e-Newspaper for 4 January 2023

NEW YEAR!

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

The year 2022 saw TheObserver.com’s greatest expansion of all time, with traffic doubling over the year 2021, our previous high-water mark. In fact, our online readership also extended into areas not previously seen before, including many new towns in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida and nations near and far.

As we’ve done for many years now, for the first edition of the New Year, we pause to take a look back at the stories that were most read online. The data is driven by solely Google Analytics, the industry standard for measuring web traffic. We also note there were two days in 2022 when the Analytics did not measure traffic.

We also note that not all stories that were in print made it to the website and not all stories that were published online made it to paper.

No. 10: Kearny EMS will be no more … then what?

This is a rarity as it’s a story that just made it into this week’s edition, but has an unusually high viewership already online. It’s the story of how Kearny EMS was to cease operation as of Jan. 1, 2023, at the stroke of the new year.

Since it would repetitive to recap a story in this edition, we refer you to that story, instead.

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No. 9: Nutley PD: Volunteer fire chief under investigation following YouTube underage sex ‘sting’

This, perhaps, is the year’s most disturbing story of the year, in addition to being the 9th most read on our website. It’s the story of Henry Meola, the 33-yearold chief of the Nutley Fire Department, who early in December was nabbed by the YouTube organization OBL Nation, attempting to meet and perhaps have sexual relations with someone he thought to be a boy,

As 2022 ends, life without Kearny Emergency Medical Services begins

By Ron Leir ronleir423@gmail.com

At midnight on New Year’s Day, the Kearny Emergency Rescue Squad, also known as Kearny Emergency Medical Services, was to end a two-decadelong tenure in town with Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health taking.

The town’s governing body met to select the private firm to provide the service for a minimum of 90 days pending solicitation of proposals for a permanent operator.

Mayor Alberto G. Santos offered this background in a Dec. 23 email.

“On Dec. 7, 2022, we were notified by Harry McNeil, head of the Kearny (EMS) squad, that the current EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) squad would cease operating at

the end of Dec. 31, 2022.

“At this juncture, I can say we expect to award a contract for the provision of EMT services to a highly qualified provider at a special meeting of the mayor and council to be held (at 6 p.m.) on Dec. 29. There will be no gap in coverage with the new provider beginning on Jan. 1, 2023. Details on the new provider will be made public at the Dec. 29 meeting,” the mayor said.

According to a source familiar with the town’s EMS situation, Kearny had received two proposals from outfits looking to provide a 3-month stopgap service: N.J. Mobile Health Care EMS, based in Mahwah, has offered to do the job for $173,375 per month; and RWJBarnabas Health, based in New

Lyndhurst Police Chief Richard Jarvis saves man from almost certain death

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

Throughout his police career, Lyndhurst Chief Richard L. Jarvis Jr. has earned many superlatives. And on Christmas Eve 2022, he earned yet another — life saver.

Here’s how it all happened, according to Lyndhurst PD Public Information Officer Det. Lt. Vincent Auteri.

At around 3 p.m., Dec. 24, the Lyndhurst Police

Department received a call altering them to the a 26-year-old man who was reportedly unresponsive.

Grimm, Sevillano, address Garfield School sixthgraders on the dangers of substances, gangs

JARVIS

wo members of the Kearny Police Department’s Community Oriented Policing Unit — Officers Jack Grimm, top, and Vanessa Sevillano, below, visited Garfield School Dec. 21 to speak to the entire sixth-grade class about the dangers of using illicit drugs, drinking before age 21 and though Kearny, fortunately, does not have a serious gang problem, they also spoke of the many consequences of joining one. The students listened attentively to both presenters and were all given a chance to ask questions after the presentation was over. Because of COVID-19, Grimm and Sevillano were unable to give this presentation at schools over the last two-plus years. But they have been able to do so, finally, with the return of the COP unit, not just at Garfield School, but at all elementary schools throughout town.

LPD: Man who vandalized 9/11 monument arrested after beating Dunkin employee

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

Ahomeless Lyndhurst man, best known for being charged in 2021 with seriously vandalizing the township’s Sept. 11, 2001, monument, finds himself on the wrong side of the law once again, and this time, it’s even more serious than his last foray with the Lyndhurst Police Department, Det. Lt. Vincent

Auteri said.

Alfredo Acevedo, 28, who Auteri says has, for many years, loitered at and around the 425 Valley Brook Ave. Dunkin, was taken into custody by police Monday, Dec. 19, after he reportedly threatened to kill a Dunkin employee then later that same night, came back to pummel the man mercilessly, so badly the man, who only has sight in one eye, may lose

(Photos by Kevin A. Canessa Jr.)

NO SHOTS FIRED AT MARSHALLS

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

hile rumors inaccurately circulated Dec. 19 of a possible shooting at Marshalls, here’s what actually happened that day, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the criminal complaint filed against the two involved, a copy of which The Observer has obtained.

Two New Jersey men were charged with possessing with intent to distribute approximately a kilogram of cocaine and approximately 100 grams of fentanyl, U.S.

Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.

Carlos Ovidio Gonzalez, 35, of Newark, and Hector Martinez, 31, of North Bergen, are charged by complaint with one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.

Gonzalez is also charged with one count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of three firearms and ammunition.

The two had their initial appearances by videoconference on Dec. 20, 2022, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen and

were both detained.

On Dec. 19, 2022, Sellinger says Gonzalez and Martinez conspired to distribute the aforementioned drugs and

were arrested shortly after they arrived at an agreedupon location in Kearny the Marshalls’ parking lot to complete the sale.

