Brush Fires, Boston Bombings Top Month's News

For the first time since the fall of 2012, a full month went by without a drop of snow! Guess that should be expected in April. Along with the warmer temperatures came a bevy of news. Here’s a look back at our month in review

Click on the headline for the full article.

Change of Mind – And Shirt – Saves Family at Marathon

The month was marred by tragedy in the form of a terroristic attack near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15. Three died and some 180 were injured by two different blasts. For Long Valley’s Janice Cazes who ran in the marathon, two fateful decisions may have saved her life–and her family’s–as she was just two blocks shy of the bombings.

Fire Scorches 1.5 Acres at Schooley’s Mountain Park

April is the heart of brush fire season, and Washington Township saw its fair share of blazes. The first weekend of the month saw a wide-spreading brush fire on Naughright Road, and just a few days later, a late night fire took out some acreage at Schooley’s Mountain Park before it was knocked down.

Local Flavor is Fare at Silver Birch Kitchen

For Jessica and Marc Geanoules, creating and serving meals made of locally grown and natural foods has become a way of life. So much so that they’ve opened one of Long Valley’s newest businesses, Silver Birch Kitchen, at the bottom of Schooley’s Mountain.

Detour No More: Middle Valley Bridge Now Open

It took seven months and a 10-mile detour for some motorists, but the Middle Valley Bridge opened its lanes at the beginning of the month to a very welcoming crowd. The bridge had been closed since the start of September, 2012, and was slowed by a cold and wet winter.

Should Washington Township Have a Community Pool?

Our questions of the week were a big hit in April, and this one regarding a community pool was one of the most-read articles over the course of the month. Did you have a say in the matter? Check it out and let us know!