Verona, New Jersey
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement
Verona is a township in Essex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 14,572,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 1,240 (+9.3%) from the 2010 census count of 13,332,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected a decline of 201 (−1.5%) from the 13,533 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>
History
[edit]Verona and several neighboring towns were all originally one consolidated area known as the Horseneck Tract.
18th century
[edit]In 1702, a group of settlers left Newark and purchased a large tract of land northwest of their home city for the equivalent of a few hundred dollars from the Lenape Native Americans. This piece of land extended west and north to the Passaic River, south to the town center of what would become Livingston, and east to the First Watchung Mountain, and was called Horseneck by the natives because it resembled the neck and head of a horse. What was then known as Horseneck contained most of the present day northern Essex County towns: Verona, along with Caldwell, West Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell, and Roseland are all located entirely in Horseneck, and parts of what are today Livingston, Montclair, and West Orange also were contained in the Horseneck Tract.<ref>Lefkowitz, Melanie. "Verona's Small-Town Roots Prove a Draw", The Wall Street Journal, November 19, 2011. "Verona, once part of a large town known as the Horseneck Tract that encompassed many of the now-adjacent communities, has been settled since the early 18th century."</ref>
After the Revolutionary War, the area of Horseneck was incorporated as "Caldwell Township" in honor of local war hero James Caldwell, a pastor who used pages from his church's bibles as wadding to ignite the ammo in soldiers' cannons and helped to drive the British out of Horseneck.<ref>Caldwell New Jersey Historical Photographs and History, accessed October 15, 2006.</ref>
19th century
[edit]In the 19th century, the area of present-day Verona was part of what was known as Vernon Valley. The name was rejected when residents applied to the United States Postal Service, as the name had already been in use for an area in Sussex County. Verona was chosen as the alternative name for the community.<ref>Verona, History of New Jersey. Accessed November 19, 2011. "By the mid-nineteenth century, this area became known as Vernon Valley. However, when application was made for a United States Post Office, the townspeople were informed that another Vernon Valley, in Sussex County, had first claim to the name. The name Verona was put forth by the townspeople as a suitable replacement and was eventually accepted."</ref> The township's name is derived from Verona, Italy.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 24, 2015.</ref>
At various times between 1798 and 1892, issues arose which caused conflict between the Caldwell and Verona areas. These included a desire of the citizens of Verona to more closely control their own governmental affairs. With the population growing, Verona residents wanted to centrally locate essential services such as schools and places of worship, as well as problems with the water supply; and the disposition of road repair funds.
On February 17, 1892, the citizens of Verona voted to secede from Caldwell Township to form Verona Township.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 194. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref>
20th century
[edit]Further growth and the need for a water system and other public utilities found Verona moving ahead of the other half of the township and in 1902 the two areas decided to separate into two separate municipalities: Verona Township and Verona Borough. It took two sessions of the state legislature to approve the new borough, but on April 18, 1907, the borough of Verona was approved by an act of the New Jersey Legislature, pending the results of a referendum held on April 30, 1907, in which the new borough passed by a 224–77 margin.<ref name=Story/><ref>Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 307. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed October 18, 2015.</ref>
In 1907, residents of the newly formed borough had sought to disassociate themselves from the Overbrook County Insane Asylum and the Newark City Home, a reform school, and from the settlement of Cedar Grove, which was considered a settlement of farmers.<ref>Staff. "Verona Drops Cedar Grove.; Votes Herself Separate Borough at a Special Election.", The New York Times, May 2, 1907. Accessed January 28, 2012.</ref> On April 9, 1908, Verona Township changed its name to Cedar Grove Township.<ref name=Story/>
In 1981, the borough was one of seven Essex County municipalities to pass a referendum to become a township, joining four municipalities that had already made the change, of what would ultimately be more than a dozen Essex County municipalities to reclassify themselves as townships in order take advantage of federal revenue sharing policies that allocated townships a greater share of government aid to municipalities on a per capita basis.<ref>"Chapter VI: Municipal Names and Municipal Classification", p. 73. New Jersey State Commission on County and Municipal Government, 1992. Accessed September 24, 2015.</ref><ref>"Removing Tiering From The Revenue Sharing Formula Would Eliminate Payment Inequities To Local Governments", Government Accountability Office, April 15, 1982. Accessed September 24, 2015. "In 1978, South Orange Village was the first municipality to change its name to the 'township' of South Orange Village effective beginning in entitlement period 10 (October 1978 to September 1979). The Borough of Fairfield in 1978 changed its designation by a majority vote of the electorate and became the 'Township of Fairfield' effective beginning entitlement period 11 (October 1979 to September 1980).... However, the Revenue Sharing Act was not changed and the actions taken by South Orange and Fairfield prompted the Town of Montclair and West Orange to change their designation by referendum in the November 4, 1980, election. The municipalities of Belleville, Verona, Bloomfield, Nutley, Essex Fells, Caldwell, and West Caldwell have since changed their classification from municipality to a township."</ref><ref>Karcher, Alan J. New Jersey's Multiple Municipal Madness, pp. 119-120. Rutgers University Press, 1998. Template:ISBN. Accessed September 24, 2015.</ref>
In 1976, Verona Borough received $213,000 in federal aid while similarly sized Cedar Grove Township received $1.24 million, suggesting financial benefits to structuring communities as townships as opposed to boroughs when possible.<ref>Narvaez, Alfonso A. "New Jersey Journal", The New York Times, December 27, 1981. Accessed September 24, 2015. "Under the Federal system, New Jersey's portion of the revenue sharing funds is disbursed among the 21 counties to create three 'money pools.' One is for county governments, one for 'places' and a third for townships. By making the change, a community can use the 'township advantage' to get away from the category containing areas with low per capita incomes."</ref> Today, Verona uses just "Township of Verona" in most official documents.
