Community Corner

🌱 How a former Garfield sergeant was tied to countywide paintball attacks

And check out Estate Planning: 5 Essential Things You Should Know on the Garfield Patch calendar

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Thursday October 1st Patch AM
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Hi Garfield! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a former Garfield sergeant was tied to countywide paintball attacks
  • How does Garfield's school chief pay compare to the rest of N.J.?
  • Which Garfield junior just scored his first defensive touchdown?

Also on today's calendar: Estate Planning: 5 Essential Things You Should Know and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Mostly cloudy and humid, with a high of 75 and low of 64 degrees.
  • Friday: A p.m. shower in places, temps: high: 85, low: 59.
  • Saturday: Partly sunny and not as warm, with a high of 73 and low of 54 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Ex-Garfield Police Sgt. is Arrested for Multiple Paintball Shootings, Including in Hasbrouck Heights and Lodi (tapinto.net) — A former Garfield police sergeant has been arrested in connection with a string of paintball shootings that damaged vehicles and injured one driver in Garfield and nearby Bergen County towns. Incidents in Garfield occurred as recently as September 24, and local officers helped track down the suspect, who now faces multiple assault, weapons, and criminal mischief charges.
   

• This N.J. school superintendent earned nearly $350K a year — the most in the state (nj.com subscription) — Garfield residents can see exactly where their superintendent stands in statewide pay rankings: Richard Tomko of Garfield Public Schools earns $286,062, placing him among New Jersey's top-paid school leaders. The piece compares his compensation with superintendents across the state, offering context on how local school leadership is valued and funded.
   

• NJIC Football Defensive Players of the Week, Sept. 24-28 (nj.com subscription) — Garfield football fans can celebrate junior linebacker Ameer Ibrahim, who delivered a standout defensive game in Garfield's 41-6 win over Manchester Regional, including six tackles and a fumble return for a touchdown. He's been named one of the NJIC's Defensive Players of the Week, putting Garfield's program and players in the statewide spotlight.
   

📸 Around Garfield

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Garfield

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events
    Thursday October 1
  • 2026 Township Council Work Session
    Township of Saddle Brook, 93 Market Street, Saddle Brook
    5:30 pm
    • Friday October 2
  • Storytime with Miss Emily
    Lodi - Children's Room
    11:00 am
    • Monday October 5
  • SBFD Blood Drive - October 5, 2026
    Township of Saddle Brook, 93 Market Street, Saddle Brook
    12:00 pm
  • English Conversation Group
    Lodi - Conference Room, Lodi Memorial Library
    4:00 pm
    • Tuesday October 6
  • Storytime with Miss Emily
    Lodi - Children's Room
    11:00 am
    • Friday October 9
  • North Jersey Card Show - The Late Night Show at Wayne PAL →
    1 Pal Dr, Wayne
    5:00 pm
    • Saturday October 10
  • Main Memorial Park "Everything" Flea & Collectible Market →
    1400 Main Ave, Clifton
    9:00 am

📣 Garfield Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Garfield PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • ShopRite Supermarkets posted a job opening for ShopRite - Meat Cutter Clerk (Inserra NJ) Salary Range $28.00 - $30.00/hr in Lodi. Apply here.
  • Bowlero Corporation posted a job opening for Bartender in Wallington. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Garfield here.

🗞 Nearby News

Lodi

  • 91 Union St Unit 10A, Lodi, NJ 07644 (redfin.com)
  • Beloved North Jersey football coach receives ultimate posthumous honor (northjersey.com)

Elmwood Park

  • NJIC Football Offensive Players of the Week, Sept. 24-28 (nj.com)
  • Eleven Bergen County Pizzas Among New Jersey's Best (boozyburbs.com)

Hasbrouck Heights

  • Bronx men arrested in Saddle Brook armed robbery case (nj.com)
  • Bergen County boys soccer bubble watch, plus rankings and stat leaders (northjersey.com)

Ok Garfield! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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