e-Newspaper for Dec. 14, 2022

Nutley’s volunteer fire chief caught in YouTube sex sting: Police

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

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following story contain very graphic content and language. Reader discretion is advised.

The 33-year-old volunteer Chief of the Nutley Fire Department may be in serious hot water and is under investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office after he was reportedly nabbed in a YouTube sting operation that goes after adults who attempt to lure minors for sex, the Nutley Police Department said in a statement.

The chief, identified as Henry Meola, 33, can be seen in a three-plus hour video answering questions posed to him by a man called Ramy, who has spent a good chunk of the last two-plus years using YouTube and dating apps to find adults who attempt

to have sex with underaged children.

The entire ordeal was streamed on YouTube Tuesday night, Dec. 6, but it has since been taken down from there. This is a common practice, however, as the “sting” coordinators will instead later re-post the videos in an edited, non-raw format. However, The Observer was able to find and review the entire video.

In the video, Ramy asks questions of the chief, who admits over about a halfhour period, to knowing the decoy was reportedly 14. He also admitted, on screen, he was having issues with his partner, which may have led him to seek companionship from a reported 14-year-old boy.

From the video, the chief also admits to asking the decoy the length of his gen-

etalia and whether he was “cut,” or circumcised. He admits to preparing for the encounter by bringing a condom, but then later says he only wanted to “make out in the car” in the parking lot.

The chief ultimately brings Ramy from the Walmart in North Bergen to

The Observer spoke with Ramy, the man behind this “catch.” Find out what he (and others) do, why they do it and how this particular incident unfolded.

See Page 2.

Running with the Devils @ Clara Maass

New Jersey Devils players, from left, Kevin Bahl, Andreas Johnsson, Vitek Vanecek and Jesper Bratt pay a holiday visit to Devils fan Joseph Iannini, a patient from Nutley, and Brianna DeLucrezia, RN, last week at the Clara Maass Infusion Center.

RWJBarnabas photo

Alphonse Petracco’s deli back in Nutley, but at no point did he tell Petracco why he was coming, other than he was in the midst of a “bad situation.” When they all arrived at the deli, police were already on scene as was Nutley Town Attorney Jonathan J. Bruno.

Meola also reportedly did something many of the men

who are caught do he recorded an audio statement prior to encounter where he claims only looking to help the boy.

“I’m on my way to find out why this kid has problems to where wants to hook up with older men,” he said, identifying himself just prior, along with the Dec. 6 date. “I have

Body pulled from Third River

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

A body was recovered from the Third River Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, Nutley Police Director Alphonse Petracco and Chief Thomas Strumolo said.

According to police: A witness called them

that morning reporting a dead body was beneath the waterfall along Kingsland Street. When police arrived, they recovered the body of a man, later identified as a Belleville resident, 57.

Petracco said this area of

BELLEVILLE n BLOOMFIELD n EAST NEWARK n HARRISON n KEARNY n LYNDHURST n NORTH ARLINGTON n NUTLEY

Video: He expected to meet a 14-year-old boy for ‘relations,’ instead met rolling cameras

Henry Meola, Nutley’s volunteer fire chief.

Public Safety Commissioner

n What are these stings and who is behind them?

May your candles burn bright this season.

Bringing light to predator catchers: What they do & how and why they do what they do

Mostly done live on YouTube, one recently led to ‘finding’ local volunteer fire chief

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

There are many of them on YouTube. They’re all over the country. Many are modeled after “Dateline NBC” and journalist Chris Hansen,

who first started doing stings more than a dozen years ago. Each demonstrates just how many predators there are. Of them all, however, one is located in Jersey most of the people he’s caught looking for sexual encounters

with minors live in the Garden State.

And just a week ago, he was responsible for reportedly catching the volunteer chief of the Nutley Fire Department. The Observer spoke with

the man known by his first name Ramy last week. For his safety, we won’t use his surname and we’ll let you know he lives in North Jersey. He’s been doing his stings, on and off, for three years. And based he’s caught close to 300 men whose intention was to meet someone under the New Jersey age of consent, which is 16, for some form of sexual activity.

Once the trysts are scheduled, instead of finding a minor there never was one; instead, the subjects speak with online decoys they find Ramy with some of his teammates, cameras rolling, broadcasting live to YouTube.

Watching the videos are fans across the globe, not just in Jersey.

In most videos, Ramy reminds the people he’s caught he is not law enforcement. He tells them “honesty will be your best policy,” because in almost every instance, he knows the answers to the questions he asks. Stunningly, almost each and every “catch” tries to come up with some excuse my phone was hacked, I was going to tell the boy to get off dating apps, etc. but in this particular instance, the catch, the fire chief, was perhaps even more stunningly,

transparent.

For Ramy, that openness was almost difficult to deal with.

“It wasn’t that I felt bad for the man, but this was a young guy who was throwing his life away in just a few seconds of stupidity that may destroy his future,” Ramy says.

“This guy was successful, you know working or ABC, CBS, he’s the chief of the fire department. When I was a kid, I always looked up to firefighters. So this is so disappointing.”

The references to ABC and CBS Ramy refers to here are just the ones you’re thinking of. In addition to the his work as a fire chief, Henry Meola also told Ramy he works as a per-diem with the two aforementioned networks, as a lighting specialist.

According to Meola’s Linked In page, he was a parting of the lighting crew for ABC’s former cook/chat show called “The Chew.”

We asked Ramy why he thought Meola was so willing to answer his questions truthfully, while so many others simply do not.

“I have been trying to figure that out,” he says. “I think it’s either he is very submissive and just does

Instagram Ramy is seen here in an Instagram photo.

Salvation Army honors Humphrey & Keim

Two Kearny figures who’ve dedicated much of their professional and personal attention to the welfare of fellow community members were feted recently at the Salvation Army Kearny Corps annual dinner — Josh Humphrey, director of the Kearny Public Library and Laurie Keim III, an English teacher at Kearny High School.

“Both honorees have been of huge help to the Kearny Corps,” Salvation Army Lt. Emily Kumar, who, with her husband, Lt. David Kumar, have been running the Chestnut Street facility for the past two years, said.

