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Fair Lawn has expanded one of its two special improvement districts, this time looking to support and boost growth for businesses in the Fair Lawn Avenue area.

“We as a community are now giving Fair Lawn Avenue the attention it deserves and desperately needs,” said Ryan Greff, executive director of Fair Lawn Main Street Inc., the economic development group that manages the districts.

Fair Lawn's borough council has created two special districts in town: one on Broadway and a second that includes River Road and now Fair Lawn Avenue. Businesses in those areas are required to pay a special assessment into a pool of money used to promote the economic and general welfare of the neighborhood, supporting tasks like sidewalk beautification and litter cleanups.

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Not everyone is enthused about the expansion, however. Some local businesses balked at the added fees required by the new designation, questioning whether they are worth the benefits.

"I’m a town person. I love Fair Lawn and I hope this makes some sort of miraculous impact on the downtown Fair Lawn area," said Dave Drahouzal, owner of the Dutch House Tavern. "But I do have some questions.”

Owners of Fair Lawn Avenue businesses will be charged a rate of 9.7 cents per $100 of the property's assessed value, the same as retail locations in the River Road area, said Greff.

Extending onto Fair Lawn Avenue will add 23 properties to the district. It will generate an additional $40,000 per year for the SID on top of the $150,000 contributed by River Road, Greff said. The Broadway SID yields about $120,000.

Greff said over the last two years, as Fair Lawn Main Street Inc., took a more active role and “the benefits of being in a special improvement district have become significantly more visible,” store owners in other parts of town became interested in receiving similar services.

“It was kind of weird that Fair Lawn Avenue was not a SID while River Road was,” he said.

Property and store owners and community members spoke for and against the proposal during a December meeting, prompting the borough council to table a planned vote. But the ordinance was eventually approved with a unanimous vote at the end of February.

Prior to the expansion, Greff said, there was litter throughout the Radburn business area, which is included in the Fair Lawn Avenue district. The River Road special district, by comparison, is served by a private sanitation service twice a week in addition to the borough’s sanitation department.

After the ordinance passed, Fair Lawn Main Street Inc. contracted with Dare Commercial Services LLC of Franklin Township for supplemental cleanup on Fair Lawn Avenue twice per week, said Greff. Native Fields Landscaping of Wharton was also contracted for landscaping and weeding services starting in spring.

“At the intersection of Panera Bread, there is a sticker that says 'Clinton/Gore ’96,'” said Greff. “I think that’s a huge, illustrative point of how little attention this area has gotten. In Broadway, we have something coming out every other week, from a ribbon-cutting to a grant.”

Looking ahead, Greff also hopes to bring a facade improvement program that has benefited River Road and Broadway to Fair Lawn Avenue too.

Stella Lemberg, president of the Fair Lawn Chamber of Commerce, said Radburn-area store owners often ask her why they don't get holiday decorations during Christmas or “how come River Road and Broadway gets this or that.

“They don’t realize there’s an added cost to it,” she said.

Those same business owners have been asking for extra garbage pickup and planters, Lemberg added.

Still, she acknowledged, some business owners have also come to her with concerns, saying they can’t afford to pay their Chamber membership dues, support other town efforts like the Rotary Club and also absorb the cost of being in the district. Chamber dues can vary from $175 to $400 a year depending on the number of employees.

“We’re trying to work with these businesses to try to help them understand the value that they’re going to get by having the area more kept up,” said Lemberg. “Now that it’s an expanded district, we can get more resources to them.”

In an interview, Dutch House owner Drahouzal said that while there is some litter in local parking lots, he doesn’t feel the need for a special improvement district in the corridor. The move will force some businesses to withdraw from town groups, he predicted, mentioning he has quit the Chamber of Commerce since the SID expansion was approved.

“This is basically replacing it,” said Drahouzal. “I have a problem with paying for something that I already do. I know there are some benefits, but I don’t think they will apply to my business that well.”

Some business owners, however, are looking forward to the services the SID will provide.

Cameo Zvanets, who owns two cafes and a beauty salon in town, said one of the main concerns for her Fair Lawn Avenue businesses was that garbage was “all over the parking lot and the landscaping.”

“It just wasn’t being picked up enough,” said Zvanets. “Even when we first opened CoZie Café, we got a message from a person who was happy that we were here but [added] that it was just so dirty around the building.”

The cafe and Zvanets' The Beauty Loft are now part of the Fair Lawn Avenue business district, while her Better Daze Café is on River Road. She rents all three locations.

Now that the additional sanitation is in place, Zvanets said she’s “really looking forward to not having to experience that anymore for myself and people coming to my business.”

“I know some other businesses have shared the same concerns of the tidiness of the area,” said Zvanets, who mentioned she was also looking forward to new holiday decorations and landscaping. “We just want it to be a more walkable space, which brings more people to our businesses.”

Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: noda@northjersey.com; X: @snoda11

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A Bergen County spa owner has agreed to a five-year license suspension for performing invasive medical spa treatments without any medical training or proper credentials.

Ana C. Velazco, a licensed massage and bodywork therapist, owned and operated Fabsilhouette on River Road in Fair Lawn.

In March 2023, state inspectors found medical equipment in Fabsilhoutte’s examination rooms.

Items recovered on-site included topical anesthetics, syringes and needle tips, and hazardous medical waste in the form of used syringes and needles.

The following month, Velazco appeared before state officials overseeing the Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy.

Read More: Vampire facials, Botox: NJ cracks down on unlicensed medical spas

NJ spa owner admits doing medical treatments without training

She admitted to offering and doing services well beyond the scope of her massage and bodywork therapist license.

Velazco said she had done postoperative suture removal and fluid drainage on clients who had recently undergone cosmetic surgery.

She also performed a procedure to dissolve body fat called “Mesolipo,” in which a combination of substances and chemicals are injected by needle into a lower layer of a patient’s skin.

Velazco also did microneedling, which involves pricking the skin with tiny needles in order to promote the production of collagen and elastin.

Read More: NJ woman busted, again, for facial fillers and butt lifts at home

Spa owner caught doing med treatments is banned from solo work

On May 30, Velazco entered into a final consent order filed with both the Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy and the State Board of Medical Examiners that resolved the allegations.

Her massage and bodywork therapy license was suspended for five years, effective immediately.

Following the suspension, Velazco can apply for her license to practice massage and bodywork therapy to be reinstated.

But she may only work under the supervision of another licensed massage and bodywork therapist and can no longer own, operate, or manage a massage therapy business.

Velazco was also assessed a $15,000 fine by the Board of Medical Examiners and must pay $5,000 on a payment plan.

The rest would only be due if she violates the consent order.

“Professionals who put the public at risk by performing services that exceed the scope of their licenses, especially those involving invasive medical procedures, will face serious consequences,” state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a written statement.

“As the med-spa industry continues to grow and evolve, we will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who provide aesthetic services they are neither licensed nor qualified to perform,” Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs Elizabeth Harris said in the same release.

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One Bergen County public school teacher will be honored as "Outstanding" at Princeton University

Caren Lissner, Patch Staff

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Princeton University has announced the names of the four outstanding New Jersey secondary school teachers chosen to be honored at its 2025 Commencement on May 27.

Two are from Bergen County, and one of those is from Fair Lawn

This year’s recipients of the Princeton Prize for Distinguished Secondary School Teaching are Davine Floy of the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology, Laurianne Brunetti Kuipers of Memorial Middle School in Fair Lawn, An Nguyen of Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill, and Theodore Opderbeck of Waldwick High School.

They each will receive $5,000, as well as $3,000 for their school libraries, the school said.

They said, "For 23 years, Laurianne Brunetti Kuipers has helped her students develop a love for literature, a commitment to citizenship and community service, and empathy for one another. The English teacher, who teaches seventh grade Language Arts, Literature Connections and Developmental Reading at Memorial Middle School in Fair Lawn, was selected by her school in 2001 and 2018 to be recognized by the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program."

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A former student said, “Her infectious and inspirational spirit, as well as her passion for literature shine through to all of us."

An administrator called Kuipers the “heartbeat of Memorial.”

Kuipers founded her school’s Character Education program, designing a nationally acclaimed curriculum that encourages students to be upstanding citizens.

Under her leadership, Memorial received a National Schools of Character Award and a State Schools of Character Award. She also created Celebrate America, a popular club for community service projects, and the Points of Light student recognition program.

“Her classroom is a place where character education isn’t just taught but lived and breathed,” said a colleague. “Kuipers is a rare gem whose dedication leaves a lasting legacy of compassion, excellence and humanity. She brings character education to life.”

Said an administrator: “Teaching is a science and an art. Ms. Kuipers is a master of both.”

Outside of her teaching responsibilities, Kuipers organizes events and fundraisers benefiting veterans, the local senior community and others.

“Kuipers is an extraordinary teacher, an inspiring leader and a quiet yet powerful force for compassion and humanity that resonates both in and outside of her classroom walls,” said a colleague. “She embodies excellence, not just as an educator, but as a role model for those around her.”

“The selection committee recognizes these four individuals as the kind of educator whose imprint on students lasts far beyond their time in the classroom. They are committed to their students, are dedicated to the craft of teaching, and contribute in countless ways to their communities,” said Michael Gordin, dean of the college and the Rosengarten Professor of Modern and Contemporary History.

