KEARNY CELEBRATES LATINO HERITAGE
n Zapata coordinates first-of-its-kind event in town
By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
Kearny First Ward Councilman George Zapata has always been proud of his Latino heritage — and at the start of each and every report he gives at Town Council meetings, he greets residents tri-lingually in English, Portuguese and Spanish. And since he was elected in 2022, and before that as a Board of Education trustee, he has always spoken so very highly of the town’s Latino population, estimated in the 2020 U.S. Census to be around 48% of the entire town’s population — more than 20,000 residents strong.
families within a two-block radius of his home. Most others in the area were of Irish, Scottish and Portuguese descent. But over the years, the demographics of the First Ward have changed dramatically. And so, it should come as no surprise that over the summer of 2024, Zapata says several residents reached out to him about pulling together a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in Kearny.
Sure, there are celebrations in Kearny with Hispanic flares, for residents of various descents. But never had there been one that celebrates the heritages of all people who are Hispanic. That is, until recently. And it’s because Zapata pulled of a tremendous Hispanic Heritage
But it wasn’t always that way.
In fact, when Zapata first moved to Kearny, he says his was one of only two Hispanic
See HISPANIC, Page 18
UNDER THE COVER
North Arlington Knights of Columbus will collect items to help victims of recent hurricanes. See how you can help those affected.
Page 5
A great Cali welcome to Kearny
KMUA Commissioner John O’Connor recently noticed the sign to welcome folks to Kearny from Belleville at the Rutgers Street Bridge was rather boring. So he, through Mayor Carol Jean Doyle, arranged with the Cali family to have a new sign erected in memory of the lategreat John Cali Jr. The sign was unveiled last week. Seen here are, from left, Robert Cali, John Cali III, Yvonne Cali and Janine Cali. See more photos from the unveiling at www.theobserver.com.
Photo by Kevin A. Canessa Jr.
District hosts Title I information session for parents of Harrison Public Schools
By Laura Comppen Special to The Observer
Public education is rarely a “one size fits all” endeavor as students come from all backgrounds, at all levels, and with varied abilities. Harrison Public Schools understand this and strive to ensure all children receive a high-quality education. And in an effort to present district resources, it recently hosted a Title I meeting for parents.
Title I is part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and was amended by the Every Student Succeeds
Act (ESSA). The program’s funding is based on poverty estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Schools with higher percentages of children eligible
for free or reduced-price lunch are typically given priority for Title I funds.
Title I funds are used to pay for extra educational services,
such as academic intervention. Academic interventionists, also known as Title I teachers, work with students and their teachers to support learning. They also provide individual or small-group instruction in reading, writing and math.
Harrison’s Title I meeting for parents was well-attended. Daniela Riser, director of Curriculum and Instruction, addressed the components of the Title I grant; Carla Hinchcliffe, coordinator of ESL/ Bilingual (English as a Second Language), spoke about district ESL/Bilingual programs and how they have grown in the district; and Clarisa Pimentel, director of Special Services, shared additional information with parents through a visual presentation.
Additionally, the district’s Intervention Team was present with materials used for intervention in math and ELA (English Language Arts). The STEAM Team (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) also had a display for parents to
see work in that area.
“We’re very proud of the work we do with our Title I programs, whether helping struggling or multi-language learner students meet or exceed academic standards, infusing STEAM into our curriculum, providing supplemental digital and workbook resources, or additional resources to support our SEL programs (social & emotional learning) such as related field trips”, Maureen Kroog, superintendent of Harrison Public Schools, said.
The event came with a perk — a 43” TV won by parent Aura Cruz-Matamoros (fourth from right). Joining her are, from left, Hamlet Marte, principal, Hamilton Intermediate School; Valle Pessoa, principal, Kennedy Elementary School; Amy Heberling, Lincoln Elementary School; James P Doran, director of Personnel; Kroog, Matthew Weber, principal, Harrison High School; and Kevin Stahl, principal, Washington Middle School. Photo by Samantha Rowe.
BCPO: Kearny man charged in fatal Lyndhurst hit & run
By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office has arrested a 29-year-old Kearny man and has charged him in connection to a hit and run accident on Oct. 10 that took the life of a Lyndhurst man on Ridge Road.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Steveen G. Novillo-Cabrera, of Kearny, was arrested following a joint investigation conducted by the prosecutor’s office and the Lyndhurst Police Department.
As previously reported, on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, at approximately 9:49 p.m., the Lyndhurst Police Department received a 911 call reporting a pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle. The pedestrian, who was later identified as 57-year-old George Arnold, of Lyndhurst, was pronounced dead at the scene. Accordingly, the Lyndhurst
INJURED?
Police Department notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, which responded to the scene and initiated a joint investigation.
The investigation revealed a 2020 Honda Civic struck the victim as he was attempting to cross Ridge Road near the intersection of Milton Avenue. Following the collision with the pedestrian, the Honda fled the scene of the accident.
Detectives identified NovilloCabrera as the driver of the Honda and determined he attempted to repair the vehicle after the collision to conceal his involvement in the incident.
As a result of the investigation, on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, Novillo-Cabrera was arrested in Lyndhurst and charged with second-degree knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, third-degree hindering apprehension, third-degree endangering an injured victim
and fourth-degree tampering with evidence — as well as related motor vehicle offenses. He was transported to Bergen County Jail on remand, pending his appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack. — CANESSA
The approximate location of the hit & run. Apple Maps.
