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raft beer continues to be increasingly popular in New Jersey. So it’s no surprise Gearblock Brewing in Waldwick is celebrating their 1-year anniversary after a successful debut in town. The craft microbrewery offers fresh varieties of quality hand-crafted ales, lagers, stouts, sours, barrel-aged beers, and more.

Gearblock Brewing boasts a 1,000-square foot tasting room and 500-square foot production area. They brew unique small batch beers as well as a few core beers. In fact, the team releases limited quantities of new beers weekly. Patrons can enjoy craft brews from the tasting room or take their favorite drinks home in a crowler. During their anniversary event from April 28 to 30, guests can enjoy live music and special beer releases.

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The brewery can seat 50 guests inside. “The decor of Gearblock is a rustic vibe which features pictures from prohibition times,” says Owner and Brewer Tony Romano. Aside from the interior, they offer two outdoor seating areas in their beer garden and behind the building. Gearblock Brewing also welcomes well-behaved dogs in these areas.

The craft beers at Gearblock Brewing feature flavors from around the world. For instance, their “Fahrvergnugen” is a German Pilsner made with a classic German yeast. They also serve the “Mastretta,” which is a Mexican Lager. Meanwhile, popular beers include the “Supra Citra” – a New England Style Pale Ale – and the “Numb Hands”. The latter is a New England Style Double IPA. In particular, Tony loves their New England Style IPAs.

Gearblock Brewing doesn’t take reservations or serve food, but they do host private events. However, they encourage patrons to bring takeout or get food delivered to the tasting room. They even have local restaurant menus behind the bar. Future plans include adding a small private area for groups of 10 to 15 people, and increasing production capacity.

The inspiration for Gearblock Brewing comes form the owner’s love of cars. Gearblock is a play on words of the components under the hood of a vehicle. Specifically, the parts that harness the engine’s power and provide torque to the wheels. Without these parts, the vehicle is powerless. Gears housed in the Gearbox – aka Gearblock – have been around for centuries, much like beer.

Prior to Gearblock Brewing, Tony was an award-winning homebrewer for five years. His partner, Ron “Uncle Ronnie” Cavaliere, also homebrewed for five years. “We would often talk about our craft beers at family gatherings; and talked about how much fun it would be to open a craft brewery,” Tony says. Both Tony and Ron grew up in Bergen County. Tony and his wife even bought their first home in Waldwick, though they now live in Mahwah.

Visit Gearblock Brewing at 140 Franklin Turnpike, Suite 2, in Waldwick.See them on Google Maps | Click to Visit their Website | Follow them on Instagram | Give them a Call.

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All Photos: © Tom Carullo / Instagram

Newburyport - Lillian R. Sanford, 89, of Newburyport passed away peacefully on Monday October 9, 2023 following a period of declining health. Lillian was born on January 31st, 1934 at home in Waldwick, NJ, to Hans and Lillian (Bowles) Reinshagen. She spent her early years growing up on the family farm in Davenport, New York and as a farm girl she was in charge of bringing in the cows and milking them. Lillian settled in Georgetown MA after living in San Diego, New Jersey, and New York as a Navy wife with her first husband Henry. As a Georgetown resident she spent several decades there raising her five children. Lillian was very active in the community and the First Congregational Church of Georgetown, helping in the church office, singing in the choir, serving as a deacon, and helping run and bake for the annual church fairs. For many years she served as administrative assistant to the Associate Conference Minister of the Northeast Area UCC office. Lillian loved nature and could often be found gardening, birdwatching, taking long walks, or baking which was particularly favored by her kids. She loved the ocean and would spend hours swimming in the waves, on both the east and the west coast. In her retirement, she spent many days camping, hiking, and canoeing with her second husband Clint. Lillian forged many lifelong friendships and always seemed to be on the go – swimming at the Y, teaching aquarobics, crafting with her longtime friends, socializing and traveling with her Red Hatters group and dining with breakfast club. Lillian was predeceased by her brothers Ernest, Fred, Robert, sister Ida, husband Clint Sanford, and ex-husband Henry Grissino. Lillian leaves behind her children Linda (Grissino) Evans MD of San Diego, CA, Theresa Grissino of Boston, MA, Gail (Grissino) Espinosa and husband Mario of San Diego, CA, David Grissino and wife Katie (Martin) of South Hamilton, MA, and Alan Grissino and wife Leiza (Hoffmann) of Amesbury, MA. Lillian was a devoted Grandma and was loved and will be missed by her grandchildren Elizabeth, Daniel, Derek, Rebecca, Alec, Lauren, Maia, Grace, Anna, Jason, Evan and Whillam, great-grandchildren, Kelsie, Parker and Emilia, and many life-long friends and extended family. A memorial service will be held on Saturday October 28th, 11 a.m, at the First Congregational Church of Georgetown, 7 Andover Street, Georgetown, MA. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to Sweet Paws Rescue, Groveland, MA.

