AA Learn more about in-home care options for your loved ones

Public Affairs Commissioner announces the new health officer and Italian Heritage/Columbus Day Parade honorees are recognized during the Tuesday, Sept. 5 Nutley Board of Commissioners public meeting.Photo Credit: TAPinto Nutley Staff

By Deborah Ann Tripoldi

NUTLEY, NJ- Public Affairs Commissioner announces the new health officer and Italian Heritage/Columbus Day Parade honorees are recognized during the Tuesday, Sept. 5 Nutley Board of Commissioners public meeting.

Announcements

Mayor/Public Works Commissioner Joseph P. Scarpelli announced the birth of the township attorney Jonathan Bruno’s baby girl, Luciana Donatello.

Sign Up for FREE Nutley Newsletter

Get local news you can trust in your inbox.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Scarpelli announced the township’s annual Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24 at Memorial Park also known as “The Mudhole.”

Public Affairs Commissioner John V. Kelly III introduced the township’s new public health officer, Michele O'Reilly. “For the first time in over two decades Nutley now has a health officer. This is required by statute. We previously contracted with other municipalities to utilize their health officer,” he said.

According to Kelly, O’Reilly has over 13 years experience in public health, and recently served as Bayonne’s health officer in Hudson County. “And with that we have a lot of opportunity to really expand the health programs, the offerings we have in this town and additionally get some additional grant funding. I think in the last couple years that with the COVID[-19] pandemic, it's just more important now than ever that we have our own health officer to really put Nutley first and make sure that Nutley health is really a priority, more so than it has been in the past.

Ordinances

Revenue and Finance Commissioner Thomas J. Evans introduced Ordinance No. 3528 providing for the reconstruction of the roadway on Vreeland Avenue and utilizing $532,772 worth of grant monies received from the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

A public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 3.

A public hearing was held for Ordinance No. 3525 introduced by Public Safety Commissioner Alphonse Petracco on Aug 1. The ordinance amends an ordinance codified in the Code of the township, Chapter 22 titled "Vehicles and Traffic”, particularly Article 2 “Parking on Certain Streets,” Section 14 entitled “Parking Prohibited, Certain Hours.” The ordinance limits the parking time on New Street south side from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The updated ordinance changed “school days” to Monday through Friday. The ordinance was approved.

Ordinance No. 3526 introduced by Scarpelli on behalf of the Commissioners on Aug. 15 was approved. The ordinance fixes the salaries of certain non-union officers and employees of the township effective Jan. 1.

Ordinance No. 3527 introduced by Evans on Aug. 15 was approved. “This is a fully funded ordinance that we won't have to bond for this, it's for additional funding for certain capital improvements for both the township and the school,” he said.

Resolutions

The Board again recognized September as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

The Board of Commissioners recognized the honorees of the Nutley Belleville Italian Heritage Month and Columbus Day Parade with resolutions. The 41st annual parade will be held on Sunday, Oct. 8. This year’s honorees are Grand Marshals — Maria and Vincenzo DiPaolo; Renaissance Awards — Charla Macaluso and Eric J. Lavin; Business Leader— Renee Friscia Cahil; Community Excellence — Matthew Tyahla; Italian Heritage Award — Dennis A. Genuario; Lifetime Achievement Award — Elisabetta Calello; Italian Women of the Year— Linda Monterosa (Nutley) and Frances H. Bacardi (Belleville); and Italian Men of the Year—Daniel A. Carnicella (Nutley) and Peter E. Caggiano (Belleville).

Resolution No. 178-23 was approved to register the annual audit of the townships books, accounts and financial transactions for the year 2022 and will be filed by the registered municipal account with the municipal clerk.

The township entered into a contract with D&L Paving Contractors, Inc.,in Nutley for the Vreeland Avenue Roadway Improvement Project from Franklin to Bloomfield avenues not to exceed $505,856.14.

