On Saturday December 10, 2011, the P.B.A. members held their third annual Christmas Tree Drive. Members bought trees and stands from Hillcrest Farms, loaded them into pickup trucks and delivered them to area families. That Police Officers Tim Banta and Robert Shafer above with (l-r) Sgt. Dan Greco, Hillcrest Farms owner Patrick A. Filoso, P.B.A. President John Kraus, P.B.A. Vice President Mike Barone, Police Officer Page Parsels and Hillcrest Farms owner Patrick Filoso Sr.

“A Christmas tree is a symbol of joy, holiday spirit, and above all, a symbol of hope. We wanted to give a little of that to a few people who needed it”, said Anthony Condorelli, who is the creator and founder of the event.

Earlier last week, on Wednesday December 7, P.B.A. members participated in their 32nd annual Costume Trip. Officers left their uniforms hanging neatly in their lockers for the day and instead put on the most cheerful, creative, and colorful costumes that they could find. They then visited numerous special needs schools throughout the county that care for children who are autistic, have cerebral palsy, or have Down syndrome. The event was created in 1979 by now-retired Lt. Fred Di Stefano, and still continues with the same strength and enthusiasm as it did when it began.

“The Costume Trip is something that we all look forward to each year. It is a chance for us to get together and brighten the spirits of these wonderful children during the holiday season”, said Police Officer Shafer, who now coordinates the event. That’s Sgt. Stephen DePoe as Panda Bear above, with (l-r) Police Officer Shafer as The Christmas Donkey, Police Officer Parsels, Mike Cocucci, Police Officer Banta as Woody, Police Officer Mike Barone, Sgt. Paul Watkins as Scooby, Police Officers Erin McGarrity and John Lecreux as Santa’s Elves and Police Officer Bill Frazee as Santa Claus.

Then Fred Goode suggested a photo contest. He would take pictures of things Verona people say they know well–except that the photos he would take wouldn’t be familiar, picture post card views. We’d put up one photo a day, and readers would have to guess the location. The person who guessed correctly would win a baseball cap that would tell the world what their favorite local news site is. “Come on,” he urged us. “It will be insane.”

And so it has been for the last 52 weeks. We’ve had winners from all over town, and some that didn’t live in Verona any more. We’ve had people rely on their powers of observation to find the answers, and high technology. And we’ve had more than a few people who regularly wished Fred hadn’t made them quite so insane.

Kathleen Seubert was the top winner, with 11 hats, followed by Jeff Shilling, with 6 and Beth Shorten, with 5. But we would be remiss if we didn’t draw your attention again to Week 35, which Fred won after all contestants gave up. You can see the full list of locations and winners below the contest movie that Fred put together.

Week 1: Hillcrest Farms Winner: Joanne Arroyo
Week 2: Town Hall, Winner: Colin Boyle
Week 3: Towne Scoop, Winner: Jack and Mike Fitzpatrick
Week 4: Famous Ray’s Pizza, Winner: Ben Blinder
Week 5: Jack’s Cafe, Winner: TJ Jones
Week 6: The Old Freight Shed, Winner: Kathy Van Benschoten
Week 7: F.N. Brown School, Winner: Mike Schumell, Michael Verrone, Jeff Stiefbold
Week 8: 80 Pompton Avenue, Winner: Kathleen Seubert
Week 9: Bunky’s Automotive, Winner: Brad Caprari
Week 10: Centennial Field, Winner: Kathleen Seubert
Week 11: Quality Car Care, Winner: Maria Carrozza
Week 12: The Flags, Winner: Beth Shorten
Week 13: Firehouse #2, Winner: Kevin Toscano
Week 14: Brookdale Avenue School, Winner: Mark Fortgang
Week 15: Verona Sports Center, Winner: Andrew Lange
Week 16: The Recycling Center, Winner: Beth Shorten
Week 17: Hobcaw Cafe, Winner: Alice McCarthy, Kathleen Seubert
Week 18: The Library, Winner: Olivia Symczak
Week 19: Adrenaline Fitness, Winner: Kevin Toscano
Week 20: The Police Station, Winner: Kathleen Seubert
Week 21: Miele’s Italian Restaurant, Winner: Len Waterman
Week 22: Mardi Gras Fine Foods, Winner: Jeff Shilling
Week 23: Classic Look Salon, Winner: Diane Polledri
Week 24: Town Signs, Winner: Julie Shilling
Week 25: Charles Bahr & Son, Winner: Beth Shorten
Week 26: Snowpiles, Winner: Nick Frank, Mike Schumell
Week 27: The Richfield Regency, Winner: Andrew Lange
Week 28: Frank Anthony’s, Winner: Megan McKeown
Week 29: Four Paws Stay & Play, Winner: Kristine Liska
Week 30: The New Subway, Winner: Maria Carrozza
Week 31: Canine Designs, Winner: Jeff Shilling
Week 32: F.N. Brown School, Winner: Neal Wallen
Week 33: Rocktec Music, Winner: Jeff Shilling
Week 34: The Former Brunner Auto Dealership, Winner: Mike Schumell
Week 35: The Hilltop Water Tank, Winner: Fred Goode
Week 36: Gary Farishian’s office, Winner: Kathleen Seubert
Week 37: Sonny’s On The Avenue, Winner: Kathleen Seubert
Week 38: West Essex Building Supply, Winner: Jeff Hagaman
Week 39: Denim & Daisies, Winner: Kathy Van Beschoten
Week 40: Former Chrysler Dealership, Winner: Kathleen Seubert
Week 41: Forest Avenue School, Winner: Len Waterman
Week 42: Kip’s Castle, Winner: Jeff Shilling
Week 43: Lower Field at Verona High School, Winner: Beth Shorten
Week 44: Learning Express, Winner: Jeff Hagaman
Week 45: The Municipal Building (inside), Winner: Kathleen Seubert
Week 46: Verona Pool, Winner: Kathleen Seubert
Week 47: Senior Citizen’s Bus, Winner: Kathy Van Benschoten
Week 48: Bagelwich, Winner: Kathleen Seubert
Week 49: Verona Aluminum/Henry’s, Winner: Kevin Toscano
Week 50: Annin Flag, Winner: Drew Videtto
Week 51:  HBW Track, Winner: Beth Shorten, Kathleen Seubert, Jeff Shilling, Julie Shilling
Week 52: Our Lady of the Lake, Winner: Bryan Klucharits, Jeff Shilling

