e-Newspaper for May 15, 2024

OUTSTANDING SENIOR

County recognizes Kearny’s Denise Ficeto for dedication to community, others

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

You know the old saying — only not living forever and taxes are guaranteed. But if there were one other thing all but guaranteed, it was that at some point or another, Denise Ficeto, of Kearny, would one day be the town’s Senior Citizen of the Year.

Such was the case in 2024 as she — along with senior citizens from all of Hudson County’s municipalities — was recognized at an annual luncheon at the Liberty House restaurant in Liberty State Park, with perhaps the most breathtaking backdrop in the world, the lower Manhattan skyline.

New Hudson County Exec-

utive Craig Guy, his first time hosting the awards following the retirement of Thomas A. DeGise, celebrated Ficeto’s dedication to the people of Kearny, for her countless hours of volunteerism and her ability to always put others over self. And then, he had the entire place laughing when he was ready to present her with her award.

“Congratulations, Diane,” he said accidentally, to thunderous laughter and applause.

Once everyone paused for photos with the award, Mayor Carol Jean Doyle, who was one of only three from

See DENISE, Page 19

In the top photo, Kearny’s Senior Citizen of the Year, Denise Ficeto, center, is joined by her family and elected officials at a special luncheon May 8 in Jersey City. In the bottom photo, the Ficeto Family, from left, Alyssa, Denise, Jerry and Ashley, all of whom were present when Denise received her award.

Kevin A. Canessa Jr. photos

The Harrison Police Department has hired seven new police officers, who were all sworn in last week. Officer Salvatore Mainiero was previously employed with the East Orange Police Department and will immediately begin his field-training program. Officers Hanssel Cruz and Christian Vargas were previously employed with the New Jersey Department of Corrections to which they will be required to complete a modified academy through the waiver program. Officers Joshua Montoya, Hector Rueda, Orlando Rivera and Anthony Burgo will enter the Hudson County Public Safety Training Academy in July. Also present, Mayor James A. Fife, Councilman James Doran, Lt. Stanley Titterington and Chief David Strumolo.

to achieve reaccreditation

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

Ateam of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) will examine all aspects of the Nutley Police Department, its policies, procedures, management, operations and support services on Tuesday, May 21, Chief Thomas Strumolo said.

“Verification by the team that the Nutley Police Department meets the commission’s ‘best practice’ standards is part of a voluntary process to achieve accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” Strumolo said.

As part of this final, on-site assessment, employees and

members of the general public are invited to provide comments to the assessment team. They may do so by telephone or email.

The public may call (973) 284-4914 on Tuesday May 21, 2024 between 10 and 11 a.m. Email comments may be sent to rschwarz@nutleypd.com

Telephone comments are limited to five minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the NJSACOP standards. Contact Det. Sgt. Richard Schwarz for more information.

Anyone wishing to offer written comments about the Nutley Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation is

See NPD, Page 18

Belleville planning bike corridor for area near high school

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

The Township of Belleville will develop a Bicycle Corridor Plan for the area around Belleville High School and the municipal stadium through the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority’s (NJTPA) Complete Streets Technical Assistance Program, the mayor’s office says.

The township is one of five municipalities selected through a competitive application process to receive assistance in documenting existing conditions, exploring potential improvements and developing recommendations to help improve health and safety for people biking and walking.

“The Bicycle Corridor Plan has the potential to improve residents’ lives in so many ways,” Mayor Michael A. Melham said. “It promises to make the town safer for people, including schoolchildren, who walk and cycle in the area. It also promises to foster healthier lifestyles by promoting exercise. And fewer cars on the road makes Belleville cleaner and greener.”

The plan targets Division Avenue from Union Avenue to Passaic Street, an area with heavy traffic especially during school drop-off and pick-up. Vehicle speeding is also a concern. This effort will explore

the possibility of adding a bicycle lane.

“The Complete Streets program helps make our roads safer for everyone, especially people walking and biking,” said NJTPA Chairman John P. Kelly. “The program also helps create more equitable and healthy communities by giving people more options when travelling.”

In addition to Belleville, Verona, Belmar, Paterson and Readington will also receive technical assistance through the NJTPA.

“We’re thrilled to have two Essex County municipalities selected to participate in this competitive program,” Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr., who represents the county on the NJTPA Board of Trustees, said. “This project will help Belleville explore ways to make a busy road safer for some of the community’s most vulnerable residents – school children.”

The NJTPA runs the program in partnership with the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University and Sustainable Jersey.

The Complete Streets Technical Assistance Program helps municipalities bring together key stakeholders to explore a local safety concern and develop concepts for potential solutions using a collaborative approach.

Belleville High School

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

Thursday, May 23, 2024

Belgrove Drive, Kearny

On the solemn Memorial Day Weekend we remember the departed...and we honor those to whom honor meant all...with sorrow and pride, with respect and gratitude. To the valiant, who sel essly gave all, that our great nation might endure in strength and freedom, we pay heartfelt tribute. May the memory of their gallant deeds ever inspire us.

Assembly on Locust Avenue at 6:30 p.m. Parade begins at 7 p.m.

Proceed south from Locust Avenue to Bergen Avenue

Parade reviewing stand will be on east side of Belgrove Drive between A on and Bergen

Grand Marshal David Crenshaw VFW Post 1302 Life Member

Master of Joseph Reese Ceremonies Knights of Columbus 6928 Recording Sec.

Invocation Dr. Lillian Ramos First Baptist Church of Kearny

National Anthem Kearny High School Band

Welcome Address Mayor Carol Jean Doyle

Gettysburg Address Haley Felix Kearny High School Senior

Principal Speaker David Crenshaw

Benediction Deacon John Sarnas Our Lady of Sorrows

Mayor

Carol Jean Doyle Council Members

Marytrine De Castro

George Zapata

Dennis Solano

Richard Konopka

Eileen Eckel

Renato da Silva

Gerald Ficeto (UVO Liaison)

Stathis Theodoropoulos

In case of rain, services will take place at Post 99, American Legion

Pascrell visits Kearny with large check in hand

North Arlington community garden at Fisher Field reopens following hiatus

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

The community garden at Fisher Field has reopened.

Following a temporary closure last year during the construction of the all-inclusive Joseph Seals Memorial playground, the garden is back and better than ever, boasting exciting new features, including a clean fresh canvas of gardening at the hands of community volunteers and local businesses. There is also a new 24-hour video monitoring system installed, for added security, and a new water line on-site to facilitate the necessary gardening needs.

In addition to the reopening of the garden, this year marks the establishment of the North Arlington Gardening Club, with Ed “Cowboy” Hall serving as its inaugural president.

