For some, 2004 seems like yesterday. For others, perhaps, it seems like an eternity ago. Think of this, though. That year, George W. Bush was in his first term as president as he sought a second. The 9/11 attacks happened only three years earlier. The Yankees were good and the Mets were bad.
So since then, a lot has changed, while some things haven’t.
One local constant since mid-2004, though, was the presence of Susan McCurrie on the Kearny Town Council. It was that May she was chosen to replace former Councilman Michael Kelly, who had earlier that year resigned his seat (a year earlier, Anthony Paglia
resigned and Mike Landy joined the council, too.)
For 18 years, McCurrie could be found at council meetings, debating and crafting ordinances, at ribbon cuttings, at Little League openers, and hundreds of other town events. But as 2022 draws to a close, McCurrie’s tenure on the council comes to end as earlier this year, she made the decision not to seek reelection.
With her go many memories, scores of accomplishments and a legacy that will be hard to match. Some things you’re used to being part of Kearny lore weren’t always there, but are now, because of McCurrie. And among those things are the Kearny Farmers Market, which she worked diligently to bring to the town it started
at Town Hall before moving to Garfield and Kearny avenues, just outside the Kearny Public Library.
McCurrie says it’s the market she’s most fond of among all she achieved for the town and she’s achieved quite a lot.
“The farmers market brought fresh foods right to town for the people who are
among lower- to middle-class backgrounds,” McCurrie says. “For so many of these residents, access to these kinds of foods would have been otherwise impossible. It isn’t easy to get to (rural) Sussex County or Warren County. They’d have no way to get there. People sometimes forget what a distances those places are. So by bringing the market here, we were able to open up healthy food offerings to people who may not have otherwise had a chance to bring these things home.
“It’s made a world of a difference.”
Indeed it has. And it has been a model that numerous surrounding communities have tried to match, but rarely, if ever, surpass.
This, of course, is just one her council tenure highlights. We asked McCurrie to recall other things she was proud of. Like most modest people, she had a little trouble tooting her own horn, but that’s why we wanted to speak with her in the first place.
It led to a chat about Kearny ACES, the town’s green committee, that she started, has been a part, of since its inception and that has had a profound effect on the town’s overall well-being. The first major undertaking of ACES led to the town, well before the state jumped in, preparing parameters that became a town ordinance to ban plastic bags in Kearny.
Because of COVID-19 and then the state jumping in with its own statewide ban that ordinance, that was on the books but delayed, had to be scrapped since state law supersedes any municipal law. But the truth is, Kearny’s ban was much more logical and efficient than what the state decided on.
“That was our first project,” McCurrie says. “We spent a good deal of time preparing it, but unlike the state, we did not seek to ban use of paper bags, too, as the state did. I think we did a great (we say better) job in our plans. But the state had
t times in 2020, we all likely said at one point or another, “2021 can’t get here quick enough.” Then when 2021 wasn’t all that much better, all thanks to COVID-19, that same theme came about for the year 2022. And when the year that is just days away from ending was just underway, it looked for a while it might have been
more of the same old, same old for year another year.
Fortunately, COVID-wise, despite the trying start to the year, things got progressively better. (We won’t touch on gas prices, inflation, etc., for this story and will save that, instead, for the big-network recaps.)
Instead, we look back locally to the stories that made headlines — from an early January surge in COVID-19 cases (that included impossibly long
lines for testing) to the end of the year that saw the arrest of Nutley’s volunteer fire chief on luring (a minor) charges.
We begin in January when COVID-19 began to once again take hold on not just the local area, but the entire nation. As 2021 ended and 2022 began, for example, the
Town of Kearny was actually seeing an average of 119 new cases daily.
For weeks, beginning with the lead-up to Christmas 2021 and in the weeks that followed into January, lines for testing at the Kearny Board of Health often wrapped from the front of the building on Kearny Avenue all the way west down Washington Avenue to
nearly Hillcrest Road. Schools in Kearny, Harrison and East Newark began to offer children the option to learn remotely, rather than coming to school in-person. One of the reasons those districts went with the remote option was because of staffing — many teachers themselves had to
quarantine, having contracted the disease.
“After reviewing the number of COVID infections and quarantines affecting our district’s ability to adequately staff our seven schools, and in consultation with the Hudson County Department of Education, the local Health Department and the Kearny Board of Education, we find it necessary to provide virtual instruction to our students for the week of Jan. 3 though Jan. 7,2022,” then Superintendent of Schools Patricia Blood said. “We will follow the schedule of our regular school day, and all students will be provided the link(s) for the Google Classroom and Google Meet. It is our hope that this move is temporary …”
The month of January was marred by one of the most tragic stories of the entire year after the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office announced
the homicide death of a 2-month old baby in North Arlington.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said the baby’s father, Aaron Medrano, then 27, of Schuyler Avenue, North Arlington, whose baby was called Giovanna, was taken into custody in the last week of December when he was charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a minor. This was the result of an investigation after the baby was taken to hospital with seriously bad injuries.
Tragically, Giovanna died Jan. 4, and Medrano, who had previously been released on bail, was re-arrested and this time charged with first-degree murder. Incomprehensibly, he was soon, thereafter, released on bail.
The baby’s mother, Patricia Artese, then 25, also of North Arlington, was herself arrested Dec. 30, 2021, and charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. She was released from custody, the prosecutor said.
The incident leading to these arrests occurred as follows, according to Musella:
On Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021., at approximately 6:26 p.m., the North Arlington Police Department received a 911 call from a resident of 505 Schuyler Ave., North Arlington, who reported their 2-month-old daughter was not breathing. The child was subsequently transported to Hackensack University Medical Center.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit was contacted by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency after hospital personnel found numerous injuries on the child.
An investigation by detectives from the North Arlington Police Department and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office revealed Medrano reportedly was responsible for causing the injuries.
After the initial announcement, North Arlington Mayor Daniel H. Pronti, himself a retired
Montclair police sergeant, issues a blunt, yet remarkably poignant statement.
“By now, most of our residents should be hearing this very troubling news involving the loss of life of a baby, at the hands of her parents,” Pronti said. “Our police department has been investigating this horrible
series of events for several weeks, which involves a family, who had been renting an apartment along Schuyler Avenue.
“Whenever something like this occurs in our tight-knit borough, it impacts everyone, whether they were longtime residents or
a family simply renting for a short time in-between their next destination.
I implore us all to look out for one another. Report any and all suspicious activity. If you suspect child abuse, let someone know. You can make these reports by ways of anonymity. You could save a life.