Geography
[edit]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 2.82 square miles (7.29 km2), including 2.79 square miles (7.24 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) of water (0.74%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Hillcrest and Verona Lake.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>
The township is bordered by Cedar Grove Township, Essex Fells, Montclair Township, North Caldwell and West Orange Township.<ref>Areas touching Verona, MapIt. Accessed March 9, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities, Essex County, New Jersey Register of Deeds and Mortgages. Accessed March 9, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref> Verona lies between two mountains, the First and Second Watchung Mountains with a small river, the Peckman, flowing at the bottom of the valley towards the Passaic River at Little Falls.<ref>Williams, Robert L. Images of America: Old Verona, p. 7. Arcadia Publishing, 1998. Template:ISBN. Accessed May 1, 2012.</ref>
Climate
[edit]Verona has a humid continental climate (Dfa), with warm/hot humid summers and moderately cold winters. The climate is slightly cooler overall than in New York City, especially at night, because there is no urban heat island effect, as well as higher elevation and a more interior location (greater distance away from the moderating effects of the Atlantic Ocean).
January tends to be the coldest month, with average high temperatures in the upper 30s (Fahrenheit) and lows in the lower 20s. July is the warmest months with high temperatures in the mid 80s and lows in the mid 60s. From April to June and from September to early November, Verona enjoys temperatures from the lower 60s to upper 70s. Rainfall is plentiful, with around Template:Convert a year. Snowfall is common from December to March and nor'easters can bring significant amounts of snow. In January 1996, a weather station in nearby Newark, New Jersey, recorded over Template:Convert of snow from the North American blizzard of 1996.<ref>Historical Weather data, Weather Underground</ref>
Demographics
[edit]2020 census
[edit]| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 11,569 | 11,591 | 86.79% | 79.54% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 239 | 323 | 1.79% | 2.22% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 2 | 11 | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 535 | 696 | 4.01% | 4.78% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 2 | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 27 | 52 | 0.20% | 0.36% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 164 | 466 | 1.23% | 3.20% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 795 | 1,431 | 5.96% | 9.82% |
| Total | 13,332 | 14,572 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2010 census
[edit]The 2010 United States census counted 13,332 people, 5,315 households, and 3,524 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 5,523 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 91.24% (12,164) White, 1.97% (262) Black or African American, 0.03% (4) Native American, 4.03% (537) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 1.11% (148) from other races, and 1.62% (216) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.96% (795) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>
Of the 5,315 households, 30.5% had children under the age of 18; 56.1% were married couples living together; 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 33.7% were non-families. Of all households, 29.7% were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.12.<ref name=Census2010/>
23.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 89.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.0 males.<ref name=Census2010/>
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $93,839 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,753) and the median family income was $126,000 (+/− $9,193). Males had a median income of $71,917 (+/− $9,659) versus $52,433 (+/− $5,765) for females. The per capita income for the township was $47,689 (+/− $3,282). About 1.8% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.7% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Verona township, Essex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 28, 2012.</ref>
2000 census
[edit]As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 13,533 people, 5,585 households, and 3,697 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 5,719 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 92.99% White, 1.53% African American, 0.02% Native American, 3.41% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.71% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.45% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Verona township, Essex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 28, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Verona township, Essex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 6, 2012.</ref>
There were 5,585 households, out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.06.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
In the township the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
The median income for a household in the township was $74,619, and the median income for a family was $97,673. Males had a median income of $60,434 versus $43,196 for females. The per capita income for the township was $41,202, making it the eighth highest community in Essex County and 95th highest in the State of New Jersey. About 1.4% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
Economy
[edit]Annin & Co., the world's oldest and largest flag manufacturer, had its main manufacturing plant in Verona from 1916 to 2013. The building was sold and redeveloped as apartments, which opened to tenants in 2018.<ref>Citrano, Virginia. "Annin Flag Apartments Welcome First Tenants", MyVeronaNJ, November 28, 2018. Accessed November 6, 2019. "The 1968 graduate of Verona High School was back in town on Wednesday night, mingling with the other new tenants who will be moving into the Annin Lofts. The former flag factory has been converted into 52 loft-style apartments."</ref> Annin is the official flag manufacturer to the United Nations, and a major supplier to the United States Government. Annin produced flags that were used on Iwo Jima, at the North and South Poles, atop Mount Everest and the rubble of the World Trade Center.<ref>Our History, Annin & Co. Accessed November 6, 2019.</ref>
Annin's Verona factory also produced 186 stick flags that were carried to the Moon in the Apollo 11 lunar lander and later distributed as mementos of the first Moon landing. Annin does not claim that the flag planted on the Moon was produced by Annin, either in Verona or at a company plant in Bloomfield, although the company's president says that it has been assured by multiple sources that it was. The stars sections of all Annin flags were produced in Verona then. Annin President Carter Beard said that uniforms of the Apollo 11 astronauts were decorated with a silk-screened patch that may have been produced in Verona.<ref>Citrano, Virginia. "Verona, Flags, And The Moon", MyVeronaNJ, July 16, 2019. Accessed November 6, 2019. "One thing that was certain about those moon astronauts: Their uniforms were decorated with a patch silk-screened by Annin. That’s a win for Verona, right? Again, maybe not. There was silk-screening work done on the fourth floor of the Verona building–but also in Bloomfield."</ref>
Parks and recreation
[edit]
- Eagle Rock Reservation, a Template:Convert forest reserve and recreational park. Most of this reservation is in West Orange or in Montclair.<ref>Eagle Rock Reservation, Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. Accessed November 19, 2011.</ref>
- Everett Field, a small baseball and football park dedicated to the family who donated the land to the township.
