e-Newspaper for May 22, 2024

MEMORIAL DAY

The Observer’s office will be closed Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day. The classified deadline for the May 29 issue will be at 2 p.m., Friday, May 24.

AMAZING TAG!

Years after it disappeared, Nutley woman returns Macfie’s dad’s military ID

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

here were a few things of which Scott Macfie was certain when he became Kearny’s Police Chief on May 1 — long council meetings he’d have to attend, phone calls from the governing body, being the public face of the department and on and on.

But just a few days after he took office, something extraordinary happened, something so remarkable, it wouldn’t be believed if it were fiction. But this is far from fiction. It really happened. And soon you’ll see why the sheer number of coincidences make what happened to him so great.

Flash back a few weeks ago.

After he was official sworn-in, The Observer had a front-page

story with Macfie on Page 1. It was a given this story would be out front. But of course, there’s never any way to tell who might read the newspaper.

Now, keep in mind, Nutley is one of the town The Observer covers, so this part isn’t so surprising.

A Nutley woman called Rhonda Frob had long recalled having, thanks to her late father, a metal ID tag bearing the name Thomas J. Macfie. It also included his service number and a John Street address in Kearny. Sadly, her dad, Warren Price, died in 2021. Frob estimates her dad likely found the tag sometime between 1974 and 1985.

Kearny PD photo

Missing for as many as 50 years, Rhonda Frob, of Nutley, returned the military ID tags of Thomas Macfie, Kearny Police Chief Scott Macfie’s late father, two weeks ago. The story around the tags is nearly impossible to believe, but it’s all true.

HARRISON POST NO. 282

AMERICAN LEGION & SGT. WILLIAM SAWELSON

VFW POST 340

Cordially Invite You To A

“Remember

out fallen heros. They are the reason we are free.”

Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 6:00PM

Memorial Day Service held at Roosevelt Park - Veteran’s Plaza

Incumbents sweep in Nutley as Kelly becomes mayor; mixed results in Belleville

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

Nutley has a new mayor, though the composition of the Township Commission remains the same.

With results uncertified and with 100% of precincts reporting, the Essex County Clerk’s Office says Commissioner John V. Kelly III finished with the most votes in the May 14, 2024, election — 3,120 — and thus, he will become the mayor when the new commission reorganizes and is re-sworn.

The rest of the victorious incumbents finished, in order, Alphonse Petracco with 2,972 votes; current Mayor Joseph P. Scarpelli with 2,896 votes; Mauro Tucci with 2,854 votes; and Thomas J. Evans with 2,543 votes.

On the outside were former Nutley

Police Officer Maria Hamlin, who finished sixth, with 2,365 votes and Lorenzo Marchese Jr., who finished a distant seventh with 1,276 votes. (The top 5 vote-getters win in Nutley.)

Meanwhile in Belleville, Tracey Williams beat Patricia Inaugurato in the First Ward by a 296 to a 185 margin. Williams will replace thelate Councilwoman Marie Strumolo Burke, who died earlier this year and had decided to forego running for re-elections.

Frank Velez III, meanwhile, won in the Second Ward, with 519 votes over Victor Mesce’s 388 and Gary Hinton’s 47; in the Third Ward, Vincent Cozzarelli, the popular incumbent, ran unopposed; and in Fourth Ward, Diana Guardabasco easily fended off a challenge from former Board of Education trustee Michael Sheldon by a 307 to 153 vote margin.

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

The Kearny Public Schools’ Uniform Exchange, a non-profit formed in 2022, has launched its 2024 collection and distribution season.

Founded by a mother of three during a health crisis, the organization has become a cornerstone for families in need, ensuring every child has the essential uniforms and educational resources to succeed.

In its inaugural year, more than 600 children received uniforms, providing them with 37 backpacks filled with school supplies. By 2023, more than 900 children received uniforms, with 332 backpacks and 300 Chromebook earbuds to local education cohorts. This year, the group aims to deepen its impact with a robust schedule of events and enhanced community engagement.

Key Events for 2024 Collection season kickoff: Starting in June, collection

bins will be available at partner locations, Super Laundromat Centers, for both uniforms and school supplies.

Raffle Fundraiser: A townwide raffle in July will offer exciting prizes, including a family pass to Alstede Farms, theme park tickets, an official New York Giants football autographed by Andrew Tomas with certificate of authenticity, and much more. Proceeds will support our Laundry Workers’ Tip Fund and distribution events.

Distribution Events: Scheduled for August, with separate days dedicated to different school grades at Arlington

Depot Park. A new priority pass pre-registration option is available for a smoother experience.

Expanded board

The expansion of our board brings four new members, joining the existing leadership team, including Jennifer L. Franzese-Paz, president; Victoria Cordoba, vice president; Lillian Novoa, treasurer;

Barbara Rivera, secretary; Jessica Kingalahua, director of security and loss prevention and Tany Paz, director of on-site operations.

How to get involved

Registration is required for all KNJPS Uniform Exchange events and may be found by scanning the QR codes provided at left.

UNIS, Page 15

New Denizen’s Bistro brings New York flare right to Kearny Avenue

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

Every so often, a restaurant in West Hudson opens and it instantly feels like it belongs somewhere in Manhattan. Such is the case with Denizen’s, now open in the space formerly occupied by Connelly’s Pub, on Kearny Avenue.

The place is just beautiful. It’s all the brainchild of restaurateur Sarah Guzman and her dad, Sergio.

Now how did it all come together? Sarah explains.

“I had a love for hospitality — and love things like special events,” she says. “I loved seeing people on their first

dates, birthdays, things like that. And when the opportunity came, I had to buy the business, the building and the license, together. And while we never really feel 100% prepared, we opened Dec. 12.”

