Home Care In Ringwood, NJ

A New Jersey educator was passed over for nearly four dozen promotions because he is white, he claims in an explosive new lawsuit.

Thomas F. Franco alleges the Paterson, NJ school district won’t promote him to an administrative position solely because of his skin color, according to the discrimination lawsuit filed last month.

The 58-year-old Ringwood resident contends he’s applied for “more than 45 positions” since he was hired in 2016, and has only been interviewed once.

“Nearly all administrative level positions within the PPS [Paterson Public Schools], greater than 95%, are held by Black and Hispanic individuals,” according to the suit filed in Passaic Superior Court.

“Many of the people” hired instead of him were “less experienced” and didn’t have his academic credentials, Franco argued in papers.

Franco has the necessary state certificates to fill the principal and vice principal posts he sought, his lawyer told The Post.

And he served as an interim administrator in 2016.

“While I applaud the fact that the district employs many minorities to serve its mostly minority student population, at the same time the district should not prevent highly qualified individuals who may be a non-minority, from being promoted,” said attorney Evan Goldman.

“Mr. Franco’s potential promotion will only serve to enhance all of the students experiences in the district.”

Franco has two master’s degrees from St. Peter’s University and Rutgers University, and a bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from Rutgers, according to his LinkedIn page.

The district “does not provide the same opportunities for advancement to White applicants as it does to minority candidates,” according to the court papers.

Franco is currently working as a guidance counselor at Paterson’s International High School, according to the school’s website.

His salary is $82,555, according to district payroll records.

“Throughout the course of Mr. Franco’s employment with PPS, he has always received performance evaluations rating him either “highly effective” or “effective,” the suit says.

The suit seeks unspecified damages.

The Paterson school district said it does not comment on pending lawsuits.

RINGWOOD — Supply chain issues combined with the age and health of the owners are behind the closing of Lighting Emporium, a business that opened more than 30 years ago.

Owner Edward Maceli said his love of electrical work led to the opening of the Greenwood Lake Turnpike store with his wife, Nancy Maceli. Both said retiring after being in business for so long is bittersweet.

"It is with great sadness that we announce our retirement and the closing of Lighting Emporium after 33 years. We would like to thank all of our loyal customers and friends for your support and patronage over these past three plus decades," the Macelis posted on social media.

"I'm 80 years old with spinal stenosis and I can't get up on the ladder," Ed said. "We developed a lot of friendships throughout the years, and we're going to miss each of our customers."

Before he opened Lighting Emporium, Ed was an electrical contractor for about 40 years.

The business has 15 showrooms that feature gifts and accessories for a country home, bathrooms, and living and dining rooms. There's a room just for lamps, one for clearance items and more. All merchandise will be discounted for the closing.

Nancy, who has primarily worked in the office, said she has loved shopping for items to sell in the store. "I enjoy going and looking for the best-quality products and special things to display in the store," she said.

Health and age were a big reason the couple decided to call it quits, but the last straw was the supply chain issues. The business had to cancel many orders because it could not acquire the items for customers.

"With every order, we were lucky if we received half, therefore we had to cancel our fall and Christmas orders because expected delivery wasn't until November, and by that time, the season was over," Ed said.

Although they haven't yet decided what they will do after retirement, both said they are overwhelmed with the immense support and messages they have received since their announcement.

Their retirement closing sale began on Aug. 18 and is continuing. To view inventory and markdowns on products, visit the store at 1140 Greenwood Lake Turnpike. Lighting Emporium is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The building is also for sale.

Our latest entry in The Best NJ Hiking Trails series mixes hiking with history. Ringwood State Park hangs below the New York State border in Passaic County. The park offers numerous hiking opportunities spread out across 4,444 acres. However, the trail we’re focusing on today is one of the most scenic, known as the Five Ponds Loop.

The Five Ponds Loop is a popular hike for beginner and intermediate hikers within Ringwood State Park. It’s a five-mile-long trail connecting some of the area’s most scenic ponds. The trail is mostly flat, but there are some rocky ways and rogue roots. A comfortable pair of hiking boots is ideal, however, sneakers will do the trick for an impromptu hike. (Just keep in mind it can stay muddy for a few days after rain.) The trail can also get hilly, though it always remains manageable for both young children and pets. Of course, if five miles sounds like a long hike, it’s always advisable to bring water and protein snacks. Better yet, bring five different small meals and enjoy one at the shore of every lake.

