It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Wayne, NJ is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I cannot say enough good things about Always Best Care Services. From the moment I”
“Liz and her team are the consumate professionals when it comes to providing quality care”
“Liz…. Is simply the Best ! Her professionalism is amazing …”
“Liz is beyond TOP NOTCH at what she does, and the services she provides. We”
“When Always Best Care was referred to us by a friend, we didn’t quite know”
“Excellent service, Always Best Care takes care well of your loved one. They are professionals”
“If you are looking for the right team to help you provide in-home care for”
“Liz and her staff are hands down the best!!!”
“Always Best Care Senior Services and CEO Liz Johnson, provide compassionate and qualified care for”
“Always Best Care provides the highest level of in home care for your loved ones.”
“Excellent company! They care deeply for each person they work with and I highly recommend”
“You will always get the best care and service. Liz is so compassionate and”
“When my special needs son broke his femur we called Liz for help. Although”
“Always best care have been a good company,and they always check on the workers,and make”
“I was referred to Always Best Care by a close friend when I was searching”
“Quick and reliable assistance from the skilled team at Always Best Care played a major”
“We found Anna through Always Best Care to take care of my ailing mother-in-law. She”
“After my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, we looked at all of the different companies”
“Nicky provided ten months of excellent care to my 82 years old mother who had”
“I would like to offer my thanks to Always Best Care for providing what I”
“Your approach and calming demeanor are truly a gift and personal calling! You have helped”
“Great Agency! Esoma The Coordinator is the best in the field! So caring”
“I am a current client of this provider My ninety year old grandfather was diagnosed with”
“It has been a delightful experience to work with Always Best Care. Over the last”
“I really liked the caregiver who came to help my mom during her recovery from”
“I would like to offer my thanks to Always Best Care for providing what I”
“I am a current client of this provider I would like to offer my thanks to”
“I cannot say enough good things about Always Best Care Services. From the moment I first reached out to them, it felt like I was working with family. The owner is incredibly kind, compassionate, and genuinely cares about her clients. She goes above and beyond to ensure that everything runs smoothly, and it's clear that her heart is in the work she does. The caregivers are top-notch – professional, caring, and incredibly loving. It's rare to find a team that treats your loved ones with the level of respect and warmth that Always Best Care does. I've used other home health care services in the past, but nothing compares to the peace of mind and quality of care I’ve received from this team. The caregivers don’t just provide services; they build meaningful relationships with the people they care for, making them feel like a part of their extended family. I honestly believe they are better than having family help, because they bring so much professionalism, expertise, and heart into everything they do. I trust them completely and would recommend Always Best Care to anyone in need of high-quality home health care. They are simply the best in the business. Dennis Bonagura”
“Liz and her team are the consumate professionals when it comes to providing quality care for our seniors. They provide compassionate and competent care without forgetting about empathy and dignity for those entrusted in their care. Providing exceptional care...and then some...isn't what they do, it's simply who they are. Thank you, Liz, for providing such exceptional leadership to your team!”
“Liz…. Is simply the Best ! Her professionalism is amazing …”
“Liz is beyond TOP NOTCH at what she does, and the services she provides. We had a difficult family situation, and she handled it with grace, and provided my family with service, and advice above and beyond what I expected to receive!!! Thank you!!!”
“When Always Best Care was referred to us by a friend, we didn’t quite know what to expect. Meeting the charming and charismatic Liz the owner and her smiling staff at the agency however put our hearts and minds at ease although we were in the middle of the pandemic. They are down-to-earth caring, compassionate and professional and our aunt could not ask for anything more. I truly recommend Always Best Care.”
“Excellent service, Always Best Care takes care well of your loved one. They are professionals and certified which makes them on top of everything. Just call Liz Johnson and she will help and goes above and beyond. I would highly recommend them.”
“If you are looking for the right team to help you provide in-home care for your loved one, Always Best Care should be your first call. Liz and her team are trustworthy, caring, and compassionate. They go above and beyond for their clients and their families! They are truly exceptional!”
“Liz and her staff are hands down the best!!!”
“Always Best Care Senior Services and CEO Liz Johnson, provide compassionate and qualified care for seniors and patients recovering from surgery. Liz has a heart for families who need to make those tough choices and is a knowledgeable resource for those in need. She addresses questions and concerns with advice and solutions based on her professional acumen and life experience. I would recommend Liz wholeheartedly. Make her your first call when you need support for a loved one!”
“Always Best Care provides the highest level of in home care for your loved ones. I have used this agency to provide in home care for several family members and loved ones. Their aides provide compassionate care and have allowed my family members to age in their home with dignity and grace. Highly recommend !!!”