KPD ticket blitz targeted drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians
By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
As part of its ongoing efforts to improve pedestrian safety in the Town of Kearny, the Kearny Police Department conducted a one-day pedestrian-safety enforcement operation that focused on motorists who failed to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians — and it led to the issuance of numerous citations, Police Chief Scott Macfie said.
Pedestrian safety is a key issue in our community, and
the Kearny Police Department says it is committed to upholding pedestrian safety laws to protect citizens.
The Sept. 30 pedestrian enforcement and education program was conducted which specifically focused on drivers and pedestrians who were violating right-of-way laws. As a result of this program, 28 citations were issued and an untold number of citizens were educated.
The Kearny Police Department strongly encourages members of the community to
• Drivers should stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk and stay stopped until the pedestrian is two traffic lanes away or has reached the sidewalk.
follow basic safe practices:
• Pedestrians should use a crosswalk when crossing the street and obey pedestrian signals.
• Drivers should be on the lookout for and stop for pedestrians.
• Pedestrians should look both ways for traffic before crossing and ensure cars are yielding before crossing. Remember that having the right-of-way does not prevent you from being seriously injured by a driver who is
not paying attention. Traffic safety is everyone’s personal responsibility.
• Pedestrians should wear bright-colored, reflective clothing and use a flashlight when walking during hours of darkness. Be visible.
“The Kearny Police Department is committed to doing our part to keep the community safe. We urge every member of the community to help by keeping themselves safe and following basic rules of the road,” Macfie said.
Garfield School announces September Students of the Month
Donna Masters, principal of Garfield School, Kearny, announces the following recipients of Student of the Month for September 2024.
n Kindergarten: Gianna Gomez, Doha Zoufi, Karlyn Alcantara Furcal.
n First Grade: Carter West, Aaron Fortuna, Dylan Romero.
n Third Grade: Mckenzie Murphy, Thiana Carlos Hidrogo, Ian Medina.
n Fourth Grade: Paola Soares, Liam Solano Toledo.
n Fifth Grade: Noah Gomez, Christiano Ocana, Eileen Amao Mogrovejo.
n Second Grade: Bilal Boudkik, Melody Cheng, John Gomez, Wesley Chaves.
n Sixth Grade: Angel Hernandez, Maria Corrone Guimaraes, Yeiline Paguay Andrade, Ryan Arce.
NA KNIGHTS COLLECTING ITEMS TO SEND TO VICTIMS OF RECENT HURRICANES
By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
To help the unfortunate folks who have been slammed by recent hurricanes in the Southeast, the North Arlington Knights of Columbus will be collecting relief items to be shipped to Florida, North Carolina and Georgia — the states hit the hardest.
Items needed are extensive and include: Cleaning supplies, trash bags, buckets, disinfectants, sponges, rags and cleaning solutions. Also, hygiene supplies including soap, shampoo, toothpaste, tooth brushes, deodorants, razors, etc. Also, baby formula,
HURRICANE SEASON ‘24
diapers, non-perishable baby food.
Also needed, non-perishable food that may be eaten without preparation, ready-to-eat meals, canned fruit, protein bars and the like. Also, disposable batteries, bungee cords, zip ties, non-latex gloves, tarps and lastly, pet food of any kind.
Items, once collected, may be delivered to the Knights at 194 River Road, North Arlington, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18; then 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20.
Harrison flies flag for Breast Cancer Awareness
The Harrison Cancer League & the Town of Harrison acknowledges October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month with its flag being flown at Town Hall all month long. For close to 45 years, Breast Cancer Awareness Month educates the public on the importance of early detection, healthcare and to elevate awareness of the effect of breast cancer on our lives. Local hospitals often provide mammograms for the uninsured, either for free or discounted rate.
Community-Wide GARAGE SALE
Sat day, Octob 19th
Sunday, Octob 20th
NOAA satellite imagery of Milton
OPINION & VIEWPOINTS
COMMENT
LBy Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
ast month, the Borough of East Newark met and scrapped an ordinance to do away with the position of chief of police while creating the new title of civilian police director. Instead, the governing body introduced an ordinance to create the new position while keeping the old one right where it was.
We would be remiss if we did not commend those involved — the Borough Council, and, in specific, Councilman Kenneth M. Sheehan Sr. — and Mayor Dina M. Grilo.
Back in July, when this ordinance was first introduced, Sheehan was out of commission, having had back surgery. Then, when it was up for adoption, on second reading, in August, Sheehan was rightfully perplexed, he says, because he was unaware it was in the works.
Whatever the case may be, at that meeting, he spoke, vociferously, in favor of keeping the chief title right where
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M. Feorenzo lisa@theobserver.com Co-owner/Advertising Dir.
Tina Feorenzo
it is so that, when the time comes, and someone on the East Newark Police Department is ready to handle the position of chief, it would not be necessary to recreate the title. For a plethora of reasons, that would have been difficult. In reality, there was no need to eliminate the position. We take this time to commend Sheehan for his vocal nature in August and for successfully arguing to keep the chief position alive. We commend Councilman Chris Reis for speaking in favor of the same. And we commend Grilo for keeping everyone on the governing body level-headed and for doing what was right.