For the corps’ annual Back-to-School event, Emily Kumar recalled how Humphrey, “without prompting,” emailed us asking how he could assist. Humphrey ended up part of the team that served refreshments —hotdogs, snacks, etc. — and, in particular, he “jumped on the

slushie machine,” doling out scoops in the heat of the day.

On a more practical level, Kumar said, Humphrey also provided a valuable connection to GreenLife Energy Solutions, an energy conservation firm, which — through New Jersey Comfort Partners Program — “provides a bridge to local families in need with utilities like PSE&G” and, ultimately, enabling qualified customers to get free weatherization service, “thereby impacting our ministry.”

Humphrey, who was appointed library director in mid-2012, has been applauded for enacting — with the backing of the library board and the town governing body — policies that expand the library’s mission to embrace the needs of the entire community by expanding hours of operation and numbers of personnel, accommodating new programs like Literacy Volunteers of America, job resume workshops, knitting circle, a chess club and movies.

It was during his tenure the KPL added an outdoor reading garden at the main library and undertook plans for renovating and enlarging the branch library at Kearny and Stuyvesant avenues.

Keim, who has taught high school English in Kearny since 2008 and was adjunct professor at Felician University for nearly 13 years after having earned both her B.A. and M.A. at Seton Hall University, was credited by Kumar with providing a key transportation link for the Corps’ toy drive for last year’s Christmas season.

As adviser to the Kearny High student service group, Keim arranged for students

By Ron Leir For The Observer See SALVATION, Page

IF YOU HAD

A

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These products were implanted by certain surgeons at the following hospitals in Hudson and Essex Counties: Hudson Regional Medical Center, Christ Hospital Jersey City, North Arlington Medical Center, St. Michael’s Medical Center and St. James Hospital.

The surgeons and or hospitals were supposed to send recall letters to patients, but if you moved, your doctor retired, or the letters were not sent, you may be unaware of the cause of your problems. Living with a device containing prematurely degrading polyethylene can cause permanent bone loss also known as osteolysis leading to further complications.

To discuss your legal options, please call us today.

NFPA offers tips for holiday fire prevention

As crazy as it may seem, Christmas is less than weeks away. As such, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) urges the public to make fire safety a priority when preparing holiday meals.

The association’s latest Home Cooking Fires report shows Thanksgiving is the peak day for U.S. home cooking fires followed by the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

According to the report, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,630 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day 2019, three and half times an average day. Unattended cooking was by far the leading cause of associated fires and fire deaths.

Cooking is the leading cause of U.S. home and home fire injuries yearround, and the second-leading cause of home fire deaths.

“Thanksgiving and Christmas often involves cooking multiple dishes at once, which can be particularly tricky with lots of distractions in and around the kitchen,” Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at the NFPA, said. “From getting ready for guests and managing family needs to entertaining when everyone arrives – these types of activities make it all too easy to lose track of what’s cooking, and that’s where a lot of fires tend to happen.”

Carli notes the pandemic may still reduce the number of larger group gatherings in favor of smaller celebrations, which may mean more kitchens being used to cook holiday meals.

The NFPA offers these tips and recommendations for safely cooking this holiday season:

• Never leave the kitchen while cooking on a stovetop. Some types of

cooking, especially those that involve frying or sautéing with oil, need continuous attention.

• When cooking a turkey, or other items in the oven, stay in your home and check on it regularly.

• Set a timer on your stove or phone to keep track of cooking times, particularly for foods that require longer times.

• Keep things that may catch fire like oven mitts, wooden utensils, food wrappers and towels away from direct contact with the cooking area.

• Avoid long sleeves and hanging fabrics that could come in contact with a heat source.

• Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If you have a fire, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Do not remove the cover because the fire could start again. Let the pan cool for a long time. Never throw water or use a fire extinguisher on a grease fire.

• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. Only open the door once you’re confident the fire is completely out, standing to the side as you do. If you have any doubts or concerns, contact the fire department for assistance.

• Keep children at least three feet away from the stove and areas where hot food or drink is being prepared or served. Steam or spills from these items can cause severe burns.

“Being vigilant in the kitchen remains critical to ensuring a fire-safe holiday,” Carli said.

In addition, NFPA strongly discourages the use of turkey fryers, as these can lead to severe burns, injuries and property damage. For a safe alternative, NFPA recommends buying deep-fried turkeys from grocery stores, food retailers and restaurants that sell them.

Richard installed as Harrison's Fire Chief Fife also swears in four new firefighters in ceremony last week

By Ron Leir For The Observer

At long last the Town of Harrison has an official fire chief.

Henry Richard, who has been provisional chief of the Harrison Fire Department since May, was sworn in as the HFD’s permanent chief on Dec. 7, along with four new rank-and-file firefighters who completed 12 weeks of training at the Morris County Fire Academy.

“This brings us up to 43 members of the department,” Chief Richard said.

“We have another (firefighter) candidate going into the academy in February and that individual has already secured certification as an EMT on his own. Our official T.O. (Table of Organization) calls for 45 so, once the (state) Civil Service (firefighter) appointment list comes, we’re probably looking to hire at least one more.”

Overall, the T.O. breaks down this way: 28 rank-and-file firefighters, 12 captains four battalion chiefs and

With four new firefighters looking on, Harrison Mayor James A. Fife, second from

Henry Richard, hand raised, as Richard's family looks on.

one chief.

HFD’s newest probies are: Cecilia Morales, who becomes the third woman to join the department; Anthony Colegrove, Zachary Joskowitz and Devon Galano.

Morales grew up in Newark where she served as an EMT after having attended Passaic County Community College.

In late December 2021, Morales made news when working for the federal Transportation Security Administrator at Newark Airport — she was credited with saving the life of a 2-month-old baby who’d stopped breathing by successfully applying the Heimlich maneuver — a technique she’d picked up from her EMT experience.

Colegrove, who was raised in Hoboken, attended Elmira College in New York. He previously worked in the digital-marketing sector.

