e-Newspaper for Sept. 28, 2022

North Arlington girls defeat Lyndhurst in soccer match played at Red Bull Arena Page 9

Jesuit high school celebrating its sesquicentennial unveils stunning statue of namesake St. Peter

By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com

When St. Peter’s Prep’s doors were first opened, the world was a lot different than it is now.

Think of these realities.

Ulysses S. Grant was the President of the United States. He was up for re-election that year and won.

The Civil War had ended less than a decade before ago.

And New Jersey’s first — and still only — Jesuit high school opened its doors for the very first time.

Cars? What are those?

Phones? Maybe in a limited sense. Downtown Jersey City? Let’s just say there were likely cobblestone roads and the buildings were nowhere near as tall as they are now.

Enter 2022 — and it’s Prep’s sesquicentennial. The world has, indeed, morphed into something no one in 1872 could have dreamed of. But throughout those 150 years, in Paulus Hook, one thing has remained constant — and that is St. Peter’s Prep. Countless young men, including scores from The Observer’s readership, are alums.

The school took to celebrating its 150th over the last school year and the first portion of this school year. And fittingly, just a little over a week ago, at its annual Mass of the Holy Spirit, Prep unveiled a statue of a young St. Peter, installed on the corner of York and Warren streets, created by acclaimed master sculptor Brian Hanlon. (We’ll get back to why Prep

See PREP, Page 7

34-year-old Kearny man dies from stab wounds: HCPO

By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office has identified the man found dead Tuesday, Sept. 20, near Veteran’s Field on Belgrove Drive in Kearny — and two men have been charged in connection to the crime, though neither with committing the homicide — Hudson Prose-

cutor Esther Suarez said last week.

Suarez says her Homicide Unit and the Kearny Police Department continue to investigate the death of a 34-yearold Corey McFadden, a resident of Kearny.

Here’s what we know, officially, about the homicide, according to Suarez.

At approximately 5:45 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 20, the Kearny Police Department

received a 911 call about an individual lying on the ground in the area of Belgrove Drive and Afton Street. Responding officers located McFadden with multiple apparent stab wounds to the lower body. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:20 a.m. and the cause and manner of death are pending

Corey McFadden, the victim

MAIN: Tony Azzarto, S.J., blesses a new statue of St. Peter at St. Peter’s Prep.

INSET: A frontal view of the new statue.

Old Wittpenn’s demolition nears completion

By Ron Leir For The Observer

Relief for north- and south-bound motorists traversing parts of Hudson, Bergen and Essex counties is en route.

The county has been awarded about $1.2 million in N.J. DOT County Aid funding for the road widening project but it will have to come up with about $100,000 in county money to pay for police traffic monitors, he said.

Here’s an update on what’s to come along some of the motorways and bridges crossing the Hackensack and Passaic rivers:

Kennelly said a construction contract has been awarded and the county is working with the contractor to get a start date for the job.

First, there’s the new Wittpenn (Rt. 7) Bridge. State Department of Transportation (DOT) spokeswoman Leanna Nelson reports the new ramp from Rt. 7 East to U.S. Highway 1&9 Truck at Newark Avenue in Jersey City is projected to be opened by mid-October.

U.S. 1&9 Truck at the base of the ramp “will be worked on this fall and winter to allow for major Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority water main replacement, requiring off-hour lane closures,” Nelson said.

Fish House Road in Kearny is also expected to be completed this fall, she added.

Elaborating, DOT spokesman Stephen Schapiro said steel removed from the old span was sent to a scrap yard for recycling and the concrete also was recycled while some of the critical mechanical and electrical components were sent to the N.J. Transportation Museum in Denville.

Motorists proceeding south through the West Hudson area often face delays while proceeding along Passaic Avenue as they approach the intersection leading to the Clay Street bridge linking East Newark with Newark.

After lengthy review and planning by engineers from Hudson and Essex counties, and after securing state funding commitments, Hudson County “will be undertaking a construction project to widen Passaic Avenue at the Clay Street bridge,” county spokesman James Kennelly said.

“A new right-turn lane will be added in the southbound direction to facilitate better turning movements over the Clay Street bridge and reduce congestion on Passaic Avenue,” Kennelly said.

As the work proceeds, Passaic Avenue traffic “will be open one lane in each direction at all times,” he said. “The leftturn lane in the southbound direction will be affected when the contractor is working adjacent to the current through-lane.”

The job is expected to take six months to complete, Kennelly said.

As for the Clay Street span itself, Kennelly said the county “will shortly advertise for a Request for Proposal to procure preliminary design services for the replacement of the bridge (which) is over 100 years old.” He said the county has contracted for “interim repairs until such time as the bridge will be replaced.”

That span is 108 years old.

Among its deficiencies, the NJTPA says, are a superstructure in poor physical condition with a severely deteriorated bulkhead at the southwest channel embankment, an electrical system nearing the end of its serviceable life, a swing span that has failed to open and that has been stuck in the open position; a bridge approach traffic control system not fully interlocked with the bridge control system; and susceptibility to seismic forces.

