Juno, 8, samples the garden haul before school on Aug. 27. ( Becca Tucker) Eat Local September kickoff: an invitation to challenge yourself For five of the past six years, my family has lived nearly exclusively on food grown, raised, caught or foraged within a... Home 30 Aug 2024 | 10:05
Jessica, 32, harvesting onions in the Black Dirt Region of New York. (Photo by Jose Lima) As mercury rises, workers may see first workplace heat standards Last August, Charles Ellis, a 63-year-old construction worker with a heart condition, was using a hammer to unclog corrugated... Local News 19 Jul 2024 | 06:58
A new citizen waves the American flag before saying the oath of allegiance. Newly minted citizens tell their stories Born elsewhere, these folks have lived in the United States, in some cases, for decades. To become full-fledged American citizens,... Local News 04 Jul 2024 | 10:22
‘Too stressful’: why some students are saying no thanks to standardized tests As students across the tristate region sharpened pencils - or, increasingly, fired up computers - in preparation for multiple... Local News 02 May 2024 | 11:23
The Northeast, which relies heavily on heating oil, will bear the brunt of higher heating-oil bills this year. Meanwhile, most of the nation is expected to pay less for heat than last year. ( Becca Tucker) Shelling out for heat As winter trudges on, families are struggling to keep warm without breaking the bank. “I got my bill from O&R and it’s $429!... Local News 06 Feb 2024 | 02:54
Mabel Roy (left) and Linda Gallup marching in New Jersey protesting the separation of immigrant children from their parents. “Can’t do the walking that much anymore like I was,” Roy said. “So I go the postcard route or letter to the editor route.” Surprise! You wrote a letter to the newspaper Between Jan. 2 and Jan. 5, Straus News received nine very similar letters to the editor, warning against the dangers of a... Local News 22 Jan 2024 | 01:56
Newton resident Kathy Messina’s head-scratcher: rigid plastic can carriers. Is that recyclable? Plastic can carriers Can the plastic carrier that comes on top of canned items, such a four pack of craft beer, be recycled? Defer to the saying,... Local News 08 Jan 2024 | 02:22
Reader Elizabeth Doherty asks whether plastic bottle caps are recyclable. (Photo provided) Is that recyclable? Plastic bottle caps “No, they are generally not recyclable in curbside recycling programs. However, it is OK if they are left on the bottle as... Newsletter Evergreen 08 Jan 2024 | 02:20
Lisa Thompson of West Milford wants to know if soil and mulch bags go with the other plastic film back to the store? ( Photo provided) Is that recyclable? Mulch and dirt bags No they don’t, says Ermin Siljkovic, Orange County recycling coordinator. “The plastic film must be clean,” he said. Mulch... Local News 08 Jan 2024 | 02:15
When in doubt, give a shout: Christmas tree netting? If you’re not sure whether something goes in the blue bin, snap a pic of yourself with the questionable item (yes, we want... 02 Dec 2023 | 07:17
West Milford Messenger wins awards in national newspaper contest The West Milford Messenger and its eight sister publications published by Straus News won 15 awards in the National Newspaper... Local News 29 Sep 2023 | 09:10
On International Overdose Awareness Day, the town square in Newton was the site of a candlelight vigil and public walk-through remembrance display of memories of lives lost to overdose. (Photo by Ryan T.) Overdose deaths tail off as addiction rages on As fentanyl continues to cut its deadly swath through American communities, a declining number of deaths by overdose represents... Local News 17 Jan 2023 | 02:52
Front: Harley (L) and Bugsy (R) being pet by Blake. Back: Hope (L), andRambo (R) being pet by Keira. Harley and Rambo are the newest additions. ( Tiffany O'Keefe) Quarantine dogs The Harrison-O’Keefe family had two big dogs and wasn’t looking for more. But when Christopher Harrison and Tiffany O’Keefe... Local News 28 Apr 2020 | 10:09