The club is open to all residents including those who prefer gardening at home, at the community garden or are for those eager to explore the funda-

mentals of gardening. The club plans social gatherings, including BBQs and more.

The borough has provided the space, the enclosure and the initial garden preparation, but the success of the garden relies on the dedication of the local volunteers.

The club will seek donations of topsoil, natural fertilizer, plants and some hard work from enthusiastic residents. It is a great opportunity for residents who are passionate about gardening, weeding and sharing their harvest.

“The Community Garden at Fisher Field is a wonderful asset for our residents. It provides a space for community members to join together, grow their own produce, and enjoy the healthy benefits of gardening,” Councilwoman Lynette Cavadas said. “I encourage everyone to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity.”

To join visit the club’s Facebook page or send an email to Cavadas at lcavadas@northarlington.org.

U.S. Rep Bill Pascrell Jr., D-9, shakes hands with Kearny Police Officer Rich Poplaski Jr., who serves as deputy coordinator of Emergency Management. Pascrell secured just under $1 million for the town’s lead-pipe replacement program and was in town May 10 for a ceremonial check passing to Mayor Carol Jean Doyle and other honored guests.

Ron Smits/Town of Kearny

Hudson Exec Craig Guy delivers his first State of County address

Hudson County Executive Craig Guy delivered his first State of the County Address Tuesday, May 7, to highlight the administration’s accomplishments during his first four months in office and his vision for the future of Hudson County.

The county executive touched covered numerous topics, including community engagement, housing and food insecurity, careers and opportunity, the arts, and Vision Zero initiatives. Additionally, Guy announced a listening tour in each municipality to hear the concerns and needs directly from members within the community, with the first session taking place on May 23 in Jersey City.

Here are his remarks in its entirety. Good afternoon.

I want to begin by thanking all of you for all you do to help us govern: the board of county commissioners, the mayors of our 12 towns, our prosecutor and constitutional officers, our legislative representatives, all our county employees, our labor unions, and our residents – thank you for working with our administration

these past few months to help us stake out our exciting new direction.

All of you are critical to the success of the next three-and-a-half years of this term, entrusted to us by the people of Hudson County.

For more than two decades, I was proud to be part of the previous administration that worked hard to deliver many successes for all communities in Hudson County. None of that success would have been possible without so many of you right here in this room (and online).

My friends — please join me in taking a moment to applaud all that remarkable work carried out by you — and so many of our colleagues. Every one of you deserve it.

Now today, I stand before you to lay out the work that’s been done in my first four months in office and our plans for the future of Hudson County. As I sought this office last year, residents and business owners alike expressed a desire for county government to do more –provide more services and become more of a partner in building new bridges of

opportunity.

For some, that meant helping them or a loved one more effectively connect with county services that were already available.

For others, it meant guiding a resident through a new county program or service.

My friends, that is exactly what we have begun to do. And it is what we will do – every day - that we have the privi-

lege to serve this county.

So service and opportunity — that is what the Craig Guy Administration is all about. But we want to hear more from our residents — we want to hear about the concerns and needs directly from members within our community.

That’s why today I’m announcing a listening tour in each municipality to give every resident a voice in Hudson County.

Over the next several months, I will be traveling throughout the county to host conversations with residents, business owners, religious leaders, and others to gain insight into county concerns. I’m proud to announce the first of these events will take place on May 23rd in Jersey City.

I hope all of you will help me in promoting these sessions so we can be informed in determining which issues to prioritize and how we can best serve the residents and families in Hudson County. We started our administration by launching an effort to expand awareness

Continued on Page 7

Guy

May 15, 2024

Continued from Page 5

of county services directly within the communities we represent.

Our administration has launched a series of “Community Resource Fairs” to highlight and bring our county services directly into the communities to those in need.

With these efforts, more residents are afforded the opportunity to put their lives back on track and overcome the threat of hunger or homelessness. I want to thank all of our mayors and municipal officials who have cooperated – and are cooperating — with us to make these Resource Fairs such a success.

We know housing insecurity is a huge issue for Hudson County, which is why I am following through on my campaign platform to increase affordable housing opportunities.

Within 30 days of taking office, we were able to complete a groundbreaking transitional housing partnership agreement with the city of Jersey City. Under this agreement, county clients now in transitional housing will receive priority placement into permanent housing through the Jersey City Housing Authority.

This new partnership helps individuals move into permanent, affordable housing that is not time-limited.

It is humane, it is good for those in need and it saves taxpayers money.

But we must do more to expand the number of existing affordable units within Hudson County.

I’ve asked our Department of Family Services and Reintegration to focus heavily on this topic.

We have already created a universal online or in-person application for anyone seeking housing assistance, as well as a central point of contact at County Plaza to help people identify, qualify and enter permanent housing.

On that note, we have fully reopened our county welfare offices at county plaza, so that those who need housing and welfare assistance are able to access these services in the same space. In one four-day period these offices served over 700 clients needing housing and welfare assistance.

But back to affordability – we are looking to build new affordable housing units on county government property, and I’ve asked our some of our key leadership to begin our efforts. To those leading, I know you’ll achieve all of my goals.

Improving our process will improve opportunities for those in need of affordable housing—but actually building new affordable housing will do far more. I am very excited to see this happen.

We learned a great deal about the people of our county during the COVID-19 pandemic: no county was more resilient and community spirited.

But we also learned a very troubling fact: food insecurity is unfortunately alive and well in Hudson County and throughout the state.

And according to data collected by the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, approximately 1 in 12 families in Hudson County still remain food insecure.

That is unacceptable, and I have taken three major actions to investigate and address this issue.

First, I have directed our Department of Health & Human Services to organize the county’s first-ever Food Insecurity Summit, which will take place on May 22. This event will bring together a range of public health experts and community stakeholders to examine the potential root causes of food insecurity and recommendations to counter this.

We will explore partnerships with a range of entities, including third party non-profits and qualified health centers, to develop new food pantries and food pharmacies in locations across Hudson County.

We have also begun discussions with non-profit partners to work on ways to further supplement SNAP benefits, as we know SNAP benefits do not always cover food purchases for a growing family.

No Hudson County family should suffer food insecurity if we have the resources and the resolve to prevent it.

Ultimately, however, the old saying remains true: the best social program is a good career.

In our first four months we have sought to increase and expand career opportunities for our residents in a number of ways:

With the help of U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez and Sen. Cory Booker, we’ve secured a $5-million federal grant to rebuild Route 508 from West Hudson to the Wittpenn Bridge, generating more union construction jobs.