“Excellent company! They care deeply for each person they work with and I highly recommend them. Very reliable and quick to respond. The owner is just amazing!”
“You will always get the best care and service. Liz is so compassionate and attentive and treats everyone as if they were family. I highly recommend!”
“When my special needs son broke his femur we called Liz for help. Although she specializes in Senior Care, we knew her company would take great care of our pre-teen. We can never thank Liz and her company enough for the kindness and great care they provided not just for our son, but for our entire family! What a relief it was to know he was being well cared for with such kindness and compassion. I would highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services.”
“Always best care have been a good company,and they always check on the workers,and make everything so easy for me,I never have bad experience wit them,I like my supervisor Mrs Leslie and the Coordinator Esoma bcos they always check on us wit my client and confirm if everything is working so good wit us,please all I want to say to them,is to keep the good work contine,may the company continues to be bless wit good people and so caring about the Aides....thank you so very much”
“I was referred to Always Best Care by a close friend when I was searching for an assisted living community for my parents. I found the staff extremely professional and helpful right from our first meeting. What I appreciate the most is their prompt service and flexibility. Since I have my job in another city, I wasn’t able to take care of my parents and eventually had to make the difficult decision to move them to assisted living. Thanks to Always Best Care for speeding up the whole process according to my schedule. Highly Recommended!”
“Quick and reliable assistance from the skilled team at Always Best Care played a major in my father’s recovery from osteoporosis. The assigned caregiver was extremely patient and supportive. He helped my father with all sorts of exercises. I strongly recommend Always Best Care for the well being of your beloved elders.”
“We found Anna through Always Best Care to take care of my ailing mother-in-law. She is honest, reliable, and goes out of her way to help my mother-in-law with her daily chores. I never have to worry that she wouldn’t show up on time or would find excuses for not doing some tasks. She is also very funny and keeps us laughing all day long. We are really happy with the services offered by Always Best Care. The attentiveness and quick response of their staff has made things quite easy for us. We know that they are there to address our needs no matter what time of the day we call them. They genuinely care about the health and well-being of their clients. And that’s what makes them so much better than other agencies.”
“After my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, we looked at all of the different companies in the marketplace. We received great care from our caregiver and really appreciated the patient approach they took with my dad. With much gratitude to the team at Always Best Care!”
“Nicky provided ten months of excellent care to my 82 years old mother who had dementia. She was caring in every possible way which was exactly what the family wanted for her. She passed away last month, but peacefully and with dignity. Thank you so much Always Best Care for the amazing service.”
“I would like to offer my thanks to Always Best Care for providing what I believe is a top-class service. They have amazing caregivers who took care of my mother-in-law post her heart surgery. She was back to her normal routine faster than we thought. It wouldn’t have been possible without the care and support of their caregivers.”
“Your approach and calming demeanor are truly a gift and personal calling! You have helped more than you will ever realize”
“Great Agency! Esoma The Coordinator is the best in the field! So caring about the Aides! Thanks again!”
“I am a current client of this provider My ninety year old grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a few months ago. Without the in home care provided by Always Best Care, I do not know how we would have managed everything. I am grateful for the dedicated service they have provided to us.”
“It has been a delightful experience to work with Always Best Care. Over the last three years, I have had a few caregivers come in to care for my mother who has Alzheimer’s. When she was diagnosed with the condition, I had little hope of her getting back to her normal self again. She had almost stopped smiling. But after I had the wonderful caregivers to care for her, I saw a great improvement in her health. She seems not only healthier, but happier too. Thank you Always Best Care.”
“I really liked the caregiver who came to help my mom during her recovery from a major surgery. She took great care of her and ensured a quick recovery. A hearty thanks to Always Best Care.”
“I would like to offer my thanks to Always Best Care for providing what I believe is a top-class service. They have amazing caregivers who took care of my mother-in-law post her heart surgery. She was back to her normal routine faster than we thought. It wouldn’t have been possible without the care and support of their caregivers.”
“I am a current client of this provider I would like to offer my thanks to Always Best Care for providing what I believe is a top-class service. They have amazing caregivers who took care of my mother-in-law post her heart surgery. She was back to her normal routine faster than we thought. It wouldn’t have been possible without the care and support of their caregivers.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Wayne, NJ, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Wayne, NJ understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Wayne, NJ 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Latest Data for Wayne: January 2025In January 2025, according to NJRealtors.com (chart below), the Median Sales Price for single-family homes in Wayne surged by 21.3%, reaching $852,500. As I mentioned in a previous article, this significant increase is likely due to the record-low number of homes for sale in December 2024, as those homes likely close...
