Dec. 26, 2018 edition of The Observer

December 26, 2018 • www.theobserver.com • Vol. CXXXI, No. 33

HIGHLIGHTS Jim Hague takes readers through the Top 10 area sports stories of 2018.

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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

Landy cites ‘personal reasons’ in resigning

By Ron Leir Special to The Observer

In a surprise move, Kearny Town Councilman Michael Landy has announced his resignation from the municipal governing body, effective Dec. 31.

Landy, who has represented the Fourth Ward on the council for the past 15 years, gave no reason for his decision in an official notification, but in a brief conversation with The Observer, Landy said it came down to “personal reasons.”

In a Dec. 4 email to Mayor Alberto Santos, Landy wrote: “Please consider this letter as my formal resignation from the Kearny Town Council as of 12/31/18.”

Landy, a Democrat who was re-elected to his council seat

Final day on Kearny Council will be Dec. 31 in November 2017, has three years remaining in his 4-year term. He has been the council’s liaison to the municipal Recreation Commission and has chaired the council police committee.

Santos told The Observer that the town plans to fill that vacancy with a one-year interim appointment who would serve through November 2019.

To that end, Santos – who serves as municipal Democratic chairman – said: “The vacancy will be filled until November 2019 in accordance with state law, which means the following: a meeting of the Kearny Democratic Committee will be called in January, at which three candidates

who are Democrats and reside in the Fourth Ward will be nominated.

“The Town Council and I will then select, at a public council meeting, one of the three nominees.”

In November 2019, a special election would be scheduled to fill the remainder of Landy’s term, according to Santos.

Santos paid tribute to Landy’s longtime public service.

“During his tenure, he has had a measurable impact on improving the town’s recreation programs and facilities,” he said. “Over the years, he was often a voice of reason on difficult financial and labor issues. We sometimes had our

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disagreements, but most of the time we agreed on the best course for our town.”

This year, Landy took issue with the mayor’s position on awarding a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) to a developer for the old bat factory site on Passaic Avenue.

Landy and the mayor disagreed on how much to raise fees the town charges nonprofits -- both in-town and out-of-town groups -- for the use of municipal athletic fields. Currently, the council’s Ordinance Committee is reviewing a proposal to increase fees by a lesser amount than originally proposed. The town Recreation Commission will be asked for its input in January and the council figures to take up the issue in February.

And the councilman clashed with the mayor on design plans for the soon-to-be-renovated Gunnell Oval athletic complex on baseball vs. soccer priorities.

Still, in a phone interview with The Observer, Landy gave no indication that his occasional disagreements over policy matters played any role in his decision to step down from the council.

“Personal reasons — nothing else,” he said. It was “other commitments” in his life that motivated him.

Landy didn’t want to elaborate on that theme but certainly the demands of his full-time job as principal of

Harrison’s Washington Middle School, his coaching of kids’ teams and family ties (he and his wife Joette have three children – one in college and two in high school) – likely influenced him, friends and associates said.

“I wish everyone well,” Landy said. “I learned a lot during my time on the council. It was a good experience.

I worked with a lot of good people.”

Saying he has “no regrets,” Landy acknowledged he “wanted at least to see us go to bid on the Oval project and get started with construction” while still in office. (The town has received bids and is expected to award a construction contract next month.)

“You try to do your best … you never get done all you wanted to get done,” he added.

Fourth Ward council colleague Susan McCurrie, who has served with Landy during most of his tenure on that body, said: “I’m gonna miss him. Mike was very passionate on recreation and other matters. He was very involved with the Gunnell Oval project and his input was very important. I’d say the Oval will be part of his legacy.”

Other local lawmakers were equally laudatory of their colleague.

Council president/Third Ward representative Carol Jean Doyle, said she’s “enjoyed serving with him all these years. He did an excellent job as recreation chairman.”

Inside this edition ...

Around Town...............................www.theobserver.com Food & Dining Directory............................................10 Sports & Recreation..................................................11 Health & Wellness Directory......................................15 Real Estate...............................................................16 Real Estate Directory................................................17 Obituaries................................................................19 Classifieds...............................................................20 Business Directory....................................................22

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

03

A LOOK BACK AT THE HEADLINES OF 2018

Reviewing the stories that made the news in The Observer in 2018

By Kevin Canessa kc@theobserver.com

L

IKE MANY YEARS, 2018 saw its share of ups and downs — positive news and negative news. Here at The Observer, we did our best to keep readers informed and so we bring you this recap of the biggest headlines of the last year as reported to you by our journalists. We take things, as we do each year, chronologically by month.

January

The new year kicked off with word that Frank West, a Bayonne resident and Kearny policeman, was one of five super Jets fans to be inducted into the team’s brand-new Fans Hall of Fame. West has played Santa — in Jets green, of course — at Metlife Stadium during home games.

In Harrison, Jim Doran announced that work on Harrison’s new John F. Kennedy School would soon be getting underway.

Significant progress on the new school has been made since.

In Nutley, re-turfing of Father Glozbach Field neared completion.

Meanwhile in Kearny, we learned of the unfortunate death of an 81-year-old woman who was struck by a car on Passaic Avenue at the end of 2017.

Also in Kearny, Schuyler Bank announced it was financing the new Cooper’s Block restaurant.

Unfortunately, the restaurant closed after being open for just nine months. The Kearny Avenue property — the old Irish American Club location — has been on the market, for sale, since the restaurant

closed.

In Belleville, the Board of Education renamed the Belleville High School Academy of Engineering and Medical Sciences in honor of the late Ralph Vellon, a trustee who unexpectedly died the previous year.

Jan. 5, perhaps the coldest day of the entire year, brought with it a tragic fire on Maple Street.

Many families and students attending colleges in Newark were displaced by the blaze that had brutally cold and windy conditions from start — at around 7 a.m. — until it was declared under control many hours later.

Some 50 were left homeless, but as it often does, the community banded together to help those affected — with countless donations of clothing, food, cash and more.

Recapping its 150th birthday the year prior, officials in Kearny noted it spent $13,000 on its major birthday bash.

Kearny’s school custodians, meanwhile, got a new contract, though teachers still awaited word on theirs.

Kearny’s Manny Araujo and Lainne Afonso gave birth to a baby girl, Micayla, at Hackensack University Medical Center on Jan. 1, 2018. Micayla was the first newborn of the new year at HUMC. The Kearny Fire Department hosted a special ceremony in honor of Robert Hamilton, a firefighter who died in the line of duty on Jan. 13, 1941. Hamilton’s image and name was added to

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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

Continued from previous page a special wall of firefighters who died in the line of duty.

For decades, it wasn’t known that Hamilton had died in the line of duty — he had a heart attack whilst on a call.

In Harrison, meanwhile, following the retirement of Chief Derek Kearns, speculation began to grow as to who would replace him.

David Strumolo would go on

to become the new chief.

Coffee lovers rejoiced with news of a possible Starbucks in Kearny. While the news was unofficial then, it became official later in the year. The coffee vendor will be located near Burger King on Passaic Avenue.

A few days after the massive fire on Maple Street, Kearny, Lyndhurst saw one, too on Page Avenue. Wind was a factor in this blaze, too.

Also on the fire front, Daniel Neves, a Kearny fireman, was promoted to fire prevention specialist at a council meeting. Neves now works alongside Juan Barroso Jr., the town’s chief fire inspector.

In January, following the Maple Street fire, we profiled Phil Stafford, who runs a nonprofit organization, designed to help the homeless of North Jersey. He was first on-scene

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to help at the Maple Street blaze — and is constantly working to collect food, clothing and more.

In Kearny, Jim Hague wrote a moving tribute to Ed Bixler, a Kearny fixture for decades, who died after a brief battle with cancer.

In Belleville, eight lawenforcement officers were promoted to higher ranks.

At the same time, Patrolman James Goral, of the Lyndhurst PD, was promoted to sergeant.

In Nutley, two vehicles wound up in Third River following a crash.

Kearny also lost another treasure when Hugh Dalzell died Jan. 18 at the age of 102.

Dalzell was involved in many civic activities and was very well known for his dedication to St. Cecilia Church.

The month ended with news that a payroll clerk at the Kearny Board of Education office reportedly stole nearly $200,000. Gina Neri, of North Arlington, has since been sentenced for the crime, but avoided prison time in a deal.

We also featured “The Four Chaplains,” one of whom was the Rev. John Washington, a former associate pastor at St. Stephen’s Church, Kearny.

Washington and three other chaplains died on the SS Dorchester on Feb. 3, 1943.

Each year, on the Sunday closest to Feb. 3, St. Stephen’s hosts a Father Washington Mass to recall the-late priest’s life and ultimate sacrifice.

The Observer also profiled Kearny’s Joseph Sansone, who retired after many years of service to Hudson County Community College.

The month concluded with a chili cookoff, sponsored by the Junior Woman’s Club of Arlington. Kearny Fire Chief Steve Dyl was among the celebrity judges at the event

that Brandi Leigh Miller coordinated.

February The year’s second month kicked off with a profile of Kearny’s own Kellyann Chippendale, who won an Angel Award at the Monaco International Film Festival.

Chippendale screened her award-winning movie at Kearny High School later in the month.

Following a spate of inmate suicides at the Hudson County Jail, county officials announced they would be looking into the incidents.

February also saw the possibility of Kearny’s Finest being equipped with body cams. The key word here is possibility, as Chief George King did not commit to this actually happening.

In Harrison, meanwhile, there was open — and very public — discussion about who would become the new police chief. While Dave Strumolo finished first on the chief’s test, there was discussion about whether he’d be appointed to the position. The Harrison PBA took out a large ad in this newspaper to voice its concern — and loudly called for Strumolo’s hiring.

Ultimately, Strumolo was hired.

February also saw another Kearny fire — this time, one that displaced three families on Belgrove Drive — on Feb. 3. In total, 14 people were without housing.

February also saw the creation of a fatal-accident task force by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.

The Kearny PD will supply officers, as needed, to the task force; the Harrison and East Newark PDs will not, however.

Continued on the next page

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

Continued from previous page In North Arlington, three were promoted in the police department — Sgt. Sean MacDonald, Lt. Gary Edwards and Sgt. Michael Hoffman are now in their new ranks.

In February, word came down from Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez that a Kearny police officer involved in a 2016 shooting was cleared of any and all wrong-doing — and as such, the case would not be presented to a grand jury. “After a thorough review of all the evidence, the HCPO has concluded that the officer’s use of force was justified,” Suarez said at the time.

Kearny’s Municipal Court, meanwhile, became fully compliant with the state’s new stricter courtroom protection laws. Retired Kearny police Lt. Anthony Gouveia and retire Jersey City Police Officer Mark Muldoon are now the court’s new armed guards. Kearny was the last court in Hudson County to become compliant.

