Home Care In Hackettstown, NJ

More cannabis dispensaries have opened across New Jersey, with Nightjar in Bloomfield along with High Street and Hackettstown Dispensary in Hackettstown.

Heady NJ has profiled about 70 dispensaries. The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) says there are 80 adult use cannabs dispensaries operating.

New Jersey medical cannabis dispensaries have converted to adult use cannabis sales as well at a steady pace.

There also now seems to be at least two adult use New Jersey cannabis dispensaries opening every week!

Some have a soft opening to welcome customers without announcing it widely. It allows them to address issues like computer bugs in the system, which are common on the first day of operating a New Jersey cannabis dispensary.

Others like to launch with the bang of a Grand Opening with a ribbon cutting with oversized scissors, local politicians, partners, supporters, and sometimes a non-profit they have pledged to support.

Nightjar Cannabis Dispensary Opens in Bloomfield

Nightjar dispensary held a Grand Opening ribbon-cutting ceremony in Bloomfield in Essex County last Friday.

“We’re so excited to celebrate this day with you all,” Nightjar dispensary CEO Amanda Rositano said at the Grand Opening ceremony. She thanked the team for their help.

“You are the magic that will make this place what it is,” Rositano added.

“Taking cannabis out of the shadows and into its prominent place in our community is what inspired us to open Nightjar,” said Francesca DeRogatis, Chief Operating Officer of Nightjar.

“Not many people get to say they sell weed with their dad. It’s the highlight of my professional life,” she joked.

“Cannabis is medicine for many, a way to unwind, get creative, a tool to make life a little more vibrant, and everything in between,” DeRogatis added.

While the three main founders are three women, she also thanked two men named Dan and Adam, whom she called partners.

Matha Figaro of ButACake, the 1^st exclusively adult use cannabis Black female and underground legacy to legal edibles manufacturer, was on hand to help them celebrate.

“There is no power like girl power,” she declared.

Figaro said Rositano and DeRogatis have been mentors.

“Every time you support Nightjar, just remember that you’re also supporting a small little girl like me and her dream. Congratulations!” she exclaimed to applause.

“You’re an inspiration to all of us,” Rositano told her.

ButACake ginger strips are for sale at Nightjar. Figaro was their ceremonial first customer.

Nightjar was also selling Bango Elyon cannabis flower, a New Jersey-licensed California-based cannabis cultivator, available.

Bloomfield Councilwoman Jenny Mundell explained she met AR while serving on the Planning Board.

“I knew then… that this was the well-organized and professional team, and we needed it in Bloomfield,” she noted. “I am so excited we have this woman-owned business here!”

Bloomfield Center Alliance Executive Director Ollyn Lettman welcomed them to the downtown neighborhood.

“We’re getting to celebrate the opening of a new business. Already you’ve been a wonderful part of this community. You’ve been supporting our events and activities,” he explained.

“This was a long-vacant storefront. Now we have an exciting, vibrant woman-owned business here,” Lettman added.

“This is not an easy business to bring to life,” Rositano noted.

Nightjar dispensary had one of the best ambiance/environments of a New Jersey cannabis dispensary Heady NJ has seen so far. It was colorful with a disco ball, a rug, and many decorations like a jar of hemp flower behind the counter. The others in the running for the best ambiance/environments are also women-owned but smaller as micro dispensaries, Baked By the River and Elevated by CannaBoss Lady.

This has been a three-year labor of love, Rositano told Heady NJ.

Nightjar said in a press release they’re focused on supporting independent, minority women, and veteran-owned businesses.

According to them, “New Jersey’s budding cannabis industry is still largely dominated by “big cannabis” corporations. Nightjar will help diversify cannabis ownership in the state and bring a social equity-driven approach that will translate into increased community investment and the prioritizing diversity of staff and leadership.”

Rositano said they want to work with the new, smaller brands cropping up.

Significantly, they signed the medical cannabis home grow endorsement letter advocating that it no longer be a felony in New Jersey.

“We believe everyone has the right to grow their own plant,” Rositano declared. “It’s a social equity issue. You should be able to grow your own cannabis and have access.”

They call themselves women-owned and independent. However, they are not majority New Jersey-owned.

But DeRogatis is from nearby West Orange and holds a senior leadership position.

