12-15-23
As hard as it is to believe, this past Tuesday was our last Mayor and Council meeting of 2023. I would like to take this opportunity for a quick year in review and to express some much earned gratitude.and staff have experienced tremendous change. We said goodbye to long-term employees across every single department and welcomed valued new members to our team who enabled those transitions to go smoothly. Our dedicated police force continued to secure our community with unwavering resolve for our safety. We gratefully welcomed new volunteers to the fire, ambulance, and police auxiliary teams whose membership give of themselves to protect and serve us all year long.
As a community we celebrated holidays together and also marked solemn occasions.
We rebuilt and are still rebuilding bridges in town, added sidewalks and, of course, new pickleball courts. We are working hard to make continued improvements as cost effective as possible. And all of it kept clean, functioning and beautiful by our DPW.
Thanks to our dozens and dozens of hardworking, dedicated volunteers, we celebrated Haworth together: protected its trees and environment; played tennis and pickleball; served and celebrated our senior community; and upgraded and planned for continued upgrades of our playgrounds and parks. We continue to offer flu vaccines, wellness challenges and rabies clinics for our pets and provide clear communications about all of this on more on our website and through town wide emails. Our 5K is an annual event that has become a tradition thanks to the endurance of the Haworth Runners committee. The race isn’t just fun—they gift the proceeds to dozens of entities in and out of town. We had concerts and spooky fun, too. Most of the events you enjoy in town are organized and executed by volunteers—and more are always needed. Send me an email at wasser@haworthnj.org if you’re looking ways to get involved.
Our library programming is flourishing and one of our longest serving librarians became the official town historian.
Our swim club had another blockbuster season and continues to be one of the few success stories in our region.
Our businesses and restaurants are packed with residents and non-residents alike. And our real estate market is in high demand as Haworth continues to be a desired home for people coming from near and far. We have productive and helpful partnerships with our county and state officials as well as the governing bodies of our neighbors.
In short, Haworth is thriving. And that is in no small part thanks to our elected officials. Whether you know from your own experiences or hopefully have heard, the people sitting up here are second to none. They love this town and its people and work hard to protect everything that makes it special. I am so grateful for their unflagging dedication and the ease with which they work together and with me.
Cheers to you all and may we have continued successes to celebrate. Happy holidays and I wish peace and prosperity for us all in the new year.
Mayor Heather Wasser
Haworth DPW
The final leaf pickup of the season will begin Monday, December 18. Any leaf collections made after December 18 must be brought down to the DPW yard located at 261 Park Street. All drop offs must be scheduled by calling the DPW at (201) 384-1037.
Advisory: Lake Shore Drive
As previously noted, Lake Shore Drive will be closed between Valley Road and Maple Street until further notice for ongoing utility work, which will include connection of pipes at Roden Way. On December 19, Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA) are scheduled to repair the manhole which will take approximately 2 weeks. The final work will be completed in January 2024 with installation of the remaining pipes. When this work is fully completed, Lakeshore Drive will be paved as the last step of the process. However, because the utility work is taking longer than originally projected, the final paving work will not be completed until the Spring.
We appreciate your cooperation during this process and to heed any notices of road closures and limited access via Lakeshore.
St. Nicholas Avenue Pedestrian Bridge
To update the information that we previously provided, the bridge replacement project should be underway next week. We are expecting delivery of the footings and structure next week with installation happening the same day. Construction should take under a week if the weather cooperates. Our Borough Engineer will have their bridge inspector on site to monitor the work.
Holidays in Haworth!!!
Haworth Fire Department Santa Visit
Saturday, December 16 starting at 10 AM
The Haworth Fire Department is excited to announce that they will be going around town with Santa to spread holiday cheer! Look for him on your street!
Haworth Police Toy Drive
The Haworth Police Department is collecting toys for the 2023 PBA Toy Drive. All new, unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at the Police Department’s lobby. Help us celebrate this season of giving!