Three Kearny police officers — Alan Stickno, Matthew Lopez and Vic Girdwood — were cited for evacuating the residents who were home when a fire broke out earlier in the month on Belgrove Drive. They were all cited for doing so without regard to their own personal safety.

In Belleville, worked kicked off on

Observer file photo

The Four Chaplains are remembered every February at St. Stephen’s Church, Kearny, at the Father Washington Mass.

the Mill Street bridge rehabilitation project.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Jasinski, a former Lyndhurst HS sub teacher and coach, was banned from ever teaching again in public schools after he reportedly exchanged sexuallycharged text messages with underage girls. The plea Jasinski took helped him to avoid time behind bars.

Vincent Prieto, who represented West Hudson for many years in the State Assembly, resigned his seat to take over the top spot with the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority (formerly known as the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission.) Prieto,

/theobservernj

a Secaucus resident, had been a 32nd Legislative District’s corepresentative since 2004.

In Nutley, a threat made on Instagram shut down district school’s for a day. The threat — which was ultimately deemed not serious — came two days after a gunman shot and killed 17 teenagers at Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School in Parkland, Florida.

In Belleville, Michael Melham announced he would run for the township’s mayoral seat against incumbent Ray Kimble.

Coccia Realty, meanwhile, announced that 17 of its real-estate

agents had achieved “Circle of Excellence” status with the NJ Association of Realtors.

As February came to an end, we learned about Leonard Willette, a Belleville Tuskegee Airman who had a street named after him at the intersection of Stephens and Academy streets.

In response to the aforementioned shooting in Parkland, Florida, Kearny Superintendent of Schools Patte Blood announced a series of security measures designed to make it more difficult for outsiders to get into Kearny schools.

The Kearny Fire Department beefed up its ranks with the appointment of three new firefighters — Adam Coppola, James Logan and Antonio DeSousa.

Three Nutley juveniles, meanwhile, were charged with attempted murder following an incident in Hillside on Feb. 13.

Back in Kearny, the police department here was fitted with NARCAN nasal sprays for its active vehicle fleet. The sprays were provided, at no cost, by the Jersey City Medical Center.

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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

thoughts&views The contents of letters do not reflect the opinion of The Observer staff. Letters must be kept to a maximum of 250 words. Any letters that exceed the maximum will be edited, at the discretion of the publisher, who reserves the right at any time to reject or edit the letters for space. Letters must include the writer’s name, address, and telephone number for verification purposes. The deadline for letters is Thursday at 4 p.m. Any letters that arrive after deadline will not be considered for the upcoming publication. Letters can be sent by e-mail to editorial@theobserver.com or mailed to 39 Seeley Ave., Kearny, N.J. 07032. Anonymous letters will not be published under any circumstances.

It’s taken entirely too long for Kearny to finally address town’s parking debacle

L In Memoriam Mary Tortoreti 1942-2016 Lisa Feorenzo Co-owner/Advertising Director Tina Feorenzo Co-owner/Advertising Robert Pezzolla General Manager Kevin Canessa Editorial, Web, Social Media Karen Zautyk Freelance Journalist Jim Hague Sportswriter Michelle Rybeck Graphic Designer Kim Pezzolla Sales Display & Real Estate Ad Deadlines Thursday by noon advertising@theobserver.com Obituaries Deadline

AST WEEK’S EDITION of The Observer included a story about the Town of Kearny exploring options for a possible residential parking permit system. This, of course, is prompted by the continued nightmare known as basic parking in most of the town’s four wards.

While it’s an issue in the Third Ward, it’s a major issue in the First, Second and Fourth wards, where there are fewer garages and driveways for multi-family homes and apartment buildings.

We applaud the governing body for taking these necessary steps. A residential parking permit system may just be the answer — and with the town looking into options, there is hope something can be done to, eventually, alleviate this issue that has plagued Kearny for so long.

However, we can’t help but wonder — why has it taken so long?

When Alberto Santos,

EDITORIAL mayor of Kearny, first ran for said office in 1999, one of the biggest issues then was residential parking. A year earlier, when he walked the streets of the Second Ward as a candidate for a council seat, he had to know residents there — especially on the hilly Devon Terrace and Tappan and Hoyt streets — were in dire need of parking relief.

We remember it being an issue then. Why hasn’t he remembered?

Now 20 years, the issue’s finally being addressed.

But only after two decades of hearing “yeah we know there’s a problem — we’ll get to it eventually.”

Several factors have contributed to the parking problem in Kearny. First, the town’s population has ballooned. And as Councilwoman Susan McCurrie noted, everyone seems to have a car

now, regardless of age.

This is not really a brandnew phenomenon.

The First and Second wards have always had multi-family dwellings that don’t offer off-street parking.

This is not a new phenomenon.

Some newer, more-than2-family homes have been built around town — and still don’t offer off-street parking.

So somehow, these new constructions were built with little to no consideration for the parking problems they’d ultimately cause.

In one Fourth Ward neighborhood, a recently renovated, one-family home, a rental, brought with it seven vehicles.

Of those seven vehicles, not one has a New Jersey license plate.

So while we applaud the town’s effort to address its parking problem, we can’t help but wonder — how could it ever have taken 20 years to finally see action?

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we do do our best to get as many as possible into the newspaper — and when that’s not possible, we post them online on our website and to our social media pages (both Facebook and Twitter.)

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If, however, email isn’t an option, you can also fax us at 201-991-8941. Or, you can also take the old route of sending releases by snail mail to our office which, recall, is located now at 39 Seeley Ave., Kearny, N.J. 07032.

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And, as always, we thank you for reading The Observer each and every week.

So don’t delay — send us your news today.

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

Continued from page 5 word that the Township of Lyndhurst became the next in a line of many Bergen County municipalities to announce that it has become “Stigma Free.” We’ll get more into this later on in this recap when we discuss our series of stories involving addiction.

In Hudson County, officials announced they would no longer alert Immigration and Customs Enforcement when illegal immigrants are arrested.

The exit to Fish House Road, in South Kearny, just before the Wittpenn Bridge, was closed and it will remain that way until the new bridge opens — likely in 2021.

The Kearny Fire Department, meanwhile, sent an assortment of turnout gear to two FDs — one in the Philippines and one in Portugal. The KFD got new gear itself a year earlier.

The United Irish Associations of West Hudson celebrated its 2018 parade honorees — Jack Pettigrew, Tommy Atwell and Christine Nash.

Tragically, we learned of the death of 19-year-old Kearny resident Adrian Velazquez. He died in a terrible car crash in Newark, Delaware. The late Velazquez was a soccer standout at Kearny High School and had been playing the sport for Rutgers University, Newark.

A 15-year-old Kearny HS boy was arrested and charged with creating a false public alarm after he reportedly posted “Thinking of searching up how to shoot up a school and get away with it” on Instagram on March 1.

In early March, we also learned of the Feb. 26 death of longtime Nutley Commissioner Carmen Orechio. He was 91. Orechio was a dedicated public servant whose name can still be seen, often, on signs in Nutley.

March was the month where tragedy struck in Manhattan when a helicopter went down in the East River, killing five. The doomed chopper took off from a South Kearny helipad.

Yet another tragedy struck when a man who had just been released from the Hudson County Jail, South Kearny, was struck and killed crossing Routes 1 & 9.

The victim was apparently run over twice in the early morning hours of March 10.

A cast of 45 thespians put on “Sister Act” in March at Kearny High School’s winter play.

March also saw the launch of the Kearny Police Department’s brandnew website. The KPD’s Capt. Timothy Wagner, the commander of the department’s InternalAffairs Bureau, and also a spokesman for the department, designed the site with the assistance of Det. John Fabula. Residents may use the site to keep up on breaking crime news, to report crime and so much more. Visit the site at www. kearnypolice.org.

Over in Nutley, around the same time, an oversized truck took down a few poles and electrical wires just outside Eastwick College on Park Avenue. Though the power was out for some time, there were miraculously no injuries reported on account of the incident.

Four adults and eight children were displaced when another fire hit Maple Street, Kearny. The two-alarmer at 369 Maple would require “long-term renovation,” according to Chief Steven Dyl. The Harrison Town Council added six new firefighters in March thanks to a federal grant. One more firefighter was to be hired later on in the year.

The annual West Hudson St. Patrick’s Day Parade took place in Harrison, East Newark and Kearny in March. Photos of the big day remain on www.theobserver. com.

The Observer’s Karen Zautyk featured a story on the U.S.S. Juneau, a World War II ship that sank. The ship made its maiden voyage from South Kearny.

Meanwhile, in Lyndhurst, commissioners announced they would lower swimming fees at the municipal pool at Lyndhurst High School.

In Kearny, the KPD announced it could no longer pick up stray animals for safe keeping at its HQ on Laurel Avenue. Only Bergen County Animal Control could do so — they’re contracted to help the Hudson County town — and they operate 24 hours a day.

We were also introduced to a new UPS Store in Kearny.

The business, operated

by Hetal Patel, is inside Arlington Pharmacy on Kearny Avenue.

On March 25, yet another inmate at the Hudson County Jail in South Kearny took his life. It was the sixth suicide over a nine-month span.

At the end of March, we also learned the Kearny Board of Health offices, at 645 Kearny Ave., would soon be getting a long-overdue and much-needed renovation.

In North Arlington, word that the borough’s board of education was considering the purchase of the former Queen of Peace High School came down — though as of today, no such

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“We are working with the archdiocese — something like this can’t be pushed,” Board member George McDermott said.

In Hudson County politics, West Hudson Mayors Alberto Santos, James Fife and Joseph Smith announced they would support Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise’s re-election efforts in 2019. There have been rumors that a candidate may run against DeGise in the June 2019 primary.

07

April

The year’s fourth month kicked off with a special Easter Egg Hunt in Nutley.

Hundreds of kids took part in the Nutley PBA-sponsored event.

We also learned of the retirement of brothers Joe and Frank Viscuso from the Kearny Fire Department.

Also retiring were Capt. Art Bloomer and Firefighter Scott Coulson.

A funny one from the Kearny police blotter — a man was arrested, when

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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

Continued from previous page asked his birthday by patrol officers, told the cops he was born on April 88. That’s one long month.

Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report on the East River chopper crash (that took off from South Kearny.) Passenger harnesses likely lead to the death of all five on board the doomed helicopter, the NTSB said.

April saw students from Washington Middle School, Harrison, journey to the nation’s capital for a tour of the

district.

Kearny Fire Department Deputy Chief (then Capt.)

Joe Mastandrea demonstrated NARCAN kits that were outfitted on all active KFD fire rigs. The Junior Woman’s Club of Arlington donation led to the purchase of the kits with the medication designed to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses.

Police in Nutley, meanwhile, alerted residents that phony $100 bills were being circulated in the township.

Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise announced his intent to replace the county jail’s medical-services ven-

dors following six suicides at the correctional facility in a nine-month span.

