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Simeon Pincus

There will be no Friday night football at Watchung Hills High School this fall, at least until the last regular-season home game of the season, athletic director Derek England confirmed.

Tozier Field was scheduled to have its outdated lights replaced this summer. Those fixtures, by some estimates, have been in place since the 1990s or earlier. Now, after some contractor issues, the lights aren’t scheduled to be ready until Oct. 13, the day the Warriors are slated to play host to St. Joseph-Metuchen in Watchung Hills’ regular-season home finale.

:FOOTBALL PREVIEW INDEX: 2023 Big Central Conference, Central Jersey previews

England said the issue was addressed at Tuesday night’s meeting of the board of education, which approved funding to replace the lights in April, and the order was placed on May 1.

“Early indications had our contractor delivering the products by August 1st, with an installation and completion by late August,” a statement read. “Late July we were notified by our contractor of a backorder issue with fixtures. The new delivery date became Sept. 13 with an installation of one month.

“Keep in mind that weather is a factor. We researched alternate approaches including temporary rental, but eventually settled on revising the schedule. It is regrettable but unfortunately supply chain issues in certain cases still exist.”

The Warriors are scheduled to open the 2023 football season Friday at home against Bayonne in a game that was always scheduled for 5 p.m., even before the lights became an issue, England said. Kickoff has since been moved up to 4:30 p.m. just to give the game a little extra cushion in case it goes long and it starts to get dark.

After Friday’s opener, Watchung Hills’ next home game is slated for Sept. 8 against North Hunterdon. Kickoff is now schedule for 3:30 p.m.

The Warriors also host Bridgewater-Raritan on Sept. 22 and Montgomery on Sept. 29. Start times have yet to be announced for those contests.

“My coaches and I will get the team ready to play anytime of the week,” Watchung Hills head coach Rich Seubert said. “I’m glad the school has realized how important it is to have games on a Friday night. It’s a community event with great energy. Hopefully everything gets figured out ASAP and we play some games under the lights. Until then we will adjust and move on. I look forward to seeing a big crowd this Friday at 4:30 p.m.”

Simeon Pincus has been covering NJ sports since 1997. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @SimeonPincus.

By Jake Nemcek

WATCHUNG, NJ -- Watchung has a new branch manager, Manny Miracle. Miracle is a WHRHS grad and started her love of the library at the Watchung Library.

Miracle was asked:

Why Watchung?

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I grew up just around the corner, in Warren, attended school at Watchung Hills, and started my first job at the Watchung branch where I developed a love of librarianship and the idea of community. The Watchung branch provided me with a sense of belonging and this is my opportunity to directly give back to the community that impacted my life for the better. As someone who has reaped the benefits of growing up in Somerset County, I have always wanted to give back to the community that shaped me into who I am today. As our daily lives become ever more intertwined with technology it’s vitally important to the health of a community for the library to serve as a third place; a place that is neither home nor work where people can meet their neighbors and feel they are a part of a larger community.

Share your journey to branch manager:

I fell in love with librarianship at Watchung branch where I worked as a library assistant in the ‘90s. After graduating from Rutgers University with my undergraduate degree I worked as the public relations coordinator for the Library System sharing my love of library services with the public; headquartered at the Bridgewater branch for ten years. After a move to Colorado and obtaining my master’s in library science from Clarion University (PA), I came back to work at SCLSNJ as a librarian at Mary Jacobs and moved to the new Montgomery location where I led the adult services department.

What is your favorite Library resource that you feel should no longer remain a secret?

First of all, I cannot say enough about the treasure trove found on the Library’s website, from cultural adventure passes to Library programs to readers advisory services. However, if I could only pick one thing, I love, love, love Gale Presents: Udemy. Udemy provides high quality video courses taught by professionals in the field on topics ranging from how to build a website to how to be a better listener. Anyone looking to upskill themselves, job seekers looking to add skills in search of better jobs, or employers looking to provide training to their employees should take a peek at this magnificent resource. But, I also love Libby, our e-book and e-audiobook library, or Gale Business DemographicsNow, an incredible resource for entrepreneurs. I really could just go on and on. Stop in and chat with me, I’d love to tell you all about - well, everything!

