May 3, 2023 edition of The Observer

North Arlington & Mayor Daniel Pronti love trees so much, they’re planting 55 new ones in 2023. Page

VOLLEYING & CLEANING

Photos by Barbara B. Goldberg

It was a busy time around Kearny recently as two major events took place — the annual Kearny High School Project Graduation volleyball tournament and the annual Passaic River cleanup. In the photo on the left, the Kearny Police and Fire departments played each other in one of the night’s biggest fundraising matches. In the photo on the right, a Kearny youngster was one of the many volunteers who volunteered to remove debris and all sorts of junk from the banks of the Passaic River at the town’s annual cleanup event.

BELLEVILLE n BLOOMFIELD n EAST NEWARK n HARRISON n KEARNY n LYNDHURST n NORTH ARLINGTON n NUTLEY

CIFELLI SEEKING NEW TERM AS HUDSON COMMISSIONER

By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com

Hudson County Commissioner Albert J. “Al” Cifelli has deep roots in West Hudson, having grown up in Harrison and practiced law there for almost 50 years — and now as a resident of Kearny, where he’s lived for 35 years. He’s mathematically lived in Kearny for 37 years, but he says he shaves two of those years off, jokingly,

searching for a parking spot.

He got to know so many people from his time at Holy Cross School in Harrison, which at the time had nearly 1,000 students — at his dad’s restaurant, on the fields and in the business community. After graduating Essex Catholic High School and then Rutgers-Newark and Rutgers Law, he went to work as a clerk for lawyer Greg Castano in 1976. Then he went on to practice law with Ken Davie through early

2023.

Through it all, he cultivated many relationships and many of those have lasted a lifetime.

He got his first taste of politics when the late Mayor Frank E. Rodgers appointed him Harrison’s tax assessor, even though he wasn’t exactly planning on that career path. But then, years later, the also late mayor, Raymond J. McDonough, asked Cifelli for a favor.

“He asked me to run for freeholder,” Cifelli said of the title used prior to the switch to the title commissioner. It was a logical choice for McDonough, too, because Cifelli had an advantage — he started off in Harrison and still practiced law there, but now he was living a bit further north in Kearny — so he had a stronghold on two West Hudson towns.

But he really didn’t want to accept the offer to run.

“He said ‘Do it for one term,’” Cifelli recalls of McDonough’s request. “Angelo Cifelli had been doing it 15, 16 years and was

getting ready to retire. He was close to 80 at the time. And there was some competition between Kearny and Harrison. But I was a Harrison guy and lived in Harrison. My wife wasn’t in favor of it but I said, ‘alright,’ and I did it and that’s how I got involved.”

That was 1996, he took office in 1997 and he’s been in office ever since. But this year, he faces a challenger, the first time, he estimates, since former candidate Frank Ferreira ran against him unsuccessfully circa the turn of the millennium. And he thought it would be a good opportunity to let the electorate know what he’s done and hopes to continue to do if he wins another three-year term.

So let’s start off here. He’s 72 now — so why continue to do this?

“I know this will sound corny, but I really like to help people,” he said. “I try to get them to the right place in the county because

Continued on the next page

Cifelli in this 2016 file photo.

Continued from previous page

there’s a lot of good people here — a lot of good people in the administration. And I like to think when I pick up the phone they’re getting attention and not just going to a reception area … I can kind of boost them along and that’s the best satisfaction I get.”

But his time as a commissioner hasn’t been all rosy. In fact, he recalls “being harangued” by a faction of members of his own party when the county agreed to take on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees at the Hudson County

Jail several years ago.

It led to a lot of consternation not just for him, but for countless people. But he stood his ground whilst he could and for good reasons.

“I actually had a death threat and the sheriff’s office out in front of my house for a while — people went over the top,” he recalled. “But my position on that was it was a mess, we probably shouldn’t have gotten into it in the first place. But once we had the detainees, the opponents just wanted to just get them out of the jail and not enable ICE and just get them out.”

NA Knights host Italian night later this month

The Queen of Peace Knights of Columbus sponsor an Italian Dinner Night of pasta, meatballs, chicken parmigiana, salad, dessert and refreshments Tuesday, May 23, at the Columbian Club Hall, 194 River Road, North Arlington, at 6 p.m. The cost is $25 per adult and

DECISION 2023

But if that happened, Cifelli said, the detainees, many of whom had roots in New York City, would have been shuffled to private detention facilities in Mississippi, Arkansas and elsewhere, making it patently difficult for the attorneys involved to properly represent their clients.

So he stuck with it — as the county did at the time, too — and now all detainees are elsewhere, but not far away. It was a

bad situation, but it could have been a lot worse, he said.

Cifelli says he is also very proud of the upgrades to West Hudson Park.

“It’s a showcase spot now,” he said. “There’s new fields, new lighting, we put in a pickleball court — people wanted a pickleball court and we did it. I am proud of the grounds, the lake is being taken care of, the roads are being taken care of.”

In all, Cifelli is very happy he’s had a hand in the growth of Hudson County — and the way it is perceived around the state.

“It’s been the economic growth and a lot of that started

in Jersey City,” he said. “But it’s made its way west.”

And what if he is re-elected? That would bring him in office through 2026. Might he consider retirement then? “I always said I wanted to be a lawyer for 50 years,” Cifelli said. “That comes in 2026 as does the end of my term. So we’ll just have to see.”

The Observer invites other candidates for the West Hudson commissioner seat to be interviewed. Interested parties should contact Observer Editor Kevin A. Canessa Jr. by sending an email of interest to kc@theobserver. com.

$10 for kids ages 6 to 11. Reservations must be made by calling (201) 988-0183 by May 22. The Knights also ask those attending to consider donating an unexpired, non-perishable canned good for its Food for Families project.

— CANESSA

Belleville adopts fees for recreation participation

By Ron Leir ronleir423@gmail.com

It’s official now — Belleville kids who participate in recreation programs will have to pay for the privilege.

After much discussion on the issue, Mayor Michael A. Melham and the Belleville Township Council has voted to set a fee schedule for various year-long sports and art activities offered to locals by the township.