George Kalivas, the affable owner of Circolo, a 100-seat Neapolitan pizzeria in Waldwick, thought he could make it through the year.

He couldn't.

On Aug. 29, Kalivas, a 73-year-old River Edge resident, closed Circolo, a BYOB he opened nearly four years ago and the fourth restaurant he has owned. He started working at his dad's restaurant the day after he graduated college in 1971.

"I've been in this business for 50 years and this past year and a half were like nothing I've ever experienced," Kalivas said. "I loved this business, but I stopped having fun."

He sent an email to his loyal customers explaining the closing.

"In my 50-plus years in the restaurant business, I have never worked as hard as this year," he wrote. "As well, I have never had as much difficulty finding replacement staff ... Sales plummeted to absurd numbers and prices soared upwards with no indication of stopping."

Kalivas said he lost four key employees during the pandemic and couldn't find help. He said that the labor shortage the restaurant industry is confronting has made it that much more difficult to survive in an already tough time.

"You can't talk to people anymore," he said. "A restaurant owner nearby told me that he asked his dishwasher to turn down the music and the dishwasher walked out."

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Kalivas said he knows of another restaurant owner who is paying a dishwasher $800 a week in cash.

"He told me that two cooks told him they want $1,200-a-week cash," he added. "Do they think restaurants have a machine in the back pumping out cash? Besides, it’s illegal."

Kalivas owns the building that housed Circolo. He had leased the building to a bank in 2007 after closing Il Villino, an Italian restaurant he had run for 17 years there. He sold his liquor license then, too. When the bank closed, he returned to the 3,700-square-foot building and opened Circolo. He then also owned The Plum and the Pear in Wyckoff, which he eventually closed.

"I don't want this to be a sad moment in my life," he said. "I'm saddened by how the world is. I'm saddened that there's a pandemic, that people are getting sick. But I'm okay."

He added that he had hoped to finish out the year at Circolo and then put the property up for sale or to lease.

"I wish I could have retired on my own terms. But it was time."

Esther Davidowitz is the food editor for NorthJersey.com. For more on where to dine and drink, please subscribe today and sign up for our North Jersey Eats newsletter.

WALDWICK — The borough is facing $6.75 million in pending lawsuit claims related to a borough administrator who was fired in September.

The tort notices by three former borough workers allege a pattern of hostile behavior exhibited by the former administrator, Laura Harris, and Mayor Tom Giordano, with one former employee claiming the administrator engaged in conversations that “disturbed” her, including making sexual comments about current and potential employees, and wishing to recruit younger employees.

The notices are a required step before a public entity can be sued, and they put the borough on alert that lawsuits may be filed in the future.

In a statement, Harris said her termination after 10 months in the position resulted from the tort notices.

“The borough terminated my employment based on these accusations without giving me the opportunity to respond to them,” Harris said. “The allegations are bizarre and demonstrable falsehoods.”

Borough Attorney Craig Bosson said, “The borough was made aware of a serious complaint against Ms. Harris, for which the borough immediately authorized an independent investigation. In the process, numerous employees were interviewed and upon completion of the investigation made the determination that they would have to terminate Ms. Harris.”

Pending lawsuits

The three tort claim notification letters allege Harris and Giordano created a “hostile work environment” that caused three employees to leave.

Allison Blau, the former court administrator, notified Waldwick that she will seek $1 million in damages, via a July 16 letter from attorney Peter Jeffer.