- Hilltop Reservation, opened in spring 2003, includes the grounds of the former Essex Mountain Sanatorium, is home to many hiking and mountain biking trails.<ref>Hilltop Reservation, Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. Accessed November 19, 2011.</ref>
- Kip's Castle Park, the newest park to the Essex County Park System, features a start-of-the-20th-century castle-style mansion with large carriage house on Template:Convert.<ref>Kip's Castle Park, Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. Accessed November 19, 2011.</ref>
- Verona Park, the fifth-largest in the Essex County Park System, it was designed by the same designer as Central Park in New York City.<ref>Verona Park, Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. Accessed November 19, 2011.</ref>
- Lenape Trail, a trail that runs from the Pulaski Skyway in Newark to the Passaic River in Roseland. The Verona section runs from the West Essex Trail, down and through Verona Park, and up toward Eagle Rock Reservation before entering West Orange.<ref>Lenape Trail, New York – New Jersey Trail Conference. Accessed November 19, 2011.</ref>
- Verona Community Center, built in 1997, provides a gym, game room, ballroom, and conference room for any group or organization. also adjacent are:<ref>Community Center, Township of Verona. Accessed November 6, 2019.</ref>
- Veteran's Field, a grass turf field, provides two softball/baseball fields as well as an athletic field
- Centennial Field, an artificial turf field, opened in 2007.
- Liberty Field, an artificial turf field, opened in 2015.
- Freedom Field, an artificial turf field, opened in 2016.
- Verona Pool, features an Olympic-size swimming pool of various depths, with two water slides and two springboards, as well as a wading pool for younger children; playground, volleyball, basketball, racquetball and shuffleboard courts, in addition to ping-pong tables, full showers and a snackbar<ref>Community Pool, Township of Verona. Accessed November 6, 2019.</ref>
- West Essex Trail, acquired in 1985 through Green Acres funding, is a Template:Convert trail which runs from Arnold Way in Verona to the Passaic County line near the Lenape Trail, on the former right-of-way of the Caldwell Branch of the old Erie Lackawanna Railroad.<ref>West Essex Trail, Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs. Accessed August 20, 2013.</ref>
Government
[edit]
Local government
[edit]Verona operates within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Council-Manager form of New Jersey municipal government. The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the five-member Township Council, who are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis to staggered four-year terms of office, with either two or three seats coming up for election in odd-numbered years as part of the May municipal election. At a reorganization meeting held on July 1 after each election, the council selects a mayor and deputy mayor from among its members.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 169.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 12. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>Government Description, Township of Verona. Accessed May 13, 2022. "The Township of Verona operates under the council-manager form of government. (N.J.S.A. § 40:69A-81, et seq.) The council consists of five members elected by the public. One of the councilors – chosen either by at-large election or by a vote among the councilors – serves as the mayor, who is merely the head of council and has no special privileges such as veto power.... The Township of Verona’s municipal government is non-partisan. Municipal Elections are held the second Tuesday in May in odd-numbered years. The members of council serve for four-year, staggered terms. The next municipal election is May 2021."</ref>
Template:As of, the members of the Verona Township Council are Mayor Christopher Tamburro (term on council and as mayor ends June 30, 2025), Deputy Mayor Jack McEvoy (term on council and as deputy mayor ends 2025), Cynthia Holland (2025), Christine McGrath (2027) and Alex Roman (2027).<ref name=Govt>Township Council, Township of Verona. Accessed January 22, 2025.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Township of Verona. Accessed January 22, 2025.</ref><ref name=EssexDirectory>Essex County Directory, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 22, 2025.</ref><ref name=Essex2023Municipal>May 9, 2023 Municipal Election Unofficial Results, Essex County, New Jersey Clerk, May 18, 2023. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Essex2021Municipal>Municipal Election May 11, 2021 Unofficial Results, Essex County, New Jersey, updated May 11, 2021. Accessed April 19, 2022.</ref>
The day-to-day operations of the township are supervised by Township Manager Kevin O'Sullivan, who has served as chief executive officer since taking office in February 2025.<ref name=Manager/>
Federal, state, and county representation
[edit]Verona is located in the 10th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 40th state legislative district.<ref>Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>
Template:NJ Congress 10 Template:NJ Senate
Template:NJ Essex County Commissioners
Politics
[edit]As of March 2011, there were a total of 9,911 registered voters in Verona, of which 3,194 (32.2%) were registered as Democrats, 2,329 (23.5%) were registered as Republicans and 4,387 (44.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Essex, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 6, 2012.</ref> Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow |}
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 50.3% of the vote (3,662 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 48.9% (3,563 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (61 votes), among the 7,366 ballots cast by the township's 10,396 registered voters (80 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 70.9%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 49.6% of the vote (3,730 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 48.8% (3,664 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (57 votes), among the 7,515 ballots cast by the township's 9,750 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.1%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Essex County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 6, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 51.4% of the vote (3,900 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 47.4% (3,597 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (67 votes), among the 7,587 ballots cast by the township's 9,697 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 78.2.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Essex County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 6, 2012.</ref>
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 59.2% of the vote (2,645 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 39.6% (1,768 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (56 votes), among the 4,527 ballots cast by the township's 10,442 registered voters (58 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.4%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 49.1% of the vote (2,521 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 40.1% (2,062 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 9.4% (482 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (43 votes), among the 5,137 ballots cast by the township's 9,738 registered voters, yielding a 52.8% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Essex County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 6, 2012.</ref>
Current and previous mayors
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Education
[edit]Public schools
[edit]Template:Further The Verona Public Schools is the public school district in Verona, which serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Verona Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Verona Public Schools. Accessed September 2, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Verona School District. Composition: The Verona School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Verona."</ref> The district has six campuses: four neighborhood elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 2,211 students and 182.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Verona Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Verona Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref>) are Brookdale Avenue School<ref>Brookdale Avenue School, Verona Public Schools. Accessed July 13, 2022.</ref> with 131 students in grades K–4, Frederic N. Brown School<ref>Frederic N. Brown School, Verona Public Schools. Accessed July 13, 2022.</ref> with 274 students in grades K–4, Forest Avenue School<ref>Forest Avenue School, Verona Public Schools. Accessed July 13, 2022.</ref> with 213 students in grades K–4, Laning Avenue School<ref>Laning Avenue School, Verona Public Schools. Accessed July 13, 2022.</ref> with 233 students in grades Pre-K–4, Henry B. Whitehorne Middle School<ref>Henry B. Whitehorne Middle School, Verona Public Schools. Accessed July 13, 2022.</ref> with 643 students in grades 5–8, and Verona High School<ref>Verona High School, Verona Public Schools. Accessed July 13, 2022.</ref> with 686 students in grades 9–12.<ref>School Performance Reports for the Verona Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 1, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Verona Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>
