Hackettstown Life News

Friendly's: Building a Better Sundae

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:31:15 EDT

Friendly's holds a competition each year to determine which of its employees can make ice cream treats most quickly and accurately. Each team of two employees must make 10 ice cream creations as fast as they can. But they can't be sloppy.

The top-place team hailed from a Friendly's restaurant in Hackettstown, Warren County. That team will advance to the national championship next month, with a shot at earning the grand prize of $3,000.

BID July Concert Series Postponed

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:13:03 EDT

The July Concert - ROCK NIGHT - will be postponed. The concert will take place on our scheduled rain date of July 24th at 7:30pm

Set up and prep work will take place tomorrow just as it would today.

Tickets will be honored with July 23rd date on July 24th.

Centenary College honors families, bank at annual scholarship gala

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 20:43:08 EDT

Golden Dome Awards given to recognize gifts, support for programs

Centenary College honored Commerce Bank, the Im family, and the Cofrancesco family, ownwers of Grinnell Concrete Paving Stones Inc., as Gold Dome Award Recipients at its recent annual scholarship gala.

Since its inception, the scholarship gala has raised more than $2 million for the college scholarship fund.

Commerce Bank was honored as Centenary's "Window to the Educational World."

Hackettstown BID runs 2nd Annual Concert Series

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 11:00:05 EDT

Bring your family and friends, lawn chairs and picnic blankets and sit out under the stars and enjoy two great nights of live music in Hackettstown. The Hackettstown Business Improvement District (BID) will be running it's 2nd Annual Free July Concert Series. The July Concert Series is an event the BID created to showcase some of the local businesses down in the Mountain Avenue Area of the business district.

The July Concert Series will be the two middle Wednesdays in July at Hoffman Floors' parking lot, Mountain Avenue, Hackettstown. The concerts will run from 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm. Viewing area is on a first come first served basis and it is advised that you arrive early.

July 16th will be Jazz Night, featuring a Latin Jazz Sextet with Russ Kassoff on piano.

July 23rd will be Rock Night, featuring two area rock bands, "Reverse Order" & "Pinnacle."

These are free concerts, but you'll still need to obtain a ticket for admittance into the concerts. Tickets are available in many of the businesses throughout the business district. Extra Tickets will be available at Skylands Community Bank, Harpers Bagel & Bake Shop, Hackettstown Trading Post, Hackettstown Ford, and Skylands Community Pharmacy.

The Free July Concert Series will be July 16th and 23rd with rain dates July 17th and the 24th. This year's concerts are being sponsored by Hackettstown Ford.

Hackettstown BID Launches First Grant Program

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 10:31:16 EDT

The Hackettstown Business Improvement District has begun awarding funds in its first grant program called the VIP Grant. The Visual Improvement Program (VIP) Grant is designed to assist Hackettstown BID Businesses that wish to improve and maintain the appearance of their businesses through the creation of improved signage, lighting, painting or other small exterior initiatives. This is the Hackettstown BID's first grant program and is designed to assist several BID businesses per year. Grants are offered on a matching basis with the maximum payout of $1,000 per business. Building tenants must have the cooperation and approval of the building owner.

The first approvals were made at the Hackettstown BID's Maintenance and Improvement Committee Meeting on June 24th. Two properties were awarded the maximum payout of $1,000.

East Plane Plaza property owner, Robert Blasi was award $1,000 for the replacement of awnings along the East Plane Plaza building. The current awnings have deteriorated and it was the Mr. Blasi's intention to replace them with new ones to keep a professional and appealing look to the building

"I'm very pleased," said Mr. Blasi, "Its nice to see things coming back to the business people and property owners."

The other $1,000 award went to Dr. Arnold Yoskowitz, owner of the building at 302 Main Street. The building was recently stripped, sanded, and painted. "We made an investment in the building, because we believe in Hackettstown and its future," said Dr. Yoskowitz.

Stiger Street Cruise Nights Begin July 15th

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:05:52 EDT

Got a really great car you've been working on all winter and spring? Ready to show it off? Bring it on down to the first annual Stiger Street Cruise Nights. The Cruise Nights will run from 6:00pm-8:30pm at the Main Street Plaza on July 15th, Aug. 19th, Sep. 16th, and Oct. 14th. The Main Street Plaza is located at the intersection of Main Street and Stiger Street, Hackettstown, NJ.

General Admission is free and there will be lots of fun places to shop and grab a bite to eat while you're looking at the cars. If you would like to bring your own car down, there will be no charge... just show up and have a great time. Each car that participates will get a goodie bag filled with items from the stores along Stiger Street.

Each show we'll be asking spectators to vote for the best car of the night. Each winning car will receive a plaque and prizes. Thats not all... those votes cast by spectators are also entry forms to win bigger prizes after the first two cruise nights and the last two.