Rositano explained she is originally from Upstate New York and went to college in Massachusetts. She worked for the NETA dispensary in Massachusetts, which is where she met her partners.

The same group of women lead a company called Soulstar Cannabis that won a Connecticut cannabis market license. Soulstar Cannabis is also trying to enter the New York market.

The name came from the subtropical nightjar bird. Their partner from Puerto Rico, the majority owner Rosana Diaz, who lives in Colorado, thought of it.

“Sounds like something you would put your cannabis in,” AR joked. “It was time for maybe a little twist on the standard cannabis names out there.”

Interestingly, a smoke shop on the corner called Exotic Snack Smoke sells Delta-8 hemp that gets you high with California legal labels similar to those seen at pop-up New Jersey underground legacy markets.

They are down Bloomfield Avenue from GTI Rise in Bloomfield and Ascend Dispensary in Montclair the other way. However, Ascend Montclair is closing the location of the first-ever New Jersey cannabis dispensary, which they bought and moving it to Morris County.

High Street Dispensary in Hackettstown Opens

The High Street dispensary opened on High Street in Hackettstown recently.

The owner is Craig Cohen, according to a local news radio source.

“We are committed to providing our customers with exceptional products and unparalleled customer service and insights into the benefits and uses of legal cannabis. Join us at High Street Dispensary, where quality, community, and cannabis culture unite,” he told them.

According to a document filed with the Security and Exchange Commission, he is the owner along with Daniel Weinstein. Both live in town.

The NJ-CRC awarded them the annual New Jersey cannabis dispensary license needed to open last September. They approved their name change in December.

There will only be two dispensaries in Hackettstown, which was the local government’s desire. They were among the towns that adopted a pro-cannabis legalization implementation law allowing dispensaries early in the process.

Hackettstown Dispensary Opens

The Hackettstown Dispensary also recently opened in Hackettstown.

The NJ-CRC’s conditional award letter went to Shah Darpan of Hackettstown in 2022. They approved their annual adult use New Jersey cannabis dispensary license last February.

According to Bizapedia, the registered agent is a company in Marlton in South Jersey. Also, Darpan is also the registered agent of a smoke shop.

The two Hackettstown dispensaries have maintained a minimal online presence and secured little fanfare thus far.

Kiara Koeller knew the all-time Hackettstown field hockey scoring record was coming. She'd already broken the single-season goals record. So the career mark was next on her list.

Koeller was already laughing about it with coach Heather Kozimor back in the spring. Kozimor had set the record – 65 goals – back in 2007, before she started teaching and coaching.

And Kozimor had absolutely no regrets when Koeller surpassed her record on Thursday.

Koeller scored off a corner with 5:48 to play in the second quarter against Newton. She also had an assist as Hackettstown and the visiting Braves wound up in a 2-2 overtime draw.

"This is the season. It's time," Kozimor had told Koeller, a Tigers senior forward. "I knew it was coming. She knew it was coming. She works so hard and totally deserves it."

Koeller was just as low key after the milestone as she had been a year earlier, when Molly Gorczyca's single-season record from 2015 tumbled. Koeller now has 66 career goals, including 33 last fall – two more than Gorczyca.

"My mom told me, 'Kiara, you are so close to breaking the season goal record,'" Koeller recalled. "I was like, 'OMG, I had no idea. ... I can do this.' After that, what can my next goal be? That's when I found out about this record."

Field hockey:2023 Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament bracket, schedule, scores

Kiara was already playing soccer and softball when her mom, Colleen Koeller, heard about the Independence rec field hockey program. Colleen Koeller had played field hockey at Eastern University, so there was no question her daughter would at least try the sport.

Tim Koeller was coaching his daughter's soccer team, so he scheduled practice on opposite days.

Kiara transitioned to the Cosmic Storm club program, where Kozimor coaches, in sixth grade, playing up on the under-14 team. She joined the Hackettstown team as a freshman. She also swims and is a multi-eventer on the spring track and field team.

Tigers coach Rachael Gorski praised Koeller's fundamentals and versatility, calling her "one of the most talented forwards I've seen." Koeller is the inserter on Hackettstown's corners, taking the same pride in assists as goals.

"It's fun to watch her play, because I see little pieces of me on the field, still," said Kozimor, an eighth-grade history teacher and field hockey coach at Long Valley Middle School.