In April, The Observer featured a look into generic medications where not all generics are the same. Hetal Patel, of Arlington Pharmacy, demonstrated how certain additives could be included in some generics while not in all.

In Kearny, Chief George King announced that crime numbers dropped significantly in 2017. The year before, there were 1,078 crimes committed in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Index. In 2017, that number dropped to 762.

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The Rev. Msgr. John Gilchrist died in April. He spent much of his priestly career in West Hudson.

In a story exclusive to The Observer at the time, Hudson County Exec Tom DeGise discussed a realworld experience program for special needs kids. The program gives those in the special-needs community a chance to work in companies throughout the county while also taking practical courses.

The Nutley PD, meanwhile, was up for re-accreditation and as such, sought comments from the public about how the department operates. Residents were invited to comment via email or regular mail — and a phone hotline was also set up.

The Archdiocese of Newark, meanwhile, hosted a STEM Expo at Boystown on Belgrove Drive.

The West Hudson Arts & Theatre Company, known by many as W.H.A.T., put on the play “Jungle Book” over two April weekends.

On April 7, longtime Hudson County Judge John A. McLaughlin, a resident Kearny, died at St. Michael’s Medical Center, Newark.

McLaughlin was a parishioner and trustee at St. Stephen’s Church, in addition to having many other civic positions throughout his life.

In East Newark, Superintendent of Schools Patrick Martin resigned his position after spending four years on the job.

In Kearny, the town made its first moves against abandoned homes, commencing with property at 47 Morgan Place. However, despite this, residents near that home say there still has been no action — and the deteriorating home and its surroundings continue to worsen.

In Kearny, UEZ Coordinator John Peneda announced the Kearny Discount Rewards program/card was

kicking off. Residents who possess the card are entitled to numerous discounts at participating merchant locations.

In East Newark, meanwhile, teachers in East Newark continued to work without a contract. They eventually renewed, but only until the end of the current school year.

In Harrison, the Smerda family donated chairs to the Harrison Public Library to honor long-time educator Mary Anne Dunphy, who recently retired from the Harrison school district after several decades of service.

In Belleville, officials recalled the life of Fred W. Stockham, a one-time resident of the township who died in World War I. Kearny native Martyna Majok, a 2003 alum of KHS, was awarded a 2018 Pulitzer Prize in drama.

Meanwhile, school officials announced bricks would pave the way to the Devon Street entrance to Kearny High School once the construction project concluded.

Folks were able to place special messages on the bricks.

In North Arlington, after petitions were filed, we learned that Democrat Mark Yampaglia and IndependentDemocrat Al Granell would challenge seated Republican Mayor Joseph Bianchi.

Sadly, that race turned into sadness when Bianchi died after a courageous battle with cancer later in the year (more on that later.)

Another tragedy struck in April when long-time West Hudsonian the Rev. Msgr. John J. Gilchrist died.

Gilchrist spent significant time at St. Cecilia Church, Kearny and Holy Cross Church, Harrison. His last

Continued on the next page

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

Continued from previous page assigned residence was also in West Hudson — at the Archdiocesan Youth Retreat Center on Belgrove Drive — you probably know that as Boystown. Gilchrist was ordained to the priesthood in 1957 and was long a strong supporter of labor unions.

“He saw the face of Jesus in working men and women and the poor. I trust he will continue to intercede for our archdiocese,” Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, archbishop of Newark, said at the time of Msgr. Gilchrist’s death.

By the end of the month, 51-year-old Vitorino Cirne, a long-time Kearny postal worker, was still missing after disappearing two weeks earlier. Sadly, Cirne would be found dead sometime after in the Passaic River in South Kearny.

In April, The Observer conducted an exclusive interview with the office of Archdiocesan Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark regarding the diocese’s policy on placing items at cemeteries. The Cemeteries office now uses the interview to help to explain how things operate at all of its cemeteries.

At Kearny High School, The Observer featured Matt Barone, the head of the school’s culinary program.

Over the last few years, Barone has taken a fledgling program and turned it into a model high school culinary program.

We also learned that Harrison Second Ward Councilman Anselmo Millan would not seek re-election to that seat but would, instead, challenge seated Democratic Mayor James A, Fife in the June primary. Millan lost to Fife — and will leave office Dec. 31.

In a rarity, North Arlington Mayor Joe Bianchi announced that taxpayers would see a nominal $2 tax increase on a home valued at $300,000. It was the second-consecutive year taxes remained stable in North Arlington — and was something no other municipality in The Observer’s coverage area could boast.

May

The fifth month of the year kicked off with The Observer’s annual homage to the cherry blossom trees at Branch Brook Park.

Photos were included in the newspaper — as well as on our website. A later-thanusual cold spell caused the trees to bloom later than usual.

The Kearny FD showed off their new thermal-imaging cameras, which were made possible by a grant from FEMA. Deputy Chief Bruce Kauffmann and FEMA’s Brian Thomas sat down with Kevin Canessa to demonstrate how valuable the cameras are in fires and at accident scenes.

In Belleville, several high school students traveled to Baltimore to take part in a special Future Business Leaders of America workshop.

The Observer reported a South Kearny chemical fire that required marine units.

In Lyndhurst, seven new firefighters took the oath of office.

In Kearny, meanwhile, the mayor announced the municipal portion of residents’ tax bills would decrease. It was the first time municipal taxes decreased in recent memory.

State Fair Meadowlands, in the early part of May, announced that its annual

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affair in the area of Metlife Stadium would kick off June 21 and last through the first week in July.

The KUEZ also announced it would conduct its annual town-wide yard sale May 6 & 7. This is one of the biggest events the UEZ undertakes annually — and brings many out-of-towners in searching for bargain merchandise.

May also brought with it warmer weather — and an incredible old-time baseball game where players played without gloves and following rules of the early days of the game.

In one of the bigger stories of 2018, FedEx, amid great fanfare, opened its new North Arlington facility. State, county and local government officials, as well as FedEx VIPs, were on hand for the grand opening. The weather that day was quite hot — but it didn’t put a damper on one of the biggest new ratables to come to N.A. in recent times.

A senior citizen jitney bus was involved in a crash with a vehicle on Laurel Avenue

and Chestnut Street on Monday, May 7. Fortunately, there were no major injuries, though both vehicles involved were damaged. Lt. John Taylor, of the KPD’s Traffic Unit, said the driver of the vehicle that hit the jitney was issued a summons for blowing a stop sign.

Official announced in May that bridge work would begin on the Centre Street Bridge, Nutley, in June. The work, still as yet unfinished, has caused detours — and thus, traffic nightmares — in the area.

The Kearny Fire Department’s new marine boat was blessed in a special ceremony on the Hudson River between Manhattan and Jersey City, with both skylines in view.

May was also the month the Optimists conducted its annual oratorical contest, under the direction of Dr. John P. Branwell.

The annual Passaic River Cleanup and Town-wide Cleanup took place under the direction of Carol Jean

09

Doyle and Jane Mackesy respectively. Both are events that have taken place for more than a quarter century.

In Kearny, 10 new cops got their badges from Chief George King at a ceremony at Town Hall.

At a candlelight vigil at Town Hall Park, Kearny mom Christine Myles Nash spoke in detail about the overdose death of her son, Sean. Nash’s speech was very moving — as were all other speakers at the event. Sean Myles Nash died on July 13, 2016.

In Kearny, teachers continued to work without a new contact as the school year wound down. They would often protest with signs outside the Board of Education’s Midland Avenue offices.

In Belleville, a ticket led my Michael Melham swept into office. The new mayor has since been quite visible, often walking the town’s streets — he even spent a day working as a barista at

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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

Continued from previous page a local café so he could reach out the public.

In Lyndhurst, school official prepared to tackle a $3.8 million budget deficit.

Students at Columbus Elementary School in Lyndhurst got a taste of possible future vocations as public safety, health, public works, postal and military agencies talked about their work at the school’s first “Careers on Wheels” event.

Kids also enjoyed ice cream and an obstacle course and bounce house.

May was also the month where art students at Kearny High School showed off their work at an annual art show.

In Kearny, site plans for a new Starbucks were approved.

In Lyndhurst, the township’s Beautification Commission proposed planters be placed in strategical locations around town to make Lyndhurst look stronger.

In East Newark, a piece of history went away as the borough sold its oldest remaining fire truck, a 1977 American LaFrance

rig, to a private individual who collects such trucks.

American LaFrance fire trucks are becoming a thing of the past now as the company folded some time ago.

The Observer also featured DeGrace Plumbing & Heating. Remarkably, the company’s office is one of the neatest and cleanest places you’ll ever see!

At Lincoln Middle School, Kearny, science teacher Elaine McCarthy and several of her colleagues put on Project WET Water Festival.

The annual affair was

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created by science teachers and can be found at schools across the nation.

May is also the time of year when transitional deacons are ordained to the priesthood and, as such, the Archdiocese of Newark announced that nine men would be ordained at the end of the month. The archdiocese always has among the most priests ordained each year of any diocese.

May came to a close with a special presentation in a Harrison first-grade class by Jay Islip, a children’s books author.

Residents of Jefferson Avenue, Kearny, meanwhile, continued to complain about drivers who use the block as a speedway. Ultimately, a four-way stop sign was placed at the intersection of Jefferson and West Bennett to slow traffic down.

Back in Harrison — it was good news for taxpayers, who would see a tax decrease of $26+ In Nutley, the police department, under guidance of now Lt. Anthony Montanari, put on a bike rodeo where helmets were given to kids among other activities.

The month came to a close with the Hudson County Community College’s commencement at NJ PAC, Newark. It would be the last for President Glen Gabert, who retired at the end of the school year following a 25year stint at the college.

Kearny Second Ward Councilman Peter Santana took an ice-bucket challenge for Lupus. To say he was cold and soaked — that’s an understatement.

And finally in May, former Kearny BOE clerk Gina Neri, of North Arlington, was arrested again, this time for alleged tax violations — she never reported the money she reportedly stole to the government. Go figure.

June

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As we near the halfway point of 2018, June kicked off with a summery good time at the annual Lyndhurst Fair.

People of all ages enjoyed all the things one would expect from a festival.

Meanwhile, word came down that Mamdouh AbdelSayed, of Kearny, a former professor at Medgar Evers College, New York City, pleaded guilty to fraud. The Bayard Avenue resident

reportedly offered fake certificates to students who wanted to work as medical assistants. Students were never taught the field — and often got jobs with doctors and at hospitals based on the fake certificates.

In Kearny, Firefighter William Huhn ascended to the rank of captain. He was promoted at a special ceremony at Town Hall.

In Nutley, school officials announced there would be a tax hike for the 2018-19 school year.

In North Arlington, a Mexican-national in the country illegally was arrested and detained for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.) The man, Jose Leon, 30, was pulled over for allegedly having illegally tinted windows — and then for subsequent possession of a large, sealed bag of marijuana. He was, at the time, being held in the Bergen County Jail, Hackensack, awaiting transfer to the federal agency.