Joskowitz, originally from Bayonne, attended New Jersey City University. His prior employment was for a catering business in Bayonne. Joskowitz’s grandfather,

market” often arise. What is the difference? A buyer’s market occurs when supply exceeds demand. In other words, real estate inventory is high, there are plenty of homes for sale, and there’s a shortage of interested buyers. A buyer, then, has leverage over the seller. In a buyer’s market, real estate prices decrease. Therefore, homes are on the market longer, which forces sellers to compete against one another. A seller’s market arises when demand exceeds supply. More interested buyers competing with one another, coupled with a low inventory, gives sellers the advan-

tage, creating a condition in which potential buyers must spend more on a home than they would otherwise.

Timing is an important aspect of just about everything we do. Time to buy, or time to sell? Considering making an investment in your future, or contemplating taking advantage of the investment you made years ago when purchasing your first home? When it’s time to make a real estate decision, it’s time to call us because a dedicated real estate agent can mean the difference between a house lingering on the market and one that sells quickly at a good price. “Our success has been built one satisfied customer at a time.”

Photo courtesy of Henry Richard

right, swears in new Fire Chief

Jon Zimmerman, principal of Washington School in Kearny, announces the following students who have achieved academic honors for the first marking period of the 2022-23 school year.

Grade 4

Principal’s Honors Zayd Dabaji

Honors

Jocelyn Aquino Sandoval, Elias Cabrera, Kayla Cabrera,

SALVATION

Continued from Page 3

what must have been “hundreds” of new children’s toys for the corps’ families in need and then “load them into the back of my van” for delivery to surprised, happy youngsters whose families would be hard-pressed to afford these holiday gifts.

So far this year, Kumar said “close to 200” families have registered for the gifts. The corps has set Dec. 15 as the deadline for outside donations of both nonperishable foods and toys in preparation for on-site distribution on Dec. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This year, the Kumar team opted to combine its corps dinner with the annual Kettle Drive to usher in the Christmas season.

Emily Kumar said the Kearny Corps has set a fundraising goal of $40,000 for this year’s holidays. Because of the continuation of the pandemic, in 2021, she said the corps “had a hard time hiring kettle volunteers” and managed to raise only about half the total it expects to net this year.

“We hope to do better this

WASHINGTON SCHOOL HONOR ROLL

Dylan Cano, John DeLara, Kayo Denadai, Santiago Deras, Angel Garcia, Maria Giraldo Calle, Dana Graciano Menjivar, Victoria Hempel, Kaici Huang, William Jibaja, Hiba Maliji, Kailey Martinez Gonzalez, Jamill Mendoza,Teo Ruiz Analuisa, Nicole Sanchez, Jaquawn Stewart, Giana Tice, Ariana Valadez Medina, Lara Vilas Boas

Grade 5 Principal’s Honors

year,” she said.

Kumar said the corps has come to rely on the generosity of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey “to allocate us a certain amount of food without a fee” and, to supplement that supply, it gets a small amount of federal Community Block Grant funding “to compensate us in months where we need to purchase larger portions of some specific type of food.”

Private and public donations, plus a tiny cash reserve, can reinforce the corps’ pantry which, Kumar said, supports “about 150” families, mostly from Kearny but also from the rest of the corps’ catchment area, which takes in East Newark, Harrison, Belleville and Lyndhurst residents, who receive monthly distributions of nonperishables and meats, when available.

“We saw a decline around the end of last year,” Kumar said, “but, since probably February or March (2022), we started to see it increase again to around 115 but closer to 160 with the holiday distribution.”

The upswing appears to be among middle-aged and younger adults, she said.

Michael Symeonides

Isabelle Crucinta Guzman, Mathias Campoverde, Juan Caycho Bernuy, Nali Juarez, Isabella Lyons, Jaden Nieves, Elizabeth Silva, Aliza Syeda

Honors

Mayiarah Almeida, Gina Alves, Kimberly Blancas Guzman, Fabio Burga Suejiro, Isabella Duarte, Erick Guano Diaz, Michael Herbert, Beatriz Mota, Nathanael Olivares, Gabriel Olivos, Paul Oshiro, Anett

Desperate families are “still recovering from the pandemic,” she said. “Folks are losing jobs and there’s a bigger need for assistance.

Pintado, Muhammad Qadeer, Evan Rebelo Da Silva, Katherine Santos Luciano, Gabriel Siqueira, Kevin Solano

Grade 6

Principal’s Honors

Audrey Bradow, Syeda Eshal, Emmalee Govin, Giuliana Janeira, Vishal Kathiravel, Gabriel Lopez Chiles, Logan McDonald, Jose Quiroga Vilchez, Azaylie Rodriguez, Joelyz Rosado-Zayas

Honors

Braulio Bailon Joaquin,Clarice Da Fonseca, Luca Ferri Doti, Samantha Garcia, Josue Granados, Reeyad Heddaj, Fares Hegazy, Maria Jose Lora de la Rosa, Danara Matos, Logan Navedo, Michael Ortega, Luis Pena Helena, Leandro Perez Lopez, Cristiano Ribeiro Fernandes, Matthew Rivadeneira Zurita, Sara Rivera Marroquin, Amelia Sanchez

Some are new to the area and need help finding resources. Some are having to decide between paying for utilities and their phone bill versus

feeding their family. A lot of them have children, so maintaining consistency in their children’s lives takes importance.”

By Capt. Timothy Wagner Kearny Police Department

On Nov. 23 at 10:55 p.m., Officer Angel Martinez responded to the Kearny Avenue Quick Chek where a carbon monoxide alarm had activated. While the officer was awaiting completion of the fire department’s investigation, he reportedly had to stop Dejon A. Wilson, 37, of Kearny, several times from entering the store. Not only was the store potentially unsafe at that point, but Wilson had previously been banned by the store’s management due to prior objectionable incidents there.

Despite Officer Martinez explaining all this, Wilson allegedly left briefly but returned with a whoop and holler and entered the property. The officer arrested Wilson for trespass and later released him with a summons.

On Nov. 23, Officer Anthony Nunez arrested Guelmi M. Abreu, 20, of Kearny, after an interview at police headquarters. Abreau is accused of stealing an E-scooter worth just north of $400 from the

L.A. Fitness locker room on Passaic Avenue. The theft occurred on Oct. 24.

Abreau was charged by summons with theft and later released. Officer Nunez and Det. Jordenson Jean recovered the stolen scooter from Abreu on the day of the arrest.