A replacement will run at about $70 million.

Also scheduled for replacement is the DeJessa Memorial (Kingsland Avenue) Bridge connecting Lyndhurst and Nutley. Tentative plans for a new DeJessa bridge call for a 5-lane fixed bridge with a bike lane, according to Lyndhurst Mayor Robert B. Giangeruso’s office. Both projects will require federal funding to be completed.

An NJDOT image of the demolition of the old Wittpenn Bridge.

Former Kearny resident, who has deep ties to the town, competing on CBS reality TV show ‘Survivor’

By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com

When Season 43 of “Survivor” kicked off on CBS Wednesday, Sept. 21, it has a twist for those of us who live locally.

That’s because one the contestants who recently spent several weeks in Fiji competing for a $ 1 million grand prize was Karla Cruz Godoy, who once called Kearny home and whose in-laws are still here.

Though she was born and raised in San Diego, Godoy lived in Kearny not too long ago for about two years. You may even know her father-in-law, Joe Martins, the long-time proprietor of O’Imperial restaurant on Kearny Avenue.

And while her connection to Kearny is paramount in this story — she and her wife have since moved to Delaware — we couldn’t help but wonder: How does one decide to try out for the show and how did she pull it all off?

It’s all pretty simple, she says.

“I identify as a queer Latina and this was a challenge I knew I could handle,” she said. “During COVID, I would go back and watch old episodes of the show and I got tired of seeing other people do it. There was never anyone like me on the show. So I said, ‘I have to

do this,’ and I finally applied for the show.”

She says she took that step Sept. 16, 2021, and it took a while before she heard from anyone at CBS, but after several weekly meetings, she was pretty confident CBS wanted her to compete on the show.

And she was right.

“And I am very excited to represent the queer and Latina communities,” she said. “Neither is very well represented on TV, so I want to be the one to bring greater awareness — we are here.”

Since only one episode has yet aired, and there are plenty more to come, Godoy couldn’t say how she fared.

“But it was an incredible experience,” she said. “To go from the East Coast to Fiji and not to have a phone, electricity, the ability to even shower, it felt so good to be able to compete and to accomplish this. Not many people in the world get to do this. I am fortunate.”

Now, it is her hope to show America and the world that a “Chicana” who struggled a lot in her childhood, and a “queer girl of color” went on to get college degrees from U.C. Berkeley and Johns Hopkins University and then took on “Survivor.”

Want to follow how Godoy does on “Survivor?” It airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBS TV, Channel 2, locally.

Screencap via CBS

Harrison youngsters plant ‘Pinwheels for Peace’ at all schools for students in K-8

One of Harrison’s long-standing school traditions has returned.

Peacefully, at that.

Scores of youngsters, many of whom trace their own cultural roots throughout countries such as Peru, China,

Ecuador and Poland, made a visual stand for peace by spinning over 1,000 custom pinwheels — with expressive messages of peace, tolerance and living in harmony

Tuesday, Sept. 20, in anticipation of International Day of Peace (Wednesday,

Sept. 21).

Kids in kindergarten through eighth-grade from Kennedy and Lincoln Elementary Schools, Hamilton Intermediate School and Washington Middle School, planted their brightly colored pinwheels in

the shape of a massive 100 ft+ peace sign — a truly amazing sight to behold at Library Park.

The concept of “peace” means many things, especially to children.

“Peace is when everyone is nice, calm and respectful toward one another,” Alex, fifth-grader, said.

Said fourth-grader Joanna: “Peace holds the world together like a puzzle. It’s what makes the world feel happy and safe.”

Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started in 2005 by art educators in Florida as a way for students to express their feelings about the conflicts that are becoming commonplace it

society. In 2019, a staggering 4.5 million pinwheels spun in over 3,500 locations, including the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Middle East, Africa and South America. The Harrison Public School District says it is proud to participate in this global endeavor and has done so for many years.

“This project really encourages our students to think beyond the borders of Harrison and helps them reflect upon the importance of peace in the world, now more than ever” Kevin Stahl, principal of Hamilton Intermediate School, said. “What a great way to kick off an awesome year of learning.”

Police called to one home 9 times between Sept. 11-14, resulting in same woman being arrested twice:

By Capt. Timothy Wagner Kearny Police Department

On Sept. 11 at 3:22 p.m., Officers Harold Azurdia and Sean Podolski and Sgt. Angelo Palagano responded to a family dispute at a private home where they are sometimes called several times a day. This time, an 18-year-old resident complained a package that was intended to be delivered for his 33-year-old brother was intercepted and destroyed by their 31-year-old sister.

The contents of the package were reported to have been a quilt embroidered with the suspect’s newborn nephew’s name, which was now torn, and a doll that had gone missing after delivery.

The intended recipient of the package arrived home and was berated with namecalling by his suspect/sister.

