It’s our birthday, folks: MyVeronaNJ.com is starting its fourth year as the leading place for news about Verona. We’ve published more than 1,400 stories in the last year, growing our readership with every click. We’d like to extend a big thanks to our contributors, tipsters, readers and advertisers for getting us through another year.
What did we write about that kept you all so enthralled? Here are some of the highlights:
- A Verona couple was on the Costa Concordia and lived to tell about its sinking
- Former VHS football player Dan DePalma helped the Giants win the Super Bowl
- Bahr Lumber, a Verona fixture since the 1920s, sold its property to Lennar, which got approval for townhouses on the site.
- Verona marked the 40th anniversary of “The Godfather”, which had several Veronans in the cast
- The new Verona Inn opened in the center of town
- Brian Farrell become the first Hillbilly basketball player in three years to reach 1,000 points
- “Jerseylicious” star Anthony Lombardi opened his new Anthony Robert Salon
- Public schools got a new field trip policy after problems with the middle school overnight to Camp Bernie
- Joel Throne retired from VHS after 40 years of teaching
- Zoning officials opened hearings into a plan to level the hill near Everett Field for a mixed-used development
- We mourned the death of Alex Teves, killed in the movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colo.
- OLL’s Danny O’Callaghan Youth Center marked its 25th anniversary
- The Board of Education decided to move next year’s VHS graduation to Caldwell College
- Two holes opened on the upper VHS football field, forcing home games to the lower field
- Hurricane Sandy swept through, leaving much of Verona without power for a week.
- A proposal for full-day kindergarten fell short at the polls
We lost several people near and dear to Verona, including Vanessa Almodovar Caban, Richard Citrano, John Foster, Sy Gelzer, Sr. Grace Margaret Haggart, Mary Curtis Hanes, Catherine King, Carmine Lavingno, Judge Marilyn H. Loftus, Sharon Pritchard Mauro, Robert E. Mulcahy, Rick Petersen, Stephen Petro, Dr. Florence Rader, Alison Oliphant Ready, Geraldine Salvante, Sergio Sanzari, Thomas J. Sellitto, William Burnside Spooner III, Diane Tenuto Stevens, Kellie Swanstrom, Fred Tempesta and Gerry Ballinger, who lived to be 102.
We created a little Happy Birthday video to celebrate, complete with vocals by Joe and Doreen Arminio. Enjoy!
Happy birthday, Virginia! I love this site; it’s always positive and informative. Your up to the minute coverage of power restoration and school closings during Sandy was second to none, and your love of our little town comes shining through! I wish you health, happiness, and continued success in the years to come! Judy O’Connor
Awesome job, Virginia! Wishing you continued success~
Happy Birthday My Verona NJ, Virginia you do an outstanding job!!! You are an awesome person as well. Joey
HAPPY BIRTHDAY and congratulations on the success of your page Virginia. Keep up the fantastic work you do
Happy Birthday to MyVerona! A wonderful place for great stories, trusted info & current events…. all delivered with a flair that only Virginia can give!
Continued success!