The high school mascot is the "Hillbilly". However, this mascot has become controversial as a result of opposition from previous school Superintendent Earl Kim.<ref name=Hillbilly>Starnes, Joe Samuel. "Soapbox; Smile When You Say That", The New York Times, March 19, 2006. Accessed November 6, 2019. "It has been Verona High School's nickname for more than 60 years, and the original Hillbilly mascot, dating back to the 1950s, carried a rifle and a jug of liquor. In recent years his image was softened by replacing the gun and the moonshine with a fishing pole.... In 2004, the Verona school superintendent urged a change of the logo, citing its demeaning connotations, and he refused to pay for golf team shirts with the Hillbilly caricature."</ref> In the face of community support for the traditional name, the mascot was retained.<ref name=Hillbilly/> The original mascot was depicted with a rifle and jug of moonshine. The rifle and jug and have been replaced with a fishing pole and a dog.<ref>Jongsma, Joshua. "Archive: The origins of the Verona Hillbillies mascot", The Record, March 2015, reposted July 23, 2018. Accessed November 6, 2019. "When left without an answer as to why Verona became known as the Hillbillies, local officials turned to Jack Wickham, a noted high school sport historian for the district. Despite his 60-plus years following the high school's athletic programs, Wickham could not say for sure how the mascot came to be. However, he theorized that it could have something to do with Verona's regional placement, as it is located between hills of the Watchung Mountains."</ref>
The district has been recognized on three occasions with the Best Practice Award, honoring specific practices implemented by a district for exemplary and/or innovative strategies. In addition, three schools in the district was named a "Star School" by the New Jersey Department of Education, the highest honor that a New Jersey school can achieve. The school was the 70th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 328 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2012 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 53rd in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.<ref>Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 6, 2012.</ref>
In 2020, Verona High School was the 31st-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 305 schools statewide.<ref name="usnews">Template:Cite web</ref>
Private schools
[edit]Founded in 1924 and located near Verona Park, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School serves students in pre-school through eighth grade, operating under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.<ref>About Us: Our History, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School. Accessed February 19, 2023.</ref><ref>Essex County Catholic Elementary Schools, Roman Catholic Diocese of Newark. Accessed February 19, 2023.</ref> The school was recognized by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program in 2011, one of 305 schools recognized nationwide and one of 14 selected from New Jersey.<ref>Gray, Mollie. "Our Lady of the Lake named 'National Blue Ribbon School'", Verona-Cedar Grove Times, September 22, 2011. Accessed April 23, 2012. "Our Lady of the Lake is one of 14 schools in New Jersey and 305 in the nation to receive the 'National Blue Ribbon' recognition."</ref> The school was honored a second time when it was one of eight private schools recognized in 2017 as an Exemplary High Performing School by the Blue Ribbon Schools Program of the United States Department of Education.<ref>Pries, Allison. 17 "New Jersey schools earn National Blue Ribbon Award", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 29, 2017. Accessed October 18, 2017.</ref>
Academy360 Lower school, a school run by Spectrum360, is a private non-profit school approved by the New Jersey Department of Education, which serves children ages 3–21 who face learning, language and social challenges. Dating back to an orphanage founded in 1883 in Newark, New Jersey, the school moved to Verona in 1999 after remodeling a building that had been donated by Hoffmann-LaRoche. The name of the school was changed from "The Children's Institute" in the fall of 2016.<ref>Spinelli, Megan. "Verona school brings new name to reflect its mission", Verona-Cedar Grove Times, August 21, 2016. Accessed February 25, 2024. "Students at The Children's Institute in Verona can expect to see a change when starting school this fall, but lucky for them, it's only a minor one. The school has rebranded itself as Academy 360 Lower School as part of the Spectrum 360 organization, and with that change also comes a brand new logo. Although the name and logo has changed, the curriculum and programs remain the same."</ref><ref>Academy360 Lower School, Spectrum360. Accessed February 24, 2024. "Located in Verona, NJ, our Lower School campus is home to our pre-school, kindergarten, elementary and middle school students."</ref>
Transportation
[edit]_at_Linden_Avenue_in_Verona_Township,_Essex_County,_New_Jersey.jpg){kind=link}
Roads and highways
[edit]Template:As of, the township had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Essex County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Essex County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>
Within the limits of the township lies Route 23<ref>Route 23 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated June 2017. Accessed November 18, 2022.</ref> and CR 506 which runs directly through the township.<ref>County Route 506 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated June 2012. Accessed November 18, 2022.</ref> CR 577 runs through the southeastern portion of Verona.<ref>County Route 577 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated June 2012. Accessed November 18, 2022.</ref> Other highways near Verona include the Garden State Parkway, Interstate 80 and the New Jersey Turnpike.<ref>Essex County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed February 19, 2023.</ref>
Public transportation
[edit]NJ Transit bus routes 11 and 29 serve the township, providing service to and from Newark.<ref>Essex County Rail/Bus Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed August 21, 2011.</ref><ref>Essex County System Map, NJ Transit. Accessed November 2, 2019.</ref> In September 2012, as part of budget cuts, NJ Transit suspended service to Newark on the 75 line.<ref>Rouse, Karen. "N.J. Transit bus No. 75, running from Passaic County to Newark, will no longer operate", The Record, August 29, 2012. Accessed August 5, 2015. "Starting Saturday, the NJ Transit No. 75 bus — which runs from Butler through Pompton Lakes, Pequannock, Wayne and Little Falls on its way to Newark — will no longer operate as NJ Transit's plan to save $2.5 million in operating costs takes effect."</ref>
DeCamp Bus Lines offers commuter service on their 33 bus route between West Caldwell and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.<ref>Route 33, Deamp Bus Lines. Accessed December 23, 2014.</ref>
Train stations, also run by New Jersey Transit, are located in the neighboring towns of Little Falls and Montclair. Prior to 1966, the Erie Railroad's Caldwell Branch (a part of New York and Greenwood Lake Railway) ran passenger service through Verona from Great Notch. The line was removed in 1979 after a washout four years prior.<ref name="nyt1979">"Old Caldwell Branch at End of the Line", The New York Times, June 10, 1979, p. NJ 25. Accessed October 10, 2009.</ref> On July 14, 2010, the township of Verona announced that it was honoring the old freight shed at the Verona station, the last standing structure of the railroad. The project of naming it a historic landmark in Verona, the first of many proposed by the Verona Landmarks Preservation Commission. Proposals include moving the structure to a more accessible place in Verona or turning the shed into a one-room museum.<ref name="veronarecog">Corbett, Nic. "Verona honors history of forgotten railroad", The Star-Ledger, July 14, 2010. Accessed June 26, 2017.</ref>
In the early 20th century, Verona was serviced by a trolley line which operated on Bloomfield Avenue. The tracks still lie underneath the roadway, and are visible when the roadway is under construction.Template:Citation needed
Verona is Template:Convert from Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark / Elizabeth, and almost twice as far from John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport.