Their actions — being able to come to a consensus — were refreshing. And East Newark demonstrated how pulling people together looks better and is just sound governance. We all could, and should, in one way or another, learn from that unity. Everyone wins when we do.
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Kearny’s Hometown Heroes banners are being placed all along Kearny Avenue in the last two weeks. Here, a Kearny DPW employee is seen placing this banner for John Dowie, who served in the Army during World War II, near Kearny and Midland avenues.
Photo courtesy of Linda D’Isa
At council meeting, Ferreira accuses Doyle & Esteves
By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
Kearny’s most recent Town Council meeting, like many of its predecessors, erupted into a bit of chaos at the public speaking portion, and it led to consternation among some elected officials, those seeking office and those who may do so next year.
During the public portion of the Oct. 8, 2024, meeting, Sydney J. Ferreira, who has run for mayor in 2021 (as a Democrat) and in 2023 (as a Republican) and who ran for a Fourth Ward council seat in 2022 (as an unaffiliated candidate) — and who has announced he will run for mayor a third time (with the GOP in 2025) took the the microphone to speak and accused Mayor Carol Jean Doyle and Third Ward Town Council candidate Fred Esteves of being card-carrying supporters of GOP presidential candidate Donald J. Trump.
In fact, he claimed both Doyle and Esteves voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020.
The thing is — Doyle and
Esteves are both long-time Democrats and both vociferously denied they voted for Trump before and both said they won’t be voting for him in a few weeks, either.
The issue all arose when Ferreira questioned whether Esteves — who was not present at the meeting last week — would participate in a debate with his opponent, Republican Jorge D. Santos, whom Ferreira supports. Ferreira said at the meeting The Observer agreed to conduct
Let’s Talk
Estate
INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE
Not every buyer purchases a home because they intend to live in it. Often homes are purchased as an investment opportunity, which can be very lucrative. Real estate does not usually closely correlate with stocks and bonds. There are several ways real estate investments can be profitable. One is to become the landlord of a rental property. However, being a landlord can be hands-on and isn’t for everyone. A property management company can take over any landlord duties for a fee. Another way to reap the investment rewards, known as house flipping, is to buy up real estate, fix it up, and sell it for a profit. However,
houses can sometimes sit empty for a while, eating into potential profits.
Given the right circumstances, investing in real estate can be a rewarding experience. If you’ve given careful thought to this endeavor, we’d be happy to discuss some of the details that can help make being a landlord a successful venture for you.
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Jarlynn Hyde: Presented by Jarlynn Hyde Broker/Owner
Ex-case worker, a former Kearny resident, arrested second time on sex abuse of minor charges, AG says
By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
Homeland Security Investigations Newark has assisted the New Jersey State Police in garnering state charges against a former family case worker, a former resident of Kearny, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in May 2024.
The indictment of Trent L. Collier, 58, an ex-caseworker for the New Jersey Depart-
ment of Children and Family Services’ Division of Child Protection and Permanency, for his alleged sexual abuse of two children was announced Oct. 3 by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, the Division of Criminal Justice and the New Jersey State Police. Collier, presently living in Savannah, Georgia, has been charged by the state in a seven-count indictment with sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, attempted
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233 Kearny Ave. • P.O. Box 1009 • Kearny, NJ o: 201-997-2360 x 1185 • m: 201-214-4915 • f: 201-997-1115
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STATE POLICE
aggravated sexual assault and official misconduct, based on Collier’s alleged sexually abusive conduct toward the two minor victims.
“Trent Collier faces additional charges for violating his former position of trust with the State of New Jersey, given the responsibility to care for the most vulnerable, and asked to serve and empower at-risk children and families,” HSI Newark acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas said. “Collier already disgraced this position by admitting to federal charges involving possession and transportation of child sexual abuse material. HSI and our partner agencies will devote every resource available to
investigating, prosecuting, and convicting those who prey upon the most vulnerable population – our children.”
In May 2024, Collier pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of transportation of child pornography at the District of New Jersey in Newark.
Collier was indicted on the following state charges: sexual assault (second degree); attempted aggravated sexual assault (second degree); endangering the welfare of children by impairing or debauching the morals of a child (second degree); official misconduct (second degree); aggravated criminal sexual contact (third degree) and luring (third degree).
According to Platkin, the investigation by HSI Newark and NJSP revealed Collier had sexually abused two minors. The first victim was allegedly sexually assaulted while Collier served as the DCPP caseworker for the victim’s family. Collier allegedly verbally and physically threatened the victim that they would be removed from their family if they disclosed the abuse.
Several instances of the alleged abuse occurred inside a DCPP office as well as a DCPP vehicle.
As to the second victim, it is alleged that Collier leveraged his position as a DCPP caseworker to facilitate the sexual abuse, including use of his DCPP vehicle to facilitate an assault. It is also alleged Collier offered financial incentives to the second victim in an effort to thwart disclosure. Collier is being detained, pending trial. He is to be sentenced by the feds Oct. 10.
SPORTS &
FIVE STRAIGHT SHUTOUTS!
LBy Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com
yndhurst head football coach Rich Tuero wasn’t initially sure how his team was going to initially react after the Golden Bears’ hopes for a division title and a spot in the NJIC playoffs with a season-opening loss to Becton before Labor Day.