“We have been seeing domestic acts of violence far too often across the country. Let’s do our part to help. Remember, we are a community and we are all in this together. Let’s all make a difference. Say a prayer for the soul of that defenseless infant, Baby Giovanna, who lost her life. May God bless us all.”
The month also saw the retirement of longtime Kearny Fire Department Deputy Chief Robert Osborn after nearly 40 years of service to the department and WHATCo’s founding president Jerry
Ficeto stepping aside, with Brandi Leigh Miller taking over.
Though no longer its leader, Ficeto continues to support the organization as president emeritus and he continues to serve Kearny’s Fourth Ward as councilman. Miller now oversees the entire WHATCo operation, including searching for a long-term, suitable location for the organization to host its education programs and to perform its plays.
If there was anything that began to show life could slowly get back to normal after two+ years of COVID, it was the sheer notion the West Hudson St. Patrick’s Day Parade was back on, after being postponed in 2020 and 2021, with the parade to be led by those who were supposed to be honored in 2020.
But then, one day in February, just weeks before the parade, someone noticed — the New York Red Bulls, whose only games played in New York are when they are visitors
to Yankee Stadium to take on the New York City Football Club, one of their bigger rivals — were hosting their home opener … on the exact same day and at the exact same time the parade was to step off in Harrison.
This could have presented a logistical nightmare, given the game was going to be sold out — and that, in itself, causes enough traffic. So, since initially the soccer club, nor Major League Soccer, appeared disinterested in being good corporate partners by changing gametime, the parade’s stepoff was moved up by an hour.
However, when all was said and done, the Red Bulls and MLS did, indeed, move the match to the evening time, thus avoiding what could have been a horrendous day. And, as you’ll see later in this story, the parade went off flawlessly for the first time since 2019.
In March, I wrote a story on Kearny history, of a time when the town had four mayors in a 14-month span. Among
the four mayors was Therese Jones, who is the only woman to serve as Kearny’s leader in history. Therese replaced her husband, Arthur Jones, who died in office in 1938. Mrs. Jones served for a few months, until Jan. 1, 1939, but did not seek election to the seat thereafter.
Mrs. Jones died herself Dec. 30, 1939 — had she sought the mayoralty and won,
she, like her husband would have died in office. Instead, Joseph A. Frobisher Sr. took office after Mrs. Jones, and unfathomably, he died in office in December 1939, the first year of what was his first, two-year term, just three days before Mrs. Jones’s demise.
Fredrick Law became mayor after, an office the Republican held until 1943.
Ifirst met Albino Cardoso around 1998 when I took a shot at running for office. We lived in separate wards (he the First, I the Second) but I knew he was an ardent supporter of the candidate against whom I was running. (That candidate, one year later, has gone on to become Kearny’s longest-tenured mayor.)
But throughout the campaign, bumping into him on the streets and elsewhere, Cardoso was always one of the kindest human beings I knew. Nearly 25 years later, that hasn’t changed a bit.
I would see him more often in the early 2000s when I was the youth minister at St. Cecilia Church, where Cardoso was a loyal parishioner, as he remains today. And then, until now, as he’s served the town for 13+ years, he’s never once compromised who he is for the sake of politics or government.
He was a stalwart in the Keegan fight. He was in favor of responsible redevelopment. He was never an automatic “yes” vote, even if all eight of his colleagues were. He represented the First Ward of Kearny for a baker’s dozen years with class, pride, distinction — and his shoes will be hard to fill, though we have every confidence in George Zapata’s ability and desire to do so.
I’ve also known McCurrie for just about the same length of time. I recall her attendance at council meetings well before she was elected, often coming in her with her mom among others. Her mum and dad were close to being Kearny royalty and it was a shock to the system when they both died not too far apart at the start of the COVID-19 crisis.
But Sue, like her dad, had public service in her blood, so it came as absolutely no shock when former Councilman Mike Kelly decided to resign before his term ended in 2004 that McCurrie was choice to replace him. Months later, she won her first election and, like Cardoso, never lost one thereafter.
McCurrie, a lawyer, likely put in more hours behind the scene than one could ever imagine as she was long the chairwoman of the town’s ordinance committee. Crafting laws does not happen overnight — but takes many a late night — and she did that, without complaint, magnificently. In fact, the law she crafted to ban plastic bags in Kearny was superiorly stronger than the one the state implemented earlier this year (it did not ban paper bags, among other things.)
Her creation of Kearny ACES has left the town more Green that it ever has been. Her creation of the Kearny farmer’s market has allowed thousands of people who otherwise wouldn’t have access to fresh produce to have that access in their own backyards.
She, too, will be a tough act to follow, though we firmly believe Stat is ready for the challenge.
So while saying goodbye to both is a difficult pill to swallow, we do so knowing their retirements are well deserved, following so many years of tremendous, selfless service. I know I will miss them both very much.
I sense (most of) the entire town of Kearny will, too.
— KEVIN A. CANESSA JR.To the Editor:
In a recent Letter to the Editor, my fellow Kearny neighbor Paul LaClair asks some questions to those who believe that forsaking God is detrimental. I hope to answer some of those questions: Mr. LaClair wonders “which god” people are thinking of, then goes on to name the god of the European settlers who massacred the indigenous Americas, the god of the Confederates who kept slaves, and the god of those who sought profit from oil at the expense of other nations. The truth is, in all these examples that Mr. Laclair gives, one god is receiving worship: the god of self. Such is the problem with the human condition. Left to our own devices, we worship
ourselves. We follow our fallen passions. This is why we war and rage and step on others in order to satiate our own lust for wealth and power.
During this Advent season, we are reminded of the promise of a coming Redeemer one who would change the human heart to be rightly ordered; one who would grant a peace that passes all understanding; one who would lay down his life so that we, by faith, may live. This Redeemer is Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God. Imagine how different history would be had those people that were listed in
Mr. LaClair’s letter followed the teachings of Jesus rather than the god of self?
Mr. LaClair rightly says, “[O]ur arms are too short to reach what Mr. Rogers calls God.” Indeed. We would never reach God if it were up to us, no matter how tall a ladder we could build, no matter how great our works, no matter how much money we have.
As Romans 5:6 beautifully says, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Yes, our arms are too short, but God’s arms are not! We couldn’t come to him, but he came to us. This is why we sing at Christmas!