Preservation group opposes study offer

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:31:21 EDT

Preserve Historic Hackettstown is fighting a developer's offer to pay for a rezoning study of the Bergen Tool site.

The group recently obtained a $5,000 grant so the town wouldn't have to accept money from Ray Rice, who has a contract to buy the property. Rice has offered to pay for the $6,000 to $7,000 study to speed up redevelopment of the 11-acre Main Street site.

Town council wants to move ahead with the study of the former Bergen Machine and Tool Co. site but hasn't had money to pay for it.

Preserve Historic Hackettstown made its offer Monday before town council to pay for the study. A representative of the group, Lynne Haberkern, said she was disappointed council didn't agree outright to take the offer. She was told the group could conduct its study as well, but that council was still considering Rice's offer.

"Ray Rice has a financial interest in this. We get nothing out of this except doing what's best for this town," Haberkern said.

Hackettstown BID Welcomes Two New Businesses

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:50:46 EDT

On Thursday, June 19th the Hackettstown Business Improvement District (BID) along with Mayor Michael Lavery formally welcomed two new businesses into Hackettstown. The Mayor was on hand to cut the ribbon at Anthony's Italian Hot Dogs and What in the World.

Anthony's Italian Hot Dogs is located at 127B Main Street, and is the site of some of the best Italian hot dogs in our area. You'd have to drive to Newark to get Italian hot dogs this good. Owners Karen and Anthony Suppa are excited to bring this unique store to the community. When you're there... definitely try the canolis!!!

What in the World is located at 229 Main Street in the Mini Mall. What in the World is a fair trade businesses that sells hand made products from all over the world. They were previously located in Mansfield, but our now happy to be open right on Main Street here in Hackettstown. Vicki and Al Kopacka run What in the World and will guarantee that when you walk in, you'll get a wonderful education on their truly unique products.

Hackettstown wants Centenary on Main Street

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:56:57 EDT

Centenary College students were a regular sight downtown when Achieve Fitness served as the college gym during the renovation of Centenary's gym in 2006.

Town officials hope to re-create that foot traffic by encouraging Centenary to open some operations downtown. The town's new revitalization committee recently identified finding redevelopment opportunities for Centenary on Main Street as its top priority.

"Of all of the work that we plan to do -- including recruiting new stores, making our downtown more walkable and helping existing merchants to do better -- we all agreed that our top priority should be to make Centenary College more of a presence on Main Street," committee member Thomas Marshall said.

A basic planning principle is having people live on Main Street to support the stores, Mayor Michael Lavery said. Opening student housing downtown would add a new customer base for Main Street stores, he said

Hackettstown Revitalization Committee

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:11:15 EDT

During the April 28th Town Council Meeting an ordinance was passed to create the Hackettstown Revitalization Committee, which is a committee established by the Hackettstown Business Improvement District (BID) and the Town of Hackettstown.

The Committee is made up of seven members appointed by Mayor and Council. They include: Mayor Michael Lavery, William Kuster (Town Clerk/Administrator), Christine LaBadie (President of the BID Baord) , Nancy Paffendorf (Centenary College), Thomas Marshall (Economic Development Commission), William Conforti (Planning Board), and Donna Brock (Member of the Public / Hackettstown Historical Society).

The formation of this committee will allow revitalization efforts to move forward expeditiously, as all necessary parties would participate and extend their approval for the tasks that will be performed. For example, the Planning Board will understand what the Council and the merchants require in terms of commercial building design standards, and Centenary College will be at the table as plans for integration of the college into the downtown are considered.

Since the Committee was formed, there have been three meeting and already outlines of the top initiatives have been developed. The top initiatives out of a list of twenty four include: "Establishing Redevelopment Opportunities with Centenary College along Main Street" and "Revisiting and Creating Design Standards along with Enforcing Existing Zoning Codes." Other top initiatives are: "Recruiting More Retail Businesses and Restaurants/Eateries" and Creating Late Night Shopping Initiatives."

"Of all of the work that we plan to do--including recruiting new stores, making our downtown more walkable, and helping existing merchants to do better--we all agreed that our top priority should be to make Centenary College more of a presence on Main Street," stated Thomas Marshall, Hackettstown Economic Development Committee member.

"The charm of downtown Hackettstown has been hampered by uninteresting display windows, peeling paint, and deferred maintenance. We will re-examine our regulations to create a new enforceable standard for our commercial buildings that is harmonious with our historic appeal," said Donna Brock, member of the Hackettstown Historical Society.

"The Town and Centenary College agree that it is in their mutual best interests to convert Hackettstown into a true college town, and I'm excited to work towards creating that environment," said Nancy Paffendorf, Dean for Academic Affairs at Centenary College.

"Another key priority for our committee was to devise a plan to recruit new stores and restaurants: we want to make shopping in Hackettstown a fun experience with lots of choices," explains Christine LaBadie, President of the Hackettstown BID Board.