Home Care In Ramsey, NJ

Macy’s will open what it’s calling a “small-format” store at a former Bed Bath & Beyond at the Interstate Shopping Center in Ramsey on Route 17 in 2024, a Monday announcement said.

The iconic clothing retailer will occupy 25,000 square feet at the former home goods store in Ramsey, said the announcement from Welco Realty Inc., which represented the landlord in the deal. Macy’s will join ShopRite, DSW, Burlington, Michael’s and Old Navy.

Bed Bath & Beyond — known for being the go-to spot for shoppers looking to outfit dorm rooms and starter homes, and for keeping them coming back with its iconic blue 20% off coupons — announced in April that it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closing hundreds of stores across the United States. There were 13 stores in New Jersey.

Another Macy’s will open at Mount Laurel in South Jersey, Welco announced Monday.

“We are very excited about bringing the Macy’s brand to both shopping centers,” Welco President Jerry Welkis said Monday.

Macy’s is opening up to 30 of these small-format locations beginning in 2024 and through fall 2025, an October announcement said. It currently has 24 locations in New Jersey, mainly in malls.

The stores will be “paired with a premier digital experience,” Macy’s said. The stores are roughly one-fifth the size of those in malls, Macy’s noted.

A spokesperson for Macy’s couldn’t immediately be reached by email for comment on Tuesday morning.

“Our small-format stores are efficient to operate, provide the customer with a shopping alternative within our omnichannel ecosystem and present a unique opportunity to target high-traffic shopping centers," Adrian Mitchell, chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Macy’s, said in October.

“Our small-format strategy is one way we intend to harness the full power of the Macy’s brand to deliver sustainable, profitable sales growth for Macy’s Inc. beginning in 2024,” Mitchell said.

When Bed Bath & Beyond declared bankruptcy this spring, it raised the question of what would replace the retail sites.

Bed Bath & Beyond “always had good-quality, well-located space,” Matthew Harding, chief executive officer of North Plainfield-based Levin Management Corp., a commercial real estate services firm, said in an interview in July.

According to the Asbury Park Press, real estate experts said contenders have included fitness centers and supermarkets, as well as retailers like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Homesense, Sierra Trading Post, Dick's Sporting Goods, Ashley Homestores and Burlington Stores.

Daniel Munoz covers business, consumer affairs, labor and the economy for NorthJersey.com and The Record.

RAMSEY — The group assembled for the trophy photo seemed to keep growing.

As Ramsey boys soccer players hoisted the hardware from their fourth straight sectional championship, they called over just about everyone involved with the program for picture time.

Assistant coaches. Stat girls. Ball boys, including one who came sliding in along the John C. DePuyt Field turf.

“Everybody that’s involved, they just love the program,” said coach Cesar Blacido, himself a Ramsey grad.

This year, there’s more to love each time out. The top-seeded Rams improved to 20-0-2 with Saturday’s 3-0 victory over No. 7 seed Pascack Valley in the North 1, Group 2 final.

That gave the program its first 20-win season since 1997, plus its first Triple Crown of division (Big North-Patriot), county (co-Bergen champs with Ramapo) and sectional titles in the same season.

“It feels amazing,” Ramsey senior Luke Ernst said. “Sharing the trophy with Ramapo [stunk], but it’s nice to have a championship of our own. And we’re not done. We want to get the whole thing.”

What it means

The Rams took another step toward claiming their first Group 2 state title since 2007, when Blacido was a senior starter. Next, they’ll face North 2 champ Bernards in the NJSIAA Group 2 semifinals on Wednesday.

The Mountaineers (13-3-2) knocked out Ramsey from the 2006 state semifinals, leading up to their run the following year.

“We have a lot of the old members of the 2007 team – the coach [Jamie Phillips], he’s the JV coach now,” Ernst said. “We hear about how much that [championship] meant to them, it brought them together, how they still talk about it, and we want that kind of community.”

Pascack Valley (11-7-3) has done well developing its soccer community as well. This was the Panthers’ third straight sectional final, after they won North 1, Group 3 in 2021.

Key play

Ernst assisted on Kiran Dewan’s goal in the 28th minute, which gave Ramsey the lead. Less than four minutes after halftime, he helped widen the gap.

Lucas Quinn played a through ball up the left side to Ernst, who was being marked. As the keeper came out to challenge, Ernst poked the ball around him and inside the far post.

“Early second half, we’re thinking we’ve got to put one away,” the midfielder said. “And I just knew, right there, that was the game.”

Adrian Stancescu scored directly off a corner kick with 25:23 left to seal it.

Defense wins…

The Rams notched their 15th shutout of the season, holding Pascack Valley striker Steven Gifford in check, though Gifford and his teammates hit a post twice in the first 10 minutes.

