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any folks in the North Jersey area are familiar with Ron’s Landmark in Netcong. The restaurant is now celebrating 45 years of business, after first opening in 1978 as a pizza and brew spot. In fact, the Raphael family continues to own and operate the business to this day.

Though originally a pizza and brew restaurant, Ron’s Landmark is now a full-service Italian restaurant with a full bar. The cozy Italian eatery with classic decor can seat 75 diners and serves classic, approachable Italian American fare. They cook each dish to order using only the freshest ingredients available, and are open for both lunch and dinner.

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45 years later, Ron’s Landmark embodies the old adage, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. With this in mind, their most popular dishes are Italian classics such as chicken/veal/eggplant Parmesan. Other menu highlights include chicken francaise, penne vodka, pizza, calamari, and antipasto salad. (Antipasto salad at this spot means lettuce, vegetables, and meats under a layer of mozzarella cheese). In particular, Owner Ron Raphael’s favorite menu item is the Chicken Saltimbocca. This is chicken with a layer of prosciutto, spinach, and provolone in a brown sauce over pasta.

In addition to traditional Italian lunch and dinner entrees, Ron’s Landmark serves a variety of desserts. Some of their fan-favorite options include a cannoli trio, tiramisu, cheesecake, and chocolate brownie (with optional ice cream scoop). Meanwhile, their drink menu features Irish coffee, Mexican coffee, whiskey coffee, Jamaican coffee, and “Café ala Ron”. The latter mixes Amaretto with Baileys and coffee liquor. In addition, their full-service bar has six beers on tap and a special, rotating seasonal drink menu.

Besides hosting guests at their restaurant, Ron’s Landmark is also the catering partner for The Pond at Triplebrook in Blairstown. 2023 marks their fifth year as the in-house caterer for the wedding venue

Visit Ron’s Landmark at 85 Main St (Route 46) in Netcong. Look for them online to learn more.

See the Latest Restaurants Open in New Jersey.

Do you accept Reservations?

Yes, they accept reservations.

Are there Gluten-free options?

Yes, they have gluten-free options.

Are there Vegetarian options?

Ron’s Landmark offers vegetarian options yes.

Do you offer Takeout?

They do offer takeout, yes.

Can you offer Delivery?

No, they do not offer delivery.

Do you have a Liquor license?

Yes, they have a liquor license and serve alcohol.

Is there a Kids’ menu?

They have a kids’ menu, yes.

Netcong residents have been told to boil their water until further notice due to water infrastructure upgrade work that began Monday.

Residents are urged to boil tap water before cooking, drinking, preparing foods, mixing baby formula, washing vegetables and fruit, making ice, brushing teeth and washing dishes.

Borough administrator Ralph Blakeslee said contractors began work on the project Monday morning, but he could not state an estimated time of completion.

"It will be a period of time," he said. "It all depends how long it takes the contractor to do the work."

Blakeslee added he would try to post updates on the borough Facebook page when available.

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The boil-water advisory was required as per guidelines issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

"This project includes replacement of water mains, water valves and hydrants at various locations in town," borough officials advised. "Every effort is being taken to ensure that the integrity of the system is maintained and that water provided to you meets NJDEP standards. However, there is the potential threat to the quality of water being provided to you during construction. As a precaution the borough is implementing a system wide boil-water advisory until testing of the water supply is deemed satisfactory."

The borough advised residents of the advisory via social media posts on Friday morning, and by Nixle alert and its public alert system on Sunday. Police also issued an alert on Sunday.

"We did that on Sunday because we figured that was the time that people would most likely be home," Blakeslee said.

Some residents on the borough Facebook page complained they did not receive any notice, while others say they were advised Sunday via email and text.

"Some people don’t have Facebook and need to know this," Marylou Ravo commented on Facebook. "I’m on Amendola Drive and at least a half of dozen people that I know of didn’t get any notice. My neighbor has a newborn and they had no idea."

"Couldn’t they have at least waited until school was out?" David Costanzo commented. "Two weeks. Kids can’t drink water and the school has to take alternatives measures to accommodate folks washing their hands, drinking during the day, drinks after gym class, drink after recess. This could have been planned better."