In Memoriam Mary A. Tortoreti 1942-2016
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Pastor Damien Garofalo Bread of Life Fellowship Kearny
Garofalo: Jesus died for everyone, including the ‘ungodly’
THE EDITOR
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Mrs. Jones was Kearny’s shortest-serving mayor ever. Alberto G. Santos continues to add to his record as the longest-serving Mayor of Kearny ever.
We learned of the death of Jerry Tolve, of Nutley, who many knew as a prolific singer and musician. He fought a courageous, albeit a rapid, battle against ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Tolve, who could often be heard serenading diners at restaurants in Nutley, North Arlington, Bloomfield, Clifton
and elsewhere, was 61.
The Observer had spoken with Tolve shortly after his diagnosis with ALS — and throughout the entire ordeal, he remained unspeakably positive. He kept going, he said, because of his belief that when he did die, he would finally be with God.
Among the many who were struck by Tolve’s loss was The Observer’s President Lisa Feorenzo. She spoke of how his music and personality brought such joy to those who knew him and how he will be missed by many who he touched through his magnificent voice.
She recalled, fondly, a smallscale event she and her friends put together and Jerry was the DJ.
“We laughed the whole night. And it is a memory that will last forever,” she said “We were at Lassoni in North Arlington and a few friends and I were having a dance contest. One of the awards was the ‘Two left feet’ award. It was all such fun, and Jerry played and sang away for us. We all had a great time that will be one to remember. It all reminded me of the first time I ever heard him play there. “Where we were sitting, we could only hear, but not see, Jerry. The way he sang and adapted his voice for each song, you would think you were hearing the song’s original singer. He was such an amazing talent, but he was more of an amazing
human being. His Christian faith, in his darkest days, he had put it in God’s hands. Heaven needed an angel and God sent for you. Until we meet again, my friend.”
Kearny teacher arrested by feds on child-porn charges March saw the arrest of Anselmo Girimonte, 51, of Wharton, who was charged by complaint with one count of distribution of child pornography. He appeared by video conference March 4 before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III and was detained. Girimonte was an Italian teacher in Kearny since 2006 and had been suspended, pending the outcome of the investigation, then Schools
Patricia Blood said.
There has been no resolution to the case as yet.
Parade goes off, on time, flawlessly
The 2022 West Hudson United Irish Associations St. Patrick’s Day Parade went off without a hitch for the first time in three years. Carried over from 2020, Patrick “JR” O’Donnell Jr., of Kearny, was grand marshal with Anthony Coleman, of Harrison, and John “Jack” Dunphy, of Kearny, as deputy grand marshals. Despite bone-chilling temperatures, a nice-size crowd gathered to witness to
return of one of West Hudson’s most noted communitywide staples. The Observer’s Ron Leir wrote full profiles on the three honorands several weeks before the parade.
I was granted a rare opportunity to interview the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. But why would that matter to our area? Well, the secretary, Lonnie Bunch, grew up in Belleville. Spent his first 17 years here, in fact.
The athletic Bunch didn’t always have it easy when he lived here — the area was a difficult place for Black families to live — and his was the only Black family in his neighborhood. And yet, he says Belleville helped form him into the inquisitive intellect he is today, leading the nation’s musem.
Not bad for anyone to go to the streets of Belleville to the Smithsonian in D.C.
We asked Bunch to recall a story he told on CBS Sunday
- Thomas Jefferson
Morning a few years earlier in an interview he gave to CBS’s Chip Reid.
It happened in the early 60s when he was playing baseball (he was even better at football, he said.)
The game was not organized by or played at School No. 5, where he was a student.
“We were on DeWitt Avenue,” he said. “I was a good ball player. And I was the only Black kid in the school. And I don’t know what happened. All of a sudden, it went from a friendly ball game to everybody sort of attacking me. They started chasing me down DeWitt Avenue and I’m just running and running and I’m exhausted because they keep chasing me.”
After this long chase, finally, Bunch says, he gave up and accepted this group of youngsters was probably going to beat him up. He collapsed on the driveway of a home on Bell Street where a young girl was standing nearby.
“There was this little girl and I will never forget, she said, ‘Get off of the property.’ I thought she was talking to me,” Bunch said. “And instead, she was talking to the people chasing me. And she basically chased them away. And saved me. I never forgot that because the lesson was that as angry as I was about issues of race, it taught me never to generalize. That there are always good people.”
Bunch said he still has no idea who that young girl was. But if she’s still around today, he would “love to thank her”
for what she did that day. He estimates she was probably a second-grader whilst he was in the fifth-grade. It was 1962.
Melham, his team, cruise to new terms
Belleville’s municipal elections take place in May, and the incumbent Michael A. Melham easily fended off a challenge from Councilman Steve Rovell. The mayor’s running mates, Naomy De Peña and Thomas Graziano, were also easily re-elected to new terms. Graziano has since stepped in for a one-year term as Deputy Mayor, replacing De Peña, who had been Belleville’s first-ever Latina deputy mayor.
The election was quite contentious at times, but throughout it, Melham appeared to do his level best to remain focused on his previous, four-year record, rather than resorting to petty politics. The voters of Belleville believed in that, and sent him back for four more years with more votes and a wider margin of victory than he scored as a first-time challenger in 2018 when he ousted the-late incumbent Raymond Kimble.
“It’s never happened before and that speaks volumes — the people saw what we’ve done and will continue to do and they appreciate what they’re seeing,” a jubilant Melham told The Observer just hours after his victory. And, he also said he hoped Rovell would clarify what he called “election misinformation.”
“I’d love for him to explain the statements that we lost $3.6
million in funding,” Melham said. “I am sure others are curious as to what he meant, too, because that never happened. He put it out there and was put in his place, but up to now, he hasn’t responded. With that said, however, it’s time to put the past behind us and to continue to look ahead. That is what I plan to do.”
Rovell remains on the council, but is up for reelection in May 2023.
Over the summer, following the 2022 Kearny Senior Citizen Picnic, The Observer wrote a profile tribute to Kearny’s longest-tenured elected official, Council President Carol Jean Doyle, of the Third Ward. She is a woman one will find at just about every event happening in Kearny, yet she never seeks the limelight.
Ever.
Now, unlike previous stories we’ve done on the picnic, where we survey the senior citizens, the throng of volunteers from the police and fire departments, DPW, the town council, et al, we decided this time, we’d tell you more about one person who has been running the picnic since its inception decades ago — and how much work she puts into it all. And all she does.
