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The assessment will take place along a half-mile stretch of Linden Avenue.

Patch Staff

VERONA, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Township of Verona. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Verona Township will conduct a Complete Streets Corridor Assessment along a half-mile stretch of Linden Avenue through the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) Complete Streets Technical Assistance Program. The Township was one of five municipalities selected through a competitive application process and will receive assistance in documenting existing conditions, exploring potential improvements, and developing recommendations to help improve health and safety for people biking and walking

“We are pleased to have been selected for the Complete Streets Corridor Assessment focusing on Linden Avenue and the surrounding area, a project that will greatly enhance the safety for all travelers in Verona,” Mayor Christopher Tamburro said. “This competitive process highlights the Township’s commitment to creating a safe and accessible community. We look forward to breaking ground in early 2025.”

The assessment will focus on Linden Avenue from Fairview Avenue to Wildwood Terrace. This corridor is near several public schools as well as the Bloomfield Avenue town center. Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists traverse Linden Avenue to access these various destinations. Speeding is a concern along Linden Avenue, particularly with the number of students using the road to walk to school. This assessment will explore ways to make the road safer, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists.

“Complete Streets help make our roads safer for everyone, especially people walking and biking,” said NJTPA Chair John P. Kelly, an Ocean County Commissioner. “They also help create more equitable and healthy communities by giving people more options when travelling. This program helps municipalities advance their Complete Streets goals.”

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In addition to Verona, Belleville, Belmar, Paterson and Readington will also receive technical assistance.

“We’re thrilled to have two Essex County municipalities selected to participate in this competitive program,” said Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., who represents the County on the NJTPA Board of Trustees. “This project will help Verona explore ways to make the Bloomfield Avenue town center safer, especially for students travelling to nearby schools.”

The NJTPA funds this program and provides technical assistance in partnership with the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University and Sustainable Jersey. The Complete Streets Technical Assistance Program helps municipalities bring together key stakeholders to explore a local safety concern and develop concepts for potential solutions using a collaborative approach. Projects can include a bicycle corridor or network plan or a Complete Streets assessment of a one-mile corridor. The program can also be used to develop a Complete and Green Streets Policy. Projects may include demonstration projects or conceptual renderings of proposed future improvements.

“It is valuable for municipalities to receive hands-on guidance to move their Complete Streets projects forward. Complete and Green Streets have numerous safety, environmental, equity and health benefits,” said Randall Solomon, Executive Director of Sustainable Jersey. “This work is an important element in the comprehensive sustainability programs of our communities and contributes to our mission to create a more sustainable New Jersey.”

Complete Streets balance the needs of drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, emergency responders, goods movement and stormwater management based on the local context. They help improve health and safety for people walking and biking and create better places to live, work, play, learn, and do business. When streets are not complete, the negative impacts on public health, safety, equity, the economy, and the environment are disproportionately borne by low-income and minority communities

Improving safety is a key goal of this program. “Across New Jersey and the broader nation, we’ve seen a troubling rise in roadway fatalities, particularly among pedestrians and cyclists. The recommendations that are developed through these projects will help communities enhance the safety of their roadways for all users,” said Jon A. Carnegie, Executive Director of the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center.

This is the fourth time the NJTPA has offered technical assistance to municipalities in its region. Seven projects were completed in 2023, eight projects were completed in 2020 and nine projects were completed in 2019. The final reports are available on NJTPA’s Complete Streets webpage, njtpa.org/completestreets.

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A lawsuit against Verona Public Schools was filed last week by the mother of an elementary school student alleging that a male student sexually assaulted her daughter over 20 times, NJ.com reports.

The suit alleges that from October 2021 to January 2023, when the victim was 6 and 7 years old in the first and second grades at F.N. Brown Elementary School, a male classmate would allegedly crawl under her bathroom stall and molest her, NJ. com reports.

The suit alleges that the girl was sexually abused in over 20 separate incidents by the same student, NJ 101.5 reports.

According to the lawsuit, the girl’s second-grade teacher found a note she had written on Jan. 20, 2023, saying the boy was “bad,” the outlet reported. Although the girl explained upon further questioning that the boy allegedly did “bad things” and touched her “down there,” the teacher allegedly forced the girl to apologize to the male student and never reported the incident, the outlet states.

The suit claims that the girl was forced to continue sitting next to the boy in class, according to NJ 101.5.

The girl was taken to the doctor after her mother discovered genital abrasions and “raw, rubbed bleeding skin,” but the girl refused the doctor’s examination, Honk News reports. A nurse suggested the girl had had an “absence seizure” and that her “stress and trauma response had inflamed her faculties to a troubling degree,” the outlet states. The girl was hospitalized for over a week, according to the outlet.