Blakeslee said borough officials advised the school district and school officials said they were prepared to cope with the advisory.

School district administrators did not immediately return call for comment.

What to do

Residents with additional questions can contact borough officials at the at the Municipal Building at 973-347-0252.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-917-9242; [email protected].

By Laurie GordonSUSSEX COUNTY — When a storm is coming. When it's nearly Thanksgiving or any big holiday. When your child is sick and you need a pharmacy. When you forgot to get milk, eggs, the secret ingredient to your famous chocolate chip cookies. Where do you head? For many people in the Sussex County area, the answer is simple: ShopRite.Seven local ShopRites are operated by RoNetco Supermarkets, Inc., and RoNetco is celebrating 90 years in business serving customers in Sussex, Warren and Morris counties.Starting from humble beginnings, the family embarked on their “American Dream” in the 1920’s. Mrs. Romano, the former Vincenzia Ann Francomacaro, was born and raised in Netcong, NJ. Thomas V. Romano, emigrated from Cesa, Italy, at the age of 19, arriving in the United States through Ellis Island in 1919. He settled in Netcongin 1924 and married Vincenzia (Fannie) in 1926.The couple were determined entrepreneurs who began their business journey with only $100 to their name – Fannie ran a small shop in their living room selling butter, sugar, flour, milk and eggs, and Tom ran an auto shop out of their garage. As the economy went into a recession that led to the Great Depression, the auto business struggled, but the small food market thrived. Fannie convinced Tom to close the auto shop, which allowed them to move the market into bigger space in their garage. As the business grew, they moved into a free standing building in Netcong, opening “Romano’s Food Market”. Tom taught himself to cut meat and would frequently travel to Newark to purchase meat and other goods for their new store.In 1954, the Romanos joined a new grocery buying cooperative known as Wakefern Food Corporation, which was created to give small, independent store owners the purchasing power to compete against the large supermarkets of the day, such as A & P. As a member of the cooperative, the Romanos opened their first ShopRite supermarket, located in Netcong, in 1956. Their four children, Pasquale (Pat), Estelle (Stella), Cecelia (Cissy) and Dominick, were all involved in the business in various capacities, with Pat and Dominick running the business after Tom and Fannie stepped back in later years. Dominick V. Romano, the only surviving child of Tom and Fannie, is currently chairman of the Board of RoNetco. The third generation, Dominick J. and David P. Romano, their grandsons, are co-presidents of the company.From their first ShopRite in Netcong, which moved to its current location in 1964, the family opened more stores as the communities in Northwestern New Jersey grew. Their second store opened in Hackettstown in the 1960’s but was the tragedy of a fire in the 1980’s. Their existing stores today are: Netcong (1964), Newton (1972), Succasunna (1974), Mansfield (1977), Franklin (1994), Byram (1998) and Flanders (2004). RoNetco is headquartered in Ledgewood, and the company employs more than 1,800 associates and has plans to open two new stores, in Sparta and Sussex.RoNetco is a family business in the truest sense of the words. It has numerous long-time associates, many of whom have dedicated 25, 35 and 40 years of their careers to the company. Since the opening of their first store, and before they were even in print, the Romano family and RoNetco have proudly stood by their Core Values of “Acting with Integrity, Respect for All, Caring Deeply, Challenging Themselves, and Welcoming all to their Family.”RoNetco believes in giving back to the community and to this end, supports hundreds of local organizations in their charitable fund-raising efforts. In addition, associates from the stores participate in both the MS Walk and March of Dimes Walk, the Special Olympics Torch Run, and Earth Day Clean Teams. Summer and winter blood drives are held annually, collecting over five hundred pints each year.RoNetco is a major supporter of the NJ State Fair in Augusta, Harvest Fest to support the Growing Stage Children’s Theatre in Netcong, An Evening of Wine & Roses to benefit Newton Medical Center Foundation and the Annual Pat Romano, Sr., Golf Outing benefiting the SCARC Foundation in Sussex County. The Company’s Purpose is “to care deeply about people, helping them to eat well and be happy.” This motto is the “driving force” behind every decision they make with their community involvement, and with their customers in the stores.RoNetco’s purpose statement shines true, especially during the company's annual Partners in Caring Program. Thanks to the generosity of customer donations, RoNetco ShopRite stores have raised nearly one million dollars in the past fifteen years to help stock local food pantries via the ShopRite Partners in Caring Program. In 2016, the seven ShopRite stores raised over $117,000 for the program. Each year, RoNetco donates a matching gift of up to $25,000 to the regional food bank to be used by local food pantries. Ronetco also gives back to its customers. On special or just random occasions, they'll have hot dogs outside the store or a big cake inside. And don't be surprised around Christmas time if you're roaming around the store and suddenly hear a live chorus.Over the years RoNetco has grown and changed to meet the challenges of the economy and the changing tastes of its customers. Famous for its “Can-Can Sale”, ShopRite and the Romanos have always strived to offer customers the best value for their money, keeping its product mix new while offering family favorites at the same time. To meet the ever growing demand for products and services to meet customers’ health and wellness needs, RoNetco has increased its organic produce selections, now offers the new “Wholesome Pantry” line of products and introduced Registered Dietitians in its stores to offer free in-store nutrition counseling and programs to the customers in the communities that we serve. In the stores, they believe in following their service priorities of safety, friendliness, presentation, and efficiency to meet the needs of their customers and Associates alike.“RoNetco attributes the success of their business to their loyal customers in the surrounding communities, their hardworking dedicated associates, and a philosophy that involves never settling, always striving for greatness, and constantly moving forward,” said Dominick V. Romano, the Chairman of the Board, said. “Good, better, best. Never take a rest. Until the good is better and the better is best.”RoNetco invites its customers to join with them as they celebrate 90 years of being able to serve families and friends in the neighborhoods where their stores are located and looks forward to being a part of the community for many more years to come.

