2017 12 27 obs1 by The Observer Newspaper

December 27, 2017 • www.theobserver.com • Vol. CXXX, No. 33

HIGHLIGHTS Kearny’s Town Council rejects special Sunday liquor ordinance. Page 3.

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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

Suddenly conservative: Council rejects liquor ordinance By Ron Leir rleir@theobserver.com KEARNY — The Kearny governing body on Dec. 18 defeated a proposal (ordinance) to permit liquor store retailers to open early when Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve fall on a Sunday. Voting for the measure were Mayor Alberto Santos and Town Council members Carol Jean Doyle and Richard Konopka; in the opposition were council members Eileen Eckel, Susan McCurrie, Marytrine DeCastro, Peter Santana and Albino Cardoso. Councilman Michael Landy was absent. Representatives from BuyRite Liquors on Harrison Ave. and Kearny Plaza Discount Liquors on Passaic Ave. spoke in favor of the proposed amendment to the town’s ABC code at the public hearing on the measure. There were no objectors from the public. When the ordinance was introduced earlier in the month, Santos said he’d been approached by a liquor retailer asking the town to

consider changing business hours to allow for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages to begin at 9 a.m. – instead of noon – on those holidays when they fall on a Sunday, as they do this year. The time adjustment was desired, according to Santos, because those days – Christmas Eve in particular – are typically big sales days for liquor stores in Kearny and elsewhere. Santos was willing to go along; not so, however, for a majority of the council – one of the rare instances where the mayor and legislative branch – or at least a majority – have split. For Albino Cardoso, a First Ward representative, “there was no reason to make an exception” in the schedule for retail liquor sales. Customers, he said, “can buy the day before [the holiday]” or at some other time. “There’s no need to do that [change the time].” McCurrie, a representative of the Fourth Ward, agreed. “I didn’t feel it was something we needed to do,” she said. “I’ve always regarded [the Sunday

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Inside this edition ... Opinion....................................................................8 Food & Dining Directory.............................................12 Sports & Recreation...................................................13 Health & Wellness Directory.......................................17 Real Estate..............................................................18 Real Estate Directory................................................20 Obituaries................................................................21 Classifieds...............................................................22 Business Directory....................................................26

morning sale restriction] as a ‘time out,’ when you can’t buy liquor.’’ Sunday sanctity was a theme echoed by Santana, who represents the Second Ward. “Kearny is a place for families,” he said, “and while I understand the business side of the issue, I don’t think the majority of my constituents have any interest in going out and buying liquor during that time.” Many of the residents in his ward, Santana said, prefer to use that time to attend worship services. Or, he said, “it’s good to stay home and enjoy the company of your family instead of going to a bar or liquor store.” And, Cardoso added, if the timing was such a significant issue from a business point of view, why didn’t more

retailers show up for the hearing? “We have a lot of liquor stores in Kearny,” he noted, yet, only two retailers appeared. If local liquor retailers opt to press for the town to reconsider their stance on changing the Sunday hour provision, they might want to make a note the next time Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday is 2022. In other business at the Dec. 18 meeting, the mayor and council did agree to pass a resolution calling on the state legislature to restore a shortfall of $434,241 in intermunicipal meadows tax sharing funding due Kearny for 2016 and calling on the N.J. Sports & Exposition Authority to remedy a shortfall of $2,155,304 “that remains unpaid” for 2017. The governing body also

approved a memorandum of agreement with the Association of Department and Assistant Department Heads and Kevin Murphy that, according to town CFO Shuaib Firozvi, raises Murphy’s annual pay as deputy DPW superintendent, from his current step 5 level of $87,090 to step 12 level of $96,936. Murphy “assumed the functional duties as the department head of Public Works in the absence of the Superintendent of Public Works effective Nov. 1, 2017,” the MOA resolution states. Nov. 1 is the date Gerry Kerr retired as DPW superintendent. Murphy lacks state certification for municipal DPW superintendent so he is continuing to work in his old title, Firozvi said.

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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

BPD seek 3 would-be burglars By Ron Leir rleir@theobserver.com BELLEVILLE – Belleville police are looking for three people who reportedly tried to kick in the front door of a Columbus Ave. home in a burglary attempt shortly before 1 p.m. on Dec. 15. However, after hearing several loud bangs on the door, the homeowner yelled out, prompting the would-be burglars to run to a 4-door black Cadillac CTS and drive

away, last seen heading south on Columbus, police said. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call detectives at 973-450-3361. ••• The BPD logged two recent, unrelated incidents involving package thefts that resulted in arrests. Shortly after 12:30 p.m. Dec. 14, a Rutan Road family told police they’d received a package on their porch containing an iPhone X valued at $1,300 they didn’t order and, suspecting a set-up, a family

member proposed putting out another package as a lure for the suspected thief. About an hour later, someone took the bait, police said, when a family member saw a man on the porch pick up the package and start to leave, but not before the family member exchanged words with him and wrote down a partial plate number of a mini-van in which he drove off. After getting the information, police stopped the van on the 600 block of

Joralemon St. and arrested the driver, Daniel Alvarez, 25, of Passaic, on charges of receiving stolen property (the iPhone) and theft (the decoy package). On Dec. 13, police arrested Michael Ramos, 33, of Newark, on a charge that he stole a UPS package from the front porch of a N. 15th St. home in Bloomfield earlier that day. Police said Ramos may be linked to other package thefts including one in Belleville where a surveillance camera reportedly shows him taking a

package from a Wilson Place home. The BPD is advising residents it is working with a private company, Ring.com, which is offering to install a discounted battery-powered video surveillance system. If 10 or more residents on a given street opt to have the system, it allows those users to communicate with each other about burglary incidents and/or with police. The Los Angeles PD did a similar program with the same system there, police said.

2 guns found on miscreant driver: HPD HARRISON — It started with a problem involving rules of the road. From there, things mushroomed — all leading to the arrest of an armed Newark

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assist, Doyle said. While questioning the driver — identified as Jempsley Brun, 32 — officers detected the Jempsley Brun strong smell of suspected marijuana, Doyle said. When they ordered the driver out of the vehicle, Brun reportedly placed the car in gear and attempted to drive away, Doyle said, but Gregory managed to reach inside the Accord and place the gear shift back in park as Silva and Karas took control of Brun. As Brun was being removed from the car, he reportedly tried to pull a loaded revolver from his waistband as the officers were handcuffing him; however, he was subdued before he could inflict any harm on the officers, Doyle said. Doyle said a search incident

to arrest yielded two loaded weapons on Brun — a .22-caliber General Precision Corp. revolver and a 9-mm semi-automatic Smith & Wesson handgun — both found to be stolen … along with an assortment of drugs believed to be prepared for distribution, including suspected marijuana, cocaine, crack, mushrooms and Ecstasy, a digital scale commonly used to weigh CDS meant for distribution and a police scanner. Brun was arrested and charged with more than 15 crimes, including numerous drug and weapons offenses, resisting arrest and possession of stolen property. He was also ticketed for allegedly failing to use a turn signal. According to Doyle, the semi-automatic weapon was reported stolen out of Virginia and the revolver was listed as stolen from California. The suspect was transported to Hudson County Jail pending court action. — Ron Leir

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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

Across America, wreaths honor veterans By Karen Zautyk kzautyk@theobserver.com BELLEVILLE — At St. Peter’s Church Cemetery on William St. in Belleville, more than 90 red-ribbon-bedecked wreaths now mark the graves of township residents who served with honor in our nation’s military. The holiday tribute is part of a program called Wreaths Across America, which was officially launched in 2007 and had grown progressively

Belleville High School students, played a vital role in the entire project, even tying all those velvet bows and attaching them to the wreaths -- 130 in total. St. Peter’s was not the only site where local veterans were honored. Wreaths have also been placed at the historic Dutch Reformed Church and Christ Episcopal Church cemeteries. Perrone noted: “In addition to the wreaths placed at the graves of the veterans buried in

America program, the BHS and Kennedy’s civic group sponsored a dozen wreaths for placement at Arlington National Cemetery. Your correspondent also had known nothing about the national project, until this year, when Belleville joined. It apparently began in the 1970s with a single family -- the Worcesters of Maine. Its entire fascinating, and uplifting, story can be found at wreathsacrossamerica.org. Here’s just a sample: “In

2008, over 300 locations held wreath-laying ceremonies in every state, Puerto Rico and 24 overseas cemeteries. Over 100,000 wreaths were placed on veterans’ graves. Over 60,000 volunteers participated. “In 2014, Wreaths Across America and its national network of volunteers laid over 700,000 memorial wreaths at 1,000 locations in the United States and beyond, including ceremonies at the Pearl Harbor Memorial, as

well as Bunker Hill, Valley Forge and the sites of the September 11 tragedies.” Also in 2014, the organization met its goal “of covering Arlington National Cemetery … with the placement of 226,525 wreaths.” The entire project is clarified in the words of its executive director, Karen Worcester, who said of the veterans: “We are not here to ‘decorate graves.’ We’re here to remember not their deaths, but their lives.”

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every year -- its goal being “to remember and honor our country’s fallen heroes” and to teach younger generations “about the value of their freedoms and the importance of honoring those who sacrificed so much to protect those freedoms.” This year, Belleville joined the project, led locally by Belleville Historical Society President Michael Perrone and Councilman Kevin Kennedy. The BHS and Kennedy’s Civic Association both organized the effort and raised the money, approximately $800, to fund it. And, Perrone noted, thanks go to the Nutley-Belleville Shop-Rite, which provided the greenery at cost. At noon on Saturday, Dec. 16, Fr. Ivan Sciberras, St. Peter’s pastor, blessed the wreaths at a ceremony attended by Mayor Raymond Kimble, Board of Education Trustees Tom Grolimond and Nelson Barrera, and American Legion Post 105 Commander Rich Holt, all of whom then joined a dozen volunteers in placing the wreaths in the snow-covered graveyard. Volunteers, including

Belleville’s three cemeteries, one large wreath was set in the veterans’ section of Bloomfield’s Glendale Cemetery and additional wreaths were set at other outof-town graves of historical significance.” Perrone said these included the burial sites of Belleville World War I veteran, Pvt. Harry Garside, in Kearny’s Arlington Cemetery; the grave, in Rockaway, N.J., “of Revolutionary War Gen. William Winds, who marched his battalion to reinforce Belleville during the Battle of Second River in 1777, and that of Capt. John Post, in Passaic, who destroyed the bridge over the Passaic River in 1776, preventing the British pursuit of George Washington and the Continental Army.” Another wreath was placed “in Baylor Park in River Vale, burial site of the Continental cavalrymen who were massacred while they slept.” [This savagery by the Brits, an event about which your correspondent knew nothing, occurred in 1778, and we intend to find out more and visit the Bergen County site.] In addition, through the Wreaths Across

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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

KPD: You snooze, you lose By Karen Zautyk kzautyk@theobserver.com

POLICE BEAT

KEARNY — KPD Officer Esteban Gonzalez, on patrol in the Walmart lot at 10:53 p.m., Dec. 11, noticed a 2013 Nissan with no front license plate and a rear plate hanging on by just one screw. Police said a check of the registration showed that one was not on file, and a check of the VIN revealed the vehicle was stolen. Approaching the car, police said, Gonzalez observed, in plain view: three hypodermic needles, a glass vial of suspected cocaine, and a female sleeping in the back seat. When repeated raps on the window drew no response, Kearny EMS was summoned, but when the medics arrived, the woman -- identified as Tiarah Wheeler, 32, of Newark -- had awakened from

her slumber and reportedly refused medical attention. Wheeler did, however, get a somewhat more comfortable bed. In the Hudson County Jail, where she was remanded on two outstanding warrants (both full bail): one from Newark, $5,000, prostitution; one from Irvington, $750, a CDS offense. In Kearny, she has been charged with: receiving stolen property; possession of CDS and CDS paraphernalia; possession of the hypos and possession of a burglary tool -- a screwdriver. Which we presume did not work very well on the license plate.