With funding support from the EPA, the County has entered into a partnership with Hudson County Community College to provide training to County residents

Continued on the next page

POLICE WEEK 2024

In 2023, there were 137 line-of-duty deaths across the country, which was a 40% decrease from 2022 where there were 274. Once again, the largest contributor to line-of-duty deaths was gunfire, with 48 incidents recorded last year. To date in 2024, there have already been 56 LODD with 20 of those tragic incidents involving gunfire. Every single LODD was more than just the loss of police officers. They were sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. One hundred thirty seven police officers went to work last year and didn’t make it home to their family at the end of their shift.

During National Police Week, we respect, honor and remember all of those we have lost. To our communities that we protect & serve, we couldn’t do this job without your continued support and we thank you for that. We’re just ordinary people taking on extraordinary tasks.

- Mina Ekladious, President, PBA No. 21, Kearny

As a former police officer, I know firsthand the exceptional commitment and courage our peace officers display when they put on the uniform. Each day, police officers put themselves in harm’s way to keep our streets and communities safe. Police Week is a time to honor those that perform this essential public service and remember members of law enforcement who have fallen in the line of duty. I’m honored to stand with these brave men and women, and celebrate the work they do for Hudson County.

- Craig Guy, Hudson County Executive, Retired Police Oficer

Each year, the dedicated men and women of our law enforcement community rise to the occasion to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service, by riding to our nation’s Capitol to honor the fallen during police week. Their commitment in preparation and training for the Unity Tour is absolutely amazing. This year our New Jersey State Police riders are honored with the new mission of honoring our recently fallen brother, Trooper II Marcellus Bethea, who made the ultimate sacrifice May 5.

- Wayne Blanchard, President of the State Troopers Fraternal Association

Continued from previous page

for green infrastructure career certification and placement assistance in this field.

We’ve reached out to our business community and labor leaders to expand our County Summer Youth Employment/ Trade Internship program so students who want to start their careers in Hudson County are empowered to stay.

This semester our Schools of Technology partnered with the Port Authority to join a pre-apprenticeship program featuring instruction in construction trade skills, putting students in line for union careers.

Last month our Schools of Technology students launched the school’s new “Outdoor Classroom Food Bus,” a student-operated food truck that sells food created by the students in the Culinary Arts Program. The Food Bus will be visiting community events throughout the County, and

all profits from its sales will go into a student scholarship fund.

And as someone who has tasted what they’re selling from the Outdoor Classroom Food Bus, I can promise you, we’re making a good investment.

On the collegiate level, NJCU and Hudson County Community College recently created the Connect Program, allowing students to have targeted, personalized support to complete their bachelor’s degrees on time, seamlessly moving from HCCC to NJCU to graduate with a meaningful degree, save money and begin their career.

Programs like these, along with educational capital projects, are simply the latest examples of how we continue to invest both in our youth and our economy, every day.

To continue expansion of opportunities for unemployed and underemployed adults, we have been working with

the Hudson County/Jersey City Workforce Development Board Chair Roger Jones, the NJDOL and the USDOL to improve outreach and opportunities consistent with federal guidelines and requirements. Thank you to the Workforce Development Board members and partners.

And let’s not forget our small business community. On Feb. 1, we launched a disparity study to look at how Hudson County government and our subsidiary agencies do business with diverse businesses such as small, minority, women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses seeking contracts. The research study is almost complete, and information as well as recommendations will be forthcoming to help mold our policies and procedures going forward. Better service and better opportunity lead to better quality of life. But quality of life in Hudson County is also affected by our artistic and cultural

diversity. The Hudson County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs and Tourism Development highlights the artistic and cultural diversity of our county while generating arts-based economic activity. But what it does with the arts is so much more than dollars and cents.

Our County Arts in Education Grant Program allows arts educators from local organizations to partner with County schools to teach arts education, when it otherwise would not be offered. This year 16 nonprofit arts organizations and 35 schools within Hudson County are benefiting from this grant.

And in cooperation with the state, Hudson County this year alone funded 49 organizations for programs in theater, music, visual arts, literature, dance and film.

In addition to celebrating our arts and diversity, making Hudson County greener has been a priority for our administration from day one.

Lusitania

We will keep adding to our county’s green space – whether in Harrison, or in Union City, or right here in Jersey City when we demolish the old courthouse building on Newark Avenue and replace it with a beautiful, central green space the neighborhood desperately needs.

And you may have heard about our Vision Zero task force – through this group we are working to improve our streets, paths, and trails for recreation, commuting, and fitness. The task force connects monthly and will be engaging with the public. We look forward to having a comprehensive plan drafted by the end of this calendar year.

In conclusion, this is what our new direction is all about – an improved quality of life complete with service and opportunity. That has been the focus of our first few months. It will be our focus for every day going forward. Thank you.

2024 Home Buyer Dream Program® Plus

• $19,500 can be used towards loan down payment and loan closing costs

• $500 can be used towards homeownership counseling costs

• Available to eligible first-time homebuyers on a first-come, first-served basis

SPORTS & HEALTH Nutley softball coach Luann Zullo wins her 500th game

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

Normally, Luann Zullo tries to ignore the scattering of fans beyond the third base dugout during games. But as more and more of her former players started to line the fence during Wednesday’s game, it became impossible for the longtime Nutley softball coach not to notice.

“I felt like every time I turned around I saw somebody different,” Zullo said. “I don’t usually pay much attention outside the fence during the games, but right by the third baseline, different players would walk up and we’re standing there, watching the game. Some of them I haven’t seen in years so it was great to see them.”

All of those former players came to Yantacaw Park for

the same reason - to watch their former coach make history.

Wednesday’s 13-1 win over Payne Tech was the 500th career victory for Zullo prompting her to think back to the players and moments that led up to it.

“Five hundred is a very large number, but the thing is, you don’t really think about that number, you think about all of the players,” said Zullo. “I’ve been blessed with some wonderful, wonderful young ladies to work with and excellent assistant coaches. To me, the 500 wins aren’t about me, it’s about all of those players who bought into the system, worked hard and gave everything they had every day. That’s what this is about.”

While Zullo is quick to

redirect the credit, the 28year head coach sports a resume that few can match. Zullo, who was named The Star-Ledger’s 2010 State Softball Coach of the Year, is the fifth Essex County coach to reach 500 wins.

The bulk of those wins have come at her alma mater. Despite a stellar threeyear run at West Essex in which her team won backto-back Essex County championships in 1997 and 1998, Zullo made the decision to return to Nutley.

“When the move was made, it was extremely difficult,” said Zullo, who won a sectional title with West Essex in 1998, her last season there before moving to Nutley. “I loved those girls (at West Essex) and at the time it was everything that I wanted and where I wanted

to be. But I had an opportunity to come to Nutley, teach in Nutley, coach in Nutley. In hindsight, it was the best decision I ever made.”