This all happened after a complete gutting of the entire building with a full rehabilitation. Sergio, a contractor, handled that portion of the project.

“He knew what my vision of the place was — what I saw — and he made it all happen. Could never have done this without his support,” Sarah says.

She says she chose the name Denizen’s — and notes it has an apostrophe and “s”

— because the word, itself, means inhabitant. Adding the apostrophe and “s” gave it ownership — for those behind the scenes and those frequent the place.

But just what is it that makes this place so special?

“It’s a great place to come, enjoy nice dining, a cocktail, all in an elevated way,” Sarah says. “But it’s not pretentious at all. I always wanted something cool like this for Kearny.

A place where you didn’t have to travel too far to meet.”

Now at first glance, one might think the space wouldn’t work. But Sarah says it has, fully.

“Because of the way it’s set up, maybe think of someone taking off their jacket and accidentally grazing someone at the next table. That’s not a bad thing — it turns into a conversation starter.” And that has happened, she says.

There are TVs, but the volume isn’t on often. Frankly, most of the time, patrons are too deep into conversations, enjoying the ambiance, the food and drink before them.

“We’ll put up the TVs if someone asks, but we rarely do,” Sarah says.

Now, though the official grand opening was this month, the place has been

See BISTRO, Page 19

Contributed photo

A look at the bar area at Denizen’s Bistro, Kearny Avenue, Kearny

OPINION & VIEWPOINTS

COMMENTARY

‘Paras,’ under all circumstances, must be saved for Nutley’s kids

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

There is a lot still unknown about what could happen following a $7 million budget shortfall in the Nutley’s schools. The situation is so dire a state monitor has been brought in to remedy the situation and to oversee spending in the coming months.

But, if there is one thing that is screaming — demanded of the Nutley school board — it is that para-professionals must not be let go and must not be outsourced. Parents have screamed it from the mountaintops and we couldn’t agree more.

At recent Board of Education meetings, many special needs’ parents have noted how integral it was, for them, to have had the same aides for years. They’ve noted how important it was, their childrens’ needs, that the same people who drive the yellow bus are there day in and day out.

Routine is paramount for the children who need assistance the most. Breaking up such routines, whether it is by eliminating positions or in outsourcing to people who know little about Nutley would be the equivalent of the board saying, quite frankly, “Oh well, we give up.”

No matter what happens, no matter how this all turns out in the end, it is essential these paraprofessionals, or paras as they’re colloquially called, be saved. Not saving them would the most detrimental thing the board could ever do. Without exception

So it is, indeed, our hope the board wisens here and does the right thing. We expect that come September, the same paras in place today will be the ones in place four months from now.

Nothing — absolutely nothing — else will suffice.

Now the ball’s in NBOE’s court. We’re watching and waiting.

‘If you give me a treat, I’ll show you where I hid your shoe’

—

To the Editor:

Ryan: Great things happening in Kearny LETTER

I have been watching the progress of the many long term plans for Kearny and have to admit to being pleased. The amount of time it takes to get approvals from all the various agencies whether DEP or DOT or Green Acres makes it always seem like nothing ever gets accomplished but in this case,

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

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

TO THE EDITOR

we are moving forward.

1. The Riverbank Park Bike and walking path that began as an idea back in 2017 was finally approved by DOT and county in 2021 and put out to bid in

early 2022. Based on the work I’ve seen and pictures of and the update at the last town council meeting — it looks like this will be done by mid-August.

2. The new community/ recreation center on Oakwood that we put an offer on in 2022 was finally able to close escrow

See RYAN, Page 18

Tina Feorenzo Co-owner/Advertising

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

Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com Sports Writer

Robert P. Pezzolla gm@theobserver.com General Manager

Kimberley Pezzolla kimpezzolla@theobserver.com Sales/Classifieds

n Classifieds: 3 p.m., Monday

n Obituaries: 10 a.m., Monday

n Display/Real Estate: noon, Thursday

n Help Wanted: noon, Monday — all ads must be sent to classified@theobserver.com.

Captioned by Carol Igielski Hogan for The Observer’s mascot Cartoon by Michelle Rybeck

Lyndhurst police recover scooter stolen at Harrison PATH station in September

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

Ascooter that was stolen from the Harrison PATH Station eight-plus months ago has been recovered thanks to the work of the Lyndhurst Police Department and because the scooter’s driver was speeding, Det. Lt. Vincent Auteri, the Lyndhurst PD’s publicinformation officer said.

On May 5, 2024, at approximately 7 a.m., Officers Glenn Flora and James Colacci were in the area of the 500 block of Stuyvesant Avenue when they say they observed a Vespa scooter traveling south on Stuyvesant Avenue at a

high rate of speed before it traveled through a red light at the intersection with Kingsland Avenue.

Additionally, the operator of the scooter was not wearing a helmet. Officers Flora and Colacci pursued the scooter which finally stopped in the area of Riverside and Harding avenues.

The officers approached the operator of the scooter and say they identified him as Luquan George, 32, of Newark.

George was asked to produce his driver and vehicle credentials, but he then explained he recently bought the scooter from an unknown

POLICE BEAT

female and he did not know the scooter needed to be registered.

The officers then performed a computer inquiry of the motor scooters vehicle identification number which revealed it had been stolen from the Harrison PATH Station on Sept. 23, 2023.

As a result, George was placed under arrest and charged with receiving stolen property and was also issued summonses for failing to wear a helmet and

for his failure to stop for a red traffic signal. He was released pending a court appearance. n

In other Lyndhurst police news:

License plate readers, love em or hate em, really do work for the better.

On May 7, 2024, at approximately 10:00 a.m., the Lyndhurst Police Department received an alert a stolen vehicle entered the township and was traveling eastbound on Kingsland Avenue.