In Nutley, the new Seton Hall University Medical School opened its doors. Gov. Phil Murphy was on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Observer also featured a photo of Cardinal Joseph Tobin, archbishop of Newark, celebrating a Memorial Day Mass at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.

Meanwhile in Belleville, a Kearny man, 51-year-old Eric Perez, was charged with impersonating a cop.

In Bergen County, the prosecutor’s office announced it was opening a Cold Case Unit to investigate unsolved, older crimes.

Immediately after the unit opened, its members went on to solved a 1999 cold sexualassault case.

Across the Passaic River in Belleville, a girls’ basketball coach was arrested on a sex-assault charge. Kevin Jiminez, 29 at the time, is alleged to have had inappropriate contact with a 12-year-old girl, the Essex County Prosecutor said.

June also saw the Special Olympics Torch arriving in Kearny. Members of the KPD and students from Lincoln Middle School, ran the torch from the Belleville Pike at Kearny Avenue to Harrison where it was turned over the

See REVIEW, Page 17

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

11

sports&recreation

Cardenas wins state and national wrestling titles, Kearny-Harrison soccer battles top Observer Top 10 Sports Stories for 2018

By Jim Hague ogsmar@aol.com

of him. He’s a great kid and deserves this. He’s a Kearny kid through and through.

This is great for the sport in Kearny, great for the wrestling community and great for the town. It’s a celebration for everyone.”

And Jacob Cardenas’ ascent to becoming a wrestling legend is the No. 1 sports story for the Observer in 2018.

There were a ton of newsworthy stories that captured the attention of The Observer readers for the calendar year of 2018. There were triumphs and tragedies. There were champions and there were setbacks. Legendary traditions continued and flourished.

Here’s a look at the Top 10 Sports Stories for 2018 for the Observer circulation area.

2-Kearny and Harrison renew soccer rivalry

1-Cardenas wins NJSAA and national wrestling titles

As everyone in the area knows, West Hudson is known for its intense soccer. In fact, Kearny is readily recognized It was certainly a year to as “Soccertown, USA.” It’s an remember for Kearny native area with fervent, passionate Jacob Cardenas. soccer fans.

In March, Cardenas capSo in September and then tured the NJSIAA state again October, local socPhoto by Jim Hague wrestling championship at cer fans were treated to two Kearny native Jacob Cardenas (right) received a proclamation from Kearny Mayor Alberto Santos 195 pounds, becoming only the in May, after Cardenas became the first wrestler in Kearny history to win both the NJSIAA and the matches between Kearny and second wrestler from Kearny United States National championships in the same year, earning the No. 1 Sports Story of the Year in Harrison, the bitter and fierce to ever capture a state chamrivals, who hadn’t played each 2018. pionship, joining his friend other in a few years. and mentor David Cordoba, books and certainly one for who followed me every step Catholic, beginning his senior What used to be an annual who won a state title for the history books. of the way. This is incredible, wrestling campaign with a get-together was set aside Kearny High in 1999.

In May, Cardenas was especially coming from my shot at becoming Kearny’s for a few years, but then, the A month later, the Bergen honored by Kearny Mayor hometown. It’s awesome. I first-ever two-time NJSIAA powers-that-be decided that Catholic junior went on to Alberto Santos and the townstill can’t believe it. It means state champion. the two rivals could meet compete in the United States ship council with a special so much to me, coming from “I think we all knew that in the Harrison Soccer Cup Scholastic Nationals in Virproclamation. the people of Kearny, my this was going to happen,” Challenge at Red Bull Arena ginia Beach, Va. Cardenas “I never imagined the town hometown.” said Tony Carratura, Jr., the in September. That match won all six times there, bedoing something like this “This is an impressive current Kearny High School was won by Kearny, the 2017 coming the first-ever Kearny for me,” Cardenas said after young man,” Santos said of head wrestling coach who NJSIAA Group IV state chamwrestler to win both a state receiving the proclamation.

Cardenas. “I hope he concoached Cardenas when pion, by a final score of 3-1. and national championship in “It’s really amazing. I’m very tinues to pursue his athletic he was a youngster in the Rodrigo Varela was the the same year. thankful to the Mayor and the dreams in high school and Kearny Recreation program. hero that day, scoring two Needless to say, it was a other elected officials. I know college.”

“The entire wrestling commuyear to remember for CardSee TOP 10 next page there were a lot of people Cardenas is back at Bergen nity in Kearny is very proud enas, one for the memory

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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

TOP 10

Continued from Page 11 goals for the Kardinals.

In October, the two rivals met once again, this time in the Hudson County Tournament semifinals, in a match played at Caven Point Cochrane Stadium in Jersey City. On a bitterly cold and windy night, Harrison’s sensational striker Omar Sowe scored three goals in the Blue Tide’s 4-3 victory.

Sowe would end the season and his Blue Tide career with a fabulous 35 goals and added 21 assists, becoming Harrison’s all-time scoring leader with 89 goals and was named Third Team All-State

by NJ.com.

But the renewal of the Kearny-Harrison soccer rivalry ranks as the No.2 sports story for 2018/

3-Local QBs Podolski of Lyndhurst, Harrison’s DeSosa enjoy days to remember When the 2018 high school football season kicked off in September, one could

never realize that the top two quarterback performances in the entire state would come from two players who played in the same league, situated just five miles apart.

But that’s what happened when Lyndhurst senior Brian Podolski and Harrison junior Mateo DeSosa both had games to remember on the same exact day.

DeSosa rushed for 221 yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns while completing 20-of-30 passes for 177 yards and two more touchdowns in the Blue Tide’s 30-28 victory over Bogota.

At the same time, Podolski completed 15-of-21 passes for 305 yards and five touchdowns in the Golden Bears’ thrilling 35-32 win over Hawthorne.

The two locals ranked No. 1 (DeSosa) and No. 2 (Podolski) in total offense in the entire state of New Jersey for the first week of the season.

It certainly helped to put the two programs on the map for the entire season and was just a precursor of big things to come for Lyndhurst football in 2018.

last won a state sectional title in 2016. Bennett rolled a 283 in the final game to defeat Leonia and capture the state sectional crown. Senior Brandon Barth and junior Eric McKenna were also instrumental in the season to remember.

Remarkably, all three are twohanded bowlers.

Needless to say, it was a season to remember for the Vikings.

Photo by Jim Hague

Kearny and Harrison resumed their intense soccer rivalry with this game at Red Bull Arena in September. The two teams played again in October, earning the Observer’s No. 2 Sports Story of the Year.

4-North Arlington’s bowling team wins county, NJSIAA state sectional titles

obscene record of 112-0.

“You can’t get more consistent than that,” North Arlington head coach Dan Farinola laughed. “They didn’t drop a In February, the North single game all year.”

Arlington High School bowlAt the state sectionals at ing team literally went on a roll, winning the North Jersey Bowler City in Hackensack, the Vikings trailed Leonia by Interscholastic Conference almost 200 pins after the first championship, the small schools’ division of the Bergen game.

But the resilient Vikings County championships and the NJSIAA North Jersey Sec- came back, thanks to the exploits of senior Kenny tion 1A, Group I title.

Bennett, who was part of the In the league, the Vikings North Arlington team that were undefeated, posting an

Award-winning health care close to home

5-Kearny native Raftery earns NJSIAA Hall of Fame distinction In December, Bill Raftery, Kearny’s favorite native son and the best basketball player to ever hail from his hometown, was inducted into the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame.

“It was so long ago that people don’t even remember me as an athlete,” Raftery laughed, much like he does thousands of times when he tells a tale of his storied past.

“Everyone thinks of you as being one thing. Being an athlete is a distant memory to

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most. I guess they have to rely upon what they can read.”

Raftery is now known more as a respected television broadcaster, but was remembered for his basketball playing prowess when inducted at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village, recalling his days as a player at the now-defunct St. Cecelia’s High School of Kearny.

Raftery’s achievements at St. Cecelia’s were legendary, setting then a new single season state record by scoring 827 points in 1958-1959 and ending his career with 2,193 points, another state record.

Those totals obviously set records in Hudson County as well. While Raftery’s scoring marks were eventually eliminated in any state-wide ranking, his scoring prowess remained at the top of the Hudson County scoring list for more than 30 years.

“Kearny is still home,” Raftery said. “I’m always running around from place to place, but I always say it’s my home. It was a great place to grow up. And who would have thought it was a great place to play basketball. Everyone knows Kearny for soccer, but at that time, we had some great basketball in Kearny. It was an area for good basket-

ball. We had a bunch of guys who just loved to play basketball all the time.”

But it wasn’t the only sport Raftery excelled at. He was also a fine baseball player in the spring and a soccer player in the fall. However, basketball was Raftery’s bread and butter.

“The biggest place to play was the Tappan Street playground,” Raftery recalled. “A lot of kids would go there and just hope to get into a game.”

It was only the third time in Lyndhurst history that the football team won as many as nine games in a season and the first time since 1983.

That’s a lifetime ago, like Coach Tuero’s lifetime, as he’s only 34 and wasn’t born in 1983.

Tuero said that his team stood proud in the Rutherford game in a moment that will

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history of Lyndhurst. I always heard about how great it was at one time. Now I got to watch it happen. It was awesome. I got chills just watching it. We had people standing two, three deep. We had hundreds of Lyndhurst people sitting on the Rutherford side.

It really was great.”

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6-Dream season for Lyndhurst football, standout performer Partyla Although the Lyndhurst High School football team lost in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group II state championship game to rival Rutherford in November, it was clearly a season to remember and worthy of its spot in the local top 10 sports stories.

The Golden Bears had their best season in 35 years, winning nine games.

“There were a lot of positives,” Lyndhurst head coach Rich Tuero said. “It was a great ride. A lot of great things happened. Our kids can’t hang their heads. They have a lot to be proud of.”

last a lifetime.

“Anyone who was at the game will tell you that it was special,” Tuero said. “It was an old school event. There had to be 2,000, maybe 3,000 people there. There were so many Lyndhurst people there.

It really was amazing. These kids brought the town together. They did it. This team will never be forgotten in the

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TOP 10

Continued from Page 13 It was a great season for the Bears’ top player, namely junior Piotr Partyla, who had a season that legends are made of.

Partyla merely rushed for 1,696 yards and 26 touchdowns. Defensively, he collected 87 tackles, including 15 quarterback sacks. That is really an epic season, one of the finest seasons in Lyndhurst history.

It puts Partyla in the same category as Lyndhurst legends like Tom Longo and Ted Shoebridge and Brian Kapp and yes, even Petey Guerriero, the latter two who were named Observer Male Athlete of the Year their senior years.

“He has to be right there,” Tuero said of Partyla.