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There are a few parking options when planning for the Five Ponds Loop at Ringwood State Park. The hike begins just south of The Castle at Skylands Manor (aka Skylands Manor Historic District); so the first parking option (Parking Lot A) is on E Cottage Road, just after Skylands Manor. However, this is the farthest option of the three in the area. Parking Lot B is farther down the road and turns onto Maple Ave. Meanwhile, Parking Lot C is the closest to the Five Ponds Loop; it is the second parking lot further down Maple Ave after the road turns into Honeysuckle Lane, on your left.

We recommend Parking Lot C, as Five Ponds Trail (pink trail) leads directly into it. The trail splits either north or east, but both directions loop back to the lot in about five miles. This Ringwood State Park article focuses on the trail east, which is mostly long stretches; meanwhile, the return trip is zig-zaggy in more short bursts. If you take the trail east, you’ll quickly hit the Crossover Trail (white) and turn south. After about a half-mile in, there is a six-way intersection; make sure to stay along the pink trail. The white trail branches off and leads nearly five miles out of the way.

Prior to arriving at the first pond the trail introduces an incline, it’s nothing major but something to prepare for. The first pond on the trail is Gatum Pond, and the trail provides a nice viewpoint of the water. From Gatum Pond, keep to the pink trail heading south towards the second stop, Brushwood Pond. (It is near an open field.) Then, head north from Brushwood Pond to another intersection and remain on the pink trail, now heading northwest. Stop number three is Weyble Pond.

The pink trail continues north from Weyble Pond for under a mile before making a sharp left. The path, now leading south, heads to the largest of the five ponds, Glasmere Ponds. In fact, the path cuts right through two ponds, but provides a spectacular view of the northern pond. (And also serves as a great rest point for this Ringwood State Park hike.)

After stopping to enjoy Glasmere Ponds, continue west on the pink trail. The path will cross the Skylands Trail (blue) as well as the Ringwood-Ramapo Trail (red). After crossing the red trail, the pink Five Ponds Trail links back up with the white Crossover Trail from earlier. Now heading south this leads to the last of the five ponds, Swan Pond.

Depart Swan Pond by following the Five Ponds Trail south west. This turns slightly left onto a gravel road and continues on a bridge over a stream, ending at Parking Lot C. To extend the trip, and also decompress after the hike, I recommend visiting the Skylands Manor Historic District. This area includes the New Jersey Botanical Garden.

Ringwood State Park offers over a dozen other trails that total nearly 40 miles. The opportunities to mix and match routes are nearly endless. Of course, the Five Ponds Loop is a nice hike for any experience level. The park also provides recreational opportunities such as swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, and even sledding. It certainly earns its place among our list of The Best NJ Hiking Trails.

All Photos: © Patrick Lombardi / Best of NJ

David M. Zimmer

Hoping to capitalize on a $350 million state grant program promising partial reimbursement for essential school upgrades, Ringwood's Board of Education approved roughly $1.7 million in improvements to Ryerson Middle School this week.

During a special meeting on Monday, board members agreed to have the school's science classrooms overhauled and a new heating and air conditioning unit installed above the school's gym.

Board members also agreed to file an application to seek partial reimbursement from the $350 million state grant program that opened in late January. Under the Regular Operating Districts, or ROD, grant program administered by the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, approved districts can receive grants covering at least 40% of costs for projects that are essential to education or address health and safety.

'It doesn't make sense not to go for ROD grants for this," said Patrick Seiwell, of board consultant DRG Architects.

DRG Architects said the science classrooms will get new flooring, ceilings, lighting and heating and cooling systems. They will also receive sorely needed cabinetry for storage and counter space. While the curriculum at the school does not call for the use of caustic or explosive chemicals, one of the labs will have an eye wash station and an emergency safety shower, according to the plans.

The current shower is located in a prep room that connects two of the three classrooms planned for the overhaul. It does not have a working drain, officials said. That room will get new ADA-compliant doorways, storage areas and a sink, according to the consultants.