Officer Michael Scalese was already in the vicinity and moments later, he observed the stolen vehicle

traveling as described as it crossed over to Ridge Road.

Officer Scalese then conducted a motor-vehicle stop of the stolen vehicle and ultimately learned the vehicle was occupied by three females.

The driver, Elizabeth Machado Dearias, 35, of Newark, was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property before being released. The other two females were not charged and were released at the scene.

The vehicle, a 1999 Honda CRV, was stolen out of Jersey City May 7, 2024.

Continued from Page 1

Still, from time to time, once in the Internet age, she would Google two words. “Macfie” and “Kearny.” For years, knowing she had the tag, she could do nothing with them. But she held onto it even after her dad left this world.

Then, for no apparent reason, she decided to do one of these searches, once again. It was just a few weeks ago. This time, however, she finally got a hit.

As she read the results, one of the first to pop up was that of The Observer’s front-page story announcing the new chief’s appointment. Still unsure whether she finally had a match, she further searched and somehow found Mr. Macfie’s obituary, which listed Scott as a survivor. So she called the Kearny Police Department. At first, she spoke with someone in the chief’s office. Then Macfie called her back. The tag, engraved with the name Thomas J. Macfie, indeed, once belonged to the chief’s late dad.

Quite a reunion, isn’t it?

Well, this is just the beginning. The wildness of this story is only beginning.

Let’s go back in time again.

Turns out many years ago, the Macfie family moved from Kearny to West Milford. When the Macfie family split up, for whatever the reason, the tags went somewhere. No one really knows how. But then, it was Frob’s family who found the tags.

Now, when some of the Macfies, including Scott, moved back to Kearny, Frob’s

family purchased the home. In fact, Rhonda wound up moving into the very same room Scott once occupied. But this was when he was in the fifthgrade — as Scott and family were back in Kearny.

The coincidences don’t end here though.

For many years, Frob lived in North Arlington and was a volunteer for the North Arlington Volunteer Emergency Squad — NAVES. It’s possible she went on a call or two to Kearny where Macfie was the assigned officer. And,

the family also had a stop in Wayne, where, you guessed it, Mr. Macfie lived when others in the family moved back to Kearny.

“In fact, when I was on the squad, I wrote a story on it for The Observer,” Frob says.

And now, as if that isn’t enough, Frob also lived on the same street as Mr. Macfie did in that time she spent in Wayne. And that aforementioned John Street address?

It’s currently occupied by a relative to Kearny Councilwoman Marytrine DeCastro.

Frob says she, a former EMT, and Macfie, a police officer, surprisingly had even more in common, some shared experiences, to boot.

“Aside from the same bedroom, we’d both go out to the frozen lake we lived near on our own,” Frob says. “We would also spend time out in the same woods. It was uncanny.”

In all, for Frob, this was all fortuitous. She wanted to find a way to close the chapter on the tags, something she was able to do a few weeks ago when she finally met the new chief at police headquarters

on Laurel Avenue.

“We weren’t much different in so many ways,” she says. “For my dad, who was a truly great man, I am so happy I was able to reunite the ID tags with Scott. I know he would have been so happy, my dad.”

For Macfie, it was all so stunning, too, so much so he immediately reached out to The Observer, Mayor Carol Jean Doyle, his sister and others.

“It was such a surprise,” Macfie says. “The connections. West Milford, Wayne, here. And then finding me through The Observer. It all come full circle. Dad was very proud of his Army service.”

Scott Macfie

SPORTS & HEALTH Harrison boys volleyball repeats as Hudson County champions

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

All season long, Nick Landy has known this year’s Harrison boys volleyball team had the on-court talent to be a championship group. The one unknown about this group was how a relatively inexperienced team would handle pressure and if it could maintain composure in the tightest of situations.

Now, Landy and the Blue Tide have the answer to the question - yes!

Facing a potential set point on six different occasions late in the second, Harrison rallied each time and, in the end, emerged with a 25-15, 32-30 victory over Hudson Catholic to repeat as Hudson County champions on Saturday in Jersey City.

“One of the things that we try to stress with them is we don’t worry about their skills as much as keeping their composure in crazy situations like that,” Landy said.

“And you need to get through it so that you can learn how to deal with it.

“It’s amazing to see them really keep their composure and go out there and do the job.”

Trailing 30-29 and staring at the possibility of a decisive third set, senior Anthony Narvaez evened it at 30-all with a killer. Then, with Narvaez on serve, Yamil Espinoza’s kill gave the Blue Tide the lead. Championship point featured a critical block by Alattim DeLeon before Jeremy Rivera sent a pass to a leaping Espinoza on the left side for the clinching

kill.

It is the Blue Tide’s fourth county title since 2015, but this group bears little resemblance to last year’s with Anthony Narvaez being the lone starter from the team that won a year ago.

Narvaez, a libero last season, moved to outside hitter for his senior year, led the offense with eight kills. But what separated him was his ability to be in the right spot at the right time by making key plays all over the court with 15 digs and two blocks.

Narvaez, who has taken on a bigger offensive role the last two weeks, was similarly clutch three days earlier when he had 10 kills in 19 digs in the three-set semifinals win over North Bergen.

“He comes out of nowhere sometimes and hits a ball

somewhere and he just really gives us that extra effort, which I ask kids to do all the time,” said Landy. “This is where you are going to win a lot of these matches. You have to extend yourself and you gotta work hard. He seems to do that all the time.”

Espinoza had seven kills, while DeLeon and Frank Barrerra added four apiece in Saturdays’ final. Rivera dished out 25 assists and Espinoza had three aces to give Harrison its ninth win in a row.

While the first set was an easy one for the Blue Tide as they jumped out to a 14-3 lead and never looked back, the second quickly took a different turn.Hudson Catholic held a slim lead for most of the tightly contested set, which featured multiple lead changes.