Those fees range from a low of $25 to a high of $100 per child —

still, as pointed out by township officials, far below the prices charged by most other New Jersey municipalities.

For summer programs, Township Manager Anthony Iacono said the township hopes to partner with the Belleville Board of Education, in a shared-services agreement, to allow youths the use of the board’s newly completed indoor training facility during Camp Belleville.

Deputy Mayor Thomas Graziano, a longtime Belleville Recreation coach, said “the number

one complaint” he gets from parents about the 6-week-long summer camp program is that if it rains or it’s too hot, “the kids have got to go home” because there’s no place for them to shelter.

“You can’t put 200 kids in our Rec House (on Joralemon Street),” he said.

But the school board’s indoor training facility on Cortlandt Street would not only offer relief from extreme weather but also, potentially, allow kids access to multiple physical and passive ac-

tivities that aren’t available from the township, Iacono noted.

“We definitely have a commitment to work together,” Iacono said, when asked about the probability of putting together an agreement for this summer. And, Iacono said, such an arrangement could open the door for hiring up to 40 high school students as camp aides, with teacher supervision.

“I’m confident that this year, we’ll have a new and improved summer camp,” the manager said. Melham has advocated for

a recreation-fee structure to improve the quality of recreation programs and the level of competitive skills among the participants.

“I’ve always had loftier aspirations” for those programs, he said, and fees – as long as they’re not “money grabs”—will help accomplish that goal, he said.

“In the past, this township has put ‘free’ over ‘quality,’” the mayor noted. But now, he said, “I’d rather have quality over free.”

But longtime resident and

See FEES, Page 18

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Pronti, borough plan to plant 55 new trees in North Arlington

By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com

North Arlington Mayor

Daniel H. Pronti loves trees — so much so he’s planting 55 new ones this spring in the borough. They’ll be placed in the area of the Belleville Turnpike and Ridge Park Drive as part of an ongoing, state-funded initiative to greatly increase the amount of shade trees in town.

“green” as many well-traveled corridors as possible.

Careful planning ensures the growing trees will not ultimately interfere with any power lines or that the roots will not raise the sidewalks. The borough selected flowering pears, zelkovas and red sunset maples as they are known to be ideal for main roadways.

NORTH ARLINGTON

North Arlington took this step to beautify a main artery in town, as well as to use the trees as a way to help reduce vehicular noise. Pronti says more than 600 trees have been planted in recent years, as the municipality is eager to

“I am pleased to report that over the last five years, North Arlington has planted more than 600 new trees and we plan to keep on going,” Pronti said. “The new tree planting at Belleville Turnpike and Ridge Road beautifies our town, welcomes our visitors and further underscores our collective pride in North Arlington.”

Yard sale set for this weekend throughout Kearny

The KUEZ town-wide yard and sidewalk sale is set for Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7, from 9 to 5 p.m. The annual event transforms Kearny into a border-to-border bargain hunter’s paradise as residential, business and other sellers host sales throughout the weekend. There are no rain dates.

KUEZ coordinator John Peneda says the sale helps to energize the town and bring new visitors and shoppers to the area, helping benefit KUEZ member businesses.

“We were one of the first communities to host a town-wide yard and sidewalk Sale in the area;

N

may start to see more and more red sunset maples like this one seen here in the coming years around North Arlington. More than 50 news ones will be planted in the borough this year.

SALE

it’s definitely another successful KUEZ-sponsored Kearny community happening,” Peneda said.

“We’re delighted to be able to continue to bring this event to our town.”

A Google Map will be available May 4 at tiny.cc/ktwys. The map will feature information on what’s for sale at particular locations. The map will not be live before this date. Shoppers may also download a list of addresses of participating sellers at www.kearnynj.org. For updates and information, call (201) 955-7981 or send an email to kearnyyardsale@kearnynj.org.

Google Images

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OPINION & VIEWPOINTS

‘Embrace disappointments as opportunities to trust in the One who is always good’

One person ’ s gain often comes at the expense of another person ’ s loss.

Recently, the Town of Kearny ’ s accepted offer for the First Lutheran Church on Oakwood Avenue was made public. Both The Observer and The Jersey Journal published the news in celebratory fashion, announcing the town ’ s plans to turn the old church into an arts and recreational center.

Not everyone was celebrating this news, however. As a result of the closure of the First Lutheran Church and the acquisition of the property by the town, three families and a church of about 80 people need to relocate.

As the pastor of the church that has rented space in the church building for over three years, I was particularly disappointed with the news.

By Pastor Damien Garofalo Kearny

Our growing congregation was excited about the prospect of remaining in the facilities and expanding our community involvement. We had a vision for a Portuguese-speaking outreach, an after-school program and ways to serve those in need.

Once we received word from the synod about the potential to purchase, our church got to work: we made the matter an item of regular prayer, we produced a video and website for fundraising, we printed a thousand postcards to raise awareness and we lined up meetings with potential donors.

The owner assured us they would prefer the property remain a church.

We had only begun the

process of raising support when I received a 60-day notice.

I agree with Mayor (Alberto G.) Santos ’ s observation regarding the unique aspects of the building it “ literally cries out for historical preservation ” but, what I would have rather preserved was the original intent for these facilities: a church where the Gospel is preached, the Bible is taught, prayers are offered and the love of Christ is communicated. Our mission seemed to be more in line with what the architect and the founding congregation would have desired.

All of us can resonate with the experience of disappointment: closed doors, unexpected detours, lost dreams. In this fallen world, such circumstances are normal. People will let us down. It ’ s okay to grieve. However, the way we process

disappointment makes the difference in our attitude, our relationships and our hope for the future.

For months, I had been taking my church through a sermon series on the Book of Acts, which explores the early Christian church ’ s rapid spread amid persecution. One of the major takeaways from the series was our need to be adaptable to wherever God takes us. The only way to really be adaptable to our circumstances is to recognize God is sovereign and God is good. If these things are true about God, then we can have peace that all things even disappointing things are ultimately what is best.

