buzzworthy
Clifton
FARMHOUSE WITH POSSIBILITIES
An 18th-centuryhouse preservedin Clifton ’ sWeasel Brook Park is set for a 21st-centuryrebrand . Built as a farmhouse , the historic WESTERVELT- VANDERHOEF HOUSE will soon become the official Passaic County Archaeology Center . The change will bring lectures on surrounding archeological digs and research , hands-on workshops and rotating exhibits to the historic space . The county ’ s archaeological holdings currently contain more than 10,000 artifacts . Some date to pre-Colonial times .
The plans for the house dovetail with archeology programs previously developed by county officials and employed at Dey Mansion and in local schools , says Kelly Ruffel , director of the county ’ s Department of Cultural and Historic Affairs . They also mesh well with ongoing efforts to provide archeological fieldwork opportunities for students in partnership with Montclair State University , she says .
— DAVID M . ZIMMER
Wayne
AHIJAB ON THE BENCH
NADIA KAHF , an attorney from Wayne who was sworn in as a state Superior Court judge on March 21 , brings a wealth of experience and needed representation to the bench . At her law practice in Haledon , she specializes in family law and immigration . She is the former long-time board chairwoman of theNew Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations , she hasbeen thelegal adviser to Wafa House , a nonprofit domestic violence and social services agency based in Clifton , andchairwoman of the Islamic Center of Passaic County . Now , she adds another distinction to her career : She is the first Muslim woman to wear ahijab on the New JerseySuperior Court bench ( two other Muslimwomen , Sharifa Salaamand Kalimah Ahmad , also serve on the Superior Court bench ).“ Nadia walks on the paths of many firsts beforeher ,” says CAIR-NJ executivedirector Selaedin Maksut .“ With her accomplishments and vast experiences , she has set thebar high for otherMuslim women .”
— HANNAN ADELY
Clifton
REC FACILITY RENAMED AFTER LONG-TIME MAYOR
In late March , Clifton thanked formerMayor JamesAnzaldifor his role in acquiringland owned by manufacturer Athenia Steel for useasarecreationareawith playgrounds and athletic fields . Formerly the Athenia Steel Recreation Complex , the location at 1John SamraWay is now knownasANZALDI PARK . First a councilman and then a mayor for 32 years , Anzaldi opted not to seek reelection last year , and was succeeded by current mayor Ray Grabowski . “ If you think aboutit , Mayor Anzaldi was mayor for 30 % of Clifton ’ s history ,” says Grabowski . “ It ’ s nice that he will be here to see ( the renaming ).”
Anzaldi playsdown the honor . “ It ’ s humbling and a point of pride I guess , but because I ’ m so low-key on this kind ofthing , itiskind of embarrassing ,” he says .“ Iowe it all to my familyand friends andto the larger family of the Clifton people .”
Theroad leading to the complex was officially renamed John Samra Way last year . Samra was the sole citypoliceofficer to be killed in the line of duty . He was killed in 2003 while trying to apprehend a suspect who was fleeing from a motor vehicleviolation stop .
— PHILIP DEVENCENTIS
VANDERHOEF-WESTERVELT HOUSE : KEVIN R . WEXLER ; MAYOR RAY GRABOWSKI : COURTESY OF PATRICK MEYERS ; NADIA KAHF : ANNE-MARIE CARUSO
6 MAY 2023 WAYNE MAGAZINE