons, New Jersey. Please consider bringing
an item to donate when attending the show. Thank you for your support!
• Personal care items
• New clothing, socks, and underwear
• Books, puzzles, games, and art supplies
• Lap robes and blankets
• Kitchen supplies
• Cleaning supplies
• Feminine hygiene products
NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - In the heart of downtown New Providence, American Family Care (AFC) Urgent Care has emerged as the healthcare hub addressing the unmet community demand for urgent healthcare services across all age groups.
Stacey Kocinski, owner of the newly opened AFC Urgent Care facility, emphasizes the significance of filling this void, stating, "Having a local urgent care facility is crucial for the community. It ensures quick access to quality healthcare services, meeting the diverse needs of our residents."
As a prominent national urgent care brand, AFC brings substantial resources and extensive experience to the local community. Specializing in emergency medicine, AFC Urgent Care has earned a reputation as a trusted provider with a consistent standard of care.
What sets AFC Urgent Care apart is its commitment to maintaining a stable team of two full-time doctors specializing in emergency medicine. This ensures a reliable and standardized level of care for patients of all ages, a feature that distinguishes AFC from some other urgent care facilities.
AFC Urgent Care offers a comprehensive range of services, spanning pediatric medicine, orthopedics, X-rays, laceration repairs, stitches, splinting, onsite lab services, vaccinations, physicals, and occupational medicine. With a focus on both minor injuries and more serious cases, the clinic is well-equipped to address various medical needs.
Kocinski highlights the clinic's commitment to transparent billing practices, stating, "We prioritize clear and upfront billing. Our goal is to make healthcare affordable and accessible for everyone in the community. Patients should be aware of their costs, and we strive to eliminate any hidden fees."
Situated at 1286 Springfield Ave. in New Providence, AFC Urgent Care operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with no appointment needed. Kocinski adds, "We're here to provide prompt and professional medical attention whenever our community needs it. Our team is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of all residents."
For more information, visit their website or call 908.402.3338.
]]>NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - In a heartwarming event last Sunday, the Annual CSA Pasta Dinner transformed the Decorso Center into a lively gathering place. While the primary goal was to raise money to assist New Providence residents in need, the dinner is a celebration of community spirit, fostering connections among local businesses, volunteer organizations, and residents.
The venue buzzed with activity as CSA volunteers warmly welcomed the crowd, and Lions Club volunteers efficiently managed the kitchen, serving the multi-generational audience in the dining room that even extended onto the patio to enjoy the pleasant late winter weather.
The success of the dinner wasn't solely measured by funds raised for the noble cause. It was reflected in the smiles, laughter, and connections formed among neighbors. The event showcased the true essence of community, bringing together residents, businesses, and organizations to create an inclusive and supportive environment.
Guests engaged in various activities, including placing tickets in the tricky tray for a chance at exciting prizes and eagerly anticipating the drawing of the 50/50 ticket. The lively atmosphere resonated with the beats of DJ music, enhancing the overall festive vibe.
As plates were cleared and laughter echoed through the DeCorso Community and Senior Center, it became evident that the dinner had achieved its goals on multiple fronts. Beyond its charitable impact, the gathering fostered a lasting sense of togetherness within the community. The Annual CSA Pasta Dinner demonstrated that when people unite for a common cause, success is not just measured in funds raised but also in the strengthened bonds within the community.
About Community Service Association (CSA) of New Providence: The Community Service Association of New Providence can assist with utility bills, rent, mortgage, food, medical bills, and clothing for New Providence residents. If you require temporary assistance, you can reach us at our Contact Us page or call (908) 665-8254. All help is strictly confidential. To learn more about the CSA visit their website here.
About the New Providence Lions Club: Our community work and service projects provide much needed help to NP residents in need. Resources are scarce even in an affluent area like ours. Your NP Lions are filling some of those gaps and making a difference for those that truly require assistance.To learn more about the New Providence Lions Club and upcoming events visit their website here.
]]>NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - In March, we honor Women’s Month ! Kirsten Thien and Erik Boyd will entertain us with a fun and informative live music program. They will highlight 15 prolific women who left their indelible mark on the music world, forging new paths for future stars and securing their place in music history. Part concert, part history, with a dose of behind-the-scenes stories and little-known facts, this engaging event is a must for any music fan. Join us on Sunday, March 24th from 3-4 p.m. at the New Providence Memorial Library's Conti Family Community Room. Free and open to all ! Made possible by the Friends of the New Providence Memorial Library.
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