Does that mean we can make sense of everything? No, but as one pastor recently told me, “ God ’ s will is exactly what we would choose if we knew what

he knows. I don ’ t have to figure it all out, but I can trust the one who holds our future in his hands. ”

This next phase in our church ’ s life is an opportunity for me to practice what I preach. Christ ’ s church is not confined to any one building. Our hope is not in brick and mortar but in “ the God who raises the dead. ” Therefore, by faith, I can let go of any bitterness and trust God for where he may lead us next. I can truly and sincerely wish the Town of Kearny much success with their new arts and rec center.

I pray that all who read this will be encouraged to embrace disappointments as opportunities to trust in the One who is always good and orders all things according to his perfect will. In doing so, I pray you find peace and joy.

‘Former’ teen arrested on carjacking-related charges: KPD

By Capt. Timothy Wagner Kearny Police Department

On April 19 at 4:30 p.m., Dets. Kyle Plaugic and Frank West went to the Essex County Youth Detention Facility and booked an 18-year-old Newark girl for a December carjacking that took place on Essex Place in Kearny. The girl was 17 at the time of the offense, which is why her name is withheld. She has been charged with carjacking, conspiracy and aggravated assault. The charges stem from a Dec. 12 incident in which a 38-year-old Chinese food

delivery driver was lured to Essex Place to make a bogus food delivery. When the driver arrived, he was confronted by two people, one of whom produced a handgun and demanded his wallet. The suspects then beat the delivery driver, including with the butt of their gun, which lacerated his head and face. And then the suspects did not take the driver’s wallet, but instead stole his Honda CR-V. Detectives later tracked the stolen Honda to East Orange where it was found parked and abandoned. The victim was treated at University Hospital and released.

Dets. Plaugic and West collaborated with detectives from Nutley and Clifton, who had experienced similar robberies. Their investigation identified this 18-year-old Newark girl as one of the robbery suspects. Further investigation identified Najim Wadud, 18, of East Orange, as the alleged co-conspirator in the carjacking. Wadud, who is currently incarcerated in Bergen County on another matter, was charged on April 25 with carjacking, conspiracy, employing a juvenile in commission of a crime, aggravated assault and weapon possession offenses.

On April 15 at 1:40 a.m., Officer Anthony Oliveira was observing traffic at Passaic Avenue and Afton Street, when a Jeep Grand Cherokee passed him without a front license plate and with windows tinted so darkly the officer could not see the Jeep’s occupants.

Upon pulling over the Jeep, Officer Oliveira found driver Victor A. Ajiboye, 25, of Newark, was wanted by the York County, Pennsylvania, Sheriff’s Office for failing to appear on charges of receiving stolen property, carrying an unlicensed

See KPD, Page 14

SPORTS & RECREATION

Nutley baseball hopeful for a turnaround after a short break Lyndhurst baseball looks to go on a late-season run

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

The baseball season may be a month old, but even as the calendar turns to May, veteran Lyndhurst coach Patrick Auteri still doesn’t fully know what to expect from his Golden Bears team on a daily basis.

still quite possible and goals of competing for a state sectional title are still on the table.

“Obviously being 7-7 isn’t ideal for us, it’s not ideal for our program,” said Auteri. “But if we can somehow figure it out during this little stretch run, we can be a tough team to beat.”

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

It’s understandable if the last sixplus weeks for the Nutley baseball team has felt like a bit of a whirlwind as it tries to get acclimated to a new head coach in Eric Puzio while trying to navigate a relentless SEC American

Division schedule.

Last weekend’s rainstorms resulted in a rare four-day break for the Maroon Raiders, and perhaps most importantly, a chance for them to catch their breath before the stretch run.

“Obviously we want to play, but it gives us an opportunity to reset, get a

rest,” said Puzio, a former player and assistant at Nutley, who was the head coach at St. Benedict’s before this year. “We have a lot of people that are kind of banged up and I think it gave us a great opportunity for a couple of

“One day we’re playing one of the top teams in Bergen County and we put together a great performance. But then the next day we come out and play a team that isn’t considered a top team and we play down to our competition,” Auteri said. “Through 14 games, to be 7-7, we could easily be 10-4, but we could also be 6-8 (or worse) too.”

But even with a record that isn’t what Lyndhurst envisioned before the season, Auteri remains positive in his belief that a May run is

A big reason for Auteri’s optimism resides on the mound where Lyndhurst sports the area’s top 1-2 starting pitcher tandem in Michael Rizzo and Anthony Pizzuti.

While distinctly different on the mound, both have been highly effective for the Golden Bears. Rizzo, a junior, has a 1.75 ERA, yielding just eight walks with 19 strikeouts in 32 innings. Pizzuti, a 6-foot-3 junior, sports a 1.84 See BASEBALL, Page 11

Brandon Lucia

Photos by Jason Bernstein

Justin Cifelli Mike Zitola

NUTLEY

Continued from Page 9

days to heal and reset and look forward to May.”

While a 3-7 record is not what Puzio and Nutley are accustomed to, they’re have been signs of a turnaround, most notably, a recent 14-4 win over a Montclair team considered one of the top contenders in Essex County and North 1, Group 4.

At the forefront of the Raiders’ success that day was leadoff hitter and center fielder Justin Cifelli. The senior has enjoyed a breakout season atop the Nutley lineup, hitting .343 while leading the team in hits (12), runs (11) and stolen

bases (seven).

“He causes havoc, he is the starter, he is the thing we need at the top of the lineup,” Puzio said. “He’s been so consistent, he gets on base two to three times a game. You can’t ask for anything more. When he gets on base it’s like a triple. If he gets a walk or a base hit, he’s on third base before you know it.”

In right field is one of the best all-around athletes in Essex County in senior Brandon Lucia. Lucia, who is committed to play football at Marist, is hitting .385 with a team-best .654 slugging percentage.

Jonathan Breilhoff (.333, five stolen bases) starts in left field and has been a key cog in the lineup.

C ELEBRATING 25 Y EARS !

EYE CARE

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At first base, 6-foot-3 junior Erik Thompson has been perhaps the biggest surprise early on, as the first-year varsity player leads the team in hitting at .423 and in RBI with 10.

