DUI Lawyers in Clifton, NJ

North Jersey's own Rachel Zegler was one of the many stars in attendance at the 97th Oscars on Sunday night. While she was not there as a nominee, the Clifton native was among the star-studded group of presenters including Whoopi Goldberg, Cillian Murphy, Emma Stone and many more.

Ahead of their upcoming film, Disney's live action "Snow White," Zegler and Gal Gadot took the stage at Dolby Theatre to present the award for best Visual Effects.

The nominees for this category included "Alien: Romulus," "Better Man," "Dune: Part Two," "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," and "Wicked," with "Dune: Part Two" ultimately coming out on top.

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Known for her breakout role as Maria in Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story," which was nominated for seven Oscars in 2022, Zegler has yet to receive any Oscar nominations.

Her newest role as Snow White will hit theaters on March 25.

NJ nominations and wins at the 97th Oscars

The Garden State's talent was front and center at the Oscars this year with New Jersey actors, a director and a cinematographer receiving nominations for numerous awards.

New Jersey's Sean Baker, who wrote "Anora," received the Academy Awards for the best Writing (Original Screenplay), Directing, and Film Editing. "Anora" also took home the Oscar for Best Picture with leading actress Mikey Madison winning the award for best Actress in a Leading Role.

Passaic's Zoe Saldaña won an Oscar for best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Rita Mora Castro in "Emilia Pérez."

Who votes for the Oscars?

We've all heard the Oscar winners make their way onto the stage to thank "the Academy" for the life-altering award. But who actually is the Academy?

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the governing body that oversees the Oscars awards show. According to the Oscars website, the mission of the Academy is to "recognize and uphold excellence in the motion picture arts and sciences, inspire imagination, and connect the world through the medium of motion pictures." The Academy has a global membership of more than 10,500 members.

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All eligible Academy members participate in Oscars voting. The nominations for best picture are determined by eligible members from all 19 Academy branches while nominees in other categories are determined by members of the corresponding branch. For example, the actors branch will determine the nominees for the best actor and actress categories, the writers branch will determine the nominees for the two writing categories and so on. Each category may have special rules and procedures.

All rounds of Oscars voting are done by secret online ballot, according to the Oscars website. Following the announcement of the nominees, all eligible Academy members may participate in the final round of voting to determine that year's winners. Members may vote in all 23 award categories during the final round.

3-minute read

PATERSON — The Passaic Valley Water Commission is raising the fees charged to its customers by 5.9% per year for five years to help pay for a massive $893 million capital construction plan, the largest in the agency’s 98-year history.

Commission officials acknowledged they are not sure whether additional rate increases will be needed in light of the unprecedented size of the water company’s borrowing plan.

One of the first projects on the commission’s work list will be new storage tanks to replace the Levine Reservoir near the Great Falls in Paterson. The $42 million job is scheduled to start this year after lawsuits delayed the construction contract, officials said.

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The commission is owned by the cities of Paterson, Passaic and Clifton, with its governing body of seven commissioners appointed by those municipalities’ mayors. The representatives of the three mayors approved the rate hikes in November 2023, but there was no news coverage of that decision.

Water commission officials told Paterson Press on Tuesday that the hikes would cost the average residential customer an extra $3.05 per month.

Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh and Clifton Mayor Raymond Grabowski did not respond to messages asking for comment about the water rate increases.

Passaic Mayor Hector Lora said the timing of the increases was not “the greatest,” because people are facing higher prices for so many things right now. But Lora said he thinks the need for the increased rates is justified.

“People need safe drinking water,” the Passaic mayor said. “You never want to see increases, but these are the tough decisions you need for better quality services.”

Commission officials said the massive borrowing plan stems from necessary improvements that have not been done for decades.

Executive director Jim Mueller said the water treatment facility in Little Falls has not had major work done in more than 25 years, while the commission’s street distribution system has not had significant repairs for more than 50 years.

More than 70% of the commission’s water main lines in Paterson and Passaic are more than 100 years old, Mueller said.

650 miles of water mains

Overall, the PVWC has 650 miles of water mains, Mueller said. In the past five decades, the water company has upgraded between one and two miles of water mains per year, he said. The new capital project will allow the commission to repair between four and six water mains per year, Mueller added.

The aging of the system is starting to create problems, officials said. In 2024, the commission had 116 water main breaks, Mueller said. But in January alone this year, the commission had 52 such breaks, he added.

“We have to start catching up on these things,” Mueller said.

Commission officials said the rate increases are estimated to generate an extra $5 million in revenue. Paterson Press asked if additional hikes would be needed to cover the $893 million in borrowing. Officials said they would figure that out in subsequent years.

Plea for updates on water system work

Bob Guarasci, executive director of the nonprofit New Jersey Community Development Corporation, said he hoped people who live near the Great Falls would be given information about the PVWC’s construction schedule for the Levine Reservoir water tanks.

Guarasci said he was not aware of the five 5.9% increases that are taking effect.