"I've been able to teach her some of the skills and some of the habits I had. I love that it's Kiara that's breaking it. It's full circle."

Find out when and where to see Jolly Old St. Nick this holiday season.

Get ready, because Santa Claus is coming to Hackettstown! This holiday season, the man in red is spreading holiday joy all over town. So get those wishlists ready, be on your best behavior (Santa knows if you've been bad or good!) and mark your calendar. Here's when and where you can catch Santa in the Hackettstown area this year!

Please note: Event dates are subject to change or cancellation. We recommend calling ahead to confirm and making reservations when possible.

When: Friday, Dec. 1 and Saturday, Dec. 2Where: Throughout Hackettstown, NJ, 07840What: The spirit of the season comes alive throughout Hackettstown with horse-drawn carriage rides, a holiday bazaar and local business specials. Experience the magic of the Santa Parade, tree lighting and photos with Kris Kringle himself. Enjoy holiday music, Marley's Food Truck and the Historical Society Museum's open house, all while shopping and dining locally. Click here for more info.

When: Saturday, Dec. 9Where: Applebee’s, 225 Mountain Ave., Hackettstown, NJ 07840What: Start your weekend with a holiday Breakfast with Santa at Applebees, with proceeds benefiting Toys for Tots. For just $10, enjoy delicious food, snap a photo with Santa and enjoy plenty of festive fun. Tickets are available for purchase at Applebees of Hackettstown. Click here for more info.

When: Thursday, Dec. 21Where: Louise Childs Library, 21 Stanhope Sparta Rd., Stanhope, NJ 07874What: Down the road in Stanhope, Louise Childs Library is hosting a magical Storytime with Santa! This special event includes story reading, snacks, crafts and a visit from the man in red; remember to bring your camera for photos. Registration is required, with limited attendance. Tickets will be available from Dec. 7 onward; registration is required, as spots are limited. Click here for more info.

Find out what's happening in Hackettstownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When: Now - Sunday, Dec. 24Where: Rockaway Townsquare, 301 Mt Hope Ave., Rockaway, NJ 07866-2130What: Take a short drive to Rockaway Townsquare for photos with Santa! Though walk-ins are welcome, it’s recommended to make a reservation — anyone who does gets a free phone call from Kris Kringle himself. Click here for more info.

Happy holidays, Hackettstown! Wishing you a joyful season filled with warmth and happiness.

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The Hackettstown boys basketball team is on the road again. But this isn't the usual trip to Vernon or even south Jersey.

The Tigers are spending most of the week in Florida for the 11th time, flying down on Tuesday and slated to come home Saturday.

It started with a holiday tournament, and has spun into a less-expensive January trip to play Keswick Christian in St. Petersburg, Fla. − and another opponent arranged by host athletic director Karrmayne King. King, who coaches the Keswick girls basketball team, always asks Hackettstown coach Mike McDonagh to have the guys demonstrate a play for her.

"A month later, I'll get an email with a video clip. 'Ran this in a game, just wanted to show you,'" said McDonagh, who has brought a few plays home himself.

Tonight, Hackettstown will face Canterbury School, also from St. Petersburg, and Keswick on Friday night. Beforehand, McDonagh scheduled dinner at Topgolf, paintball, and a trip to fish off a Clearwater pier.

This isn't Hackettstown's first divergence from the usual schedule this winter.

Hackettstown boys bond on the road

The Tigers lost 67-53 to Millennium Brooklyn, a high school of similar size, on Dec. 16. But that wasn't just a game-and-go. Instead, both the boys and girls teams played a doubleheader – after an overnight stay in a Times Square hotel.

There's always plenty of bonding around the basketball.

"I said, 'This is going to be the strangest phone call you get all day,'" McDonagh told Brian Friedman, the Millennium Brooklyn athletic director. "I'm a basketball coach in New Jersey. I take my kids to Florida every year. I have an itch to take my kids to New York City and do something nice. He said, 'I'll play you.' I hang up, call my athletic director (Bob Grauso), and he chuckles.'"

McDonagh has done a lot of fundraising to defray the cost of the trips. Each family had to pay $200 for the New York City adventure. To go to Florida, the boys have to come up with the cost of the flights. Most of the rest was paid for via a Casino Night fundraiser and anonymous local donors. Even dinner for 50 – both teams' players, parents, coaches, and athletic director Bob Grauso – at Carmine's was covered.

