The Personal Injury Attorney in Paramus, NJ, You Can Trust

Evan Borrelli still keeps the phrase “Paramus Strong” in mind.

Borrelli is one of a half-dozen seniors who have helped the Paramus baseball team rebound from a midseason seven-game losing streak to reach the North 1, Group 3 sectional quarterfinals.

The Spartans’ Class of 2025 was in fifth grade seven years ago when classmates from East Brook Middle School were involved in the May 17, 2018 bus crash on Route 80.

When the anniversary came around this May, Paramus High School held a Day of Service in honor of those affected by the accident, which claimed the life of one student and one teacher.

“Definitely, that’s something that’s affected our whole town,” Borrelli said. “East Brook and our other middle school, West Brook, were both completely shattered when it happened. But I think Paramus is a very resilient town … and [with] our senior class graduating, it means a little more to us, in a sense.”

“They had some friends who were on the bus that were actually there [for the Day of Service], and they got to be there for them,” Spartans coach Doug Aday said of his seniors. “We don’t practice on that day. That is their day. A lot of coaches are like, ‘Middle of season?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s more important.’”

Though #ParamusStrong no longer trends on social media, it remains an unspoken bond among players.

“Just carrying that slogan is something that we take a lot of pride in,” Borrelli said after his team’s May 27 upset of Fort Lee in its sectional opener. “We’re just trying to do this for our town, really. It’s something that means a lot to us.”

The Spartans will face Wayne Hills on May 29 in the quarterfinals, weather permitting.

Senior pitcher Chris Matesic clearly seemed to be playing with inspiration during the season’s stretch run. Paramus dropped his first five starts – only a winning relief appearance kept his personal record from being 0-5 – but won the next three.

“It was frustrating for him,” Aday said of the slow start, “and he fought through it. That’s why he’s a captain, and we’re here because of him.”

The Spartans sat at 4-11 following their seven-game slide in April. They wound up as the No. 12 seed in North 1, Group 3 in part because of a brutal Big North Freedom Division schedule.

“A much as I hate it when we’re in league play, we are better for it,” Aday said. “They appreciate it. They kind of like being the the underdog in the league.”

The win at No. 5 seed Fort Lee was Paramus’ sixth in nine games, as well as Matesic’s second straight complete-game victory. He fanned 14 Bridgemen after striking out 13 Memorial (West New York) batters to end the regular season.

And while the 94 strikeouts in his first 56⅓ innings pitched are nice, Matesic (4-5) will remember his senior season as much for a resilient run as for the Day of Service – which this year was a two-day event on May 16-17.

“We did a bunch of different activities around the school,” Matesic recalled. “Some people were helping cook pasta, some people were helping make German food, I led some disc golf.

“Everyone has come together ever since that [crash] happened. It was a very sad moment, but I think all of Paramus realized, ‘Wow, this is a time we really have to come together, help each other out.’ And that’s what everyone did, no questions asked.”

Regardless of where the postseason takes the Spartans, they will be playing with purpose.

“Every year, we’re always Paramus strong – on the field, off the field,” Borrelli said. “In general, Paramus is a town that’s just always going to fight. … We’re a team that’s never going to say die, and we’re always going to give you all we’ve got.”

Bahama Breeze abruptly shut down 15 restaurants this week, including several in New Jersey.

Darden Restaurants confirmed the closures to USA TODAY after recent reports of closing restaurants emerged across the U.S. A sign posted on the doors of the Woodbridge Center Mall location informed customers of its permanent closure on May 15, according to a post on Reddit.

The casual chain that offers Caribbean-style fare in an island-like atmosphere has encouraged customers to visit nearby Darden-owned restaurants Olive Garden or LongHorn Steakhouse, adding the signature: "We appreciate your business."

Here's what you need to know in New Jersey.

Here are the Bahama Breeze NJ locations that closed

Four locations in New Jersey closed in recent days, confirmed by USA TODAY. The Garden State had the second-most locations shutter, with Florida hit the hardest with five. Here's the locations that abruptly closed:

These are the Bahama Breeze locations open in NJ

There only remains one Bahama Breeze location in New Jersey: Cherry Hill Mall, 2000 Route 38.

Why did Bahama Breeze close?

Darden Restaurants spokesperson noted that they "continually evaluate the performance of restaurants," and believed the closures were the right decision to allow the chain to "focus on its highest performing restaurants and strengthen the brand's overall performance."

Other Bahama Breeze restaurants closed

Eleven other Bahama Breeze restaurants closed in the U.S. Florida closed five, and one each closed in the following states: Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, and Tennessee.

Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.

THE OG OF BERGEN COUNTY FOOD TRUCK FESTIVALS IS BACK!!

Paramus Food Truck Festival - Sunday, April 27

Come Kick Off Food Truck Festival Season With Us! Don't Miss It! Only place to be for the best selection, from the best trucks!So many scrumptious creations from 24 gourmet food trucks, we got you covered.

