NEW MILFORD, NJ &mdash; June 2, 2026 &mdash; Ray Cottiers, named 2025 New Milford District Teacher of the Year and 2025 Bergen County Wrestling Coach of the Year, announced today that he is leaving public education to lead Varsity Prep USA full-time, the youth enrichment organization he founded in 2018.&nbsp;
The decision marks the end of a decade-plus career in education and coaching and the beginning of a new chapter focused on expanding Varsity Prep USA across northern New Jersey.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Teaching and coaching shaped everything I know about working with kids. Walking away from both wasn&rsquo;t easy. But every summer I&rsquo;d see a kid show up to camp on day one barely talking to anyone, and by Friday they were leading their group. After eight summers of that, I knew I wanted to do this work year-round,&rdquo; said Cottiers.&nbsp;
A Program Built by Educators&nbsp;
Operating in partnership with New Milford Public Schools, Varsity Prep USA serves children from pre-K through middle school through summer camps, enrichment programs, sports clinics, leadership opportunities, and experiential travel programming.&nbsp;
Since launching in 2018, the organization has grown from a single summer program into a year-round platform serving hundreds of Bergen County families annually.&nbsp;
Varsity Prep combines traditional camp experiences with original programming developed in-house, including sports curriculum, STEM activities, arts programming, leadership development, and hands-on enrichment designed around the same instructional principles Cottiers used in the classroom.&nbsp;
The organization&rsquo;s staffing model is built around local teachers, coaches, college students, and high school student leaders &mdash; creating a program deeply connected to the communities it serves.&nbsp;
Reinvesting in the Community&nbsp;
In 2026 alone, Varsity Prep USA will reinvest more than $160,000 into the New Milford community &mdash; through wages paid to local teachers, coaches, college students, and high school staff, and through a new formal partnership with New Milford Public Schools that directly supports district programs and facilities.&nbsp;
Expansion Across Bergen County&nbsp;
With Cottiers now leading the organization full-time, Varsity Prep USA is preparing to expand beyond its flagship New Milford location. Conversations are currently underway with multiple Bergen County school districts regarding partnerships for Summer 2027.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The model works because it&rsquo;s built by educators, run by educators, and rooted in the school communities it serves,&rdquo; said Cottiers. &ldquo;Districts receive a turn-key summer and enrichment program, employment opportunities for their teachers, coaches and students, and meaningful financial support for their facilities and programs. Families receive programming they can trust. It&rsquo;s a win-win across the board. That&rsquo;s the formula we&rsquo;re bringing to new communities.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Gratitude to New Milford&nbsp;
Cottiers, NMHS Alumni (Class of 2004), emphasized the role New Milford played in shaping both his career and the foundation of Varsity Prep USA.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Everything I know about working with kids, I learned from the teachers, administrators, coaches, and families of New Milford,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll always be a New Milford guy.. The fact that this community has been Varsity Prep&rsquo;s home and launchpad for the last eight summers means everything to me.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Summer 2026 enrollment is currently open at Varsity Prep USA, with programming running June 22 through August 28.&nbsp;
About Varsity Prep USA&nbsp;
Founded in 2018 by educator and coach Ray Cottiers, Varsity Prep USA is a North Jersey-based youth enrichment organization operating in partnership with local school districts. Varsity Prep provides summer camps, sports clinics, after-school enrichment programs, experiential learning opportunities, and leadership development programming for children and teens through educator-led experiences designed to build confidence, creativity, and community.&nbsp;

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Award-Winning Educator and Coach Ray Cottiers...

NEW MILFORD, NJ — June 2, 2026 — Ray Cottiers, named 2025 New Milford District Teacher of the Year and 2025 Bergen County Wrestling Coach of the...

Award-Winning Educator and Coach Ray Cottiers Leaves Classroom to Lead Varsity Prep USA Full-Time 

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The Hasbrouck Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce is the sponsor of the borough’s most popular spring event, held annually along the Boulevard. The Boulevard will be closed to vehicle traffic from Raymond St to Washington Place and is open to the public from 10 am-5 pm.&nbsp; The fair features area merchants, and 100+ quality exhibitors, a special crafter’s section, lots of great food trucks and booths, a kids’ entertainment area, and live music.