Those concerns were dashed just as quickly when he saw his players’ mood in the locker room following the 14-7 defeat.
“I was a little concerned,” Tuero said. “But when I got in the locker room I saw their faces and their demeanor. I knew we were going to be okay because they showed how much they actually care and want to win and want to get better.
“There were some growing pains that we had to fix up and get right. And the kids really took what we were saying to heart and it has shown since.”
To say Lyndhurst has looked like a different team since then would be an understatement.
Not only have the Bears won their last five games, they’ve utterly domi-
nated their competition. On Saturday, Lyndhurst went to Garfield and posted its fifth consecutive shutout, a 49-0 dismantling of Garfield.
It was just the latest in a five-week demolition of the teams on their schedule. During this winning streak, Lyndhurst has outscored its opposition by a margin of 244-0. That’s not a misprint, Lyndhurst is beating teams by an average of seven touchdowns.
The closest of these games was a 45-0 win over Elmwood Park where the Bears had the game comfortably out of reach before halftime.
The five game winning streak is the longest Lyndhurst has enjoyed since the 2019 state sectional championship team opened the year with 11 consecutive victories.
“We are a team,” Tuero said. We are playing complimentary football like a team.
“These guys are working their butts off. They’re listening, they’re learning the game, they’re learning what we’re supposed to do and they’re executing. We’re taking a lot of pride in what’s going on here. So hopefully we can keep it going this week and keep rolling on through the playoffs.”
The formula to Lyndhurst’s dominance has started on the lines. Veteran center Michael Longo and junior left tackle Shadeed Smith have been a dominant duo on the offensive line. Longo and Smith, along with tackle Ziad Selim and guards Omar Ali and Jonathan Rodriguez have powered the way for a rushing attack that is averaging 9.0 yards per carry and has run for 22 touchdowns. Nine different Bears have run for a TD, led by Roddy Morinho, who has nine with 439 yards on just 60 carries.
The line has also allowed senior QB Shawn Bellenger to throw for 1,023 yards and 10 touchdowns. Sophomore Allen Frias has emerged as Bellenger’s top target, catching 20 passes for 354 yards and three TDs.
It’s been a similar cast setting the tone for Lyndhurst’s three-man defensive front as Smith, Logan Stitzer, Salim, Rodriguez, Longo and Thomas Awida have rotated across the line.
Stitzer, Viktor Kanjuk and Naim DAvis are tied for the team lead in sacks with four apiece, while Abraham Martinez (65 tackles) and Morinho (47 tackles) have been tackling machines at linebacker.
For as dominant as Lyndhurst has been, it’s done so in relative anonymity. The Bears are in no one’s local rankings nor are they in any statewide Group 2 rankings.
Which is why this winning streak hasn’t led to inflated egos, but rather a large chip that remains firmly on their shoulders heading into two critical crossover games - at Pompton Lakes this coming Saturday, Oct. 19, followed by an Oct. 25 home game with Park Ridge.
For Lyndhurst, currently seeded 13th in the North Jersey, Group 2 United Power Rankings, it will likely need to win both in order to have a first round home game in the state tournament for the first time in five years.
“We feel like everyone thinks that we’re not really that good because the teams we’re playing (during this win streak) aren’t necessarily the greatest, but we’re ready to prove everybody wrong because no one’s even talking about us,” said Tuero. “No one thinks anything about Lyndhurst right now even though we’re doing what we’re doing. We’re not playing like we’re the greatest team on turf. We got a chip on our shoulder.”
Photo by Jason Bernstein
Lyndhurst football players (left to right): Abraham Martinez, Jonathan Rodriguez, Viktor Kanjuk, Shadeed Smith, Ziad Selim, Michael Cutola, Matthew Jarvis, Michael Longo, Shawn Bellenger, Roddy Morinho, Logan Stitzer, Anthony Amaro, Allen Frias.
Harrison wins OT thriller at Red Bull Arena
By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com
The county boys and girls soccer tournaments are under way and by and large it was a success beginning for The Observer area teams.
The most dramatic of the early tournament games came on Friday night at Red Bull Arena where Harrison got a golden goal from Kiandry Aban to give the Blue Tide a
which avenged a Sept. 16 loss to Secaucus. Yusufu Jaite and Christian Barrios also scored goals for the Blue Tide, which have now won seven consecutive games.
Two days earlier, in far less dramatic fashion, Harrison, seeded fifth, steamrolled past McNair Academic, 9-0, in the first round.
4-3 overtime victory over NJIC rival Secaucus in the Hudson County Tournament quarterfinals.
Next up for Harrison is a semifinal date on Saturday with top-seeded and defending champion St. Peter’s Prep, who is currently ranked No. 4 in the state by NJ.com.
On the bottom half of the bracket, second-seeded Kearny Yusuf Jaiteh
Aban’s goal was the second of the night for Harrison,
The epiretinal membrane (ERM)—also called cellophane maculopathy or macular pucker— is a membrane that forms on the inner surface of the retina, causing painless loss of vision and/or visual distortions. Since slow, progressive loss of vision is the main indicator, it’s important to know about the risk factors of ERM and other symptoms to be aware of. Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is the most common risk factor associated with ERM. It is an age-related condition that causes the eye’s vitreous to separate from the retina. Age and previous ocular trauma, condition, or surgery are other risk factors for ERM. Epiretinal membrane can usually be diagnosed during a routine eye
exam. Many cases do not require treatment but must be monitored. Most of the time, people don’t know that they have an epiretinal membrane until it’s observed during a standard eye exam. Your eye doctor will base their diagnosis on your medical history and the results of a clinical exam. For more information, please call 201-896-0007. We are located at 20 Park Avenue, Lyndhurst. To contact our optical shop, call 201-896-0007. We accept most insurance.