More:Hackettstown fencer voted Morris/Sussex Athlete of the Week

McDonagh brought his own family on both trips. Jessica McDonagh is the principal at Port Colden School in Washington Township. Their daughters, 14-year-old Ani and 10-year-old Brynn, have been adopted by the Hackettstown boys.

It's a young Tigers team this year: eight sophomores, one junior, and two seniors. Senior guard Ryan Due leads the way with 14.9 points per game. Aiden Durna, another senior guard, adds 10.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

"We're scrappy," McDonagh said. "There's nothing flashy about us. These kids just find a way."

Did Hackettstown find a way into this week's Morris/Sussex Top 10 rankings? Read on and find out.

10. North Warren (8-4)

Last week: Unranked

Senior guard Christian Otufale averages 16.3 points, 14.4 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots for North Warren, which has a busy week ahead. The Patriots, a large Group 1 school, will play division games on the road at Group 2 Morris Tech and High Point.

Up next: Thursday at Morris Tech, Saturday vs. South Hunterdon at North Hunterdon, Monday at High Point, Wednesday vs. Kittatinny

9. Sussex Tech (7-2)

Last week: Unranked

The Mustangs are well on their way to qualifying for the NJSIAA Tournament for the first time since 2010. But their success in the NJAC-Colonial could be decided this week, with their second game against division leader High Point.

Up next: Thursday at High Point, Monday vs. Kittatinny, Wednesday at Hopatcong, Thursday vs. American Christian

8. Hackettstown (6-3)

Last week: No. 9

The Tigers escaped the snow, arriving safely in Florida on Tuesday for their annual bonding-through-basketball trip. The NJAC-Freedom could be decided when Hackettstown visits Jefferson on Jan. 24.

Up next: Thursday vs. Canterbury (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Friday vs. Keswick Christian (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Monday vs. Wallkill Valley

More:Vote for the Morris/Sussex Athlete of the Week

7. Morris Hills (8-4)

Last week: No. 8

Senior guard Cyrus Maclay averages 15.8 points and 3.9 rebounds for Morris Hills, which has a four-game winning streak since flipping the calendar to 2024.

Up next: Thursday at Montville, Saturday at Morris Knolls, Tuesday at Stroudsburg (Pa.)

6. High Point (7-3)

Last week: Unranked

Senior guard Brayden Franko (13.3 ppg., 5.2 rpg.) and junior guard Noah Reilly (10.9 ppg., 2.1 rpg.) top the stat sheets for balanced High Point, which leads the NJAC-Colonial. The Wildcats will take on upstart Sussex Tech, who they crushed the first time around, on Thursday.

Up next: Thursday vs. Sussex Tech, Saturday at Whippany Park, Monday vs. North Warren, Wednesday vs. Morris Tech

5. Parsippany Hills (9-4)

Last week: No. 5

The Vikings snapped a streak of three losses in four games with a 68-50 victory against crosstown rival Parsippany on Jan. 13. Four senior guards – Julio Tatis, Simeon Washington, Joey Ciccotelli and Braylon Moore – are guiding Parsippany Hills.

Up next: Thursday vs. Pequannock, Saturday at Vernon, Monday at Hanover Park, Wednesday vs. Kinnelon

4. Mendham (9-3)

Last week: No. 4

Junior guard Kevin King averages 20.1 points per game for the Minutemen, who have won six in a row. They're focused on the NJAC-American this week, with games against Randolph and Sparta, before visiting sister school West Morris.

Up next: Thursday vs. Randolph, Monday at Sparta, Wednesday at West Morris

3. Madison (10-2)

Last week: No. 3

The Dodgers have stepped up and beat larger schools like Chatham, Mendham and Randolph. Both Madison's losses came against Morris Catholic, in the J.P. Flynn Memorial Tournament and a NJAC-Liberty game. They're scheduled to meet for another division contest on Monday.