“They’re definitely growing in the right direction and doing what we needed to do.We try to get them to understand that they’re a really good team, they just have to play the way they can all the time.”

Alan Santiago had 11 kills and 11 digs to pace a Hudson Catholic (19-2) team that had won its last seven games, a streak which included a three-set victory over Kearny in the semifinals.

Saturday’s win also gave the Blue Tide the extra power points needed to earn the top seed in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Group 1 state tournament that begins on Thursday, leapfrogging West Caldwell Tech and defending Passaic Charter in the process.

Photos are courtesy of Sean Dolaghan

Lyndhurst’s ‘Jump Queens’ among local track standouts in county championships

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

They’ve been nicknamed the “Jump Queens” but on Friday, the trio of Asya Akar, Julia Tozduman and Yasemin Ugurlu could add a new moniker - history makers.

At the Bergen County Meet of Champions in Hackensack, the Lyndhurst trio did the unthinkable as all three of them medalled in the Girls Triple Jump.

Ugurlu, a junior, took second

place with a personal record jump of 36-9.75. Tozduman, a senior, claimed fourth with a score of 35-8, while Akar, a junior, jumped a career-best 352.25 to take sixth place.

With Lyndhurst being one of the smaller schools among the 50-plus in Bergen County, the idea of having two athletes medal in the same event seemed hard to envision before this group. To have three on the medal podium is something that might be unprecedented.

“It was insane. These girls,

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they’re unbelievable,” head coach Rich Tuero said. “I don’t know if it’s ever happened in any other school, but I know it’s never happened here.”

Based on the numbers the trio had been posting in recent weeks, Tuero believed that the historic accomplishment was possible.

As a trio, Akar, Tozduman and Ugurlu won back-to-back titles in the Long Jump and Triple Jump at the Bergen

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BLOOD POISONING

Dr. Carla Domingues Lic # 27OA00646200

Michelle L. Botsacos

Blood poisoning, also known as sepsis, is a severe medical condition that arises when the body’s response to infection leads to a systemic inflammatory response affecting multiple organs. It can be life-threatening and typically begins with localized infections that spread throughout the bloodstream. Sepsis may result from various sources, such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia, or skin infections. Its symptoms often include fever, rapid heart rate, confusion, and a drop in blood pressure, which can lead to organ dysfunction or failure. Early diagnosis and swift treatment are critical for sepsis, involving hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics, and supportive care to maintain vital organ function. Sepsis is a

medical emergency, and prompt intervention is crucial to prevent a potentially fatal outcome.

Any infection could lead to sepsis. Go to a health care provider if you have symptoms of sepsis or an infection or wound that isn’t getting better. Symptoms such as confusion or fast breathing need emergency care. 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, where walk-in patients are always welcome 7 days a week.

P.S. Some patients who have sepsis experience a rash on their skin or develop pain in their wrist, elbow, back, hip , knee, and ankle joints.

Dr. Prakash J. Doshi

Dr. Hector Aguilar

Photo courtesy of Armando Diaz Bergen County MOC medalists Yasemin Ugurlu, Asya Akar and Julia Tozduman with Head coach Rich Tuero.

Nutley’s Warburton makes his mark with dual milestones

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

Last week, before Thursday’s game against North Arlington, Gavin Warburton was honored as the first Nutley boys volleyball player to record 500 kills when he set the mark one day earlier at Newark Central. Less than an hour after the ceremony, he added to the collection of firsts when he became the program’s first to get 200 career digs.

Such milestones might not have seemed possible three years ago, mainly due to Nutley not having boys varsity volleyball until his freshman year.

“My dad (Robert) was behind most of it. He did a lot of pushing with Joe Piro, our athletic director, and I’m really grateful for that,” said Warburton. “When I found out they were having a team, it made my entire year.”

Despite its lack of history or a real feeder program, the Raiders have gone .500 or better all three seasons with their standout outside hitter being a

big reason for that success.

Warburton’s milestone setting two days make him The Observer Athlete of the Week.

From the first day of the program, Warburton, who started playing when he was in fourth grade, stood out.

“When he stepped in the gym as a freshman for our first tryouts he didn’t look like a freshman from a talent perspective,” head coach Kevin Reilly said. “He knew what he was capable of and he played to the level he was capable of. It’s been really fun to watch him develop his skillset on a daily, monthly and season long basis.”

As a freshman, Warburton finished second on the team in kills (106) and digs (64) during the team’s 10-10 inaugural season. Last year both he and the program blossomed as he posted 214 kills for a Nutley team that went 20-5 and won the Super Essex ConferenceColonial Division title.

This season, with a younger, less experienced roster, Nutley is 14-7 with Warburton leading

with longtime college coach Harris Boyes that gave him a new perspective of the game.

“He just gave me a different mindset of looking at my game,” said Warburton. “Instead of getting better just by doing drills and practicing, I learned how to analyze my own play and watch other people play to implement it into my own game.”

doesn’t want to.

“It’s been really special to watch his game and his leadership mature.”

As Warburton’s game has grown, he’s also seen the sport as a whole grow in Nutley. A majority of the roster is set to return next season, having him believe that next year has the potential to be a special one.

“He now has this mental piece where he knows (everything around him),” Reilly said. “Maybe when he was a freshman, he wasn’t sure that he could swing through a block. Now he knows when he has to roll one or tip one and he makes the defense work in ways that he knows (the defense)

So while Warburton is proud to be the first to reach these accomplishments, he’s confident that others will join him in what currently is a club of one.

“I’m stoked that I’m the first, but I’m also expecting these other guys to do it,” Warburton said. “And I’m going to be very proud of them when they do.”

the team with 191 kills to go with 107 digs and 39 aces.