For Zullo, the success continued at Nutley. In 2011 she became the first coach to win an Essex County title at two different schools when the Raiders blanked Mount St. Dominic, 3-0, Overall, Nutley has won four state sectional championships (2006, 2010, 2015 and 2022) and reach the Essex County Tournament final in 2021 and 2022.

One constant during the 25 seasons has been the family atmosphere surrounding the program. During Zullo’s first year at Nutley, Michelle DiPiano was one of her players as her brother Mike attended nearly every game. Today, both Mike Michelle

are among the six assistant coaches on Zullo’s staff, a group that includes former Nutley players Stephanie Ruffo, Breanna Condito, Michell Puzio and Morgan Gualtieri as well as former Immaculate Heart star Brielle Cosentino Ricciardi.

“It’s wonderful that they want to come back and they want to continue to be a part of it,” Zullo said. “It is a family. And seeing all of the past players I think was also nice for my (current) players to see that because it’s not (a situation where) they graduate and they’re gone and you never see them again.

“It was fun, it was overwhelming. It was very nice to see and hear from so many people. But again, it’s their accomplishment as well. They’re as big of a part of it as I am.”

Photo courtesy of Mike DiPiano

Kearny boys volleyball hits stride, returns to HCT semifinals

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

Kearny’s boys volleyball team, at times, has looked like a group that has the size, talent and depth to be one of the best in the state. Now, as tournament time has arrived, the Kardinals look to prove it on the court.

For Kearny, this past Friday was the first step towards that when it defeated an always strong Bayonne team, 25-13, 27-25 in the Hudson County Tournament quarterfinals.

The victory sends the Kardinals to the semifinals for the seventh-straight year. Kearny,

seeded third, will play second-seeded Hudson Catholic on Wednesday for the right to

play in its fourth consecutive final, which is set for Saturday at County Prep High School in

Jersey City.

Top-seeded Harrison hosts North Bergen in the other semifinal.

“There’s a lot of high-level talent individually with these kids, but they need to work well together and play well,” said first-year Kearny head coach Aaron Mantilla, who played at Kearny and then NJCU. “When they realized that and they became a team, that’s when we started to play high level volleyball.

“I know that these guys always had the potential to play a high level of volleyball. They just need to want it.”

Senior outside hitter and co-captain William Mullins has led what has been a balanced

offensive attack. Mullins, an All-State selection in 2022, who missed all of last year as he underwent treatment for leukemia, has a team-best 103 kills to go with 75 digs.

“I feel like William’s return has meant everything to this group and to the program,”

Mantilla said. “The kid is the hardest worker on the team. He is always ready to play, he never complains, he never talks back. He’s a team player.

“He’s a leader on and off the court for us, and we wouldn’t be where we are this season if it weren’t for William.”

Yuri Dos Santos and Christopher DelRosario have shared

ANAPHYLAXIS

Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that occurs rapidly after exposure to an allergen. This systemic response is characterized by a sudden and widespread release of chemicals in the body, triggering a cascade of symptoms that can affect various organs, including the skin, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems. Common allergens that can trigger anaphylaxis include foods such as nuts or shellfish, insect stings, medications, and latex. Symptoms typically progress rapidly and can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, and difficulty breathing. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. It requires immediate treatment with epinephrine, a medication that helps counteract the allergic response and stabilize the individual. Follow-up medical

care is crucial to prevent a potential second-phase reaction.

If you have an attack and you carry an epinephrine autoinjector, administer it right away. Even if symptoms improve after the injection, you still need to go to an emergency room to make sure symptoms don’t recur, even without more exposure to the allergen. This second reaction is called biphasic anaphylaxis. To schedule an appointment, please call PREMIER CARE ASSOCIATES OF WEST HUDSON at 201-998-7474, or visit us 7 days a week at 512 Kearny Ave., Suite B. We provide routine immunizations and complete physical examinations including electrocardiograms (EKG) and laboratory services.

P.S. Those at risk of anaphylaxis often carry epinephrine autoinjectors for emergency use.

any questions or comments to: premiercare@gmail.com

Giuseppe Adami

Dr. Prakash J. Doshi

Dr. Hector Aguilar

Josh Baeza

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

This outdoor track season has taken on an added meaning for Aracely Vazquez.

In early January, Vazquez severely sprained two ligaments in her right ankle, an injury which not only brought a premature end to the Kearny senior’s basketball season, but put her outdoor track season in jeopardy.

While still limited by the injury, Vazquez is making the most out of her final season for the Kardinals.

During Tuesday’s South Hudson Championships, Vazquez set a personal best in the javelin with a throw of 91-5. The throw propelled her to first place in the event and earned Vazquez The Observer

Athlete of the Week honors.

Sparked by the performance of Vazquez and others the Kardinals cruised to the team title.

“I was very nervous about the season,” said Vazquez, a three-sport standout best known for her time as Kearny’s starting goalie in soccer. “I was supposed to continue running (before the injury) and I wasn’t sure if I was to even be able to go this season. So it’s a lot more meaningful doing the throwing events and kind of picking off where I left off last season.”

When Vazquez initially suffered the injury, there was a strong possibility it would require surgery. Instead, after more than six weeks of physical therapy, she was not only able to avoid surgery, but was

ment from where she was a month prior after missing the preseason. Her score was nearly 20 feet farther than in her first event of the seasonthe Metuchen Relays on April 6. In the HCTCA Championship on April 20, Vazquez threw an 82-4 in the javelin and personal best 69-0 in the discus.

Aracely Vazquez

cleared to resume track shortly after the start of the season. Due to the lingering effects of the injury, Vazquez is unable to participate in the jumping and sprinting events she competed in last spring. “I was still doing PT when

the season was starting so I wasn’t 100-percent sure if I’d be cleared on time or if it was even worth competing this season,” Vazquez said. “But I started training slowly but surely and little by little, I eventually got back to where I was (last season). It’s not 100-percent yet, but I’m at right now, it’s really good compared to where I was two or three months ago.”

“She’s a true competitor and a tough athlete,” said Scot Weaver, Kearny’s throws coach. “Every day she shows mental and physical toughness in preparation and work ethic.”

Vazquez’s throw of 91-5 marked a significant improve-

“We were a little worried coming into the beginning of the season if she was going to be ready or not,” Kearny track & field coach Al Perez said. “We had to take it a little easy (at the start), and then she built back up right to where she left off in the previous season.”