She’s represented the Third Ward since 1996. She has the picnic each year at a park named for her late father-inlaw, Norman Doyle Sr., so it’s somewhat appropriate this huge undertaking has fallen into her hands.
But now, let’s think of all she has to do to make the picnic happen, something we all probably take for granted.
First, she has to reserve the park for a June day, then hope the weather cooperates. It doesn’t always. Just ask her. Then, there’s the food that a good chunk of is donated.
Hamburgers, hotdogs, beans, drinks, salads, beverages, more.
Then there’s getting Fred and Mr. Softee to come to provide dessert. Oh and with all that food, there’s a need to get people to cook it. And serve it. And there are tables and chairs that are needed. And of course, there has to be music, so she hires a DJ every year.
Oh and seniors, who don’t always drive, have to get
It’s safe to say that 2022 was a memorable year for local sports. Champions were crowned, new ground was broken and some of The Observer coverage area’s athletes became nationwide celebrities.
Whether it was at home or in countries a world away, local athletes excelled. Here is a look at the Top 10 Sports Stories for The Observer circulation area in 2022.
Every March the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament produces a new batch of unlikely superstars, who seemingly come from nowhere to earn their “One Shining Moment.”
In a sporting event best known for upsets and oddsdefying heroes, this past March produced its greatest Cinderella story ever and a new-found celebrity from right here in Nutley.
For 11 days, Saint Peter’s University, the tiny Jesuit school out of Jersey City took over the sports world with its historic run to the Elite Eight. The face of that team was Doug Edert, equipped with an attention-grabbing mustache, unrelenting confidence and a deadly accurate shot.
The nation got to see all three characteristics when Edert scored 20 points when the Peacocks, a 15th-seed, stunned Kentucky, 85-79, in overtime in the first round of the tournament. Edert forced overtime with a fearless jumper in the paint with 23 seconds left in regulation. Then, in overtime, he buried
a 3-pointer as part of a 10-1 Saint Peter’s run and later sealed the win by sinking two free throws in the final seconds.
“He was always the kid at the end that was looking at you and saying alright, just run that play for me and I got it. Give me the ball and whether I pass it to the open guy or finish it, we’re going to win,” said Marty Higgins Sr., who as the founder of Suburban Elite, was Edert’s first basketball coach. “The ball was always in his hands at that time because he always wanted it. When they’re in the backyard and it’s game point, he’s got the ball.”
Two nights later, Edert scored 10 consecutive second half points in the Peacocks’ 70-60 win over Murray State to become the first 15 seed to ever reach the Sweet 16.
In the days ahead Edert and the Peacocks became overnight celebrities, his mustache seen on TVs across the world and his suddenly famous mustache appearing in ad campaigns for Buffalo Wild Wings and t-shirts.
On March 25, in front of a decidedly pro-Saint Peter’s crowd in Philadelphia, the Peacocks shocked the world again with a 67-64 win over Purdue as Edert scored 10 points. March Madness’ greatest Cinderella story ended two days later when Saint Peter’s lost to North Carolina, but the memories of those 11 days will last forever.
For generations, Tangora Field, located right in the middle of downtown Nutley, has been one of the state’s best venues for high school football. Each fall, the venue and its surrounding
community produced images that can be described as Rockwelian.
In a nod to changing times and an effort to energize its business district, Saturday afternoons have shifted to Friday Night Lights.
On Sept. 1 the Raiders played its first ever night game at Tangora Field, defeating rival Bloomfield, 20-7.
The addition of lights, a project years in the making, allows the field to be used for more activities, both sports and non-sports alike. That, in turn, should have help generate more business for the many restaurants that
share Franklin Avenue with the multi-purpose venue.
“It is tough to let go of that (tradition). But I have a very funny feeling that this new vibe is going to be the vibe,” Nutley athletic director Joe Piro said. “It will be the new norm and it’s going to be even better than those Saturday afternoons once we all get used to it.”
Throughout Jimmy Mullens’ college recruiting
process one question always followed the Kearny nativefootball or wrestling?
When Mullen committed to Virginia Tech we got our answer, both. The ACC school has offered Mullen the opportunity to play both sports in college.
“It definitely takes a lot of weight off of my shoulders knowing I don’t have to give up a sport that I’ve been doing since I was 5-yearsold,” Mullen said. “They’ve both been a big part of my life and done so much for me.
“As long as I can remember my favorite sport was football during the football season and wrestling during wrestling season.”
A senior at St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, Mullen is considered the best heavyweight wrestling prospect in the country and with two state titles already on his resume is one of the greatest wrestlers in New Jersey history.
Not to be outdone by his exploits on the mats, Mullen was named Third Team, AllState Defense by NJ.com after recording 76 tackles and eight sacks his senior season for football.
Nutley’s senior softball class had accomplished during its four years at the school, but despite countless wins and multiple trips to tournaments finals did not have the championship to full complete an otherwise stellar resume.
That all changed on May 26
when the Raiders exercised some demons with a 10-5 victory over West Morris to win the NJSIAA North 2, Group 3 title.
“Coming into this game we were like we’re getting this win. We wanted this win so bad,” said Lia DeMaio, one of three four-year starters on the team. “We’ve come up short so many times that we wanted this win for us and for our team so it was a great feeling to finally get that.
“It means the world to me. We’ve been fighting for this since our freshman year so to finally get this, it was a great feeling to do it with my sisters.”
DeMaio’s leadoff single sparked a five-run bottom of the first inning to put Nutley ahead for good.
Nutley’s season came to a heart-breaking end the following game when it dropped a 2-1 decision to Roxubry in an epic 13-inning showdown that stretched out over two days.
Fallyn Stoeckel struck out 14 batters and had 307 on the
season, the most by a Nutley pitcher in more than 25 years.
Despite losing their sophomore year due to COVID, the senior core of Stoeckel, DeMaio and Sydney Hess won 60 games, made two Essex County Tournament and two North 2, Group 3 finals.
“This group has raised the bar, they really have with what they’ve accomplished in three years,” head coach Luann Zullo said after the season. “It breaks my heart they didn’t have the fourth year, but what they accomplished in three years (was incredible).”
When it comes soccer in Hudson County, “Soccertown
USA” remains title town as Kearny continued its dominance on both the boys and girls sides.
On Oct. 21, at Red Bull Arena, both Kardinals teams repeated as Hudson County champions.
First, the girls won their 13th consecutive title, defeating Bayonne 2-0, on goals by Gianna Charney and Maci Covello. Then, just two hours
later, the boys repeated as county champs with a decisive 3-0 victory over Union City, spurred on by Alejandro Alvarado’s two goals.