••• Other recent reports from the Kearny police blotter included the following: Dec. 11 At 12:53 p.m., headquarters received a report that a woman had tried to deposit a bad check, in the amount of $2,367.82, at the Provident Bank on Kearny Ave. and then fled north in a blue 2006 Suzuki. Officer Richard Poplaski Jr. stopped the car at Kearny and Beech St. and arrested passenger Maria Fields, 23, of Jersey City, who police said was identified by bank employees. Although she reportedly claimed that she had been depositing the check for a friend and did not know it was bad, she was charged with the offense and released on a summons.

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Dec. 12 At 9:05 p.m., Det. Michael Andrews saw a man and a woman walking east on Johnston Ave. and reportedly looking up and down driveways and alleyways. When the detective stopped them for questioning at John St., police said they gave conflicting stories and the man was observed dropping a glass vial of suspected crack cocaine on the ground. Back-up Officers Jose Castillo and Victor Girdwood and Sgt. Scott Traynor arrived and Vasilio Karagiannis, 40, of Kearny, was arrested on charges of possession of crack and drug paraphernalia and was remanded to the county jail. His companion, a 49-year-

Dec. 18 The KPD was at Marshalls on Passaic Ave. at 5:44 p.m., investigating a shopliftingturned-robbery, when a report came in that apparently the same individuals had just fled Kmart in a black Lexus SUV. About an hour later, Kearny HQ got a call from the Belleville PD that two people matching the suspects’ description were at the Kmart in that town. Taken into custody, Joseph Lozada, 25, of (Christmas-seasoncoincidental) Bethlehem, Pa., reportedly was ID’d by a Kearny Kmart employee as a ‘kulprit’ there and was charged with shoplifting, theft and conspiracy. Belleville officers said they then located the Lexus idling in the store lot and found it occupied by Judith Lee, 18, of East Rutherford, who was charged with conspiracy. Both ended up in the Hudson County Jail. Police said $330.94 worth of fragrances had been stolen from Marshalls, and $1,131.93 in miscellaneous items from Kearny Kmart.

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In observervance of New Year’s Day, The Observer’s office will be closed on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. We will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018, at 9 a.m. We wish all of our readers and advertisers a happy and healthy — and safe — New Year.

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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

A look back at 2017 as reported by The Observer newspaper By Ron Leir & Kevin Canessa Observer Journalists

he calendar year 2017, like most years, saw its share of ups and downs. It saw the untimely and shocking death of Kearny Councilman Jonathan Giordano and trailers finally being removed from Kearny High School. It saw one police chief retire and a new one take office in Kearny. And there was so much more. So with the year coming to an end, Ron Leir and Kevin Canessa, two of The Observer’s journalists, will take you, now, on a journey — looking back at the top stories that made headlines. Some stories are good. Some, not so good. Regardless, we hope you enjoy our recap of 2017. January to June is recapped by Canessa. July to December is recapped by Leir. January The year 2017 kicks off with a look at the new Wittpenn Bridge that will ultimately connect Kearny and Jersey City. Leir and Canessa take a tour of the new span and report it won’t open until for several more years, well behind schedule. Manet Thomas, a resident of Kearny, dies after injuries she sustained while at an apartment in East Rutherford in December 2016. Francis Tattoli, arrested Dec, 18, 2016, in connection to the crime, has charges upgraded to murder and felony murder among others. He is remanded to the Bergen County Jail, Hackensack, where he awaits trial. Michelle Malone becomes Belleville’s new principal librarian. She replaces Joan Taub, who held that same position for many years and who retired in December 2016. Kearny’s Davis Ave. Firehouse, a dilapidated mess, is prepared for a makeover. One construction company bids on the

project, which is ultimately completed in June. Meanwhile, in perhaps the year’s most shocking story, Kearny’s Second Ward Councilman Jonathan Giordano, 50, dies just outside his place of business on Jan. 7. Later reports reveal he had a heart attack. Giordano is found inside his vehicle, which had caught fire, following his cardiac incident. January was also the month the Archdiocese of Newark got its first-ever cardinalarchbishop in Joseph Tobin. Tobin is installed as archbishop Jan. 6, replacing the oft-maligned John J. Myers, who was archbishop of Newark from 2001 (a month after 9/11) until late 2016. In his State of the Town address, Kearny Mayor Alberto G. Santos says he hopes to keep a lid on property taxes in 2017. John DeRosa is sentenced to life in prison, having been convicted of the 2009 murder of Kearny jeweler Xavier Egoavil. Fred Confessore, a longtime Harrison schools administrator, retires after 43 years of service to the district. He continues to run a deli in Harrison, among other ventures. Meanwhile, Observer Correspondent Karen Zautyk introduces Karl Petry, Kearny’s resident psychic, to the public. Petry is currently filming a documentary on his paranormal abilities. In a local first, the Kearny Recreation Department issues directives on dealing with transgender children participating in youth sports. The town promises to stay in the forefront by offering a “safe, supportive and inclusive environment for all participants,” including children who identify as transgender. After an exhaustive effort, Maj. Gen. Philip Kearny is accepted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Local residents took on the initiative, which

included making the public aware of Kearny’s many accomplishments. Lyndhurst becomes the first local town to offer WiFi hotspots that can be checked out of the library for patrons to use at home. (Kearny eventually followed with the same.) The program is ideal for families with children who cannot afford home Internet service. Patrons may keep the hotspots for one week. If no one else requests a hotspot, the sign-out period can be extended by a week. January ends with a flurry of police and fire promotions. Anthony Limite is promoted to police lieutenant; Christopher Levchak and Pete Blair are promoted to police sergeants; and firefighters Lorenzo Tirado and Vic Girdwood are promoted to captains.

Observer file photo

The late Kearny Councilman Jon Giordano.

February The year’s second month brings the story of brothers Matt and Timothy Farias, two Kearny boys who bring food and necessities to Newark’s homeless population. They began their efforts November

2016. Gov. Chris Christie pays a visit to Washington Elementary School, Nutley, and spends time speaking to a group of older children See RECAP, Page 9

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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

thoughts&views The contents of letters do not reflect the opinion of The Observer staff. Letters must be kept to a maximum of 250 words. Any letters that exceed the maximum will be edited, at the discretion of the publisher, who reserves the right at any time to reject or edit the letters for space. Letters must include the writer’s name, address, and telephone number for verification purposes. The deadline for letters is Thursday at 5 p.m. Any letters that arrive after deadline will not be considered for the upcoming publication. Letters can be sent by e-mail to editorial@theobserver.com or mailed to 39 Seeley Ave., Kearny, N.J. 07032. Anonymous letters will not be published under any circumstances.

A (belated) Christmas Story By Karen Zautyk ometimes I wonder why my parents did not put me up for adoption. I wonder this particularly around Christmastime, when three specific childhood memories come to mind. The first incident occurred when I was 3 and we were living in Jersey City. One night, my parents bundled me up and took me for a walk to nearby Journal Square where a “surprise” awaited. On Bergen Ave., where it met Hudson (now Kennedy) Boulevard, there was a piano store. In the window, there was a life-sized mechanical Santa Claus sitting at the keyboard playing holiday tunes. I am sure my parents thought I would be thrilled, my having never seen Santa “in person” before. Instead, the sight scared the bejeebers out of me and I screamed and tried to flee down the street. Consolations and explanations did not help. So much for comfort and joy. The following year, Mommy and Daddy took me to Macy’s in Manhattan, where I could sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what I wanted for Christmas and have my photo taken with him. Now, I knew this was not the real Santa, but just one of his many helpers who did department store and parade duty while Santa himself remained at the North Pole with his elves, putting in toy-making overtime as Christmas approached. But, now being a grand old 4 years of age, I was ready to meet the pretender. I remember the line was incredibly long, winding between the stanchions and velvet ropes, and my mother stood patiently with me holding my hand. Finally, we were at the head of the line — and Santa smiled and beckoned me forward. And I screamed and tried to flee into the toy department. My father caught me before I could get too far, and I think my mother actually apologized to Mr. Claus for my behavior. So much for that treat.

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Correction

By the next Christmas, we had moved to Newark, and I was 5 and had overcome my fear. [See photo, taken at either Bamberger’s or Kresge’s.] I still don’t understand my earlier terror, for I was always a true believer in Santa and his kindness. On Christmas Eve, I had always put out milk and cookies and fell asleep listening for the sound of sleighbells. The next morning, the milk glass would be empty, there would be only crumbs on the cookie plate and the living room would be full of toys. I knew my parents had bought some of them — but I was also certain that at least a few had arrived by sleigh. Some of my little friends were already skeptics and would challenge my belief. Example: “You live in an apartment building with no chimney. How does Santa get down from the roof?” My answer: “The fire escape.” “How can reindeer fly?” “How can one sleigh carry toys for all the children in the world?” “How can Santa travel around the world in one night?” My answer to all: “Magic.” But, as might be expected, eventually I, too, began to question the truth of the Santa story. I think I was 6 or

7 when I wrote the letter and put it next to the cookie plate. I wanted to know if Santa was real. I wanted an answer from HIM. And on Christmas morning, there it was — a handwritten note. I cannot recall the exact wording, but it was more than just a few lines. And it basically came down to something like, as long as you believe in me, I exist. My reaction? “That›s not an answer!” I wailed. “I wanted a ‘yes’ or a ‘no!’” I think I crumpled it up and threw it in the trash. Years later, I read the “Yes, Virginia” story, involving 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon’s 1897 letter to the New York Sun and the famous response by editorial writer Francis Pharcellus Church. It brought back memories of the note I had received. Of course, I had also eventually become aware that my note from Santa had been written by my father. (And, no, he did not plagiarize “Yes, Virginia.”) It had been written from his heart, which I likely broke by my bratty reaction. Yet, I never thanked him, and he has been gone for many years. And I never apologized. So, I will do it now. Thank you, Daddy. I am very sorry. And I love you so very much.

Last week’s Observer story about the removal of outdoor classroom trailers from the lawn of Kearny High School incorrectly characterized an $8 million bond issue floated to repair the high school’s exterior brickwork. That bond was issued by the Kearny Board of Education.

