Category: Westwood NJ

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Trenton’s Controversial New Housing Bill Could Force 1,300+ New Units Into This Quiet NJ Town

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“Dollars for Density”: The Hidden NJ Housing Bill Threatening to Redefine Small-Town Suburbs

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

WESTWOOD, NJ — Local leaders are sounding a massive alarm over a quiet legislative push in Trenton that could fundamentally strip New Jersey municipalities of their zoning rights.

According to Westwood Mayor Ray Arroyo and Council President Lauren Letizia, a series of high-stakes housing bills are weaving through state committees “like stolen cars tailed by the police”—temporarily parking and shifting paths to avoid public backlash before easing back into the voting queue.

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Trenton’s New Power Grab: The Controversial Bill That Could Ruin Local Town Zoning

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The Death of Local Control? The Controversial NJ Bill Stripping Towns of Zoning Power

file photo

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Westwood NJ, A major legislative battle is unfolding in Trenton that could permanently alter the landscape of New Jersey towns. Bill S-1766 is fast-tracking through the Senate, prompting a wave of fierce opposition from local governing bodies and municipal leaders who warn it will strip communities of their right to self-determine their own neighborhoods.

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Westwood Mayor Warns: New Jersey’s New Zoning Laws from Trenton Are an Overdevelopment Nightmare

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Overdevelopment Nightmare Coming to a Town Near You

the staff of the Ridgewood Blog Based on insights from Westwood Mayor Ray Arroyo

Westwood NJ, During a recent Senior Breakfast in Westwood, NJ, one burning question dominated the room: What is the future of development in the Pascack Valley? Local residents are rightfully anxious. Right now, Trenton lawmakers are pushing a trio of aggressive housing and zoning bills—S-1766, S-1786, and S-1836—that threaten to strip local power away from elected Mayors, Councils, and zoning boards. Instead of letting communities decide how they grow, centralized state mandates are attempting to force urban-style densities onto fully developed, small-town New Jersey.

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The Site of New Jersey’s Very Last Kmart Just Sold in Westwood for $28.8M—Here is What’s Next

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End of an Era: Site of New Jersey’s Last Kmart Sold for $28.8 Million

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

WESTWOOD, NJ — A major real estate shift is coming to Bergen County. The Westwood Plaza shopping center, famously known for housing the very last Kmart in the state of New Jersey, has officially been sold in a multimillion-dollar transaction.

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Westwood Regional Approves $78.9M Budget: Healthcare Costs Surge 32%, Cuts 14 Positions

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Westwood Regional School Budget: Tax Hikes and Job Cuts Shake the District

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Westwood NJ, The Westwood Regional School District has officially approved a $78.9 million budget for the 2026-2027 school year, but the financial blueprint comes with a heavy price tag for both taxpayers and staff.

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An Overnight Fire at This Popular Westwood Ice Cream Shop Could Have Been a Disaster

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Close Call at Bruster’s: Westwood Firefighters Prevent Overnight Disaster

photos courtesy of the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Westwood NJ, It was a chilly Saturday for an ice cream run, but the heat was already on at a local favorite. The Westwood Volunteer Fire Department responded to a potentially devastating scene at Bruster’s Real Ice Cream on Broadway this past weekend, proving just how lucky a business can get when fire stays contained.

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31 Units or 300? The Massive Legal Battle That Could Redefine Downtown Westwood

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Westwood Housing War: Developer Sues for 300 Units as Borough Fights to Control Growth

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

WESTWOOD, NJ – A high-stakes legal battle is unfolding in the “Hub of the Pascack Valley.” While Westwood officials have cleared the way for a modest affordable housing expansion, a developer is pushing for nearly ten times that amount, threatening to reshape the borough’s downtown forever.

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Westwood & Washington Township Schools Facing $3M Crisis: Will Your Property Taxes Rise?

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Westwood Regional Schools Face $3M Deficit: Tax Hikes and Staff Cuts Proposed to Save Budget

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Westwood NJ, The Westwood Regional Board of Education is navigating a fiscal storm. At a recent meeting on March 24, 2026, the district introduced a $78.9 million budget designed to plug a massive $3 million hole caused primarily by skyrocketing healthcare costs.

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TikTok Tragedy: Westwood Trans Resident Admits to Killing Aunts After Viral Dancing Video

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From TikTok to Tragedy: Westwood Resident Pleads Guilty in Brutal Double Homicide of Aunts

Alan “Alina” Abad/Evelyn Aguilar-Agustin and Anabelly Aguilar.  — alinaabad4 Tiktok/GoFundMe photos/Spring Valley PD

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Westwood NJ— In a chilling conclusion to a case that shocked the Tri-State area, a 20-year-old Westwood, New Jersey, resident has officially admitted to the brutal double murder of two family members.

Alan Abad (also known as Alina Abad) pleaded guilty on Tuesday, March 24, in Rockland County Court to first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. The plea comes just over a year after the horrific February 2025 attack in Spring Valley that left two women dead inside their own home.

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Westwood Mayor Hosts Stevens Institute to Tackle Regional Flooding

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Flood Relief for Pascack Valley? Mayors and Stevens Institute Fast-Track “Smart” Reservoir Technology

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

WESTWOOD, NJ — A major step toward ending the chronic flooding issues plaguing the Pascack Valley took place this week, as regional leaders gathered to review a high-tech solution that could change how local waterways are managed.

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Own a Piece of History? What You Need to Know About Westwood’s Certificate of Appropriateness

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Planning renovations on a historic property in Westwood, NJ? Here is your essential guide to navigating the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) process

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Westwood NJ, If you are a proud owner of a historically designated home or business in Westwood, you know that living in a piece of local history comes with unique rewards—and a few extra steps when it comes to home improvements.

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Mayor Ray Arroyo Takes a Bat to Westwood’s Newest Attraction: Inside the Smash House

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Smashing Success: Westwood Welcomes “Smash House” for Creative Stress Relief

photos courtesy of Westwood Mayor Ray Arroyo

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Westwood NJ, In an era where “yearning undefined” and cultural tension seem to be at an all-time high, Westwood Mayor Ray Arroyo and the Borough Council recently celebrated the opening of a unique venue designed to handle it all: Smash House.

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Pascack Valley Swim Club Pleads for Relief: $40K Tax Bill Could Shut Down 60 Years of History

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Westwood Icon in Crisis: Pascack Valley Swim Club Battles to Stay Afloat for 2026 Season

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Westwood NJ, A staple of summer life in Westwood, NJ, is facing its “most serious budgetary obstacle ever.” The Pascack Valley Swim Club, which has served the community since 1963, is struggling with a crushing combination of rising property taxes and expensive, state-mandated upgrades.

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From Vaults to Vitello: Historic Westwood Bank Reborn as Rosangelly’s Café

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Dining in a Landmark: Inside the Historic Westwood Bank Turned Artisanal Cafe

photos courtesy of the Rosangelly’s Café Restaurant & BakeHouse

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

The tallest building in downtown Westwood, once the stronghold of local savings and late-night deposits, has traded currency for croissants. The iconic Westwood Trust Building at 1 Westwood Ave. has officially entered its next chapter as the home of Rosangelly’s Café Restaurant & BakeHouse.

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Westwood Police Issue Urgent Warning Over Viral Package Delivery Scam

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New Amazon Package Scam Targets NJ Residents: Don’t Scan That QR Code

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Westwood NJ, A sophisticated nationwide scam has landed in Bergen County, prompting an urgent warning from local law enforcement. If an unexpected package arrives at your door with a mysterious QR code inside, you could be one click away from identity theft.

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