P.S. Visual distortions associated with epiretinal membrane include straight lines that look crooked or wavy. Rarely, double vision, light sensitivity, and object size distortion can also occur.
Keala Cicchino Kieran Meehan
Brady King delivers in a pinch as Nutley wins on miracle play
By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com
Nutley head coach Chris Helm was confident that he was in a good position at quarterback for the next two years with sophomore Brady King.The last two Saturday’s have shown Helm and everyone else that the Maroon Raiders’ “QB of the future” is quite capable being the “QB of the present” when faced with injury.
An ankle injury to starter Clark Mohrbutter forced King into action in the first half of Nutley’s Oct. 5 game at Millburn, where King completed 7-of-9 passes for 90 yards in a 21-12 win. Seven
days later, in his first varsity start, King threw for three touchdowns, the last coming on a stunning 84-yard hookand-ladder score by Jordan Small on the game’s final play to give Nutley an 18-15 win over West Milford.
The two wins have kept Nutley’s playoff hopes alive, created a viral highlight and has now made King The Observer Athlete of the Week.
“Honestly, I was nervous at first,” said King about when he was first put into the lineup. “But I knew that my teammates had my back, my coaches had my back and they would call
Premier Car e TALK S
HIATAL HERNIA
A hiatal hernia occurs when part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm and into the chest cavity. The diaphragm typically has an opening called the hiatus, through which the esophagus passes before connecting to the stomach. In cases of hiatal hernia, this opening enlarges, allowing the stomach to slide into the chest. This condition can be caused by a combination of factors, including weakening of the muscles surrounding the hiatus and increased pressure in the abdominal cavity, often due to obesity, pregnancy, or persistent coughing. While some individuals may not experience any symptoms, others may suffer from acid reflux, heartburn, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, or
regurgitation. Treatment options include lifestyle modifications such as weight loss and avoiding trigger foods.
Sometimes a hiatal hernia requires surgery. Surgery may help people who aren’t helped by medicines to relieve heartburn and acid reflux. Surgery also may help people who have complications such as serious inflammation or narrowing of the esophagus. 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.
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Email any questions or comments to: premiercare@gmail.com Premier Care Associates of West Hudson is available on a walk-in or appointment basis for your primary healthcare needs.
the right plays for me and my teammates would block for me and help me out. So yeah, I was nervous at first, but then I felt really confident. I just knew if I played my game and everybody did their job, I would be perfectly fine.”
would be a pretty good QB for us.
“There is something special that he’s got. We were always excited about it, we just didn’t know when we were going to see it.”
“We’re lucky because we saw it in Brady early on,” Helm said. “When he was in seventh, eighth grade, we’d go watch them play and he was awesome. He just had a natural feel for the game and the position. So we knew down the road, he definitely
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Facing a must win to keep its playoff hopes in a good place, King and Nutley got off to a fast start as he connected with Jaylyn Caraballo for second quarter TD passes of 35 and 47 yards to give the Raiders a 12-0 halftime lead. King, who completed 5-of11 passes for 184 yards on the
See ATHLETE, Page 12
Dr. Prakash
J. Doshi
Dr. Hector Aguilar
Photo courtesy of Thousand Second Photography
SOCCER
Continued from Page 10
got two goals from Jeckson Rivera and a goal and two assists from Gerard Angel Bocanegra in a 4-0 quarterfinal victory over Weehawken on Saturday.
The red hot Kardinals, now ranked No. 3 in the state after a recent 2-0 win over St. Peter’s Prep, will host third-seeded Memorial in the semifinals.
Saturday’s winners will square off for the title on Thursday, Oct. 24 at Red Bull Arena. While a third meeting between HCIAL American Division Co-Champs Kearny and St. Peter’s Prep is expected, there are no sure things come tournament time and the Blue Tide are playing their best soccer of the season.
In Essex County, Nutley, seeded 17th, blew out 32nd-seeded Newark Collegiate in the first preliminary
ATHLETE
Continued from Page 11
day, felt his first real taste of adversity in the second half when he threw two interceptions and Nutley saw its 12-point lead turn into a 15-12 deficit late in the fourth quarter.
round, 6-0, with six different Maroon Raiders scoring a goal in the win. The victory sends Nutley to the second preliminary round against an Irvington team, which defeated the Raiders 3-1, on Sept. 26. The winner will face national power St. Benedict’s in the first round on Thursday.
Fellow locals Belleville and Bloomfield will also be in action on Tuesday after earning byes through the first preliminary round. Belleville, seeded 14th, will face 19th-seeded Cedar Grove with the winner going to third-seeded West Orange. Bloomfield, seeded 12th, hosts Newark Tech with the winner facing fifth-seeded Newark East Side.
In Bergen County, Lyndhurst, which was snubbed out of the regular Bergen County Tournament, opened up play in the Bergen Invitational Tournament with a 2-0 victory over Northern Highlands on Sunday.