Local media
[edit]Newspaper
[edit]Verona is served by two weekly newspapers: The Verona-Cedar Grove Times<ref>Verona-Cedar Grove Times</ref> and the Verona Observer. The Star-Ledger, the largest newspaper in New Jersey, covers major news stories that occur in Verona.
Internet
[edit]Local news is covered by the Verona-Cedar Grove Times, www.myveronanj.com, www.verona.patch.com, and by the official township website.
Radio
[edit]Verona falls in the New York Market, as well as the Morristown Market.
Television
[edit]Verona Cable television is served by Comcast of New Jersey. However, in 2007, Verizon introduced its Verizon FiOS service to the township. Comcast Channel 35 & Verizon FiOS Channel 24 is Verona Television (VTV) a Government-access television (GATV) channel that runs council meetings, school board meetings and community functions, as well as any other Verona-related Public-access television videos submitted by the residents. VTV is maintained by the Verona Public Library.
Community services
[edit]- The Verona Fire Department is one of the largest fully volunteer fire departments in Essex County, staffed by over 60 firefighters.<ref>About Us Template:Webarchive, Verona Fire Department. Accessed August 21, 2011.</ref> They have two stations, three engines, one ladder truck, one reserve engine, one brush truck, one utility truck, two command vehicles, and a heavy rescue. The department, founded in 1909 shortly after Verona was created, celebrated its 100th year of service in 2009.<ref>History Template:Webarchive, Verona Fire Department. Accessed August 21, 2011.</ref>
- The Verona Rescue Squad (volunteer) has three ambulances, two EMS bikes, one first responder vehicle and one command vehicle in one station on Church Street. Formed in 1927 it is one of the oldest EMS organizations in the state. Boasting over 120 members it is one of the largest volunteer EMS agencies in the area.<ref>Home page, Verona Rescue Squad. Accessed November 19, 2011.</ref>
- The main street in Verona is Bloomfield Avenue, where the Town Hall, Library, Middle School, and many shops, restaurants, and businesses are located.
- During the American Revolutionary War, George Washington and his troops used Eagle Rock Reservation as one of a chain of observation posts to monitor British troop movements.<ref>Emblen, Frank. "New Jersey Guide", The New York Times, July 12, 1987. Accessed April 23, 2012. "The view of New York from the cliff in Eagle Rock Reservation is really spectacular, and it has historical significance: George Washington's hawk-eyed scouts used it to keep the Redcoats in New York from sneaking across the Hudson and surprising the Continental Army."</ref>
- The Essex Mountain Sanatorium opened in 1902 as the Newark City Home for Girls. With tuberculosis spreading through Newark, the site was converted into a sanatorium in 1907, against the wishes of local residents. Its location at the highest point in Essex County was believed to be beneficial and the facility was known for its high recovery rate before it closed in 1977.<ref>History, Essex Mountain Sanatorium. Accessed August 21, 2011.</ref>
Notable people
[edit]Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Verona include:
- Tommy Albelin (born 1964), NHL defenseman for New Jersey Devils and coach of De Paul High School hockey team<ref>"Former Devil coaches son at high school", Verona-Cedar Grove Times, January 18, 2007. p. B1.</ref>
- Kevin Bannon (born 1957), former men's college basketball head coach who was the Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team's head coach from 1997 through 2001<ref>Sullivan, Tara. "Blushing Ex-Rider At Rutgers Last-Choice Bannon Embraces Job", New York Daily News, April 4, 1997. Accessed February 6, 2018. "Kevin Bannon Age: 39 Family: Wife Cindy, son Tommy (4) Hometown: Grew up in Verona, N.J. Lives in Lawrenceville, N.J."</ref>
- Leila T. Bauman, painter<ref>Bauman, Leila T., National Gallery of Art. Accessed June 26, 2017. "Leila T. Bauman came from Verona, New Jersey, a small town south of Newark."</ref>
- John C. Bogle (1929–2019), founder of The Vanguard Group<ref>John Bogle, American National Business Hall of Fame. Accessed October 18, 2015. "John C. 'Jack' Bogle and his twin brother, David, were born on May 8, 1929. The family at that time lived in the fashionable bedroom community of Verona, New Jersey."</ref><ref>Slater, Robert. John Bogle and the Vanguard experiment: One Man's Quest to Transform the Mutual Fund Industry. Chicago: Irwin Professional Pub., 1997. Template:ISBN. Accessed December 23, 2014. "In the early years of their marriage, the Bogles lived a well-to-do existence in a spacious home in Verona, New Jersey, a bedroom community not far from New York City."</ref>
- Bill Bradley (born 1943), Olympic gold medalist at the 1964 Summer Olympics, professional basketball player for the New York Knicks, member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, US Senator from New Jersey, and 2000 Presidential hopeful<ref>Rothstein, Betsy. "Ernestine Bradley finds 'home' amid husband's career", Capital Living, April 5, 2005, backed up by the Internet Archive as of November 13, 2006. Accessed November 6, 2012. "Ernestine Bradley, wife of former Sen. Bill Bradley (D-N.J.), packed her bags for good in January 1997 and left Washington, D.C., for Verona — not Italy but, rather, New Jersey."</ref>
- Lorinda Cherry (1944–2022), computer scientist and programmer who spent much of her career at Bell Labs<ref>"Betrothal Announced; Lorinda Landgraf Planning Marriage to Engineer This Fall.", Verona-Cedar Grove Times, September 19, 1968. Accessed October 13, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Miss Landgraf, a graduate of Verona High School and the University of Delaware, will receive a master's degree from Stevens Institute of Technology in January."</ref>