“Erik’s just consistent in everything that he does,” Puzio said. “He’s a good player and a solid guy. He continues to do his thing on a regular basis and he’s leading us in hitting right now.”

Junior Rocco DeLitta starts at second base where he has the ability to stand out defensively anywhere on the infield.

On the left side of the infield, senior Mike Zitola and sophomore Drew Slomkowski split the shortstop position depending on who is pitching. Both could also move to third base, where promising sophomore Ben McNeil has been getting most of the time at third base so far.

Senior catcher Derek Lanza has

emerged as a team leader, while also enjoying a successful start at the plate with a .321 average.

“He really came out of nowhere,” Puzio said of Lanza, a team captain. “I thought at the beginning that he was going to be more of a role guy and he ended up being a voice who has stepped up.”

Senior Joseph Cifelli is the primary starter at designated hitter, but is a capable defender at multiple positions.

Others playing key roles off the bench include juniors David Sanchez, Janderson Santos-Sanchez and Jayden Velez, as well as sophomores Nick Palumboo and Jacob LoMonaco.

Pitching was a struggle for Nutley in April, but Puzio is hopeful his group on the mound will improve as the season goes along. Zitola in particular, looked on the verge of breaking out of his

early-season struggles, striking out six while allowing just three hits in his last start against Nutley. Zitola emerged as the Maroon Raiders’ ace last year with late-season wins over Columbia, Bayonne and Chatham.

Sophomores Slomkowski and LoMonaco follow Zitola in the rotation with Thompason and Velez as key arms out of the bullpen.

Nutley returns to action on May 2 at Bloomfield before hosting Seton Hall Prep in a 6 p.m. start. The Maroon Raiders earned the eighth seed in the Greater Newark Tournament and will host ninth-seeded Columbia in the first round on Friday in what will be the third matchup between the two this season.

“We can play with anyone, go on the road, play with anyone in the state and be able to compete,” Puzio said. “These guys have the ability.”

during a routine eye exam that you have early cataract development even if you are not yet experiencing symptoms. You will generally be the first person to notice changes in your vision that may require cataract surgery. Clouding of the lens may start to be seen at any age, but it is uncommon before age 40. Cataracts can be safely observed without treatment until you notice changes in your vision. To schedule an appointment, please call 201-8960096, or visit us at 20 Park Avenue, Lyndhurst. Call 201-896-0007 to reach our optical shop. We accept most insurance.

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BASEBALL

Continued from Page 9

ERA and 28 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings.

“Anthony definitely is the power guy. Anthony definitely strikes out more guys. He’s got the power breaking ball, the power fastball and is more of a ground ball guy,” Auteri said. “Michael is that finesse guy, but he throws all three pitches for strikes. His intelligence for the game and his hitting of spots is second to none. He’s more of a flyball pitcher. Kids go up there and he’s not overpowering, but he’s so smart and his ball moves so much that they end up having a bad swing.

“The guys know that when we

have Anthony and Michael on the mound we got a shot.”

Junior Jack Nowinski, sophomore Shawn Bellenger and senior Dean Woolis are also counted upon for quality innings on the mound. Nowinski looks to bounce back and return to the form he showed as a sophomore and Bellenger is a hard thrower, who has flashed success as well.

The key, however, to a turnaround lies with an offense that has been held to three runs or less in seven games this season.

The lineup took a major hit in the preseason when projected starting first baseman Matteo Morelli suffered a season-ending injury, erasing a bat that hit .358 a year ago.

Filling in the void at first base has been senior Billy Mareski, who has

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hit .314 with 10 walks and a team-best 11 runs after struggling at the plate a year ago while starting at catcher.

“He’s definitely been, by far, our most improved player,” said Auteri. “He’s got a great work ethic, he’s got great leadership.”

Nowinski is the main second baseman, while Pizzuti and Rizzo share shortstop.Depending on who is pitching, Rizzo, who leads the team in RBI with 11, can also shift to shortstop.

Bellenger, who is hitting a teamhigh .342 with 13 walks, 10 runs and six stolen bases, is the primary third baseman, but can also shift to second base when Nowinski pitches.

Tony Frangipane, who suffered a

torn ACL over the summer that cost him his senior football season, also sees some time on the infield.

Frangipane also sees some time in left field, where his twin brother Greg, has been the primary starter. Also in the mix in the corner outfield spots are seniors Justin Mayewski and Ronald Treto. Treto, has been perhaps the Golden Bears’ biggest surprise, hitting .318 to force his way into the starting right field spot.

“We tried him in the outfield when some guys were struggling. We said let’s give him a shot, and he’s made the most of it,” Auteri said. “He’s been one of our better hitters. He puts the ball in play. He’s been a big surprise.”

Senior Isaiah Alvarado starts in

center field and the lefty has the ability to make things happen on the bases.

Two other seniors Xavier Mieles at designated hitter, and catcher Brian Kantor are the other primary starters. Kantor’s defense has been huge for Lyndhurst after he missed nearly the entire year due to injury.

Anthony Amaro has been a key contributor off the bench as a runner as well.

Lyndhurst played at Rutherford on May 1 then travels to Secaucus on Wednesday before a rare weekend off. The Golden Bears return from the short break with contests against perennial state powers St. Mary’s of Rutherford and Gov. Livingston.

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By getting everyone involved, Palmares, Belleville is thriving

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

With the way Jonriz Palmares spreads the ball around to all of his teammates and runs the Belleville offense, it would be easy to assume that he’s been a setter for many years.

However, the Buccaneers senior is still a relative newcomer

position, just a few weeks into his second year at the position after initially playing outside hitter.

A little more than a year after making the move, one he admittedly wasn’t ecstatic about initially, Palmares is one of the state’s best at the position.

Palmares has 217 assists on the season, including 20 in the Bucs’

win over Orange in the first round of the Essex County Tournament. He also had 20+ assists in wins against Bloomfield and Payne Tech and in a loss to state power Fair Lawn, which is currently ranked No. 4 in the state by NJ.com, Palmares had 13 assists and eight digs.