See ATHLETE, Page 12

Herpetic eye disease is caused by the herpes simplex virus (that causes cold sores) and herpes zoster virus (that causes chicken pox and shingles). These are not the same viruses that cause genital herpes (caused by herpes simplex 2), and they are not sexually transmitted. When herpes simplex affects the eye, it causes a corneal infection. When herpes zoster affects the eye, it causes itching and redness. Most people are exposed to herpes simplex and herpes zoster in childhood and carry the dormant viruses throughout life. In anyone who has been exposed, the viruses can suddenly activate and spread to the eye, causing herpetic disease flare-ups, often due to a weakened immune system from another disease or illness.

Many other conditions can display these symptoms, so see your doctor for a full eye exam to learn the cause. Your doctor might want to use special tests if it looks like herpetic eye disease might be present. To schedule an appointment, please call our office at 201-896-0096. Address: 20 Park Avenue, Lyndhurst; Optical shop: 201-896-0007. We accept most insurance. P.S. In 1995 the herpes zoster vaccine became available. People who’ve received the vaccine will not carry the dormant virus or be able to contract herpes zoster (the cause of chicken pox).

VOLLEYBALL

Continued from Page 10

the other outside hitter spot. Dos Santos, a senior, in particular has come on of late, highlighted by a season-best nine kills in the quarterfinals against Bayonne.

In the middle, 6-foot-4 junior Giuseppe Adami has had a strong season with 79 kills and 31 blocks in his second year as a starter.

“He’s been very good in his role on this team,” said Mantilla. “He’s a very strong hitter, a very good blocker, and a very good server.”

Junior Denzell Holloman, who leads the team in blocks with 37, adds to the size up front at 6-foot-3, while sophomore Caleb Baptista has also seen meaningful time at the position during the second half of the season.

Another first-year starter doing big things has been

sophomore opposite Jonathan Petrillo, who has 79 kills, highlighted by an 11-kill, eight-block performance against Hudson Catholic on April 30.

Senior co-captain and wrestling star Josh Baeza has shifted over from the back line to starting setter this season and has 327 assists on the season. Despite standing just 5-foot-7, Baeza’s athleticism has allowed him to be more than a passer, getting 16 blocks and 14 kills.

“He’s been getting better every single day,” said Mantilla, who was a setter as a player. “He really wants this. He likes playing the sport at a high-level and is always looking to get better.”

Senior Caio Souza (92 digs) has emerged as Kearny’s libero with fellow senior Anthony Quezeda also seeing extensive time at libero and as a defensive specialist. Another senior, Joshua Gutierrez, has also

seen time on the back line and has been one of the Kardinals’ top servers.

Jonathan Ortiz has also seen time at setter, while David Przybylski and Gadiel Casanova are also vying for in the Kearny lineup.

At 10-6, Kearny has won six of its last eight games and is currently 10th in the North Jersey, Group 3 power point standings. Before Wednesday’s semifinal, the Kardinals host Union City on Monday as it looks to avenge an earlier defeat to the Soaring Eagles while staying on top of the HCIAL American Division standings alongside with North Bergen.

“It’s been an up and down season and they’ve been playing at their best as of late,” said Mantilla. “I think we’re playing high level volleyball right now.

“They know what our job is and they know that the job is not done.”

ATHLETE

Continued from Page 11

“I was surprised (to throw 91-5) because I hadn’t thrown that far since last season and I wasn’t expecting it,” said Vazquez. “I was anticipating it to happen in a future meet, but I was surprised because the throws before weren’t that great and my technique wasn’t the best. So when I threw it, all I was thinking was to get my chest up so I could throw further and that’s what happened. I threw it with my chest facing up to the sky.I surprised myself for sure.”

This fall, Vazquez was the starting goalkeeper on Kearny’s Hudson County Tournament championship team. In the final at Red

Bull Arena, she made one of the biggest plays in recent Kearny history when she made a diving save in the eighth round of penalty kicks to clinch the Kardinals’ 14th consecutive county title.

In basketball, she was set to be a starting forward for Kearny before the injury, recording eight points and nine rebounds in a season opening win against St. Dominic.

Now that Vazquez has returned to her previous form, she anticipates even bigger numbers the rest of the season, starting with Thursday’s Hudson County Championships in Secaucus.

“I feel like I’m finally reaching back to where I had left off,” Vazquez said. “And I have no doubt in my mind that it’ll continue to go up from here.”

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

OBITUARIES

Mary Funk

Mary Funk, a long-time former resident of Kearny, died May 11, 2024 in Pittstown.

Mary was born Jan. 31, 1936 to John and Bridget Devers Mcloughlin, in New York City.

Mary enjoyed gardening, crocheting and social media games.

She is survived by her five daughters: Maureen Monahan, Melissa Parrish, Melanie Ryan, Meryl Green and Monica Shilay (Kenny); her grandchildren Jennifer Trinkley (Bryan), Krystle Siegfried, Charles Love (Samantha), Joseph Ryan, Kenny Green (Aspen) Kody Green, Thomas York (Emily), Jeff York (Melissa), Ryan Pugliese (Frankie) and Amanda Shilay; great-grandchildren Alex, Bryan, Will, Eddie, Axe, Jason, Kara, Aerie, Jacob, Charlotte with another on the way.

She was predeceased by her

husband Edward Funk (1995), sons-in-law Albert Adams, Wayne Parrish, Mike Ryan and grandsons Albert, Shawn and Danny Adams. Services under the direction of Palm Mortuary, Las Vegas. Memorial Mass to take place at a later date in New Jersey

Vidal Lopez

Vidal Lopez died May 9, 2024.

He was 91.

Born in Puerto Rico, he lived in Newark before moving to Kearny 39 years ago.

Visiting was at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. His Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, May 15, at 10 a.m. at St. Cecilia Church, Kearny. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. Vidal owned several businesses during his lifetime and was involved with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce associated with Essex County. He was also a machine operator having worked for Marshall Clark Co.

Beloved husband of Nelida, he was the father of Edward (wife Jacqueline), Jose A., Alexis, Jose V., Rosemarie and Tyron. Brother of Estervina Cruz and many other siblings, he is also survived by his grandchildren Brandon, Alycia, Joey, Micheal, Bipop, Emit and Victor along with his great-grandchild Leliani.

Ronald J. Kelly

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

Maureen Gilmore (Gene), Lawrence Kelly (Alice), Kathleen Earl (Thomas), Sharon Mathewson (Michael), Colin Kelly (Kathleen), Frederick Kelly (Bridget) and the late Stephen and Eugene. He was also the brother-in-law of the late Anne and Elizabeth. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to the American Diabetes Foundation.

Ronald J. Kelly died May 7, 2024. He was 65. Visiting was at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, Kearny. Cremation was private. Ron was retired from Amtrak Railroad. He was an active sponsor and member of AA. Ron had helped many people during his recovery.

