DUI Lawyers in Milford, NJ

Canal House Station, a Milford farm-to-table restaurant a block from the Delaware River, is home to two of the most esteemed chefs in the state.

But this week, it gained another honor. According to USA Today's 2025 Restaurants of the Year list, the modest-but-mighty spot is one of the top 44 places to eat in America.

To assemble the list, food writers across the country nominated restaurants that excited them, restaurants they would recommend to friends and family, and restaurants they'd return to again and again.

“We can’t even believe it,” said co-owner and chef Christopher Hirsheimer. “It’s a tremendous honor and we’re humbled by it.”

What makes Canal House Station stand out

Co-owners and chefs Hirsheimer and Melissa Hamilton are some of the biggest names in the New Jersey culinary world, operating the James Beard Award-winning Canal House publishing venture, and culinary, photography and design studio. In 2020 and 2022, they were also James Beard Award semifinalists in the best chef in the Mid-Atlantic region category.

Hirsheimer is co-founder and former executive editor of Saveur, a gourmet food and travel magazine. Throughout the magazine's 25-year-history, it brought home 23 James Beard Journalism Awards.

Hamilton is the former test kitchen director and food editor of Saveur, and has worked in the kitchens of Martha Stewart Living and Cook's Illustrated. She is also the co-founder and first executive chef of Hamilton's Grill Room in Lambertville.

Despite Hamilton and Hirsheimer’s credentials, diners won’t find tiny, pretentious fare at Canal House Station. They’ll enjoy American favorites, untethered to trends or gimmicks, in comfortable surroundings.

Inside the cafe of the restaurant, guests are greeted by a bright interior flanked by an open kitchen. There they see Hamilton and Hirsheimer at work and guests at farmhouse tables. The layout is dotted with colorful details like Canal House cookbooks, aprons and fresh produce.

“The uniqueness is that the owners are actually cooking, and we do and touch everything,” said Hamilton. “It emphasizes this feeling that you’re coming to our house. There isn’t a thing that goes on here that we haven’t had a part in making.”

The fine dining area of the restaurant evokes the circa-1870 history of the Milford rail station. Dark woods meet tall windows that allow natural light to peek through, surrounded by artwork of the Delaware River region.

What to order at Canal House Station

Farm-to-table fare isn’t a marketing ploy at Canal House Station, which is only open on Fridays and Sundays. Hamilton and Hirsheimer have only been cooking what’s on farmstand shelves since before Canal House cookbooks hit bookstore shelves more than a decade ago.

“Farm-to-table is more than our philosophy – it’s a practice,” said Hirsheimer. “People talk so much about farm-to-table but we always say, ‘Where else does the food come from?’”

Many cherish a time when families gathered for Sunday dinner. At Canal House Station, that tradition is revived noon to 7 p.m. Sundays from Hamilton and Hirsheimer’s memories, making it one of the only restaurants in the area to serve the meal.

“Our family always had Sunday dinner − that is so ingrained in me,” said Hirsheimer. “This is real for us and comes out of our own experiences.”

The prix-fixe, five-course $95 feast changes every week depending on what’s available from local farms. However, dishes that have appeared on past menus include these:

Beef with carrots on buttery potato puree: It doesn't get more classic than this dish, which is one of Hirsheimer and Hamilton's favorites dating back to their childhoods. Made with carrots sourced from Phillips Farms just down the road and tender, slow-cooked boneless chuck flap beef, it's a "rich and pure" dish, said Hirsheimer, made with red or white wine − whatever happens to be left over − just like how Mom would have made it.

'Loose' ravioli with honeynut squash and ricotta with lemon: Not sure what loose ravioli is? You shouldn't. Hirsheimer and Hamilton came up with the dish, which consists of homemade pasta sheets draped over various fillings, as the chefs serve it in different forms nearly every other month. "We find it to be so sensuous instead of a tight ravioli," said Hamilton. "It’s a luxurious way of tucking fillings into sheets of pasta." But this version is a beloved one, as it consists of honeynut squash also sourced from Phillips Farms as well as lemon to give a zest to the ricotta.

Canal House Station also serves Local’s Spaghetti Night 4-8 p.m. every Friday. “It’s a real community experience and it has a casualness and fun-ness to it,” said Hamilton.

The $40 homestyle meal includes spaghetti Bolognese, garlic bread, baby Romaine salad with lemon Parmigiano dressing, and the Bent Spoon’s tiramisu ice cream.