Recommendations from Manny Miracle:

The Watchung branch is located at 12 Stirling Road in Watchung. To contact the Watchung branch, call (908) 458-8455 or email [email protected]. To discover all SCLSNJ has to offer, visit SCLSNJ.org or connect with SCLSNJ on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, or YouTube.

WATCHUNG – A Watchung Hills Regional High School graduate has been appointed as the borough school district's interim superintendent.

Rene Rovtar, who graduated from the high school in 1976 and entered the school's Hall of Fame in 2022, will temporarily fill the position vacated by the resignation of George Alexis who is becoming superintendent in Long Hill.

Long Hill and Watchung, along with Warren Township and Green Brook, send their high school students to Watchung Hills.

Rovtar has been serving as interim superintendent in Long Hill since January, where she had served as superintendent from July 2008 through June 2015 before becoming superintendent in Montville.

Rovtar's appointment with Watchung begins July 1. Alexis's employment in the district ends June 30.

After three-and-a-half years with the district, Alexis announced in mid-April that he was leaving for Long Hill.

Watchung is a pre-K-8 district with about 670 students in two schools − Bayberry Elementary School and Valley View Middle School.

More:Watchung Hills becomes battleground for America's culture war

In announcing the appointment of Rovtar, Board President Amber Murad said Rovtar "brings a wealth of knowledge and experience" to the district.

"We are eagerly looking forward to working with her," Murad said. "Her expertise will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and development of our educational community."

Murad said the school board has hired the New Jersey School Boards Association its search firm for the permanent superintendent position.

According to Murad, NJBSA has initiated the application process, and is seeking input from staff members at Bayberry and Valley View.

Residents can complete an online survey of what they want to see in a new superintendent. A community meeting on the superintendent search is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 22 at Valley View Middle School.

email: [email protected]

Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter forMyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: [email protected] or@CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

TAMPA — The dream hatched when Anthony Volpe was a little kid living in Watchung, N.J. Besides family, baseball was a first love and Yankee Stadium was just 40 miles from home, so the Yankees were his team.

Little Anthony would go to the Bronx with his parents for games and religiously watched most of the others on TV.

All Volpe ever wanted to do with his life was play shortstop for the Yankees. Actually, that’s not entirely true. He wanted to win World Series playing shortstop for the Yankees.

“Since as long as I can remember,” Volpe said before prefacing, “I’m probably the same as a lot of the kids my age, a lot of my classmates, all my teammates. But this was a lot of dreaming.”

It was more than dreaming. Baseball was Volpe’s passion for as long as he can remember, too. He was determined from a young age to do everything he could to someday be a Yankee. That required hours and hours of working on all parts of his game around the calendar.

Early on, Volpe’s raw talent and work habits stood out wherever he played.

Now, as a 21-year-old young man who makes as good an impression off the field as on, Volpe’s dream is coming true.

Heading into his first big-league spring training this year, Volpe was a longshot to break camp with the Yankees. The starting shortstop was open, but 2022 starter Isiah Kiner-Falefa and hotshot rookie Oswald Peraza were the co-favorites.

“You never know, (Volpe) could still kick the door in and force the onus on us,” manager Aaron Boone told YES in January.

On Sunday afternoon, after the Yankees’ 6-3 win over the Blue Jays, Volpe was called into Boone’s office and told he’s made the team. Come Thursday, Opening Day at Yankee Stadium, Volpe will be the Yankees’ shortstop.

“I think when we take a step back and evaluate, he really checked every box that we could have had for him and absolutely kicked the door in and earned this opportunity,” Boone said.