In January 2025, according to NJRealtors.com (chart below), the Median Sales Price for single-family homes in Wayne surged by 21.3%, reaching $852,500. As I mentioned in a previous article, this significant increase is likely due to the record-low number of homes for sale in December 2024, as those homes likely closed in January (low inventory = higher sale prices). New Listings and the Inventory of Homes for Sale continued to remain below last year's levels, down by 25.8% and 54.1%, respectively. On average, sellers found a qualified buyer in just 36 days.
For townhomes and condos, the Median Sales Price saw an even more dramatic rise of 35.8%, reaching $645,000. While New Listings increased by 50.0%, the overall Inventory of Homes for Sale dropped by 8.3%. Sellers of these types of homes had to wait an average of 70 days to accept an offer from a qualified buyer.
In a balanced market, it typically takes 5-6 months for the current inventory of homes to sell. According to this report, in Wayne, it would take just 1.2 months for single-family homes and 2.3 months for townhomes and condos to sell. This further confirms the strong sellers’ market and leverage they hold in Wayne, NJ.
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This is the most recent data that has been compiled from New Jersey Realtors.
Stay tuned for February when it becomes available!
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WAYNE — Tommy’s Tavern + Tap, a dining chain that serves everything from coal-fired pizza and poke bowls to New York strip steaks, will open a new location here this summer.The chain, which has 13 locations in three states, including one in Clifton, is renovating the former TGI Fridays bar and restaurant at 71 Route 23 south.Fridays closed at that address amid a ...
WAYNE — Tommy’s Tavern + Tap, a dining chain that serves everything from coal-fired pizza and poke bowls to New York strip steaks, will open a new location here this summer.
The chain, which has 13 locations in three states, including one in Clifton, is renovating the former TGI Fridays bar and restaurant at 71 Route 23 south.
Fridays closed at that address amid a shutdown of underperforming locations nationwide in January 2024.
Tommy’s Tavern announced the local opening in a recent Instagram post, which included a color rendering of how the 6,298-square-foot bar and restaurant will appear. It is part of Wayne Towne Center, a sprawling retail complex anchored by Costco Wholesale.
Crews were seen there this week. The building was cloaked in plywood — getting ready, presumably, for a facelift.
As work is underway, the Planning Board is preparing to consider an application for exterior improvements to the building at a public hearing on March 24. The proposal involves the construction of parapets and a 30-foot tower to add another element to the architecture.
The only fixture larger than that will be the nearly 33-foot bar. Tommy’s Tavern is known for its beer menu as the Clifton location on Route 3 west — also a former Fridays — has two dozen on tap. Several of them come from craft breweries in Passaic County.
Story continues below Instagram post.
Tommy’s Tavern in Wayne will also have an open-air patio with 26 chairs and an upholstered banquette.
The chain was founded a decade ago on the Jersey Shore, in a building that once contained the borough post office in Sea Bright, by Thomas Bonfiglio, an attorney-turned-restaurateur who died in July 2022 at 62 years old.
His family continues to run the business, known as Triple T Hospitality Group. It includes Tio Taco + Tequila Bar, which has four locations.
Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news in your community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: [email protected]
WAYNE, NJ – During Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Mark Toback provided a follow-up presentation to the 2025-2026 budget presentation given just before by Business Administrator Bill Moffitt. The Superintendent admitted that his news would “not be well-received by the community.” The budget presentation revealed a $7.1M deficit in the school’s tentative budget, and Toback shared some of the difficult decisions that they put forth in order for the district to balance their budget....
WAYNE, NJ – During Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Mark Toback provided a follow-up presentation to the 2025-2026 budget presentation given just before by Business Administrator Bill Moffitt. The Superintendent admitted that his news would “not be well-received by the community.” The budget presentation revealed a $7.1M deficit in the school’s tentative budget, and Toback shared some of the difficult decisions that they put forth in order for the district to balance their budget.
Part of this plan includes 40 layoffs.
The two presentations given during that meeting showed a not-so-rosy picture of the Wayne Schools’ current and future financial situation. Though there was a bright spot, in that the District has $9.4 million in reserve and surplus accounts in order to handle facility emergencies, like the recent roof and ceiling replacement at Theunis Dey Elementary School.
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But the issue comes down to rising costs that increase far more than the 2% the schools are allowed to increase their tax levy each year.
For this budget, the schools are showing a 3% increase in Salaries and a 15% increase in Employee Benefits, along with increased costs pretty much everywhere, as inflation continues. But those two items alone will add an extra $9M more next year, compared to this current school year. Other cost increases added on to this leave an estimated $11.5 million more in expenses in next year's budget.