Palmares’ performance makes

three players - Casey Maramot, Gabriel Campos and Ryan Banach - are all on pace to approach 100 or more kills this season. Brandon Do and Joshua Nodong also have more than 20 kills so far, and are on pace for more than 50.

“Last season I had a great outside (Richmond Casino), and I kinda just put it up for him and not really thinking about my other teammates,” Palmares said.”This year, I have a great set of teammates where everyone can hit and I don’t have that feeling of using just one person anymore. I want to get everyone involved. I think it takes a weight off my outside hitters.

him The Observer Athlete of the Week. For the season, Palmares has 217 assists, 20 kills and eight blocks for a Belleville squad that sits at 8-3 heading into the Essex County Boys Volleyball Tournament quarterfinals.

“It was definitely something I didn’t like (initially),” Palmares said. I was iffy about it. I didn’t know how to set. But I definitely see myself as a setter now and I actually enjoy it.

“It’s a hard thing to do, especially when you’re getting right into it. It took me 10-12 games to actually get into it as a setter. I definitely know how to run (the offense). I feel like my vision has opened up a little more on the court.”

Palmares admits that a year ago, he relied heavily on outside hitter Richmond Casino. While Casino had an impressive 285 kills, Belleville lacked balance on offense last season.

Following Casino’s graduation, Palamares and the Bucs have emphasized a much more diverse approach on offense. This year,

“Last year, he had that tendency when we had Richmond and we had the tendency to just go to Richmond all day,” said head coach John Spina. “That’s not the case this year, the hitters are all happy, he gets it to all the hitters every game and there’s never really a hitter that you can just lock in on.”

According to Spina, passing and getting everyone involved is just a part of Palmares’ game. The 6-foot-0 Palmares is a good defender, giving Spina the confidence to play him both in the back as well as in the front as a blocker. Spina also tries to mix him in a bit as a hitter, a position he played as a sophomore.

“The kid’s unbelievable,” Spina said. “I tell people all the time, you can take this kid and and you can plug him in on Old Bridge, or Scotch Plains-Fanwood, or Southern, or any of these top teams and they will not skip a beat. He does it all. He’s very athletic, very smart and very humble. He doesn’t know how good he is and he can play in college.

“He’s that type of kid that as a coach, you don’t get that type of player too often.”

Photo courtesy of Karissa Remata Jonriz Palmares

Eric Carlen

Eric Carlen, 32, died at home on April 26, 2023.

He was a lifelong Kearny resident.

Visiting was at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home in Kearny. Cremation was private. His ashes will be buried at a later date in Arlington Cemetery with his beloved mother, Traci.

Eric was a construction laborer for Local 3 out of Mountainside.

Husband of Mariana Rodriguez, he was the beloved son of Paul and the late Traci (Dunekack) Carlen and father of three beautiful daughters; Kaelyn, Kylee and Keira. He

OBITUARIES

was also the loving brother to Kevin Carlen (Kayla) and Jaime Sierra (Ashley).

In lieu of flowers kindly consider a loving and helpful donation to the family for the girl’s future. Donations may be made to a go fund me page called Children of Eric Carlen and the family will use these funds to help with future care and education that otherwise will be so difficult. Your consideration is so appreciated.

George J. McKenna

George J. McKenna, 81, of Harrison, died peacefully Thursday April

27, 2023.

The funeral will be conducted from the Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison on Tuesday, May 2, at 9:15 a.m. A funeral Mass will be offered at Holy Cross Church, Harrison, at 10 a.m. Friends and relatives may visit on Monday, May 1, from 3 to 7 p.m. and Tuesday after 8:45 a.m. His entombment will follow in Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum, North Arlington.

If you would like to read his complete obituary or send a condolence message to his family, please visit www.mulliganfh.com.

Please omit flowers. In lieu

What to do after a fall

Although fall prevention measures can help minimize the risk of older adults taking a tumble, they cannot prevent them 100 per cent of the time. Here’s what you should do if you fall in your home and are unable to get up:

• Keep calm, stay still and determine if you feel pain in any part of your body. Don’t try to stand up if you think doing so will aggravate your injury.

• Before moving, look around to ensure there aren’t any broken objects like knick-knacks or glass that could hurt you if you try to move.

• If you live with someone else, try to call them for help.

• If you’re alone, try to get the attention of a neighbour. You can try banging on a wall, tapping the floor or using an object like a remote control, book or cane to make noise. If possible, move closer to a door or window to make yourself heard.

• If your neighbours aren’t

home or far away, gently crawl toward a telephone. Take breaks if needed to avoid exhaustion. When you reach the phone, contact someone close to you for help.

• While waiting for someone to come, find a comfortable position. For example, you can place a cushion or piece of clothing under your head for support. Remember to move your joints regularly to avoid stiffness.

Fall detection devices and emergency buttons are readily available for older adults. Find

out what options are available to get help more quickly if you fall.

A Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary (Never Known to Fail)

O Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me here. You my Mother, O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart, to succor me in my necessity: (make request) There are non that can withstand your power. O Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 Times). Say this prayer 3 consecutive days then you must publish and it will be granted to you.

M.A.

Shaw-Buyus

Home for Services

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

Mario Teixeira, Jr. Director, NJ Lic. #2542

• Monique Teixeira, Director, NJ Lic. #4048

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Fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. Handicapped Accessible.

138 DAVIS AVE. • KEARNY, NJ 07032

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of flowers, the family requests donations to Camp Fatima of New Jersey, www.campfatimanj.org, in loving memory of George.

William D. Anderson

William D. Anderson died April 24, 2023.

He was 64.

Born in Jersey City, Bill was a lifelong Kearny resident.

Memorial visitation will be scheduled in the near future at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. This

All obituaries must be submitted by email by 10 a.m., Mondays, to obituaries@theobserver.com. Payment is due at submission.

obituary will be updated prior to that date.

Bill was a librarian assistant at the Essex County Community College. He was an Eagle Scout from Troop 10 in Kearny and was a staunch supporter of the Salvation Army. Beloved brother of Christina Connon (her husband Ian) and Mary Vieth (her husband Tom), Bill is also survived by loving nieces and nephews along with their families. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to the Salvation Army, Kearny Corps.