Girl sexually assaulted 20+ times in N.J. elementary school bathroom, lawsuit says https://t.co/9gXD8LS9Ed

— njdotcom (@njdotcom) April 29, 2024

“The Verona Board of Education has and continues investigating the allegations outlined in the complaint,” Verona Schools Superintendent Diane DiGiuseppe stated Monday, NJ.com reported. “As this matter is in active litigation, we cannot further comment.” (RELATED: School District To Pay Out $52 Million For Allegedly Ignoring Complaints Ahead Of Teacher Molesting Kids)

The lawsuit alleges that the girl shows “clear signs of sexual trauma,” and “humiliation, stress, anxiety, emotional anguish and dysfunction,” according to NJ.com.

The girl has since been placed in a private school, the outlet reports.

The Verona Board of Education, P.A. Anthony Lanzo, Superintendent Diane DiGiuseppe and teacher Maria Graziano are all being sued, Honk News reports. The suit alleges that the school officials “deliberately indifferent, reckless, negligent and/or tacitly approved” of the situation, NJ.com stated.

The price of drinking water in Verona could rise by as much as 28% this year if Verona adopts a rate increase plan proposed to the Town Council on Monday night. Sewer charges could go up by 6%.

The rate proposals made by NewGen Strategies & Solutions were intended to show how Verona could raise funds needed to shore up both the financial and physical condition of its water and sewer utilities. While the hit this year could be substantial, the increases could be more modest in future years. NewGen estimated that the average quarterly residential water/sewer bill would rise from $238.92 in fiscal 2024 to $299.50 in fiscal 2028. The average commercial water/sewer bill would rise from $514.20 in fiscal 2024 to $745.53 in fiscal 2028. (While the firm used the word “fiscal” to describe the time frame, Verona’s fiscal year is actually a calendar year from January 1 to December 31.)

The Council still has to approve the rates, which means that any increases will not be on the February water billing. Verona bills again in May, August and November, and those quarters would be at the higher rate. The Council could also impose surcharges for larger accounts or those that contribute more substances requiring treatment.

A water utility is supposed to operate under an independent, balanced budget. But Verona is facing steeply higher operating costs as it tries to update aging infrastructure and remediate two town wells that failed to meet state standards for toxic chemicals known as PFAS. Those wells were taken offline in 2021 and Verona has had to buy all of its water from the Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC), which means that we are already paying more for our water than we would have paid if we were using our wells. One well could be back on line this year, but the other will not be ready until mid-2025.

Rather than have the Council extrapolate from PVWC rates and remediation estimates to set new rates, Councilwoman Cynthia Holland called for a full-blown study to explore how the water utility could meet its current obligations, as well any growth or capital improvements.

The result was a series of rate scenarios presented by NewGen on Monday, as well as a recommendation for a higher fund balance to handle unforeseen expenses. “We want to keep your rates as low as possible over time,” said Eric Callocchia, a partner at the firm. “And that means constantly reinvesting in your assets.”

Verona originally thought it would cost $1 million to put new filtration systems on our two wellheads, one on Linn Drive near the Community Center and the other across Fairview Avenue from Verona High School. (The well water is normally pumped into holding tanks like the one above on the Hilltop and mixed into PVWC water.) But supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic, combined with rising demand for remediation across the U.S., pushed the price tag higher. The upgrades are now pegged at $6.78 million, which would be offset by $3 million in loan forgiveness and other revenues.

Verona also faces a $1 million bill to upgrade a pumping station located where the road leading up to the Claridge condominiums intersects with Pompton Avenue. That is being financed through the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (I-Bank). In addition, Verona must make a raft of improvements to its wastewater treatment plant, at a cost of more than $7 million.

Councilman Alex Roman noted that, even if they go higher, Verona’s rates would be in the middle of those in Essex County. But higher rates might not be the only option. He asked Callocchia about how other utilities are surviving with lower rates and whether some form of regionalization would be in order. “Before we invest a lot of money into an existing wastewater treatment plant that’s very aged, are there options other than doing that?” Roman asked. “Does it make economic sense?” Callocchia wasn’t able to answer that question, but it may come up in future Council discussions.

You can read the report by NewGen Strategies & Solutions here.

You can watch NewGen’s presentation on the Council’s YouTube channel:

On Sunday, March 17, Palmetto Venues celebrated the grand opening of its dual event space on Bloomfield Avenue across from Verona Park.

Designed to cater to a range of events, the venue offers both flexibility and privacy. The Palm Royale, with an entrance at 10 Park Place, boasts a spacious 16-foot ceiling and can accommodate approximately 110 guests. It can be a setting for wedding receptions, banquets, corporate events and other large events. The Royal Grove, situated at 546 Bloomfield Avenue, provides a more intimate setting with seating for up to 50 guests.

