DUI Lawyers in Ogdensburg, NJ

Studied throughout the world, the Sterling Hill Mine and its twin mine in Franklin contain roughly 365 different minerals, according to the mine museum's latest list. More than 95 fluoresce. Some phosphoresce. Nineteen have been found nowhere else on earth, records show.

“When I started at the museum, there were probably 4,500 minerals described, and now there are more than 5,500 minerals,” said George E. Harlow, curator of the museum’s Division of Physical Sciences. “The enhanced halls will present up-to-date science, which has progressed significantly. I look forward to seeing visitors delight in remarkable gems and mineral specimens from across the globe and our own backyard.”

Roughly a 75-minute drive from the museum, the twin mines of Franklin and Ogdensburg lie amid geologic formations that started taking shape around 1.3 billion years ago, according to Earl Verbeek, a former research geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. The mines contained vast deposits of zinc within folds of white marble, once a muddy and shallow seafloor.

A continental collision about 1 billion years ago buried, heated and folded the layers of mineral-rich ore and marble, Verbeek said. Later exposed by glaciation and discovered by North Jersey early iron miners, the area’s iron-, zinc- and manganese-laced ore was commercially extracted until 1986.

The slab set for display was cut in late 2017 using a $6,000 diamond-studded cable laced through guide holes and powered by a generator. Initially due for presentation in 2019 as part of the $30 million renovation, the slab will sit in the 11,000-square-foot Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals near other exhibits including:

The Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals were designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates and the museum’s Exhibition Department under the direction of Lauri Halderman. The halls include the Gems Hall, the Minerals Hall and the Melissa and Keith Meister Gallery for temporary exhibitions.

David Zimmer is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

OGDENSBURG — Ogdensburg School superintendent and principal Dave Astor admitted that he is often uncomfortable talking about himself, especially when the topic of the conversation involves his achievements as an educator.

So when he learned last week that he was named the 2019-20 Sussex County Superintendent of the Year, his first instinct was to poke fun at himself in wondering why he was selected.

“I’d like to think that it was because of my good looks and personality, but I know that’s not the case,” he quipped.

Instead, the Sussex County Superintendents’ Roundtable Association honored Astor with the award in recognition of his two decades of public service in county education. Several association members surprised the Ogdensburg school chief at his office last week, where he was presented with the award.

Astor said he was “shocked” to be named the top superintendent, and true to form, he was quick to deflect credit from himself by praising the quality of his counterparts in the area.

“It goes without saying that we have some really excellent educators in Sussex County,” Astor said. “I wasn’t even considering that I was in the running for (the award).”

While Astor may not relish talking about himself, the rest of the Ogdensburg staff are more than happy to do so. A post on the district’s Facebook page saluted the superintendent’s efforts during the school year that was ultimately cut short due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“Mr. Astor not only goes above and beyond for his ’cherubs’ and their families, but he takes care of his staff unconditionally,” the post read. “This award is extremely well deserved especially during this challenging year where he has had to make many difficult decisions and navigate an unprecedented time. We are so lucky that he is ours at Ogdensburg School.”

Astor joined the Ogdensburg staff in 2015 after seven years at Lafayette Township School, where he was the assistant principal for three years followed by a four-year stint as superintendent. His career in education began as a guidance counselor and teacher of psychology and sociology at Pope John XXIII Regional High School, where he served from 2000 to 2008.

In addition to his administrative roles, Astor, a resident of Ogdensburg for nearly three decades, was a member of the Borough Council from 2013 to 2019. He also served nine years on the Ogdensburg Board of Education before leaving in 2010 when he took the superintendent job in Lafayette.

Earlier this month, the Ogdensburg board rewarded Astor with a new contract that runs through the 2024-25 school year. With the new deal in place, the superintendent is thrilled to be staying in his hometown district — provided he does not continue to be the focus of the school’s success.

“Like all superintendents, we don’t do what we do for praise or accolades,” Astor said. “It’s all about the kids.”

Kyle Morel can also be contacted on Twitter: @KMorelNJH, on Facebook: Facebook.com/KMorelNJH, or by phone: 973-383-1292.

Staff Writer

New Jersey Herald

Five candidates are running in the Nov. 4 election for three, three-year terms on the Ogdensburg Board of Education. Board members Lynne Pedersen, Nina Sutera and Stacy Walsh are facing challengers Toni Corban and James Diamond. Pedersen, Sutera and Diamond did not provide bio information.