On Nov. 24 at 6:14 a.m., Officers Ryan Stickno and Sean King were dispatched to ShopRite for a shoplifting complaint. Store management accused Peter Adames, 40, of Newark, of concealing $57.05 of Ensure and Nutrament shakes in a bag and trying to leave the store without paying.

Officers arrested Adames and charged him with shoplifting. Adames was also wanted by courts in East Newark (theft, $500 bail), Harrison (theft, $500 bail), East Hanover (drug possession, $10,000 bail), Nutley (assault, $1,000 bail) and Dover Township (traffic, $1,500 bail). He was booked into the Hudson County Jail, South Kearny.

On Nov. 24 at 10:53 a.m., Officers Jordan Miranda, Mat Lopez, and Lt. Brian Wisely were sent to the 400

block of Beech Street on a report of a man and woman using drugs and fighting with a knife. Officers located Ricky J. Matos, 23, of Kearny, and a female acquaintance. The two were not fighting with each other.

A neighbor reported he spoke to Matos and the woman requesting they not leave garbage on the ground near his property. This led to an argument that escalated when Matos allegedly pulled a utility knife from his pocket and threatened to stab the neighbor with it.

Officer Lopez found the knife on Matos’s person and arrested him. The officer also seized glassine bags stamped “Adidas Yeezy,” which are commonly used to package heroin, and a glass pipe commonly used to smoke narcotics.

Matos was charged with aggravated assault, weapon possession, terroristic threats and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was held at the Hudson County Jail.

On Nov. 26 at 8:12 a.m., Officers

Travis Witt and Rich Poplaski Jr., traveled to Bloomfield where its police department was holding Najala T. Rogers, 29, of Newark, on a Kearny bench warrant carrying $1,000 bail.

Sports & Recreation

Maroon Raiders preparing for opening of basketball season

Lyndhurst-NA wrestling team preps for new season

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

Veteran head coach Scot Weaver knows that the high school wrestling season will often feature its fair share of ups and downs over the course of two-plus months. For Weaver, that sentiment rings especially true right now for his Lyndhurst-North Arlington team.

The combination of injuries and wrestlers not hitting their proper weight classes has already tested the team’s depth in multiple areas. And while Lyndhurst does have numbers within the program, many are still relative to newcomers to sport.

focused on a big senior season, even while enjoying a fine fall on the football field.

““He has gone completely next level with his work ethic,” Scot Weaver said. “He took a week off after state’s last year and has not stopped wrestling since then. Not (always) competing, but with the workouts. All summer he was working out. Then when they went into doubles for football during August, he would do doubles with football and then go to wrestling every night. He hasn’t stopped.”

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

Bob Harbison looks around the practice gym at Nutley and sees a host of interesting pieces that, with additional time and cohesion, could form a pretty good team.

Unfortunately for the veteran boys basketball coach, injuries and illness have prevented the Maroon Raiders from having all of those parts together at the same time.

And with the season opener at West Orange approaching on Thursday, Dec. 15, time isn’t on their side as it moves up to the Super Essex ConferenceIndependence Division.

“Right now I feel like I’m up against it a little bit,” Harbison said. “We got some young kids that have to contribute. Not being at this level yet, they have a lot to learn and it’s going to be a process.”

As many as four sophomores could see extensive time in the Nutley rotation this year, but it does return a solid inside-out combination in seniors Anthony Pinal and Donte DuBose-Carter.

Pinal, a 6-foot-4 center, is the leading returning scorer from last season at 7.5 points per game.

“Physically he looks great with his size and strength,” said Harbison. “Anthony has a tendency to create his own offense inside.”

DuBose-Carter, a 5-foot-10 combo guard, averaged 6.8 points per game last season, a number that should rise quite a bit thanks to his development as well as the graduation of Nick Schroeder (20.8 ppg last year).

“Donte has really picked his game up,” Harbison said. “He has matured, he’s gotten

better physically, he’s stronger, he’s shooting better, he’s kinda running the show a little bit. He’s improved and he’s going to pick up the slack a bit.”

Joining DuBose-Carter has been the biggest surprise of the preseason in sophomore William Llanza, who has gone from the fringes of the rotation to the likely starter at point guard.

“He’s all of 5-foot-7, 5-foot8., a little skinny kid who’s got a great knack (for making the play),” said Harbison. “He’s quick, he handles the ball well, he makes open shots, he creates some shots. He and Donte are probably the two most natural basketball players I have.”

Another sophomore, Andrew Slomkowski (6-foot-2) is expected to start on the wing

“I’m looking for a competitive lineup with the kids falling into the right weight class,” Weaver said. “Until that happens, it could be a rollercoaster season. I feel like we could be a pretty good tournament team, but right now as a dual team I’m a little concerned right now due to the injuries and the weight certification last week not falling the way I had hoped it would.”

While Weaver might have his concerns in some areas, one weight class he certainly has none at is at 157 pounds where his son Damian is set to compete at.

At 33-3, Damian Weaver’s junior season was a stellar one, albeit with a heart-breaking ending with a loss in the “Blood Round” of the state tournament in Atlantic City, leaving him one win short of placing on the medal podium at 150 pounds. Damian, a reigning Bergen County and district champion has taken that disappointment to heart though and has been

The upper-middle weights should be the strength of the Golden Bears lineup as Damian Weaver is followed by Michael Simeone (16-13) at 165 and Tommy Montillo (24-9) at 175. Both seniors qualified for regions last season and have legitimate chances to make it to Atlantic City this time around.

Simeone in particular is one who looks poised to make significant strides this winter.

“He’s competing well, he looks good,” Scot Weaver said. “Technically, he’s gotten a lot better. He’s not as sloppy as he was at times last year. He was a district runner-up last year. I think he’s going to build on that and we’re hoping that he competes well enough to get in the car and take for the ride down to Atlantic City.”

Another one with Atlantic City aspirations is Kieran McNeil (27-7), who lost in the “Blood Round” of Region 3 at 113 pounds. This year, McNeil, a junior, is set to go at 126 pounds.

Kieran’s younger brother, sophomore Evan McNeil

Photo by Jason Bernstein

Left to Right: Nutley head boys basketball coach Bob Harbison with senior returning varsity players Donte DuBose-Carter, Morgan O’Brien, Richard Nguyen and Anthony Pinal.

