Wednesday, 9 December 2020
www.TheObserver.com
Vol. CXXXIII, No. 31
THIS WEEK IN SPORTS Double vision: Two sets of twin girls having great soccer seasons for Nutley & Kearny See Page 9
BELLEVILLE • BLOOMFIELD • EAST NEWARK • HARRISON • KEARNY • LYNDHURST • NORTH ARLINGTON • NUTLEY
SANTA’S NEW WAY Even Jolly Old St. Nick has had to adjust to a COVID-19 pandemic world
Each and every year for the last dozen, Kearny’s Jack Satter always looks forward to the Christmas season. It’s no longer for his sons -- they’re both grown and police officers in the Kansas City, Missouri, area. But it’s for a very distinct reason. As he got less young, he came to a startling realization that if he grew out a beard and got it bleached, he strikingly resembled the man from the North Pole. And, as the photo to the left, which was taken a year ago in The Observer’s office, in much better times, will demonstrate, it’s almost uncanny how perfect Satter is when he fills in for the real Santa whilst he’s up north, preparing to bring toys and all the trimmings to all the good girls and boys in the world.
Interestingly enough, the last time I saw Satter in person was around the beginning of March when he stopped by The Observer office to pick up a copy of that week’s newspaper. The very next week, our office was closed to the public after it became clear how dangerous a world we were living in. So in planning stories for what could only be described as a non-traditional Christmas season in 2020 -- thanks, again, for that, COVID-19 -- we got to wondering: How does a worldwide pandemic change things for a man who fills in for Santa and who, notably, doesn’t take a penny for his services? We figured his work would be limited. See SANTA, Page 19
Lyndhurst PD promotes 4 to new ranks By Kevin Canessa kc@theobserver.com
Jr. were on hand to administer the oaths of office.
our Lyndhurst police officers were promoted to new ranks Dec. 1 in a private ceremony at Township Hall. Mayor and Public Safety Commissioner Robert B. Giangeruso and Chief of Police Richard L. Jarvis
PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT Sgt. Geoffrey Rejent has served the Lyndhurst Police Department for 18 years. Prior to his promotion he was a detective assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division. Sgt. Rejent will remain in the same division.
F
POLICE BEAT PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF DETECTIVE Det. Thomas McSweeney has served the Lyndhurst Police Department for nearly 14 years. Prior to his promotion, he was assigned to
the Patrol Division. Det. McSweeney will be assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division. Det. Robert Fernandez has served the Lyndhurst Police Department for 12 years. Over the past five years, Det. Fernandez was assigned as a task force officer with the Drug
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