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

RECAP

Continued from Page 7 about the dangers of opioid abuse. The governor used opioid abuse as a platform for his final year as a lameduck governor. Meanwhile, Peter Santana, an admin in the Harrison school system, is appointed Second Ward Councilman in Kearny, replacing the late Jon Giordano. Santana’s selection is unanimous — the vote is 8-0 in his favor. Several councilmembers and Mayor Al Santos note Santana’s selection was fortified by his being tri-lingual — Santana speaks English, Portuguese and Spanish fluently. Kearny’s Second Ward has a heavy non-English speaking population. Since Santana took his seat, he’s distinguished himself as a go-getter and is seen at almost all town-sponsored events. Officials in Harrison, meanwhile, announce cops will begin, in March, working 12-hour shifts. This change comes as a result of a new collective-bargaining agreement. Also in February, Kearny officials begin to solicit input from residents on how to best upgrade the Gunnell Oval recreation complex off Schuyler Ave. A final decision isn’t made until much later on in the year. Police in Belleville announce that a man who crashed a car had actually been shot prior to the incident. The victim’s name is not released. March The month begins with word the Town of Kearny seeks its share of $8.75 million in funding to fight opioid abuse among youngsters. In Harrison, Alex Loy and Rich Lourenco, of the Harrison Police Department, are promoted to lieutenants and Joe Carr, Stan Titterington, Charlie Schimpf, Mike Halpin and Corey Karas are all promoted to sergeants. In Kearny, Charles Smith and John Plaugic are both promoted to KPD lieutenants. Belleville’s Carrie Borkowski, a graduate of

Belleville High School, continues her Peace Corps journey in Rwanda. She makes it clear she’s on “a mission for peace.” March also saw Kearny High School’s winter musical called “Bring it On.” The show is based on a 2000 movie and 2012 Broadway show of the same name. In Lyndhurst, Wayne and Donna Alexander are cited by then-Public Safety Commissioner John Montillo for their 33 years of service to the Lyndhurst Auxiliary Police Department. The couple have been married for 44 years. In Kearny, two routine (separate) traffic stops lead to the recovery of two handguns. In Belleville, an elderly outof-town woman is hit by a car — twice — and she survives to tell a tale. The 83-yearold woman, whose name is not released, was struck at Joralemon St. and S. Franklin Ave. by one car — then a second car accidentally ran her over as she lay in the street, injured. The first strike was by someone driving a township-issued DPW vehicle, the driver of which was not criminally charged, but instead issued summonses for, failure to report an MV crash, careless driving and failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. The driver of the second card was not criminally charged or assessed any tickets. Kearny resident and Hudson County Community College President Glen Gabert is named grand marshal for the Jersey City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Gabert has been HCCC president since 1992. Meanwhile, a group of North Arlington-based cheerleaders placed first in a nationwide competition in Houston, Texas. March also saw yet another successful West Hudson St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The cold weather of the day didn’t keep the crowd away either — the parade was quite well attended, indeed. In Kearny, mold in the basement of the Town Hall Annex on Kearny Ave. is cleaned up. Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal, now Gov. Elect Phil Murphy’s nominee for state Attorney General, announces a 6.9% increase

Observer file photo

Kearny Second Ward Councilman Peter Santana (r.) takes his oath of office as administered by Mayor Alberto Santos.

in opioid overdoses in the county in 2016 over the

previous year. There were 308 in 2016 and 288 the year

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Continued from previous page prior. Attorney General Chris Porrino announces an increase in social mediabased charity scams. The Kearny Fire Department purchases new turnout gear thanks to a significant federal grant of nearly $248K. The grant also covers the purchase of new air packs, according to Chief Steven Dyl. Crime in Kearny, meanwhile, hits a 16-year low, according to the Uniform Crime Index — with a 4% drop in 2016 over 2015. Only robberies and motor-vehicle thefts saw an indexed rise. All other categories either

remain steady or dropped, then-Chief John P. Dowie tells The Observer. Ana D. Matos is named Kearny’s new court administrator. As Matos is appointed, Gerry Kerr, the town’s longtime DPW superintendent, announces he’ll retire in November. Similarly to Lyndhurst, the Kearny Public Library reports it has obtained WiFi hotspots for library patrons to take home. The Alcatel devices are provided by T-Mobile at a nominal cost to the library and offer highspeed, 4G-LTE service. “CBS This Morning’s” Gayle King speaks at Bloomfield College in late March. The award-winning

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Observer file photo

Scouts from Unit 305 listen to the Rev. Joe Mancini, pastor of St. Stephen’s, prior to heading off to Ground Zero and the new World Trade Center complex on a hike (and PATH ride.)

journalist fields questions from audience members. The speech comes several months before her co-host, Charlie Rose, is ousted from his role in alleged sexual encounters. Former U.S. Sen. and First Lady Hillary Clinton attends a funeral in Harrison for former East Newark Resident John O’Kane, a former Borough Councilman.

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As March ended, we learn of a federal raid on a Kearny Ave. rooming house. Opioids were found in the place. The Kearny Fire Department hires 13 new firefighters. At present, they’ve completed their academy training and are now on the job. St. Michael’s Church, Lyndhurst, is robbed for the second time in 2017 as March comes to an end. The suspect is caught on surveillance video. April As the year’s fourth month commenced, word comes that the Hudson Arts & Sciences Charter School, currently based at the former St. Stephen’s School (and later, Mater Dei Academy), is looking take over the former St. Cecilia Grammar and High schools. Eventually, the school hopes to expand to include a high school that would be based in the old Saints high school building. Meanwhile, the Kearny PD says three people were saved by the drug (the generic version of) NARCAN. The KPD is one of many departments that utilize the drug to save people who overdose on narcotic drugs. Lyndhurst businessman Richard Yanuzzi, of Belleville, is arrested by state Treasury agents following an inspection of his Ridge Road cigar shop. He’s charged with several counts relating to tax evasion. The Rev. Paul Gulya is appointed pastor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus American National Catholic

Church. The parish, not connected to the Roman Catholic Church, has many similarities to that church. Word comes down the construction project at Kearny High School is winding down. Ultimately, construction continues through the rest of the year. Scouts from Unit 305, connected to St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church, hike from the Kearny Ave. church to the Harrison PATH station and pay a visit to the new World Trade Center site. The Scouts pay homage to those who died Sept. 11, 2001 — and visit St. Paul’s Chapel, Manhattan, and members of the FDNY. Kearny Mayor Al Santos, meanwhile, gets results at Walmart. For months, the entranceway off the Newark-Jersey City Turnpike, had severe potholes that cause a lot of flat tires. After complaining to the CEO of the mega store, the potholes are filled — and the entranceway is finally repaved. Still in Kearny, the Town Council adopts an ordinance that would give the chief of police greater power to regulate the operation of pawn shops. Harrison cop Joseph Sloan and firefighter Ray Tremer III are named Policeman and Firefighter of the Year respectively. Both are cited for going above and beyond the call of duty. In Kearny, local resident and Kearny FD dispatcher Kim Luciano debuts a Continued on the next page

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

Continued from previous page support group called Parents Against Drug Dependency (PADD). Nearly 30 attend the group’s initial meeting. Luciano says she wants the stigma attached to drug abuse and drug abusers to end. “Don’t wait until you need the answers,” Luciano says. “Arm yourself with the knowledge now.” The Pulaski Skyway, seemingly under construction forever, still hasn’t reopened as of April, though initial plans had called for such an opening. The NJDOT says it may not fully reopen the Skyway until April 2018 or later. A 36-year-old Chestnut St. resident is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Luisa Cristina Reyna-Tello, 46. Jose CastroLavado, originally from Peru, is reportedly illegally in the United States and faces deportation after his trial. Castro-Lavado is alleged to have killed his estranged partner on April 10. Locally, food pantries continue to struggle with filling shelves. Most pantries say they continue to need canned and non-perishable items. Recent bail reform continues to plague local police departments, especially in Kearny. Over the course of the entire year, Correspondent Karen Zautyk brought countless stories of criminals released because of bail reform, only to reoffend in short periods of time. One such person was a man called Jeremy Postel, of East Newark, who had been arrested on a slew of charges. He spent a night at the Hudson County Jail, South Kearny, was released on bail (reform) 24 hours later — and then a week or so later, was re-arrested on similar charges. In Kearny, Mayor Al Santos and Councilmembers Marytrine DeCastro, Rich Konopka, Carol Jean Doyle and Michael Landy will face no opposition in the upcoming June primary. Same for Peter Santana, who runs to fill out the unexpired term of the-late Councilman Jonathan Giordano. Though independent candidates have until June to file to run, none do. For the 25th consecutive

Observer file photos

Top: The 2017 Passaic River Cleanup. Bottom: Several editions of The Observer circa 1973 were found by Kearny’s Manny Ventoso. The Observer turned 130 on May 14.

year, Kearny’s annual townwide cleanup is spearheaded by Jane Mackesy, of Kearny. The same happens for the annual Passaic River Cleanup, under the direction of Councilwoman Carol Jean Doyle. Kearny’s cop and firefighter of the year are announced. For the KFD, it’s Andy Taylor and for the KPD it’s Richard Poplaski Jr. Kearny prepares to celebrate its 150th birthday with a listing of anniversary events. In Lyndhurst, voters hear from candidates running for the board of commissioners. The election takes place in May. James Lockwood, 39, enters guilty pleas in a series of area robberies. As April comes to a close, Kearny’s Project Graduation committee puts on its annual volleyball tournament, one of the largest fundraisers it has each year to ensure graduates

are safe on commencement night. May Nakia Bent, 35, of Kearny, is arrested and charged with the murder of 70-year-old Lilawatee Ramsaran, of the Bronx. The NYPD says Bent reportedly killed Ramsaran in the basement of her Bronx home. Lewis Battista, 98, of Kearny, is honored by the mayor and Kearny Town Council for his decades of community service. Battista is a World War II veteran. Harrison Mayor James Fife and Kearny EMS Chief Harry McNeill are appointed to the board of directors at St. Michael’s Medical Center, Newark. As Kearny celebrates its milestone birthday, so, too, does The Observer, which turns 130 on May 14. The Arlington Observer debuted on May 14, 1887, as a singlepage broadsheet newspaper.

Currently, The Observer averages 28 pages in a tabloid format. Harrison announces taxpayers won’t see an increase in the municipal portion of their bills in 2017. Robert J. Smith is sworn in as Kearny’s new business administrator. He replaces the retiring Michael Martello. Smith had been in the same position in Washington Township, Gloucester County, in South Jersey, since 2011. Doug Boyle becomes Kearny’s newest fire captain. Boyle is a decorated U.S. Marine who has served tours of duty overseas. Meanwhile, Hudson County officials announce upgrades to a baseball field in West Hudson Park. The grass surface on the baseball diamond will be replaced with easier-to-maintain artificial turf. Yanafi Mojica, of Elizabeth, allocutes to 20 years behind

bars for the 2015 slaying of another man outside a Belleville night club. Mojica, 33, must serve at least 85% of his term before he’s eligible for parole, under the No Early Release Act (which was signed into law by former N.J. Gov. Christine ToddWhitman in 1997.) In another of the more stunning stories of 2017, officials at Queen of Peace High School, North Arlington, announce the cash-strapped school is closing, just one year after a massive fundraising drive kept the school open following the end of the 2015-16 school year. The Rev. Michael Donovan, then pastor of the parish and president of the high school, says the school could have remained open another year, but bucks the Archdiocese of Newark’s plan not to do so. At a public forum for parents, students, alumni and friend of QPHS, Donovan is screamed and yelled at for allowing the school to close — and for having kept it open the year prior. Donovan throws members of the New York City media out of the church, where the meeting takes place, much to the chagrin of those assembled. The forum lasts several hours and is highly contentious throughout. Despite pleas from numerous people assembled, the school closes in June for good, joining St. Anthony High School, Jersey City. In Lyndhurst, four of five candidates aligned with Mayor Robert Giangeruso are elected to the Board of Commissioners. Along with Giangeruso, other winners are Tom DiMaggio, John Montillo, Karen Haggerty and Richard L. Jarvis. Laura Jean Checki, also on Giangeruso’s slate, loses the fifth seat by a meager 3 votes. Montillo runs on the opposition slate. Once sworn in, Giangeruso immediately reclaims his post as publicsafety commissioner, something that had been stripped away from him, unceremoniously, some time ago. The Observer reports of a property in North Arlington that prominently displays a Confederate flag. Though the owner declines to speak with Continued on the next page

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

Continued from previous page with the newspaper about the display, the flag, itself, disappears from display several weeks later — and has not since been seen. Cynthia Baumgartner returns to Harrison as temporary leader of the Harrison school district. She is paid $671 a day for up to 260 days of work (or a potential total of just under $175,000.) May comes to a close with a journey Correspondent Karen Zautyk takes readers on to homes in East Newark

once occupied by men who left the area to fight in World War I — only never to return. Across the river in Newark, the Archdiocese of Newark ordains seven men to the priesthood. Back in Kearny, the owner of the former Rapp’s Boatyard is ordered to clean the place up. It’s been a mess for many years, officials report. Joseph Cardinal Tobin celebrates Mass in the area for the first time at a special Memorial Day liturgy in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. He returns for a

Mass at St. Stephen’s Church, Kearny, in September. June A raging fire at 664 Elm St., Kearny, destroys a home, sent four to hospital and destroys a family’s every possession. A GoFundMe cash drive and clothing drive are both set up as the people of Kearny rally, as usual, behind the family that experiences so much devastation. A special event takes place at the Portuguese Cultural Association that offers non-residents a pathway to potential U.S. citizenship.