Food: Come hungry! Some of the local eateries will be participating in outdoor dining along with a variety of gourmet food trucks and food vendors serving lobster rolls, gyros, shish kabobs, barbeque, zeppole, arepas, funnel cakes, fried Oreo’s, sausage &amp; pepper sandwiches, empanadas, cheese steaks, Kettle corn, ice cream, lemon ice, burgers, fries, hot dogs, ice cream, pastries, bread, churros, chicken sandwiches, fresh mozzarella, espresso drinks, donuts, lemonade and more. There’s a beer garden too!…located at the<a href="https://search.yahoo.com/local/s;_ylt=AwrNaWlMPVNmSOEFAmK7m4lQ;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny?p=restaurants+hasbrouck+heights+nj&amp;ei=UTF-8&amp;hsimp=yhs-searchtool&amp;hspart=airfind&amp;grd=1&amp;selectedId=126316845&amp;fr=yhs-airfind-searchtool" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">&nbsp;Heights</a><a href="https://search.yahoo.com/local/s;_ylt=AwrNaWlMPVNmSOEFAmK7m4lQ;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny?p=restaurants+hasbrouck+heights+nj&amp;ei=UTF-8&amp;hsimp=yhs-searchtool&amp;hspart=airfind&amp;grd=1&amp;selectedId=126316845&amp;fr=yhs-airfind-searchtool" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://search.yahoo.com/local/s;_ylt=AwrNaWlMPVNmSOEFAmK7m4lQ;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny?p=restaurants+hasbrouck+heights+nj&amp;ei=UTF-8&amp;hsimp=yhs-searchtool&amp;hspart=airfind&amp;grd=1&amp;selectedId=126316845&amp;fr=yhs-airfind-searchtool" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Bar and Grill</a> at 163 Boulevard.
Kids Zone: The children’s entertainment area features kiddie inflatables, a trackless train, face painters, games, sand art, slime, and more fun activities. Kids, make sure to visit “Gina the Balloon Lady” for your FREE balloon character or head ware…compliments of the Hasbrouck Heights Chamber of Commerce. Her booth is located by the kids zone on the north end of the fair, by Kipp Ave.Shopping: If you like shopping, this is the place to be. This festival will feature over 100 exhibitors and local merchants selling products, new items, and collectibles.&nbsp; There is a special section with handmade crafts from local crafters and artisans with unique, one-of-a-kind items.&nbsp; Also, stop by the many sponsor booths to see what goodies they are handing out.
Entertainment: The free concerts highlight popular cover bands on the main stage on Raymond St. There is a 2nd music area on Hamilton Ave., which showcases local talent, including karate, dance, and music schools.&nbsp; We look forward to seeing you at this year’s event.

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At Paul Miller Toyota, we’re proud to serve our community with a simple focus—delivering an exceptional automotive experience built on trust, transparency, and results. With decades of experience in the Toyota brand, our team is committed to helping every customer find the right vehicle for their needs, whether it’s a new Toyota, a quality pre-owned vehicle, or flexible leasing and financing options. What truly sets us apart is our people. From our sales professionals to our service team, we believe in going the extra mile to create a smooth, stress-free experience from start to finish. As we continue to grow, we’re excited to welcome customers to our new state-of-the-art showroom in Pine Brook, designed to make the car-buying experience more comfortable, efficient, and customer-focused than ever before. At Paul Miller Toyota, we don’t just sell cars—we build long-term relationships with our customers and our community. Whether you’re visiting us for the first time or have been with us for years, you can expect professionalism, respect, and a commitment to doing things the right way. We look forward to welcoming you.

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Theta Grove – Luxury 55+ Living in Vernon, New Jersey Welcome to Theta Grove, a beautifully designed 55+ rental community offering modern comfort, elegant living spaces, and a relaxed lifestyle in the scenic township of Vernon, New Jersey. Thoughtfully created for active adults seeking maintenance-free living, Theta Grove combines contemporary architecture with upscale finishes and peaceful surroundings. Each residence features spacious, open-concept layouts, modern kitchens, large windows that fill the apartments with natural light, and private balconies where residents can relax and enjoy the surrounding views. Every detail has been carefully considered to provide comfort, convenience, and a refined living experience. THETA GROVE Hello Neighbor, Designed for those ready to enjoy the next chapter of “No more outdoor maintenance." No more surprises. Just modern, spacious 55+ living with everything taken care of. ”We wanted to personally invite you to stop by for your personal Apartment Tours at Theta Grove. 🏡 What You’ll Experience • Guided tours of model residences • Full access to community amenities • Meet the Theta Grove team ✨ Designed for Modern Living • Spacious 1-bedroom &amp; 1-bedroom + den apartments • Quartz countertops &amp; stainless-steel appliances • In-unit washer &amp; dryer • Private balconies (select units) • Elevator-served building with upscale finishes 🌿 Community Amenities • Fitness center • Resident lounge &amp; game room • Outdoor BBQ &amp; gathering areas • Bocce court • Garage &amp; surface parking 🎯 Now Leasing • Starting at $2,350/month • Immediate move-ins available • Prime Vernon Town Center location 🎁 Special Leasing Offer ONE MONTH FREE on a 13-month lease Lease must start on or before 01/30/26

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New Milford, NJ|Featured Classified|Announcement|8h

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