Since Kearny joined the HCIAL in 2009, the girls soccer team has never lost to a Hudson County opponent. The boys soccer team extended its unbeaten streak against county competition to 33 games heading into next season.
Padres
Disappointed at not hearing his name called during the annual MLB First Year Player Draft, Nutley native Devin Ortiz did what he did hundreds of times before - find a local
park to work on his baseball skills with his father Jose.
Midway through that workout at Belleville High School, Devin Ortiz got a call from the San Diego Padres, looking to sign the former University of Virginia and St. Joseph Regional star as an undrafted free agent.
A few days later, Ortiz was officially a Padre and reported to the team’s rookie ball complex in Arizona.
“It was a great moment,” Ortiz said after signing. “We celebrated. I got to be with my friends and family and have dinner with everyone at my mom’s house and just enjoy the day.”
This spring at Virginia, Ortiz was one of the country’s best two-way players. Now that he’s with the Padres, the versatile Ortiz will be able to focus on being a hitter as he begins his professional career.
For all the championships Mike Rusek has won at Harri-
Vestibular disorders affect the vestibular nerve, which connects the inner ear to the brain. Vestibular disorders are normally associated with hearing and balance, but they can affect the eyes and vision as well. The body’s visual and vestibular systems work together to stabilize vision through an earto-eye connection known as the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), which plays an important role in our ability to keep our eyes steady as we move our head. Vision problems are common for people with vestibular disorders. They may experience symptoms such as vertigo (dizziness), oscillopsia (shaking vision during head movements), and diplopia (double vision). Fortunately, vestibular disorders do not damage the eyes. Identifying and addressing the underlying cause should resolve any related vision
issues.
Many patients with vestibular disorders consult an eye care professional due to their vision-related symptoms. The typical eye exam is done while the patient’s head rests against a head rest, thereby reducing the head motion, which may mask the visual symptoms. With a vestibular disorder, the eyes may not be the primary cause of the problem so the typical eye exam will not identify any eye pathology or routine optical problems that would explain reported symptoms. To schedule an appointment, please call 201-896-0096. We are located at 20 Park Avenue, Lyndhurst. Call 201-896-0007 for our optical shop. We accept most insurance.
P.S. An eye-care professional can diagnose a vestibular disorder and determine whether it is has an eye-related cause.
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son, in recent years, he and his brother John couldn’t help, but think about the ones that had slipped away in heart-breaking fashion the last few years as they watched other teams celebrate on Harrison’s home field.
After multiple near-misses, the Blue Tide were once again champions. On Nov. 5, Harrison erased the past memories and shut down a red-hot Voorhees team, 1-0, to win the North 2, Group 2 championship.
Diego Flores Sanchez scored what proved to be the only goal of the game in the 15th minute and a defense led by breakout star, goalie Ismael Kone, made sure the lead stuck.
Incredibly, Harrison hadn’t won a sectional title since 2016. During that six year drought, it lost a trio of section finals on its home field.
“The thing about these kids though is they weren’t a part of any of that stuff,” Mike Rusek said about the three previous sectional finals losses on its home turf. “So for John and I it’s been a weight on our shoulders, but the good thing
about Harrison kids is that they’re very resilient and very forgetful.”
Harrison’s quest for a 26th state title ended in penalty kicks against Ramsey four nights later, but with several key member set to return, the Blue Tide look poised to add to a trophy collection that rivals any other program in the state regardless of sport.
8. Kearny boys volleyball beats Harrison for first county title
Over the past handful of years, Kearny’s boys volleyball program had established itself as one of the state’s better
Neuralgia is shooting pain that results from damaged or irritated nerves. It can affect any part of the human body. Pressure on nerves from skeletal or vascular systems; infections to the central nervous system such as shingles, Lyme or kidney disease; diabetes; tumors; and aging can all cause neuralgia. Sudden shooting or stabbing pain along the path of a compromised nerve as well as aching, burning pain, tingling or numbness, cramping, and the involuntary twitching of muscles are all indications of neuralgia. The most common neuralgias are Trigeminal (TN), which affects nerves in the head; Postherpectic (PHN), affecting nerves of the skin; and Oc-
cipital, which originates in the neck. Physicians can diagnose neuralgia using X-rays or CT or MRI scans.
The pain of neuralgia is usually severe and sometimes it’s debilitating. If you have it, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. If you don’t already have a provider, please call PREMIER CARE ASSOCIATES OF WEST HUDSON at 201998-7474. We treat hypertension, arthritis, and acute and chronic injuries. We are located at 512 Kearny Ave., Suite B, where walk-in patients are always welcome 7 days a week.
P.S. Physician Dr. John Locke first fully explained the concept of neuralgia in 1677.
Email any questions or comments to: premiercare@gmail.com Premier Care Associates of West Hudson is available on a walk-in or appointment basis for your primary healthcare needs.
teams. But despite that rise in prominence and plenty of victories, a championship had proven elusive for the Kardinals.
That all changed on May 14 when Kearny won its first ever Hudson County title, defeating arch-rival Harrison, 25-16, 2522, in the final in Jersey City.
All-State outside hitter William Mullins led the way with 15 kills for Kearny, which overcame a 1-2 start to the season by winning 18 matches in a row, culminating in the championship.
“In the beginning, we all doubted each other. We all
doubted each other because we all played different ways, half of us played at different club (teams), so coming together as one means a lot,” senior outside hitter Ethan Lugo said. “Getting this county trophy, especially with these guys, means a lot. We busted our tails every single day just to get our hands on this trophy.”
9. Girls’ Flag Football comes to the area
Football is no longer just for the boys in the area.
In 2021 the New York Jets started a high school girls flag football league featuring eight teams. The overwhelming success of the pilot program saw the league grow to more than 40 schools in North Jersey and Long Island. Among the schools part of the expansion, Harrison, Lyndhurst and Nutley.
As part of the league each school was given flags and uniforms for 25 girls. As Harrison and Lyndhurst quickly found out, the demand for the new sport, which is not under the
jurisdiction of the NJSIAA. “I was not surprised at all. I knew these girls were competitive,” said Rich Tuero, who is Lyndhurst’s head coach and the father of two young daughters eager to play when they get to high school. “I had no doubt that there were going to be a lot of girls.”
Based on the overwhelming success so far, there’s little doubt that girls flag football will continue to grow both locally and statewide.
“To me this has been a long time coming,” Harrison head coach Dan Nankivell said.