In response, he asked for a restraining order and claimed the sister had a handgun in her home (A search warrant was issued as part of the restraining order, but officers could not locate a gun. They did locate a dwelling which was described as “extremely messy, dirty, with a foul odor.” The officers made notification to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, who arranged a response.).

Officers arrested the sister for criminal mischief. She was lodged in the county jail.

But then, on Sept. 14 at 1 a.m., Officers Tom Collins and Jose Castillo were called back to the home on the original complainant’s report that his sister’s image was captured on home surveillance cameras on the property in violation of their restraining order (This is not to suggest that the

Animal blessing set for Oct. 2

Sacred Heart of Jesus American National Catholic Church, Kearny will bless animals at 12:30 p.m. Mass, Sunday, Oct. 2, at Grace Methodist Church, 380 Kearny Ave., outdoors on the front lawn, weather permitting and in the tradition of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment.

Be sure dogs are leashed

and cats and other pets are crated or otherwise safely secured for their blessing. Masks are optional.

All are welcome at Sacred Heart of Jesus parish, an all-inclusive church of the Catholic tradition where all are welcome regardless of lifestyle or circumstance.

For more information visit www.SacredHeartANCC.org.

cops were given a reprieve between Sept. 11 and 14. To the contrary, the police were called to this home nine times in the intervening days.). The officers brought the victim to the police station to take his statement and found the suspect, his sister, had beaten them there, looking to speak to the police about her own matters.

The officers arrested the sister in the lobby of police headquarters, but of course, it can’t be that simple. She then reported feeling ill and began going in and out of “consciousness.” The sister was charged with contempt of court and was also held on an outstanding arrest warrant for a prior harassment charge. She was brought by EMS to a local hospital to attend to her incarceration sickness.

•••

On Sept. 8 at 7:20 p.m., it was Officers Anthony

Oliveira and Tom Collins’s turn at ShopRite, where Det. Michael Andrews had detained a woman initially described as an “uncooperative shoplifter.” A store manager reportedly observed Diana Ramos, 36, of Newark, conceal $72.27 worth of Tide detergent

bottles on her person and try to leave the store without paying.

The officers arrested Ramos without further incident on a charge of shoplifting.

She was later held at the county jail.

Read the rest of the blotter at www.theobserver.com.

PREP

Continued from Page 1

Hanlon is the founder of Hanlon Sculpture Studio and is the official sculptor of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as well as Rose Bowl Stadium.

At seven feet in height, the impressive bronze statue is a major addition to the landscape of Prep’s downtown Jersey City campus, located in the historic Paulus Hook neighborhood, four blocks from the waterfront and in view of the Statue of Liberty.

Speaking about the statue, Michael Gomez, the school’s president, who is also a 1991 graduate of the school, said:“ In short, he represents us: imperfect and imperfectable, but someone with the entire world in front of him, someone who is loved by God, who has vast potential to change the world and who is a masterpiece and a work in progress all at the same time. He is us.”

The statue was then blessed by Anthony J. “Tony” Azzarto, S.J., Prep’s retired chaplain, teacher and guidance counselor, who spent most of his Jesuit life in Jersey City, starting as a scholastic in 1963 (think seminarian, though the Jesuits don’t use that term.)

There is probably no one more fitting to have blessed the statue than Azzarto, because there are few who have modeled the “Men for Others” way of life the way he has.

Azzarto is and will always be that perfect of example of what Pedro Arrupe, S.J., meant when he challenged us to be men and women for others.

During the Mass, Azzarto delivered a stirring homily, where he challenged the

students — everyone really — to not fear risk-taking. Take them, he said, when they are called for. But what has kept him so close to the Prep community for almost six decades (with a few breaks to go to Nigeria and other places; Jesuits accept all assignments and display incredible obedience to them, even if they’d rather not move around) even in retirement?

“I am a former alumni chaplain and was at Prep for years. Prep is for life, not just four years,” Azzarto, a diehard LA Dodgers fan, said. “I have been blessed to celebrate baptisms, weddings, wakes for former students and parents. The graduates have kept up their friendships and as someone said, they live out or try to be ‘Men for Others.’ It is real. No ‘fake news.’”

Azzarto, though not a Prep graduate himself, did go to the (somehow) defunct Brooklyn Prep, itself a Jesuit institution. Three others who administer to the school are the aforementioned Gomez; Christopher Caulfield, who took over as principal in July and who is an alum of the Class of 2003; and James Horan, Class of 1970, who has been at Prep a staggering 48 years — since 1974 — after he graduated Marquette University in Milwaukee. We didn’t ask him, but it seems like after his undergrad studies, he’s had one full-time employer — Prep. We also spoke with Trish Fitzpatrick, Prep’s longtime director of Public Relations and Marketing. So what draws alums (and non-alums, too) back and keeps them there so long?

Let’s start with the non-alum first, Fitzpatrick.