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Scores of local residents, who are not American citizens, attend. Mayor Al Santos and Councilmen Peter Santana and Albino Cardoso also attend. In Lyndhurst, bubbles are found in the fountain at Town Hall Park. It takes almost two days to get the bubbles out — and authorities never learn who put the bubbles in the fountain. In North Arlington, a major water main break strikes at the foot of Stevens Place and River Road, essentially shutting down businesses in the area for much of a day. Workers were able to make repairs within 24 hours. The Kearny Farmer’s Market reopens for the new season. The West Hudson Arts & Theater Company — W.H.A.T. — puts on performances of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” A Harrison cop, whose name was not released, was struck by a car he had pulled over. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office says the officer’s gun discharged during the incident. The 27th annual senior citizens picnic takes place at the Doyle Pavilion on Passaic Ave., Kearny. Hundreds of town senior citizens reveled in the music and enjoyed great food and raffles. Councilwoman Carol Jean Doyle once again put on a fantastic day for the elders of Kearny. Richard DiLascio, former mayor of Lyndhurst, was removed from positions as counsel to the township and board of education. DiLascio, a one-time political ally of Mayor Robert Giangeruso, splits from the mayor — and

the change is brought about after Giangeruso re-gained control of the board of commissioners. Redesign of the Gunnell Oval is still up in the air as the town solicits opinions of those involved in town recreation sports, most notably soccer and baseball. Kearny schools announce they’ll be offering beforeand after-care when schools reopen in September. The program is to be available at elementary schools only for students in kindergarten to sixth-grade. The cost is nominal. In one of the more bizarre police blotter entries, Nutley PD announces a resident had exotic fish and a turtle stolen from his outdoor fish tank. Still no word whether the aquatic creatures were recovered. Also in Nutley, a fire truck overturns just outside headquarters and near Township Hall. Fortunately, no injuries are reported. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office investigates. June comes to a close with Kearny High School seniors taking their annual sojourn up and down Kearny Ave., whilst blowing horns and celebrating. Kearny’s Sarah Davie, daughter of Harrison lawyer Ken Davie and his wife, Edna, announces she’ll be heading to the corners of the globe — starting in China — to teach. She’s beaming lessons from wherever she is back to her students in Newark. While she’s gone, she won’t be earning a dime — so the entire journey is paid for by the generosity of her parents and others. See RECAP, Page 17

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

sports&recreation

Kearny winning state crown, QP closing tops Observer Top 10 Sports Stories for 2017 championship game in Toms River, the state sectional championship was certainly memorable — and would eventually become a farewell tribute.

By Jim Hague ogsmar@aol.com There were a ton of newsworthy stories that captured the attention of The Observer readers for the calendar year of 2017. There were triumphs and tragedies. There were champions and there were setbacks. Legendary traditions continued and others sadly ended. Here’s a look at the Top 10 Sports Stories for 2017 for the Observer circulation area.

4-Harrison’s Lucas earns Rutgers Athletic Hall of Fame honor

1-Kearny wins NJSIAA Group IV soccer crown It’s not called “Soccertown, USA” for nothing. In November, the Kearny High School boys’ soccer team went on an unbelievable run that included dramatic come-from-behind overtime wins and even post-game penalty kick shootouts to win their second straight NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group IV championship. But this year, the Kardinals were able to take it one step further. Led by the brilliance of junior do-everything Jose Escandon, who would later be named as the state Player of the Year, the Kardinals defeated Princeton, 3-1, at Kean University, to capture the overall Group IV state championship. Escandon scored two goals in the state title game, capping his sensational season. He ended the year with 21 goals and 17 assists. The victory over Princeton enabled the Kardinals to clinch their first Group IV state title since 2004 and their first outright state title since 2002. The championship in 2004 was shared with Rancocas Valley, when the two teams played to a draw in the state title match. The Kardinals last won the outright Group IV

Photo by Jim Hague The Kearny High School boys’ soccer team celebrated winning the NJSIAA Group IV state championship with a 3-1 win over Princeton at Kean University in November, earning the No. 1 Sports Story of the Year for 2017.

title in 2002 when the Kards defeated Shawnee in the championship game. The win also enabled the Kardinals (19-0-5) to complete their first undefeated season since 1984. The state championship run was the No. 1 sports story locally in 2017. 2-Queen of Peace (1930-2017) closes In May, the Archdiocese of Newark announced that Queen of Peace High School in North Arlington was going to close its doors forever after 87 years. This came on the heels of an expansive and extensive fundraising campaign a year ago that enabled the school to remain open for another year. With the announcement of the school’s closing, it ended a tremendous and historic sports tenure at the school. In fact, Queen of Peace’s achievements garnered two other spots on The Observer’s Top 10 stories of the year

this year. The announcement of the school’s closing caused a range of emotions. “I feel like someone has kicked me in the stomach,” long-time QP athlete, coach and athletic director Ed Abromaitis said at the time. “It stings. It hurts. It’s really a shame. It’s almost like when you know someone is going to pass away, but it still hurts when they do. I knew it was coming. It’s not a shock. But it still stings.” Abromaitis said that he spent 44 years at QP. “It’s 44 years of my life there, so this is a tough day,” Abromaitis said after he received the news. “Someone immediately texted me and reading it, it was like a death notice. I go way back with the school. It was a great place.” 3-Queen of Peace wins NJSIAA Non-Public B North girls’ basketball title The Queen of Peace girls’ basketball team made sure

that their last season ever was among the very best. Not knowing that the school would be announcing its closure two months later, the Golden Griffins embarked on a great run to earn a 78-60 win over state-ranked Saddle River Day in the NJSIAA Non-Public B North championship game at Paterson Kennedy in March. The Golden Griffins received a monster game from their All-American player Raven Farley-Clark, who scored 28 points and grabbed 19 rebounds in the win over Saddle River Day to give the Golden Griffins their first state sectional title since 1990. Farley-Clark earned McDonald’s All-America honors and played in the annual AllStar game in Chicago in April before heading off to LSU. Farley-Clark earned her AllAmerica award just two days prior to the state sectional title game. Although the Golden Griffins lost to Rutgers Prep in the overall Non-Public B state

In October, it was learned that Harrison’s favorite native son Ray Lucas was getting inducted into the Rutgers University Athletic Hall of Fame. So on the day that Lucas was headed to Piscataway to earn his place among some of the most storied names in the history of collegiate sports, Lucas was where he felt he always belonged — with the students at Harrison High. “How else should it be?” Lucas said after receiving a standing ovation from the school’s Student Athlete Leadership Team, a group which features many youngsters who know Lucas personally. “This is where it all began,” Lucas said hours before he was to be feted at a banquet at his college alma mater, where he starred as a quarterback from 1992 through 1995 before heading off to an eight-year career in the National Football League. “This is where I got my luck. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Although Lucas is busy these days as an analyst for the Big 10 Network, for Rutgers University football broadcasts and is a popular host on Jets Nation on the SNY Network, he always finds the time to spend time with the students at his alma mater. After all, Lucas and wife Cecy have raised their three daughters in Harrison. Two of those daughters are currently enrolled in the school. “For me, I’m just home,” See TOP 10, next page

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

TOP 10 Continued from Page 13 “For me, I’m just home,” Lucas said. “This is my place, my town. My parents grew up here. I grew up here. My wife grew up here. My coaches are from here. It’s home. It’s important to me that the kids are here,” Lucas said. “I sat where they sat. I have a responsibility to them. I always want to be around. It hurts me that I couldn’t be there more for the football team this year. But I work seven days a week during the football season. I would love to be here on a permanent basis. I want the kids to see me, see that I care.” 5-Queen of Peace’s final wrestling season ends strongly in Atlantic City In March, what eventually would be the Queen of Peace wrestling team’s final trip to Atlantic City became a historic one, when the Golden Griffins won seven of eight matches on the first night. It ended two days later with

three wrestlers earning medals among the top eight in the state and three others finishing among the top 12 in their respective weight brackets. Needless to say, despite no one coming away with the coveted state championship, it was indeed a weekend to remember for the Golden Griffins. “When the coaching staff met in a huddle, we all agreed that it was a great effort,” said QP head wrestling coach Scot Weaver. “That goes for the entire team down to the final minute. We’re happy with it.” Senior Dominic Mainiero, a Nutley native, overcame a controversial call in the semifinals to earn third place overall in the 182-pound class. Sophomore Enrique Sanchez, a native of North Arlington, took fourth place at 113 pounds. He had to win an ungodly total of six matches in order to claim his fourth place finish. Senior 132-pounder Ray Wetzel finished fifth overall. Wetzel capped a stellar QP career with his second straight medal at the states and 118 career wins.

Photo by Jim Hague Queen of Peace High School, an academic institution in North Arlington since 1930, closed its doors forever in June, ending a tremendous legacy of high school sports excellence.