He sure does and so do the rest of the Golden Bears.

Photo by Jim Hague

Belleville and Nutley resumed their football rivalry with a crossover game at the Nutley Oval in November, earning the Observer’s No. 8 Sports Story of the Year.

Josh Piperato.

Young Josh suffered a traumatic injury to his leg in 2014 after an accident on a trampoline. He developed compartment syndrome.

“Joshua was unconscious and in a coma,” Ana Piperato said. “He developed blood clots and his heart was fail7-North Arlington ing. He was developing water youngster Piperato plays in his lungs. He was so sick.

I knew in my heart somefootball on artificial leg thing was seriously wrong. I In August, we were all intro- thought Joshua was gone. I saw a bunch of nurses rush duced to a brave 11-year-old in and there were wires gofrom North Arlington named

ing everywhere as they were trying to revive him. I was in shock. I was not expecting that to happen to him.”

Since Josh wasn’t treated immediately, it left doctors with no recourse.

They had to amputate Josh’s left leg from just above his knee in order to save him.

“I was sad,” young Josh Piperato said. “Because I didn’t have a leg.”

But last year, Josh got an idea. He wanted to play football.

Liking football and wanting

to play are two totally different things, especially for a youngster who is missing a left leg. But Josh wanted to play. He asked his mother to sign him up for the North Arlington Junior Vikings program.

“I got a little worried,” Ana Piperato said. “I didn’t want to discourage him, but I was worried. I had to give it some time to see if he was really interested.”

When the 2018 season approached, Josh Piperato wanted to play football. So Ana relented and signed Josh up to play.

Josh was more than ready.

“I’m going to do it,” Josh Piperato said. “All my friends said I could do it. Football is fun. I play with my friends all the time, so I thought I could do it for a team.”

Jay Leiner, who coaches the North Arlington Junior Vikings program and has done so since 1979, didn’t know what to expect from Piperato..

“It’s the first time I ever had to deal with anything like this,” Leiner said. “I was concerned, because I didn’t know if there was any kind of ruling making him ineligible to play.

I don’t think there’s ever been another case like this. I had to find out if it was legal. And there were no rules that prohibited him from playing.”

When Josh came down to Rip Collins Field for the first practice, Leiner was skeptical.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Leiner said. “But I’ve found out that Josh has the heart to play the game. And the leg is not holding him back. He’s running, tackling and blocking.”

And playing, making young Josh one of the top 10 sports stories of the year.

8-Nutley-Belleville football rivalry rekindled When the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association started to pair off similar teams for November’s “regional crossover” football game, formerly officially known as the “consolation” game, for grid teams that failed to qualify for the NJSIAA state playoffs, there was some chatter that the NJSIAA would actually pit local rivals Belleville and Nutley against

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each other.

After all, it was once one of the longest standing rivalries in New Jersey. The two geographical rivals used to face each other every year. For 76 years, Belleville vs. Nutley was one of the fiercest grid rivalries in northern New Jersey.

Most years, from 1984 through 2011, the game was played with a lot of fanfare on Thanksgiving Day, but then schools around the state started to shy away from playing on Turkey Day because it either interfered with state playoff preparation or it extended a losing season by an unnecessary three weeks.

After the 2015 meeting, a totally non-competitive mismatch that saw the Maroon Raiders win by a final score of 62-12, the two schools mutually decided to discontinue the series.

At that time, Belleville was really struggling as a program, trying to find its identity with a revolving door of head football coaches and athletic administrators coming and subsequently going.

So it made perfect sense to end the rivalry, even if the football traditionalists were against its demise.

However, this season, with both teams not headed for the

state playoffs, the powers-thatbe with the NJSIAA decided it would be a good idea to revive the rivalry and pit the Buccaneers against the Maroon Raiders once again.

So for the 76th time in the rich and storied history of the rivalry, Nutley and Belleville met once again on the gridiron.

Guess what? It wasn’t only a good idea. It was an absolutely marvelous idea.

The game turned out to be highly competitive, a contest that Michael Jackson might have dubbed a thriller.

The final score read Nutley 20, Belleville 13, but in reality, everyone was a winner.

It was a contest that brought back a lot of the alums from the two schools, proudly wearing their respective school colors. Some of the old-timers squeezed their way into their old varsity jackets after dragging them out of the deep corners of the hall closet.

The atmosphere around the Nutley Oval was electric. Fans in the stands ranged in age from eight to 80, some were even younger and yes, some were even older.

This was what high school football is supposed to be all about. Sure, other schools in New Jersey had playoff games to worry about, but this was

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once again for the Mayor’s Trophy. The trophy itself was brought out of hibernation and was presented to Nutley after the Maroon Raiders held on for the great victory.

Both head coaches had nothing but positive reactions after the game.

“I was overwhelmingly supportive of the game,” said Nutley head coach Steve DiGregorio, who saw his team finish the 2018 season with a 4-6 record. “I grew up with the Belleville-Nutley rivalry.

We played them all the time when I was a player and then a coach. I just thought last week that when it was playing out that wouldn’t it be great to revive this rivalry and we did.

Added DiGregorio, “This was pretty big. We probably set a new record for a crowd for a consolation game. This was a heck of a game. It was two teams trying to get better. To me, this is what high school football is all about.”

Belleville head coach Jermain Johnson agreed.

15

“It was a great atmosphere for a high school football game,” Johnson said. “It was great for both towns. We have to get this back on board.”

That they do.

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REVIEW

Continued from Page 10 the HPD. Members of the North Arlington Police Department turned the torch over the avid runner Lt. John Gouveia, of the KPD. In Harrison, the slate of candidates backed by Mayor James A. Fife swept to victory. Fife beat Councilman Anselmo Millan by nearly 300 votes.

Jesus R. Huaranga won in the First Ward, newcomer Ellen Mendoza won in the Second Ward (she’ll take over the seat vacated by Millan) Lawrence Bennett won in the Third Ward (with the biggest plurality) and James P. Doran won in the Fourth Ward.

All five candidates went on to run unopposed in the November general election. They are to be sworn in at a later-than-usual Jan. 13, 2019, ceremony, according to Bennett, though they unofficially begin their new terms on Jan. 1, 2019. At that time, Mendoza will be seated as a councilwoman, and it will signify the likely end to Millan’s lengthy political career.

In one of the more stunning piece of news of the entire year, we learned that the Pulaski Skyway, closed in some way, shape or form for the last decade or so, would finally reopen — in all directions — on July 2. Renovations were necessary following a stunning 2007 report that listed the elevated roadway as “direly” in need of repair.

Around the time of that announcement, senior citizens in Kearny were treated to their annual picnic at the Doyle Pavilion at Riverbank Park. Councilwoman Carol Jean Doyle and her crew of dedicated volunteers put the picnic on for the 28th-consecutive year, despite rainy weather.

June also marked the reopening of the Kearny Farmer’s Market on the 21st. The UEZ-sponsored event takes place Thursday through October outside the library.

Following a contentious meeting to elect the chairman of the Hudson County Democratic Party at Kearny High School, it was alleged that Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop shoved a Kearny cop in order to get into a room he wasn’t permitted to visit. However, Chief George King announced toward the end of the month that Fulop would not be charged.

In a bizarre police blotter entry, a man in Harrison told police he broke into a car “to relax.” He was charged with criminal trespass — as well as on several outstanding warrants from other towns in Jersey.

Nutley police, meanwhile, reported that yet another resident was scammed by a fake e-Bay buyer.

Police departments in our readership area continue to warn residents of scams on a regular basis.

Back to Belleville, the Clara Maass

Medical Center announced it received a grant to provide mammograms to black and Latina women, in the amount of nearly $28,000. The program will allow women from traditionally underrepresented groups — who often have no choice but to skip mammograms — to get the vital tests done.

Kearny police’s Paul Bershefski was promoted to captain at a meeting of the Mayor and Council in June.

At the same meeting, Jason Ward was promoted from patrolman to sergeant.

Francesco Alonso of Kearny was awarded his Eagle Scout at a June 13 ceremony at the North Arlington Knights of Columbus. Alonso is now a senior at Kearny High School. This past summer, he spent his second year as counselor at Scout Camp No-Be-Bos-Co. He was presented by his parents and recognized by Eagle Scouts of Troop 2 and Michelle Lang, exalted ruler of the Kearny Elks Lodge., Scout leader David Lagerstrom recited the Eagle Charge and recognition with Alonso.

June came to a close with The Observer’s annual front-page tribute to graduating high school seniors. As is tradition, Kearny HS’s graduating seniors trek up and down Kearny Avenue after the final day of classes — and before commencement exercises.

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July to September

The Summer of 2018 marked a special time at The Observer as we brought to our readers a special series of stories on the addiction crisis in America.

Journalist/Intern Ryan Ribeiro began the series with a very emotional look at his first year away at college in Boston. He profiled his roommate who openly spoke of his addiction to marijuana — and how the drug overtook his life. It was all because of anxiety.

“Anxiety is basically over thinking things, for me at least, so I would say it was easy to abuse any kind of substance that allowed me to not have to think as much,” Ribeiro’s roommate said. “During that time. I was abusing marijuana to the point that I needed it to sleep otherwise my mind would just be racing. I guess that just helped me not have to deal with the issues at hand.”

We also learned of the tragic story of Ally Gaynor, a 24-year-old Kearny girl who died of a drug overdose. She died, it appears, because the people she had been with were afraid they’d be locked up if they were to have reported her overdose to the police.

It was at this point that Kearny Police Chief George King made it clear that those who reported ODs would not be arrested — so long as distribution of drugs was not part of the scenario. It was a very bold statement.

Continued on page 22.

17

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

obituaries@theobserver.com Stasia M. Bein Mrs. Stasia M. Bein died Dec. 18, 2018.

She was 96.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Friday, Dec. 21, at St. Stephen’s Church, Kearny.

Entombment was in Holy Cross Mausoleum, North Arlington. Arrangements were entrusted to the Condon Funeral Home, 684 Kearny Ave., Kearny (condonfuneralhome.com).

Mrs. Bein had been a circuit layout assignor for NJ Bell in Newark for 23 years, a job of which she was very proud.

She was predeceased by her husband Frank and her siblings Helen Kamin and Stanley Rozan. Surviving are her daughters Nancy Bein and Susan Blomgren. Also surviving are her grandchildren Eric, Lisa and Michael Blomgren and Jack Chamberlin. She also leaves behind a great grandchild, Matthew Blomgren.

obituaries

and Barbara Gibbons (Brian); brothers Chris and Eugene Pecorelli; grandchildren Michael, John Joseph and Kayla; and great-granddaughter Elizabeth.

A funeral Mass was celebrated at Queen of Peace Church in North Arlington.

Entombment was in Holy Cross Mausoleum, North Arlington.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to the Salvation Army or your own favorite charity.

The Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, Kearny, was in charge.