The BOC approved the refund of overpayments of 2023 tax charges to the owner of 447 Harrison St. for $2,108.18 and the owner of 14 Homer Ave. for $933.80.

Vision Solar, LLC submitted and paid for a solar panel permit at 17 Webster St. for $682. The company is requesting a refund for the municipal permit fee since they did not install the solar panels at the property. The $30 DCA fee and the 20 percent planned fee cannot be refunded. A refund of $515.60 was granted by the Board.

The Board approved refunds of escrow monies for land use applications totaling $3115 for four properties listed in Resolution No. 187-23.

Overpayments of water charges of $111.11 was refunded to the owner of 18 Homer Ave.

Raffle applications were approved for the Rotary Club of Nutley for an on premises Merchandise Raffle on premises 50/50 cash raffle for Nov. 4; Nutley Junior Raider Booster Club for an on premises 50/50. Cash raffles on Dec. 15; and St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church for an on premise 50/50 cash raffle and on premises merchandise raffle and Bingo aon Oct. 13.

The Nutley house that raised a multimillion-dollar cooking and housekeeping empire was sold Wednesday for $587,000, under the listed asking price of $599,000.

Martha Stewart once called it home after her family moved from Jersey City in 1944. Her father, Edward Kostyra, taught the future lifestyle expert how to garden in the large backyard, which features mature peach, apple, pear, fig and plum trees. The house is at 86 Elm Place.

Stewart's mother, popularly known as "Big Martha," showed her daughter the ropes of cooking, baking and canning in the house's colonial-style kitchen. The gray-tone cabinets are still original, built by Stewart's father, according to the sellers.

Claudio Saavedra, the agent for the sale, did not know that the property once housed the business mogul until it went on the market and he was told by his client.

"I didn't know, and when she told me, I was getting a lot of calls and it was all over the news," Saavedra said.

He said the seller did not make many changes to the original house design, including keeping the chandeliers from Stewart's days. Hardwood flooring was put in and an above-ground oil tank was removed, Saavedra said, but many of the 1944 features are still there.

Morris County:Chester home designed by NJ architect with troubled past on sale for $2.3 million

When the seller bought the house, Saavedra said, she found old pictures of the Kostyra family. More photographs and belongings of Stewart's are on display at the Nutley Historical Society.

The 86 Elm Place property lasted on the market for two weeks before it got 20 showings and four offers. Saavedra said his client did not want him to keep negotiating to full price.

The final sale was to a cash buyer who also did not know that Stewart once lived there when she put in an offer. Saavedra said the new owner was excited about residing in the same house as the baking icon.

When the Kostyra family bought the house, it cost just $7,500, or $129,000 in today's dollars. Big Martha sold it in 1987, and it later was listed multiple times, according to Zillow's price history.

Nutley offered many of the suburban features that brought the Kostyra family to New Jersey, such as its proximity to Manhattan, the borough where Stewart would later attend Barnard College. The neighborhood is more populous now but maintains its old charms. Still standing is the Vreeland Homestead, built in the 1700s, where Stewart exhibited flower arrangements and participated in special events.

Yantacaw School educated Stewart for seven years and continues to teach the next generation of entrepreneurs. Her yearbook quote from Nutley High School, which was moved across Franklin Avenue to accommodate expansion, captured the young Stewart's vision of the future.

"I do what I please," she wrote, "and I do it with ease."

NUTLEY, NJ — A real estate project in Nutley has earned a “New Good Neighbor Award” for helping to improve the quality of life in the area, a business advocacy group says.

The New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA) recently announced the 2023 winners of its annual awards, which “shine a light on firms, institutions and nonprofits that have contributed to the economic growth and stabilization of their respective neighborhoods by constructing and improving buildings (and infrastructure) that add value to their communities.”

Full summaries, and the criteria for how winners were selected, can be found in the July issue of New Jersey Business Magazine, found here.