Mulligan Funeral Home

331 Cleveland Avenue, Harrison

Arrangements may be made in Spanish, Portuguese or Polish Frank X. Mulligan III, Manager, NJ Lic. 4221 Frank X. Mulligan, Jr. Inactive Private Parking at 10 Frank E. Rodgers Blvd. North 973-481-4333

visit us at: www.mulliganfh.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

Need to send us an email?

Here are our most common email addresses: CLASSIFIED: classified@ theobserver.com. EDITORIAL: editorial@ theobserver.com. ADVERTISING: advertising@theobserver.com.

firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia. Officer Oliveira arrested Ajiboye without incident, charging him as a fugitive from justice.

Ajiboye was held at the Hudson County jail pending extradition. He was also issued traffic summonses for safety glass requirement and improper display of license plates.

On April 20 at 9:46 p.m., Officer Anthony Oliveira was patrolling the BJs Wholesale Club parking lot and saw Jerry Lee Vandermark (a/k/a Frankie R. Crane), 43, of Trenton. Familiar with Crane, the officer was aware there were warrants issued for his arrest (Hudson County Superior Court for larceny; Kearny for possession of drug paraphernalia; Roxbury Township, bench warrant).

Assisted by Sgt. Sean Kelly and Officer Josh Lopez, the three took Vandermark under arrest and found that he was in possession of a woman’s Visa debit card without permission. Also, in Vandermark’s possession was drug paraphernalia: various vials containing residue, wire mesh, a cut straw, and a crack pipe. A later secondary search revealed that Vandermark had a small bag of what was reported to be imitation crack cocaine in the pants pocket of an undergarment.

Vandermark was charged with unlawful possession of a lost credit card, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of an imitation controlled dangerous substance. He was then held at the Hudson County jail.

On April 21 at 1:56 a.m., several officers responded to a call of a vehicle crash in the BJ’s Wholesale Club parking lot in which two young male occupants – one wearing a ski mask – fled the crash on foot. The vehicle they abandoned was a 2021 Kia Sportage with a damaged ignition later confirmed to have been stolen.

Officer Jose Castillo and Sgt. Sean Kelly found the fleeing suspects in the Vermella West apartment complex parking lot next to a 2023 Kia with a smashed window, a broken ignition and burglar’s tools (flathead screwdrivers and a utility knife) on the ground nearby. Upon Officer Castillo instructing the boys to stop, both

ran, with the officers in foot pursuit.

Sgt. Dean Gasser encountered both boys near the Passaic Avenue Starbucks drivethru and took a 15-year-old Lyndhurst boy into custody. The other suspect, a 15-yearold Newark boy, ran again. Upon searching the Lyndhurst boy, the sergeant recovered two switchblades, a fleece mask and a glove.

Officer Castillo and Sgt. Kelly gave chase after the Newark boy again, but he ran into the Passaic River. He eventually exited the river near Passaic and Johnston avenues where he was apprehended by Hudson County Sheriff’s Officer Larry Aiken. Both boys were charged under juvenile delinquency with receiving stolen property, two counts of burglary, resisting arrest, obstructing the administration of law, possession of burglar’s tools and criminal mischief.

The Lyndhurst boy was issued traffic tickets for reckless driving, careless driving, driving without a license, leaving the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident.

Both boys were released to guardians.

On April 21 at 10:33 p.m., Officer Thomas Collins was approached by a bloodied 34-year-old woman while he was tending to a parking violation on Tappan Street. The officer later learned the woman had been punched in the head, torso and arms allegedly by her 61-yearold husband, who had then locked himself inside a bedroom in their nearby home.

Officer Collins and several backup officers entered the home and eventually talked the husband out of the bedroom. In the process, they found a large chef’s knife on top of a refrigerator that was covered in dried blood.

The husband emerged from the bedroom with a hand laceration that appeared to have become infected.

It was alleged the wife had cut the husband with the bloody knife during a fight on April 16, which had not been reported to police.

After receiving EMS treatment, officers arrested both parties. The husband was charged with simple assault and aggravated assault (domestic violence strangulation). The wife was charged with aggravated assault and weapon possession offenses. The couple was lodged separately in the county jail in South Kearny.

How to clean and organize your car’s trunk and cabin

When spring arrives, it’s time to put away your winter car accessories, air out your car cabin and thor-

oughly clean the interior of your vehicle. It’s also the perfect time to consider storage solutions. Here

are a few tips.

Clean After vacuuming the

seats and floor mats, remove calcium rings from the carpets and dust the dashboard and plastic mouldings. If you have leather seats, now is the time to oil them to keep them looking new.

Moreover, you should freshen up and remove unpleasant odours from your floor mats using a steamer. If you want sparkling clean windows, wipe the inside in one direction and the outside in the other to ensure you didn’t miss any spots.

Organize

If you want to keep the inside of your ve hicle tidy

on your next family road trip, fit the seats with practical organizers to store reusable shopping bags, books, tissues, water bottles and more.

You can also purchase trunk and sun visor organizers as well as a host of other useful accessories including folding and hanging bins. In addition, you may want to invest in a few clip-on cup holders to help prevent empty bottles, cans and cups from rolling around on the floor.

To find the perfect cleaning products and storage accessories for your car, visit your local stores.

PT

Health Educator @ $40-50/hour, salary based on qualifications and CHES certification

The Town of Kearny is accepting applications for the position of Health Educator. This contracted individual, under direction of the Health Officer, will gather data to assess community health needs and prepare a community health needs assessment (CHNA); prepares a community health improvement plan (CHIP); plans, implements and evaluates effective health education programs based on the CHNA and CHIP; coordinate health education services; services as a resource person in health education, and communicates health and health education needs, concerns, and resources; assist with grant reporting and documentation; does other health department duties as required. Must possess a driver’s license valid in NJ. Ability to speak multiple languages is preferred. Bachelor’s degree in Health Education, Public Health, Community Health Education, Nursing or a related Health Education field or a Master’s in one of the areas listed. Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) preferred but not required.