Valerie Truskolawski Valerie Truskolawski (nee Guladwinski) died at home Dec. 17, 2018.

She was 94.

Born in Bayonne, she lived many years in Kearny.

Visiting was at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral, Kearny. Mass was celebrated at St. Stephen’s Church, Robert Neale Kearny. Entombment was in Robert Neale died at home Holy Cross Cemetery, North Dec. 12, 2018.

Arlington.

He was 63.

Valerie was a co/founder of Born in Kearny, Bob was the Polish Cultural Foundaa lifelong North Arlington tion and was a member of the resident.

Arlington Woman’s Club.

Visiting was at the ArmitWife of the-late Joseph, she age & Wiggins Funeral Home, was the mother of Celeste Kearny. Cremation was Truskolawski, Dr. Justine private.

Szkudlarek (Lech), John Bob’s ashes will be interred Truskolawski (Lisa), Thomas into the Neale family grave at Truskolawski (Janet) and theArlington Cemetery, Kearny. late Zita Ohe. Sister of Leona Bob was a warehouse Landers, she is also survived worker for Betson Enterprises by her grandchildren Emily, in Carlstadt.

Kim, Catherine, Julia, Alexis, He was the husband of theKara and Deanna. late Colleen (nee Clark).

In lieu of flowers, kindly He is survived by his sister consider a donation to St. Denise Blanche and her Jude Children’s Hospital or husband Paul; his brother the American Heart Associaand sister-in-law Joseph and tion.

Joann Clark along with many nieces and nephews.

Frank Stanley In lieu of flowers, kindly Frank Stanley of East consider a donation to the Newark died at home Dec. 16, American Diabetes Founda2018. tion.

He was 54.

Arrangements are by Olga Yenish the Armitage & Wiggins FuOlga Yenish (nee Pecorelli) neral Home in Kearny. A medied Dec. 16, 2018. morial Mass for Frank will be She was 81. celebrated Jan. 5, 2019 at 10 Born in Brooklyn, she lived a.m. at St. Anthony Church in Harrison and Nutley before in East Newark. moving to Whippany eight Frank was the son of the years ago. late Lowell and Susan (nee Wife of the-late Joseph, she Smith) Stanley. Brother is survived by her daughof David Stanley, Carolyn ters Olga Mackin (Stephen), Domingues and the-late KenDonna Kotchkowski (John) neth Stanley and nephew

of Patricia Toriello, he is also survived by his nephews and nieces Steven, Jenna, Christopher Ashley and David.

Raymond D. ‘Cookie’ Graham Sr. Raymond D. “Cookie” Graham Sr., 91, of East Newark, entered died Dec. 19, 2018.

He has now joined with his wife Joan (nee Jennings) (1995) and his sons James (2012) and Joseph (2013).

The funeral was conducted from the Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison, on Monday, Dec. 24. A funeral Mass was celebrated at Christ Episcopal Church, Harrison. His interment was in Arlington Cemetery, Kearny.

Born in Belleville, Raymond lived in Newark until he enlisted in the US Navy on April 18, 1944. He fought in World War II and the Korean Conflict. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, he became a member of the American Legion Post 99, Kearny (Past Commander) and a long-time member the VFW Post 1302 of Kearny.

He worked for Keebler Cookies Co. as a cookie delivery/salesman for many years before opening his own business – Ray Graham’s Tavern at Passaic and Reynolds avenues, East Newark. The tavern was destroyed by fire in 1968. Ray then went to work for NJ Insurance Fire Rating Office and worked at night at Jimmie’s Roscommon House in Newark, near Seton Hall University. He was later employed by Hudson County as a parks supervisor until he retired in 2009.

Novena to St. Jude May the sacred heart of Jesus be adored glorified and 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. Than kyou Saint Jude.

P.S.

19

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

obituaries@theobserver.com

Raymond served as a fireman on the East Newark Volunteer Fire Department, and was a member of NJ State Fireman’s Exempt Association. An elected member of the Town Council, he later became the Mayor of East Newark for over a decade.

He was a member of the East Newark/Harrison Board of Education, Board of Health and Officer of Meals on Wheels. He was the standard bearer of the Ray Graham Association, Grand Marshall of West Hudson United Irish Parade in 1990 and a member of Harrison/East Newark Elks 2326.

Raymond and his wife lived

in East Newark, where they raised their seven children.

He is survived by Raymond Jr. and his wife Monica; Kathleen Ahearn and her husband, James; Thomas and his wife, Maura; Linda Carson; and Kenneth and his wife Dawn; and his two granddaughters Danielle and Kelsey Graham.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Raymond’s memory to Christ Episcopal Church of Harrison or the East Newark Volunteer Fire Department, in care of the funeral home.

To send a condolence mes-

See OBITS, Page 23

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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

www.theobserver.com

The Observer is not responsible for typographical errors. Credit for errors will not be granted after the next week’s publication. No changes or refunds.

Deadline for classifieds is Monday by 3:00 PM.

CLASSIFIEDS

To place an ad call: 201-991-1600 classified@theobserver.com

As a courtesy, we try our best when it comes to communicating to our customers regarding ads that are expired. But It is not guarantee. Please be sure to make a note of the expiration date on your ad.

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

HARRISON

KEARNY

HARRISON 2 bedroom on 2nd floor and 1 bedroom on first floor. Near Transportation.

Leave message (201)667-9304.

KEARNY Arlington section. 3 modern rooms, 1 BR, 1st fl., tiled kitchen, H/W floors, Close NY trans, laundry facilities, references. $1,200/mth.

Avl. Jan. 1st. (908) 2409302. 31W03.

31W03

HARRISON 2nd FL, New house , 2 BR’s apt, 2 baths , 1 Parking space, Available Now. Call 646- 708- KEARNY 3 BR in a 2 6969 / 646-675-5113 Family home. LR, EIK, 1 31W03 Bath, HW Floors, Parking Available. $2100 + 1 1/2 month securtiy. H/HW separte. Available Jan 1st Call (201)720-9654 31w03

KEARNY Newly renovated w/ stainless steel appliances. 4.5 Room 1BR Apt. Quiet Neighborhood. $1400/mo & 1.5 Mo. Security. Avail 01/01/2019.

HARRISON Beautiful 2 (973)941-7230 31w03 BR @ 125 Sussex St., Harrison, NJ. LR, DR, Kitch, Full bath. 2nd Floor. 10 min Walk to PATH, Major highways & Stores. No KEARNY First floor, 1 Pets. 1 month Security. BR. Apt. Bldg. Arlington Call (917)992-2293 or Sect. Newly Renovated.

(973)485-6746 32W03 Laundry on Premises.

HT/HW included. Near transportation. No pets. $945/mo.+ security.

HARRISON 2 Bedroom (201) 998-4972 31W03 1 bath apartment @121 Sussex St, Harrison NJ. 10 minute walk to PATH. Available immediately. $1500 per month. No KEARNY 132 Midland pets. LR, DR, Kitchen, Ave. 1 BR, LR, Kitchen.

Full Bath. Call 973-420- Hardwood floors. HT/HW 1142 or 973-420-1747 included. $1100/month.

Avl. Jan 1st (973)63433W01 8873 or (973)465-0166 32W03

HARRISON 3 bedroom apartment with a LARGE DEN could be used as an extra room or office. close to transportation and schools 1 1/2 security deposit utilities not included. Available January 1st call now. 201 -328-5815 33W03

KEARNY Newly renovated furnished 1 bedroom apt. Arlington Section. 1 month Security. No pets. $925/month + utilities.

Available now. (201) 9550996 (201) 889-8536 32W03

KEARNY 54 Wilson Ave 3 bedrooms 1st floor. Fully N.ARLINGTON renovated. W/D hookup. Parking Available. $1950/mth. No broNORTH ARLINGTON 2 kers fees. Available Now Bedrooms. $1700/mth (347)889-0752 33w03 plus 1 month Security.

All Hardwood Floors. 2nd Floor of a 2 Family Home.

Laundry Hook-Up Avail. KEARNY 1 bedroom.

Large Eat In Kitchen. Roosevelt School DisLarge Living Room. No trict. Laundry facility in Pets. 2 Blocks from Ridge basement. No Pets. HT/ Rd. Jefferson Elementary HW included. 1 1/2 School 1 Block Away. Call month security. Available Carlos for more info 201- Jan.1st. $1150/mth. Call 724-0385 32W03 (732)735-9055 33W03

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

ROOM FOR RENT

KEARNY Share Bath & Kitchen. Quite area. Access to Transp, $600 + 1 month security. ReferKEARNY 3 bedroom ences must be supplied. apartment on two floors Call for more details - kitchen, bathroom, liv- Carmine 516-514- 5738 ing room dining room 32W03 $1500/mth @ 220 Laurel ave Kearny 2nd flr.

Contact 201-927-1134

KEARNY

33W01

KEARNY Room for rent, furnished, share kitchen and bathroom. No smokKEARNY 2 Bedrooms, ing. (female preferred) computer room, new 347 298 1164 / 201 491 kitchen, LR, 1 bathroom. 2826 33W03 Central heat and air.

No Pets. $1600/mth. 1 month security. Utilities seperate. (201)467-1551

LIQUOR LICENSE FOR SALE

33w03

KEARNY Arlington Section. 1 BR, H/W Floors.

Walking distance to schools & Supermarket, all public transportation and NY bus. Avl. Jan 1st.

(201) 657-2119. 31W03

KEARNY Liquor License for sale.

For use in bar or restaurant Please call for more details Se habla español (201) 719-0714

SHOP TO SHARE

HALL FOR RENT

SHOP FOR LEASE

Hall Available

Looking for someone to sheet metal shop for HVAC business - full machinery equipped in Kearny Call

Family Affairs Mid week special.

Call for info

33W01

26W09

201-927-1134

Car for Sale 1981 Honda Gold Wing.

As is $2,000 or best offer. Call (201)207-8029

PARKING/ GARAGE FOR RENT

LYNDHURST 2 XL BR on quiet street, 1st floor, XL LR, DR, EIK, 1 parking space, h/w floors, close to NYC transp. W/D hookup, rear deck, access to yard, no pets or smoking. $1,750 (utilities included) + 1 mo/security. Available 1/15/19 Call Jackie @ 862-579-1265 before 10 PM. 31W03

LYNDHURST 1 BR apt, off St. parking, close to transp. $1,395/month 973-760-4877 33W03

32W06

31W03

AUTOS WANTED

Perfect for Holiday Events & Local Organizations Amvets Post 20 323 New York Ave Lyndhurst. $400 for 4 Hours. Call 201-438-9886. 31W03

ROOFING & SIDING

CASH PAID for any junk car, truck and motorcycles.

Pick up 7 Days.