With just 17 seconds left in the game and 84 yards to go, Helm dug deep into the playbook for his favorite trick play, one that’s been dubbed “Flipadelphia.”
King threw a short pass to Mike Misner, who ran an 8-yard dig route. Running across the field was Small, who was flipped the ball by Misner. Small turned the
Maksym Dmochowski, back from injury, made six saves to earn the shutout for the Golden Bears (10-5.. Next up for Lyndhurst is a Wednesday second round game at Leonia, who grabbed the final spot in the Bergen County Tournament.
Also, in the BIT, North Arlington continued its mid-season surge with a 1-0 double overtime win over Pascack Hills. The Vikings will face Dwight-Morrow in the next round on Wednesday.
On the girls side, Lyndhurst delivered the biggest local upset of the weekend when the Bears, seeded 21st, blanked 12th-seeded Hasbrouck Heights, 2-0 in the first round of the Bergen County Tournament. Nikalena Iacono scored two second half goals and Kieran Meehan made five saves for the shutout. Lyndhurst will seek its second straight upset on Wednesday when it goes to fifth-seeded Immaculate Heart.
corner and raced down the right hashmarks and then cut it inside to avoid a would-be tackler and was off to the races. By the time Small dove into the endzone, no one was within five yards of him and the clock read 0:00.
While it is a play that Helm has run in practice all the time, dating back to his time as an assistant at Wayne Val-
North Arlington’s Bergen County Tournament run ended in the first round when the 18th-seeded Vikings fell 2-1 to 15th-seeded Holy Angels. North Arlington now moves to the Bergen County Invitational where it will host the Becton-Midland Park winner on Thursday.
In Hudson County, Kearny began its quest for a 16th consecutive county title on Saturday with a 6-0 defeat of Union City in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Monmouth commit Keala Cicchino had three goals and an assist, while Siena commit Olivia Covello added a goal and an assist.
Next up is a Saturday semifinals matchup with a Secaucus team coached by longtime Kearny softball coach Jim Pickel.
Harrison’s tournament run is over, but not before making a bit of history. The Blue Tide’s 7-1 victory over Memorial on
ley, it was one King had only run a handful of times.
“This week was really the first time he’s actually really repped it,” said Helm. “He’s maybe done it two, three times before that, but he has the natural ability to find the guy open and throw the dig, which is the start of the play. We were pretty sure he was going to be able to handle that.
“The play has a great design to it. Unfortunately, we probably can’t run it again in the same situation.”
While King is sure to have more special moments at quarterback, it was only 12 months ago when he seemed done with football. As good as King was at quarterback growing up, he’s always been undersized. So the then 5-foot-2 freshman decided not to come out for football last year, instead focusing on baseball.
But after a six-inch growth spurt and at the urging of
Oct. 8 sent Harrison to the HCT quarterfinals for the first time since 2016. Harrison, however, saw the script flipped on Saturday when it fell 8-0 to top-seeded Bayonne in the quarterfinals.
Barring a stunning upset, Kearny and Bayonne are on a collision course to once again play for the title on Oct. 24 at Red Bull Arena.
The Essex County Tournament begins on Tuesday with a rivalry matchup between 16th-seeded Nutley and 17th-seeded Belleville in the preliminary round. The Raiders won the regular season matchup 5-1, but will need to beat their rival again to earn a crack at top-seeded Mount St. Dominic, ranked No. 8 in the state, in Thursday’s first round.
Bloomfield, seeded 14th, plays Newark Tech in the preliminary round on Tuesday, with the winner going to Montclair on Thursday.
several of his friends, King decided to come back out during the winter.
“Last year, I didn’t play and was watching those games, I just really knew I made a mistake by not playing,” said the now 5-foot-8, 135-pound King. “Right after the year ended, I made my decision to play again.”
King’s spot on varsity was assured when he threw six touchdown passes in Nutley’s first JV game of the season. While Mohrbutter is expected to be back before the end of the regular season, King has ensured there will still be a role for him within the offense when both are healthy.
“We’re hoping to get (Clark) back soon, then we’ll have some real fun,” Helm said. “You see all these guys on TV with two, three quarterback offenses and doing some crazy stuff. We could get into that too, so it could be exciting.”
SENIOR LIVING
Traveling solo as a senior Tips for safe and enjoyable adventures
Travelling solo as a senior can be an en riching and liberating experience, but it requires careful planning and consid eration. Here are some essential tips for embarking on a solo adventure:
1. Plan ahead. Research your destination thoroughly and plan your itinerary. Consider factors such as transportation options, accommodation suit ability and accessibility of attractions.
2. Stay connected. Keep your loved ones informed of
your travel plans. Share your itinerary and contact information with a trusted friend or family member and check in with them regularly.
3. Pack wisely. Pack light and include essentials such as medications, copies of important documents and emergency contacts. Consider bringing a mobile phone with international coverage.
4. Prioritize safety. Be aware of your surroundings,
especially in unfamiliar places. Avoid risky situations and trust your instincts. Stick to well-lit and pop ulated areas, especially at night.