By DIANA GOOVAERTS

[email protected]

NETCONG — As the academic year comes to a close on June 11, Netcong School will bid farewell to four long-time staff members who have more than 100 years of experience among them.

According to Netcong principal Gina Cinotti, the decades of service put in by the retirees — first-grade teacher Valerie Becker, kindergarten teacher Diane Flaherty, music teacher Sandra Jensen and 25-year school secretary Diane Hajtovik — are proof positive of the school's community focus.

“Years ago when people got jobs at Netcong, they stayed,” Cinotti said. “Our staff really was the constant when all the administration was changing. It really is incredible, and it is a testament to the kind of atmosphere that Netcong school is famous for.”

“When you're here it means more than just a job,” she continued. “ It's your heart and soul, it's your

family.”

Looking back

Becker, Flaherty and Jensen said they chose to stay at Netcong for as long as they did precisely because of the tight-knit, community feel Cinotti spoke of.

“I decided to stay in Netcong because of the small-school feel and how you actually get involved with the community,” said Becker, a 25-year teacher at the school. “It's just been the perfect place to be.”

“I've stayed mostly for the people,” said Flaherty, a 21-year Netcong faculty member and 31-year teaching veteran. “I love the town and I just fell in love with the kids. And I loved teaching kindergarten. There wasn't a day that someone would ask me, ‘How's your job?' that I would have something negative to say about it.”

The women said their experiences teaching at the school have left them with priceless memories.

“The best experience, and it's an all-around experience teaching kindergarten, is their honesty and their genuineness,” Flaherty said. “The things they come out with I could write a book about and become a millionaire because they're so funny. (The kids have) no boundaries at all. I could go on and on and tell you funny stories. I always have fun teaching. There's always laughter in my classroom.”

Through the course of her career, Becker said she's always enjoyed getting her students physically involved in her lessons.

“I always enjoyed teaching from themes, because as we read a story, if it's about butterflies we actually grow the butterflies, or if we're reading about bats then we actually do things with the bats,” she said. “I like and I enjoy having the hands-on element that the kids can have fun and enjoy.”

Jensen, a 35-year Netcong teaching veteran, said her favorite moments have been those when the lessons finally click with students.

“My favorite thing (about teaching) are those ‘Ah-ha!' moments when they say, ‘Oh my gosh, I can really do this,'” she said. “That kind of moment is really wonderful. You see them beaming with pride, and that's a great feeling.”