Week 1: Hillcrest Farms
Week 2: Town Hall
Week 3: Towne Scoop
Week 4: Famous Ray’s
Week 5: Jack’s Cafe
Week 6: The Old Freight Shed
Week 7: F.N. Brown School
Week 8: 80 Pompton Avenue
Week 9: Bunky’s Automotive
Week 10: Centennial Field
Week 11: Quality Car Care
Week 12: The Flags
Week 13: Firehouse #2
Week 14: Brookdale Avenue School
Week 15: Verona Sports
Week 16: The Recycling Center
Week 17: Hobcaw
Week 18: The Library
Week 19: Adrenaline Fitness
Week 20: The Police Station
Week 21: Miele’s
Week 22: Mardi Gras
Week 23: Classic Look Salon
Week 24: Town Signs
Week 25: Charles Bahr & Sons
Week 26: Snowpiles
Week 27: The Richfield Regency
Week 28: Frank Anthony’s
Week 29: Four Paws Stay & Play
Week 30: The New Subway
Week 31: Canine Designs
Week 32: F.N. Brown School
Week 33: Rocktec Music
Week 34: The Former Brunner Auto Dealership
Week 35: The Hilltop Water Tank
Week 36: Gary Farishian’s office
Week 37: Sonny’s On The Avenue
Week 38: West Essex Building Supply
Week 39: Denim & Daisies

Now, do you have an idea about where we are this week?

Jill Corrigan, who was one of the event’s planners and coordinators called the evening “wildly successful” and it wasn’t a boast. OLL’s Oktoberfest was as well planned as it was well attended. There were plenty of stations for food, beer, and yes, bathrooms. My compliments go to Father Bryan Page and his Oktoberfest committee, who pulled off an excellent evening with not a single noticeable glitch. The event was a fundraiser, complete with a 50/50 raffle, tricky tray baskets, and a silent auction (including a dinner at CulinAriane), but it certainly didn’t feel that way. It felt like a fabulous outdoor party and even the event planners were struck by the sheer volume of support it had, including that of OLL alumni.

The lead sponsors were Janek’s Quality Caterers, Cape May Winery, Investors Savings Bank and Hillcrest Farms, followed by gold sponsors Foodtown and Frank Anthony’s.  The list of silver and bronze sponsors was quite long, but many of Verona’s local businesses provided food such as Eight Hills Caterers,  O’Neil’s Restaurant & Pub, Mardi Gras Fine Foods, and DiPaolo Bakery, to name a few.  While I stuck with the German fare, everything looked delicious and I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much German Chocolate Cake in my life.  There was a fine sampling of different beers from homemade to mainstream breweries like Sam Adams and Yuengling.  The range of food was enough to fit all tastes: Three different kinds of bratwurst, hot potato salad and warm apples, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls and an array of desserts.

While I was only familiar with one of the bands, all of the music choices were excellent. It was like being at a concert. The night started off with traditional German folk music and then moved on to Trick Tenza followed by Liz Wojtal & Next of Kin and Pet in the Middle, fronted by Tom Jacobsen, Verona’s own building inspector. There were plenty of people dancing into the night and the bands kept the music going until the last song, Hit the Road Jack, was played and we all hit the road.  I certainly did my share of dancing and singing with the bands.

My favorite thing about the evening was that the food kept going all night. While the majority was eaten early on, I personally enjoyed my second bratwurst around 11 p.m. My second favorite thing was that there was no line for the Porta-Potties. Plenty were provided which kept things and people moving. At the end of the night, buses were provided to get people home–what a great and safe service!

Our thanks to Patricia Bertron and Rita Mughetto for the photos.

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Presenting sponsors include Hillcrest Farms, Investors Savings Bank and Windsor Healthcare Communities. Supporting sponsors include Eight Hills Caterers, O’Neil’s Restaurant and Pub, Fred Hill Sports Academy, TD Bank, Dynamic Speed and Fitness and Mountainside Hospital. In addition, 21 other sponsors from businesses and residents in the area have joined in the chapter’s efforts to raise funds for scholarships, local charities, and cancer and Cooley’s Anemia research.

The race will be held on Monday September 6 and begin and end in Verona Park. For information about Verona UNICO, contact Linda-Gail Alati at 973-857-4530.

Construction backups run from Hillcrest Farms to the 7-11

The replacement of the curbs on the south side of Bloomfield Avenue in Verona between Park and Brookdale Avenues has begun. Traffic was moving slowly there today, especially in the direction of Montclair during school drop-off and pick-up hours. The work had ended by 5 p.m., but there were still some police vehicles in the road.  If you need to pass that way over the next few days, keep alert, stay off your cell phone and consider an alternate route if possible.