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ELIZABETH — The dominant inside presence of 6-foot-10 NaJai Hines, the sublime backcourt play of sophomore Micah Gordon, one of the state’s best defenses, and a sold-out crowd that was at least 95% in its favor were not quite enough for Plainfield in Wednesday’s Group 4 semifinal.

The Cardinals needed more, and unheralded Tylor Hunter provided it. The slender 6-3 junior poured in a career-high 14 points and claimed six rebounds, four at the offensive end, to help Plainfield outlast Ridgewood, 60-51, and earn a berth opposite Montgomery in Sunday’s Group 4 state final at Rutgers.

Hines struck for 20 points, 15 rebounds and blocked five shots, scoring 10 points and sinking six of eight free throws in a decisive fourth quarter that began with the schools deadlocked at 40 apiece. Gordon delivered 13 points, five boards and eight assists as the Cardinals (28-3) extended their winning streak to eight games.

“Ridgewood might be one of the most underrated basketball teams in the state,” Plainfield coach Mike Gordon stressed. “They are well-coached, they play hard, they’re scrappy, they rebound the ball. Offensively, they run some great stuff. We knew it was going to be a dogfight.”

Hunter asserted himself in the second quarter, scoring six points and claiming five caroms, four at the offensive end. Ridgewood held a 26-24 lead at halftime, holding Hines and the physical Cardinals to a mere 19-17 advantage on the boards with 10 offensive rebounds and it was Hunter’s efforts that kept the contest close.

“We had to be physical, we knew how physical this game was going to be,” Hunter said after his first double-figure performance. “We communicated and my number was called today. They wanted me to do it all season, but today was the day. We all came together and fought together.”

Hunter added six more points in the third quarter and accounted for six of Plainfield’s 11 baskets over the middle two quarters.

“Awesome, he had an amazing game,” Gordon said of Hunter. “The kid’s physical, he’s gritty, rebounds the ball and I think he did a hell of a job defensively.”

Plainfield had not competed in a single-digit contest since trimming Elizabeth, 69-61, in the semifinals of the Union County Tournament. That didn’t faze the Cardinals.

“We are very gritty, guys just toughed it out,” Coach Gordon explained. “We put them in scenarios during practice, down four, up four. Down the stretch of this game we just executed and I thought we did a better job of rebounding the ball in the second half.”

Ridgewood (26-4) held its last lead at 42-40 as Jake Roth opened the fourth quarter with an inside bucket off a feed from Mac Radossich. Plainfield broke a 44-44 tie by closing out the contest with a 16-7 run, including an 8-0 spurt that extended its lead to 55-46 with two minutes remaining as Hines reasserted himself inside.

“I think that he got enough touches,” Coach Gordon said of Hines. “I think we did a little too much in the guard area, I thought we were a little stagnant in the first half, even in the third quarter. We actually took him out of the game, got a little scrappier and started to press a little more, and that’s when the game turned.”

Ridgewood received another heroic effort from senior Johnny Jackson, who has been battling cancer and torched the stingy Cardinal defense for 25 points and five 3-pointers.

Plainfield will not enjoy the homecourt advantage on Sunday it had on Wednesday when its fans gobbled up tickets online the way Hines gobbles up rebounds and practically shut out the Ridgewood fan base. The Elizabeth gymnasium may as well been called the Rico Dunn Center, as in Plainfield’s Rico Parenti Gymnasium.

Whether Cardinal Nation can turn Rutgers in Jersey Rico’s Arena this weekend is another story.

Ridgewood "Space Week" and "Space Camp" traditions will continue, as they have for decades.

Caren Lissner, Patch Staff

Ridgewood "Space Week" and "Space Camp" traditions will continue, as they have for decades. (Ridgewood Public Schools)

RIDGEWOOD, NJ – For nearly four decades, Hawes Elementary has launched young minds into space through its annual Space Week program.

The program was founded in 1986 by second grade teacher Terry Dunn and physical education teacher Dave Jenkins, who wanted to share their passion for space exploration with students.

What began as a mission to a space station orbiting Earth has evolved over time, and since 2015, the journey has taken students on simulated missions to Mars, aligning with real-world advancements in space exploration.

Space Week blends science, technology, art, and physical education.

Although it's part of the science curriculum, the program extends across multiple subjects.

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In the library, students explore constellations and planets inside an inflatable planetarium.

In gym class, the students train like astronauts with climbing and swinging activities.

Music class incorporates space themed-music, encouraging students to move their bodies to mimic celestial formations.

Themes

Each year, the program introduces a new theme. This year, the theme was the future. Each grade focused on a specific topic—such as toys, transportation, or homes—designing what these items might look like 100 years from now.