“Flag football, for girls to be able to play the sport, should have happened years ago and with the direction the sport is going, it’s a no-brainer.”
10. Lyndhurst-North Arlington girls soccer play at Red Bull Arena
When Lyndhurst head coach Kim Hykey learned that there was an opportunity for her girls soccer team to play at Red Bull Arena, it was an
there, too, right? So there’s coordinating transportation with the senior jitney buses.
And you can’t have a a picnic for seniors without raffles and giveaways and goody bags.
Then once it is all over — and attendees go their merry ways — there’s the huge responsibility of leaving the pavilion the way it was upon arrival. Imagine that task after hundreds of people had a great time?
And let’s add something onto this year’s picnic. After it was over this year, Doyle had to hop in her car with her son, Norman “Bogie” Doyle III, and drive south to Monmouth County, where her granddaughter, Kelsey, was to graduate high school. Oh and later that night, she and her coffee klatch were to get together for some late-night Dunkin’.
Oh and lest we forget, this is but one of the hundreds of things she is involved with, including most recently, the Kearny Giving Tree, where gifts are collected for the less fortunate in town.
This was probably the most feel-good story of 2022 and it was brought to you courtesy of our own Laura Comppen. It was the tale of John Garofalo, a Lyndhurst man, who was now 95. He was sent off to World War II, yet it all happened just before he was to graduate Lyndhurst High School.
And for any number of reasons, he never actually got to collect his sheepskin — that was until the Class of 2022 got their diplomas. After a few undertook an effort to get Garofalo’s diploma, he finally got it in June 2022 — 77 years later than he was supposed to.
After serving as Kearny’s Schools Superintendent for eight years, Patricia Blood retired. One of her greatest accomplishments, of course, was to complete the major overhaul to Kearny High School. Blood’s replacement had spent the year prior serving as her assistant — Flora Encarnacao.
She took over as the new super July 1, 2022.
In perhaps the most stunning story of 2022, Kearny Board of Education Trustee Bryan Granelli, 54, died unexpectedly at home, leaving behind a wife and two children. Following his death, scores of friends and family took to social media to
pay tribute to a man who, by all accounts, was universally loved and who loved to be an example of what the Jesuits taught him in high school at St. Peter’s Prep — to be a Man for Others.
Perhaps the most poignant remarks came from his brother, Dennis.
“It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of our beloved brother, Bryan Joseph Granelli,” Dennis
writes. “Bryan was so deeply loved, and we will miss his laughter, his generous spirit and his smile immensely. He was a pillar of the Kearny community and was deeply committed to his loving family. He was a fiercely loyal friend and his brotherhood extended well beyond the Granelli clan.”
He continued.
“Our tears and our grief are obviously plentiful, but we would be remiss in not recognizing and treasuring the hundreds of friendships that Bryan forged during his short lifetime. All of your words, prayers and messages bring us all inordinate peace and solace.”
For the first time ever, the Harrison Police Department has a substation and it’s at the municipal parking garage in the town’s southern end.
Chief David Strumolo, Fife, members of the council and police department, were on hand in the summer for a soft opening of the location, that, for now, will be partially staffed, with the hopes of staffing it on a 24-7-365 basis.
“We’ve looked forward to opening this for a while,” Fife said at the time. “And, eventually, there will be a 24-hour-a-day presence down here.” When fully operational, Fife and Bennett said the new sub-station will enhance public safety in the area, whether to sound alerts about flooding due to heavy rainfalls or to foil would-be muggers and/or car thieves.
Once the mini-precinct is fully staffed, the HPD can expand its coverage area by incorporating walking patrols along Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard, the town’s primary business district, Fife said.
It’s a welcome addition, Strumolo says.
“This is the culmination of the town’s three-year plan to increase the size of the police department, from the 40 officers we had in 2019 to 51 currently,” the chief said. (In the last four years, the HPD lost 17 officers to retirement but hired 28 new cops over that same period of time.) The mayor and Town Council
Rocco “Rocky” Cignarella, 69, of North Arlington, died Dec. 18, 2022.
The beloved companion of Deborah E. Sewulich, he was the devoted father of Valerie Cignarella, Charles DiMenno and Scott DiMenno. Dear brother of Michael Cignarella and his wife Debbie, Rocky was predeceased by his brother Stephen Cignarella.
Before retiring, Rocky
was the sole proprietor for Rocky’s Auto Center, Kearny. In his spare, time he acquired his general license to become an amateur radio operator. He loved yardwork and enjoyed working on many automobiles. Rocky leaves behind a host of loving family and friends. He will truly be missed.
Visitation was at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, Kearny. A Mass of Christian
burial was celebrate at Queen of Peace Church, North Arlington. Entombment was in Holy Cross Cemetery & Mausoleum, North Arlington.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, cancer.org
Theresa Vacca 87 of Kearny and raised in East Newark died peacefully Dec. 18, 2022. Beloved wife of the late
Getting older sometimes comes with an increase in health issues, or at least an increased risk of developing them. Digestive illnesses and disorders are among the most unpleasant ones. Here are four of the most common.
Constipation. Moving food through your body involves a series of rhythmic muscular contractions. With age, these processes can become less efficient, making it difficult for you to pass stool.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease. While gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can occur at any age, it’s more common in older adults. GERD may cause a burning sensation, sore throat, coughing, bitter regurgitation and bad breath.
Colorectal cancer. This seri-
ous illness affects about five per cent of the population. It poses a higher risk in older adults who have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Regular screening makes it possible to diagnose the disease early and treat it effectively.
Even if your chances of
Dear Sacred Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favors this time I ask you this special one favor. Take it. Dear Heart of Jesus and place it on your own broken heart where our Father sees it then in his merciful eyes it will be your favor not mine. AMEN. Say this prayer for 3 days and promise to publication and favor will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail.
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getting digestive issues increase with age, you can mitigate the risk with healthy lifestyle habits and a balanced diet. Speak with your doctor if you have any concerns about your health.
Ask St. Claire for 3 favors. 1 business 2 impossible. Say 9 Hail Mary’s for 9 days with a lighted candle. Pray whether you believe it or not. Publish on 9th day. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, adored, glorified & loved today and every day throughout the world Forever and Ever. Amen. Your request will be granted no matter how impossible it may seem.
E.P.
Donald N. Vacca (2022), she was the devoted mother of Keith Vacca and his wife Mary, Donna Vacca and Paul Vacca. Loving grandmother of David and his wife Amy, Courtney, Jonathan and Coreym she was the cherished great-grandmother of Matthew and Nicholas.