NUTLEY

and while he is best known as a baseball player, is a more than capable outside shooter.

Nutley got quite a surprise this fall when 6-foot5 senior Hector Feliz-Torres moved into town. While still raw and learning Harbison’s system, Feliz-Torres brings an added dimension to the table and has the potential to make a real impact as the season progresses.

Senior Richard Nguyen is an experienced forward who brings toughness off the bench. Sophomore Jordan Small can come off the bench and is a better interior scorer than his 5-foot-10 height would indicate. Meanwhile 6-foot-6 sophomore Ryan Ibrahim can run well for his size and will see some time as he continues to refine his offensive game.

Morgan O’Brien is a veteran shooter off the bench at the guard spot, which will also rely upon junior Josh Dick, another one of the big surprises of the preseason due to his court vision and passing.

The Raiders are hoping the backcourt will be further bolstered by junior Erik Thompson later in the season. The 6-foot-2 Thompson was a star in the summer and was poised to be a top scorer for Nutley before being sidelined by an ankle injury..

Nutley follows up Thursday’s opener with a pair of home games, playing Science Park on Saturday and Barringer the following Tuesday. The Raiders also return to play at the Kearny Holiday Tournament on Dec. 28-29, which in addition, includes Abundant Life Academy of Nutley and Marion P. Thomas Charter in Newark.

WRESTLING

Continued from Page 9

(13-11) is returning at 106 pounds. Currently no one is certified at 113 pounds, so the younger McNeil could at times bump up a weight class with freshman Chase Paglio taking 106.

A lot of the lower weight classes are still in flux at the moment, but two other freshmen likely to make an impact are Nate Boyd and Lorenzo Bufi.

Weaver will also try to get some dual match opportunities for sophomore Ava Krzykalski at 113. The sophomore has shown in the preseason that she can more than hold her own against the boys and should be one of North Jersey’s better lightweights in girls tournaments.

Sophomore Viktor Kanjuk, who is in his second year on the mat, will be the primary wrestler at 132 pounds. Both 138 and 144 are up in the air as Kevin Silva (10-13) was poised for a big junior year before suffering a biceps injury that will sideline him for a large portion of the season.

Junior James Keefe is another one battling injury, but when

healthy, will start his second year of wrestling at 150 pounds. There is some depth in the upper weights with sophomore Logan Stitzer at 190 pounds and senior Billy Mareski at 215. Two more sophomores, Abraham Martinez and Kevin Barone will also see action at those spots. The heavyweight spot got thrown into flux when senior Kevin Carranza tore his ACL during football season. First year wrestlers Ivan Alvarez, a soph-

omore, and junior Alexandre Correia are currently competing for the opening.

As a team, Lyndhurst-North Arlington will open the season on Saturday at the Caldwell Tournament. Weaver and Kieran McNeil will be heading to Delaware to compete in the prestigious Beast of the East Tournament while Krzykalski and Aitana Lozano will be wrestling in the Garfield Girls Tournament.

RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) refers to a group of genetic eye disorders that cause the retina to break down over time, leading to vision loss and eventually blindness. People are born with the condition and vision loss usually begins in childhood. In rare cases, RP can be caused by an eye infection or injury. Loss of night vision in childhood is the more prominent symptom of RP. Other earlier symptoms include loss of color vision and sensitivity to bright lights. Most patients will eventually lose peripheral vision followed by loss of central vision. The process of vision loss usually happens over time, on a different timeline for each patient. RP can be diagnosed through a dilated

eye exam.

The symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa sometimes look like other conditions or medical problems. Always see your eye healthcare provider for a diagnosis. At this time, there is no specific treatment for this condition. However, protecting your eye’s retina by using UV sunglasses may help delay the start of symptoms. To schedule an exam, please call 201-896-0096. We are located at 20 Park Avenue, Lyndhurst. To get in touch with our optical shop, call 201-896-0007. We accept most insurance.

P.S. Certain supplements— such as vitamin A, fish oil, and lutein—may help slow vision loss in retinitis pigmentosa patients. www.delucavision.com

Presented by Joseph A. DeLuca, M.D., F.A.C.S. DeLuca

Photo by Jason Bernstein

Lyndhurst-North Arlington wrestling gets prepared for the season with a quad-scrimmage on Saturday, Dec. 10. Standing Left to Right: James Keefe, Luis Baitan, Tommy Montillo, Billy Mareski, head coach Scot Weaver, Damian Weaver, Michael Simeone. Kneeling Left to Right: Abraham Martinez, Evan McNeil, Ava Krzykalski, Viktor Kanjuk, Kieran McNeil.

NA girls’ basketball team looks to build off of last year’s late-season run

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

With seven wins in its final nine games, including a state tournament victory over Wood-Ridge, the North Arlington girls basketball team enjoyed a run of success it hadn’t enjoyed in more than a decade.

Now, third year head coach Brendan Queenan and the Vikings look to build off the momentum from that run. But unlike last February and March, North Arlington won’t be able to surprise any unsuspecting opponents this time around.

“I told the team, we won’t sneak up on anyone this year,” Queenan said. “Everyone is prepared and has gotten familiar with me and what we do.

“We are taking a step up in class in our division, so we need to be even better in practice and pay attention to detail and commit to getting better each day.”

Just like a season ago, the Vikings’ success will be determined by its work on the defensive end of the floor. For the year, North Arlington allowed just 35.6 points per game with its 1-3-1 zone and slowed down pace. Nine times, it held an opponent to 25 points or less, four coming

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during that season-ending stretch.

“We need to be a defense-first team. We know we’re not going to score a lot,” said Queenan. “I think our defense, in terms of points

allowed, was one of the best in Bergen County. If we play defense the way we’re capable of and attack defensively, I believe we can play with anybody in the division.”

At heart of that defense is

the Vikings’ forward combination of junior Skyla Acosta and Kathryn Raftery. The 5-foot-10 Acosta anchors the backline with her strength in the paint, while Raftery, a 6-foot-0 senior, has the length and mobility to venture out to the wings and challenge shots for all areas. Both will see a significant uptick in minutes as the logjam for minutes in the front court has lessened following the graduation of Angelina Torres and Pegi Bracaj.

