The Personal Injury Attorney in Englewood, NJ, You Can Trust

Save the Animals Rescue Team II, a nonprofit animal shelter in Englewood, is on the brink of closing due to a significant decline in donations and a shortage of volunteers.

Diane Errichiello, a dedicated volunteer of 20 years, expressed grave concerns about the organization's financial situation.

"Donations are way down and not covering our expenses. For example, our Christmas donation drive was a huge disappointment. We received only half of what we used to get in the past,” Errichiello said. This sharp decline in financial support has put immense strain on the shelter's operations, she said.

Founder and President Marge Kayne echoed Errichiello's sentiments, highlighting the challenges posed by inflation and the increasing cost of goods. "Shots, medication, food — prices for everything have gone up," Kayne said. The rising costs have exacerbated the shelter's financial woes, she said, making it increasingly difficult to provide for the animals in its care.

Currently, START II houses 25 to 30 animals, including seven goldendoodles, a husky, and several cats. Some of these animals have been at the shelter for over a year, as adoptions have slowed significantly.

If the shelter is forced to close, the fate of these animals will hang in the balance. Kayne revealed that the organization would have to contact other societies about relocating them, adding to the uncertainty and stress faced by both the shelter and the animals.

Without a significant increase in volunteers to assist with fundraising efforts and essential administrative tasks such as managing the website and social media platforms, START II may be forced to shut down permanently. Kayne emphasized that without additional support, the shelter may be compelled to merge with another rescue group so they can share operational costs.

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This is not the first time the shelter has faced hardships. In 2021, the shelter was entirely renovated. It had to ask for help from the community to repair the aging facility, tend to its cats and dogs, and find a grant writer who could apply for more funding.

Kayne urged the Englewood community to rally together in support of the shelter. Whether through volunteerism, donations or spreading awareness on social media, every contribution makes a difference in ensuring the continued operation of this vital organization, she said.

To volunteer or donate, visit START II's website at sites.google.com/view/save-the-animals-rescue-team-2. The shelter can be reached at (732) 330 6692.

2-minute read

Maddie McGay

NorthJersey.com

Members of the Englewood community expressed frustration at the city's proposed affordable housing plan during an emergency town hall meeting Monday night to demonstrate to the City Council their opposition to the plan.

Mayor Michael Wildes vetoed the plan on Friday, saying it "fails to preserve our goal of maintaining neighborhood character, fails to target development to blighted areas of the city, and was conducted in a fashion that has alienated our citizenry."

Presenters at the town hall included former Mayor Frank Huttle III, former council President Lynne Algrant and other community leaders from Englewood's four wards.

As the town hall began, Huttle displayed maps of the zones outlined in the city's plan, with images showing what's included in each area, such as a historic library and church.

"We absolutely oppose the current overlay zones," Huttle said. "We oppose the plan for jeopardizing our neighborhoods. It will have an impact on jeopardizing our schools, and will have an impact on our homes."

Diane Jansen, co-chair of community engagement for the mayor's cultural affairs committee, said there was poor communication during the entire process to develop the plan. The Planning Board and the public were not involved in the development of the overlay zones before its approval, she said.

Peter Steck, a New Jersey-licensed planner, gave an example of an impact one of the overlay zones would have on current properties in the zone. He said the city is giving incentive to developers to make deals with current property owners.

Though no one is forced to sell their property, the area has become more attractive for developers because of the plan, he said. Because the plan outlines that new buildings in these zones would need to have 20% of units set aside as affordable, a developer could get four properties to tear down and put up a building with seven units and only one affordable housing unit.

Opinion:Affordable housing plan threatens Englewood's rich history and diversity

"The cost outweighs the gain," he said.

Steck also said the plan was prepared without involving the Planning Board.

That's "the opposite of what it's supposed to be," he said. "They had no time to review the plan, and they were told they had to adopt it on the night they were given it."

The presentation also featured photos that showed flooding and damage in Englewood from the remnants of Hurricane Ida in 2021. Peter Jansen, an advocate in Englewood, said seven of the 15 overlay zones outlined in the plan are located in FEMA flood zones.

Local:Ramapo professor gets grant to chronicle history of Englewood's Black, immigrant areas

In addition, Amy Jones Bullock, a member of the Englewood community, said many of these areas are also home to communities of low-income families. She also said the west side of Englewood has already been declared an overburdened area by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

"Why do we continue to pile people on top of people?" she said. "Is there not a value to a quality of life that promotes peace and tranquility?"

The City Council first voted 4-1 to approve the zoning plan on Aug. 8, despite objections from residents.

The council will hold a virtual meeting on Tuesday to consider the issue and vote on whether to override the mayor's veto. A recording of the emergency town hall meeting will be delivered to the council before its meeting.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten, one of the world's most famous chefs, is coming to Englewood.

Vongerichten, who has opened 60 restaurants worldwide and earned numerous culinary awards, is planning to move into the space that had housed the Shoe Inn on Dean Street.

"It's a real feather in Englewood’s cap, the region and the county," said Michael Wildes, the mayor of Englewood.

The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, Wildes said. Construction has not begun yet, but turning a shoe store into a swanky all-day restaurant, will require major renovation, he noted.

Vongerichten could not be reached for comment.