Before retiring, Theresa was a line cook for Pompto -
All obituaries must be submitted by email by 10 a.m., Mondays, to obituaries@ theobserver.com. Payment is due at submission.
nian Food Service, Fairfield. She belonged to the St. Cecilia Rosary Society as well as being a Cub Scout Leader, Pack No. 34.
Visitation was at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, Kearny. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at St. Cecilia Church, Kearny. Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.
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Loss of a legend: Charlie Dolan dies Long time Kearny philanthropist and volunteer Charlie Dolan died in October aged 85.
Retired sports writer Jim Hague penned a moving tribute to the man who touched so many lives in his time on earth and recounted stories of his 65-year marriage to the former Jo-Ann Foster.
Dolan, who also wrote his own obituary, suffered from Parkinson’s for almost 40 years.
He was a prolific athlete at St. Cecilia High School, most noted for basketball and baseball.
From Hague’s tribute: Bill Raftery, whose point total of 2,430 points at St. Cecilia remains No. 2 in the all-time Hudson County scoring list, vividly recalls Dolan’s kindness when Raftery was growing up in Kearny, as a key to his development as a player that led to a career at LaSalle University in Philadelphia and led to his eventual career as the head coach at Seton Hall and to a threedecade career as a beloved sportscaster, most notably with CBS Sports and the national coverage of the popular NCAA Tournament and Final Four.
“He was one of the older guys that I looked up to,” Raftery recalled. “The older guys pretty much held the court, but Charlie let us play with them if they needed an extra guy.
The competition was always good and playing with the older guys, guys four, five or six years older, always helped. And Charlie always offered good constructive criticism. He would never interfere with my development. He was always so helpful. I think about him a lot.”
Raftery paid Dolan a visit whenever he had the opportunity to do so, especially after Dolan’s health went into decline.
“He had this natural athletic ability,” Raftery said. “But it was never about him. His generosity just showed the goodness of the guy. He had such a good heart. I never once saw him raise his voice to anyone. He always seemed to be so happy and that stuck with me over the years.”
The Election of 2022 was, indeed, memorable in two Observer towns and fairly
routine in another.
In Harrison, in perhaps the most contentious race of them all, incumbent Mayor James A. Fife easily fended off a challenge by former Councilman Anselmo Millan, taking around 2/3 of the entire vote. This was the second time Fife defeated Millan, who ran against him in a primary in 2018.
None of Fife’s running mates — Jesus Huaranga, Ellen Mendoza, Delfim Sarabando, Larry Bennett and James P. Doran — faced challenges. Bennett was the top votegetter of all the candidates.
In Kearny, two of the four council seats had contest elections, but it was the candidates backed by Mayor Alberto G. Santos who cruised to easy wins.
In the Third Ward, incumbent Eileen Eckel beat David Paszkiewicz easily and in the Fourth Ward, Stathis Theodoropoulos held off Sydney J. Ferreira, who had run, unsuccessfully, for mayor in 2021. Theodoropoulos is a newcomer to the council.
Also winning were newcomer George Zapata,
who previously served on the Kearny Board of Education, in the First Ward, replacing the retiring Albino Cardoso and Peter P. Santana won his second full term on the council in the Second Ward.
All will be sworn in the first week in January.
And in North Arlington, incumbent Mayor Daniel H. Pronti and his council running mates, Kirk Del Russo and Lynette Cavadas, each won easy elections against a slate of relatively unknown Democrats.
The year’s final, and perhaps most noted story, happened just a few weeks ago and it garnered the attention of the New York City media and agencies throughout Jersey, when Nutley Fire Chief Henry Meola was nabbed in a YouTube sex sting by a group called OBL Nation.
Earlier this month, a video that has since been seen by more that 25,000 viewers, depicts Meola arriving at the North Bergen Walmart to meet who he believes is a 14-year-old boy. Thing is, that 14-year-old boy was actually a decoy purporting to be a minor and when he showed up at the store, he instead met OBL Nation’s Ramy, who was streaming the encounter live to scores of people on YouTube.
Meola eventually brought Ramy back to Nutley, where he expected to meet with one of the township’s commissioners, but instead, viewers had already called Nutley police, who were there to meet them.
Ultimately, though Nutley detectives did a tremendous job investigating, since the crime took place in North Bergen, authority was transferred to the North Bergen PD and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
The HCPO charged Meola with luring and attempted endangering the welfare of a minor
Though initially remanded the Hudson County Jail, one day after, a judge allowed Meola to go free, without bail, with conditions he remain in constant contact with investigators until and when the case is adjudicated, either in trial or with a plea agreement.
opportunity too good to pass up on.
Seven months later, on Sept. 20, Lyndhurst and long-time neighboring rival North Arlington became the first Bergen County girls soccer teams to ever play at Red Bull Arena.
In order to raise the funds needed to help offset operating expenses, both teams sold tickets to the Red Bulls’ Aug. 27 game against Inter Miami FC.
“We were just geeked because these kids will never have an opportunity like this again,” said Hykey before the game. “We both
wanted to make sure that we did as much as we could to get this opportunity because they don’t come around too often.”
After getting the professional treatment, which included using the team locker rooms, North Arlington went out and defeated Lyndhurst, 1-0. Star striker Lia Cruz score the only goal of the game in the 50th minute and keeper Daliana Rojas made seven saves for the shutout.
“
This was a really important game to us,” said Rojas. “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.”
Donna Masters, principal of Garfield School, announces the following recipients for Student of the Month for November 2022.
Kindergarten: Helena DaCunha, Liam Esnal, Melanie Vega-Samaniego.
1st Grade: Alexa Feijoo, Aria Merce, Mason
Rivera.
2nd Grade: Isabella Carillo, William Tapia, Camila Vargas.
3rd Grade: Christiano Ocana, Mia Oliver, Sophia Polanco.
4th Grade: Maria Corrone Guimaraes, Fiona Hicks, Tiago Munoz.
5th Grade: Ethan Bian, Joseph Boone, Liam La-
tona, Jeffrey Morocho.
6th Grade: Ryleigh Chesney, Luv Garrett, Nayanna Matos Echevarria, James Mirasso.
RESOLUTION NO. 1599-12-2022
RESOLUTION ADOPTING MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2023
Pursuant to Chapter 23l, Laws of 1975, the following are designated as meetings of the Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the Town of Harrison, N.J. at which Public Housing Agency business may be formally discussed, decided or acted upon.