“Prep offers a very unusual package for high school boys: superb academics,

PUBLIC NOTICE - TOWN OF KEARNY

PUBLIC NOTICE OF THE SALE AT PUBLIC AUCTION OF TOWN OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 369 FOREST STREET (BLOCK 210, Lot 28) TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER

1. The Town-owned property known as 369 Forest Street (Block 210, Lot 28) shall be offered for sale to the highest bidder at a public auction to be held on Friday, October 14, 2022 beginning at 10:00 AM at the Municipal Council Chambers, Town Hall, 402 Kearny Avenue, Kearny, New Jersey.

2.The Town Clerk shall advertise the sale pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:12-l et seq. by two insertions in the The Observer and Jersey Journal once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks, the last publication to be not earlier than seven (7) days prior to the auction.

3. The minimum bid shall be $100,000 and the property shall not be sold for less than that amount.

4. The Mayor and Council reserve the right to reject all bids where the highest bid is not accepted. Notice of such reservation shall be included in the advertisement the sale and public notice thereof shall be given at the time of the sale.

5. The public auction shall be conducted in accordance with procedures to be announced by the Town Clerk.

6. No person may participate in the bidding process unless it shall have deposited with the Town Clerk before bidding shall have commenced cash or certified check payable to the Town of Kearny in the amount of $ 20,000.00

7. Upon the close of bidding the highest qualified bidder, as designated by the Town Clerk, shall submit cash or certified check in the amount of the difference between $20,000 and 10% of its bid and shall immediately execute an offer to purchase at its bid price, which offer shall include the terms and conditions specified herein, including 100% cash payment of the balance due on closing. The only condition to closing shall be the validity of the Town’s title.

8. Title shall be conveyed by Quitclaim deed.

9. Closing shall occur no later than 60 days after the day of bidding on a date to be arranged between the purchaser or his attorney and the Town attorney.

10. At closing of title, purchaser shall be charged a sum of money equal to the costs of all advertising and payment of closing document preparation.

11. Failure to comply with any of the requirements, or to close on the day agreed upon pursuant to paragraph 9 of this resolution, shall entitle the Town to rescind prior bid approval, terminate any and all rights of the designated bidder and retain all monies theretofore deposited.

12. The property shall be conveyed in the “as is” condition, subject to existing encumbrances, liens, zoning regulations, easements, other restrictions, and such facts as an accurate survey would reveal. The sale of this land by the Town shall not be deemed to constitute the Town’s consent to, or support of, any variances needed for development.

13. All prospective bidders may obtain a Bidder Registration Package which contains a Qualified Bidder Registration from the Town Clerk prior to the auction date. It must be submitted together with the initial deposit check by 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 13, 022.

With the new statue of St. Peter are, from left, Prep President Michael Gomez and Principal Christopher Caulfield.

As her retirement nears, Santos honors Manley

STABBING

Continued from Page 1

the findings of the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.

A source unauthorized to speak about the incident tells The Observer McFadden was

likely stabbed in the femoral artery in a leg artery, causing him to bleed out. Another source said the victim was dragged from a dwelling on Belgrove Drive across the street to the location where McFadden was found unresponsive.

The Observer was also told the incident was isolated and

contained — other than the victim, no one else in the area was ever in any danger of any kind.

Two arrests made, one or more likely

The same day, meanwhile, the Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit arrested and charged

Belleville man sentenced for role in Newark robbery: ECPO

A Belleville man has been sentenced to seven years in state prison for his role in a robbery, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II said. Jose Rivera, 58, was sentenced after he was convicted July 8 by an Essex County jury of second-degree robbery of a gas station in Newark.

On Sept. 18, 2021, Rivera entered the gas station on Pennsylvania Avenue in Newark. Rivera used force to demand the gas-station attendant hand over all the money he had on him. The attendant gave Rivera $850 in

cash. He took the money and fled the scene, and a second suspect was never identified.

In this case, because of the defendant’s 17 prior convictions, the state sought an extended-term sentence. The court denied the state’s motion and sentenced the defendant to seven years.

As robbery is a No Early Release Act offense, Rivera must serve 85% of his sevenyear sentence before being eligible for parole. He will also be on parole supervision for three years after his release from custody.

— CANESSA

Police records indicate Barton is a registered, convicted Tier 2 sex offender, who in 2011 was convicted of sexually assaulting a girl, aged 5-6, on multiple occasions.

"A

of soccer in America, the sport that has given Harrison and the world so much”

Elliot Barton, 39, of Kearny, with one count of desecrating/ disturbing human remains, a crime of the second degree. He was taken into custody at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Jersey City and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending his first court appearance.

A second arrest, meanwhile, was made the next day, Wednesday, Sept. 21. Matthew Kochell, 32, of Kearny, was also charged with one count of desecrating/disturbing human remains and is currently being held at the Hudson County Correctional Facility, awaiting court.

The state has filed a detention motion for both suspects. Barton was to appear in court Monday, Sept. 26, while Kochell is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, Sept. 27.

For both of the aforementioned suspects, this incident does not mark a first foray into the criminal justice system.