“Within the first two months of her [Harris’s] employment, two long-time borough employees quit because they could not work with the new borough administrator,” the July 16 letter read.

Former grants administrator Erica Davenport filed a notice on Sept. 14, alleging pregnancy discrimination and a hostile work environment created by Harris and Giordano, attorney Seth Davenport wrote. While intending to seek statutory remedies first, the letter put the claim being filed at $5.75 million.

The claim refers to an investigation of Harris by Mount Olive, where she was the administrator for nearly two years.

The Mount Olive report, the letter says, paints “a very telling picture of a tyrannical, self-absorbed, tyrant who the Mayor of Waldwick place [sic] in the highest position of the Waldwick administration. Even but a smidgeon of due diligence, prior to the hiring of Laura [Harris], would have revealed a very glaring red flag as to her uncontrollable irrational and improper behavior.”

Davenport’s letter also details a pattern of behavior hostile toward pregnancy, including Harris asking the employee if she took birth control pills. According to the letter, the mayor refused to accept a written copy of her complaints, contrary to protocol.

Former Borough Clerk Paula Jaegge filed her own tort claim on Dec. 10, alleging that the behavior of the mayor and administrator forced her to retire two years early, suffering “lost salary and other economic benefits.”

According to the letter, Giordano “started a course of conduct” toward the clerk, leaving her out of meetings, ignoring her and, at one point, yelling at her and “was out of control.” She alleges Harris was “argumentative on many occasions, displaying a filthy vocabulary.”

Giordano commented that the three parties who filed are friends, and were “not laid off or fired,” choosing to leave on their own. He said he could not comment further because of pending litigation.

Bosson said, “The borough denies the allegations in the claims and believe that all the true facts will come out in discovery and through the course of any litigation that is brought.” He said the notices have been forwarded to the borough’s insurance carrier, the Joint Insurance Fund, which will likely handle the claims.

In Harris’s separation agreement, Mount Olive officials are asked not to provide verbal references, only positions held and salary in writing. Harris did not list her Mount Olive position on her résumé when she applied for the Waldwick borough administrator position.

“My separation from Mount Olive was a mutual decision, as I was not happy in such a rural community and was seeking to relocate to a more urban area,” Harris said.

Former administrator’s departure

The Borough Council voted unanimously on Sept. 11, 2018, to terminate Harris. No reason was cited in the authorizing resolution. Gary Kratz was appointed acting administrator.

Harris commented that she was “disappointed and disheartened” by the council’s action, as she “genuinely cared about the town and its employees.”

The Waldwick council agreed to pay Harris three months of salary as severance, in accordance with borough code.

The next administrator

Waldwick will name a new administrator at the Feb. 12 meeting, Giordano said.

The borough advertised the position in December, and received 35 résumés, reviewed by a council committee. The final two candidates were interviewed by the full council.

The most recent borough salary ordinance places the position’s salary range at $100,000 to $171,525.

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WALDWICK – Unofficial results on Wednesday showed voters approving the school district’s $30 million spending proposal by 933 to 406.

If the referendum question is ultimately approved, money will go toward renovations at Waldwick High School, including new windows, more energy-efficient exteriors and energy-efficient LED light fixtures for classrooms and halls, the replacement of interior and exterior doors, and lockers.

Waldwick High School was built in the early 1960s with thin exterior walls when energy costs were so low they weren’t considered significant, according to the referendum website.

The funds will also provide for security upgrades, an update to the HVAC system, classroom and lab upgrades, a new science and technology lab and making the high school bleachers ADA compliant.

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Security upgrades will be in store for the middle school. Traphagen Elementary School will get a modernized media center and Crescent Elementary School will see a new parking lot.

The borrowing will bring a tax increase of about $154 a year in "net impact' to the average home, assessed at $418,132. The state will kick in approximately $10 million.

Board of Education President Daniel Marro said in a statement on the district's website that the board “appreciates each resident who learned about the Stronger Schools proposal and participated in the referendum by voting.”

The results are considered unofficial while mail-in ballots are being counted.

The district has four school buildings — two elementary schools, a middle school and a high school — and more than 1,600 students in grades pre-K-12.

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