Like Sunday dinner, spaghetti nights at local firehouses and churches live in Hamilton and Hirsheimer’s memories, which inspired the women to create the offering for locals looking for an easygoing night out.

“When I was a young woman and didn’t have two nickels to rub together, someone would make a big pot of spaghetti served next to a candle in a Chianti bottle,” said Hirsheimer. “Like Sunday dinner, the food, the meal and the event relates to one another and has a context.”

Details: Canal House Station, 2 Bridge St, Milford; 908-995-7200, canalhousestation.com.

Book your reservation now on Open Table.

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See the entire list of Restaurants of the Year here:

Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014, although she's a lifetime Jersey girl who considers herself an expert in everything from the Jersey Shore to the Garden State's buzzing downtowns. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. You can also follow her on Instagram at @seejennaeat and on Twitter at @JIntersimone.

Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill Tuesday that sets aside nearly $29 million for 17 dam restoration and repair projects across New Jersey.

The bill (S-2594/A-3951) allocates funding for several key dam project loans, including a handful in Morris, Sussex and Passaic counties. Among them are a $4.7 million loan to the Lake Winona Civic Association in Jefferson Township and multiple loans for dam projects in West Milford: $3 million to the Mount Glen Lakes Association, $350,000 to the Farm Crest Acres Association, and $1.75 million to High Crest Lake Lodge Inc., in two separate loans.

The bill is also set to fund a $3 million loan to Mountain Creek Resort for the Mountain Creek Lake Dam in Vernon Township and a $100,000 loan for the Lake Swannanoa Dam in Jefferson.

State Sen. Anthony M. Bucco, a primary sponsor of the bill, who represents residents in West Milford and parts of Morris County, said he was pleased that the projects would be moving forward.

"These critical dam repairs will preserve and protect our local environment, which is critical to our quality of life,” he said. “This funding will also protect the flow of clean drinking water to communities throughout the state, support recreational activities and provide habitats for fish and wildlife.”

The bill, approved by members of the state Assembly in March, taps into funding generated from two bond acts: $22.4 million from the 2003 Dam, Lake, Stream, Flood Control, Water Resources and Wastewater Treatment Project Bond Act and $6.2 million from the 1992 Green Acres, Clean Water, Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act. Originally introduced in 2022, the bill was approved by members of the state Senate in May 2024.

Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, another of the bill's primary sponsors from the state's northwest, said Tuesday that the legislation should have been moved through the Statehouse much more quickly, with major storms like Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 demonstrating that dam safety can pose serious challenges in New Jersey.

“Sussex County is home to the most dams in New Jersey. We also have a large portion of dams that would cause significant destruction and economic losses if they were to fail,” Fantasia said. “Although New Jersey has been largely fortunate to be spared from catastrophic dam failures, even small failures can cause damage that come with hefty cleanup costs.”

The Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Dam Safety reports that the state is home to 1,730 regulated dams. Almost half are privately owned, many by lake associations that often rely on partnerships with local governments to secure loans for dam repairs, related projects and administrative costs.

New Jersey has about 11,300 bodies of water, DEP records show. Roughly 1,900 cover more than 5 acres, are at least 1 meter deep and are classified as lakes by the state for monitoring purposes.

The vast majority of those lakes are artificial, created for anything from irrigation and recreation to milling and mining. It is estimated that the number of naturally occurring lakes in the state is 60 to 70, DEP records show. All those are found in the state's north, where glaciers last shaped the landscape around 21,000 years ago.

The funds from the 2003 bond act support 13 projects, including High Crest Lake Dam, Mount Glen Dam, Lake Winona Dam and several others across the state. The 1992 bond act will provide funding for four additional projects: Mountain Creek Lake Dam, Silver Lake Dam, Lake Garrison Dam and Swannanoa Lake Dam.

West Milford Twp, NJ (April 8, 2025) – An injury crash involving two cars occurred on April 8 in West Milford Township, prompting a full closure of Route 23 northbound at the intersection with CR 699/Old Ridge Road. The incident took place at approximately 7:00 p.m., causing major traffic delays and requiring emergency response from multiple local agencies.

According to preliminary reports from local authorities, the two-car collision resulted in at least one person sustaining injuries. Emergency medical services responded swiftly to the scene, providing on-site treatment before transporting the injured victim to a nearby hospital. The extent of the injuries has not yet been disclosed.

Firefighters assisted in the extraction of occupants from the vehicles involved and worked to clear the roadway. Law enforcement officers managed the traffic detour and secured the scene while investigations into the cause of the crash were initiated. All lanes of Rte 23 NB remained closed for several hours as crews cleared debris and authorities conducted their preliminary assessment.

