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A Best of NJ list naming the best ice cream shops in the state featured a popular Chester location.

|Updated Fri, Sep 22, 2023 at 2:49 pm ET

CHESTER, NJ — As the temperatures begin to cool, ushering in the fall season, there's no better way to bid farewell to the summer than with an icy, sweet treat.

And, according to a recent ranking, there is no better spot in Chester to get an ice cream cone than Taylor's Ice Cream Parlor.

The website Best of NJ put together a list of the best ice cream shops in New Jersey, and Chester's Taylor's Ice Cream Parlor ranked as one of the top North Jersey spots.

Taylor’s Ice Cream Parlor has been serving the Chester community sweet treats for years and is located at 18 Main Street.

Marisa Casendino, who started working at Taylor's Ice Cream Parlor part-time when she was a student at Roxbury High School, later purchased the establishment from the past owner back in 2017 after she graduated from college with her bachelor’s degree.

"This business means more to me than anything I could imagine. I’m putting my heart and soul into it to make it the best it could be for the town of Chester and surrounding towns. I’m proud, excited, grateful, and appreciative to be a part of Beautiful Historic Chester," Casendino said.

For an old-fashioned ice cream parlor experience, Taylor’s Ice Cream Parlor has a seating area to relax and savor its more than 48 flavors of homemade ice cream, sugar-free ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, vegan varieties and non-fat sorbets.

They also provide soft-serve ice cream, shakes, floats, ice cream sodas, ice cream sandwiches, banana splits, cakes and custom cakes, hot lava cake and their famed "Twisters," which consist of soft-serve ice cream combined with two toppings.

Taylor's Ice Cream Parlor is open Monday through Thursday, 1 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

For more information, visit them in person, on their website or Facebook Page , or call 908-879-5363.

Check out the full list of the "Best Ice Cream Shops in New Jersey" at Best of NJ.

The Mendham Borough elementary school was among about 350 nationwide named by the U.S. Department of Education.

|Updated Wed, Sep 20, 2023 at 4:43 pm ET

MENDHAM, NJ — Hilltop Elementary School was among nine schools in New Jersey and about 350 nationwide named Tuesday as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023 by the U.S. Department of Education.

The education department stated in a news release that schools were given the distinction based on overall academic performance or development in bridging achievement disparities between student groups on examinations.

Hilltop Elementary School, located at 12 Hilltop Road in Mendham Borough, is the only Morris County school to make the list.

"Becoming a member of the 40th cohort of the National Blue Ribbon Schools is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Hilltop Elementary School community. This prestigious award affirms the values and mission of our elementary school, which endeavors to create a community filled with lifelong learners who strive for personal growth and academic excellence and act as responsible citizens who contribute to an ever-changing world," Superintendent of Schools Mitzi N. Morillo said.

This is not the first time this year that the Mendham Borough School District has been noticed by the Department of Education, this spring, two of the top 30 best-scoring schools in New Jersey’s school report cards were in Mendham Borough.

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

"Mountain View Middle School was named the longest-standing New Jersey School to Watch last year, and Hilltop Elementary School has received a New Jersey School of Character redesignation. These are examples of how we balance academic rigor with character development and social-emotional learning, providing the balance children need," Morillo previously told Patch. "It would be naive to think that a ranking could encompass what makes the Mendham Borough schools outstanding. Our work is never done."

The Mendham Borough School District is a public school district that serves roughly 483 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade from Mendham Borough.

Here are the nine Blue Ribbon honorees from New Jersey:

According to the education department, honoree schools share a few traits. Leaders in the school uphold high standards for everyone and communicate their vision of greatness.

The Department added that these schools value and support teachers and staff with professional learning and are efficient and innovative. Students work hard to succeed, and schools use data to guide instruction.

The Department recognizes all schools in one of two categories, based on student scores and graduation rates:

"Being recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School is rewarding and motivating to continue our journey as we build upon excellence. Congratulations to our students, teachers, administrators, parents, and members of the Board of Education; we share this accomplishment with all of you," Morillo said.

The Mendham Township Committee approved the formation of an ad hoc committee, that will review the Mosle Field lighting plan.

|Updated Fri, Sep 22, 2023 at 2:57 pm ET

MENDHAM, NJ — Following numerous meetings and debates between residents and township committee members, the next phase of the Mosle Field lighting plan has been assigned to an official ad hoc committee.

On Sept. 11, the Mendham Township Committee approved a resolution appointing members of the community to an ad hoc committee, whose purpose is to propose a solution to the Township Committee that the residents and the Twin Boro Bears football and cheerleading program are satisfied with.

Up until now, the council and recreation department have been leading the debate on the contentious Mosle Athletic Field project, which calls for the replacement of existing portable diesel-fueled lights with 90-degree downstream lights, as well as the installation of new lights in the Mosle Recreation Area parking lot.

The Twin Boro Bears football and cheerleading program and the Mendham Chester Patriots baseball and softball program, both of which serve over 500 youth athletes, now use the fields.

Despite the fact that the committee approved a resolution to add lights to Mosle Field on May 22, the committee has since made the decision to table the subject until further notice.

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

An environmental impact study was conducted earlier this summer, but numerous people expressed reservations about its trustworthiness after finding that the study was a desktop evaluation, which meant that the team had never stepped foot on the fields.

The council has recently said that they would consider authorizing a more thorough study to further analyze any environmental implications. However, before the study can be finished, a final agreement ordinance and a bond ordinance must be passed.