“I’d like to talk with Jim Mueller about a mechanism to alert residents to any impending increase in rates and perhaps holding a public hearing to give ratepayers an opportunity for dialogue,” Guarasci said.

“An annual forum at which ratepayers can talk about service and other issues would be very well received by residents and likely leaders within the three municipalities that own PVWC,” Guarasci said.

The PVWA provided Paterson Press with this breakdown of its $893 million in capital projects:

Considering a move to the Garden State? Here’s why you should give Clifton, New Jersey, a closer look.

Nestled in the Gateway Region, a pocket of urban areas in northeastern New Jersey that include Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Union and Middlesex counties, Clifton, New Jersey is often associated with its convenient location near New York City. But what if there’s more to this picturesque location than its proximity to a major metro? Clifton boasts plenty of perks that make it an appealing place to live, including charming neighborhoods, excellent schools and outdoor recreation. Top it off with great restaurants and an impressive social calendar of festivals and activities, and it’s a no-brainer that Clifton, New Jersey is a great place to live.

In This Article

Let’s talk about proximity.

We might as well dive into the number one reason Clifton, New Jersey usually lands on someone’s radar — its proximity to New York City. The Big Apple is known for world-class art, entertainment and food, as well as its influence on economics and accessibility to international travel. Despite being across state lines, Clifton is considered a suburb of the big city. As the crow flies, it’s only about 19 miles from Clifton to NYC, and you can easily make the trek by train, bus, taxi or car. Professionals working in New York City can easily make the commute without much hassle, all while returning home to the welcoming, and significantly more affordable, community of Clifton at the end of the work week.

Choose from several charming neighborhoods.

Whether you’re a growing family, a young professional, or a retiree hoping to stay near the city, Clifton offers an abundance of charming neighborhoods that are guaranteed to entice you to put down roots. Allwood is a popular, albeit quiet, suburban neighborhood that attracts many families and is close to several parks and green spaces. Botany Village has a reputation for historic charm, thanks to its wealth of classic architecture, and walkability, making it a good choice for young adults or couples who enjoy strolling to dinner. Delawanna is another quiet residential area with a range of old and new homes and proximity to Delawanna Train Station, which comes in handy for anyone planning to make a regular commute to New York City.

There are several good schools in the area.

Clifton is home to a variety of educational options, whether families are looking for choices in the public, private or nontraditional sphere. Clifton Public Schools are part of the larger Clifton School District and include (but are not limited to) Clifton High School, Woodrow Wilson Middle School and Christopher Columbus Elementary. As far as private schools go, many parents in the community enjoy sending their children to Rainbow Montessori School or Saint Philip Preparatory School. There are also charter schools like Clifton Academy or Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology in nearby Paterson.

Good food and entertainment are easy to find here.

Locals and visitors alike appreciate the variety of food and fun in Clifton. Bohemian Bistro is a family-friendly hotspot that dishes up flavorful Mediterranean and Caribbean meals like black garlic steak and oxtail risotto. For date nights, you can’t go wrong with The Barrow House, known for its great craft cocktails and New American menu. And if you would rather eat at home and splurge on dessert, Chocolate House Clifton and Bella Vida Pastry Cafe are guaranteed to please.

But what about entertainment? Families enjoy taking their children to the Clifton Public Library for story times, community events or reading clubs. If shopping is more your speed, Botany Village is a charming, historic spot to peruse quaint shops, cafes and restaurants on a leisurely afternoon. Another favorite among local art lovers is Clifton Arts Center & Sculpture Park, a free outdoor space containing more than 30 contemporary sculptures to see. Another popular haunt is Clifton Commons, a shopping and entertainment center that includes a movie theater and bowling alley.

Clifton hosts a variety of events and festivals to fill your social calendar.

Clifton is known for being a diverse and welcoming place to settle down, and that reputation is reflected in its long list of annual festivals and community events. Among the list of local favorites is The Clifton Street Fair with a variety of artisans, vendors and performers; The Clifton Summer Series with its offering of free outdoor concerts in the summertime; and the Clifton Harvest Fest which draws in many local families with the promise of pumpkin decorating, hayrides and autumn treats. Clifton Food & Music Festival is another big draw to the community, showcasing music, food trucks and a kids fun zone, as well as the Holiday Tree Lighting & Winter Holiday Festival in December. You can also easily hop one town over in the warm months to explore regional farmers markets, such as Paterson Farmers Market or 17 Farmers Market in East Rutherford.

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Clifton|Local Event

Ellen Goldman, Neighbor

Sat, Mar 8, 2025 at 9:00 AM

Main Memorial Park, 1395 Main Ave, Clifton, NJ, 07011

This outdoor flea market has been a favorite venue for vendors and customers alike for over 16 years. Held in Main Memorial Park along one of the busiest streets, Main Avenue in Clifton between Piaget Avenue and Park Slope. This market features vendors selling an array of merchandise from new items to gently used 2nd hand items, collectibles and so much more. So come check us out you never know what great bargains or treasures you may find. This event is a fundraiser for the Clifton Recreation Department. Hope to see you there!

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