The Wayne Schools plan to increase taxes by the maximum, but the 2% cap means they can only raise an extra $3.4 Million, which leaves a $7.1M deficit for this upcoming budget. In order to balance the budget, cuts had to be made, and ideas formulated to increase revenue in any way feasible.
Toback explained that Wayne is not alone, as school districts across the state are finding themselves in the same pickle – or even worse.
And yet, “there’s really very little in terms of what we can do as a district,” he said.
Here’s what they are proposing to balance this tentative budget and fill that $7.1M gap:
“A significant reduction in work force,” which includes 40 layoffs, positions not being filled following 18 retirements, 10 non-renewals and three vacant positions which won’t be filled. That adds up to 61 less positions filled next year, compared to this current school year.
Here are some other changes that will affect the school’s bottom line, and likely residents’ bottom lines as well:
The President of the Wayne Education Association, Rob Sarti understands the situation but is not happy about the teachers who will be laid off.
“I understand the financial challenges Wayne is facing, but I am deeply concerned about the proposed staff cuts,” he said. “The unease among our staff is palpable. While tough decisions are necessary, reducing staff will have a serious impact on the quality of education our students receive.”
As for the aging school facilities, the district is moving forward with their current facilities projects, such as the Preakness School improvements. But next year, “there is nothing,” said Toback.
“All the projects that we would normally have scheduled, all the things that are in our long-range facilities plan, which goes out years,” he explained, “None of that is funded.”
So, the future looks just as bleak.
“I hope we don't have to get to the point where we ask, ‘Is it sustainable to keep all the schools we have open,’” said BOE President Don Pavlak at the end of the meeting. “Because if we keep coming up with $7-8 million cuts every year…”
“I don’t want to give you a doomsday scenario here,” said Pavlak. “But I can tell you; I want to be honest with you…next year doesn't look good.”
TAPinto will provide more detailed coverage of the proposed school cuts in future articles.
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WAYNE — Seventh and eighth graders are participating in an inaugural program this month to expose them to the rigors of the high school curriculum.Saturday Academies is designed to give the nearly 100 students an early opportunity to decide the classes they should take as freshmen and, perhaps, the career paths they ought to pursue when they graduate.The star pupils are getting a foot in the door — or, in some cases, an eye through the viewfinder of their future selves.Katherine Pritchard teaches the photogra...
WAYNE — Seventh and eighth graders are participating in an inaugural program this month to expose them to the rigors of the high school curriculum.
Saturday Academies is designed to give the nearly 100 students an early opportunity to decide the classes they should take as freshmen and, perhaps, the career paths they ought to pursue when they graduate.
The star pupils are getting a foot in the door — or, in some cases, an eye through the viewfinder of their future selves.
Katherine Pritchard teaches the photography academy, just one of the offerings in the four-week program. She said the participating students are acing the same lessons that her sophomores received this school year.
“They’re keeping up,” Pritchard said. “They’re not missing a beat.”
Story continues below photo gallery.
Their enthusiasm is probably owed to the fact that they do not have to be there.
The students volunteered for this chance, and local educators say it seldom comes along.
Kimberly Moreno, an assistant principal at Wayne Valley High School, where the academies are held, said there are few options for students to engage in scholarly activities outside of normal school hours. She said she is trying to change that.
“Knowledge is the key for students to make informed choices,” Moreno said. “I think that we’re filling a need for the community.”
Moreno conceived the program with Matthew Mignanelli, the director of secondary education for the K-12 district. The academies are sponsored by the Wayne Education Foundation, which also handled marketing and registration.
They include photography, auto repair, computer programming, fashion, graphic design, music production, robotics and science.
Students are paying $30 to be in the program, which ends this weekend, having run the past three Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. Participants split their time between two subjects.
Upperclassmen, including many in the National Honor Society, support the program as teaching assistants, Moreno said. Others are there to escort their younger peers around the building.
The program was spawned by another Moreno brainchild, known as the district's Tech Expo. The annual event is like the academies, but in reverse, as high school teachers visit the three middle schools to explain to students what they have to offer.
The expo, however, has no teaching component, and Moreno said it left some students wanting more.
Now they are benefiting from hands-on instruction in their future classrooms by those who could be their future teachers.
Jessica Dean, a consumer science teacher at Wayne Valley, is running the fashion academy, in which groups of aspiring designers drew silhouettes — called croquis — to serve as templates for their unique illustrations. The students created their model garments with tiny swatches of fabric, tracing paper and other supplies.