According to the township, the ad hoc committee will include the Recreation Director (non-voting), an at-large member of the Mendham Township community appointed directly by the Township Committee, two Township Committee members, one Environmental Commission Representative, one Wildlife Committee Representative, two Township residents from the Mosle neighborhood, and two Twin Boro Bears representatives.

The group will have until Nov. 27 to propose a solution to the Township Committee on how to proceed with the project proposal.

According to officials, the Mosle Athletic Field project has been drastically cut back since the first design and currently involves lighting modifications to the football field and parking lot.

The Committee explicitly proposes that six additional 30-foot-tall, downstream, permanent LED light poles be installed around the parking lot to mitigate any safety concerns associated with the parking lot's present low-light or dark circumstances.

Four new 60-foot-tall, downstream-facing, permanent LED light poles will also be constructed around Mosle Field to replace the present portable diesel-powered HID light towers.

The project will not alter the field layouts or configurations, and the department is collaborating with the township engineer to investigate if renewable energy sources, such as solar, may be used.

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With summer coming to an end, here's everything you can do in Morris County this Labor Day Weekend.

|Updated Fri, Sep 1, 2023 at 12:36 pm ET

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Labor Day signifies the unofficial end of summer for many, so it's no surprise that people want to make the most of this long weekend before vacations end and school resumes.

From carnivals to parades, here's everything that is going on in Morris County over this Labor Day weekend.

The Mendham Pastime Club Annual Labor Day Carnival:

The annual carnival is scheduled to return on Sept. 1 at Mendham Borough Park. Running through Labor Day, rides, games, food, prizes and fireworks are all part of the planned fun.

The carnival is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from 6 to 10 p.m. The Mendham Borough parade, which begins at 10 a.m. on Monday, is another important part of the weekend's celebrations.

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

After that, at 11 a.m., the final day of the carnival begins, and it ends abruptly at 10:30 p.m., just after a nightcap of fireworks.

The parade theme this year is Mendham Heroes, and the grand marshals are two local WWII veterans, Pietro "Pete" Cillo and William Fleming. One of the biggest draws of the four-day celebration is the 50/50 raffle, which culminates in a drawing on Labor Day evening.

Tickets are $5, and the prize pool has grown to over $50,000 in recent years. Last year’s winner won $35,515, making him the largest prize winner in the club's history.

This year's entertainment lineup features Carnaby Street Band, a New Jersey-based band that specializes in 60s music showcasing the British Invasion. They will perform at the Borough Park "Andrew Fletcher" Gazebo after the parade at 11 a.m.

Boonton Fire Department Labor Day Weekend Carnival and Parade:

The Boonton Fire Department is hosting its Labor Day Weekend Carnival at Boonton High School, which began on Thursday, Aug. 31 and runs through Sept. 3.

The carnival is open from 6 p.m. to midnight on Thursday and Friday, and from 3 p.m. to midnight on Saturday and Sunday.

Three more days of carnival excitement await with exhilarating rides for people of all ages, loads of great food, carnival games and prizes, live entertainment every night, a Super 50/50 lottery, fireworks and much more.

The parade is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 2. The Boonton Fire Department has had an inspection and parade on Labor Day Weekend for the past 86 years.

The parade will begin in West Boonton and travel along Main Street to Grant Street, Old Boonton Road, and finally to Boonton High School. The procession assembly location will be accessed via Morris Avenue at the intersection with Rockaway Street.

On Sunday, Sept. 3, fireworks will commence at 10 p.m., followed by a 50/50 lottery drawing at 10:30 p.m. A family seating area will be available, so bring your blankets and snuggle up for the show.

The Mendham Laundromat closed its doors last month, leaving many residents wondering what will take its place in the town.

MENDHAM, NJ — Last month, the Mendham Laundromat officially shuttered its doors, leaving some residents to wonder what new establishment would be joining the community.

The Mendham Laundromat, located at 84 East Main Street, shuttered and cleared out in August, much to the chagrin of community members who relied on the laundromat as a primary or secondary source of laundry.

With the Mendham Laundromat closed, the nearest self-service laundromats are now located in Flanders and Bernardsville.

Shortly after the closing was announced, a new sign was erected in the shop window, announcing the opening of a new neighborhood bookstore. According to the sign, Chapter One Books will be occupying the space in the coming months.

"Chapter One is a small, local bookstore. Our goal is to bring a cozy, neighborhood store where readers can browse for books and more," the bookstore's website states.

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The bookstore is owned by Sophia Maoli, who was born and raised in Mendham.

As of Sept. 1, there has been no official announcement of an opening date for Chapter One.

According to the website, the bookstore will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

Residents expressed their enthusiasm for the new venture on social media. "This is Fantastic! Finally, a decent new store," one resident wrote on Facebook. " "Omgosh. This is AMAZING !!! I miss having a bookstore," another one wrote.

Chapter One will mark another new business joining the community, following the recent opening of Dunkin', which opened its doors at the end of August.

The coffee shop, which has been described as a "next-generation Dunkin' restaurant," was first approved for 25 East Main Street in December 2018, following initial public objections to the proposed drive-thru and commercial business.

However, following multiple planning board meetings, the store was constructed to be historically compatible with the borough's standards, which Mendham Borough Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner and other locals felt was very significant to the neighborhood.

The coffee and doughnut shop is open every day from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m.