For application see https://www.kearnynj.org/job-opportunities/ application deadline 5/19/23 50W03

PT Community Service Aide @ $30/hour

The Town of Kearny is accepting applications for the position of Community Service Aide. This contracted individual, under direction of the Health Educator and/or Social Worker will assist with the community health needs assessment process; conduct field and office work involved in interviewing community residents; conduct outreach efforts; assist community residents in obtaining social services or other government aid and support service; provide educational and awareness programs on COVID-19 and other infectious diseases targeting disproportionately served communities; does other health department duties as required. Must possess a driver’s license valid in NJ. Ability to speak multiple languages is preferred. Applicant must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English.

For application see https://www.kearnynj.org/job-opportunities/ application deadline 5/19/23

50W03

PT Social Worker @ $40-50/hour, salary based on qualifications and License

The Town of Kearny is accepting applications for the position of Social Work. This contracted individual, under direction of the Health Officer will assist with the community health needs assessment process; evaluate the Department’s social service program; suggest social service software and train staff on the software; assist with case management services from a non-clinical aspect; assist with grant reporting and documentation; provide educational and awareness programs on COVID-19 and other infectious diseases targeting disproportionately served communities; does other health department duties as required. Must possess a driver’s license valid in NJ. Ability to speak multiple languages is preferred. Bachelor’s degree in social services or a Master’s degree in Social Work. Social Work License preferred but not required.

For application see https://www.kearnynj.org/job-opportunities/ application deadline 5/19/23 50W03

MECHANIC

(FULL TIME)

Full Time Mechanic position available for Kearny Police Department and Department of Public Works. Salary range $43,205 – 67,242. Three years exp. in maintenance and repair of various vehicles including trucks & equipment. Welding experience a plus. Valid NJ drivers license with CDL, class B, air brake end. required.

For Application and job description go to https://www.kearnynj.org/job-opportunities/Application

Deadline 5/26/23 51W03

Receptionist/ office assistant NEEDED ASAP. Apply in person: 260 Schuyler Ave Kearny,NJ,07032 No soliciting calls or emails 50W03

Part Time/Full Time Driver. Spanish speaking a plus. No nights or weekends. Competitive Salary. Call Monday thru Friday only between 10 AM to 4 PM Only. Call 973-751-6000 or Fax resume to 973-751-1190.

518 Washington Ave., Belleville,NJ 51W03

PART TIME

Morning hours, helping with children in a Day Care Center in Kearny. Experience and HS diploma preferred. Please call after 3:00PM (201)991-5684 51W03

Instructor Wanted part time afternoons. Must be reliable. Please email NJDRIVINGSCHOOL@ Hotmail.com or call (201)246-8000 52W03

BELLEVILLE Modern 2 BR Apt. C/A & H/T, Laundry room. 1 parking space. $2,000/month +Utilities. 1.5 mth security No Smoking/Pets. Avl. Now. (201) 463-6684 50W03

BELLEVILLE 3rd floor

1 BR. LR. small Kitchen, & DR. HT/HW included. 1 month security. No Pets/Smoking Private entrance. Credit Check. Available Now (973)7597077 52W03

KEARNY Partially renovated 2nd floor 2 BR apartment. LR, eat in-kitchen. No pets/smoking, off street parking. Separate utilities. $1600 rent + 1 month deposit. Available June 1st. Call or text 201 889 2709. Showings Start May 2 51W03

KEARNY 2nd floor. 3 Bedroom, 1 bath, EIK, LR. Storage, Backyard No Pets/Smoking. $1,800 + 1.5 mth security. Utilities Seperate. (973)668-8305 51W03

N.ARLINGTON 10 Ridge rd. 2nd fl. 3 room apt. 1 Br, Modern. $1,500 + 1 month security. HT/HW included. No Pets. Close to transportation Avl. Now (201) 674-3995 51W03

N.ARLINGTON 1st floor. 1 BR, LR, EIK. $1200 +1.5 months security. Utilities separate. Parking for 1 car. No Pets. Available May 15th Background check (201)997-1222 or (201)290-4861 51W03

KEARNY Rare vacancy for 1 person. A large room in quit house. With your own refrigerator and sink. Close to public Transportation. Gentleman preferred no smoking or pets Security required. $175 weekly call (973) 830-7498 50W03

care of the elderly. Live in or Live out.

References if needed (917)455-5296

50W03

Sportfishing

(201)-906-6847

Licensed & insured https://basslinessportfishing.com/ 46W07

E.NEWARK

2 BR’s, 1 Bath. 1 parking. Backyard. $2200 + 1.5 months security. Utilities included. Available now (201)709-3828 51W03

KEARNY 2nd floor. 2 BR’s, LR, EIK. $1950 + 1.5 months security. Utilities separate. Washer/Dryer hook-up. No Pets/Smoking. credit check. Available June 1st (201)7361223 52W03

KEARNY 2nd FL, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 months security. utilities separate. No smoking/No pets call or text (201)543 1382 52W03

KEARNY

1 bedroom apartment on Kearny Ave. Second floor. $1500.00 per month, supply own utilities. No pets, no smoking. Single or couple preferred. Call for more information. Call between 10:00am and 7:00pm. 201-997- 2341 52W03

KEARNY Brand new 3 bedroom, 2 baths, Kitchen, LR. $3,200/mth plus 1.5 mth security. Utilities Seperate. No Pets/ Smoking. Available Now. (862)235-4209 50W03

N.ARLINGTON 2nd Floor. Newly renovated. 2 BR’s, 1 Bath. LR. EIK. $1950 + 1.5 months security. Utilities separate. No pets/smoking. Couples preferred Available Now (201)8890422 51W03

N.ARLINGTON 1 BR, EIK, Bath. $1200 + 1.5 Months security. Utilities included. No Pets/No Smoking. 1 person preferred. Available May 27 (201)4288815 52W03

What an ad on Craigslist

gets you ...

• A free ad | • No-shows |

• HeAdACHes | • People from other regions of NJ | • sCAmmeRs

What an ObseRveR ClAssified gets you ...