Established by three local businessmen, Palmetto Venues aims to provide an environment of elegance, versatility, and exceptional service. Horane Henry, one of the partners, says he is “driven by the joy of curating environments that go beyond mere spaces. They are canvases for dreams, stages for celebrations, and backdrops for memories.” Co-owner Robert Louis emphasizes that “this venture aligns perfectly with our motto, ‘where experience comes alive,’ reflecting our commitment to bring every occasion to life in a way that resonates deeply with our clients and their guests. My goal is to foster a sense of belonging and joy within our community.” Fellow co-owner Fihlo Thomas adds how he “looks forward to witnessing the creation of cherished memories at Palmetto Venues and desires the venue to become a supportive cornerstone within the Verona, New Jersey community and its surrounding areas.”

Palmetto Venues will allow licensed and insured caterers to serve pre-cooked meals, but onsite cooking is not permitted. Complimentary beer and wine can be provided for guests but a licensed and insured bartender is required when serving hard liquor. Both spaces are equipped with sound systems and accessible bathrooms. Parking is available in the Verona municipal lot directly behind the venue.

Louis, Thomas and Henry, the partners in Palmetto Venues, come the events business from diverse backgrounds. Henry is an engineer and a creative at heart who works in the media and entertainment industry as an engineering director. He is also an award-winning independent filmmaker. Louis is an administrative director in healthcare and is a fashion designer for men’s accessories in his spare time. Thomas is a real estate executive in New York City. In his free time, he volunteers for various community endeavors, including collaborations with food pantries, school drives and community events.

On Sunday, the partners were joined at the grand opening by Mayor Chris Tamburro, Deputy Mayor Jack McEvoy and Councilman Alex Roman. “You will find a welcoming community in Verona,” Tamburro said.

Even in this digital age of iPads and virtual reality gaming, there is no doubt that almost every little girl still has a dream of attending a real-life fancy tea party or being a princess; even some of us grown women still have that hidden desire. As co-owner Karissa Teixeira puts it plainly, “Who says only kids love princesses?” The wish can now come true like the wave of a fairy godmother’s wand at Verona’s newest small business, La Bella Princess Cafe, at 553 Bloomfield Avenue. Keep reading to discover its fabulous pink decor, magical menu, and fairytale hideaway made for any worthy princess’s party.

Bella Princess is a small business that started with founder Martha Peralta’s vision of providing enchanting children’s entertainment for private parties in 2003. After seven years of traveling to client’s homes for all of its events, Martha moved the business into a small space for ten years before having to sell it due to the pandemic. Daughter Karissa started helping her mom brainstorm, and with her experience being a social media influencer, came up with the idea of having a princess-themed cafe in an area where nothing else similar existed. A space opened up right on the main street (is there a pun here, Disney fans?) of Verona, and La Bella Princess Cafe opened to become its first eatery and party space under one roof.

Read More: This Diner in West Orange Gives a Medieval-Like Experience to Visitors

The cafe looks plucked straight out of a Pinterest board: a vision of pink accented by faux trees, gray throne-like chairs, and chic pampas centerpieces at every coffee table. As visitors make their way to the counter, gingerbread house-themed mugs are on display to depict the current theme of winter wonderland. Other decorative glassware that perfectly compliments the space include pink mugs with bubble handles as well as shiny white ones that are each served on a cloud-shaped saucer. The pastry case is filled with different kinds of cupcakes, colorful macaroons, its signature carrot cake, and princess-themed treats depending on the time of day. Any girl boss who works remotely and is looking for a trendy cafe to set up her laptop will be remiss to indulge in its “Royal Delight” menu. The “Bippity Boppity Beverages” are fit for any queen or princess, and its made-to-order croffles (a croissant-waffle — it’s okay, MG had to ask what it means, too) and rainbow grilled cheese are just as magical as they sound.

While the cafe is named for princesses, Martha and Karissa make a point that it is not limiting itself to just royalty or fairytales. “The cafe has a level of sophistication and offers aesthetics for adults, too. Not only are we going to host more tea parties for children and their parents, but we’re looking to have adult nights like candle-making and barista classes soon,” Karissa said. Each month will also have its theme for decorations and additions to the menu– February, of course, being Valentine’s Day. The cafe can be rented out for baby and bridal showers, while the private party room right next door — Bella’s Enchanted Hall — is where up to 20 children can experience becoming a princess with full makeup and wardrobe, even with their favorite princess if one so wishes.

See More: This Jersey City Cafe Is a Pink Lover’s Dream

Every other week, the cafe hosts ticketed events such as character tea parties for up to 45 guests in the early evenings. On weekends, private parties to book either the party room for kid’s celebrations or the cafe itself for bridal and baby showers. La Bella Princess Cafe is open for the public Tuesday through Saturday 9AM – 3PM as well as 9AM – 1PM on Sundays. It is closed on Mondays.