“There’s a lot of mystique around the industry,” said Dean, a former fashion designer who switched careers after the pandemic. “I wanted to come into the high school and demystify some of that, make it more realistic. It’s really awesome when I see that it clicks.”
Pritchard, the photography teacher and the Wayne Valley teacher of the year, said students in her academy acquired new techniques with their cellphone cameras. But they are so eager to absorb the material that she said she will introduce them to professional-grade cameras in their final session.
“You can see that ambitious nature in them,” Pritchard said. “It’s very honest — every single kid is going from bell to bell. They’re all interested in learning.”
Students in the robotics academy, meanwhile, built robots from scratch using 3D printers.
Patrick Slater, a veteran teacher at Wayne Valley, who is now in his 25th year, said the low-cost bots are worth about the price of two cups of coffee. Yet the experience is invaluable, he said.
“I wish that this existed when I was in middle school,” Slater added.
Sue-Anne Alonso, who teaches biology at Wayne Valley, said she challenged students in her academy with advanced classwork in environmental science. She said they studied the concept of biomimicry, or the practice of emulating nature to solve human problems. One group, she said, looked at how ants make trails as a way to simulate an improved design of the high school cafeteria.
“We don’t often have time for this sort of sustained inquiry,” Alonso said. “This is what science should be.”
Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news in your community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
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A North Jersey professor says the university mailroom failed to pay UPS, leading to 200 fossils being dumped and his life's work destroyed.Michelle Rotuno-Johnson, Patch Staff|Updated Fri, Mar 21, 2025 at 9:07 am ETWAYNE, NJ — A New Jersey professor says a university's failure to pay invoices with UPS resulted in his collection of 380-million-year-old fossils being dumped in a Tennessee landfill....
Michelle Rotuno-Johnson, Patch Staff
|Updated Fri, Mar 21, 2025 at 9:07 am ET
WAYNE, NJ — A New Jersey professor says a university's failure to pay invoices with UPS resulted in his collection of 380-million-year-old fossils being dumped in a Tennessee landfill.
Dr. Martin Becker, who is an environmental science professor at William Paterson University, filed a lawsuit on March 7 claiming that the mailroom supervisor and the university were negligent in handling a shipment of 200 fossils that he was sending to a colleague.
A William Paterson spokesperson said the university is aware of the lawsuit, but does not comment on ongoing litigation.
Becker, who is also a paleontologist, says he spent 18 years studying fossils from the Devonian period that were unearthed at High Mountain Park Preserve in Wayne. The marine invertebrate fossils that he assembled traveled from upstate New York over a period of several million years, and ended up in Wayne's High Mountain area during the last ice age, according to the lawsuit and a 2019 article from the university.
The Devonian period, sometimes called the "Age of Fishes" because of how many marine species appeared during this time, spans between about 419 and 359 million years ago. For comparison, dinosaurs lived from about 245 to 66 million years ago.
Becker's collection "is the most unique and comprehensive collection of marine fossils reported in Northern New Jersey" and his research had been the subject of multiple conferences, lectures, manuscripts, and grant awards, the lawsuit states. He also shared his research with his students, and as part of an outreach program for K-12 students, the lawsuit states.
Last year, Becker and a colleague decided to create a "comprehensive monograph" of the fossils he assembled, which had never been published before in scientific literature, the lawsuit states. The colleague is in Florida, so Becker packed up about 80 percent of his collection into 19 separate packages and took it to the university mailroom around June 18.
The mailroom supervisor, Raymond Boone, reportedly told Becker he would forward him the tracking numbers and insurance information for the packages — each weighing between 20 and 60 pounds. But it took almost a month for Becker to get that information even after he asked Boone several times, the lawsuit states.
When Becker checked the UPS tracking website on Aug. 16, it said that the packages were in Parsippany waiting to be delivered, per the lawsuit.
By Aug. 30, Becker's Florida colleague still did not have the fossils. The professor continued contacting Boone, who said he was "working on the issue," and eventually told Becker the fossil packages could be in the UPS fraud department.
When Becker contacted UPS several later, he was informed that the shipping company had seized the packages because William Paterson failed to pay invoices and their account had been canceled, the lawsuit states. UPS had canceled the account in April 2024 and sent "several notices" to both Boone and the university, according to the lawsuit.
Becker learned that the packages "were dumped at an unidentified landfill somewhere in or around Nashville, Tennessee."
Becker is suing for damages and medical expenses caused by the emotional distress of "the destruction of his life's work." He also claims the university was negligent in supervising Boone, and that the defendants should not have shipped the fossils if they knew William Paterson's contract with UPS was canceled.
He is represented by Albert J. Seibert of the Law Offices of Steven A. Varano in Little Falls.
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