Beloved husband of Tina (nee D’Angelo) and father of Eric and the late Ashlee, he was the brother of Joseph Kelly,

How to spot a social media scam

From Facebook account hackers to fake stores and romance tricksters, your online presence makes you vulnerable to predators. Their tactics are always evolving, so tread carefully when communicating online. Keep an eye out for these signs of social media scams:

• A message saying something like “Is that you in this video?” followed by a link. Even if the message seems to come from a friend, don’t click the link.

• Social media quizzes requesting personal information. Birthdays, pet names, song ti-

tles or details about your youth could reveal information that hackers can use to guess your passwords or bypass other security safeguards.

• A friend request from someone you’ve already connected with. Likewise, be wary of any request from a social media account with minimal activity and few contacts.

• Message exchanges in which the person asks to shift to another method of communication, such as telephone or text.

• Requests to send or receive money. Be especially suspi-

cious of offers of money in exchange for help, even if they seem to come from someone you know.

• Unrealistically cheap deals. Don’t trust online retail websites that don’t provide a physical address and information on shipping costs and timelines.

In many cases, avoiding online scammers is a matter of resisting the urge to click and, instead, using a little discernment. A local IT specialist can help optimize the security of your devices and online accounts.

Lyndhurst’s Mustafa has breakout day at NJIC Championships

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

Few people outside of the Lyndhurst track program were aware of Rola Mustafa before last Monday’s NJIC Championships.

By the end of the meet, Mustafa had delivered the kind of performance that had everyone at Emerson High School taking notice.

Competing in her first NJIC Championships, Mustafa took first place in the 100 Meter High Hurdles and High Jump, while also medaling in the 400 Meter Intermediate Hurdles and the 4x400 Meter Relay.

Mustafa’s breakout day makes her The Observer Athlete of the Week.

“A bunch of coaches didn’t know who she was either. They were like ‘where’d she come from?’” head coach Rich Tuero said. “I’m like, she was here. She just had an unfortunate medical emergency last year that caused her season to end a little short.”

Both Tuero and Mustafa thought this kind of breakout could have happened a season ago. Unfortunately, an emergency appendectomy last April forced Mustafa to miss most of her junior year, including the NJIC Championships.

“I didn’t have a chance to compete in our league meet or any of those meets, so there was a lot of pressure coming into this for me,” said Mustafa.

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a fifth place finish in the 400 Meter Intermediate Hurdles, an event she admits isn’t her favorite.

Mustafa followed it with gold in the 100 Meter High Hurdles, first with a personal best 16:30 in the preliminary heat followed by 16:42 in the finals.

feel like all the hard work that I put in definitely pays off.”

Mustafa’s day ended as one of the legs of Lyndhurst’s second place 4x400 Meter Relay team.

“I felt like I had to show up for myself because I didn’t have an opportunity to compete last year.

“I definitely do feel like it was my little coming out party.”

Mustafa’s day started with a personal best time of 1:13.40 for

Her best performance of the day came in the High Jump where Mustafa set a school record with a jump of 5-2.

“When I cleared 5-2, I was screaming and cheering, then when I went over to Tuero and some of the other kids on my team they’re like, ‘Rola, I think you just tied the school record,’” said Mustafa. “I was like, no way and then when Tuero confirmed it a little while later, it was an amazing feeling. It definitely makes me

“Without Rola, we could not win,” Tuero said. “I’m blessed to have these kids and Rola is a huge piece because we could not win without Rola. She’s just like Julia (Tozduman). She’s that valuable to our team.”

For Mustafa, Monday served as a reminder of just how far she’s come. Not just from the appendicitis that ruined her junior season, but her freshman year when she competed in the hurdles for the first time.

“I remember freshman year, my first ever meet. I was in the 400 Meter Hurdles, my first one ever and I fell on the fourth hurdle and I couldn’t finish the race,” Mustafa said. “Then on the high hurdles, I fell on the first third and last hurdle, but managed to finish the race. I was like (Coach Tom Shoebridge) is going to kick me off the team, but he wasn’t upset at all.”

Last year, Mustafa was able to come back from the appendicitis just in time to compete in the state sectional championships and despite not being at 100 percent, was just one-one hundredth away from qualifying for the Group 2 championships.

This time Mustafa will enter the state sectionals with a newfound confidence.

“I have a little bit of a bad habit of being too hard on myself,” Mustafa said. “But the (NJIC) meet made me understand that everything that everyone always said about me and how the coaches always believed in me, it was for a reason. They weren’t just saying that to be nice.”

Editor’s note: Mustafa was Athlete of the Week last week, but the story in print had to be held until this week.

Photo courtesy of Rola Mustafa Rola Mustafa

HCCC, SPU sign seamless transfer agreement

Transferring from Hudson County Community College to St. Peter’s University just got a whole lot easier, thanks to the signing of a new transfer agreement between the two schools.

On April 30, HCCC President Christopher M. Reber and St. Peter’s University President Eugene J. Cornacchia signed the agreement that will facilitate the seamless transfer of credits from HCCC to St. Peter’s, forging a clear transfer pathway and ensuring students do not accumulate unnecessary excess credits at either institution in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree or higher. When community college students enroll at four-year universities, they must often navigate a complex and opaque process and find some credits won’t be accepted at their new school. This historic agreement breaks down this barrier and provides transfer students with additional resources, including a transfer counselor, to ensure they have the support they need to successfully transition to St. Peter’s.

Cornacchia said: “This collaboration signifies our joint commitment to empowering students with the tools and resources to excel academically and thrive in their chosen fields.”

Reber also chimed in. “We are proud to solidify this connection with St. Peter’s University, which is fitting as we are neighboring institutions standing together in the shadow of the statue of Liberty,” he said. “We

Curtain rises on WHATCo’s one-actplaysthisweekend

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

The West Hudson Arts and Theater Company’s

look forward to seeing the partnership generate opportunities for our students as they take the next step toward earning their bachelor’s and graduate degrees. Many HCCC graduates continue their journeys at nearby St. Peter’s each year, and this agreement will be transformational for them. As he approaches his retirement in June, I’d also like to commend President Eugene Cornacchia for his steadfast leadership of St. Peter’s, and thank him for his contributions to this community over the past 43 years.”

In accordance with the agreement, HCCC and St. Peter’s will develop and maintain accurate, up-to-date course equivalency listings for HCCC’s associate degree programs and the B.A., B.S., B.P.S. degree programs at St. Peter’s, which will be posted on the St. Peter’s website. These listings will be reviewed every June. These connected-degree programs may be expanded periodically as agreed upon by both institutions.

Each institution will assign liaisons to facilitate ongoing communication. St. Peter’s will engage one of its employees to administer the day-to-day operations of this agreement on HCCC’s campus and HCCC will provide shared space and other services for St. Peter’s employees. HCCC is also establishing enhanced transfer agreements with other four-year New Jersey universities to facilitate transfer pathways for HCCC students.