Needless to say, it was an impressive way for the Golden Griffins to go out.

coxswain of that boat, were getting ready to call it a day around 5 p.m., when Amiths said that he saw a big splash 6-Nutley crew team makes save happen to the side of him. of struggling man in Passaic River “I saw the big splash and a series of short, choppy strugIn May, the Nutley High gling splashes,” Amiths said. “I School crew team was ending told my coach (Judy McIntyre) its regular practice runs on that I thought someone was in the Passaic River in the waters the river.” near East Newark and HarDeHaas agreed. rison. “The man was just flailing Phil Amiths, a junior at around,” DeHaas said. “But he Nutley and a member of the was in the river. He was strugNutley senior four, and Migling.” chael DeHaas, a senior and the McIntyre, who was in an

accompanying motorboat called the launch, also heard the splash. “They yelled right away that someone had jumped,” McIntyre said. “At first, I didn’t believe it,” Amiths said. “I thought something might have fallen into the water. As we got closer, you could see that someone was in the water.” The kids were right. According to Harrison police reports, a 46-year-old African-American male, whose identity has been withheld apparently jumped into the Passaic River from the Bridge Street Bridge that links Harrison and East Newark. Earlier, Harrison police were alerted that a man was about to jump off the bridge in a suicide attempt and two patrolmen were dispatched to the scene. The unidentified male took his wallet and a small plastic bag out of his pocket when approached by police, climbed over the bridge’s railing. One of the police officers tried to grab the man by the arm, but Continued on the next page

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the police report said that the officer could not hold the man and he fell approximately 20 feet into the water. It was then the quick-thinking members of the Nutley crew team went to work. “We threw him a floatation device that we had onboard for safety reasons,” DeHaas said. “Coach grabbed onto the side. The man had no idea what was going on. By that time, he was unresponsive. The only thing he said was, ‘No.’” After all, the waters of the Passaic had to be frigid. The outside temperature hovered around 55 degrees that day. Therefore, the water was much colder, like 15 degrees colder than the outside air. Long stints in the water would have led to hypothermia. Amiths and DeHaas were able to keep the man safe with the floatation device and with the assistance from McIntyre in the motorized launch boat, they were able to bring the man to shore, where he was treated immediately, then brought to St. Michael’s Hospital in Newark for treatment. “I have not seen anything like this before,” McIntyre said. “It was very surreal. It all happened so fast. From the boys seeing it to getting the man help, I’d say it was four minutes. I give the boys credit for being so calm. They knew what they had to do. They held their composure and that’s all I can ask for. Their first instinct was that this man needed help and they did what they had to do to

prominently and proudly on the wall of the town’s Veterans of Foreign War headquarters on Passaic Avenue.

cause I’ve been watching them play for a while. We did it as 10s, so I figured we could do it again as 12s. The core guys were there. We just had to add 8-Nutley American Little a few pieces here and there. I League’s All-Stars have memora- had to make them understand ble run their roles.” The 13 kids selected to The Nutley American Little represent Nutley American League 12-year-old All-Stars and play in the tourney were had a great summer, winning amongst the best young prosthe highly competitive District pects in the area. 8 tournament title before fall“I couldn’t be prouder than ing in the Section 2 champion- what this team achieved this ship round. season,” Schino said. “It took Photo by Jim Hague The District 8 tourney a great team to take us out Queen of Peace girls’ basketball coach Jiovanny Fontan (c.) conducts featured highly competitive (Washington Park of Jersey the final practice in the school’s history, the day before the Golden teams from southern Bergen City).” Griffins lost in the overall NJSIAA Non-Public B state championCounty and eastern Essex The Nutley American Allship game to Rutgers Prep. But the Golden Griffins did defeat Saddle County. Stars lost in the Section 2 title River Day to earn the school’s first state sectional title since 1990. As manager of the Nutley game by a final score of 5-4 in American All-Stars, Woody eight innings. save him.” North Arlington punched Schino had to assemble the its ticket to the state tournabest of the best in the league 9-DiGregorio returns to his old 7-North Arlington Little League ment by capturing the Section and quickly turn them into a role as Nutley grid coach Senior All-Stars win borough’s 2 championship in Fort Lee, team. When Steve DiGregorio first title since 1965 defeating the host squad by a “It was a big thrill for me, stepped down as the head final score of 20-9. because I had most of the football coach at Nutley High In late July and early August, It marked the first time that same kids on our 10-year-old School five years ago, he never the North Arlington Little North Arlington had qualified team that won the District 8 dreamed he would be a head League Senior All-Stars, ages for a state championship in title,” Schino said. “We had a coach ever again. 13 and 14, won both the DisLittle League baseball on any bunch of kids who understood “I thought I was done being trict and Section championlevel since NA captured the their roles on the team, so we a head football coach,” said ships in 2017, earning the right District 8 title back in 1965. thought we had a solid chance DiGregorio, who resigned to play for the state championThe win captured the heart to win the district this time. I after the 2011 season to devote ship. and spirit of the town. For knew the kids and figured out Ironically, that tournament example, the team’s Section 2 See TOP 10, Page 16 that we could win this year bewas held in nearby Lyndhurst. banner that it won was placed

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TOP 10

Continued from Page 15 more of his time to his family. But when Tom Basile resigned after five years with the Maroon Raiders at the close of last season, the thought of returning bounced around in DiGregorio’s mind. After all, DiGregorio is still a U.S. history teacher in the Nutley school district. He’s still close to the program. So it was a no-brainer for everyone to bring DiGregorio back as the head coach. In March, that’s what happened. DiGregorio said that he felt right about returning. “I think the timing was right,” DiGregorio said. “I was very comfortable with it. When I began to consider it, I had to ask my wife first and she was all for it. I talked to my three sons and they’re all in.” The Maroon Raiders qualified for the North Jersey Section 2, Group III playoffs in 2017 in DiGregorio’s return to the Nutley sidelines.

10-Kearny crew lightweight four captures state title The Kearny girls’ lightweight four finished just sixtenths of a second away from winning the Garden State Scholastic Championships a year ago, falling to Absegami. In the first race of the 2017 season, the lightweight four (with a new addition due to graduation) competed and lost once again to Absegami, this time by two seconds. So when the Kardinals went to the Garden State Scholastic Championships again on the Cooper River in Pennsauken in southern New Jersey in May, they were determined to reverse the trend. “Honestly, every year, we have the motivation to do better than last year,” said senior captain Janice Rachumi. “We worked very hard to get back. In the back of our minds, we thought of .06 of a second and we could have won.” The lightweight four of Rachumi, Isabella Martins, Lara Esteves, Ashley Richard and coxswain Rebekah Paszkiewicz, the daughter of coach David Paszkiewicz, com-

Mammography

lington boys’ basketball) stepping down in February and Anthony Marck (North Arlington football) and Basile (Nutley football) stepping down in March; there was the retirement of Kearny athletic director John Millar in January; there was the hiring of former girls’ soccer coach Vin Almeida to replace Millar in Kearny, then the hiring of former Kearny Parade All-American Stefanee Pace Kivlehan to replace Almeida with the girls’ soccer proPhoto by Jim Hague gram; there were the tragic Harrison legend Ray Lucas poses with his wife, Cecy, and three deaths of former Kearny crew daughters after Lucas was feted with a special breakfast at the high standout Jenny Santos (in an school, the same day that Lucas was being inducted into the Rutgers accident at the World Trade University Athletic Hall of Fame. Center escalators) in February, the loss of North Arprised the team that captured and splashing water on each lington football guru Dennis other. We were so happy. It the state title, McCarthy in May and the was the greatest feeling.” This time, there was no Coach Paszkiewicz is proud passing of Harrison softball contest. Kearny won by coach Carmine Ronga in of their achievements. almost three seconds. They June; there was the hiring of “This is one of the best were state champions. former Nutley boys’ soccer groups I’ve ever had,” Paszk“It was a relief,” Esteves coach Marcellino Marra to said. “After three years of try- iewicz said. be the new athletic director ing, we finally beat them. We There were plenty of newswor- at Belleville and the hirdid it.” ing of former Nutley socthy stories that just missed “To take first is a great cer standout Tom Tolve to being achievement,” Martins said. “I replace Marra; there was in our Top 10. couldn’t believe it,” Richard the hiring of former North said. “As soon as we crossed Arlington standout athlete The coaching carousel the finish line, we were crying Paul Savage to replace kept spinning all year, with Rich Corsetto (North ArContinued on the next page

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Marck as the head football coach at North Arlington; there were the memorable achievements like the Kearny boys’ basketball team managing to upset state-ranked St. Peter’s Prep in January; or the reunion of all eight former 1,000-point scorers in school

RECAP

Continued from Page 12 In Kearny, 14 teachers and other para-professionals are given a pink slip. At this point, it’s unclear whether said teachers will be rehired if the district scores additional — and highly necessary — state aid. In Kearny, Recreation Director Ralph Cattafi announces plans for lacrosse and volleyball programs. He puts out a call for coaches in each sport to apply for the open positions. July Seventy-five Nutley youngsters from grades 5 to 8 attend a week-long Junior Police Academy at Spring Garden School. Now in its fifth year, the program sponsored by the Nutley Police Department seeks to build good relations with the community’s youngest members. After prodding by resident Monu Sohal, the Lyndhurst Board of Commissioners pass a law that permits the taping of public meetings of the governing body with certain restrictions. Lyndhurst pays tribute to five local EMS – Nicholas and Paul Haggerty Jr., Dominic Rotundo, Isabella Maldonado and Charles Pelle – for saving the life of DJ Dick Italiano during a Community Pride event at Michael’s Riverside on St. Patrick’s Day. July 4 is commemorated in Belleville, not only as Independence Day, but as the township’s 220th birthday when the village of Second River took on its current name. The township honors the 68 Revolutionary War veterans whose remains lie in the Dutch Reformed Church cemetery. Twelve new police

history to return to a Kearny basketball game in February. There was the heart grabbing story in August of Harrison baseball coach Jairo Mendez receiving a kidney from his brother to survive; there was the incredible tale of North Arlington cross country runofficers, including two women, and seven new firefighters are appointed by the Town of Kearny and prepare to begin their Academy training. Both departments are now closer to their respective ordinance strengths. The Belleville Planning Board designates 81179 Belmont Ave. in the township’s Silver Lake section as an area in need of redevelopment. A joint venture known as BOIC Belleville BCB LLC says it is looking to acquire and develop the site. Kearny’s governing body finalizes a design plan for a remake of its Gunnell Oval recreational complex that calls for artificial turfing of playing surfaces, including a 115-yard-long soccer field but no portable/temporary fencing to separate playing fields. In September the town approves bonding for up to $20.5 million for the project. Harrison’s Nicholas Landy is named one of three New Jersey district governors of the Lions International service organization. Landy is a local history teacher and high school boys’ volleyball coach. Litigation between a disgruntled cop and his employers over his termination comes to an end as Lyndhurst Board of Commissioners agree to a $550,000 settlement with former Police Sgt. John Giammetta. The ex-cop had sought $2 million in damages. Harrison’s tax appeal victory with Red Bull Arena, growing ratable base and phasing out of state transitional aid leads Moody’s Investor Service to upgrade the town’s credit rating, in general obligation debt, from Baa1 to A2. Continued on the next page

ner Sirish Modhagala winning the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference championship in October; there was the retirement in August of Nutley professional wrestler Kevin Knight and his International Wrestling Federation

organization; the great tale of North Arlington’s Maria Polanco and signing a scholarship letter to attend the University of San Diego on a crew scholarship, the firstever crew signing in school history and then there was

the presentations of Observer Male and Female Athletes of the Year in June to Mike O’Donnell of Harrison and Lily Durning of Kearny. All totaled, it was a sensational year to remember in local sports.