According to Warburton and Reilly, the biggest difference this season has been in his mental approach to the game and volleyball IQ.

A wrist injury prevented Warburton from playing club volleyball for a part of the offseason so instead, after being cleared to play, he had a private lesson

Macular degeneration is often called age-related macular degeneration because it happens as we get older, causing loss of central vision. Although less common, macular degeneration can happen at any stage of life. There are several causes of macular degeneration that are not age related. Poor nutrition, smoking, diabetes, previous eye surgeries, and certain medications all make people higher risk for developing macular degeneration. A traumatic eye injury or an infection elsewhere in the body can cause it. And there are several forms of genetic macular degeneration that double the risk of developing the disease if a parent had it. Some common signs of all forms of macular degeneration are blurry or patchy vision and complete loss of central vision. In some cases, macular degeneration advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes. Macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older. Please call our office at 201-896-0096. Our clinic is located at 20 Park Avenue, Lyndhurst. To reach our optical shop, call 201-896-0007. We accept most insurance. P.S. Laser treatments, eye injections, and photodynamic therapy can help slow the progression of some forms of non-age-related macular degeneration.

Photo courtesy of Chris Heintze Gavin Warburton

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

OBITUARIES

Ann Marie Appleton

Ann Marie Appleton of Minneola, Florida, formerly of Harrison, died peacefully on Friday, May 17, 2024.

She was 72.

The funeral will be conducted from the Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison, on Thursday, May 23 at 9:15 a.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Anthony Church, East Newark at 10 a.m. Friends and relatives may visit on Wednesday, May 22 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday morning after 8:45 a.m. Her burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington .

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mulliganfh. com.

Born in Newark, Ann lived in Harrison all of her life before retiring to Minneola, Florida, a few years ago. She worked as a detective for the Hudson County Sheriff’s Department for 27 years, retiring in 2011. Prior to that, she was a crossing guard with the Harrison Police Department for over 10 years, retiring in 1985.

Ann was a past president and member of the Hudson County FOP Lodge No. 36 in Jersey City. She often volunteered for Camp Fatima of NJ in her spare time.

Novena to St. Claire

Ask St. Claire for 3 favors. 1 business 2 impossible. Say 9 Hail Mary’s for 9 days with a lighted candle. Pray whether you believe it or not. Publish on 9th day. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, adored, glorified & loved today and every day throughout the world Forever and Ever. Amen. Your request will be granted no matter how impossible it may seem. E.P.

Ann is survived by her husband, Andrew Appleton, her children, Cynthia Ann Albujar and her husband, Jerry and Andrea Nicholas and her husband Barry, beloved ‘Nana’ to Dr. Jerry Albujar, Emy Veronica Sudberg and her husband, Matthew, and Samantha Marie Albujar, great-grandson Kai, siblings Geraldine Karpew and Donna Grabowski and her husband Karl, her aunt Grace Smith, the “Cabana Boys” Donald Smith and as well as by many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Marie Schultz, and by her mother and father in law Claude and Prudence Appleton, her brother Joseph Schultz Jr and her brother in law Steve Karpew. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to Camp Fatima or to Cornerstone Hospice in care of the funeral home in loving memory of Ann

Novena to St. Jude

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. Please grant my request. Say this prayer 9 times a day. By the 9th day your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. Thank you Saint Jude.

A.L.

Marie.

Charles ‘Charlie’ Michael Ranne Charles “Charlie” Michael Ranne, 70, died Monday, May 13, 2024.

Charlie is survived by his devoted wife, Louann (Sammarone) Ranne, beloved children, son Jeffrey Ranne (Heather), daughter Jessica Ranne-Cardona (Luis), daughter-in-law Ma Julia “Dina” Arenas, and dear grandsons Ian McFadden and Paul Brandon Ranne. He was predeceased by his beloved son Jason Charles Ranne, mother Joan Ranne, brother Steven Ranne, grandparents Charles and Dorothy Ranne and Marie Brooks, and parents-in-law Giulio and

Miracle Prayer

Dear Sacred Heart Of Jesus, in the past I have asked for many favors, this time I ask you this special one favor. Take it Dear Heart of Jesus and place it in your own broken heart where our Father sees it, then in his merciful eyes it will become your favor, not mine.

A.L.

Julia Sammarone. He is also survived by his siblings Robert Ranne, Wayne Ranne (Kathy), Jacqueline Jagniatowski (Joe), aunts Judy Byrouty and Susan Sebastian, nephew Ben Alfonso, and extended family. Born in Passaic, Charlie spent most of his life in Lyndhurst, before retiring to Manchester, New Jersey. Through the years, he established his businesses, Ranne Ceramic Tile and Cozy Cup Confectionary, both of Lyndhurst, and also spent time as a custodian at Bergen Community College. Charlie was an avid fan of the

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

New York Yankees, the Dallas Cowboys, the Beatles and was never without his cup of coffee. He loved trips to the shore and playing scratch-off lottery cards. He was devoted to his family, and never hesitated to tell everyone how proud he was of children and grandsons. He is dearly missed by those who know and love him.

The Nazare Memorial Home, Lyndhurst, was in charge. You may express condolences to Charles’s family by using a tribute wall at www.nazarememorialhome.com.

See OBITS, Page 19

Shaw-Buyus Home for

Services

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

County Relays the past two years.

“They’re the jump queens. They own the pit,” said Tuero. “We dominated every relay we entered this year. It was truly unbelievable.”

Individually, Tozduman won her first Bergen MOC title with a mark of 18-02.25 in the Girls Long Jump, the latest accomplishment in what has been one of the most storied track careers from The Observer area.