5. Embrace technology. Use technol ogy to your advantage by downloading travel apps for navigation, translation and safety. Consider carrying a personal
Lord
JESUS,
by faith in your merits, I now take your precious blood and sprinkle it over myself and my family right from the crown of my head to the very soles of my feet. claim total and complete protection for my life and my family. Lord JESUS, keep me free today from evil, sin, temptation, Satan’s attacks and afflictions, fear of darkness, fear of man, sickness, diseases, doubts, anger all calamities and from all that is not of thy Kingdom. Fill me Lord JESUS with gift of your Holy SPIRIT and grant me the gift of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and discernment so that I will live today in your glory by doing that which is right. I praise you, Jesus, I thank you, Jesus, I Love you, Jesus, I Adore you, Jesus. Holy Spirit, you make me see everything, show me the way to reach my ideals, you who gives me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me, and you who are in all instances of my life with me, I in this short dialogue want to thank you for everything and affirm once more that I never want to be separated from you no matter how great the material desire may be. I want to be with you and my loved ones in your Perpetual Glory. Thank you, Holy Spirit for your love towards me and my loved ones. AMEN. This prayer should be said for 3 consecutive days. After the third day the request will be granted, no matter how difficult it may be. While making the request one must either, 1-Promise to publish on granting of favor OR 2-Promise to circulate copies of it to as many people as possible.
(THIS IS TO SPREAD THE WONDER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT)
safety device or using the location-sharing feature on your smartphone.
6. Stay healthy. Prioritize your health by maintaining a balanced diet, staying hydrated and getting adequate rest. Be mindful of your physical limitations and pace yourself.
7. Connect with locals.
Engage with locals to enhance your travel experience and gain valuable insights into the culture and customs of your destination. Join guided tours, attend cultural events or strike up conversations with fellow travellers.
Embrace the freedom of solo travel and enjoy exploring at your own pace!
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MEETING
Continued from Page 7
the debate. Plans had not been made to do so at the time of the meeting, however.
From there came the accusations.
“I asked Jorge (Santos) personally for a debate several weeks ago. He agreed to it,” Ferreira said. “The Observer, Kevin Canessa at The Observer, agreed to host the debate. I have asked Esteves several times to accept a debate, which he refuses to do. He says that people already know him and people know where he stands on the issues.
“I beg to differ because I don’t know many people probably don’t even know that even though he is a registered Democrat and a registered (elected) (Democratic) County Committee member, he has always voted lifelong Republi-
can. He has voted for President Trump in 2016 and 2020, and will vote for him again in 2024. So that’s just the tip of the iceberg. People need to know where he stands.”
Esteves, speaking to The Observer a few days after the meeting, took great exception to these accusations and wants it to be clear — he has never voted for Trump, nor will he ever vote for him. And he has no plans to participate in a debate.
“Because of the evil actions they’ve taken, I ask, ‘why would I even debate someone who is not even on the ballot?’” Esteves said, while referring to the recently declared write-in candidacy of defeated Third Ward Councilman Renato da Silva, who lost the nomination to Esteves in June. “I am not interested in a debate. My constituents know where I stand on the issues and that’s what truly matters.”
ELECTION 2024
Esteves also said he’s been a “proud Democrat” since the 1970s after he served in the Vietnam War and has long supported Democrats, both locally and nationally.
“I never voted for Trump nor would I,” he said.
Instead, Esteves said he would work to keep Kearny’s taxes stable, work to enhance public safety in the Third Ward, advocate for more governmental transparency, upgrade maintenance equipment and park and roadway improvements and, most succinctly, promote unity among elected officials “to get things done.”
Now back to the meeting. Doyle at one point asked Ferreira why he was so concerned about a race in the Third Ward.
“You have such an interest in this election, and of course we all represent, every one of us represents the town, although our separate wards,” Doyle said. “What ward do you live in?”
Said Ferreira in response: “Well, I live in the Fourth Ward, ma’am. But as you know, I am a Republican committee member. Yes. I am also also a very active member of the Republican Party, and he (Santos) is our candidate. So that’s why I’m asking for this. I mean, I’ll divert a question back to you. Since you just said that you’re the Democratic chairwoman.”
At this point, Doyle jumped in, cutting Ferreira off.
“Trump. No!” Doyle said. “I didn’t vote for Trump.”
And then Ferreira retorted.
“That’s not what you told me in private in 2016 and in 2020,” Ferreira said.
“I told you I voted for
Trump? That is not true. Absolutely not,” Doyle replied.
“That’s not what you told me. But anyway, thank you all very much,” Ferreira said as he concluded.
Doyle, a couple of days after the meeting, was still perplexed by Ferreira’s remarks.
“I cried after Hillary lost in 2016,” the mayor said. “That doesn’t happen when you vote for the other guy.”
Meanwhile, in the course of his discussion, Ferreira invited da Silva to participate in this unplanned debate.
da Silva said he would participate; however, there are no plans for an Observer-sponsored debate.
KPD: Man who may have driven stolen car used in shooting arrested in Kearny
By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
Aman who police say may have been in possession of a vehicle used in a Newark shooting on Oct. 13, 2024, is behind bars, but before being apprehended he assaulted a Kearny police officer in an attempt to escape detention, the Kearny PD says.
According to Det. Sgt. Michal Gontarczuk:
A citizen who lives in the Manor section observed a high-end, relatively new BMW parked and running in the early morning hours of Oct. 14, 2024. They noted the vehicle had a smashed-out window and was not occupied by anyone.
