e-Newspaper for March 24, 2021

Page 1

Wednesday, 24 March 2021

www.TheObserver.com

Vol. CXXXIII, No. 46

ON THE INSIDE Legendary North Arlington coach & teacher Bill Ferguson dies aged 85. BELLEVILLE • BLOOMFIELD • EAST NEWARK • HARRISON • KEARNY • LYNDHURST • NORTH ARLINGTON • NUTLEY

NOT SO

See page 9

HAPPY LIL’ PAINTING

Melham says he properly obtained infamous artwork; Historical Society wants it back in library By Kevin Canessa kc@theobserver.com

B

elleville Mayor Michael Melham says a recent controversy about his possession of a classic painting is much ado about nothing, but the Belleville Historical Society still doesn’t see it that way. Several weeks ago, the mayor offered a video message to announce the township’s plans for celebrating the 150th Chinese New Year. In doing so, he offered the message in front of a painting of Belleville that was created in the 1830s. It wasn’t the first time, either, that Melham offered a video or photo in front of the painting. In fact, he says he’d done so, to that point, numerous times for social-media posts,

This screencap of a video by Belleville Mayor Michael Melham has led to an uproar over why the painting at left is in his office & not the Belleville Public Library.

reading to the children in Belleville schools and several other times. But the thing is, the painting, at the time of the video in the mayor’s office, belongs to the society -- which, by agreement, displays the painting in the Belleville Public Library.

Michael Perrone, the chairman of the BHS, is not pleased Melham has the painting and is demanding it be returned. But before we get to Perrone, it is important to note the Belleville Library Board, a mix of folks appoint-

ed by Melham and previous Mayor Raymond Kimble, voted unanimously the allow Melham to take possession of the painting temporarily, according to the mayor. See ARTWORK, Page 15

Lyndhurst to NJSEA: Stop building in our Meadowlands By Kevin Canessa kc@theobserver.com The Lyndhurst Board of Commissioners last week unanimously approved a resolution implor-

ing the New Jersey Sports & Exhibition Authority to stop approving applications for residential construction in the Meadowlands portions of the township. Mayor Robert B. Giangeruso said the large num-

ber of residential units approved by the NJSEA is having a negative impact on the community. “The town has no control over what the Sports

Happy Easter See Page 7

See NJSEA, Page 7


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