On the boys side, Lynd-

hurst’s Anthony Santana took home second place in the Long Jump with a personal best of 22-0.5.

Over at the Hudson County Championships in Secaucus, another “Big 3” shined as Kearny throwers Priscilla Castillo, Gabriela Pifano and Aracely Vazquez all had big performances during the two-day event.

Pifano, a junior, won the Girls Discus with an eye-opening mark of 114-01, while also taking second in Girls Javelin (98-07) and Girls Shot Put (34-06.50). She set personal records in the Discus and Javelin. It was

Mercedes Cruz-Fletcher took gold in the 100 Meter Hurdles with a personal best 14.73.

“She is so focused after going to nationals in the winter. She is dead center focused right now,” said Iavarone. “(Going to nationals) made her so hungry. It added fuel to the fire. She knew that she could run with all of these girls and that she herself was elite.”

Pifano’s first individual county title after posting multiple second place finishes in outdoor and indoor.

“Gabby’s been working really hard. She’s putting in a lot of extra time,” Kearny coach Al Perez said. “It’s not easy to do all three events. You don’t get someone that can score and score high in all three (often), but Gabby’s come a long way.

Mota took third place in the Girls 400 Meter Hurdles with a time of 1:12.44 and Hadassah Dos Santos finished fifth in the Girls High Jump.

Robert Kennedy finished third in the Boys 800 Meter Run (2:02.07)

“She’s individually, had quite a number of second place finishes, so for her to get the individual county championship was great.”

In Newark, at the Essex County Championships, Bloomfield’s Charles Lisa repeated as the Boys Pole Vault champion with a school record mark of 13-00.

Other medalists for Bloomfield on the girls side include Victoria Feliciano, who placed second in the Javelin with a throw of 99-1 and Angel Cruz-Fletcher, who jumped 35-0 to take third in the Triple Jump. Sophomore Thalia Bell claimed fourth in the Discus with a throw of 115-4, Kailyn Sayers took fourth in the 400 Meter Hurdles (1:06.99) and Ashley Toro finished fifth in the 800 Meter Run (2:23.40). Standout freshman Alana Dennis took sixth in the 100 Meter Dash with a time of 12.59.

Castillo, a senior, took third in the Girls Discus (87-01) and the Girls Shot Put (32-09), while just missing out on medaling in the Javelin as well, taking seventh place. Vazquez, a senior, finished fifth in the Girls Javelin (87-03).

Pifano wasn’t the only Kardinal to bring home gold this weekend as the quartet of Leandra Dos Santos, A’sya Brown, Sabrina Varela and Johanna Escalante won the Girls 4x400 Meter Relay with a time of 4:21.55.

Escalante, a junior, added a sixth place in the Girls 100 Meter Dash (13.58). Freshman Melissa

“He is definitely the hardest worker in the room. He will practice, practice and practice,” Bloomfield head coach Terry Iavarone said. “He doesn’t do private training, which most pole vaulters do. He’s never had private training so everything that he does is basically almost selftaught. He’s the only one that I know that clears that height and does it all by himself.”

Teammates Nicholas Obiedzinski (11-0) and Christopher Escobar (100) took fourth and sixth place respectively.

For the first time in more than a decade, the Bengals had a county champ on both the boys and girls side as junior

On the boys side, Alexander Travers finished second in the 400 Meter Hurdles with a time of 58.27, while James Fields finished fourth in the 200 Meter Dash with 22.20. Dave Louis was fifth in the Discus with a throw of 132-3, Cristian Silva placed fifth in the Javelin with a throw of 142-4. In addition, the Bengals’ 4x400 Meter Relay team took second place with a time of 3:22.68.

For Nutley, Meya Ranges took fourth place in the Girls 3,200 Meter Run with a time of 11:56.00. The duo of Ava Iacona and Chaaya Patel finished tied for fifth in the Girls Pole Vault with a mark of 7-6.

Essex County champions Mercedes Cruz-Fletcher and Charles Lisa.

Photos courtesy of Terry Iavarone

UNIS

Continued from Page 3

Community sponsors

The exchange’s efforts are bolstered by invaluable sponsors such as Super Laundromat Centers, ShopRite of Nutley, Kearny PBA Local No. 21, Kearny FMBA Local 18/218, American Legion Post 99, the Town of Kearny, and many others. Thanks to the generosity of Jorge and Daniel Santos of the Laundromat Center, the groupis working with a brand new inventory system which has maximized the ability to help more children and families.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our sponsors, especially Super Laundromat Centers and the Santos brothers and Mina Ekladious of the Kearny PBA Local No. 21 and Juan C. Barroso Jr. of the Kearny FMBA Local 18/218, and all of those at the Kearny American Legion Post 99, for without their ongoing support, none of this would be possible,” Franzese-Paz said.

“Together, we are making a significant difference in the lives of Kearny’s children, families and our local economy. We would also like to extend a special thanks to Deputy Mayor Melanie Ryan, who has been providing her mentorship to our executive board by helping us to raise funds and get organized for our biggest year yet.”

For more information or to become a sponsor, send an email to info@kpsue.org.