Previous themes have celebrated historic milestones, including the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, during which students reenacted the Apollo mission with a full-scale lunar lander model. Other themes have explored space exploration, featuring the New Horizons probe’s flyby of Pluto and the Mars rover Curiosity’s mission.

Students suit up in blue and orange astronaut uniforms (a tradition that once featured silver suits reminiscent of 1950s sci-fi movies). While the suits are reused annually, the sense of adventure is fresh every year. The program is flexible, allowing teachers to tailor lessons to their class’s interests and integrate space-themed activities into various subjects.

The current Space Week committee consists of John Otterstedt, Tom Harney, Ellen Raupp, Jessica Roth, Susan Enright, and Tom Trubac. Their efforts extend beyond the school year with a summer Space Camp, originally created by Dunn and Jenkins. The camp offers daily planetarium visits, astronaut training, hands-on crafts, and interactive games that deepen students’ understanding of space.

This summer, the camp will run from June 30-July 11, 2025 and a second session will be held July 14-25. Details will appear on the school’s website later this spring.

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RIDGEWOOD — This year's Lunar New Year Festival, welcoming the Year of the Wood Snake, will be held at Ridgewood High School on Sunday.

The public is invited to attend the festival at the school's Campus Center, 627 E. Ridgewood Ave., from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be hosted by Ridgewood's Asian American and Pacific Islander Alliance, Korean and Indian residents and the Ridgewood Chinese American Association.

"Guests can expect a delicious lunch featuring Korean and Chinese favorites such as lo mein, dumplings and spring rolls," said Alliance co-founder HyunJu Kwak, who sits on the Ridgewood Board of Education. "From Noon to 2 p.m. we will have photo booths, crafts and classic Asian games including the non-violent ones popularized in 'Squid Games.'"

From 2 to 4 p.m., cultural performances will be offered, including traditional "Nanta" Korean folk dancing, a Chinese tea picking dance, instrumental and vocal acts, and a taekwondo demonstration by Hea Sun Jung Korea Traditional Academy of the Arts.

"We will also have various sponsors providing information and prizes, and vendors selling food and wares throughout the day," said Yuni Sockyun Shim, president of the Korean Community of Ridgewood. "We will talk about our cultures and celebrations, show talented performances, and serve delicious food with vegetarian options available."

Tickets, which include lunch, are required and can be purchased online at zeffy.com. Prices are $18 for adults and $12 for youths ages 6-18. Admittance is free for children age 5 and younger. More information is available at www.ridgewoodaapi.org or by emailing ridgewoodaapi@gmail.com.

What is Lunar New Year?

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, ushers in the most important holiday of the year for many Asian Americans in North Jersey and beyond. Communities around the world celebrate with feasts, festivals, musical performances, lion dances and fireworks.

When is Lunar New Year 2025?

The Lunar New Year celebration lasts 16 days, beginning with a family dinner and midnight celebration on Tuesday, Jan. 28, on the eve of the new year. On the first day of the holiday − Jan. 29 − families visit each other and exchange monetary gifts in red envelopes. Different activities are traditionally carried out on specific days of the festival, such as the throwing out of unwanted possessions, reserved for the sixth day.

The season concludes with a Lantern Festival, this time falling on Feb. 12.

It's the Year of the Wood Snake

Under the Lunar New Year Calendar, 2025 is the year of the Wood Snake.

Unlike the Western solar zodiac, which assigns a different symbol to each of the 12 months of the year, the Lunar calendar assigns one of its 12 symbols to an entire lunar year. Each year, a different symbol is rotated with one of five elements − wood, fire, earth, metal and water − to create a unique set of influences for that 12 months.

Over the 60-year rotation of the Chinese zodiac, each of the 12 symbols appears five times, each time with a different element. The Year of the Wood Snake last appeared in 1965. The combination of symbol and element creates unique influences on the year, making 2025 a particularly good year for strengthening relationships. Under the combined influence of snake and wood, people are believed to be more likely to proceed with caution, minimizing conflicts.

When Kay Bhothinard and Peter Field purchased their 1930s Colonial Revival in Ridgewood in 2019, they knew it was in need of some TLC. They loved its expansive backyard and its proximity to local schools, but recognized its outdated features and lack of functionality.

When their boiler stopped working in 2023, they finally decided to take the plunge into renovating. They gathered the plans from their architect and contacted Rutherford-based builder Zack Dettmore, of Dettmore Home Improvements, who gave them an interesting proposal: What if they documented the project on PBS's "This Old House"?

And the rest is history.

Renovations of this three-bedroom, two-bathroom home are currently being featured on Season 46 of the iconic show, which has been showcasing home improvement projects across the nation since 1978. Field said they ultimately decided to do the show because it was something they had watched and were familiar with, so it felt like a unique experience for them.