Kochell’s name has appeared in the Kearny police blotter several times. Most recently, he was charged in 2020 with bias intimidation (assault & harassment) after he reportedly approached a woman near Kearny and Wilson avenues and made harassing comments about her gender identity and expression and his perception of her sexual orientation and then poked her and slapped her in the face, Capt. Timothy Wagner wrote in the Sept. 2, 2020, blotter.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the HCPO (201) 915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip at www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip. All information is kept confidential.

Long-time parking enforcement officer and former crossing guard Carol Manley is retiring at month’s end after nearly 28 years of service to Kearny. At last week’s council meeting, Mayor Alberto G. Santos presented Manley with a proclamation honoring her dedicated service.

Sports & Recreation

North Arlington girls beat Lyndhurst, 1-0, at Red Bull Arena; both advance to county tournament

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

Daliana Rojas and her North Arlington teammates have been thinking about the chance to play at Red Bull Arena for months, and in some cases, fulfilling a lifelong dream. But within this once in a lifetime opportunity came the realization that to make the most of it, they had to defeat one of its biggest rivals in Lyndhurst.

Rojas ’ play in net and a second half goal by Lia Cruz ensured that the Vikings fully maximized this incredible experience as they defeated Lyndhurst, 1-0, at Red Bull Arena on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

“ This was a really important game to us, ” said Rojas, a junior. “ We got lucky to have this

opportunity, it was amazing to play here. Since we were little we were dreaming to play here and we won!

“ We had this one opportunity and we made it great. ”

Rojas admitted there were some nerves, especially early on, due to the experience of playing in the state ’ s biggest soccer venue. But as the game progressed, both teams felt more comfortable on the large field.

“ There was definitely excitement, it was getting over the initial moment of it (that was important), ” North Arlington head coach Mike Vivino said, noting that he could sense his team settling in midway through the first half. “ I said to them that we have to strip it down to what it was, which was a conference game between

IWF event will at NAHS will benefit the Michael Robert Cammett Jr. Memorial Foundation

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

As the founder of the Independent Wrestling Federation (IWF), Nutley native Kevin Knight has taken pride in the dozens of wrestling events the IWF has done in the area to support local charities and causes over the past 25 years. But for Knight, the IWF ’ s next event might be the most important one they do.

length blonde hair, Cammett became one of the IWF ’ s top stars, being selected as the IWF Wrestler of the Year three years in a row and winning multiple titles.

Cammett had left the world of professional wrestling to focus earning a doctorate in physical therapy at RutgersNewark before his death aged 24.

two very good teams. At the end of the day, are we going to be undefeated in the conference or are we going to have one loss? That was kind of our approach right from the start when we knew we were going to play this game. ”

Cruz ensured the Vikings would leave Harrison with more than just a fun experience when she struck a right-footed shot from just inside the 18 that skied over the keeper ’ s head and went just inside the far-left post in the 50th minute for what proved to be the only goal of the night.

Cruz never actually saw the shot go in since she was knocked down when she completed the shot, but knew it had a good chance of going in.

On Saturday, Oct. 8, the IWF comes to North Arlington High School to honor the memory of beloved former IWF star and North Arlington graduate Michael Cammett, who died in an innertube rafting accident in 2021 Proceeds from the event, which begins at 7 p.m., go to the Michael Robert Cammett Jr. Memorial Foundation.

“ This is the most important event we do each year where all the net proceeds from the event benefit Michael ’ s memorial foundation, ” Knight said. “ It ’ s very special for us to go to his high school, but it ’ s bitter-sweet that the event we ’ re doing benefits his memorial fund because obviously, we wish he was still with us. ”

Cammett, who played football and ran track and field at North Arlington High School, dreamed of becoming a professional wrestler and started taking classes at Knight ’ s wrestling school in 2014 aged 17.

Nicknamed “ Golden Boy ” after his shoulder-

Last November, the IWF hosted its inaugural event at North Arlington HS, raising $4,000 for the foundation despite crowds being limited to 25% capacity due to previous COVID -19related restrictions.

“ This year, we will be at full capacity and hopefully we ’ ll be able to raise a lot more this year, ” said Knight. “ The family uses the funds in his foundation to donate to other charitable causes and they also sponsor scholarships for graduating North Arlington students. ”

WWE Hall of Famer Tony “ Mr. USA ” Atlas and former WWE Lightheavyweight Champion Gillberg are the legendary guests for Oct. 8, with each participating in the sevenmatch card.

Knight, perhaps better known by his in-ring nickname “ Master of Chaos, ” will partner with Atlas in the IWF Tag Team Championship match against Benjamin T. Asher and Jason “ The Horizon ” Hendrix. Gillberg will accompany IWF Heavyweight

See WRESTLING, Page 11 See SOCCER, Page 10

TOP: North Arlington Vikings, BOTTOM: Lyndhurst Golden Bears

SOCCER

Continued from Page 9

“It really did (feel good coming off my foot),” Cruz said. “I didn’t see it, but I tried my best (on the play) and followed through. I kept shooting and shooting until I got one.”