Adding to North Arlington’s defensive versatility is junior Sophia Veloso. At 5-foot-7, Veloso has the ability to guard forwards on defense while also being the point guard. Veloso led the team in assists and steals last season and is poised for a breakout year

“Her jump shot has really improved. She’ll take that shot

Dr. Prakash

J. Doshi

Dr. Hector Aguilar

Photo by Jason Bernstein

Standing Left to Right: Assistant coach Nicolle Wetzel, Ashlyn McKenzie, Jenna Gabr, Nicole Garcia, Sophia Veloso, Skyla Acosta, Kathryn Raftery, Kyra Garcia, Sophie Lasek, head coach Brendan Queenan, assistant coach Tom Fusco. Kneeling Left to Right: Alessiana Cruz, Shelby McCann, Abbygail Lopes, Ashley Martinez, Sophia Poremba, Lia Cruz, Lyndsay Gilbert, Charlize Torres.

Keep

Obituaries

Sandra G. Mancino

Sandra G. Mancino (nee Smallze), 73, of North Arlington, died Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022.

Mrs. Mancino was born in Jersey City and was a resident of North Arlington. She was a teacher’s aide at Roosevelt School in Kearny. Sandra was predeceased by her beloved husband, Robert Mancino, in 2016 and is survived by their loving children, Angela Stark and her husband, Brian, Gina Volpe and her husband, Dominick and Robert Mancino and his wife, Cori; by her cherished grandchildren, Olivia, Sophia, Dominick, and Jordan; by her dear brother and sisters, Patrick Benzaleski and his wife, Leslie, Lorraine Salerno and her husband, Eugene, Liz Gilson and her husband, Ray, and Patricia Schmidt and her husband, Donald; by her sisters-in-law, Concetta

Midolo and Dolores Gallo, and by a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the memorial visitation at Nazare Memorial Home, Inc., 403 Ridge Road, Lyndhurst, on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022 from 2 to 4 p.m. A memorial service will begin at 3:30 p.m.

Benjamin ‘Junior’ Pace Jr.

Benjamin “Junior” Pace Jr., the heart and soul of the Pace family, died Nov. 28, 2022.

Known to most as Junior, he was a lifelong resident of Harrison, who enjoyed his retired years down at Ortley Beach with his beloved wife of 63 years, Diane.

Junior spent his early years growing up in Harrison making great memories with his siblings Gloria, Brenda, but especially his brother/best friend,

Louis. Known to the people of Harrison as “Benny the Barber,” he owned one of the longest-standing family-run establishments in town. The doors to the barbershop were open to so many, it became more than just a barbershop for most.

When he wasn’t at the barbershop, you could find him in his kitchen with his family prepping for Sunday dinner. He was an avid sports fan, whether it meant never missing a New York Yankees/Rangers game, or above all, was always seen in the stands supporting his own children and grandchildren as they competed throughout the years.

Junior was predeceased by his mother and father, Dorothea and Benny Pace, and beloved brother, Louis Pace.

His memories will live on through his beloved wife Diane Pace (nee Zitzow), sons Benjamin “Jay” and his wife, Karen Pace, Gary Pace and Rocco and his wife, Wendy Pace, sisters Gloria Kwityn, and her husband, Walter, and Brenda DeCarlo, and her husband Joseph; grandchildren Daniel Pace and his wife, Lauren, Stefanee, and her husband Patrick Kivlehan, Timothy Pace, Samantha Carneiro and her husband Daniel, Gabriela Pace, Alyssa Pace and Sydney Pace and his most beloved great-grandchildren, Kylee, Jake, Juliana, Madelyn and Olivia.

Funeral services were under the direction of Mulligan Funeral Home 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison. A funeral Mass was celebrated at Holy Cross Church, Harrison. His final disposition will be

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

private.

If you would like to send a condolence message to his family, please visit www. mulliganfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105-1942 or in care of the funeral home, in loving memory of Benny.

Novena to the Blessed Mother Say 9 Hail Marys for 9 consecutive days. Make 3 requests. Publish this article and wish will come true. R.A.R.

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in West Hudson and South Bergen. Its beautiful facilities, in a setting reminiscent of a colonial mansion, reflect the graciousness and tact of its understanding personnel.

The warrant related to an investigation of a Dec. 31, 2020, traffic crash for which Officer Sean Kelly filed summonses against Rogers for using loaned registration tags, careless driving, unregistered vehicle, fictitious plates and no liability insurance.

Rogers posted bail at KPD headquarters and was later

RAMY

Continued from Page 2

what he is told to do without barking back or he was hoping that by answering the questions, there would be no cops involved he didn’t want the authorities to be involved. By apologizing and being cooperative, maybe he was hoping I was help him to get therapy.”

Ramy does, indeed, offer the catches a chance to get help. In this particular case, he did not make a call

released.

On Nov. 27 at 11:08 a.m. , Officers Travis Witt, Rich Poplaski Jr. and Sgt. Jay Ward were dispatched to ShopRite for a shoplifting complaint. Store management accused Jamie Hammill of concealing $638.48 of mostly candy, Bic lighters, Ensure shakes and medication in shopping bags and trying to deprive ShopRite of payment.

Officers arrested Hammill, who was found to have on

to the police department to get them involved. And yet, when Ramy and Meola traveled from North Bergen to Nutley after the chief made arrangements to meet with and tell the township Public Safety Commissioner Alphonse Petracco what had gone on earlier that day, Nutley’s finest and town attorney were on hand to greet them on arrival.

“What I think happened was one of my viewers called the police to tell them what was happening,” Ramy says. “I wanted the commissioner

little taller for a guard, when she gets pressed she can see over the top of it.”

POLICE BEAT

her person four empty wax folds commonly used to package heroin, five small vials commonly used to package cocaine, and one pipe commonly used to smoke narcotics. She was charged with shoplifting and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hammill was also wanted

to be aware what his fire chief was doing. I didn’t expect police involvement. But when we got to this wellknown deli, even the town attorney was there. He said he just so happened to be at the deli, as hard as I find that to believe.”