- Marion Crecco (1930–2015), member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1986 to 2002<ref>Pizarro, Max. "Former Assemblywoman Marion Crecco has Died", PolitickerNJ, December 1, 2015. Accessed December 2, 2015. "On Saturday, November 28, surrounded by her adoring family, Marion Crecco, a longtime resident of Bloomfield and in recent years Verona, died."</ref>
- Jay Curtis (1950–2018), author, producer, writer, director and actor, who co-directed 75-0: The Documentary, about a 1966 loss in a game of football by a score of 75–0 to Madison High School, part of a 32-game losing streak<ref>Garcia, Julian. "Losing now an art at Verona High School", New York Daily News, February 15, 2014. Accessed January 7, 2018. "What would you do if your high school football team lost 32 straight games, including one by the score of 75-0?... Well that's what two members of the Verona (N.J.) High School Class of '68 have done, and they'll be screening it at the Yogi Berra Museum in Little Falls, N.J., on Feb. 26 so everyone can feel their pain. Lou Cortese and Jay Curtis, who both went on to work in video and film production after graduating from Verona nearly 46 years ago, have produced a film called 75-0: The Documentary, which focuses on their team's humiliating loss to powerhouse Madison HS on Oct. 5, 1966, as well as the 31 other losses that came during that streak, most of which were lopsided."</ref>
- Peter David (born 1956), science fiction and fantasy author who has used Verona as location in his fiction, such as location of villain Morgan le Fay in his first novel, Knight Life<ref name=Keith>David, Peter. But I Digress Collection; 1994; Krause Publications; Pages 206-208</ref><ref>David, Peter. "Peter David, Agent 008", peterdavid.net, September 11, 2012. Originally published in "But I Digress...", Comics Buyer's Guide #1257, December 19, 1997.</ref>
- Dan DePalma (born 1989), wide receiver who has played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League<ref>Jongsma, Joshua. "Verona native Dan DePalma signs with San Diego Chargers", Verona-Cedar Grove Times, April 15, 2013. Accessed December 23, 2014. "The AFC West of the National Football League became the new home to another Verona native, as wide receiver Dan DePalma signed a two-year contract with the San Diego Chargers."</ref>
- Mary Dunleavy (born 1966), operatic soprano<ref>Shengold, David. "Focused on Her Game; OCP favorite Mary Dunleavy tackles a new Mozart role." Template:Webarchive, Philadelphia City Paper, May 4–10, 2006. Accessed December 11, 2013. "'Philadelphia feels like my second home,' smiles Mary Dunleavy over lunch in Bella Vista. The attractive, engaging soprano is a Jersey girl: She grew up in Montvale and now (aptly enough for one who has both Bellini's and Gounod's versions of Romeo and Juliet in her repertory) lives with her husband, Hal, in Verona."</ref>
- Anthony Fasano (born 1984), tight end for Tennessee Titans<ref>Anthony Fasano profile, National Football League Players Association. Accessed July 24, 2007. "Hometown: Verona, N.J.... Anthony Joseph Fasano was a four-year letterman and two-year captain at Verona, N.J., High School as a tight end and defensive lineman. He helped led the team to the New Jersey state title among Group 1 schools and threw the game-winning PAT pass in the 2001 title game."</ref>
- David Festa (born 2000), professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins<ref>"Twins select contract of David Festa", Major League Baseball, June 27, 2024. Accessed June 29, 2024. "The Verona, NJ native was selected by Minnesota in the 13th round of the 2021 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft out of Seton Hall University, where he pitched from 2019-21."</ref>
- Geirry Garccia (1952–2010), animator, painter and filmmaker recognized as a "brainchild" of Filipino animation<ref>Visata, Momar G. "Filipino animator Geirry Garcia succumbs to heart ailment", Template:Webarchive, Asian Journal, February 18, 2010. Accessed December 13, 2024. "Legendary Filipino animator Geirry Garcia passed away Friday, Feb. 12 in his home in Verona, New Jersey due to a lingering heart ailment. He was 58."</ref>
- Jed Graef (born 1942), swimmer, gold medalist in 200m backstroke at 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo<ref>Leitch, Jonathan. "No. 13: Jed Graef '64" Template:Webarchive, The Daily Princetonian, November 27, 2006. Accessed December 23, 2014. "Born and raised in nearby Verona, N.J., Graef spent his childhood summers in the waters of Lake Mohawk and joined the Montclair YMCA swim team at age 10."</ref>
- Barbara J. Griffiths (born 1949), diplomat who was the United States Ambassador to Iceland from 1999 to 2002<ref>"Twenty-Seven Area Residents Get Degrees at M.S.C.", Verona-Cedar Grove Times, June 10, 1971. Accessed March 6, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Verona residents receiving B.A. degrees were:... Miss Barbara Griffiths of 116 Grove Ave.... Miss Griffiths, a Verona High graduate, majored in economics and plans to attend graduate school.... She is the daughter of Mrs. Gloria Griffiths and the late Arthur Griffiths."</ref>
- Fred Hill Jr. (born 1959), coached Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team<ref>Fred Hill profile, Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 2, 2010. Accessed October 18, 2015. "A 'throwback, old-school coach,' Fred Hill is in his fourth season directing Rutgers' men's basketball program. The Verona native enters 2009-10 with 28 seasons of Division I coaching experience and eight Big East postseason appearances on his resume."</ref>