This year’s winners included a project in Nutley, the new headquarters of Eisai Inc. Read More: Peek Inside Eisai's New U.S. Headquarters In Nutley (Photos)

According to the NJBIA:

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

“When pharmaceutical giant Eisai Inc. moved its US headquarters to the ON3 Campus in the Nutley-Clifton area, it brought 800 jobs. At full capacity, the 15-story 332,800-square-foot facility will accommodate 1,300 employees. Eisai sought to create a new space for collaboration and innovation at this important pharmaceutical and R&D landmark (formerly Roche’s headquarters). Eisai US hhceco (human healthcare + ecosystem) Center includes an expansive cafeteria, café bars, huddle spaces, an auditorium, and the hhc innovation center forum to hear from patients, advocacy partners and the community. Eisai’s collaboration and development of new relationships is facilitated with ON3 Campus neighbors, which include Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Seton Hall College of Nursing and School of Health and Medical Sciences, Quest Diagnostics, and Hackensack Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation.”

NJBIA president and CEO Michele Siekerka said the complete list of 15 winners this year have created more than $346 million in capital improvements, more than 2,200 construction jobs and nearly 5,500 permanent jobs for their respective communities.

“Like past New Good Neighbor Award winners, these latest projects improve our quality of life,” Siekerka said. “They revitalize neighborhoods, provide valuable services and resources and bring communities together.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to [email protected]. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Belleville-Nutley Facebook page.

"Every little bit helps."

NUTLEY, NJ — “Every little bit helps.” This was the message from Nutley Township Commissioner Thomas Evans, who recently shared a list of potential tax discounts for local homeowners that are available through state programs.

“Every year, many people take advantage of these programs to help lower their taxes,” Evans said. “We encourage all of our residents to investigate each program to see if they are eligible.”

The following list comes via the Township of Nutley. Learn more about the following programs here.

Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) – This property tax relief program will reimburse you for any property tax increases you experience once you're in the program. You will get the difference between your base year (first year of eligibility) property tax amount and the current year property tax amount, as long as the current year is higher than the base year and you meet all other eligibility requirements (2022 joint income: $99,735 / 2023 joint income: $150,000).

ANCHOR Program (formerly Homestead Benefit Program) – This program provides property tax relief to New Jersey residents who own or rent property in New Jersey as their principal residence and meet certain income limits.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

$250 Property Tax Deduction for Senior Citizens & Disabled Persons – An annual $250 deduction from real property taxes is provided for the dwelling of a qualified senior citizen, disabled person or their surviving spouse. To qualify, you must be age 65 or older, or a permanently and totally disabled individual or the unmarried surviving spouse, age 55 or more, of such person.

$250 Veteran Property Tax Deduction – Honorably discharged veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces may qualify for an annual $250 property tax exemption on their primary residence. An eligible veteran's surviving spouse or domestic partner is also eligible.

100% Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption – If you are an honorably discharged veteran who was 100% permanently and totally disabled during active duty service, you may qualify for an annual property tax exemption on your principal or primary residence (main home). If you are a surviving spouse or civil union/domestic partner of an honorably discharged veteran who was 100% permanently and totally disabled during active duty service, you also may qualify.

Active Military Service Property Tax Deferment – If you are a serviceperson, deployed or mobilized for active service in time of war, you may qualify for a deferment of your property tax bill. You may authorize someone to apply for the deferment on your behalf. Once your deployment/mobilization is over, you have 90 days to pay your deferred property taxes. This deferment does not include any tax payments that were delinquent prior to deployment or mobilization. Interest on late deferral payments will be assessed back to their original due date. Sewer, water, electric and other municipal charges may not be deferred.If there is a mortgage on the property with an escrow account for property tax payments, contact your lender regarding the deferment.

StayNJ Plan – (Coming in January 2026) Will provide tax credits worth half of a senior citizen’s property tax bill, up to $6,500 for incomes up to $500,000.

Send local news tips and correction requests to [email protected]. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Belleville-Nutley Facebook page.