Up next: Thursday vs. Kinnelon, Saturday vs. Roxbury, Monday at Morris Catholic, Wednesday at Whippany Park

2. Delbarton (10-1)

Last week: No. 2

Senior guard Lincoln Zimmerman's layup with eight seconds left gave Delbarton a 50-49 home win against Oratory on Jan. 13 – the third tight win in the last four games. Zimmerman averages 14.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.7 steals. Junior Patrick Mahoney has stepped up in his first varsity season, chipping in 9.9 points, 6.2 boards and 2.3 assists.

Up next: Thursday vs. Chatham, Saturday at DePaul, Monday at Morristown, Wednesday vs. Randolph

1. Morris Catholic (12-1)

Last week: No. 1

The Crusaders have finally stumbled, losing to St. Joseph of Philadelphia, 88-87, on an overtime buzzer-beater on Monday. Senior forward Michelangelo Oberti, who is closing in on 1,000 career points, surpassed his usual averages with 31 points, 18 rebounds and six blocked shots in that game.

Up next: Saturday vs. St. Augustine at Paul VI, Monday vs. Madison, Wednesday at Hanover Park

Also considered: High Point (7-3), Morris Knolls (6-5), West Morris (7-7).

Mike Arakelian didn't have much time to try and mold the culture of Hackettstown football, but he made the most of it.

With a group of coaches coming together as his assistants, including his father, Greg, a longtime head coach at Somerville, he knew getting everything to gel early on would be a challenge.

But Hackettstown jumped out to a 5-0 start last season, the program's first unbeaten streak of that length in its century-long tradition. The only thing more shocking than the strong start was what it followed: Hackettstown entered last season on a 12-game losing streak dating back to 2020.

"I think it gave us a lot of confidence," Arakelian said of the team's hot start. "We had a good group of seniors and their record was what it was for whatever reason. We just tried to stay positive and that helped to get us where we wanted to go from a culture standpoint."

With a full offseason to work with, Arakelian feels confident that Hackettstown can continue building that culture into his second season at the helm.

Despite losses in the final four weeks of the season, Hackettstown had a lot to be happy about in 2022. The Tigers qualified for the state playoffs for the first time in five years.

"Our players understand what the goal is to be better," Arakelian said. "Both our quarterback and our backup quarterback broke their legs last season and that really made the end of the season difficult for us. But our players got a feel for what it takes. We have been in Group 3 for a long time seeing success in other schools and that's where we want to be."

The tradition

The Tigers have an all-time record of 535-359-37 since the start of the program in 1914. Last season's playoff appearance was the first for the Tigers since reaching a sectional final back in 2017. Their lone championship season came in 1981.

"There were a lot of positives that came out of all that," Arakelian said of the playoff appearance. "We saw a lot of support from the community and the student body. Making that tournament brought some excitement to the school and helps during the offseason trying to get ready to go again."

STATE OF THE PROGRAM:Inside look at every HS football team in North Jersey

The challenge

Many of the impactful players that brought Hackettstown to the postseason last fall were part of the large senior class that has since graduated. Arakelian said he likes the turnout for the new season and position battles are intensifying.

"There are definitely big shoes to fill, but there's a lot of opportunity," Arakelian said. "There are a lot of spots available and right now, we still aren't sure who will fit well. We will assess through camp and scrimmages, but there are spots for returning seniors and juniors and even some sophomores that have opportunities."

The big difficulty for Hackettstown will be a schedule that features five playoff teams from a year ago, as well as Lenape Valley, which won an invitational tournament with three straight victories to end the season.

"Lenape [Valley] had a lot of injuries and if they were healthier, they could have been a playoff team as well," Arakelian said. "It's a tough and competitive schedule and we just want to worry about each week as it comes."

Expectations

Hackettstown's hot start was among the state's biggest surprises last year and helped kick off the Mike Arakelian era in a big way.

The personnel will look different in Year 2, but the learning curve should to be less steep. The Tigers hope to remain competitive and in the playoff conversation in 2023.

"It took some time for players to get used to us as coaches, and time for us to get used to them as well," Arakelian said. "We were able to work through and gain some consistency and continuing that is important for us to move forward as a program."

2023 schedule

Aug. 25: vs. Paramus

Aug. 31: vs. Kittatinny

Sept. 7: at North Warren

Sept. 15: at Lenape Valley

Sept. 22: vs. Whippany Park

Sept. 29: vs. Sussex Tech

Oct. 6: at Newton

Oct. 14: at Wallkill Valley

Oct. 20: vs. Warren Hills