- Fred Hill Sr. (1934–2019), former head coach of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights baseball team<ref>D'Allesandro, Dave. "Rutgers baseball coach Fred Hill steps down after 30 seasons", The Star-Ledger, February 20, 2014. Accessed October 18, 2015. "Rutgers baseball coach Fred Hill, an illustrious thread running through the fabric of New Jersey college sports history for nearly four decades, announced his retirement Thursday morning, the university announced in a press statement. The longtime Verona resident, who had dealt with health issues during the 2013 season, will be replaced by Joe Litterio, who was elevated to associate head coach last year after taking over during Hill's leave of absence."</ref>
- Philip E. Hoffman (1908–1993), lawyer who served as national president of the American Jewish Committee and as American Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council<ref>Pace, Eric. "P. E. Hoffman, 84, Lawyer Who Held Post on U.N. Panel", The New York Times, June 7, 1993. Accessed August 26, 2020. "Philip E. Hoffman, a lawyer who was a former United States Representative to the United Nations Human Rights Commission and a former national president of the American Jewish Committee, died yesterday in a nursing home in Livingston, N.J. He was 84 and lived in Verona, N.J."</ref>
- Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, spent childhood in Verona<ref>"Environmentalist Fred Krupp Helps Crush the Ubiquitous Fast-Food Clamshell", People, Vol. 35, No. 14 (April 15, 1991). Accessed December 23, 2014. "Krupp, 37, learned that lesson as a boy in Verona, N.J."</ref>
- Archie Lochhead (1892–1971), first director of the Exchange Stabilization Fund and president of the Universal Trading Corporation<ref>Staff. "Archie Lochhead Is Dead at 78; Banker Led Stabilization Fund", The New York Times, January 16, 1971. Accessed May 13, 2022. "Verona, N.J., Jan. 15 - Archie Lochhead, a retired banker who headed the Treasury's $2-billion Stabilization Fund from its inception in 1934 to 1939, died today at his home in the Claridge Apartments."</ref>
- John MacLean (born 1964), player and assistant coach for NHL's New Jersey Devils<ref>Kensik, Edward. "Verona resident named New Jersey Devils coach", Verona-Cedar Grove Times, July 8, 2010. Accessed December 23, 2014. "While MacLean is a rookie head coach in the NHL, he is not a rookie to Verona. MacLean seemed in amazement when asked how long he has lived in Verona. MacLean has lived in the township since 1991 and is one of the rare ones in professional sports to stay in one area for a long period of time."</ref>
- Phyllis Mangina (born 1959), college basketball coach who is currently an assistant women's basketball coach at Saint Peter's<ref>Caldwell, Dave. "A Force in Seton Hall Sports, on and Off Court", The New York Times, February 25, 2007. Accessed June 30, 2018. "With the exception of one year when she was an assistant coach at Wagner College, Ms. Mangina, 48, has spent her whole life in Essex County and more than half of it at Seton Hall, a 9,700-student Roman Catholic university. She lives in Verona."</ref>
- Elmer Matthews (1927–2015), lawyer and politician who served three terms in the New Jersey General Assembly<ref>Staff. "Elmer M. Matthews, veteran, lawyer and former N.J. legislator, dies", Palm Beach Daily News, February 7, 2015. Accessed November 23, 2015. "Elmer M. Matthews of Palm Beach and Sea Girt, N.J., died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, after a brief illness. He was 87. Born in Orange, N.J., Mr. Matthews lived in South Orange, Verona, Bernardsville and Sea Girt, N.J., before moving to Palm Beach."</ref>
- Nicole McLaughlin, artist and designer, best known for upcycled fashion pieces<ref>Berry, Natalie. "Nicole McLaughlin’s Designs Are No Joke", The New York Times, Jume 9, 2022. Accessed November 21, 2024. "Ms. McLaughlin was raised in Verona, N.J., in an outdoorsy and creative family."</ref>
- Jay Mohr (born 1970), actor, comedian and radio personality<ref>Staff. "Verona native Jay Mohr in Clint Eastwood movie", Verona-Cedar Grove Times, November 25, 2010. Accessed August 21, 2011.</ref><ref>Biography of Jay Mohr from Moviefone. Accessed December 25, 2006.</ref>
- Jon Okafor (born 1989), professional soccer midfielder<ref>Americans Playing Abroad Template:Webarchive, Soccer Times, as of September 15, 2013. Accessed November 1, 2013. "Jonathan Okafor - midfielder - MYPA - Verona, N.J."</ref>
- Eugénie Olson, novelist and editor<ref>Pregnancy Haiku: Three Short Lines for Your Nine Long Months, Goodreads. Accessed April 23, 2012. "Eugénie Seifer Olson is an American-born author of three books. Raised in Verona, New Jersey, Eugénie has lived in several locations on the Eastern Seaboard including Princeton, Philadelphia and Boston."</ref>
- Henry Orenstein (1923–2021), professional poker player, helped push Hasbro to produce Transformers<ref>World Series of Poker 1996, accessed April 16, 2007. "Henry Orenstein, a 72-year-old toy inventor, former chess player, and concentration camp survivor from Verona, New Jersey, defeated 64 opponents last night to win the 20th event of the 27th annual World Series of Poker at Binion's Horseshoe Hotel and Casino."</ref>
- Kal Parekh, film and television actor who played the role of Sanjeev, an Indian-American flight engineer in the ABC television series, Pan Am, set in the 1960s<ref>Nguyen, Stacy. "Kal Parekh to fly to superstardom with new Pan Am role?", Northwest Asian Weekly, October 13, 2011. Accessed December 23, 2014. "Parekh attended Verona High School. He said at that point, he was shy — an introvert."</ref>
- Kenneth Posner, lighting designer for such Broadway shows as Wicked, Legally Blonde, The Pirate Queen, and The Coast of Utopia, the latter of which won him a Tony award<ref>Kenneth Posner Template:Webarchive, Playbill. Accessed January 11, 2008. "He resides in Verona, New Jersey, with his wife Michelle and their three children."</ref>
- Brian Rafalski (born 1973), hockey player, New Jersey Devils defenseman<ref>Staff. "U.S. Team athletes for 2002 Winter Games", Deseret Morning News, January 30, 2002. Accessed October 18, 2015.</ref>