However, Jensen said her all-time favorite moment was a surprise student send-off at the school's spring concert.

“When they sang the song to me, ‘Ms. Jensen's Dynamite,' at this past concert, that just blew my mind,” Jensen said. “It was a surprise. They practiced it, unbeknownst to me, with Mrs. Barbara Dzurny. It was absolutely wonderful. I'll never forget that.”

Time to go

Perhaps partly because of precious moments like these, all three teachers said the decision to retire has been a difficult one.

“Happily, I can tell you I decided on my own,” Flaherty said. “Someone once told me you'll know when you know. If you had asked me a year ago, I would have said I have no idea when I'm going to retire. The teachers are great, everybody is great, but the atmosphere has just changed.”

“Education has taken a big hit and teachers have taken a bigger hit,” she continued. “With all of the testing and all of the requirements that teachers need to fill, they're not giving the time to the kids anymore. It's paperwork. The standards aren't a bad thing, they're a good thing, but it takes away from what I was used to.”

Jensen said she was thankful for her time at Netcong but expressed regret at having to leave before she really felt ready. Her hand, she said, was forced by a provision in the recently approved 2015-1016 budget that will reduce the music teacher position to part-time. As a result, Jensen said she would have lost her medical benefits had she not chosen to retire at the end of this year.

“It's been a wonderful job for these 35 years,” Jensen said. “I'm very lucky because I have the years in. I'm 56, and the magic number in teaching is you have to be 55 or more (to retire). I've got enough years in, but I feel I'm just too young to stop. I would have liked to have continued. But I have been very lucky.”

Though Jensen said she is sorry to leave, she said will carry fond memories of the school in her heart.

“I've had a wonderful experience teaching here at Netcong. There were a lot of rewarding moments,” she said. “I want to thank everyone for the wonderful send off they gave me at the concert and for all the gifts they've given me and love they've shown.”

“I'll always remember Netcong as a great place,” she said.

In retirement, Flaherty said she would like to work with animals or join a child assault prevention team in addition to spending time with her sons.

Jensen said she still enjoys the classroom and would be interested in looking for teaching position in a private school after an upcoming trip to France she has planned.

Becker said she would like travel around the country and see the national parks, but said she is also hoping to sail on a few riverboat cruises and take a voyage to Alaska.

“As you get older you'll find out that life is short, so I want to be able to enjoy my family and travel,” Becker said. “But it was a very difficult decision because I've loved this job. It's just been the best.”

Though the three teaching positions account for nearly a tenth of the school's 32 current faculty positions, Cinotti said the school is not planning to hire replacements in the immediate future. Next year, Cinotti said the school will transition from two classes each for second and third grade to one class each, and will also reduce music, Spanish and art classes to 75 percent time.

The option to bring art, music and Spanish back to full-time and restore two instructional staff positions will be up for the public to decide with a question on the November ballot, Cinotti said.

Diana Goovaerts also can be contacted on Twitter: @DiaGoovaertsNJH or by phone: 973-383-1194.

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(NETCONG) – New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher and New York Jets offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson announced today that schools in Netcong, Haledon, Hightstown, Jersey City and Lakewood are this year’s winners of the Eat Right, Move More contest.

Fisher and Ferguson visited the grand prize winner, Netcong Elementary School for a special program and to present the school with a check for a $5,000 kitchen makeover, made possible by the Jets and the American Dairy Association & Dairy Council’s Fuel Up to Play 60 campaign. School officials plan to use the money to purchase a stove, refrigerator/freezer unit and supplies that will allow them to provide more fresh food alternatives to the children and staff.

Jesse Linder of the Jets, D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Secretary Fisher award the $5,000 grand prize school cafeteria makeover check to Principal Bammer.“Through the Eat Right, Move More program, students throughout the state are seeing that eating nutritious foods, like what is offered in their school cafeterias, and exercising will benefit them as adults,” said Secretary Fisher. “We congratulate Netcong Elementary School and the other schools for creatively following our state’s school nutrition standards and developing programs for students, staff and parents that increase their activity levels and teach about good nutrition.”

