Archive for January, 2012
Laning Student Wins Juniors’ Spelling Bee
The Junior Woman’s Club of Verona held its annual spelling bee on Saturday, January 28 at H.B. Whitehorne, and 32 fourth- and fifth-grade students turned out to vie for the honor of best speller in Verona. The ambitious group was gradually reduced to just three participants in Round 10: Maxine Haralambiev, Charles Torikian, and Chloe [...]
Obituaries: Valdemar ‘Walter Nicolajsen
Mr. Valdemar ‘Walter’ Nicolajsen, 103, died peacefully at home on Saturday, January 28, 2012. Services will be held in the Prout Funeral Home, 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona on Wednesday, February 1 at 11 a.m. Visiting hours on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Born in Svendborg, Denmark, Mr. Nicolajsen came to the U.S. in 1928 [...]
Paper Mill Sets Children’s Theater Schedule
Paper Mill Playhouse has released its Winter-Spring season of children’s programming. The season begins with “Charlotte’s Web” on Saturday, February 18, and includes “Ramona Quimby” and “Seussical” in March, and “Henry & Mudge” and “Red Riding Hood & Other Stories” in April. (“Red Riding Hood” will be one of the Paper Mill’s new stagings for [...]
Crock It! Spicy Sweet Chili
If the upcoming Super Bowl game immediately brings chili to mind, and you’re in the mood to try something a little different, this is a great recipe. Even if you’re nervous about experimenting, as I was the first time I made it, what better occasion to try something new? I actually made it for the [...]
DePalma Gears Up For Super Bowl
When he was a kid playing for the Verona Eagles and Verona High School Hillbillies, Dan DePalma was a huge fan of the Giants. But he never, ever imagined that he would be a huge fan playing for the Giants and traveling with the Giants to a huge game–the Super Bowl. And yet, on Monday [...]
Wrestlers Pick Up Wins In County Match
Frank Greco and Joe Festa both came away with first-place wins in the Essex County Wrestling Championship at Codey Arena on Saturday. Paul Scully took second place at 113 pounds, while Tom Cundari took third place at 145 pounds. Greco’s match kept spectators on the edge of their seats through four overtimes. In the end, [...]
Brookdale, Brown Are All About Hearts
The students of F.N. Brown and Brookdale Avenue elementary schools annually participate in the Hearts of Hope program under the direction of their art teacher, Joni Jasterzbski, herself a Hearts of Hope recipient. Hearts of Hope is a program that distributes small, hand-painted, ceramic hearts to people struggling with illness. Over the past five years, [...]
Parents Seek Full-Day Kindergarten
A group of 20 Verona parents came to the Board of Education meeting last Tuesday to appeal for the creation of a full-day kindergarten program. Although it was not scheduled as a specific agenda item, parent proponents made their case when the meeting was opened to public discussion. Crystal Bichalski spoke on behalf of the [...]
Boys Take First Round Of Essex Hoops Tourney
The Verona Hillbillies battled back from an early first-half deficit to top the Buccaneers of Belleville High School 48-39 in first round Essex County Tournament action. Down 14-11 after the first period, the Maroon and White went into the locker room trailing 22-20 at the half. Verona throughout the season has come out firing in [...]
Kolind Makes President’s List At Clemson
Mette Marie Kolind of Verona has been named to the President’s List at Clemson University for the fall 2011 semester. Kolind is a freshman majoring in English. To be named to the President’s List, a student must achieve a 4.0 (all As) grade-point average. Ranked No. 25 among national public universities, Clemson University is a [...]