- Saul Robbins (1922–2010), toy manufacturer, co-founder of Remco<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- John Roosma (1900–1983), captain of Ernest Blood's "Wonder Teams" who became first college player to total 1,000 points for his career while at United States Military Academy<ref>"Col. John Roosma Dead at 83; Basketball Star at West Point", The New York Times, November 14, 1983. Accessed January 28, 2012. "Col. John S. Roosma, a retired Army commander on Governors Island and a member of the National Basketball Hall of Fame, died yesterday at his home in Verona, N.J. He was 83 years old."</ref>
- Joel Rosenblatt, musician best known as the longtime drummer for the jazz-fusion band Spyro Gyra<ref>Joel Rosenblatt, Applied Music Technology. Accessed February 17, 2021. "When in junior high school in Verona, NJ, I met my excellent band director Harry Owens. His native instrument was drums and I started taking private lessons with him at age fourteen."</ref>
- David M. Satz Jr. (1926–2009), lawyer who served as U.S. Attorney for District of New Jersey from 1961 to 1969<ref>Staff. "Noted NJ attorney David Satz Jr. dies at 83", WTVD, December 27, 2009. Accessed August 21, 2011. "David M. Satz Jr., a longtime U.S. Attorney for New Jersey who later became a pioneer in the field of casino gaming law, has died. A longtime South Orange resident, Satz died of cancer Friday at his home in Verona, just weeks before his 84th birthday, his family said."</ref>
- Brenda Shaughnessy (born 1970), poet<ref name=BestPoetry2016/>
- Donald J. Strait (1918–2015), flying ace in the 356th Fighter Group during World War II and a career officer in the United States Air Force<ref>Sherman, Stephen. "Captain Donald J. Strait 356th Fighter Group Ace", Acepilots.com, December 1999, updated June 29, 2011. Accessed September 6, 2021. "He was born on April 28, 1918 and grew up in Verona, New Jersey."</ref>
- Craig Morgan Teicher (born 1979), author, poet and literary critic whose poetry collection, The Trembling Answers, won the Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize in 2018<ref name=BestPoetry2016>Lehman, David; and Hirsch, Edward. Best American Poetry 2016, p. 190. Simon and Schuster, 2016. Template:ISBN. Accessed January 19, 2020. "Brenda Shaughnessy was born in Okinawa, Japan, in 1970, and is currently associate professor of English at Rutgers University-Newark.... She lives with her husband, the poet Craig Morgan Teicher, and their two children in Verona, New Jersey."</ref>
- Rod Trafford (born 1978), former NFL tight end who played for the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots<ref>Rod Trafford, South Carolina Gamecocks football. Accessed December 23, 2014.</ref>
- Bruce Wands (1949–2022), educator, author, artist, and musician, with a specific interest in digital art<ref>Bruce E. Wands, Prout Funeral Home. Accessed July 9, 2023. "Bruce Wands, 72, of Verona, New Jersey, passed away on July 6, 2022. Born October 22, 1949 in Montclair, NJ he was the youngest of three children."</ref>
- Chris Wylde (born 1976), actor and comedian<ref>Strauss, Robert. "In Person; Hide Those Children. A Jersey Guy's on TV.", The New York Times, July 22, 2001. Accessed January 28, 2012. "On Aug. 5 at 11:30 p.m., The Chris Wylde Show Starring Chris Wylde, a 24-year-old who grew up as Chris Noll in Belvedere, Verona and Allendale, will premiere as the first late-night show on the cable network Comedy Central."</ref>
In popular culture
[edit]- The HBO crime drama The Sopranos was set in the area, and the storyline often included scenes filmed in Verona. Livia Soprano's house is in Verona in the series pilot, and a Verona Rescue Squad ambulance is seen when she dies in the episode "Proshai, Livushka".<ref>Parrillo, Rosemary. The Locations, The Star-Ledger, March 4, 2001. Accessed July 21, 2013.</ref> In the episode "Cold Cuts", it's established that Bobby Baccalieri and Janice Soprano live in Verona.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- The 1987 horror movie Doom Asylum was filmed at the now demolished Essex Mountain Sanatorium.<ref>Kennedy, Richard A. Essex Mountain Sanatorium, p. 116. Arcadia Publishing, 2013. Template:ISBN. Accessed December 23, 2014. "In 1987, the low-budget horror movie Doom Asylum was filmed at the abandoned sanatorium complex."</ref>
- Pizza My Heart, an ABC Family movie, is a contemporary retelling of Romeo and Juliet, that is set in Verona (New Jersey, not Italy). Although the storyline is set in Verona, it was actually filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana.<ref>Official site for the ABC Family original movie Template:Webarchive Pizza My Heart, ABC Family. Accessed December 28, 2006.</ref>
- The original, unaired pilot of the television show Strangers With Candy, "Retardation: A Celebration", was filmed at Verona High School. The VHS signboard is also used in almost every episode thereafter to display various witticisms, although the name has been changed to that of the school in the show, Flatpoint High School.
- Pearl, the hairdresser in "The Saturdays" by Elizabeth Enright (1941), says she ran away from her abusive stepmother in Verona and went to New York City with her brother Perry.
- Filming for scenes in the upcoming Adam Sandler movie Happy Gilmore 2 took place at Verona Town Hall.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
References
[edit]External links
[edit]- Official Website of the Township of Verona
- Verona Public Schools
- Template:NJReportCard
- School Data for the Verona Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
- Verona Fire Department
- Verona Rescue Squad
- Verona Illustrated History
- Verona-Cedar Grove Times (Local Newspaper)
- Verona Observer (Local Newspaper)
- Verona Codes & Ordinances
Template:Geographic Location Template:Essex County, New Jersey Template:Authority control