“We have Patrick Weir in the back, who really is a leader on and off the field,” Blacido said of the UPenn commit. “And the other guys – Dan Capuano and Max [Nierenberg] and Joe Capuano and [keeper] Steven [Depinto], they all work together so well and know that they can’t take breaks at any moment.”

Marsha A. Stoltz

RAMSEY — Five candidates are running for three full-term seats on the nine-member Board of Education on Nov. 7.

Board President Laura Genovese-Behrmann is running for a sixth term on a "Leadership for Success" slate with newcomers Michael Augello and Stephen McKnight.

Two other three-year seats are open as trustees Andrea Lamendola and Ralph Caputo did not file to seek reelection.

Timothy Walsh, who also ran last year, is running for a seat under the "Conservative Family Values" slogan. High school senior Paul "PJ" Rostkowski has also filed to run.

The district administers 2,621 students in five buildings.

Michael Augello

Augello is 43 years old and a 37-year resident of the borough. He's an attorney and a Ramsey High School graduate who holds a bachelor's degree from George Washington University and a law degree from the New England School of Law. He has two children, one a current student and the other a future student in Ramsey public schools. Community involvements include youth sports coach. For more information, visit the Facebook page Berhrmann, Augello, McKnight for Ramsey BOE.

Why are you running? "I have a passion for education, a desire to serve my community, and I want to help prepare Ramsey’s students for success in the 21st century."

Laura E. Genovese-Behrmann

Genovese-Behrmann is 48 years old and a 24-year resident of the borough. She is an attorney who holds a bachelor's degree from Drew University and a law degree from Seton Hall University. She has two children, one in Ramsey schools and the other in a private high school. Community involvements include Ramsey Board of Education since April 2005 and president since June 2017, Boy Scout Troop 31 committee member, Ramsey Soccer Association board member, Ramsey Ambulance Corps past president, Ramsey Rescue Squad administrative life member; Junior League of Bergen County, Ramsey Board of Public Works commissioner, Taste of Ramsey co-founder for the centennial. For more information, visit the Facebook page Berhrmann, Augello, McKnight for Ramsey BOE.

Why are you running? "We work collaboratively and respectfully with our staff; we have made much-needed improvements to our facilities; we have prioritized student safety and mental health; we place a strong emphasis on 21st-century skills; we are concerned about educating the whole child for their future, not ours, and not teaching to a test."

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Stephen McKnight

McKnight is 45 years old and a 21-year resident. He's an advertising/marketing executive and a Ramsey High School graduate with a bachelor's degree in psychology from Ithaca College. His two children are in Ramsey public schools. His community involvements include Ramsey Baseball & Softball Association board member, Girls Clinic & T-Ball program director and youth softball coach. For more information,visit the Facebook page Berhrmann, Augello, McKnight for Ramsey BOE.

Why are you running? "As both a parent and Ramsey alum, I feel a responsibility to give back to a district and community that has provided my family and I with so much. To serve the next generation of Ramsey students and ensure we are developing lifelong learners with the skills to thrive in the 21st century."

Paul "PJ" Rostowski

Rostowski did not respond to the request for information.

Timothy Walsh

Walsh is 35 years old and a lifelong resident of the borough. He's a political consultant and a Don Bosco graduate with a bachelor of arts degree from Montclair State University. His community involvements include the Ramsey Environmental Commission. He has no children.

Why are you running? "The entire Ramsey community deserves a say in how the schools that represent our town are administered."

WESTWOOD — When Cedar Grove and Ramsey stepped onto the field for the last of the five games in the Jim Grasso Kickoff Classic, it was a matchup of experience vs. inexperience. More times than not, that experience will pay huge dividends in the beginning of a season.

It certainly did for the Panthers of Cedar Grove, who got through a slow start before coming on and playing dominantly in the second half of a 34-7 football win over the Rams in the season opener for both teams Saturday.

It took about a quarter for Cedar Grove to find itself, as Ramsey’s youngsters played a spirited game with what at times looked like a Grand Central Station approach offensively, rotating three, four or five players in and out.

Jim Grasso Kickoff Classic:Westwood football enjoys dream start vs. South Plainfield

That helped keep the game scoreless into the second quarter and the Rams actually got the first points of the game following an Andrew McDade interception of a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage.

Two first downs set up a nice stretch play, with Christian Fojon cutting off the right tackle and finding the seam on the way to a 27-yard touchdown run. That would be the last highlight moment for the Rams, however.

The Panthers, a pass-first offense, finally got their timing down, and they answered back with a quick march that culminated on a nice hitch-and-go route by Nick Russo, with quarterback Stephen Paradiso hitting him stride in the back of the end zone down the left sideline,

Cedar Grove grabbed the lead for good on the final play of the first half, with Sebastian Kovacs drilling a 40-yard field goal with room to spare, making it 10-7. That pumped up CG, and they took the second-half kickoff and went right down the field, with a Paradiso to Nick Iannacone 25-yard pass putting them on the 1-yard line. Paradiso snuck it in from there.