Ramy says his decoy met the chief on an gay dating app called “Adam4Adam.”

He says Meola was skeptical at first and asked the decoy to send him a photo of himself holding up two fingers (which did, indeed, happen.) The decoy had said

well as a strong defender.

by courts in West Caldwell (shoplifting, $750 bail), Irvington (drug possession, $1,000 bail; and theft, $1,500 bail), Madison (shoplifting, $1,500 bail), Springfield (theft, $1,500 bail), Union (shoplifting, $2,500 bail). She was held at the Hudson County jail.

On Nov. 29 at 12:38 a.m. , Officers Jonathan Lima and Ruben Rivera went to check out a white van at Kearny Avenue. A citizen had called it in as the vehicle of a

his mom was at work and he would be able to “host,” which means to have a place where the encounter could occur.

They quickly chose the North Bergen Walmart as the meet-up location with the idea to go back to the kid’s house. That, of course, never happened; instead, Ramy wound up meeting with Nutley and North Bergen Detectives.

“The cops have been great Nutley and North Bergen,” Ramy says. “They aren’t always great in my catches,

possibly drunk driver.

The officers found the van being driven near Kearny Avenue and Liberty Street and pulled it over. Having observed signs of impairment in driver Dario M. Mera, 39, of Kearny, the officers had him perform field-sobriety tests. He failed them.

The officers arrested Mera and charged him with DWI after a breath-alcohol test at the police station. Mera was later released.

but were in this case.”

If you’re interested in seeing Ramy in action, he’s all over social media. His organization is known as OBL Nation, or, Obliteration Nation. On YouTube, visit www.youtube.com/@ OBLNation; on Instagram it’s www.instagram.com/obl. nation. And on TikTik, check out www.tiktok.com/@ oblnation.

Donations may be made via Paypal or YouTube, though YouTube takes 30% of all donations; Paypal’s take is significantly smaller.

and knock it down,” Queenan said. “She’s really played well in the scrimmages we’ve had.

“She sees the floor really well and can get the ball up the floor to people filling lanes and running. With her being a

Junior Lia Cruz is another returning guard. And while the 5-foot-4 Cruz is best known for her dynamic offensive play on the soccer field, she is also the Vikings’ top returning scorer from a season ago at 6.1 points per game as

In Memoriam Mary A. Tortoreti 1942-2016

Senior guard Nicole Garcia is perhaps the strongest defender on the roster. When Queenan deployed a boxand-one, it was Garcia who was called upon to guard the opponents top scorer.

While limited in experience on the bench, North Arlington has the depth to go 10 or 11

deep. Each of those reserves bring something unique to the floor.

Sophomore Shelby McCann (5-foot-2) can run the point, 5-foot-5 freshman Lyndsay Gilbert brings an element of toughness, while also being able to get to the rim. Another freshman, Charlize Torres (5-foot-5) is an undersized forward, who can play out on the wing while also being able to mix it up inside.

Also vying for spots in the rotation are Kyra Garcia (5foot-5), who is a sophomore with the speed to excel when the tempo increases, sophomore Abbygail Lopes (5-foot4) and 5-foot-5 freshman Jenna Gabr each are outside

shooting threats.

“It’s almost like they’re still trying out because they’re still competing for one another for the sixth man, seventh man, eighth man roles,” Queenan said. “They all do different things so It’s likely to be determined by who we play and what they bring to the table.”

North Arlington begins the season on the road at Manchester Regional on Thursday, followed by a Saturday matchup at Weehawken. The Vikings will also host the William Ferguson Holiday Tournament on Dec. 27-28, which includes Bergen Tech and Jersey City schools Dickinson and University Academy Charter.

Deadlines (until further notice)

Classifieds: 3 p.m., Monday 

Obituaries: 10 a.m., Monday  Display/Real Estate: noon, Thursday 

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John Berberick, a retired Bayonne firefighter, held the Bible as his grandson took his oath of office.

Galano, also a product of the Peninsula City, is an alumnus of St. Peter’s University in Jersey City. His previous job was logistics manager for a freight company in Fairlawn. Galano’s dad, Damon Galano, is a police officer with the Bayonne Police Department.

Joskowitz successfully completed his 10 weeks of EMT school while Colegrove and Galano are expected to follow shortly. Morales is already fully-certified.

The rookies, whose starting rate of pay is $40,207 a year, have already been assigned shifts spread over a 24-hour period, the chief said.

The Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association, which represents rankand-file firefighters, is currently in negotiations with the town on a new labor pact.

The rookies are currently training to operate the HFD’s two engines and one ladder truck around town and learning duties they’ll be assigned at the department’s lone firehouse on Sussex Street.

Meanwhile, Chief Richard is getting used to hearing the unconditional title of fire chief. The Howell resident came to the HFD in December 1994 and began learning the trade of firefighter.

Thereafter, he rose through the ranks, attaining captain in December 2004, battalion chief in February 2010 and, in October 2019, to deputy chief — a position the department was forced to relinquish after the town’s thenshaky financial picture led the state to impose certain spending restrictions and monitor its budget. A civilian director took charge for several years.

But as the town began attracting developers to transform its dormant industrial waterfront into

residential towers and new retail spaces, its fiscal picture improved and the state relaxed many of its former restraints.

Under that new climate, the town named Richard provisional fire chief in May 2022 but held off making him permanent in the title until October 2022 until Civil Service ruled the town needn’t call for a test for the fire chief’s position.

And last week, the town made it official, with Richard taking his oath of office at the Harrison Fire Station.

“I have great pride in leading the men and women of the Harrison Fire Department,” Richard said. “I feel we’re up for any challenges that may come up. We just recently promoted four additional captains to continue to provide good leadership for our department.”

Mayor James Fife said of the newly-sworn chief: “He’s a fine young man and we’re happy to have him.”

Looking ahead, Richard said with the town continuing to grow, “it’s important to get another firehouse on the southern side. The population is certainly going to go up and we need to be able to provide an apparatus quickly to service those residents. We’ve looked at a few properties and we’ve spoken with the town about a couple of different options.”

The town purchased a new ladder truck three years ago and a new engine two years ago while a third new engine has been ordered and is due to arrive in February, Richard said.