Overcome with emotion, Volpe said, “This day and this moment is what I’ve worked my whole life for.”

Volpe earned it. After March 9, Kiner-Falefa didn’t play any shortstop and prepped for a utility role that would include infield and outfield. Last Monday, with Peraza slumping offensively and Volpe still putting on shows every time he played, the Yankees’ front office and coaching staff met to talk about roster decisions.

By then, Volpe had won over everyone in so many ways. He has just 22 games of Triple-A experience and no big-league time, but the Yankees brass decided their No. 1 prospect two years running was ready.

“He came into this camp continuing to reinforce everything he’s done at every level, which is standout amongst everyone,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “He showed up early (for spring training). I want to say it was December. On his own. Voluntarily. He knew there was a competition and he was intent on winning it.

“From the defensive side, from the offensive side, from one of the first to get here in the morning pre-game or pre-practice to one of the last to leave, he just dominated all sides of the ball in February and March.”

Volpe was eight won their last World Series in 2009. Then, Derek Jeter was the face of the Yankees, so of course he was a childhood hero for Volpe.

But Volpe saw Jeter as more than a great player. He recognized the intangibles and makeup that added to the Hall of Fame shortstop’s greatness and made sure those traits were a part of his baseball DNA.

Volpe always was more than a fan. He was schooled to play the game the right way, so he looked up to the players who ran out every groundball, the ones who turned singles into hustling doubles, the ones who threw to the right base all the time.

From the time Volpe was in grade school, he always was the star on the ballfield, too. Although usually one of the smallest players, his bat-to-ball skills were better than the other kids he played with and against. He also learned from a young age how to work pitchers. He learned how to hit the ball where it was pitched and drive baseballs to the opposite field. He practiced bunting until it was a big strength. He used his speed to steal a lot of bases while training to run faster. His defense always was superb. His baseball IQ always was off the charts.

Volpe advanced from New Jersey youth leagues to traveling teams to high school ball at Delbarton with a lot of USA Baseball events mixed in around the country and globe.

By his senior year at Delbarton, Volpe’s mission to someday play for the Yankees no longer was farfetched. That spring, Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer selected Volpe in the first round of the 2019 draft, 30th overall.

“Damon and his staff out of the amateur scouting department … they placed a bet on him coming out of Delbarton,” Cashman said. “They said the tools would play. They said the makeup was off the chart and he would earn everything every step of the way.”

At the time of the draft, Volpe had committed to go to college to play for national power Vanderbilt, but there was no way he was headed to Nashville after the Yankees picked him.

“It was a once in a lifetime chance to get into the organization,” said Volpe, who received a $2.7 million signing bonus from the Yankees.

Still a long way from the big leagues, Volpe started the climb up the organization ladder that summer. He played rookie ball in 2019, then sat out a whole year when COVID wiped out the entire 2000 minor-league season.

Volpe used this time off to hone all of his baseball skills at home, then the next year he soared up the prospects rankings putting up sensational numbers playing for the Low-A Tampa Tarpons and High-A Hudson Valley Renegades.

Last year was a homecoming that initially brought some adversity. Playing just a few miles from home for the Double-A Somerset Patriots, Volpe was hitting .202 through June 3 before getting hot and staying hot. By the end of the season, Volpe’s stats were impressive and he got some Triple-A experience.

“I’m just happy with all the work I’ve put in,” Volpe said. “I feel like I improved a lot in different parts of my game.”

Scouts and prospects experts grew to love Volpe’s game so much that he’s been a top five prospect in baseball last year and this year.

But heading into spring training, the thinking throughout the industry was that Volpe wasn’t quite big-league ready. There was a belief that he’d start the season in Triple-A, then maybe earn a first call-up by summertime or in September. There even was speculation that he’d go to Scranton and play a lot of second base because there’s been questions for years about his arm strength at shortstop.

Volpe looked like a major league shortstop this spring. He made every play and his arm played out fine, even on long throws from the hole.