Stacy Walsh

Age: 46

Hometown: Ogdensburg, 13 years

Family: I've been married to Bill Walsh for more than 10 years. We have two sons, Anthony, 9, and Joseph, 7, who attend Ogdensburg School.

Education: I hold a bachelor's degree of science from William Paterson University, with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. I attended Union County College and obtained a certification as a New Jersey state paramedic. I also hold several instructor certifications from the American Heart Association.

Occupation: I am a state certified paramedic for more than 15 years and have been employed by Saint Joseph Medical Center for 13 years. I am an educator through the American Heart Association and teach advanced cardiac life support and pediatric advanced life support for Atlantic Health System and Saint Joseph's Hospital.

Experience: Two years ago the community supported my election to the Board of Education. I have worked tirelessly to preserve their confidence and represent them fully. I have gained incredible knowledge over the past two years regarding the issues facing our school system, and I am confident that if I am re-elected my skills and abilities will be a continued benefit to the Board of Education.

Are you currently serving on a board or committee? Yes, I am currently servicing on the Finance and Facilities Committee within the Board of Education. I am a member of the Safety/School Climate Committee, where I get an opportunity to work with school staff members and other parents to help improve the school climate for our students and review harassment, intimidation and bullying cases. I worked closely with the superintendent to help prepare our district for the Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QSAC), the Department of Education's monitoring and evaluation system for public school districts. I was also selected to be on the interview committees for two key administrative positions within the school.

Campaign website: N/A

List your top 3 issues and what you would do regarding each issue.

• Administration retention. I would like to continue my tenure on the Ogdensburg Board of Education so I can work with our current interim superintendent and Board of Education members to secure a long-lasting superintendent. Our district is currently in a period of transition involving the leadership within administration. I would like to implement a process that will allow for hiring and retention of qualified individuals, as well as the stabilization in the higher level staff of the educational system of Ogdensburg. This will create more confidence and security for the staff, parents and students of our district.

• Safety and security. Due to the horrific school tragedies that have occurred around that country, the safety of our children and staff needs to constantly evaluated. While I believe that our school is a happy and safe learning environment, this is an area that we need to maintain through continuous research and improvements in current state-of-the-art security measures. I would like to help complete the process of updating and regulating a security plan to provide the children, parents and staff peace of mind every time they enter the building.

• Academic excellence. I believe what keeps our students inspired yet comfortable is the combination of small town values and traditions with innovative instruction and modern technology. As a board member, I will continue to dedicate myself to ensuring we keep all of these components in order to achieve academic excellence.

What else should we know?

I believe my role as board member is to support and work with the staff and families to create the best learning environment while also remaining mindful of our budget and financial resources. With two elementary aged children, I am a dedicated stakeholder in the continued success of Ogdenbsurg School. I love the sense of community Ogdensburg offers. My husband and I feel it is a wonderful place to raise a family. Our family enjoys skiing and biking the trails in Sussex County. I am also currently training for the 2015 Ironman in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Staff Writer

New Jersey Herald

OGDENSBURG — This year marks the centennial of Ogdensburg as a separate municipality after breaking away from Sparta Township. What makes this 2.8-square mile borough remarkable is that while it was still basically a rural mining village, it boasted four churches.

A congregation of the Presbyterian Church appears to be the first religious group in the village. In the “Sparta Centennial” booklet (1886), it’s recorded that Presbyterian worship services were held in Ogdensburg since around 1825 with worship services held in the Madden Building on Main Street.

But more than one-half century would pass prior to a house of worship built in the village. A deed provided by Andrew Bickerton, author of the two-volume book “Some History and Headlines of the Upper Wallkill Valley,” reflects that John George and his wife, Elizabeth, deeded one-half acre of land to the Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church of Ogdensburg on Oct. 1, 1879, for $1. An unusual stipulation in the deed provided that “the said church shall not be dedicated or occupied until it is finished upstairs and the basement completed and out of debt and the Trustees shall not sell any of the land in this conveyance and if the said Trustees fail to carry out any of the above obligations then the said land shall revert back to the party of the first part, his heirs and assigns.”

Work on the church commenced on Aug. 19, 1879, with the church dedication Dec. 15, 1880. Aside from volunteer labor — which was guessed to have been considerable when completed — the building cost $2,400 to construct. The Rev. Thomas Tyack served as the first pastor of the church when completed. This church remains on its original site on Kennedy Avenue.