“These four extraordinary teachers demonstrate the remarkable teaching taking place across the state of New Jersey,” said Todd Kent, director of Princeton’s Program in Teacher Preparation, when the recipients were announced.

Ten finalists were selected by the Program in Teacher Preparation staff and visited at their schools by Rosanne Zeppieri and Paul Chapin, members of the program staff.

The four winners were then selected by a committee chaired by Elizabeth Colagiuri, deputy dean of the college, that also includes Kent; Jennifer Jennings, professor of sociology and public affairs and a faculty associate of the Office of Population Research; Sabine Kastner, professor of psychology and neuroscience; and William Miron, principal of Millburn High School in New Jersey and a 1978 Princeton University graduate.

The selection committee also considers recommendations from colleagues and students as well as evidence of the teachers’ accomplishments in the school and the community.

Princeton has honored secondary school teachers since 1959 after receiving an anonymous gift from an alumnus to establish the program.

“As a proud product of New Jersey public schools myself, I have always particularly valued that the University applauds superlative teachers like the ones who shaped my path,” Gordin said.

The other Bergen County teacher to win was Theodore Opderbeck of Waldwich High School, who has taught social studies for 29 years.

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The question was posed from one member of the Fair Lawn brain trust to another.

Coach Mike Carti wanted to bring on an assistant who knows his system inside and out after playing and working for him in club lacrosse.

However, there was something he needed to clear up with senior captain Sydney Murri. Would she mind playing for her older sister Samantha or push back at spending more time with her current roommate?

"I was jumping up and down," Sydney said. "He was worried that some siblings aren't as close as us. But I was so excited when he told me. I knew before she knew."

In their first season together, the Murris – Samantha, 22, and Sydney, 18 – have put their hometown team back on the proverbial map. The Cutters are 6-4 this spring with Sydney as one of the county's top scorers and Samantha tapping into her experience as a former player at Fair Lawn and Kean University.

If that wasn't enough, younger cousin Jade Lang is catching passes and helping run the offense from the midfield.

So the family culture that high school teams love to embrace is more than just a slogan at Fair Lawn. It's fueled the rise of a team with four freshmen starters.

"I always wanted to coach at Fair Lawn," Samantha Murri said. "Coming back and coaching at your high school is like a dream especially when you have a sister on the team, a cousin on the team. That's pretty exciting and special."

Growing up five grades apart, the Murris never got the chance to play together. Their plan to start an alumni game this year may solve that.

For now, lacrosse chatter at home is often "short and sweet." Some days, it's fun to re-live a big win. Other times, Samantha wants an escape.

"Sammy is as hard on Syd as I am on Syd," Carti said. "There's no favoritism there. It's coach/player and they respect that boundary."

On the lacrosse field, Fair Lawn is pushing toward higher boundaries. After finishing 7-12 last season, the Cutters are in the No. 11 seed at the upcoming Bergen County tournament.

In the center of the offense and the draw circle is Sydney Murri, who's racked up 25 goals and 10 assists despite missing one game with a fever. As last Tuesday showed, faceguarding her can have its limitations. Her teammates took advantage of their extra touches by scoring a season-high 17 goals in victory.

Breakout seasons from sophomore Abby Sullivan (32 goals) and senior Aimee Lieman (79 saves) have loomed large.

"We have six other girls who are stepping up for us [on offense]," Sydney said. "Carti coming in last year changed everything. It brought a positive energy."

It isn't a total coincidence that home games at Sasso Field have become mini-reunions. Sports are a way of life for the Murris, whose family photo from the gym each Christmas has become a household tradition.

And for Sydney and Samantha, their introduction to the high school scene came well before earning the first varsity letter. With parents Dennis and Stephanie working as teachers and three-sport coaches, the sisters got used to tagging along at practice rather than cycling off to daycare.

"I grew up with both my parents coaching," said Samantha, now a teacher herself at Cresskill High. "They've always been such an inspiration for me. I wanted to have those feelings of coming home and winning a championship and how they create all these bonds with those student-athletes."

The bond between the Murris is unmistakable.

When Samantha started lacrosse in fourth grade and stepped on a college field years later, her little sister was inspired to do the same.

When Sydney commited to TCNJ, her sister showed up to Signing Day in Lions garb – as weird as it felt to promote an old conference rival.

Not everything is parallel, though. Especially in their personas.

"I'm more like dad," said Sydney, whose more fiery persona prompted the nickname "D3" or Dennis III in some wrestling circles. "But we're really close. We do a lot of things together. We're always hanging out."

Of course, Sydney has to catch herself every now and then when it's tempting to snap back like a little sister. A new dynamic doesn't fully erase 18 years of history.

"As sisters, it happens all the time," Sydney said. "But on the field, she's my coach and I have to have that respect for her, which I obviously do."