The annual fishing derby held at Grover Cleveland Park Saturday attracted dozens of children from all over Essex County who came out for a chance to win prizes and practice their skills.  This year's winners in the first fish category were Jonathan Pucciarello of Caldwell and Cameron Marino of North Caldwell. Prizes were also awarded to "most fish" caught in different age categories.  The remainder of the Essex County fishing derby schedule is as follows: Thursday, May 16: Essex County Verona Park Boathouse, Bloomfield Avenue and Lakeside Avenue, Verona. On-site registration begins at 5 p.m…

The West Caldwell-Caldwell Recreation Department held its annual Easter Egg Hunt Saturday morning at Essex Valley School.  

The culinary talents of Notre Dame parishioners were displayed once again Saturday at the annual "Taste of Notre Dame," a fundraiser for the North Caldwell church's Mission Team.  The parish's "Top Chefs" prepared sausage and meatballs, pasta and other specialties for the fundrairing dinner. The meals were served in Charlie's Place in the basement of the church by Hurricane Sandy relief volunteers. Tickets were $25 for the all-you-could-eat buffet.

James Caldwell High School teacher Christina Astorina and members of the high school's Theater Arts Club performed Puppets and Poetry at West Caldwell Public Library on Saturday. Children ages 3 to 6 enjoyed a "Punch and Judy" puppet show and worked with Astorina and the students to write their own sonnets. 

More than two dozen musicians from School of Rock Montclair performed Queen's greatest hits at James Caldwell High School in West Caldwell this weekend. Some 300 people attended the two shows held on Saturday and Sunday night in the high school's Center for Performing Arts. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the school's Music & More Booster Club. A representative from School of Rock Montclair said $2,000 was raised for the booster club. The musicians ranged in age from 7 to 17 and performed timeless hits, such as “Another One Bites the Dust,” “We Are the Champions,” “We Will Rock …

Dozens of Cub Scouts from Pack 6 in Caldwell raced their Pinewood Derby cars for the title of Pack Champion Sunday.  After more than six hours of racing, the coveted title went to Auggie Rodrigues, a Bear from Den 8, who designed his car to look like a can of Coca-Cola. The scouts worked on their cars for several weeks before the derby. They carved a block of wood into the shapes of their choice, attached the wheels, as well as painted and embellished them. Designs varied from sleek race cars to ones inspired by an apple juice box and the Annoying Orange.  The cars were weighed—maximum weight…

Andrew Carnegie spoke of "doing real and permanent good in this world." His words were inscribed in the award presented to Former New Jersey Governor and Immediate Past Chairman of the Carnegie Corporation Thomas H. Kean at the recent Mayors' Legacy for Literacy dinner held at the Green Brook Country Club in North Caldwell. The fundraiser held last month for the Caldwell Public Library was co-hosted by Caldwell Mayor Ann Dassing and former Mayor Susan Gartland. Former N.J. Governor and Sen. Richard Codey presented the award to Gov. Kean. Between 1883 and 1929, 2,509 Carnegie libraries were …

Close to 1,000 runners and walkers participated in the second annual Trinity Academy 5K Reindeer Walk/Run in Caldwell Saturday.  Santa and Mrs. Claus were on hand to cheer on runners and walkers which traveled 3.1 miles on a course through Caldwell, West Caldwell and North Caldwell. While most participants were local, many came from around the state as well as New York and Delaware. Below are the top 5 male and female finishers. For a full list of results, go to Compuscore.com. Top 5 Finishers/Top 5 Males Place Runner Town Age Time  1. Nicolai Naranjo Essex Fells, NJ 24 16:11.41 2. Jovanie …

The Essex County Environmental Center held its annual Octoberfest celebration on Saturday. Visitors took canoe trips on the Passaic River and nature walks in Essex County’s West Essex Park. There was a petting zoo, gardening tips, a live beehive display, woodturning and pumpkin carving demonstrations, nature arts and crafts and display tables from a variety of eco-vendors. Participating in OctoberFest with the Environmental Center were the County’s partner agencies: New Jersey Audubon, Essex County Master Gardeners, Essex County Beekeepers, 4-H Club, Essex County Rutgers Cooperative Extension…

The West Caldwell Fire Department invited the community to celebrate its 100th anniversary with a special barbecue held at the firehouse on Saturday, Sept. 22.  Volunteer firefighters helped serve burgers and other food to guests, while children were treated to a dalmatian-themed bouncy castle, a balloon artist and more.  The organization has served the community since it was chartered in August 1912.

The West Caldwell Fire Department was incorporated on August 5, 1912 when ten members signed the required incorporation papers and the requisite $6 fee was paid. The township of West Caldwell had only been incorporated eight years earlier.  On Sunday, past and present members gathered to mark the 100th anniversary of the volunteer fire department with an ice cream social. The Founder's Day celebration began with the first official meeting held in the Fairfield Avenue firehouse after it recently underwent a $2.5 million renovation and expansion. West Caldwell Fire Department Chaplain Bob …

New Jersey loves its native son Bruce Springsteen. So it's no surprise that the Springsteen cover band, Tramps Like Us, attracted the biggest crowd to date to the West Caldwell Gazebo this summer. The performance was sponsored by ShopRite of West Caldwell, which provided food for the night. The free West Caldwell Gazebo concert season ends next Thursday, August 9, with the Next Stage Ensemble performing Shakespeare.

Concert-goers sang along to Jimmy Buffett songs at Crane Park as the West Caldwell free Gazebo concert series continued on Thursday night. The tribute band Parrot Beach also played popular songs from Sam Cooke, Van Morrison and Lionel Richie as fans danced and clapped along at the concert sponsored by Stop & Shop. The park opened at 6:30 and visitors could buy sandwiches and snacks, along with Rita's Italian Ice for dessert, and the music started playing around 7:30 p.m. Proceeds from the food sale were going to be donated to the West Essex First Aid Squad, whose members were on hand for any …

Calandra's parking spaces were filled with everything from a 1959 Cadillac to a 21st-century lime green Lamborghini Monday night—the first of seven consecutive Monday Night Cruises at the Caldwell bakery, restaurant and market. The event attracted historic, muscle and sports car owners from around the region for a chance to show off their "babies." License plates were just as much fun as the cars. A Chevrolet dubbed "Earth Angel," for example, was parked near a Corvette boasting to be a "GR8 CAR." The Monday Night Cruises continue through August 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Calandra's Italian …

The work of more than three dozen artists and crafters lined Bloomfield Avenue Saturday for the Caldwell Merchants Association's annual Art on the Avenue. Awards were presented at the Winner's Circle on the Green for Best in Show ($500), as well as Awards of Excellence ($150), Awards of Merit ($50) and Honorable Mentions ($25). (See winnners below.) Among the artists was Caldwell resident Brian Bromborsky, a 2001 James Caldwell High School graduate. This was the first Art on the Avenue for the illustrator who attended Ringling College of Art and Design in Florida and teaches kindergarten …

Spring has sprung more than flowers around the Caldwells. Patch has spotted a number of baby animals in recent weeks. Enjoy these photos of a bird's nest, a fawn in a Caldwell resident's back yard and ducklings recently born at Grover Cleveland Park.