One Act Play Festival, a showcase of nine original works from local playwrights, takes place Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Theater at WHATCo, 15 Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard S., Harrison.

“We are not only showcasing new voices of emerging playwrights from our community, but we are also presenting an exciting collaborative effort that brings together dozens of talented theater artists,” Festival Director Holly Stefanik said.

WHATCo received numerous submissions from around the globe. Presented each evening will be:

“Choices” by Constance G.J. Wagner, directed by Beatriz Esteban-Messina

“The Meadow” by Ryan Kaminski, directed by Steven Jon Kaplan

“20 Magical Minutes of Dark-

ness and Silence and Peace” by Tara Meddaugh, directed by Frankie Perez

“Bag of Bees” by John Mabey, directed by Joseph Jones

“Like Mom Used To Say” by F.J Hartland, directed by Holly Stefanik

“Gown” by Robert Weibezahl, directed by Karina Munoz

“The Experience” by Clinton Festa, directed by Bong Dizon

“Unclaimed Baggage” by Keith Whalen, directed by Jessica Jones

“What Happens in Pre-K, Stays in Pre-K: Unadulterated Classroom Conversations” by Holly Stefanik, directed by Christopher Reyes

Tickets are $10. Available at www.whatco.org or at the door. Free parking will be available in the fenced-in lot on Jersey Street.

In Memoriam Mary A. Tortoreti 1942-2016

Lisa M. Feorenzo lisa@theobserver.com Co-owner/Advertising Dir.

Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com Editor/Broadcaster

Tina Feorenzo Co-owner/Advertising

Michelle Rybeck advertising@theobserver.com Graphic Artist/Real Estate

Deadlines

 Classifieds: 3 p.m., Monday

 Obituaries: 10 a.m., Monday

 Display/Real Estate: noon, Thursday

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Robert P. Pezzolla gm@theobserver.com General Manager

Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com Sports Writer

Kimberley Pezzolla kimpezzolla@theobserver.com Sales/Classifieds

The Observer on Social Media FACEBOOK.COM/THEOBSERVERNEWSPAPER

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HARRISON/E.NEWARK 3 bedroom apartment 1 Bath, EIK, LR,CA, Back door and use of backyard and deck. 1 parking space No Pets/ No smoking. Utilities Seperate. 15 min walk to PATH. $2,600 plus 1 mth security. Avail June 1st (973)454-3281 Call, Text or leave a message 01W03

OBSERVER CLASSIFIEDS

OBSERVER CLASSIFIEDS

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

KEARNY Newly construction 4 BR’s. 2 Baths, Open space LR, DR & Kitchen $3200 + 1.5 months security. Separate utilities. Small Pets. Avl. Now. By Appt. only (201)674-1473 01W03

KEARNY 2nd floor. 3 BR. DR. LR. EIK. C/A. Wood floors. Laundry. $2500 + 1.5 Months security. Utilities separate. No Pets/Smoking. Avail. Now (973)901-7442 52W03

KEARNY 2 Bedrooms, Kitchen, LR $2,000 + 1.5 mth security. utilities separate. No Pets/ Smoking Available June 1st Contact Isabel (201)551-7193 01W03

KEARNY 1 BR, $1650 + 1.5 months security. HT/HW included. Credit/Background check No Smoking or vaping Call Available now (201)240-8101 52W03

KEARNY 3rd Floor 4 rooms, $1400 + 1.5 months H/HW included. Refrigerator included. Credit check Available June 1st (201)747-0303 52W03

KEARNY 2nd fl. Modern 2 BR, Big LR, H/W floors. $1,800 + 1 month security. Utilities not included. No Smoking/Pets. Avl. June 1st. (201) 9534961 01W03

KEARNY Arlington section, 1 bedroom studio for rent. Laundry on site, utilities included. Available June 1st For appointment only (201)772-4022 01W03

KEARNY Renovated modern 3 bedroom apartment first floor, access to patio , ready for rent Now, no pets , no laundry, $2400 + 1 .5 security deposit, separate utilities. contact (201)772-9965 02W03

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N.ARLINGTON 1 BR, EIK, Bath. $1250 + 1.5 Months security. Utilities included. No Pets/ No Smoking. 1 person. Available Now(201)4288815 01W03

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KEARNY Huge Yard Sale Sat 05/18 from 9 am -4pm. 214 Davis Ave Kearny. Rain Date Sun 05/19 All new merchandise, Yoga wear, capris, shorts, Limited amount Socks & Backpacks Lots of great and new items! 02W01

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Lyndhurst Municipal Alliance open house is May 23

The Lyndhurst Municipal Alliance invites residents to an Open House Thursday, May 23, at 6:30 p.m. at Lyndhurst Middle School. The goal is to open doors and the dialogue about mental illness, in an effort to end the stigma. A guest speaker will discuss the journey of living with mental illness and support programs for individuals and their families. Come learn from professionals who will also be in attendance to address any questions and concerns. The event is free and a light dinner will be served.

OBSERVER CLASSIFIEDS

OBSERVER CLASSIFIEDS

LEGAL NOTICE ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Harrison Public Schools

517 Hamilton Street Harrison, NJ 07029

Proposed ESCO Energy Savings Improvements for:

Harrison Public Schools

Notice is hereby given that sealed bids are sought and requested by Honeywell Building Solutions (hereinafter called “ESCO”), for one energy saving improvement contracts for the Harrison Public Schools (hereinafter called “HPS”) in Harrison, NJ. Bidders shall be advised that the scope of work in the specification packages is for turn-key construction services that include audit and design work as well as construction. In so much that each contractor bidding this work must have the capability for both:

Project: Harrison Public Schools: Proposed ESCO Energy Savings Improvements

The bid documents have been prepared by the firm, Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc. (Spiezle)) and can be inspected at their office at 1395 Yardville Hamilton Square Road, Suite 2A, Hamilton, NJ 08691, Telephone #866-974-7666, Fax #609-394-2274.

Commencing on Thursday, May 16, 2024, bid documents for this project will be available for distribution. Complete sets of Bidding Documents will be available on Spiezle’s website at www.spiezle.com/current-bidding/. You will be required to fill out the online contact form to obtain the bidding documents. Should you have any questions, please contact the Architect’s office at 866-974-7666.

All technical questions, comments, and inquiries should be directed to Spiezle (Attention: Justin Kozik at Telephone #866-974-7666 ext. 211 or Email: jkozik@spiezle.com).