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 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 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

KEARNY 3rd Floor 4 rooms, $1400 + 1.5 months H/HW included. Refrigerator included. Credit check Available June 1st (732)288-1925 03W03

KEARNY 1st floor

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 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

Brand new 4 BR’s. EIK, LR $3100 + 1.5 months security. Utilities separate. Access to Yard. No Smoking/Pets. Available Now (201)772-9965 03W03

KEARNY 2nd floor. 3 BR’s, 2 Baths, LR. EIK $3000 + 1 months security, Utilities separate No Pets/Smoking Available July 1st (973)7255217 or (973)896-1291 03W03

KEARNY 2nd floor. 3

Bedroom, 1 bath, EIK, LR. H/W & Ceramic floors Backyard use. No Pets/Smoking. $2000 plus 1.5 mth security.Utilities Separate. (973)668-8305 03W03

KEARNY 1 BR apt. HT/ HW included also Hardwood floors , $1,450+ 1 month security. No pets/smoking. Available now. For more Info Call 201-306-2994 43W03

KEARNY 1 BR, $1650 + 1.5 months security. HT/HW included. Credit/Background check No Smoking or vaping Call Available now (201)240-8101 03W03

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

N.ARLINGTON

1st Fl. 1 BR, LR, DR, EIK With yard. Quiet Building. Near Transportation. $1500 + Plus utilities. 1 1/5 months security. No Dogs/Smoking Credit check. Available Now (973)838-1662 51W06

N.ARLINGTON 2 BR’s, EIK, Walk in pantry LR, C/A, baseboard heating. $2300 + 1.5 months security. No Pets/Smoking. Close to NYC Trans Background check Available Now Call John (201)206-9851 02W03

N.ARLINGTON

One bedroom apartment in apartment complex in North Arlington. Great location, close to transportation and stores. $1700.00 per month. Heat and hot water supplied. One month security. One parking space available. Laundry on premises. No smoking, no pets. Single or couple preferred. Call 201-997-2341between 10:00am - 7:00pm only 03W03

BELLEVILLE 1st floor. 1300 sq.ft. plus basement on Washington Avenue Available July 1st (201)428-3151 01W03

EMPLOYMENT/ HELP WANTED

PERSONNEL OFFICER/PERSONNEL TECHNICIAN:

The Town of Kearny is seeking a full-time Personnel Officer/Personnel Technician for approximately 400 full-time municipal employees. Under the direction of the Town Administrator, the Personnel Officer/Personnel Technician is a confidential position responsible for various activities associated with the hiring process for all departments including: recruitment, on-boarding, training, testing, compensation, record keeping and recommendation for hiring; benefits administration, employee communications, conflict resolution, and training, labor/management relations, retirement processing, life insurance administration, and maintaining liaison with the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The position is also responsible for oversight of salary and wages in ADP platform, short term disability administration, FMLA/NJFLI notifications, OSHA reporting, and workers compensation tracking. Provides consultation and guidance to all levels of staff and assists supervisors in identifying and resolving employee issues. Candidates should be familiar with New Jersey Civil Service Commission rules and regulations as well as the County and Municipal Personnel System (“CAMPS”). Requirements: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in a related field, at least five (5) years of Human Resources/Personnel experience preferred. The successful candidate should have excellent communication and organization skills; must be experienced in coordinating multiple tasks and meeting deadlines; must be proficient in Microsoft Suite; and other software proficiency a plus.

Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Benefits: enrollment in New Jersey Public Employees Retirement System (“PERS”), health benefits, paid holidays, as well as paid sick, vacation and personal time off. To apply please go to https://www.kearnynj.org/job-opportunities/ for application.

Closing Date: The position will remain posted until filled.

Qualified candidates should submit application, cover letter, resume and salary requirements to: Stephen D. Marks, Kearny Town Administrator, 402 Kearny Ave. Kearny, N.J. 07032.

The Town of Kearny is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 03W04

DRIVER needed for Newark based wholesale seafood company No CDL required. Must have current NJ Driver license Please Call 973-623-8989 01W03

CDL Driver Wanted Adult Medical Day Care (Belleville) Part Time/Full Time Driver. Class B and Endorsement P a must 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 02W03

Head of Creative Projects. 3 yrs of experience req’d. Mail CV to Andrew, JMMS LLC, 78 John Miller Way, #1080 Kearny, NJ 07032 or email to andrew@mkbhd.com 03W01

PERSONALS

If you are a young, attractive slender single female. Who would enjoy a Monogamous Relationship with a single, fit, romantic older male, fifties. Take a chance (727)492-8164 01W03

SWM looking for SWF to go out with someone who enjoys eating out, dancing and listening to music at concerts in the park, pool or beach! Looking for good time, fun and maybe long term relationship? Call or text (201)679-2042 01W03

KEARNY KEARNY

KEARNY

N. ARLINGTON

OBSERVER CLASSIFIEDS

OBSERVER CLASSIFIEDS

NEWS BRIEFS

NAPL hosts Washington program

The North Arlington Public Library hosts a program “George Washington, New Jersey, and the Revolutionary War,” by Joel Farkas, Saturday, June 8, at 1 p.m. Farkas, an army officer and graduate of Ohio State University, uses the experience he gained as volunteer docent at Washington’s headquarters in Morristown to describe the Garden State’s pivotal role in America’s founding. Space is limited, and anyone

Tinterested is asked to sign up at the Reference Desk.

NAPL giving away gift basket

The Friends of the North Arlington Public Library are sponsoring a July 4 basket giveaway, starting on May 20. Each one dollar donation buys a chance to win a basket full of patriotic goodies, as well as a gift card to Stop & Shop. The winner will be announced on June 28. All proceeds will go toward helping the Library serve the community.

MEMORIAL DAY DEADLINE

he Observer’s office will be closed Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day. The classified deadline for the May 29 issue will be at 2 p.m., Friday, May 24.

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(RYAN Contunued from Page 6) and be acquired in October 2023. I do wish that more than Councilpersons Eckel, Ficeto and DeCastro could be on the committee with the various residents, but I do understand

we cannot have more than three council members there with the mayor, based on laws about quorums. I guess when the committee has an idea of what it will look like and what activities can be accommodated in the space,

we will have a presentation at a town council meeting. I really want to know what things each of our council people think we are missing that might work.

3. When the law was initiated by the state with regard to

testing and replacing lead pipes back in 2020 with a 10-year timeline, it seemed like we would never be able to complete the work, especially during the pandemic closures.