DATES & TIMES
January 10, 2023 Regular - 6:00 P.M.
February 14, 2023 Regular - 6:00 P.M.
March 14, 2023 Regular - 6:00 P.M.
April 18, 2023 Regular - 6:00 P.M.
May 9, 2023 Regular - 6:00 P.M.
June 13, 2023
Re-Organization Meeting - 6:00 P.M. Regular - 6:15 P.M.
PLACE & LOCATION
Commissioner’s Room Bldg. #1, Harrison Gardens Harrison, New Jersey
July & August at Request of Chair
September 12, 2023 Regular - 6:00 P.M.
October 10, 2023 Regular - 6:00 P.M.
November 14, 2023 Regular - 6:00 P.M.
December 12, 2023 Regular - 6:00 P.M.
PURPOSE
Any and all Public Housing Agency Business
In accordance with P.L. 2020 c. 11, N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 and N.J.A.C. 5:39-1.1 et seq., during an active state of emergency, the Housing Authority may hold any of its meetings virtually, at which point, a notice will be published and posted, including on the Authority’s website, detaiting the change and the means of accessing said meeting remotely. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 20th day of December 2022.
Raymond Ludas, Secretary Housing Authority of the Town of Harrison
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The 25th anniversary Gala celebration of the Hudson County Community College (HCCC) Foundation on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, raised nearly $600,000, a record, the foundation’s board said.
The event’s theme, “Investing in Student Success,” marked the debut of a new endowed scholarship fund, the Hudson Scholars Program Endowment, that will generate perpetual funding assistance to support student success.
HCCC President Christopher Reber said the initial goal for the fund is $3 million over the next several years through gifts, grants and other investments.
“I am thrilled to announce this new fund and to share that we have raised nearly $600,000 in recent endowment gifts, other gifts, pledges and Gala revenue,”
Reber said. “This represents a college and foundation record.”
Donors who established and contributed to endowments with gifts ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 include Ellucian Foundation; MAST Construction Services, Inc.; former HCCC Foundation Board Chairman Jim Egan and his wife, Kathy Egan; ASPIRE Technology Partners; Scarinci Hollenbeck, attorneysat-law; HCCC Foundation Chairwoman Monica McCormackCasey, her family and friends; Roy Groething; Reber; and an anonymous donor who endowed the Paul Dillon Scholarship Fund.
Many other organizations, corporations, and individuals made gifts of $10,000 and above, including Fidelity Investments; NK Architects; Eastern Millwork, Inc.; FLIK Hospitality Group;
and Jersey City Road Runners.
The award-winning “Hudson Scholars” program focuses on retention and improving student outcomes by scaling successful elements of acclaimed, best-practice models. “Hudson Scholars” offers one-on-one, high-impact mentoring and support, personal and academic advisement, early academic intervention, rich and meaningful programming and financial stipends tied to academic milestone attainment.
Started in fall 2021 with initial funding through federal stimulus dollars, the program now serves over 1,700 students who are continuing and completing their studies at three times the rate of all students. The” program model will eventually be scaled to support all HCCC students.
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Continued from Page 2
other ideas.”
Meanwhile, throughout her tenure, McCurrie, a lawyer, was long and logically the chairwoman of the town’s ordinance (law) committee. She spent countless hours developing them, often when no one could see her at work, on her own time. It was, indeed, a challenge, she says, but it was also extremely rewarding.
“It’s great to have an impact on public policy,” she says. And I learned so much about government and policy and more. But I was also very fortunate to be surrounded some incredibly dedicated professionals who made it all so much easier and smoother, whether it was the town attorney, the CFO, the administrator, the mayor and others. So it really was a great opportunity to learn things.”
Even better, McCurrie says the town’s ordinances were rarely reactionary. They were, instead, proactive and designed to make Kearny a safer and better place.
“We have always been a proactive governing body,” McCurrie says. “We wanted to address issues head on, not create them or react to them.”
And that, for sure, is another mission accomplished.
We also asked McCurrie what she will miss the most about being an
elected rep.
Not surprisingly, it wasn’t the latenight and often entirely-too-long council meetings she will miss. It wasn’t the countless hours of work required to be an underpaid, part-time public servant fulfilling what clearly is fulltime work. No, it was none of that.
It was, instead, the people on the council she says she will miss most.
“We have a great collegial atmosphere on the council and I’ll miss that,” McCurrie says. “Being able to affect public policy is very special and I think we did that very well.”
That’s another understatement.
We lastly asked McCurrie what she’d do with her leisure time now that her council commitments were coming to a close. This one was the easiest to answer.
“
I’ll be spending a lot more time with my family and my 10-year-old nephew,” she says. In fact, she already took her nephew to NJ Exotic Pets and got him a Jackson’s chameleon for his birthday, which had just gone by.
“It was crawling all over him near his head and face and he loved it,” she says. And now, not only will he have a new pet to love, he’ll have aunt Sue to kick around a lot more.
We say Kearny’s loss is certainly the McCurrie family’s newly found gain.
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Stk# 32555, Vin# nF240399, MSrP $83,025, duraMax 6.6l diesel, 10 sp.auto trans. PS, PB,PW, Ac, Sunroof, Multipro Power Steps, 20” Polished Alloy Wheels. lease total payments $34,128, residual $57,287. Price incl $5,047 down with $5,995 due at signing.
Observer Editor Kevin A. Canessa Jr. may be reached at kc@theobserver. com. Follow him on Facebook & Twitter @kevincanessa.
AKearny woman was killed in the early morning hours of Dec. 15, 2022, in a multivehicle crash on Route 3 in Clifton, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdez said in a joint statement with Clifton Police Chief Thomas Rinaldi.
According to Valdez:
At approximately 4:47 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, police responded to Route 3 West in Clifton in response to a three-car motor vehicle crash. The subsequent investigation revealed a Subaru Impreza struck a BMW X3 that had become disabled and was stopped in the roadway.
Following the initial collision, the Impreza was then struck broadside by an oncoming Toyota Prius.
The driver of the Subaru Impreza, Karen Garcia, 46, of Kearny, was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.
Mario Cruz-Segovia, 39, of Union City, the driver of the Toyota Prius, was also taken to Hackensack University Medical Center where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries and released.
Ahmad Yasir Rennick, 53, of Staten Island, the driver of the BMW X3, was not injured in the collision.
The investigation remains active. More information will be released once it becomes available.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact them at (877) 370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org