Interestingly, when the citizen came outside, a man was hiding behind some garbage cans in an alley between two homes. When the citizen interacted with the man, he asked how to get to Newark, and left the scene on foot.
The suspicious nature of the vehicle and the hiding man prompted the citizen to contact the police. Upon police arrival, the citizen provided a specific description of the man, including distinctive camouflage pants.
In the alleyway where the man was hiding, officers located a ski mask and multiple other evidentiary items.
The running BMW with a broken window was found to be reported stolen and was used in at least one shooting in Newark on Oct. 13, 2024.
Simultaneously, patrolling officers spotted the man, matching the description provided, now walking
POLICE BEAT
south on Passaic Avenue. They asked to speak with him; however, the man refused and continued walking south.
As the officers on scene (in the Manor section) spoke to the citizen who reported the suspicious activity, checked cameras for footage and obtained information and evidence, they determined the man walking south on Passaic Avenue was, in fact, the individual involved.
The officers on Passaic Avenue attempted to detain the man multiple times; however, he again refused to comply with orders and continued walking away from attempts to conduct an investigative detention.
When Officers Nick Funk, Ryan Wilson, Lawrence Latka, Sean King, and Andrew Mauricio advised the man he would be arrested for obstruction, he walked into the roadway and attempted to get away.
Once officers took hold of the man, he began to fight with them, injuring at least one officer.
Ultimately, he was arrested and brought to Kearny Police Department Headquarters where charges are pending, but will include at least obstruction the administration of law and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
The Detective Bureau is currently investigating the matter further, in cooperation with other police departments, who have an interest in the stolen vehicle and crimes it was involved in.
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HARRISON
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KEARNY
OBSERVER CLASSIFIEDS
HISPANIC
Continued from Page 1
(Hispanic Heritage Month is
Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.)
Why having such a special celebration might, however, be surprising to learn. Zapata says the Hispanic community has, for long, felt stigmatized by the reality that in Hudson County and in New Jersey, there are countless programs to help Latino residents.
Many, unfortunately, have been too proud to ask for such help.
Until now, it seems.
“There’s food scarcity, rent issues, things like the Kearny Public School Uniform Exchange available for people who are struggling,” Zapata said. “But the stigma is great.”
So, to help erase that stigma, Zapata devised a program where a flag honoring Hispanic Heritage would be raised at Town Hall, but where there would be a major resource fair for Hispanic residents. This is not to say this is the first resource fair — in fact, there have been numerous before
and more to come, including this weekend.
But this was the first time it was designed solely for the Latino community, with the hope it would draw people who were heretofore concerned by the stigma attached to seeking assistance.
That’s precisely what happened.
Zapata says he reached out to Mayor Carol Jean Doyle in or around the end of July to ask her if he could proceed with such a celebration. And with her support — and the support of the Town Council — Zapata says he came up with the overall concept.
“It all started out with me drawing an outline of the park at Town Hall, and believe me, I am not good at drawing,” Zapata said. “I asked Councilwoman (Eileen) Eckel to bring a tape measure which she did. And I did measuring and spoke to Linda Kraus D’Isa (KUEZ coordinator) since I knew she’d used that space before for the Holiday Festival.
And then it all fell into place perfectly, even though Zapata had to actually bring some tables of his own to make it all work. Throughout the day, there were also two other components Zapata knew would be essential for success — entertainment and food.
There was plenty of both.
“All of the food was donated, remarkably,” Zapata said.
Remarkably, indeed, because when he set out inviting several local restaurants to come to the event, he didn’t ask them to donate the food. Yet each and every establishment offered to prepare and serve it all at no cost to attendees.
There were also dance performances. There was a Capoeira performance. There was music playing. And then there were the table of resources that were set up.
Continued on the next page
Continued from previous page
The food was provided by O! Calamares, Myrnas Restaurant, Q’Onda Wey and Cantina da Serra, all of Kearny.
The resources came courtesy of the Peruvian Civic Association, the Kearny Health Department, Clara Maass Medical Center, Hudson County Family Services, the Great Learning Center of Kearny, the Rhianna Law Group of Rutherford, the Hudson County Latin American Chamber of Commerce (which offered free Quickbooks training) and the Kearny Public School Uniform Exchange.
Also, Valley Bank, C&C Training (which offered OSHA training), DJ Jimmy Hempel, the Regional Camera de Commercio Peru, George Helmy and his staff, CMG Dance Group, the Warriors Brazilian Marshal Arts & Fitness, the Ecuadorian-American Chamber of Commerce, Poder Hispano and Grupo Cívico Poblano de Hudson.
And, the Town of Kearny provided information about Anchor rebates and income-driven home repair programs the town coordinates through the state.
And of course, the K-Birds led the National Anthem with Millie Gonzalez and they also sang the Marc Anthony song, “Vivir mi Vida,” as the flag was proudly raised into the air.
“That was the perfect song to be played as the flag went up,” he said. “… It was a great celebration. we had groups representing the Peruvian, Ecuadorian, Brazilian and Mexican and Dominican communities in Kearny speaking about the need for inclusivity, revolving around the concept of a big family.”
Facebook image via George Zapata
At the Hispanic Heritage celebration, an attendee listens to a presentation on one of the services offered for residents.