“She wants to be that target player, she wants to have the pressure on her,” Vivino said. “To be as good as she is, that’s what separates her from everybody else and that gives us the confidence knowing that even if something doesn’t go right, we have her that we can rely on at any moment.”

Rojas made the lead stand up, withstanding a host of shots from an aggressive

Golden Bears attack.

Tuesday’s win, combined with its 4-1 victory over Secaucus two days later, puts North Arlington in the driver’s seat in the NJIC National Division race. The Vikings currently hold a one game advantage in the standings through the first four games of league play.

nnn

Both North Arlington and Lyndhurst were among the 24 teams selected for the 2022 Bergen County Girls’ Soccer Tournament last week. And this past weekend, they were both victorious in their preliminary round matchups.

Lexi Augustyniak scored two goals as 15th-seeded Lyndhurst defeated 18thseeded Waldwick, 2-1, on

Saturday, Sept. 24. Amanda Dasler assisted on both goals and Mackenzie Sibello made five saves for the Golden Bears (4-3-1). Up next is a matchup against secondseeded Ramapo, ranked No. 6 in the state by NJ.com, on Sunday, Oct. 2.

Meanwhile, 12th-seeded North Arlington (6-0) rolled to a 4-0 victory over 21st-seeded Tenafly on Saturday, Sept. 24. Laurynn Teixiera continued her breakout season with two goals and two assists, while Cruz added a goal with two assists. Arancha Antunues scored a goal and Daliana Rojas made seven saves in the shutout. The Vikings travel to play fifth-seeded Northern Highlands on Sunday, Oct. 2.

Melham encourages residents to apply for rebates

Belleville homeowners and tenants — for that matter, folks from anywhere, really — are urged to access an online portal to receive a property tax rebate through “ANCHOR,” a new state program that stands for “Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters.”

Under the program, the state is planning to provide rebates for up to 2 million taxpayers in the current state budget, with an average check of $971.

lines, in which the program will provide up to $1,500 to taxpayers with 2019 gross incomes up to $150,000, and up to $1,000 for those with gross incomes between $150,000 and $250,000.

ANCHOR also includes tenants, who can receive $450 if their gross income was $150,000 or less.

The filing deadline is Dec. 30, with checks sent by next May.

“With the current state budget surplus, the governor and state Legislature have created a program to provide direct relief for property taxes and rent,” Belleville Mayor Michael Melham said. “But to receive a check — expected to arrive by the spring — it is important that you apply by the Dec. 30 deadline.” There are income guide-

Applications were to be emailed Sept. 13, while paper applications were to be mailed beginning Sept. 19. State officials say the applications are being sent on a rolling basis through the end of this month. Note the mailing schedule here.

For more information, contact the ANCHOR Hotline at (888) 238-1233. Taxpayers may apply online or by phone at (877) 658-2972 once they receive the application.

WRESTLING

Continued from Page 9

Champion Dark Oracle Sage for his title match against Robert Atkins, who is accompanied by radio star “East Side” Dave McDonald.

Tickets start at $20 for general admission with floor seats at $30. The doors open at 6 p.m. with Atlas and Gillberg signing autographs and taking pictures with fans.

Knight, who appeared in multiple WWE and NWA events in the 1990s, admits he didn’t envision he’d still be wrestling 26 years after founding the IWF. But being able to support causes like

the Michael Robert Cammett Jr. Memorial Foundation or American Cancer Society Relay For Life like it does for its annual event in Nutley are why the veteran continues to enter the ring.

“I did not think that I’d still be doing this, but it’s pretty cool (I still am),” said Knight, a seven-time IWF Heavyweight Champion. “I’m from Nutley, I went to Nutley High School, our first event was in Nutley. So it’s great to still be doing this in our home base area. It’s great that we’re still able to do it and bring in some of the wrestling hall of farmers and legends. The best thing about it is that we’re raising money for worthy causes, which is great.”

A Message from the Harrison Water Department:

e Harrison Water Dept. will ush hydrants throughout Harrison beginning the week of September 19th 2022. Crews will work Monday through Friday between 9pm and 1am to minimize customer inconvenience. e ushing program is expected to last for about 6 weeks. Ending October 28th 2022.

Flushing removes harmless minerals that collect in the water mains. e project is part of the Town routine maintenance program to assure high water quality. Flushing hydrants help to maintain the integrity of the distribution system by keeping the water lines clean. It is also necessary for re protection because ushing ensures that the hydrants are working properly.

During the ushing process, customers may experience low water pressure or discolored water. While the water is safe to drink, customers may prefer to wait until it runs clear before drinking, washing clothes or dishes.

Residents with questions or problems can call the Harrison Department of Public Works at 973-2682468. Website townofharrisonnj.com.