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A Belleville physician, Dr. Craig Gialanella, is charged by the state Division of Criminal Justice with writing and selling hundreds of prescriptions for “tens of thousands” of high-dose opioids to a South Jersey drug ring. His arrest prompts the state Attorney General and Division of Consumer Affairs to create a new web-based portal called SAR (Suspicious Activity Report) that will allow pharmacists and the public to “easily report suspected abuse or diversion of controlled substances.” Following the retirement of John Hearns as top cop in the North Arlington Police Department, the borough governing body names Scott Hedenberg the new police chief on July 17. Harrison’s James Doran is sworn in July 13 as the newest member of the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission. Doran also serves as a Harrison councilman and assistant superintendent of schools. Newark resident Donald Myer, 60, is sentenced to 45 months in prison for robbing a Valley National Bank in Belleville in April 2016. He is also ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution. Kearny rolls out its newest senior citizen bus, a 2016 Ford E450

Extended Mini-Bus, which seats 12 and has a wheelchair-lift. The town has a 5-year lease with NJ Transit for its use and, after that, will own it outright. Harrison PD charges N.J. Corrections Officer Michael Floyd with drunk driving July 26. Floyd, a resident of Kearny, was involved in a motor-vehicle crash that day at Supor Boulevard near Ann St. August More than 40 kids, ages 11-13, enroll in Kearny’s Junior Police Academy, running July 24 to Aug. 3, at Lincoln Middle School. They listen to presentations by county, state and federal law enforcement reps and local fire departments and get tips on police training tactics. A legal settlement between Kearny and Hartz Mountain over the value of a master lease for a 26-acre Bergen Ave. tract clears the way for one Hartz tenant, Cummins, to begin operating a truck repair and driver training facility and for a second, Preferred Freezer Services, to start construction. The Kearny Board of Education renews its contract with Superintendent of Schools Patricia Blood through June 30, 2019, whose Continued next page

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION This three bedroom Kearny Manor Colonial has it all. Large comfortable living room with ﬁreplace. Formal dining room, eat in kitchen. Nice walk up to third ﬂoor if an extra room is needed. The full basement contains a half bath, a laundry room and a gas furnace. Drive and garage completes the picture. Only $339,000.

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ARLINGTON REAL ESTATE & INSURANCE AGENCY

James J. Capobianco, President

130 Midland Avenue, Kearny

201-991-0905

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

Continued from previous page pay for the 2017-2018 school year is set at $196,584. Lyndhurst Mayor Robert Giangeruso announces an initiative to transform a retail section of Stuyvesant Ave., near the NJ Transit rail station, into a “restaurant row,” keyed to converting a townshipowned parcel into off-street parking for prospective patrons. On the 155th anniversary of his death, the Belleville Historical Society pays homage to a Union Army captain, Harry Benson, who was mortally wounded in combat at the Battle of Malvern Hill in Virginia July 1, 1862, and died Aug. 11. He was buried in the Dutch Reformed Church cemetery and his funeral – attended by military brass – was reportedly the first official military funeral in the township. A Kearny grassroots group, Education Awareness on Drug Dependency (EADD), spearheaded by activist Kim Luciano, continues its mission to alert the community about the spread of opioid abuse by organizing public forums and support/referral programs. Controversy flares in Kearny Aug. 8 when Mayor Alberto Santos votes against the appointment of Matthew McCurrie to the Kearny Fire Department following a closed

caucus by the governing body for a “review of qualifications to hire firefighters.” But he’s the only dissenter and the appointment goes through. Anthony Chisari is named Kearny’s new construction official. He replaces Michael Martello, who retired from his dual position as town administrator and construction official Aug. 1. Part of Harrison’s history is no more: the Polish National Home, which hosted social and political gatherings since the early 1900s, is torn down following the property’s sale to a potential developer. A forgotten Kearny firefighter hero is recalled when research by Kearny fire cadets turns up information that Firefighter Robert Hamilton died of a heart attack at age 61 while battling a brush fire in the meadows Jan. 13, 1941. An Irish immigrant, he fought in the Spanish-American War and WWI. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office investigates a police-involved shooting Aug. 18 on Greenbrook Drive in Bloomfield that left a 60-year-old alleged domestic violence suspect dead. The historic eclipse of the sun is viewed, among countless others, by some 200 students, staff and visitors, equipped with special glasses, at

LLC

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3 BR Colonial 1 FB Central Air 2 units Liv w fp, Update kitchen w/ granite, driveway 1 car gar Asking $369,900

KEARNY

HARRISON BUSINESS & BUILDING

Classic one of a kind Tudor. European tile, working fireplace, 1 car garage, in-law suite w private entrace. 4 BR, 2.5 Bath, modern EIK, LR, DR, TV RM, Office, FR, Sum Kit + more.

Established Bar, Liquor Lic & Two 2 Br Apartments Asking $725,000

HARRISON

KEARNY SOLD!

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Real Estate & Insurance Since 1891

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Established bar/lounge in Harrison w/ lots of traffic, bar seating and lounge area, includes class C liquor license. dollar/dollar. Asking price $225,000

Media

The Observer newspaper has served the community brilliantly for the last 129 years. To this day, we pride ourselves on producing a top-notch, beautiful newspaper. However, we look to expand our offerings now to become a full-service media company.

West Hudson Publishing would like to offer our customers the following media-based services:

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Continued next page

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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

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Continued from Page 19 Kearny’s Lincoln Middle School on Aug. 21 when 72% of the sun is blocked by the moon. The Belleville school community is jarred by the death of Board of Education trustee Ralph Vellon at the age of 60 on Aug. 21. Later in the year, the school board re-names the High School Academy the Ralph Vellon Academy of Engineering and Medical Sciences to honor his legacy. Republican Mario Karcic is appointed Aug. 22 to fill the North Arlington Borough Council seat vacated by the Aug. 10 resignation of Kerry Hamilton. Ethan Z. Chandler, a 43-year-old Belleville resident who ran a youth sports video production company from his home, is indicted by a state grand jury on charges that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy multiple times after meeting the teen on a social media site. Harrison is awarded its first-ever federal SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response) grant for $1.2 million that will enable the town to hire eight more firefighters. The grant will pay for firefighters’ wages and benefits for three years. After that, the town will assume the full cost. The town, meanwhile, authorizes bonding $1.2 million for a new ladder truck. Kearny’s application for a state Transportation Alternatives grant to set up a bicycle share and bicycle lane project is rejected. The N.J. District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod redesignates the former St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Harrison as the New Life Lutheran Mission and assigns the Rev. Dr. Eric Moeller as its new

Observer file photo

Noted actor Frank Vincent died on Sept. 13. He was 80.

pastor.

Protective Order of Elks. Nutley celebrity Frank September Vincent, who starred On Sept. 7, Joseph as Phil Leotardo in the Cardinal Tobin, TV smash hit “The archbishop of Newark, Sopranos,” and the film makes his first pastoral “Goodfellas,” dies at age visit to West Hudson 80 on Sept. 13. and his Deanery, Lyndhurst celebrates beginning with a stop at its 100th birthday as St. Stephen’s Church in a township with a Kearny. Centennial Celebration Hudson Arts & — a big parade and Science Charter School street fair Sept. 30. begins its second year North Arlington’s of classes in Kearny, Steve Egoavil enlists adding sixth-graders to family, friends and the mix. Next school volunteers in a year is likely to see a campaign to collect seventh grade operating more than $40,000 in out of the old St. Cecilia non-perishable foods, School complex. medical supplies, East Newark Borough infant-care and hygiene School adds a music products and pet food teacher to its faculty for hurricane victims in and supplements its Texas and Florida. academic technology The 22nd annual with the acquisition of Harrison Fest, organized Android tablets for each by Councilman Anselmo student, starting in first Millan, is marked by grade. an opening night Mass The new owners at Holy Cross Church of the former Roche on Sept. 22, followed pharmaceutical site in next day by a parade Nutley sign a second that included some 70 tenant, Modern local organizations and Meadow, a manufacturer an appearance by U.S. of biofabricated leather Sen. Robert Menendez materials, which will (D-Hoboken) and a relocate a part of its street fair. Brooklyn, N.Y. operation Goodwill Industries to Essex County, aided of Greater N.Y. and by the award of $32 Northern N.J. announces million in tax credits it will be closing its by N.J. EDA’s Grow Harrison facility and NJ program. The relocating elsewhere. other tenant will be a Ironstate medical school campus Development and the to be developed as a Pegasus Group host joint venture of Seton a ribbon-cutting for Hall University and Harrison URBY, a 409Hackensack Meridian unit rental complex at Health. 777 S. Third St. Lyndhurst resident East Newark cops get Malcolm J. McPherson a one-year, 2% pay raise, Jr. becomes the newly retroactive to Jan. 1, 2017. elected national Kearny Health president of the Benevolent and See RECAP, Page 24

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

Franklin School honors announced Yvonne Cali, principal of Franklin School, Kearny, announces the school’s first marking period Principal’s Honors and Honor Roll: Grade 4 Principal’s Honors – Sarah Barbosa, Shayla Calva, Gabriel De Castro, Camila Lago-Giuffra, John Lydecker, Matthew Munoz, Valerie Muthikul and Marley Racines. Honors – Isabella Behrend, Anthony Carvalho, David Caastro, Adamaris Criado,

Sara Cruz, Dayna Dajer, Giselle DeRisi, Niamh Devlin, Mathew Dos Santos, Michael English, Felicity Ferrer, Damaris Flores, Jordan Guerra, Mylie Irizarry, Kain Izquierdo, Jorden Jimenez, Bernardo Lopez, Isabel Marrero, Joice Medina, Angelica Minier, Tyler Morales, Ebony Nunez, Jonathan Olivo, Brandon Perez, Jonathan Petrillo, David Picon, Domenica Quito Velecela, Isaac Rodriguez, Jonas Ruiz, Alyssa Salerno, Hajjar Sultan, Melanie Teodoro, Renato Valdivia and Gabriel

To submit an obituary: fax: 201-991-8941

obituaries@theobserver.com Ronald Giordano Ronald Giordano, 71, of Kearny, died Dec. 16. A memorial visitation took place at the Condon Funeral Home, 684 Kearny Ave., Kearny, on Thursday, Dec. 21. Ron had been a truck driver for Sun Oil, Newark, for 28 years until retiring. He had owned Metro Cab Co. and the Blue Bar, both of Kearny, for many years. Ron proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War in the 101st Airborne Division. He was a Bronze Star recipient. He was the loving father of Denise Giordano (Kenny Amaral) and brother of John (Bubby) Giordano (Linda). He was grandfather of “his boys” Eric and Evan and dear friend of Tom (Ace) Ostroman. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to the Epilepsy Foundation at epilepsyfoundation.givenow. stratuslive.com/donate. Envelopes are available in the St. Jude O Holy St. Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles. Near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return, I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. Saint Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen. Say three Our Fathers, Hail Mary’s and Glorias. Publication must be promised. This novena has never been known to fail. I have had my request granted. P.M.

Valles Leon. Grade 5 Principal’s Honors – Andrea Batista, Isabella DaSilva, Mauricio Gomez, Dayanna Loo, George Moreno, Briana Nazario, Saffia Ouali, Alexis Pereira and Jailyn Racines. Honors – Savannah Acevedo, Kyle Adames, Miah Andrade, Humberto Bernardino, Aidan Burgos, Melanie Campos, Jayden Cezair, Brianna Chevasco, Hilary Costa, Gabriela DeJesus, Salvatore

DeRose, Mahi Desai, Gabriela Guerra, Ellalexi Hum, Aliya Jorge, Sarahi Ludena, Eileen Lin, Estrella Lucero, Maria Martinez, Gabriela Novillo, Liyah Pinto, Ciana Pomarica, Vida Quezada, Ariana Rebelo, Breanna Rivera, Melanie Rodriguez, Celita Salas Paucar, Vanessa Salgado, Bruce Santana Cerezo, Yuri Silva, Maybelyn Tenas, Jeremy Thiele, Sarah Valdes and JoJo Yang. Grade 6 Principal’s Honors – Aman-

obituaries

funeral home.