Wildes, an immigration lawyer, said that the planning board had approved Vongerichten's plan a year ago, but that he had to recuse himself from the deliberations because, it turns out, he was Vongerichten's immigration lawyer. Vongerichten, who was born and raised in Alsace, France, came to New York City in 1986. "He jumped up like a little boy when he got his citizenship," Wildes said. "It was so lovely."

That French immigrant would go on to open restaurants, first in Manhattan, and eventually around the world, that had critics and diners swooning.

In New York City, he introduced diners to Thai-inspired Asian cuisine at his first restaurant, Vong, which received a Michelin star and closed after a 15-year run. (It is the restaurant where this reporter was introduced to peppercorn ice cream and for a time was her favorite NYC restaurant.)

He went on to open a bunch more restaurants including Mercer Kitchen, Spice Market, JoJo (it's housed in an elegant townhouse, a favorite of this reporter); Jean-Georges (housed in Trump Tower on Central Park West); ABCV (a fabulous vegetarian restaurant that's terrific whether you do or don't eat meat); The Fulton (a seafood restaurant in the Seaport District) and recently the Tin Building (a food hall under the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge).

In 2014, he ventured into the suburbs of New York City by opening the Inn at Pound Ridge in Westchester County.

Vongerichten claims to have invented chocolate lava cake in New York City, though chocolatier Jacques Torres disputes him. Among his signature dishes: egg caviar, scrambled eggs topped with a dollop of caviar, presented inside an egg shell), lobster tartine and garlic soup with sautéed frog legs.

Vongerichten has published several cookbooks, received a number of Michelin stars and has won six James Beard awards including Outstanding Chef (1998), Best New Restaurant (2005) and Outstanding Restaurant (2009).

A 2020 profile in the New York Times said that "no chef working in America is quite his equal. Many, like him, have created multiple restaurants. A very few, like him, are considered among the best. Even fewer are both. Mr. Vongerichten is able to do more, and he is able to do it better, his style augmented by extraordinary open-mindedness, a willingness to embrace the local culture wherever he might be."

And now he is set to embrace North Jersey.

"Everyone knows that Englewood is the capital of this region," Wildes said. "We just made Englewood more delicious to eat in."

Every parent wants what’s best for their children — especially when it comes to education. Thankfully, North Jersey has great schools to choose from, including Dwight-Englewood, a coeducational, independent school with students representing 117 NJ/NY zip codes. Located at 315 East Palisade Avenue in Englewood, Dwight-Englewood School provides a seamless educational experience for students from Preschool 3 through Grade 12. Keep reading to learn more about Dwight-Englewood School + its unique educational experience.

Dwight-Englewood School is a co-educational private school for New Jersey and New York students, ranging from Preschool 3 to 12th grade. The campus is comprised of three divisions: Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. Each school has its own distinctive personality and dynamic classes.

“Our students take advantage of an unparalleled rich academic experience that is both traditional and innovative,” said Helen Jerome of Dwight-Englewood. “We provide a rigorous college preparatory program rooted in the classical liberal arts while at the same time preparing students with 21st-century skills they will need for their futures.”

Dwight-Englewood students are talented, motivated, and responsible. Supported by caring faculty, students have the chance to hone their talents, passion, skills, and intelligence inside and outside of the classroom. Through small classes with stimulating coursework, as well as opportunities in the arts, athletics, leadership, and service, students are able to learn life skills you can’t get anywhere else.

The Dwight-Englewood campus spans 45 acres and includes three fields and tennis courts. In terms of transportation, the school has an extensive bus system that serves Hoboken, Jersey City, all of Hudson and Bergen County, and NYC.

“We are an extremely diverse, kind, and caring community,” said Helen. “We represent 117 zip codes all over the NJ/NYC area.”

Additionally, the Dwight-Englewood community values the learning process over the learning product. In other words, students are encouraged to collaborate with their peers and community, take risks in their learning, and choose from various clubs and extracurricular activities.

“Learning and growth take place both inside and outside the classroom,” Helen told The Hoboken Girl. “In the Upper School, we have an extensive elective curriculum of over 250 courses which allows students to tailor their education to suit their interests. Students are also offered many co-curricular activities such as athletics, arts, and over 70 student-run clubs.”

The campus is also home to a state-of-the-art STEM Center with a robotics room, labs, and math classrooms that encourage collaboration and discussion. Additionally, the school system provides peer and buddy mentor programs, advisory group support, dedicated breaks built into the school day, and 9th and 10th-grade seminars to explore topics from personal and social identity to stress management and mindfulness.

The Dwight School for Girls was founded in 1889 by Euphemia S. Creighton and Ellen W. Farrar as a college preparatory school. Later, in 1928, the Englewood School for Boys was established as a college preparatory school. It wasn’t until 1973 that the two schools merged to form Dwight-Englewood School. In fact, this year is the 50th Anniversary of the joining of the Dwight School and Englewood School for Boys.

The school’s mission statement is as follows: “As a community of learners, Dwight-Englewood School strives to foster in each student a passion for life-long learning. We seek excellence, honor integrity, and embrace diversity in order to develop the skills, values, and courage to meet the challenges of a changing world and make it better.”

Dwight-Englewood School is located at 315 East Palisade Avenue in Englewood. For client inquiries, you can call the Admissions Office at 201-227-3102.

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