Blepharitis occurs when the oil glands at the base of the eyelashes become clogged, resulting in several potential problems. Blepharitis is caused by eyelash hair follicles secreting too much oil and becoming clogged and infected with bacteria. The result is inflammation, crustiness, and soreness. It can also cause both dry eyes and excessive tear production, plus blurry vision, styes, and a feeling that there’s a foreign object in the eye. It usually affects both the upper and lower eyelids. Blepharitis is common and treatable but does not usually clear up on its own. Sometimes it can be

treated at home with a cleansing and hot compress regimen, but it may require antibiotics, steroid eyedrops, ointment, or other medical treatments.

If you have blepharitis signs and symptoms that don’t seem to improve despite good hygiene — regular cleaning and care of the affected area — make an appointment with our office by calling 201-8960096. Our office is located at 20 Park Avenue, Lyndhurst. Call 201-896-0007 if you need to reach our optical shop. We accept most insurance.

P.S. Blepharitis is not contagious and often occurs in conjunction with an excessively oily face and/or scalp.

www.delucavision.com

LEFT: Michael Robert Cammett. RIGHT: Tony Atlas.

Corey Alexander McFadden

Corey Alexander McFadden, 34, of Kearny, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022.

Visiting hours will be on Tuesday, Sept. 27 from 4-8 p.m. at the Condon Funeral Home, 684 Kearny Ave., Kearny. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Kearny on Sept. 28 at 10 a.m. (Corey had served as an altar boy in OLS as a youngster and always held that dear to his heart.) The funeral home will open at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. Interment will follow in Arlington Cemetery, Kearny.

He had worked as a waiter in a number of different restaurants in New York City and the Hudson County area.

Surviving are his parents, Joseph and Carol (Nesselquist) McFadden; his siblings, Rachel McFadden, Jessica Tweddle (Ted) and

Gregory McFadden (his fiancé, Micah). Also surviving are his cherished nieces and nephews, Carolyn Salinas and Joshua and Logan Tweddle as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Cura 47 Lincoln Park, Newark, NJ .07102. Envelopes will be available in the funeral home.

Nancy Stuart

Nancy Stuart of Kearny died Sept. 19, 2022. She was 78.

Visiting was at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. Cremation was private.

Nancy was a real estate broker for many years, last working at Caldwell Banker in Rutherford. She was active in the EMD of the Woman’s Club and was a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, both in Kearny. Nancy also took a keen interest in education having served on the Kearny Board of Education for several years. She also participated in campaigns for

Novena to St. Jude

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, 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. Thank you Saint Jude.

B.

local government offices. In her later years, she enjoyed painting as a hobby and shared her works with the family.

She is survived by her loving husband Richard Stuart and was the beloved mother of Susan Donovan (Bob), Kristen Salisbury (John) and Alison Gaynor (Sean). Also surviving are her cherished grandchildren Brendan, Ryan, Kevin, Kaitlyn, Christopher, Sarah, Catherine and Noel.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to your own favorite charity.

Marie A. Orovio

Marie A. Orovio (nee Carlucci), 88, died Sept. 24, 2022.

Born in Newark, she lived in Kearny before moving to North Arlington 66 years ago.

She was a manager for the Verizon Corporation in Rochelle Park for 29 years before retiring in 1991.

Miracle Prayer

Dear Sacred Heart Of Jesus, in the past I have asked for many favours, this time I ask you this special one favour. Take it Dear Heart of Jesus and place it in your own broken heart where our Father sees it, then in his merciful eyes it will become your favour, not mine. AMEN. Say this prayer for 3 days and promise publication and favor will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. M.S.

All obituaries must be submitted by email by 10 a.m., Mondays, to obituaries@ theobserver.com. Payment is due at submission.

She was the beloved wife of the late John, the cherished mother of Denise Orovio, John Orovio and his wife Sylvia, and Dominick Orovio and his wife Denise, the adored grandmother of Mark (Kara Tranquillo), Daniel Marcy), Anthony (Jenna-Leigh), Christopher (Chelsea), Travis (Christa) and KaliBridget (Brian Monico), the loving great-grandmother of Anthony, Brayden, Cameron and Sebastian.

The funeral is from the Parow Funeral Home, 185 Ridge Road, North Arlington, on Tuesday, Sept. 27 with a funeral Mass at St. Michael’s Church in Lyndhurst followed by entombment in Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum in North Arlington.

Contributions in memory of Marie may be made to the North Arlington Volunteer Emergency Squad, 575 Schuyler Ave., North Arlington, N.J. 07031.

Lyndhurst’s Wise breaks out with 11 goals

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

Tyler Wise might not have opened the season the way he wanted to as he was held scoreless in two of Lyndhurst’s first three games. The lack of goals wasn’t a source of concern for him or his boys soccer head coach Emad Abu-Hakemah, but rather a delaying of the inevitable.

“He had a couple of really good shots in the game against Harrison and after that, I told him just keep doing this, there’s nothing to change,” Abu-Hakemah said.

“Keep doing this, and I don’t care what team you’re playing against, you’re going to score goals.”

“It’s like they come in bunches,” said Wise. “Once you get in a rhythm in a game they just start coming.”