The Eat Right, Move More program, a partnership between the Jets, the Department of Agriculture and the American Dairy Association & Dairy Council’s Fuel Up to Play 60 campaign, encourages New Jersey school children to take advantage of healthy foods in their school cafeterias and become more active. This year, the winning schools were chosen that best met the criteria established for the Healthier U.S. School Challenge Program. Additionally, school lunch and breakfast menus were reviewed and the schools had to show strong support and demonstrate efforts to improve nutrition and physical activity among their students.

This is the fifth year of the Eat Right, Move More Program, with D’Brickashaw Ferguson as spokesman. The campaign features posters of Ferguson in every school telling students, “Eating healthy meals helps me play my best. Your school cafeteria has a variety of nutritious foods to keep you going all day long. So let’s get up and Eat Right and Move More!”

"Each year I am more impressed with the level of participation and the creativity of the schools involved in the Eat Right, Move More program," said Ferguson. "I am excited to be here today to honor Netcong Elementary's commitment to health and wellness and for winning this year's grand prize."

Ferguson interacts with students and faculty during a fun program at Netcong Elementary School

Netcong Elementary School, with 295 pre-K through 8^th grade students, participates in the Farm to School Program, purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables for their school meals programs from New Jersey farmers. The school’s breakfast and lunch menus regularly include fresh fruit and vegetables, salads, whole grains, 100% fruit juices, and low-fat milk. In addition, the Netcong PTA helped establish a school garden.

Netcong students receive nutrition education, a Health and Nutrition Newsletter and various enhanced opportunities for physical activity, such as their Walk and Roll Wednesday events, Bike Rodeo, Wellness Expo and a Nutrition Fair.

“Having D’Brickashaw Ferguson come to speak to the kids is something that the children and staff will remember forever,” said Melissa Bammer, school principal/superintendent. “They got to see a famous athlete who got where he is by making healthy choices and living a healthy life, being determined to work hard to be the most successful person he can be. He showed them that it is paramount to have a healthy breakfast and lunch in order to learn properly.”

Bammer, physical education teacher Kevin Earl, Secretary Fisher and six 4^th through 8^th grade students represented the school on Sunday, December 12 at the NY Jets vs. Miami Dolphins game at the Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford. The group was taken onto the field to tape a piece that was shown at the end of the 4^th quarter. They also watched player warm-ups on the sideline and given seats on the 50-yard line.

“It’s fun and exciting to be where the players play,” said 7^th grader Anthony Quan, who won his spot at the game by writing an essay about why kids should lead healthy lifestyles and make healthy choices; how being part of the day; will promote the Eat Right, Move More grant; and what he thought school officials should do with the grant. Quan said he regularly eats healthy foods at school. “I love the bags of apples in the cafeteria.”

The other winning schools will receive visits from Jets players in the spring. The schools are: Haledon Public School, Haledon; Hightstown High School, Hightstown; P.S. #25, Nicolaus Copernicus School, Jersey City; and Oak Street School, Lakewood.

Programs funded by the New York Jets Foundation touch the lives of countless young men and women in the tri-state area. Over the past nine years, the Jets and their charitable foundation have donated or contributed more than $8 million to promote youth health, fitness and education, particularly in disadvantaged communities. From fighting childhood obesity through the Generation Jets: Be Lean & Green initiative to launching a football team in a Harlem high school, urging students to eat right and move more, and supporting the efforts of the Alliance for Lupus Research, the New York Jets invest in programs that make a difference in the lives of others. In addition to the Jets Foundation, which supports their own extensive youth initiatives, the Jets partner with numerous established charitable organizations and participate in causes sponsored by the NFL.

The Department of Agriculture’s comprehensive school nutrition policy covers pre-kindergarten through 12^th grade students. The policy limits fat and sugar content in foods offered in a la carte lines, snack bars and vending machines, school stores and as part of on-campus fund-raisers.

More than 673,000 students in both public and private schools participate in the National School Lunch Program, administered by the Department of Agriculture.

For more information about the Department’s school nutrition programs, visit www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/fn/childadult/school.html.