Call/text Dave 973-885-6119

New + Re-roofing • Flat roofing • Siding • Gutters Free estimates Fully insured (973) 343-1167 (201) 528-8350 erickconstructionnj.com Lic#13VH04302300 04W54

32W03

Parking for Vans 14ft - 25ft. trucks, and 2 Offices available.Call (201) 997-1500.

32W04

LYNDHURST

Call Mary Ann

201-805-9023

32W03

Mature couple seeking 2 bedroom or 1 large bedroom apartment. We are responsible, clean and a non-smoking couple. We have references. Call Joy 201-572-6923. 31W03

NUTLEY Beautiful apartment 2nd floor. 2 BR, Kitchen, LR, Bathroom renovated. Close to NY transportation. No pets, no smoking, Move in conditions. $ 1,500 month.

(732) 979 8835 or (201) 218 9709. 32w03

Max 80 people

CARS FOR SALE

SEEKING AN APARTMENT TO RENT

NUTLEY

(201) 991-9865

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT KEARNY

OFFICE SPACE on Kearny Ave. 1 1/2 months security.

900 sq.ft.

Proximity to PATH call

201-889-3118

SERVICES OFFERED

Certified home health aid seeking job caring for sick and mature.

Ref. available.

973-445-6896.

Residential + Commercial

Roof Coating specialties, Flat Roof, Silver coat.

Call for Pre- Winter Specials Big or Small; We do it all 201-991-1880 31W06

31W03.

SERVICES NEEDED

ITEMS FOR SALE

32W03

N. ARLINGTON

1 room office $550.00 plus utilities, nice Building with parking, Available now :

201-509-6965 32W03

Help wanted PT snow removal.

14 years old, and +.

Minimum hour pay.

Call (201)997-7588 evenings to register and for more info.

33W03

King size bed ,dresser, 2 nightstands, & bureau. $650.00. Full size couch, love seat, & over size recliner tan color $500.00.

Corner curio $ 250.00.

Kitchen table w/ 4 chairs $200.00 . Student desk & chair $75.00 (609)2761768 31w03

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

www.theobserver.com www.theobserver.com

CLASSIFIEDS

21

To place an ad call: To201-991-1600 place an ad call: 201-991-1600 classified@theobserver.com classified@theobserver.com

The Observer is not responsible for typographical The Observer is errors not responsible typographical errors.

Credit for will not befor granted after the errors.

Credit for errors willNo notchanges be granted after the next week’s publication. or refunds. nextDeadline week’s publication. $10 minimal changes. for classifieds is for Monday by 3:00 PM. No refunds. Deadline for classifieds is Monday by 3:00 PM. E-mail Help wanted As Adsa to classified@theobserver.com courtesy, we try our best when it comes to communicating to our customers regarding ads that are expired. But It is not guarantee. Please be sure to make a note of the expiration date on your ad.

All Classified customers must Pre-Pay - No Billing

ELECTRICAL SERVICES 25 years experience Twin Electric Quality Work. Good affordable prices. Senior discounts. Fully Insured. Bonded.

Lic. #16158 (973) 715-4150 (201) 562-5985 32w06

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES • Concrete • Brick work • Steps • Stone Walls • Tiles • Painting • Sheetrock • Drywall • Plastering ALL types of Masonry Free Estimates

PLUMBING & HEATING

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JOSEPH V. FERRIERO Plumbing & Heating Kitchen and bath remodeling. Carpentry.

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Fully Ins. Lic# 165

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Attics, Basements, Yard Cleaning. We Haul or You Can Rent 10-15 Cubic Yard Containers.

We Accept Visa/MasterCard

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ANDRIELLO CLEANOUTS Yards, Garages, Basements, Attics, Real Estate, Rubbish Removal (201) 726-0287 Lic13VH04443200

32W04

CLEANING SERVICES

(973) 943-2254 28W06

SUZY-Q CLEANING

I provide supplies.

Good rates and great references.

Call Susan at

973-743-2039

Exterminating Fast Service • Roaches • Ants • Bed Bugs • Fleas Call 973-932-2092 Licensed and Insured 30W06 MOVING & DELIVERY

JR Trucking Moving and Delivery Service Inc. We can Save Time & Money Commercial & Residential Free Estimate.

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LANDSCAPING & DESIGN

30W06

HOME IMPROVEMENT FENIELLO CONTRACTING LLC. BASEMENT RENOVATIONS NO MORE WASTED SPACE. Baths, Kitchens, Decks Painting.

All types of Home Improvement.

Quality work. Fair prices Fully insured.

Lic# 13vh03006100

Requested+ Insured. 31W06

PAINTING & DECORATING

TESTIMONIAL

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Close to 100 people responded to D. Ascensao Home the add I placed in Improvements your publication in Residential such short period Commercial of time. We are Complete Home Improvement very satisfied with Services the service you Pre + Post Real provided us.

Estate Repairs

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GUTTERS

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FULL TIME POSITION AVAILABLE in a fast-pace office.

Ability to multitask, answer phone, handle inbound and outbound phone sales, in-person customer service, with computer skills a must.

Must be able to work with Microsoft Word & Excel programs.

Bilingual (English and Spanish) Send resume to jobs@theobserver. com.

No phone calls or walk ins please.

EMPLOYMENT/ HELP WANTED

EMPLOYMENT/ HELP WANTED

EMPLOYMENT/ HELP WANTED

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(201) 991-5719 or midrealty@gmail.com 31W09

Onsite Auto/Truck Mechanic looking for a driver. Good license needed.

Mechanic background a plus but not needed.

Competitive compensation.

201-401-2645 30W03

Medical Assistant Property (Full time) for a Management medical office in Assistant wanted for office in Nutley.Must Kearny. Certificahave experience in tion and experience necessary. Please problem solving, email resumes to able to write letters premiercare@gmail. and attend board com 31w03 meetings. A plus if you have a following.

Salary to be negotiated. No Calls. Email Resume to:patriciab@patricianassoc.com 31w03

$$ Now Hiring $$ Sales Property Inspectors FT/PT in your area. Free Training provided. msangelabove@ comcast.net (732) 766-4425 ask for Mel. 29W06

OFFICE/ ADMINISTRATIVE Full Time for trucking company in NJ Piers/Ports. No exp. req’d. - we will train. Must have Social Sec or Tax ID. Job duties include: Data entry for new work orders, track and trace shipments at the port,updating customers and Excel reports, answer phones w/proper phone etiquette.

Must be organized, able to multi task, bilingual English & Spanish. $11/hour (training period). $12/hour (after training period).

E-mail résumé: abnhr@allpointstransport. com. 31W03.

Receptionist (Full time) needed for a medical office in Kearny. Some experience necessary. Please email resumes to premiercare@gmail. com. 31w03 Collector Position in Kearny, NJ Looking for a multi-tasker w/ excellent communication skills and upbeat attitude for our Lien and Collection agency. Send resume to mannacorporation@aol.com with salary requirements.

Salary based on experience. 31W03.

PT & FT Dishwasher needed.

Please apply in person at Don Pepe Restaurant 844 McCarter HWY Newark, NJ 07105 32W03

Part time position in local school General worker needed from 10 AM to 1 PM as a driver. Must get fingerprinted call (201)991-6800 ext. 2040 33W03 CDL Driver Wanted - Adult Medical Day Care (Belleville).

Part Time/Full Time Driver for adult medical daycare in Essex county needed.

A CDL with Class B & Endorsement P a MUST!!! Spanish speaking a plus.

No nights or weekends.

Competitive Salary.

Call Monday thru Friday only between 10 AM and 5 PM. 973-751-6000 or Email resume to admin@bellevillesenior. com 31W03

Busy orthopedist’s office located in Kearny, NJ is seeking a mature minded, professional individual to work a total of (24) hours weekly. (Mon-Thurs.) between hours of 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM and on Fri. between the hours of 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. A minimum of 2 years prior experience and 3 references are required. Applicant MUST be a team player, professional, friendly and have excellent telephone skills. Strong command of the English language is required. Fluency in Spanish is a plus, but not mandated. To apply please fax all resumes to 201) 998-9201 33W01

Registered Environmental Health Specialist MEDICAL ASSISTANT/RECEPIONIST Permanent Part-time (24.5 hours per week; Gastroenterology practice with multiple offices Schedule Varies weekdays/weekends) –Kearny, in NJ seeks Full Time candidate to join our NJ. Closing Date: January 11, 2019: $20.30medical office in Essex County and Hudson 31.82/hour based on experience. The Town of HANDYMAN County. Seeking a responsible individual who Kearny Department of Health has an openis reliable, detail oriented, and someone who ing for part-time Registered Environmental SERVICES multi-tasks in a fast paced professional medical Health Specialists. See link for job New Jersey office. Must also have a good people skills to CSC job specs https://info.csc.state.nj.us/ jobspec/08061.htm. The applicant must hold deal with patients, referral sources and insura valid New Jersey Registered Environmental ance companies on the phone and internet.

DO IT ALL Interior/Exterior new & Health Specialist license and a valid New Jersey Previous medical experience and computer repairs. All types of driver’s license. The schedule varies weekdays, skills. Bilingual (English and Spanish) a must. carpentry. weekends, and must be available for emergency Excellent pay and 401K provided. Salary comReasonable rates, quality work, reliable, experienced. hours. 24.5 hours/week. mensurable to professional experience and/or 13VH06620900 Bilingual Spanish/English preferred.

(201) 991-3223 education. Please email resume to: bguerrero@ See Town of Kearny Link for application 30W04 http://www.kearnynj.org/JobOpportunities 31w03 essex-gastro.com or fax to: 973-759-7243 32W03 (201) 565-6393.

27W06

Courageous Plumbing HVAC LLC LIC .#11103 • Air Conditioning • Hot Air Furnaces • Central Air, Humidifier, UV Light, Duct Cleaning,Visa & Master Card, Finances offer with up to 24 payments, no interest (201) 206-4845

EMPLOYMENT/ HELP WANTED

22

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

BUSINESS

DIRECT RY HIGHEST CASH PAID ON THE SPOT

BUYING GOLD & DIAMONDS .75 CARAT & LARGER Observer file photo

The St. Columcille United Gaelic Pipe Band celebrates winning the All Ireland Band Championship. They were the first non-irish or non-UK band to ever win.

Continued from page 17 one that brought comfort to many who were dealing with addiction. Note: the addiction series may still be found at theobserver.com.

The St. Columcille United Gaelic Pipe Band became the first non-Irish or UKbased band to win the Irish championships.

We also learned that the headache known as the new Wittpenn Bridge — Jersey City and Kearny’s connector — would likely not be finished until, gasp, 2022.

Meanwhile, Steven L. Rogers, a Nutley commissioner and special adviser to President Donald J. Trump, made headlines when he called for armed officers in every school in New Jersey.