Patrick Anthony Cassese Patrick Anthony Cassese passed away at home. He was 66. Born in Kearny, he lived most of his life in North Arlington. Visiting will be Dec. 28, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. Mass will be at noon at St. Cecilia Church, Kearny. Cremation will be private. Pat is survived by his son, Pasquale; his sisters, Karen Reilly (Mike) and Claire Cassese; his stepbrothers, Albert and Raymond Burger; and his nieces, Stephanie and Chris-

tine. He was predeceased by his sister, Gail Ferrara. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Jeronimo Marques Correia Jeronimo Marques Correia died in Portugal on Dec. 16. He was 78. Visiting will be at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, on Tuesday, Dec. 26, from 9 until 10:30 a.m. Services will be in the Holy Cross Cemetery Mausoleum Chapel, North Arlington, at 11 a.m. Jeronimo is survived by his wife Maria Ondina; his son, Carlos Manuel Mariano

da Antoneli, Glenda Arenas, Rchin Bari, Vanessa Batista, Abraham Bianchi, Azumi Casstaneda Palian, Alex Colon, Daniel Izquierdo, Emily Nazario, Saulo Patel, Alina Savytska, Ciara Schechter, Evamaria Sela, Olivia Solinski and Yi Xin Zhuang. Honors – Christian Benito, Genesis Cepeda, Alysa Gomez, Isaiah Jimenez, Ryan Lu, Ravyn Mejias, Wesley Miranda, Jemmy Paucar, Rya Reyna Agurto, Sara Ryan, Mia Salwan, Jonathan Sun, Dailanee Tinajero and Angie Vidal.

To submit an obituary: fax: 201-991-8941

obituaries@theobserver.com

Correia; and his wife, Helena. Brother of Fernando Marques Correia, he is also survived by his grandchildren Steven, Anthony and Marlena. Mary A. Mazewski Mrs. Mary A. Mazewski, of Kearny, died Sunday, Dec. 17. She was 90. Relatives and friends were received at the Condon Funeral Home, Kearny, (condonfuneralhome.com) on Tuesday, Dec. 19. A funeral Mass was celebrated Wednesday, Dec. 20, in Queen of Peace Church, North Arlington. Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery,

North Arlington. Mary had worked as an operator for NJ Bell Telephone Co., Newark, until leaving to raise her family. She was predeceased by her husband, Bill (Boleslaus) in 1994, as well as her siblings, Helen Theuer, John Jasin and Casimir Osiecki. Surviving are her children, Michael (Carol), Mary Bell (Bob), Paul, John (Susan) and Theresa Columbo (Phil). Also surviving are her grandchildren, Rob (Jaimie), Allison and Violet Bell and Matthew, Steven and William Mazewski. She also leaves five great-grandchildren.

Mulligan Funeral Home 331 Cleveland Avenue, Harrison

Licensed Funeral Director serving your needs:

Frank X. Mulligan III, Manager, NJ Lic. 4221 Private Parking at 10 Frank Rodgers Blvd. North

973-481-4333 visit us at: www.mulliganfh.com

Shaw-Buyus Home for Services

Mario Teixeira, IV, Manager, NJ Lic. #3757

Mario Teixeira, Jr. Director, NJ Lic. #2542 • Monique Teixeira, Director, NJ Lic. #4048 Newly renovated family owned and operated funeral home with multiple locations. Fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. Handicapped Accessible.

138 DAVIS AVE. • KEARNY, NJ 07032

(201) 991-2265 www.buyusfuneralhome.com

WILFRED ARMITAGE & WIGGINS FUNERAL HOME Mark G. Wiggins, Manager N.J. Lic. #3916

You will feel as if friends of family have taken over when you entrust funeral arrangements to the Wilfred Armitage Funeral Home. The family-owned firm has been in business for 100 years, serving generations in West Hudson and South Bergen. Its beautiful facilities, in a setting reminiscent of a colonial mansion, reflect the graciousness and tact of its understanding personnel.

Wilfred Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home

596 Belgrove Dr. • Kearny, NJ 07032 (201) 991-0657

24 22

THEOBSERVER OBSERVER||WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER SEPTEMBER27, 2, 2015 THE 2017

www.theobserver.com www.theobserver.com

TheObserver Observer is is not responsible The responsiblefor fortypographical typographical errors. Credit for errors will not benot granted after the errors. Credit for errors will be granted next week’s publication. No changes or refunds. after the next week’s publication. Deadline for changes. classifiedsNo is Monday by 3:00 PM. $10 fee for refunds.or Credits. Deadline for classifieds is Monday by 3:00 PM.

CLASSIFIEDS

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

CONDO FOR RENT

HARRISON

LYNDHURST

KEARNY 1 BR Condo (Heather Glen) EIK, LR, W/D, HW Floors, Parking. $1,250 plus utilities. 1 1/2 months sec. Avail Jan. 1st. (201)889-6506.

HARRISON Sussex St. 2nd fl. 2 BR, Lg. Living room Walk to PATH & NJIT. $1,450/month + utilities, Parking $50. 1 1/2 months security. Avl. Jan 21st. (973) 687-7500.

LYNDHURST 3 BR’s, LR, Kitchen, bathroom. 1 month security. Avl. January 1st. no pets. Call (201) 280-7707 or (973) 9001852 or (201) 964-0696 .

BELLEVILLE

KEARNY

BELLEVILLE 5 room, 3 small BR, $1,300/month. HT included. 1 month security. no pets. Avl. Now. (862) 201-1405.

Kearny -1 BR . HT/HW included. From $1,100/ month. See super 6 woodland Ave. Apt. 1, or call after 5pm 917-8588246 for appointment.

HARRISON HARRISON Sussex St. 1st fl. 2 BR, Walk to PATH & NJIT. $1,400/month + utilities, Parking $50. 1 1/2 months security. Avl. Jan 1st. (973) 687-7500.

HARRISON 97-99 Hamilton St. 3rd fl. 3 BR, H/W floors, $1,350/month + utilities. 1.5 months security. No pets. Avl January 1st. (201) 921-3954

HARRISON Beautiful 3 BR, 1 bath, C/A, H/W floors, parking, storage, laundry. $1,700/month. utilities included. no pets. no smoking. Avl. Jan. 1st. (201) 628-5350.

KEARNY 1 BR . HT/HW included. From $1,100/ month. See super 6 woodland Ave. Apt. 1, or call after 5pm 917-8588246 for appointment. KEARNY Newly renovated, hardwood floors. Laundry onsite. HT/HW included. 2 BR start at $1,250. 1 BR start at $1,050. Jr. 1 BR start at $975. (201) 289-7096

LYNDHURST 1 BR $1,295/month & 2 BR $1,495/month &, HT/HW included. Section 8 ok. (973) 760-4877

KEARNY 3rd fl. Studio, Kitchen, DR, LR, bathroom. 1 month security. Utilities separate. No pets. Avl. Jan 1st. (908) 687-4865.btw 9am-3pm.

KEARNY 1 BR apt. HT/ HW included. New Kitchen & Bath Elevated building. Laundry facility on premises. from $1,150/ month,. Call Sofia after 3pm 201-998-3516 or see super after 3pm 654 Elm St. Apt Basement 1.

HARRISON Large Studio Apt., H/W floors, HT/ HW included. Walking distance to PATH. No smoking. no pets. $1,200/ month. 1 months security. (973) 420-0139

KEARNY 1 BR apt. HT/ HW ncluded.New Kitchen & Bath Elevated building. Laundry facility on premises. from $1,150/ month,. Call Sofia after 3pm 201-998-3516 or see super after 3pm 654 Elm St. Apt Basement 1.

HARRISON recently renovated 3 BR. separate utilities. 1 1/2 months security. no pets. $1,650/month. Call (973) 380-9007.

KEARNY 1 BR . HT/HW included. From $1,100/ month. See super 6 woodland Ave. Apt. 1, or call after 5pm 917-8588246 for appointment.

HARRISON

KEARNY 2nd fl. 2 BR, LR, DR, EIK, Sun Porch. 7 rooms. No pets. Nice Area. Plenty of street parking. 1 1/2 months security. Avl. Now. credit check required. (973) 991-4483.

2 BR Parking, laundry & gym $2,500. Also 3 BR new construction ground and 1st fl. garage, parking & Laundy $3,300. Elite Realty Group (973) 268-4000

LYNDHURST 1 Bedroom Studio Apartment for Rent, $1250.00/mth plus Utilities, 1 Month Security deposit. Available Now – January 2018. 2nd Floor of 2 Family House, Private Entrance. Large Eat-in Kitchen, Living room, Full Bathroom & 1 Bedroom, Hardwood Floors, New large Refrigerator in Apt. 5 Minute walk to Trains and Buses and all Major highways, Street parking with permit. No-Smoking, No Pets. Call 551482-2862

FURNISHED ROOM FOR RENT KEARNY Furnished room with all new furniture, refrigerator, microwave w/ A/C. $625/month. all utilities including internet. Smoke free. References a must. 201-6970541

KEARNY Furnished room for rent. Includes Internet, good area. Close to Kearny Ave and Davis Ave. Avl. Now. (201) 2801868.

N.ARLINGTON Garden apt. 1 BR, $1,000, 1 BR $1,200. HT/HW included. parking. No pets. (732) 237-4682

HALL FOR RENT

2nd fl. bathroom, closet, private entrance. no pets. utilities included. Avl. Jan 1st. (201) 741-0844.

KEARNY room for rent, private entrance, wi-fi included. Female preferred. Avl. Now. call or text. (201) 208-1580.

KEARNY 4 BR, parking, gargage & laundry. $2,850/month. Elite Realty Group (973) 268-4000 PERSONAL

N.ARLINGTON Newly renovation, 2nd fl. 2 BR, Just in time for the Near Transportation. No season! Howie Mandel pets. Avl. Now $1,350/ type, Middle aged white month + Utilities. (973) male, smoker. Energetic/ 895-9552. looks personality plus won’t disappoint. Desires to meet white female smoker brunette, N.ARLINGTON 1 BR voluptuous/full figured garden apt. $1,100/ type. Personality a must. month. HT/HW included. (201) 377-8118. Parking space. No pets. (201) 342- 2206. 37 Year old male, looking for a kind hearted Loving, Honest and mature Woman, ages 30-47 years old for a monogamous relationship. 845-7097898

HALL FOR RENT

Child Care by Mary Former early Childhood and k-4th Teacher. Seeking to child sit, Days or nights. My home or Yours. Would need transportation if it is your home. $8/hour. Kearny Only. (201) 577-1755

Hall Available FaMROOM ily Affairs Mid week FOR RENT special. Call for info (201) 991-9865 or (201) 893-2280 KEARNY room for rent Max 80 people.

HOUSE FOR RENT

N.ARLINGTON

SERVICES OFFERED

Hall Available Mid week special. Price Break-Call Parties, Business Meeting, & Functions (201) 991-9865 (203) 864-8243 Max 80 people.

EMPLOYMENT/ HELP WANTED Short order cook/ kitchen help and cleaning and waitress needed for restaurant in N.Arlington. FT/PT flexible hours (917) 816-2419 FOR MORE INFO. Part time position available in a fast past office. Assistant to GM, Ability to multi task, answer phone, phone sales, computer skills a must, able to work with microsoft word, Excel programs. Bilingual. Send resume to gm@theobserver. com no phone calls or walk ins.