"I watched 'This Old House.' I don't know that we would have been necessarily inclined towards working with a lot of shows, but it's been a huge joy and privilege to be a part of a real legacy element of like the best of what TV can be, in a sense," Field said. "So it was Zack's idea, but it was a pretty cool idea to come across our path."

The project — which was completed between March and November 2024 but first aired on PBS this month — involved creating a bigger and more functional kitchen, reformatting the home's first floor to make it better for entertaining, and updating the failing plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems.

The home also received a two-story rear addition to create a new primary suite, as well as new waterproofing, siding and energy-efficient windows.

"We knew that we'd have to do some things to the house, but we didn't think that it would be as big as what we ended up doing," Bhothinard said. "I mean, you buy a house and think, 'OK, we'll make some tweaks.' But we're not fixer-uppers in any way."

Sara Ferguson, senior series producer at "This Old House," said the staff finds homes to feature on the show in a variety of ways, whether from homeowners writing in or by talking to local architects in an area where they would like to work.

In the case of this Ridgewood house, Ferguson said the team had worked with Dettmore on a home in Glen Ridge that was previously featured on the show. She said Dettmore told them about this project, and that everything ended up falling into place.

"Peter and Kay were up for it, and it was a win," she said.

As for what the experience was like, Field said they did weekly calls with the team about the renovation project and the show's production, so it became a big part of their lives. He said they had to rent an apartment in Ridgewood's Woodside neighborhood while renovations were taking place, but that they were constantly at the house with the crew.

Overall, they said, there's a lot of cohesion from everyone on the show and it feels like everyone is one big family, both on and off the TV screen. This goes for the show's host, Kevin O'Connor, and its core cast of experts — Tom Silva, Richard Trethewey and Jenn Nawada — and for members of production who are behind the scenes.

Bhothinard and Field said it was also interesting to see how each person involved in the project was able to put their own touch on it. Dettmore, for example, was very focused on the user experience of a design, so he came up with ways to make certain things more functional in each space, they said.

"What's great is to walk through the house and remember whose fingerprints are where on this project. We had goals for the project and aesthetic choices that we made, but they could make things better," Field said. "The windows we have are Jeff Jordan, our architect, responding to our desire for light in a way we wouldn't have thought to ask for. And the HVAC system is elegant in its minimalism in a way that Richard envisioned that we wouldn't have known to ask for."

"This Old House" also typically highlights local places in the town where they're working. Bhothinard and Field said they had the opportunity to highlight the James Rose Center in Ridgewood, which is a place they love for how it showcases James Rose's perspective on landscape architecture.

"They've done a ton to renovate that place and keep that kind of living history present in the town, and we hope more people can become aware of the center," Field said. "It's a real undiscovered gem here in northern New Jersey."

O'Connor, the show's host, grew up in Maplewood, so they said it was also fun to see how that was woven throughout the episodes.

In the end, Bhothinard said, they officially moved back into their home in mid-December and are still getting used to all of the new updates. But overall, they both said they're grateful for this experience and how it changed their lives for the better.

"It was really wonderful to meet the whole team and get a chance to be part of a show where the project is celebrated and the craft is celebrated and the people who are doing the work are celebrated," Field said.

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.com.

Johnny Jackson will forever be remembered in North Jersey basketball lore as “that kid from Ridgewood who had cancer.”

He’s also a perennial winner, a two-time sectional champion and a prolific scorer, headed toward becoming the 19th boy to join North Jersey’s 2,000-point club.

Jackson’s physically demanding senior season continues when Ridgewood faces St. Joseph in the Bergen County Jamboree semifinals at 1 p.m. Sunday at Fairleigh Dickinson in Hackensack. Bergen Catholic battles defending champion Don Bosco in the 3:30 semifinal, with the winners returning for the final on Feb. 21.

While he’s constantly asked how many career points he’s scored – he has 1,920 – Jackson is more focused on the team success that has made Ridgewood (18-2) the best public school team in Bergen and Passaic counties.

“The successful team is probably the cooler part,” Jackson said. “We’re having such a great year, and it’s awesome to be part of the team.”

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Awesome because Jackson wasn’t supposed to be part of the team, not after being diagnosed over the summer with Stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The cancer had spread from the lymph nodes in his neck to his chest area and into his sternum.

Jackson was scheduled for 12 chemotherapy sessions, one every two weeks, from August thru January. The exhaustion of chemo, and the expected weight loss, were supposed to leave him too weak to even pick up a basketball. Coach Mike Troy invited him to sit on the bench this season and wear a coach’s shirt.