As the summer came to a close, several officers from Kearny joined police from across the country in the annual Tour de Force bike ride. The bikers made a special stop at Doyle Pavilion for lunch on their way to Maryland. It was a remarkable sight to see so many officers rolling into town in a race that remembers those lost Sept. 11, 2001.

October to December

The fall was perhaps marked by the most noted story of the year in our readership area — the death of North Arlington Mayor Joseph Bianchi, 77.

The long-time owner of Pal Joey’s Salon on Ridge Road, North Arlington, served as mayor from 2014 until he died on Oct. 10 following a brave fight with post-Sept. 11, 2001-related cancer.

The GOP elder statesman spent a good deal of time at Ground Zero in his role with the NAFD following the attacks. He was known to take great pride in the volunteer fire department.

Bianchi’s death came as he sought re-election to a second, 4-year term. At first, it was unclear how the election would continue; however, after a brief foray in court, Daniel Pronti, sitting councilman, would replace him on the ballot, and then go on to win the mayoralty by a significant margin. Pronti said his first term would be dedicated to continuing the legacy Bianchi began in his 3+ years as mayor.

Later in October, we learned the incredible story of Michelle Kelly and Len Twist. Kelly had searched, for many years, for her biological father to no avail. Yet somehow, in a “Twist of

Fate,” she would go on to learn her dad was actually Twist, a man who was her friend of many years. The two recently celebrated a “family union” as Twist called it — the first time Kelly and Twist were together knowing they were father and daughter.

October ended with a grand opening of the westbound, Harrison to Newark, brand-new PATH station amid great fanfare. Dignitaries from all over the state were present for the unveiling of the new transport marvel. The eastbound station, to Jersey City and New York, is expected to open in the first quarter of 2019.

In what may have been the most bizarre story of 2018, Vincent Tunnero, a Lyndhurst Board of Education trusteeelect, was arrested a week or so before the election and charged with bilking significant cash from homeowners in South Jersey.

Tunnero did not announce his arrest prior to the election; however, The Observer was among the first to report it. A week later, he announced he would not accept the seat, having finished third in a top-3 winners race.

December began with word that a former Harrison cop, John Bishop, had been arrested and charged with bilking at least five Sandy “victims” of at least $75,000 each for work not completed.

After leaving the HPD, Bishop worked as a contractor. Initially, he was a fugitive from justice as federal marshals were unable to locate him in his last-known address in South Florida; however, he was ultimately taken into custody by authorities in Monmouth County and awaited transfer to Ocean County officials, who sought his arrest following their investigation.

The year closed with a series of policerelated stories.

First, Det. John Fabula, of the Kearny Police Department, and the Detective Bureau of the KPD, were responsible for taking down a massive $4 million cargotheft network in South Kearny after an 18-month investigation.

Community-Oriented Police Unit offered a presentation to the senior citizens at the Henrietta Benstead Center — and at other locations previously — on ways for the elderly to avoid being scam victims. Chief George King was on hand for the presentation offered by Sgt. Adrianno Marques, the COP’s commander, and Officer Vanessa Sevillano, a member of the COP Unit.

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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

TOP TEN

Continued from Page 15 into her natural position of catcher. She played baseball with and against the boys, even going up against her older brother Victor a few times.

Alexia has stuck to her guns and played baseball, even when others tried to convince her to play softball with the girls.

“I never wanted to go play softball,” Jorge said. “I wanted to keep going with baseball.

I’ve played baseball my whole life and I feel it’s more competitive with baseball.”

So when the time came for Alexia to enroll at Lyndhurst High School last September, she had one idea in mind.

“I was going to play baseball,” Jorge said. “That was always my goal.”

Jorge was prepared to reach her goal by playing for a competitive travel club team called Nutley Central. She regularly plays with and against the boys with that team.

“My teammates never had any reaction towards me,” Jorge said.

When Alexia decided she wanted to try out for the Lyndhurst High School baseball team, head coach Pat Auteri had no problem with it.

So Jorge earned her spot on the Lyndhurst freshman squad this year. She regularly plays catcher for the Golden Bear

freshmen and sometimes gets a chance to throw her knuckleball.

In May, Jorge traveled to Vero Beach, Florida, where she will play with the Team USA girls’ national baseball team.

Jorge earned a spot on the squad, for girls ages 14 through 17, at tryouts on Long Island and later Virginia and Maryland.

Jorge has one more goal in mind.

“Absolutely, varsity baseball is definitely in the future,” Jorge said. “That’s what I want.”

And there’s no talk at all about playing softball with the girls.

“That’s not what I want,” Jorge said. “I think the world is starting to conform to allow girls to play varsity baseball. I want that. I want to play baseball. I feel baseball and softball are two different sports. I’m better at baseball.”

Auteri is willing to give Jorge a shot.

“We’re going to give her every opportunity to make the team,” Auteri said. “She’ll be in the mix. The door is always open. She’s a kid who plays the game she loves. She knows the game and loves the game. You can’t ask for more than that.”

Just missed list

current athletic director Kim McDonough Huaranga was inWe had other local sports ducted into the Hudson County stories that captured the atSports Hall of Fame; Kearny tention of readers in 2018, but High School junior Matthew just missed the Top 10. There Escobar was selected to the were the welcoming of three Allstate All-America soccer new head football coaches to team for underclassmen; there the area in Belleville’s Jermain were the tragic losses, way too Johnson, Kearny’s Stephen An- soon, of local soccer standouts drews and Harrison’s Danny Adrian Velazquez, Stephanie Hicks, all three who made maMiller and Fausto Arcentales; jor strides in their first years Velazquez was a former Allas head coach; there was the State soccer player at Kearny induction of North Arlington’s who was playing at RutgersJohn Galante and Harrison’s Newark and died at age 19 in a Mike Rusek into the New car crash in March, Miller was Jersey Scholastic Coaches Asa former All-County player at sociation’s Hall of Fame; there Kearny High who died at age was Nutley native Carly Ander- 29 in July and Arcentales was son, a former Observer Female the assistant soccer coach at Athlete of the Year, earning Lyndhurst who died at the age NCAA Division III All-America of 47 in October, may they rest honors in softball at Rowan in peace; and there were the University; there was the presentations to Kearny’s Meadistinction of Kearny native gan McClelland and Harrison’s Jovan George being selected to Dustin Huseinovic for being play for Team USA Youth Foot- The Observer Female and Male ball at the Pro Football Hall of Athletes of the Year respectiveFame in Canton, Ohio; Nutley ly. McClelland is now a standAmerican Little League’s out soccer goalie at Rutgers 12-year-old All-Star team University in New Brunswick captured the District 8 chamand Huseinovic just completed pionship for a second straight a stellar football season at Pace year; North Arlington’s Junior University in New York.

Vikings won the Meadowlands All totaled, it was a sensaYouth Football Super Bowl; tional year to remember in Harrison basketball legend and local sports.

Hudson County New Jersey Division of Housing and Community Development Change of Property Use Public Notice

10-Three locals reach 1,000 point milestone in same week It was an incredible feat that happened within a few days of

son schools and became a groundskeeper for the Town of Harrison for 25 years. He Continued from Page 19 took great pride in his work and enjoyed the interaction sage to the family, visit with his peers, friends and www.mulliganfh.com. neighbors each day. He loved puzzles, country music and Donald Blasi sports. Donald was a loyal Donald Blasi passed peace- fan to his beloved NY Giants fully on Thursday, Dec. 20, and NY Rangers. Above all, 2018. He shared 65 years of he enjoyed spending time love and friendship with wih his family and extended all who knew him. Visitfamily in Teaneck where ing hours will be held on he resided at NIPD for the Wednesday, Dec. 26, from 3-6 past 14 years. Donald taught p.m. at Norman Dean Home us many things, especially, for Services, 16 Righter Ave., real love. Although we are Denville. saddened by his passing, we A Mass of Christian Burial take comfort in knowing he will be celebrated on Thursis watching over us over this day, Dec. 27, at 10 a.m. at As- Christmas season. sumption Church, 91 Maple Predeceased by his father Ave., Morristown. InterCharles, he is survived by ment to follow at Holy Cross his loving mother Helen Cemetery, North Arlington. (nee Flynn); siblings Charles Please light a candle or share (Ole), Eileen Verdi (the your memories at www.norlate John), Patricia Casey mandean.com.

(James) and Nancy Kennedy; Donald was born on June many nieces and nephews, 18, 1953 to Charles and Helen great nieces and nephews, Blasi. He attended Harriand dear friends.

OBITS

each other, but local basketball standouts Timothy Daniellan of Harrison, Nick DeGrace of North Arlington and Matt Schettino of Nutley all reached the 1,000-point plateau in February.

Daniellan scored his 1,000th point after severely breaking his nose. He broke the nose when he was just eight points shy of the milestone, but then scored 28 against University Charter of the first round of the Hudson County Tournament against University Charter, then had corrective surgery.

DeGrace of North Arlington had to endure losing their first 16 games of the season and needing 320 points over the final 10 games to reach the milestone, but went on a scoring rampage, scoring 38, 39 and 33 in successive games. He kept the scoring going and became the school’s first 1,000-point scorer since 2012.

Schettino was a former football player who only turned to basketball after suffering a few scary concussions. But in February, Schettino became only the fifth player in Nutley history to reach the impressive milestone.

23

Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey has determined that the Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey facility located at 400 Supor Boulevard, Harrison, New Jersey, will no longer meet the intent of the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). The CDBG Program provided funding for the upgrade of the existing passenger elevator utilizing 2014 CDBG funding as well as, renovations to the parking lot and sidewalks utilizing 2015 CDBG funding. Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey will be selling the property and the new use does not qualify under paragraph (a)(1) of 24 CFR 570.505 The County of Hudson, Division of Housing and Community Development will recapture CDBG funds equal to the current fair market value of the property, less any portion of the value attributable to expenditures of non-CDBG funds for improvements to the property located at 400 Supor Boulevard, Harrison, New Jersey. The transferred funds will be used to support future eligible CDBG activities.

Subject to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations at 24 CFR 570.505 Use of Real Property, the County of Hudson Division of Housing and Community Development hereby provides affected citizens with notice of, and opportunity to comment on, the proposed change. Interested citizens may comment on the proposed use change by January 18, 2019. Such comments can be made by contacting Heather Hanks, CDBG Program Manager, Division of Housing and Community Development, 830 Bergen Avenue, Suite 5B, Jersey City, New Jersey 07306, OR e-mail at hhanks@hcnj.us.

Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders Thomas A. DeGise County Executive Abraham Antun County Administrator Thomas A. DeLeo Director, Department of Parks and Community Services Randi A. Moore Division Chief, Division of Housing and Community Development

24

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

Kearny

Lyndhurst

636 Kearny Ave.

424 Valleybrook Ave.

201-997-7000

201-939-8900

Rutherford

Secaucus

11 Park Ave.

5 Harmon Cove Tower

201-939-0001

info@cocciarealty.com

201-867-2100