Our thoughts are with everyone involved in this accident. We hope for a full recovery for those who were injured.

Injury Car Accidents in West Milford Township

West Milford Township, located in Passaic County, sees several motor vehicle collisions each year, many of which result in injuries. According to data from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, Passaic County recorded over 13,000 crashes in a recent year, with nearly 3,000 involving injuries. While West Milford is a more rural area compared to other parts of the county, it still experiences serious crashes on key routes like Rte 23, especially at major intersections where visibility or traffic patterns pose added risk.

For those injured in a crash, understanding the basics of personal injury law is essential. Victims may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering. Under New Jersey law, individuals have the right to pursue a personal injury claim when their injuries are caused by another party’s negligence. This can include distracted driving, speeding, or failure to yield. Victims are advised to seek legal counsel as early as possible, as dealing with insurance companies alone can be complex and overwhelming. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help protect their rights and maximize the compensation they receive.

If you or someone close to you has been involved in a car accident in the area, our diligent West Milford Township car accident attorney at Metro Law is ready to offer you the legal guidance you need to pursue justice and collect compensation for your injuries. We take pride in our dedication to defending our clients and the personalized approach we apply to every case, always striving for the best possible outcome.

Contact Metro Law today at (800) 469-6476 to speak with one of our attorneys and schedule a consultation. Our team is committed to supporting you every step of the way and fighting for your interests with all the necessary effort.

NEWTON − For the first time in the history of the program, New Milford wrestling is a sectional champion.

The Knights defeated 25-time sectional champion Kittatinny, 38-31, in Wednesday's North 1, Group 1 final.

"It's emotional to even think about," coach Ray Cottiers said. "It's been a long road this season and the last few with this group. They've battled through injuries and setbacks and to come here against a great opponent and a legendary coach in John Gill, I couldn't be prouder."

The dual came down to the final matchup of the night, at 106 pounds, when freshman Stelios Psarianos pulled out a 5-4 decision over Kittatinny's Dylan Tighe.

"I didn't even think about it," Psarianos said. "I live for this sport and I just went out on the mat to try and do what I could do."

Leading 3-1 at the start of the third period, Tighe took down Psarianos only for the freshman to reverse and pull ahead. Psarianos then rode out Tighe for the remainder of the period to cement the win.

New Milford (16-1) built an 18-10 lead on consecutive pins by seniors Devin and Jerzey Ryan at 132 and 138 pounds. The Knights led by as many as 19 points thanks to pins at 157 and 165 pounds by senior Joseph Langschultz and junior Robbie Bianchi.

"We needed six there and it looked a little questionable at times," Cottiers said. "Another key for us was Aramis Hernandez at 120 getting a pin early. He works double sessions with us and privates and he's battled with weight issues, so getting a pin there was a huge part as well."

Kittatinny (12-11) won four straight bouts, three of them by decision, to pull the matchup to 35-31 for the final bout.

What it means

The Knights' only loss this season came in the NJIC semifinals against Hasbrouck Heights.

Cottiers is a New Milford alum himself and in his 12th season as the Knights' coach.

"It's been a full commitment from the coaches to the wrestlers to the parents that all bought in and the people who traveled an hour to be here and support us," Cottiers said. "My assistant head coach Matt Ulrich, who came on three years ago, I ceded all practice responsibilities to him. He's been running technique and pushing the guys. He's a major reason we are here right now with a trophy tonight."

Turning point

Leading 23-16 halfway through the dual, Langschultz extended the lead with a pin in 58 seconds. Bianchi then walked on the mat at 165 pounds and trailed by as much as 13-5 in the second period, but rallied late in the period to pull within one takedown against Aran Kover.

"I just kept thinking about the work I put in at practice and doing it for my team and for this community that I love," Bianchi said.

Bianchi shifted from bottom position and reversed, earning the pin with 39 seconds left in the third period. While the reversal and back points would have given Bianchi the lead, the six points proved to be crucial for New Milford.

"He's the cardiac kid with us," Cottiers said. "We have grown accustomed to matches like that with Robbie. He's been with us since he was a freshman and working hard at club. We saw it pay off today in a big way."

They said it

"Having a moment like this as a freshman gets me very excited. It makes me think about what we can accomplish between now and when I am a senior." - Psarianos.

"Jojo [Langschultz]'s pin made me hyped. I just wanted to lay it on them after that and try my hardest." - Bianchi.