But the council had a plan and integrating it with our annual paving program seems to have worked out well. I for one was upset even though our water quality was never an issue we had to take on this expense. Originally we thought that as much as 75% of the pipes were going to be lead; luckily, on some blocks, this has turned out to be as low as 10 to 20%. With the cost estimates of $100,000 to 150,000 per block and 200 blocks in town, this was an issue. I think that with the five miles of roadway on the maps released last month being completed this year we are close to 50% done, which is right on schedule.

4. I was also glad to see after almost five years the Shinner building was removed. I only wish there was a responsible party whether the owner or a government agency like DEP or EPA that would be responsible for the cleanup of the contaminated soil so that we could acquire it without having to pay millions for an environmental cleanup.

5. I am glad to see we have a parking committee, the addition of the parking spaces at West Hudson Park, the hiring of additional parking-violation officers to enforce stricter commercial vehicle parking without restrictions on residents who just own large tucks or SUVs

6. I am looking forward to the DEP presentation this summer (hopefully in June) showing how they incorporated our ideas and mitigated our concerns on the Greenway project. While still not perfect, maybe not even good, they are the first group to have a second meeting. Since at least 2013 (and I think 2009) many groups have presented half-baked plans and never given us answers to our questions. We may not get the answers we want because of the state having the final authority, but at least we are starting to get some.

7. The repair work to the sidewalks and Kearny Avenue streetscape will hopefully be ready to bid, now that the scope of work was increased to get better pricing. Hopefully the rejuvenated streetscape will lead to people taking pride in their community and learn to use the trash receptacles, which don’t only affect our parks, but our entire business district.

Melanie Ryan Kearny

BISTRO

Continued from Page 4

open for six-plus months. Of course, growing pains occurred and they had to shut down the kitchen for several months for additional construction work. But Sarah says patrons kept coming in for beverages.

“We kept it open through that time and people would still come by,” she says. “They kept coming and we’d see a lot of familiar faces.”

A few weeks ago, Denizen’s, billed as a New American Bistro, began serving brunch on weekends. It’s been wildly popular. It all works in conjunction with other menu items — like mussels and fries and different verities of meats. But the menu is ever-evolving and there are always specials in addition to the menu, which may be found on the restaurant’s

website.

Sarah says she’s looking forward to hosting events in the future, including live music and entertainment. There will also be a drag show in the coming weeks.

So if you’re looking for a great meal or a drink — all in a place where you and friends may gather like Cheers where everybody knows your name, you’ll definitely want to try Denizen’s. We don’t always say this, but we’re certain, you’re not going to leave disappointed.

Denizen’s Bistro is located at 202 Kearny Ave., Kearny. Hours of operation are Wednesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to midnight; Friday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It’s closed Monday and Tuesday. Call (201) 997-9727 for information or to make reservations (which aren’t yet required.) See photos, menus and more online at www.denizensbistro.com.

OBITS

Continued from Page 13

Jacek ‘Jack’ Kijek

Jacek “Jack” Kijek of Kearny, formerly of Harrison, died at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, on May 14, 2024. He was 62.

Funeral services were under the direction of Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison. A funeral Mass was celebrated at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, in Harrison, and his interment took place in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.

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

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73123 in loving memory of Jacek.

Frances Anne Walker

Frances Anne Walker of Harrison died Saturday, May, 11, 2024. She was 89.

Funeral services were under the direction of Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave, Harrison, NJ 07029. A funeral Mass was celebrated at Holy

Cross Church, Harrison, and her interment took place in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.

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

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Harrison Education Foundation, 501 Hamilton St. Harrison, N.J. 07029 in loving memory of Frances.

Federico P. Orpilla Jr.

Federico P. Orpilla Jr., affectionately known as “June” and “Freddie”, 75, of Kearny died May 15, 2024.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation for Freddie at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, on Thursday, May 23 from 5 to 8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Stephen’s Church in Kearny on Friday, May 24, at 10 a.m. Entombment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.

Born in Bauang, La Union, Philippines, June was a competitive swimmer at Don Bosco High School in the Philippines, and was a proud graduate of Arellano University, earning a degree in commerce. He immigrated to the Unit-

ed States in 1976, settling in Newark until moving to Kearny in 1983.

June worked as a machinist at Form Cut Industries for many years, never retiring. Freddie was a great cook, and especially good on the grill. An avid tennis player, he was a member of the Arlington Players Club. He also enjoyed playing golf, fishing and swimming and time spent sunbathing in his driveway. He was also a talented guitar and harmonica player.

June never sought recognition for helping those in need. His family only recently discovered he was helping less fortunate students in the Philippines attend college, with one notably graduating medical school.

Federico was the beloved husband of Maria E. (nee Diaz) Orpilla; loving father of Christelle Lasek and her husband Daniel, Christine Morales and her husband Richard and Jamie Silva and her husband Jason. He was the proud grandfather of Delia, Sophie, Tyler, Myles, Archer and the late Noelle; and cherished brother of Carmelita Ragaza, Bernabe Orpilla, Sylvia Lacsina, Veronica Benitez, Tomasito Orpilla and the late Celerino Orpilla and Wilfredo Orpilla. He is

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The Observer strives to bring our readers the best and the most accurate news. However, from time to time, there may be mistakes in what we report. As such, we take our obligation to report errors seriously. If you believe we’ve made an error, please send an e-mail to editorial@theobserver.com, indicating what is to be corrected. We will ensure a correction is noted (if necessary) in a future print edition — and online.

Contributed photos

Top: One of the signature meals served at Denizen’s. Bottom, traditional chicken wings and bleu cheese dressing for dipping along with one of many beers served there.