After a failed fourth down by Ramsey, Cedar Grove made it 24-7 on a 15-yard Paradiso to Iannacone TD strike. Kovacs added his second field goal from 28 yards out, giving the Panthers a 27-7 lead going into the fourth quarter, and a Paradiso 13-yard run closed out the scoring.

What it means

For Cedar Grove, it was a validation that they are ready to once again make noise in the North Group 1 championship picture. The Panthers went almost exclusively with the pass in the first half, running only three times, but they had a better mix in the second half and were able to use the run time off the clock.

For Ramsey, it sets the needle for what has to happen as they move on to the next game, a mere five days away on Thursday against Pascack Valley. With a sophomore quarterback making his debut and many pieces on both sides of the ball also in their inaugural varsity game, it’s all about getting better. It was not a lack of effort by the Rams, simply a case of the opponent being much further along thanks to their veteran status.

Turning point No. 1

This one is easy. It was the Kovacs field goal to close the half. The Panthers were not at their best in the opening half ("We got a little caught up in opening day jitters and simply needed to get rolling,” head coach Rob Gogerty said), but they were able to walk off with a lead and a huge momentum swing, Coming right out and scoring to open the second half emphasized the positive shift.

Turning point No. 2

Facing a fourth-and-five at their own 37 with just under 5:30 to go in the third quarter and trailing 17-7, Ramsey coach Adam Baeira gambled and went for it. Perhaps a better way of stating it is, he showed his team that he had faith in them. They had quarterback Justus Favata roll right and the running back release from a block into the flat. The pass hit him in the hands beyond the first-down marker with room to run, but it was dropped.

“We practice that play over and over,” Baeira said. “It set up like we expected but we just didn’t execute it. Hey, we’re going to have to own it, know that when that situation comes up again that we’ll do a better job of making the play.”

By the numbers

Paradiso was 18 of 29 passing for 285 yards and a pair of touchdowns and one interception. Iannacone was the favorite target, snaring 8 balls for 139 yards. Jackson Morrice was the deep threat, catching 4 for 97 yards and Russo, the tight end, had 3 grabs for 51 yards as well as a 12-yard run on a receiver reverse. The Panthers had a 316-203 advantage in total yards over the Rams.

Favara was 12 of 21 passing for 81 yards and an interception in his first game as a starter, with tight end Noah Magnus on the receiving end of four balls for 38 yards. Van Schoening had 3 catches for 14 yards and 41 rushing yards on 13 carries. Fojon had 50 yards on 5 runs and Favata 34 on six carries.

RAMSEY, N.J. -- Despite the earlier steady and heavy snowfall, many of the roads in Bergen County were clear on Tuesday afternoon.

But for many people in Ramsey, it was a hectic day as the brunt of the storm hit the area while many were heading to work.

It has been a while since residents have had to deal with this amount of snow.

"It's a heavier snow so a little bit challenging with the snow blower, but not too bad. It ended earlier in the day, which is nice," Dan Chelel said.

Watch: New Jersey kids enjoy first snow day of the year

CBS New York met a mother and daughter who were teaming up to tackle their driveway.

"It was actually pretty good, but still heavy because of the snow on top of it," Claire Mooney said, after we pointed out her shovel was taller than her.

She said he mom did most of the work, though.

"I am really very, very tired. It was quite a chore. It is what is it, you know? I love the snow. I don't mind being outside, thank goodness," Ani Mooney said.

In downtown Ramsey, Remon Haddad said he had to close his barber shop, Ray's Barber Pole, and clear the sidewalk in front of his business.

"We have to open business for tomorrow and I couldn't find anybody to clean that small area," Haddad said.

Next door, an Italian pastry shop saw little foot traffic as the owner and his employees were ready for Valentine's Day.

"It has been pretty rough this morning. We probably had four to five customers for the first three hours. We open at 7 a.m., like nobody around," Andrea Guastella said.

Watch: John Dias monitors road conditions in Mobile 2

Neighbors in Ramsey guessed that the town got more than 6 inches of snow, which was very fluffy but was really wet and heavy earlier in the day when crews hit the roadways.

At the Bergen County maintenance yard in Paramus, crews started early. They ended up using half of the salt in the dome.

"We went to a plow operation. We had about 125 men and women out with about 100 pieces of equipment, plus our municipal partners helped us out," County Executive James Tedesco said.

Bergen has a couple of other maintenance yards and crews are now responsible for the Palisades Interstate Parkway in the county.

But that section of the parkway appeared clear late Tuesday afternoon.

Christine Sloan

Christine Sloan is an Emmy Award-winning reporter, who covers New Jersey for CBS 2 New York. Sloan re-joined the station in January 2023. She also worked at CBS 2 New York from 2004 to 2016.

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