Wednesday, 18 May 2022
www.TheObserver.com
Vol. CXXXV, No. 2
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MELHAM, DEPEÑA AND GRAZIANO WIN BIG IN BELLEVILLE 2022 ELECTION By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
B
elleville Mayor Michael Melham easily cruised to a second term, holding off challenger and current Councilman Steven J. Rovell and his council running mates — Naomy DePeña and Thomas Graziano — also easily secured new terms in the Tuesday, May 10, 2022, municipal election. Though the results are not yet certified by the Essex County Clerk’s Office, Melham unofficially beat Rovell garnering 62% of the vote to Rovell’s 38%. That represents 2,640 votes to 1,595 votes, with 96% of the votes counted. Melham scored substantially more votes than he did
in 2018, when he was a “newcomer” to the mayoralty, and narrowly beat the late former Mayor Raymond Kimble. Melham says it’s the first time an incumbent mayor in Belleville history scored more votes in re-election than in the initial election. “It’s never happened before and that speaks volumes — the people saw what we’ve done and will continue to do and they appreciate what they’re seeing,” a jubilant Melham told The Observer following his victory. In the race for council, Graziano and DePeña both walked away with easy wins over challengers Charles Hood and Tracy Williams. With more than 8,000 total See MELHAM, Page 15
On Election Night, from left, Graziano, DePeña and Melham celebrate after the vote count was clear they’d won.
Russ Pitman, former Have you heard of a hospitalist? We hadn’t NA mayor, dies aged 71 either, but do now & think you should, too By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
T
he man who served as North Arlington’s mayor in the early 2000s until 2006 has
died. Russ Pitman died Wednesday, May 11, 2022. He was 71. Russ was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and was a graduate of Paramus Catholic
High School in Paramus and Millersville State University in Pennsylvania. North Arlington was his home for the last 45 years. Russ had a true passion for outdoor activities such as jogging and biking and many knew him from jogging along Ridge Road in North Arlington. See PITMAN, Page 15
By Kevin A. Canessa Jr.
O
kc@theobserver.com
bserver Co-owner Lisa Feorenzo’s step-mother wasn’t feeling well two weeks ago, so after a brief call with her general practitioner (GP from here on), the doctor told her to get to the nearest emergency room as quickly as she could. Since Nancy lives in Toms River, it was only natural for her to go to Community Medical Center, also in Toms River. Without getting too much into details about why Nancy was in hospital, it’s what happened
shortly after she was admitted that left her, Lisa and a lot of others absolutely perplexed. “They told us she couldn’t see her GP and would have to, instead, see a ‘hospitalist,’” Feorenzo said. “None of us had any idea what a hospitalist even is. And it makes absolutely no sense a patient, whose personal doctor knows the most about their medical history, cannot present themselves in this hospital, even if they had privileges to do so in the past.” Again, perplexed, Feorenzo told yours truly about the ordeal. See DOCTORS, Page 15
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