To place an ad call: 201-991-1600 classified@theobserver.com EMPLOYMENT/ HELP WANTED

EMPLOYMENT/ HELP WANTED

Full time medical receptionist needed for a busy ENT office in Nutley.One evening a week a must. Highly preferred someone with experience and bilingual in Spanish. Please email resumes to: entcenterofnj. anam@gmail.com

$$ NOW HIRING! $$

FT AUTO SUPPLY COUNTER PERSON NJ DRIVERS LICENCE ENGLISH / BILINGUAL TRAINEE OR EXPERIENCED IRONBOUND NEWARK 973-344-0204

Substitute School Nurses Kearny School District 2017/2018 SY $150 per day Apply at: www.kearnyschools.com

Board of Education Employment EOE/AA

Property Inspectors FT/PT in your area. Free training provided. msangelabove@ comcast.net. (732)766-4425 Decorator/Baker needed for Nutley bakery Exp. preferred. position avl. immediately. Vincent (973) 951-0553 Se necesita Decorador/ Panadero con experencia para trabajar en Nutley Bakery Vincent (973) 951-0553

Night Dispatchers and Night Drivers Wanted!! Apply in person at Schuyler Cab 505 Schuyler Ave Kearny. Must Have Clean Record. Daycare located in Kearny is looking for 2 FT teacher’s assistant in the Infant and Toddler class. Call 201-246-1500 or stop by with resume at 545 Kearny Ave. Childcare experience a must.

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

www.theobserver.com www.theobserver.com

The TheObserver Observerisisnot notresponsible responsiblefor fortypographical typographical errors. errors.Credit Creditfor forerrors errorswill willnot notbe begranted grantedafter afterthe the next week’s publication. No changes next week’s publication. No changesor orrefunds. refunds. Deadline for classifieds is Monday by 3:00 PM. Deadline for classifieds is Monday by 3:00 PM.

EMPLOYMENT/ HELP WANTED

ooking for a electrician warehouse helper in earny preferably a young local person willing to learn not only electrical but all kinds of mainte nance must have a drivers license and able to do physical work such ad occasional heavy lifting digging and show shoveling in the winter. illing to work days a week experience a plus but not necessary. Must not be afraid of heights. Punctual ity a must. reat opportunity if you want a career in the electrical field. 0

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

CLASSIFIEDS LANDSCAPING & DESIGN

A.A.

CLEANING SERVICES

Drinking Problem e can elp Call . . hours 00 3 www.nn aa.org

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St. side of the field. Kearny resident Mamdouh Abdel-Sayed, a full-time tenured lecturer at the City University of New York’s Medgar Evers College, is charged in Manhattan Federal Court with fraud, corruption and obstruction in his alleged selling of fake Medgar Evers College certificates for completion of health care courses.

RECAP

Continued from Page 20 Kearny Health Department offers residents of Kearny and East Newark a new type of flu shot featuring a “quadrivalent” vaccine designed to protect against four types of flu viruses. Kearny Board of Education receives $2.1 million in additional state school aid for 2017-2018 which it plans to use to re-turf the high school athletic field, resurface the high school track, buy new seats for the Franklin School auditorium, acquire new custodial/maintenance equipment, award pay raises to teacher aides, pay additional special needs outof-district tuition fees and hire seven new teachers, four instructional coaches and one janitor. The Hackensack Riverkeeper, Bill Sheehan, sponsors his second annual Pirates of the Hackensack RiverFest, a catch-and-release fishing derby to mark the continuing environmental restoration of the waterway.

Observer file photo

Angel Gonzalez, a 14-year-old Kearny High School student, died in October.

The Optimists of Kearny name KPD member Richard Poplaski Jr. Police Officer of the Year Sept. 28. On the same day, Poplaski is credited with taking the lead in helping rescue occupants of a burning building on Chestnut St. In April 2016, Poplaski applied CPR to save the lives of an man and a 5-day-old choking baby – both on the same day. Belleville Councilman Joseph Longo is removed from his council seat by a vote of his colleagues Sept.

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26. Longo, now living in Florida where he is working, previously tendered his resignation effective Oct. 31 but, on Sept. 26, emailed the Town Clerk proposing to change the date. Kearny High School’s south field house is dedicated as the John F. Cali Jr. Memorial Field House in tribute to the late businessman and philanthropist. Cali, who died in 2015, helped prepare the high school stadium for the original turf field and built the 9/11 memorial at the King

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Continued from previous page Oct. 9 is found in bad shape – a day earlier – in Newark where he is pronounced dead at a local hospital, but it takes more than a week to identify his body, despite alerts sent to every New Jersey police department and to a national tracking

border. Police say Ridley shot the resident, the two struggled and the resident grabbed the gun and shot Ridley. Police say the resident was treated at an area hospital for his wound and released. Harrison Housing Authority executive director Roy E. Rogers dies at 75. He

example, Kearny’s governing body bans retail sales of cats and dogs as a way to prevent the stocking of pet stores with abused animals bred in “puppy and kitten mills.” As part of its Sesquicentennial observance, Kearny – with help from historian/author Bill Styple – hosts a Civil War re-enactment “camp” along Belgrove Drive on the site of the former N.J. Home for Disabled Soldiers & Sailors (The Old Soldiers’ Home). A Kearny veterinarian, Dr. Herbert Learny, plays host to five dogs relocated from storm-ravaged Texas until owners can be found for them. The old Coca-Cola plant in South Kearny is sold to the owners of River Terminal. The facility is being demolished to make

way for presumed new commercial development. Kearny Prevention Coalition, an arm of the Kearny Municipal Alliance, is the recipient of a 5-year, $625,000 grant from the federal DrugFree Communities Support Program to help counter youth substance abuse. Kearny Public Works Superintendent Gerry Kerr retires Nov. 1 after more than 13 years on the job. His deputy, Kevin Murphy, is now in charge. Five candidates for Kearny firefighter who successfully complete Academy training are sworn in as the KFD’s newest members. They are Dylan Schalago, Daniel Madden, Ethan Evanchick, Christopher Vezos and Mathew Miller. Two other candidates fail to make it through.

A Nov. 13 fire damages Pechter’s Bakery in Harrison but the shop is back in business next day. The Salvation Army of Greater Kearny kicks off its annual Kettle Campaign, setting a fund-raising goal of $85,000 for this holiday season. A pair of local mayoral races begin to heat up a year ahead of time as two former office holders make early declarations: former North Arlington councilman Albert Granell says he’ll be challenging Mayor Joseph Bianchi for the top spot and in Belleville, former township councilman Michael Melham says he wants the job now held by Mayor Raymond Kimble. Bianchi hasn’t yet announced his intentions; Kimble is seeking reSee RECAP, Page 26

A fire causes significant damage to Pechter’s Bakery, Harrison, but the place is up and running the next day.

data base, coupled with exhaustive searches by local and county law enforcement agencies. No official cause of death has yet been issued. The Spirit Ride, an inaugural coast-to-coast campaign to raise public awareness of “Slow Down, Move Over” laws, makes a stop in Rutherford. More than 5,000 tow truck operators, along with emergency first-responders, are relaying a ceremonial casket, “Spirit,” to more than 250 communities across the U.S. The empty casket is a symbol memorializing the lives of 33 tow truck operators killed in 2014 while coming to the aid of stranded motorists. Kearny’s Glen Gabert marks his 25th year as president of Hudson County Community College – making him the longestserving president in the college’s history and in the entire state. An alleged home invader, identified by police as Michael Ridley, 42, of Orange, is fatally shot Halloween night by the 32-year-old occupant of a Berton Place home in Belleville near the Nutley

was appointed to the job in January 2014. A replacement has yet to be named. A woman “trespasser” later identified as Anna Galushkina, 37, of Bloomfield, is killed after she is struck by a NJ Transit train near the Watsessing Ave. station in Bloomfield Oct. 30. November Lyndhurst PD nabs two suspects with 70 pounds of marijuana packed in two laundry bags in their vehicle on Oct. 22. Police figure the drug had a potential street value of $70,000. Kearny parent Leonor Nasert organizes the Firesquad Youth Group, a faith-based group of kids from grades 6 to 9 that meets twice a month at the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington. Kids are encouraged to talk about issues of concern to them and to organize service projects. Nutley Hall of Fame inducts Henry Bunner, Leonardo Capalbo, Phil Cuzzi, Rena DeAngelo, David Difrancesco, Tom Evans, David Gilbert and Adam LaReau. Following Nutley’s

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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017

RECAP

Continued from Page 25 election. Balloting is next year. South Kearny is once again host to the Hudson County Warming Center, 53 S. Hackensack Ave., where homeless adults are able to spend freezing nights during the winter season. A 71-year-old Kearny resident, Sylvia Dumshat, is hospitalized with multiple injuries after she was struck by a hit-run driver and thrown an estimated 10 feet in the air at Seeley Ave. and Grand Place on Nov. 17. The driver is still being sought by police. Kearny Fire Department is now linked to the New Jersey Task Force One Urban Search & Rescue, Office of Emergency Management, meaning that its five fire boats and firefighters can be enlisted in water rescue and/or emergency

scenarios. In December, the KFD becomes part of a U.S. Coast Guard response team for deployment involving incidents along the Hackensack and Passaic rivers. Jennifer Long, commander of Kearny’s WilsonGugelman Veterans of Foreign Wars post, is appointed to N.J. Gov.-elect Phil Murphy’s transition team, serving on its Military and Veteran Affairs Transition Policy Committee. Teachers at the East Newark Borough School, without a new contract since June 30, 2015, seek help from a factfinder appointed by the state PERC (Public Employment Relations Commission). They are the lowest-paid among the state’s public school teachers. December Kearny Police Chief John Dowie retires Dec. 1 after 19 years in the post. Dowie, with nearly 40 years of

law-enforcement service, is replaced by Deputy Chief George King. And, in turn, King’s spot is filled by Capt. Scott Macfie. Kearny resident Kevin Olsen, 66, dies following a fire that engulfed his home at 422 Forest St. Nov. 29. The fire also kills three of his eight dogs. All systems are go for the first Muslim school in Harrison. The town Planning Board votes to waive site plan review for the proposed Marwah Academy, targeted to open at 228 Harrison Ave., pending the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. Holiday concert patrons of Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan are advised that it’s a Harrisonian behind the organ. George Wesner, profiled by The Observer’s Kevin Canessa, has been principal organist at that venue since 1981. Harrison’s Marcelo Pagani, 34, dies following a motorvehicle crash on Rt. 21 at

Mill St. in Newark. Police say Pagani, the driver, was ejected from his vehicle. A passenger was listed in stable condition. Kearny’s Francesco Alonso, with a little help from his friends, constructs 12 “bat boxes” in the marsh adjacent to the Gunnell Oval recreational complex. His project qualifies him as an Eagle Scout, the highest award in scouting. Filming based on “Absent Witness,” a 2017 book penned by Kearny’s resident psychic/ medium Karl Petry, has begun. The final product is to be a TV series – also called “Absent Witness” – for which the first three halfhour episodes have been completed. Petry hopes the series will debut in mid-2018. Kearny’s governing body passes laws regulating the “raising and maintenance of chickens” and authorizing prohibition of short-term rentals of apartments in onefamily homes for 30 days or

less. Newark resident Jermaine Mason, 40, is sentenced in Newark Federal Court to 79 months behind bars for robbing five banks – including one each in Harrison and Kearny – in October and November 2016. Belleville resident Raul Concepcion, 29, is one of five suspects charged in connection with “Operation Triple Play,” which the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office described as an investigation into a major drug ring allegedly involved in the distribution of “large amounts of cocaine, heroin and marijuana” in Passaic, Bergen and Essex counties. A proposal to permit local liquor retailers to sell alcoholic beverages starting at 9 a.m. when Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve fall on a Sunday – as they do this year – is narrowly defeated by Kearny’s governing body. Retailers say they enjoy big sales on those days.

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