***Exciting Feature*** Zip Lining

Participating Trucks:1950 Originals • Angry Archie's • The Brownie Bar • Chick Wings & Things • Chow Wow • Cold Stone • Cubita Truck • Dags Dippers • El Lechon De Negron • Empanada Mania • Hold My Knots • Johnny Zeppoli • Kielbasa N More • Kimchi Smoke • Kona Ice Paramus • Lomo Truck • Master Asador • Mozzarella God • The Quarry Grill • Rolling Pita • Sandwich Freak • Senor Tacos • Taste of Napoli • Uncle Sal's Egg Rolls

PARAMUS PARK MALL • located by Old Navy & LL Bean • 700 Paramus Park, Paramus, NJ,11am-7pm...24 delicious Food Trucks, DJ Louis, Beer, margaritas, vodka lemonade and sangria Garden, Kids activities bungee trampoline, rock wall, pony rides, petting zoo, face painting, miniature golf, spin art, sand art, knockerball, bounce house, slide, hatchet throwing, vendors & more!Bring your appetite, chairs and even the dog!

***WE ARE ASKING ALL ATTENDEES TO BRING A NON-PERISHABLE CANNED OR BOXED ITEM TO HELP SUPPORT THE PARAMUS FOOD PANTRY.. Please help those less fortunate.

$5 admission, under 5 free

NO outside food, drink or coolers

justjerseyfest.com

Not everyone can say they’ve played Disney World and played at Disney World.

But such is the claim of Paramus senior softball pitcher Miranda Rivera, perhaps North Jersey’s lone drum major/trombone player and pitching ace.

The 17-year old has stepped down Main Street USA with the Spartan Marching Band and a few hours later pitched for the Spartan softball team on a trip to Orlando.

It’s a symphony of sports, academics and music.

“I just knew I wanted to do both and would only be happy if I could do both,” Rivera said. “Playing music and sports has made such a big impact in my life. I didn’t want to go into high school and feel pressure to pick one. I just knew I didn’t want to give one up.”

That doesn’t mean it hasn’t been difficult.

In the fall, when there’s band practice after school and Friday night football games, plus fall-ball softball games, it wasn’t unusual for Rivera to run off the softball diamond, get back to school and throw on her band uniform with clay still under her fingernails.

“It’s a juggling act. It’s amazing how she handles it,” Paramus softball coach Marc Gregory said. “She has commitments every day. When she is able to do both, she does, but sometimes she has to pick. When you have a kid that is clearly dedicated and committed to the program, you’ll do anything you can to work with her so she is successful.”

Rivera is the youngest of three siblings and played multiple sports growing up, but has concentrated solely on softball since arriving at Paramus. She has played on the Spartans' varsity team since she was a freshman and has been the team’s top pitcher the last two years.

Being in the center circle is a lot of pressure, but Rivera enjoys being a conductor.

“I was intrigued with how the simple movement of your hands and wrist can create patterns on the ball,” Rivera said. “I have to hold myself accountable in the game and play my role. I like the challenge.”

Rivera first picked up a trombone in fourth grade. Her grandfather loves to play the instrument back in Puerto Rico, and Rivera thinks that may be where her talent comes from.

“It had this big slide and it was different from any other instrument, so I picked trombone and it kind of stuck,” Rivera said with a laugh.

Ask Rivera what makes a good trombone player and her answer also sounds like it would be appropriate for a softball pitcher. Swap out ‘good ear’ for ‘good grip.’

“The secret to playing the trombone is to have a good ear for certain pitches, as well as the proper muscle memory,” Rivera said. “I guess you can say that about sports too, muscle memory is important and so is practice and repetition.”

Being the drum major - like being a pitcher - comes with additional pressures. As a drum major, it’s her job to keep everyone focused and in tune. As a pitcher, she knows that every pitch is important.

“The drum major is the eyes of the band and they are someone that everyone else relies on to be a leader and explain what the band needs in real time,” Rivera said.

An honor-roll student, Rivera is planning on going to Rutgers, joining the pep band and studying civil and environmental engineering.

After an 0-5 start, the Spartans have gone 6-4 and were on a three-game win streak heading into a May 8 game against Pequannock. You could say the Spartans are back in tune.

“She needs to be meaner,” Gregory said with a laugh. “She’s not overpowering but she can be crafty when she changes speeds. She has made considerable improvements the last two years.”

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Paramus|Local Event

Sun, Apr 13, 2025 at 9:00 AM

250 Prospect St, Midland Park, NJ, 07432

60+ tables of sports cards - modern and vintage. Autographs and memorabilia. Also Pokémon, TCG cards, supplies. Some toys and other collectible items. Admission is $5. Kids 12 and under are free. Show hours 9am-3pm.

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