Further information may be obtained by contacting Harrison Public Schools, at Telephone # 973-483-4627

Bids will be received until 1:00 PM, local prevailing time, on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the Harrison Public Schools Board Office located at 517 Hamilton Steet, Harrison, NJ 07029. Bids, utilizing the bid forms as prepared by the Engineer, may be submitted in person, by mail or delivery service prior to that time. Any bid submitted by mail or delivery service is done so at the sole risk of the bidder. No Bids will be received by facsimile or electronic transmission. It is expressly understood that the bidder is responsible for getting the bid proposals to the BSD Board Office prior to the time and date set for the bid opening. Any bid received after the closing time will be returned unopened. In order to be considered, bids must be sealed, and outer envelope clearly marked, specifying the appropriate Prime Bid ECM: Harrison Public Schools ESCO Energy Savings Improvements: ECM-2 & ECM-3: Mechanical

There is a pre-bid meeting and site tour scheduled for the project on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, beginning at 3:30 PM at Washington Middle School located at 1 North Fifth Steet, Harrison, NJ 07029. Please meet at the main entrance. While not mandatory, attendance is highly recommended. All attendees must bring a valid photo I.D. and sign-in at the school’s main office. The deadline for submitting questions to the Engineer is Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 5:00 PM. Addendum shall be released to all registered Bidders and may be obtained directly from the office of the Engineer on Monday, June 3, 2024. Bids will be received from a Prime Contractor for one price for each ECM, all trades, all-inclusive. Bidders must be pre-qualified by the New Jersey Department of Treasury, Division of Property Management and Construction pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-27, et. seq.

Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-26, in order to be eligible to submit a Bid for the Project, the Bidder shall be classified by the New Jersey Department of Treasury, Division of Property Management and Construction in the following disciplines:

EMC-2 & ECM-3: (C032) - HVACR

No modifications to the enclosed Instructions to Bidders, General Conditions, Supplemental Conditions or Specification will be permitted prior to bid acceptance. Bids that propose modifications or substitutions to the requirements set forth in the Project Manual shall result in rejection of the bid as being non-responsive.

Bidders shall submit a N.J. Business Registration, Certificate of Prequalification/Classification from the New Jersey Department of Treasury, Division of Property Management and Construction (DPMC) for the contractor and all major subcontractors and an Affidavit as to the Total Amount of Uncompleted Contracts for the contractor and all major subcontractors.

Bidders are required to comply with the Public Works Contractor Registration Act, Chapter 238, Public Laws (N.J.S.A. 4:11-56.50 et. seq.), and be required to submit with the bid, evidence of contractor and major subcontractor registration with the New Jersey Department of Labor, Division of Wage and Hour Compliance. Bidders are required to comply with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 10:5-31, et seq., N.J.A.C. 6:4-1.6, and N.J.A.C. 17:27.

Bidding shall be in conformity with the applicable requirements of the “Public School Contracts Law,” N.J.S.A. 18A:18-1 et seq. and N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-1 et seq., the “Educational Facilities and Construction Financing” law. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days after the opening date. The Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids and / or to waive any informality in the bidding, as permitted by law, if it is in the interest of the Board to do so. The Contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder as defined in N.J.S.A 18A:18A-2.

Pursuant to “The Public Works Contractor Registration Act,” N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.50 et seq., Bidders and their subcontractors are required to be registered with the New Jersey Department of Labor and to possess a current Certification from said Department indicating compliance with the Act at the time of bidding. Bids must be accompanied by bid security in the form of (1) a bid bond or certified or cashier’s check payable to the ESCO equal to 10% of the amount of the bid, but in no case to exceed $20,000.00 as per N.J.S.A. 18A: 18A-24 and (2) Certificate of Consent of Surety as per N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-25.

The successful bidder will be required to furnish additional bonds as specified in Section 002113 - Instructions to Bidders.

THE ESCO AND HARRION PUBLIC SCHOOLS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS, TO WAIVE ANY IMMATERIAL DEFECTS IN ANY BID, OR TO AWARD SEPARATE CONTRACTS OR A LUMP SUM CONTRACT (AS APPLICABLE), IN SUCH A MANNER AS SHALL BE, IN THE JUDGEMENT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, DEEMED IN ITS BEST INTEREST, ALL IN CONFORMITY WITH THE LAW. END OF DOCUMENT 02W01

MASONRY

Continued from Page 2

requested to email the Accredi-

Program Director at hdelgado@njsacop.org or write the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, 751 Route 73 N., Suite 12, Marlton, N.J. 08053.

The Nutley Police Department must comply with NJSACOP LEAP standards in order to achieve accredited status.

“Accreditation results in greater accountability within

the agency, reduced risk and liability exposure, stronger defense against civil lawsuits, increased community advocacy and more confidence in the agency’s ability to operate efficiently and respond to community needs,” Strumolo said.

The accreditation program director of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police is Harry J Delgado.

“The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar New Jersey law enforcement agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview agency members, and visit offices and other places where compliance with the standards can be observed,” Delgado said. “Once the commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they will report to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status.”

Accreditation is valid for a three-year period during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting to their continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

BIKES

Continued from Page 3

Projects may include a bicycle corridor or network plan or a Complete Streets assessment of a one-mile corridor. The program can also be used to develop a Complete and Green Streets Policy. Projects may include demonstration projects or conceptual renderings of proposed future improvements.

“Across New Jersey and the broader nation, we’ve seen a troubling rise in roadway fatalities, particularly among pedestrians and cyclists. The recommendations that are developed through these projects will help communities enhance the safety of their roadways for all users,” Jon A. Carnegie, executive director of the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, said.

This is the fourth time the NJTPA has offered technical assistance to municipalities in its region.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

DENISE

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the Kearny governing body present for the luncheon — Denise’s better half, Jerry, and Councilwoman Marytrine DeCastro made the seven mile journey to Jersey City to honor her while six others decided against going — praised her friend for all she’s done for Kearny.

“Denise has done so much for the Town of Kearny and it was such an honor for me to nominate her for this award,” Doyle said. “I am proud to call Denise

my friend and I am so grateful for all she does for all the people who call our great town home.”

Ficeto, meanwhile, wasn’t the only West Hudsonian honored May 8. Harrison Councilman Michael Dolaghan was Harrison’s selection, though he couldn’t be there while he recuperates from illness. In his stead, Harrison Councilman Larry Bennett, himself a previous recipient of the award, accepted on Dolaghan’s behalf.

In East Newark, Mayor Dina M. Grilo was on hand to present the award to resident Maria Oshiro.

IDEAS WORTH PRINTING

Clockwise from top, East Newark’s Maria Oshiro receiving her award. Then, Harrison’s Larry Bennett accepting on behalf of Mike Dolaghan and lastly, Ficeto’s award.