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The science classroom renovation has a $966,000 price tag, according to the approved agreement with contractor C.M.G. Group Inc., of Neptune City. Board members said they are considering a separate agreement for loose furnishings, including tables on casters and chairs with underneath storage, at a cost of $94,300. An attempt will be made to find a better price through vendors on a state contract before potentially awarding that contract on Feb. 13, they said. Another $100,000 to $150,000 could nonetheless be required for hazard remediation work in the classrooms, which were built in 1970, officials said.

The new heating and air conditioning unit above the gym will cost $695,000 and replace a 53-year-old unit that only provides heat, district records show. The project by Envirocon of Hackettstown will provide new ductwork and ceiling reinforcement for the roof-mounted unit, officials said.

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With existing capital reserves and grant money, district officials said there is enough in reserve to cover the cost of the projects without additional grant awards or reimbursements.

Beyond attempting to file an early ROD grant application with state officials, board members said they wanted to approve the contracts early this month to permit a summer construction schedule. Items such as the epoxy resin countertops and the gym's HVAC system can take 16 to 18 weeks to arrive after an order is placed, according to the board consultants.

RINGWOOD — School board members hired an interim superintendent to lead the district through mid-April while Nicholas Bernice is out with an undisclosed illness.

Board members hired Bernard Josefsberg, a retiree who served as superintendent in Leonia, Mount Arlington and other tri-state area districts, to a minimum three-day-a-week deal through April 16. The contract pays Josefsberg $750 per day, or $93.75 per hour if he works fewer than four hours in a day.

Josefsberg, who in 2011 recommended Bernice for his pre-Ringwood job as principal of Leonia Middle School, said he agreed to join the district solely at the request of Bernice.

“I would not have done that for any other person,” Josefsberg said. “I’m happily retired.”

He said he sees his role as a temporary caretaker. The goal is to help the board work through its issues and the administration function as needed, he said.

Earlier in the week, the district operated with Gregg Festa, the Robert Erskine Elementary School principal, as stand-in superintendent. However, Paul Rubacky, president of the Board of Education, said the dual role was effective but not tenable for an extended term. Rubacky said pulling Festa away from the main office in Erskine wasn’t ideal, either.

“In the K to 3 realm, I think it’s very important to have that and continue that bond with a principal you can trust and get answers from,” Rubacky said.

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Rubacky said he is confident in Josefsberg’s ability to lead the district in the next month. As recently as 2020, Josefsberg was working as an interim superintendent in New Paltz, New York. He has also worked for districts in Mount Arlington and Scarsdale, New York, and for three districts — Easton, Redding and Region 9 — in Connecticut since leaving Leonia in 2011 as former Gov. Chris Christie implemented a salary cap for New Jersey’s superintendents.

The former Jersey City substitute teacher’s next month in Ringwood is expected to have him oversee the adoption of the district’s 2021-22 budget. Board members proposed a roughly 1%, or $204,000, increase to the K-8 school tax levy for 2021-22, but noted that changes can and may be made before the budget’s expected adoption next month.

Josefsberg is also expected to manage the announcement of the results of the recent parent, staff and student survey on options for the rest of this academic year's hybrid schedule. The topic of reopening schools on a standard schedule has been a point of interest at recent board meetings and will be the focus of two additional meetings, scheduled for March 22 and March 31.

Patrick Diamond, the board member who proposed the meetings, said the board needs to begin planning for 2021-22. Among the topics to be addressed is the possibility of opening schools beyond the hybrid schedule, which sees students in classrooms two days each week.

“We owe it to the residents to look at it,” he said.

Board member Richard Ebersbach proposed hiring Oakland law firm Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri & Jacobs to assess the potential legal ramifications of reopening schools. Rejected by board members, the controversial motion was described as a move to undercut Bernice, who Rubacky said has been emphatic in his unwillingness to put students back in crowded classrooms “until he is confident in their safety.”

Ebersbach said he wanted an opinion from an outside firm he believes is well versed in public school openings throughout the region. His proposed $6,000 expenditure received support from three other board members.

Rubacky, who voted against the expenditure, said he had previously met with representatives from the firm at Ebersbach’s request. No promise of future business was made during that “meet and greet," Rubacky said.

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.