Hawthorne High School Class of 2023 Alumni Wins First Place at William Paterson’s 2025 RBI Sales Triathlon
What I was tasked with:
I was tasked with writing a Citizen Spotlight. I provided context of the event my subject attended and requested a personal statement.
Xavier Clavijo, a class of 2023 alumni of Hawthorne High School, scored first place at William Paterson University’s 20th Annual Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales (RBI) Sales Triathlon: Collegiate Sales Competition.
“Winning the sales triathlon was an incredible moment for me,” Clavijo said. “It was the result of weeks of preparation and hard work. I’m grateful for the support I received along the way from my teammates, Alauna Cockett, Faten Huzien, and sales coach, Professor Ronald Jones.”
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Hackensack’s Historic Sears Building to Become a Mixed-Use Property
What I was tasked with:
I was tasked with covering Hackensack's March 25 City Council Meeting, where I found that the historic Sears building is becoming a mixed-use property.
The commercial property has been vacant for more than two years, according to an investigative report presented by Francis Reiner of DMR Architects. The iconic tower on the building in Hackensack is a symbol of a time when department stores were the place to buy everything from clothes to appliances.
According to various online sources, “as of December 2024, there were eight Sears stores remaining, with seven in the mainland U.S. and one location in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. The company's U.S. website, Sears.com, remains active for online purchases.”
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Hawthorne School 2026 Budget: Cuts May Be Coming After Reduced State Aid Applied
What I was tasked with:
I was tasked with covering Gov. Phil Murphy's state budget proposal, and how it will impact K-12 school districts. The district I covered was Hawthorne Public Schools.
Gov. Phil Murphy has proposed a $58.1 billion state budget for the next fiscal year, with a record-breaking $12.1 billion set aside for K-12 schools.
An increase in state aid will be found in 393 districts for the coming year, according to independent news reports. On the other hand, 75 will see a decrease and seven will remain the same. It was also shared that 65 districts will receive a 6% increase following specific areas within state aid: equalization, special education, security and transportation.
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Hackensack Ice House Skaters Among Those Dead in D.C. Plane Crash
What I was tasked with:
I was tasked with covering the deadly Washington, D.C. collision between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk Helicopter. Two figure skaters who trained in Hackensack were amongst the 67 dead.
Craig Maurizi, director of figure skating at the Ice House, told ABC 7 New York, “The fact that we're not going to see these people, you know, ever again at competitions after we see them all the time, it's probably too early right now to even understand.”
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Planned Redeveloped Bus Terminal Will Be Much More Than Transportation Hub
What I was tasked with:
I was tasked with covering the news of Hackensack partnering with Bergen County to redevelop the NJ Transit bus terminal.
Starting construction this fall, the ‘Bergen Junction’ will be home to workforce housing for essential workers and veterans, a redeveloped NJ Transit bus terminal and a five-level mixed use building, equipped with a health and wellness center, county office space, street-level retail, and a parking garage.
The city has been actively working to cater toward high-density redevelopment, environmental preservation and economic growth, according to Mayor John Labrosse.
"Bergen Junction represents a tremendous step forward for the City of Hackensack and Bergen County as a whole,” Labrosse said in a press release. “This project not only addresses critical needs like affordable workforce housing and improved transit infrastructure but also aligns perfectly with our vision of making Hackensack a premier destination for living, working, and commuting.”
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