“Honestly, I think this whole ordeal has put a lot of things in perspective for everybody involved,” said Troy, whose team is ranked No. 2 in the North Jersey Top 25 behind Bergen Catholic. "We get so wrapped up in game plans and practice plans, or whatever else, and then when we get the news about Johnny, these things didn’t seem to matter as much anymore.”

Instead, Jackson decided to “flip the script.” He eats healthier, focusing on high protein and low carbs, and has five or six meals a day. He goes to bed earlier, asleep by 11 p.m. He lifts weights three to five times a week. Instead of losing weight, the 5-foot-10 shooting guard has gained more than 15 pounds and weighs about 175.

“When they told me I was expected to lose a lot of weight during this, it kind of scared me a little bit,” said Jackson, who lost a little bit of hair and often wears a hand band. “So I kind of just tried to flip the script.”

His discipline, work ethic and positive attitude have been an inspiration to the team. In a season-opening 64-48 win over St. Joseph, when he poured in 30 points, he proved he could still play the game at an All-North Jersey level.

“He’s been a motivator for us,” said senior Charlie Schwanewede, who trims his hair and wears a headband to honor Jackson. “If my body’s feeling a little bit out of shape, or a little bit out of whack, and ‘I’m tired and I don’t want to do this,’ or ‘I feel a little sick,’ I just have to think about how he’s feeling. He’s pushing through and staying strong and putting on a smile every single day and being a pillar for everyone else.”

“Playing with John all season has given us a lot of extra motivation, a lot of fight that we didn’t have before,” senior Tyler Nesland said. “It’s given us a reason to get up every morning and a reason to stay late, because we know that everything he’s doing is harder than anything we’ve ever imagined, and therefore it gives us a big push.”

While Jackson shows little emotion on the court, he acknowledges that he plays in pain. In the season opener, in which he played all but 80 seconds, he felt tingling in his hands and feet, he said, “almost like you’re being shocked a little bit.”

He drinks plenty of water between quarters and during timeouts and sometimes asks to be taken out of a game for a short break. He has gotten stronger since chemo treatments ended last month, he said, “and I think that should start to get better.”

“Every minute we’re here is a gift,” Troy said. "You better be giving it everything you have, because if not, it’s an absolute waste and it would be a disservice. And to watch what he’s been able to do, I think that’s the biggest thing. And it’s made him work harder to be able to achieve the things he loves. And it makes us work harder, because we just can’t let that down.”

This experience has matured Jackson well beyond his 18 years, on the court and off. Even though he averages 23 points per game, he has the ball in his hands less than last season, when Ridgewood won the North 1, Group 4 sectional title. He has become more appreciative of his teammates and the people around him.

“His work ethic has gotten even better. He’s even improved from what he had before, when he was one of the hardest-working kids I know,” Nesland said. “I think he’s definitely opened himself up more. He’s not as much to himself. He’s helping us, and relying on us, and allowing us to be a part of his life more than before.”

Jackson says he’s more disciplined and more grateful for where he is and what he has. He better understands that what’s here today can be gone tomorrow.

He’s in the final weeks of his high school career, with anywhere from six to 12 games remaining depending on the outcome of county and state tournament games. He'll give it everything he has.

“It’s changed me in a bunch of ways,” Jackson said. "It’s made me a lot mentally tougher. I always thought I was a pretty tough kid, but this has pushed me beyond the limits a little bit. It’s kind of made me appreciate every little minute now. Your life can kind of just change on you really fast, and you just have to not take every moment for granted.”

2,000-point scorers in Bergen and Passaic counties

Name, School, Year Graduated, Points

Les Cason, East Rutherford (1971) − 2,871

Kent Culuko, Mahwah (1991) − 2,780

John Gerdy, Passaic Valley (1975) − 2,613

Pat Sullivan, Bogota (1990) − 2,546

Corey Raji, Westwood (2007) − 2,497

Bill Willoughby, Englewood (1975) − 2,371

Ahmad Hassan, Leonia (2007) − 2,314

John Blackgrove, Pascack Valley (2001) − 2,237

Tim Thomas, Paterson Catholic (1996) − 2,232

Mike Gibney, Wood-Ridge (2013) − 2,214

Tom Sienkiewicz, Becton (1977) − 2,202

Sandy Burgos, Fort Lee (2010) − 2,121

Ja'Quaye James, Teaneck (2018) − 2,120

Tom Calabrese, Cliffside Park (1974) − 2,088

Chris Orozco, Tenafly (2012) − 2,062

Alphonso Gee, Kennedy (2016) − 2,030

Justin Crosgile, DePaul (2009) − 2,010

Charlie Nanick, Pompton Lakes (1993) − 2,003

Source: Schools