The goals started coming for Wise last week and now he seemingly can’t be stopped.

Wise broke his mini-slump

with three goals and an assist in a Sept. 19 win over Secaucus. Two days later, Wise posted two goals and two assists as Lyndhurst defeated North Arlington, 5-2. Then, on Friday, Wise scored a career-high four goals in a victory over Weehawken.

Thanks to a trio of dominant performances, Wise has been selected as The Observer’s Athlete of the Week.

For the season, Wise has 11 goals and four assists in six games for the suddenly surging Golden Bears.

“The kid is talented, he’s skillful, he has the strength, he has the vision,” Abu-Hakemah said. “He can take the ball to the goal line and send it back, he can score from 20 yards, from 30 yards, from 5 yards, he can score on a header, he can volley it. He can do all of these things.”

injury. The fracture kept him sidelined for six months and while he was able to return to action for his Ironbound SC club team, Wise said he didn’t really feel back to normal on the field until the summer.

“I’m really good friends with Enrique so I didn’t really feel that much pressure,” Wise said. “I always talk to him after all of the games and he always gives me advice. I don’t feel like I’m stepping into his shoes. I’m just trying to make my own mark. I’m just doing my best the same way he did his best.”

“I kinda had an idea (the goals were coming). I knew my teammates and coaches had a lot of faith in me,” Wise

said. “This week I hit a good stride and hopefully I can keep doing that.”

For Wise, this current hot streak has been all the more rewarding due to what he’s been through the past 12 months.

Just two games into last season, Wise broke his right foot on a non-contact

“It’s just one of those things where you’re happy and you’re more motivated than before because you’ve had it taken away so you know what it feels like to not have it as a part of your life,” said Wise. “You’re excited to play, be out there with your friends and just have fun. You don’t take the game for granted anymore.”

A striker for most of his career, Wise was a starting fullback as a freshman and sophomore for the Golden Bears with Enrique Mutsoli, who is now at NJIT, up top.

The graduation of Mutsoli, who scored 39 goals with 14 assists last season, left a considerable void on offense, but Wise didn’t feel pressure trying to replace his friend and former teammate.

During their regular phone calls, Mutsoli and Wise discuss how Lyndhurst is doing. Mutsoli will also often have advice for Wise, including some valuable words when he went through his early scoring drought.

“

(He told me) just to stay in the moment and just don’t worry about stats,” Wise said. “Just stay in the moment and keep playing hard and the goals are going to come. Everything’s going to happen.”

The goals have now come for Wise just like everyone expected and that’s bad news for everyone on Lyndhurst’s schedule.

Tyler Wise

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Continued from Page 7

diversity, excitement, a plethora of clubs and sports and the independence that only comes from making your way to school via public transit,” she said. “When you add Jesuit values, the idea of ‘finding God in all things,’ you have a truly magical experience.”

Horan, meanwhile, started the school’s Office of Public Information (OPI) shortly after he joined the staff and has been at the school 1/3 of its entire existence if you include his four years as a student, which began in September 1966.

“All-boys’ schools have a unique culture ... and Jesuit schools are particularly noteworthy for having extremely loyal alumni bases. Part of that seems to be based on each school’s amalgam of academic rigor, code of conduct, sense of mission and heightened degree of school spirit — not to mention the fact that teenage boys enjoy hanging out together,” Horan said of his alma mater.

“Added to this is the Jesuit ideal of producing students who are ‘Men for Others,’ in terms of both their service and their worldview. Among our alumni, we often

hear a reference to Prep’s ‘brotherhood,’ which was forged during their student days in the classrooms, on the athletic fields and in cocurricular activities. Also, the school’s diversity plays a role, including the fact that students from Prep’s urban neighborhood bond daily with classmates who may live 40 miles away in exurbia.

“Certainly, no school is perfect — nor is any cohort of 900 teenage boys. But across the board, this school seems to turn out many graduates who make us proud, and who credit their days on campus for their ability to discern, to face challenges and to pursue their

aspirations.” The principal, Caulfield, (three of four-ever Prep lay principals are grads, too, including Jack Raslowsky, Class of 1979, the recently retired Jim DeAngelo, Class of 1985 and Caulfield) who spent the previous year as acting vice principal and who, before that, was on the faculty, was asked to think ahead 50 years, to Prep’s bicentennial. Just 50 years ago, if we posed this question, it’s doubtful anyone could have ever dreamed of the advances of the world, especially technologically. But remember — throughout the years, Prep has remained a constant despite these changes.

So Caulfield’s words should come as no surprise at all to anyone.

“In my mind, Prep will continue to be at the forefront of educational theory and practice, so we may prepare our students to enter an everchanging world,” Caulfield said. “After all, our mission calls us to ‘foster in students an understanding of the world and the courage to advance the common good.’ Though our classrooms and facilities will most likely look different, I am confident that our graduates of the class of 2072 will leave our halls, rooted in the hope of Saint Ignatius, on a mission to set the world on fire.”