“He’s prepared,” Yankees captain Aaron Judge said. “Very rarely do you see that at such a young age. Usually you’re a little immature or a little unprepared, but he seems ready to go every single game I’ve played behind him.”

While Volpe passed the eye test, he put up eye-popping numbers. Through Sunday, an off day for Volpe after three games in three days, he was hitting .314 with six doubles, a triple, three homers, five RBI, eight walks, five steals in five attempts and a 1.064 OPS in 17 games.

“Very impressive at-bats,” Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton said. “He’s running all over the basepaths. He’s a well-rounded player.”

And now Volpe is a big-leaguer. He celebrated Sunday’s news with his parents and other family members in the Yankees dugout at Steinbrenner Field.

On Sunday evening, he celebrated with his spring training roommates, four buddies that were teammates during his minor-league road to the big leagues — Austin Wells, Mickey Gasper, Max Burt and Spencer Henson. They dubbed their planned night “The Last Supper” because “it was going to be our last night and “we’re all going our separate ways.”

The Yankees leave Florida after Monday’s game in Tampa. They’ll play an exhibition against the Nationals on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., then rest up for a day before Thursday’s season opener against the Giants.

Volpe watched a lot of Yankees games over the years from the stands. This time, he’ll be out there on the playing field in pinstripes with a better number than his spring training No. 77, maybe 11 or 14. He’ll hear his name during player introductions, then head out to shortstop for his first Yankees game and be part of the Bleacher Creatures roll call.

It’ll be everything he’s dreamed of and worked for forever.

“It’s super surreal,” Volpe said. “I’ve only ever been to games at Yankee Stadium (as a fan). To get that opportunity, I’m so excited. It’s crazy. I don’t even know what lies ahead.”

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WARREN, NJ — It's been 51 years since Jim Keelen lost his Watchung Hills Regional High School(WHRHS) graduation ring at the Jersey Shore. Last week, a Point Pleasant Borough resident made a "miraculous" discovery and helped reunite Keelen with his ring.

It was the summer of 1972 and Keelen of Warren had just graduated. Keelen had gone down to the shore with his high school friends to spend time at a house on the beach in Point Beach.

"We did what young kids do and I lost my ring that weekend," said Keelen, who only had his ring for a few months prior. "I figured if it was lost on the beach it was toast. I considered it was gone all these years."

That was until Anthony Dimaria-Sadorski made the chance discovery. Dimaria-Sadorski of Point Pleasant Borough went to the Beaver Dam Creek behind his home off Cohocton Avenue to take photos of the sunset.

"I just caught a glimpse of the stone in the sunlight," said Dimaria-Sadorski. "I thought, 'Wow, that's weird' and lo and behold it was the ring."

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The ring was located right next to the creek opening where the water would be, said Dimaria-Sadorski, who figured it came in on high tide.

Seeing the date on the class ring, Dimaria-Sadorski wanted to find its owner. He made a post on Facebook on June 8 and within a matter of minutes, it was shared about 30 times including in the WHRHS alumni group.

One of the group members tagged Keelen who verified the ring was his.

"Oh my goodness I couldn't believe it," said Keelen when he realized his ring was found. "This is crazy."

Keelen theorizes that since the ring was lost on the beach it must've been Superstorm Sandy that brought the ring inland.

"Maybe it washed off the beach and was deposited inland and by chance - a miracle - he found it," said Keelen.

Dimaria-Sadorski and Keelen connected and the ring was shipped out and reunited on Monday, June 12.

The ring had some dings and was a little bent so Keelen brought it to a jeweler to polish the stone and resize it.

"I would like to wear it again since I lost it after only a couple of months," said Keelen.

Keelen is beyond happy to be reunited with his ring and said he couldn't thank Dimaria-Sadorski enough.

"It's miraculous that he found it. And then to make that special effort to find me - that's a special kind of goodness right there," said Keelen. "It's remarkable."