Also, he said, “we just purchased some boat inflatables with a trailer and we’re scheduled to do two weeks of swift water training at Scudder Falls in Ewing. We’ll send everybody at different times. It’s a much-needed program, given all the heavy rainstorms we’ve been having.”

For now, the marine equipment will be stored in the town garage near PATH, he said.

The new fire chief with his new Harrison firefighters.

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Observer Classifieds

by 3 p.m. Monday. All

Antonio Moyano, principal of Roosevelt School in Kearny, announces the following students who have attained principal’s honors or honors for the first marking period of the 2022-2023 school year.

Principal’s Honors

Grade 6

Abigail Buchanan, Kaelyn Carlen, Gianna Covello, Lucas De Almeida, Lexi Duarte, Emma Gomes, Layla Hernandez, Sophia Lima, Luca Martinez, Alanis Pena Dantas, Samantha Ribeiro, Erin Richards, Adrian Rodriguez, Emily Rodriguez, Jayden Santos, Eva Shah, Jordano Torero Hoces, Valentina Ugarte, Matthew Whitehead

Grade 5

Marwa Alami, Gavin Araujo, Jack Barroqueiro, Sena Bezirkan, Sandra Immerso, Lilly McSweeney, Caroline Olson, Hannah Paris, Izabella

Perez - Bombino

Grade 4

Francesca Alda, Declan Coleman, Dominic DeRosa, Quinn Pinho, Savannah Rusek, Adham Saad

Honors Grade 6 Yasser Abad, Isabella Antunes, Jayden Cabrera, Jayde Chimbo Calle, Scarlett Ferreira, William Franchino, Gabriela Gamez Vela, Angel Garcia Hidalgo, Aralyn Hernandez, Ariana Hernandez

Guissa, Mia Jimenez, Samantha Kingalahua, Angelia Lopez, Ryan Milne, Darren Mora, Kaitlin Pateiro, Lucas Serodio

Grade 5

Anthony Alcantara, Carmelo Cash, Amayah Febo, Isabella Flores, Zoe Habrahamson, Ava Irizarry, Nebiha Junaid, Brendan Mara, Ava Marinho, Emily Morales, Jason Olechowski, Kole Pais - Sotelo, Nicholas Peldunas, Emma Peso, Ava Piccillo, Jason Pina, Mason Ramdass, Emmanuel Rojas, Lukas Rojas Mason Santos, Sabela Tome, Alice Torres Silva, Merlin Urra Martinez

Grade 4

Amelia Azurdia, Gael Barahona Beltran, Emmah Barroqueiro, Danny Consuegra Alvarado, Alex Dinuzzo, Sophia Dobie, Olivia Garzon, Carlos Kingalahua, Alexander Kintos, Stephen Levchak

BODY

the park is a popular attraction and the water is relatively shallow.

He said police and fire worked together to remove the man who was taken to the county medical examiner’s office.

Strumolo said the cause of death is unknown, pending the investigation and autopsy.

Heavy rain, he said, a few days prior, may have carried his body downstream.

This incident remains under investigation.

Food courier carjacked in Nutley: PD

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

food courier was carjacked at around 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 7, on Nutley’s Hilton Street, Nutley Police Director Alphonse Petracco and Chief Thomas Strumolo said.

Police were called to the scene when the victim reported he was threatened and robbed at gunpoint by a man and woman.

The actors brandished a gun and stole the delivery person’s money, food and 2016 Acura.

Detectives following leads were able to recover the stolen vehicle in East Orange.

Petracco said this is no ordinary car

POLICE BEAT

theft.

“

This was robbery and theft at gunpoint, the actors are looking at serious jail time when apprehended,” he said.

And, it appears, this was not the only area carjacking of late.

“We are working with Belleville police who had a similar incident weeks earlier and it appears to be the same actors,” Strumolo said.

“It was wise for the delivery person to comply. The vehicle and belongings were not worth getting hurt over.”

In this screencap from a YouTube video, Meola is seen standing in the rain in what is described as an online sex sting.

STING

Continued from Page 1

absolutely no desire to foretake in any events and hopefully I can get him to stop doing this.”

How did this happen?

Ramy and his cohorts there are hundreds of YouTubers who do similar work across the country will serve as decoys on dating apps and pretend to be under the New Jersey age of consent, 16, sometimes claiming to be much younger.

When the prospective “predator” agrees to meet the underage decoy, instead of finding a teenager, they’ll find Ramy and his partners, who then confront them with cameras rolling, usually live on YouTube and other streaming services.

The YouTubers are often referred to as “predator catchers.”

These “vigilantes” generally claim to be doing what they do to rid their communities of people who would have the audacity to attempt to lure minors for sexual relations.

In the case with the Nutley chief, he was reported to have journeyed to a Walmart in North Bergen, but instead of meeting whom he believed was a 14-year-old boy, he instead met Ramy and two other adults who were with him to assist with the “sting.”

At 2:35 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, Det. Lt. Anthony Montanari, the Nutley Police Department’s public-information officer, released a two-line statement confirming the incident actually took

place and is under investigation.

“

The Nutley Police Department has confirmed that we are investigating allegations against a volunteer fire chief,” Montanari’s statement read.

“

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office (now transferred to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office) is conducting an ongoing investigation regarding these allegations that were reportedly recorded by a YouTuber and no charges have been authorized at this time.”

Ramy, meanwhile, posted a clip of the operation on his Instagram account instagram.com/obl.nation and while he has caught hundreds of men, he says this one was particularly disturbing.

“So last night we caught the Chief of the Nutley Fire Department trying to have sex with a 14-year-old boy and it was one of the most heart wrenching catches I’ve done,” Ramy said. “My guy confessed to everything & ultimately got detained & all electronics seized by the amazing detectives we worked with last night!

“Got word from Nutley detectives that the prosecutor is going to prosecute. We’re going to go in today to provide official statements & more electronic evidence to cooperate with the investigation so we can turn it into an arrest!

“For those asking about when the catch will drop, it’ll get posted within two weeks or so after some of our other high profile catches get uploaded first.”

Observer Editor Kevin A. Canessa Jr. may be reached at kc@theobserver. com. Follow him on Facebook & Twitter @kevincanessa.

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