• local readership | • local buyers |

• Access to thousands of people who support our advertisers | • Placement in a 129-year-old newspaper (and on our website) that people still read loyally each and every week.

Truth is, nothing can compare to our Classified Section. Why take the risk with Craigslist? Try The Observer’s Classifieds ... and see results right away. Call us today to place your ad.

(201) 991-1600

ITEM FOR SALE

Car parts for sale 1968-72 NOVA parts. NOS. Complete exhaust system, bumpers, shocks. Call for list of all parts. (201)6182078 50W03

Washer/Dry, Stove, Refrigerator, Clothes, Toys, Plants and much more! Call for appointment

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5 interior design tips to make your windows look bigger

If your home doesn’t have large picture windows, here are a few tips to make your modest windows look larger.

1. Hang the curtain rod strategically. If you want your window to appear taller and broader, install the curtain rod about four inches above the window trim. Moreover, the curtain rod should extend about eight inches off the window frame on each side. This will trick the eye into thinking the window is bigger than it is.

2. Invest in high-quality drapes. Choose a high-quality fabric made of thick, sturdy material to help hide the line between the wall and the window. Patterned fabrics also draw the eye upwards, making the window look taller.

3. Paint the wall around the window a dark color. If the window frame is white, painting your walls white may make it fade into the background. Consider painting the wall surrounding your window a cool, dark color to make it pop.

4. Put up a large mirror. Hang a large mirror on the wall across from the window to let more light into the room. This will give the illusion of a bigger window.

5. Place low furniture around the window. When decorating your space, place small or low-profile furniture pieces near the window, so the scale tricks the eye.

Visit several interior design stores in your area to find suitable drapes for your home. You may also consider ordering custom window coverings for an upscale look.

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SCREEN REPAIRS

Danny the Screen man Replaces wood and aluminum windows and doors with new screen. More Info Call 201-303-3930 or 973-743-8574

FEES

Continued from Page 4

former township official Vincent Frantantoni argued that the township currently pays about $700,000 for recreation (personnel and maintenance).

Melham responded that the fees will serve as a “reinvestment back into our programs.”

The mayor encouraged Iacono to work with the school board to include sports like basketball and wrestling as part of the proposed shared-services pact with the school board.

Here’s a breakdown of the new fees adopted by the governing body:

For the summer season, Camp Belleville’s entry fee will be $50 per child per week and wrestling clinic is $50; for the fall season, rec soccer (grades 1 through 8) is $25 per child; tackle football for grades 3 to 8 is $100 per child; cheerleading for grades 3 to 8 is $50 per child; and flag football for grades 1 and 2 is $30 per child; for the winter season, Jr. Bucs wrestling is $50 per entry; travel basketball for boys and girls, grades 6 and 8, is $50 per entry; girls rec basketball for

grades 2 to 8, is $25 per entry; K1 hoops for kindergarten and firstgrade is $25 per child; football conditioning clinics for grades 3 to 8 is $50 per entry; for the spring season, boys rec basketball for grades 2 to 8 is $25 per entry; girls rec softball is $25 per entry; girls travel softball (U12 and U14) is $50 per entry; boys travel baseball (U12 and U14) is $50 per entry; girls and boys rec softball for grades 1 to 8 is $25 per entry; tee-ball baseball for kindergarten is $25 per child; and for seasonal play, travel soccer is $50 per entry; rec soccer for kindergarten is $40 per child; and

art workshop for grades 1 to 8 is $50 per entry.

For any family that enrolls more than one child in the same program the same year, the fee for each additional child will be 50% of the normal fee charged.

In other business, the mayor and council adopted the redevelopment plan for the former School 1 property at 81 Stephens St., which calls for a new QuickChek convenience store/gas station on one portion of the site and 40 new townhouse units on the other.

Residents Filomena Frantantoni

and Michael Sheldon worried about potential traffic hazards from vehicles entering and exiting the site onto a heavilytraveled Rutgers Street. Also, the governing body voted to declare the area encompassing 272 Washington Ave., 274-278 Washington Ave. and 163 Valley St. a “non-condemnation area in need of redevelopment” which takes in the 130-year Cozzarelli Funeral Home at 276 Washington Ave., containing what the township calls an “obsolete layout and outdated antiquated utility systems…inconsistent with today’s design standards and codes, and too costly to renovate….”

The governing body also voted to confer the same designation for 254-256 Washington Ave. and 258-260 Washington Ave., listed as “the old Belleville Hall/Elks.” One portion of the property area contains “a small 75-year-old (vacant) single story clubhouse” in need of “costly renovations” and “unlikely to attract tenants” while the other portion contains an 85-year-old commercial building in “substandard, unsafe and dilapidated condition” in danger of imminent collapse.

North Arlington’s Ricardo & Norma Fernandez celebrate 61st anniversary

More than 100 couples celebrating 50 or more years of marriage were blessed by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., archbishop of Newark, at the Archdiocese of Newark’s annual Golden Anniversary Mass on April 16 in Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, including North Arlington’s Ricardo and Norma Fernandez, who recently celebrated 61 years of marriage.

The spouses who traveled from throughout the archdiocese

to attend the Mass held each other’s wedding rings as Cardinal Tobin asked God to sanctify their love, praying the husbands and wives grow in the sacrament of matrimony’s grace.

The cardinal also commended those present for choosing to commit their lives to another person despite the potential for difficulties in the relationship, calling it a “blessed act of faith.”

“How could you see what lay before you? How could you know

then what for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer would really mean?” Cardinal Tobin said in his homily. “Your presence here today means that the faith you expressed in each other on your wedding day was also trust in the God who made you, in Jesus who called you, and in the Holy Spirit, who continues to illuminate your path.” Cardinal Tobin later expressed a particular fellowship with the couples celebrating their 50th anniversaries, pointing out that it

has been 50 years since he professed his own vows as a member of his religious order, the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.

Afterward, he met with each couple to personally congratulate them on their milestone anniversaries.

He also presented them with gold pins depicting interlocked wedding rings in front of a cross a symbol that Christ is at the center of every strong, Catholic marriage.

CANESSA

5/5!" -Rami Alrabaa