The Methodists had their beginnings in the village as early as 1875 when regular services were held each Sunday afternoon in the Academy. The congregation organized as The Trustees of the Methodist Church of Ogdensburg on Sept. 28, 1886. The property, a 50-foot by 100-foot lot, was purchased from J.T. Titman for $162.50. Work began on building of the church on June 1 with the cornerstone laid on July 9. Dedication of the new church was held on Jan. 9, 1888. A bell was installed in the church in June 1891.

In 1942, the congregation held a series of services each evening culminating in a Dedication Service that Sunday. Unfortunately, the congregation did not last too long following that observation. In 1951, due to dwindling attendance and church membership, members of the Methodist and Presbyterian congregations opted to merge. On Oct. 15, 1956, a new congregation was constituted as a church by the Presbytery of Newton. Some years later, the Methodist Church building was purchased by Art Coppola who, as he related, accidentally acquired the century-old building at a Sheldon Good auction held at the Meadowlands Conference Center for $8,500. Coppola converted the building into a two-family dwelling.

When the Church of the Immaculate Conception was formed in Franklin in 1864, Ogdensburg residents of the Catholic persuasion attended Mass there. On May 1, 1881, St. Thomas of Aquin R.C. Church was incorporated as a mission of the Franklin church. Two building lots — a 200-foot by 200-foot lot and a 200-foot by 100-foot lot — were purchased from Thomas O’Maley for $500. The cornerstone for the 26-foot by 58-foot wood frame edifice was laid on May 4, 1881. When the church was dedicated on Nov. 5, 1885, its estimated cost was $4,000.

The original wooden structure was destroyed by fire on Jan. 27, 1912. The bell and altars were among the items saved. The cornerstone of a new church, built of stone and pressed brick, was laid on March 18 and dedicated on Aug. 11, 1912. Constructed by Thomas Farrell of Newton, the new church building cost about $10,121 to build. On Oct. 11, 1981, the congregation observed its 100th anniversary.

As for the Ogdensburg Baptist church, it was recorded in the “Sparta Centennial” that the Rev. Theodore Fuller of Deckertown began preaching at Ogdensburg as a Methodist. Three years after (1879) he became a Baptist, and was baptized with 23 of his people at Grenelle Lake, and 13 more were afterward baptized at Newton. Mr. Fuller ceased preaching at Ogdensburg June 1, 1886.

In a book by Thomas Sharp Griffiths, “A History of Baptists in New Jersey” (1904), it was written that “Ogdensburg is a long distance from Echo Lake. A church was constituted there in 1877. It suffered divers adversities that utterly impaired its growth and usefulness. In 1895, Mr. Vreeland was sent for. An extensive revival broke out. The church was reorganized. Mr. Vreeland was called to be pastor and accepted. He bought lots, built a church edifice and parsonage, and the church worships in its new home.”

By way of explanation, the Rev. Conrad Vreeland, of the Echo Lake section of West Milford Township, had founded numerous Baptist churches such as at Canistear, Echo Lake, Milton and Newfoundland, and was credited with founding nine Baptist churches in the Echo Lake Circle alone.

Bickerton provided a copy of the deed that recites that Conrad Vreeland of West Milford purchased several lots from John George including the Baptist Church lot in September 1894. The church was built and dedicated in 1895. The church lot cost $300 and included “a right to attach a 3/8-inch lead pipe to George’s water pipe in the kitchen for the use of their Baptismal Pool in the church and it is understood the water is only to be used for Baptismal purposes and when the church ceases to be a church the water right ceases and the right of water reverts back to the party of the first part and the lead pipe shall be buried at least two feet six inches through garden from church to the water main at my house.”

Local newspapers reported in November 1895 that “the new church and the dwelling adjoining are nearly done, and another building is now on course of erection just behind the church. Shortly thereafter, it was duly reported that services are held in the church every Sunday morning and evening. Incidentally, this church building was located a short distance from the Presbyterian Church.

Just when worship services ceased in this church is unknown but Bickerton says that on May 28, 1919, the church lot was transferred from the Administrators and Trustees of the Estate of Conrad Vreeland, with the consent of the New Jersey Baptist Association, to Sam Nazzaro of Newton for $1,600.

In retrospect, it speaks well of the residents of the mining community of Ogdensburg where in a span of less than 15 years four churches were built by the villagers so that they could have a place to worship in their own community. As Ogdensburg observes its 100th anniversary, perhaps it could pay tribute to those 19th-century residents who not only helped to build the municipality but its churches as well.

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Jennie Sweetman is the history columnist for the New Jersey Herald. She may be contacted at jenniee@warwick.net.