After their arrests, a search of Gonzalez’s home and an apartment also uncovered two loaded firearms,

See MARSHALLS, Page 18

Belleville ready for lead line replacement

By Ron Leir ronleir423@gmail.com

elleville is poised to launch what Township Manager Anthony Iacono called the first phase of its lead line replacement program.

At a meeting earlier this month, the township governing body voted to award a contract for $1.8 million to Shauger Property Services, of East Orange, to undertake the job of removing all lead pipes that deliver water to homeowners and installing new leadfree lines.

Shauger’s price was the lowest of three bids submitted to the township.

Shauger, listed on its website as a woman-owned business, has done, among other projects, a series of landscaping jobs in Essex County including $850,000 in improvements to Hendricks Field Golf Course in Belleville.

Belleville previously passed a bond ordinance to cover initial costs of the mandated, 10-year project and has applied to the New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection Infrastructure Bank in hopes of recovering funds to pay for Phase 1.

Iacono said the township’s goal for Phase 1 is to replace up to 400 lead service lines in the Joralemon Reservoir section. He said the township engineer

has prioritized those areas where the oldest homes of Belleville area located on the assumption that most of those homes have lead service lines.

“Some homeowners may have changed those lines on their own,” Iacono said. “That number we don’t know yet.”

In a related water infrastructure development, the mayor and Township Council voted to authorize a change order of $1,064,480 to increase a previously awarded contract to Shauger Property Services by nearly 33% to “bolster the water distribution system in the area of Clara Maass Medical Center and to remove and replace lead services lines.

The township will use Community Development Block Grant funding and municipal bonding to cover the cost of

this work.

A 9.85% contract increase was granted to Reivax Contracting Corp., of Flemington, for concrete sidewalk/apron and curb replacement, drainage work, milling and paving of various streets, water main and service line replacement for Fairview Place and Graylock Parkway, pushing up the final price of the job to $2,172,451.

Township school crossing guards, who earn $17.75 an hour, were granted pay increases of 50 cents, effective January 2023, September 2023 and January 2024, after completing one year of service.

The governing body voted to designate a four-way stop at the intersection of Greylock Parkway and Bremond Street.

Two deceased Belleville residents who played active roles in the community were honored at the meeting. The governing body paid tribute to former Mayor Raymond Kimble, who died July 22, 2019, aged 80; and Gwendolyn Hortense Smallwood Walston, who died Dec. 2, 2022, aged 79.

Kimble, a lifelong resident of the township who was an Army veteran from 1958 to 1969 and Reservist from 1960 to 1964, joined the Belleville Police Department in 1964, served as chief of police from 1992 to 1997, then as township manager and was elected for three terms as mayor.

The township will, at a date to be announced, dedicate a section of Lloyd Place, between DeWitt and Hornblower avenues, to Kimble.

Hortense Smallwood Walston, who attended School 1 and Belleville High School, worked for a hospital laundering firm, served as a home health aide and worked for the Newark-based New Community Corp. for 22 years until her retirement in 2006.

She was active in the Second River Baptist Church and Little Lion UMAE Church, both in Belleville, “and was known for compassion and her love of the Lord,” the township resolution said.

Nutley Commissioner: Don’t let reval cause panic

Says they’re based on 2022 taxes, but residents should use much-lower 2023 rate

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

While many Nutley residents received correspondence containing preliminary figures from the township-wide property revaluation in December, authorities are urging

residents not to panic from what might appear to be sticker shock.

Letters were sent by Appraisal Systems, Inc., the firm contracted by the township to determine the values of all Nutley properties as of Oct. 1, 2022, as mandated by the state.

“At first glance, there is

NUTLEY REVAL

certainly going to be sticker shock over the assessments,” Commissioner Thomas J. Evans, director of the Department of Revenue and Finance, said. “While this is understandable, it’s not the

FMBA & PBA collect & distribute Christmas toys

reality.”

A common mistake among residents is applying the 2022 tax rate to new assessment.

“To estimate their new property tax, residents can use the tentative tax rate of 2.506%, which is much lower than the 2022 tax rate of 3.864%,” Evans said. “Simply divide your new assessment by 100, then multiply it times 2.506. That equation will give you your preliminary new property tax before any budgetary adjustments for 2023.”

Evans stresses that these numbers are preliminary and they may change once the new township budgetary process is completed. He also suggests some tips for concerned homeowners: n Make sure to get a copy of property record cards and confirm it is correct. If you don’t have one, you may request it by sending an email to nutley@asinj.com n If you have questions

about your new value, meetings may be arranged by calling (201) 493-8530 Monday-Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., within 10 days of receipt of your letter.

n Additionally, you may also contact ASI at www. asinj.com/scheduling.htm. You will need to use the login information included with your letter.

n If you are part of the NJ State Freeze Program, be sure to file on time to protect your base year. An increase in tax from your new assessment will be refunded by the state as long as you file on time.

“We are here to help residents understand the process. I encourage those with questions to contact Edmund Brown, the township’s tax assessor, at ebrown@nutleynj.org,” Evans said.

For more information about the revaluation process, visit www.asinj.com

SELLING A HOME IN A BUYER’S MARKET

Home-buying activity is hot, and while most major metropolitan areas have been seller’s markets recently, buyer’s markets are out there. If you find yourself selling in a buyer’s market, it can feel like an uphill battle. It is essential to be realistic about how the market will affect both the selling price and the length of time it takes to sell. If an offer comes in, do whatever you can to keep the negotiations going, staying open and flexible. Do everything you can to make your home stand out. Make any necessary repairs and implement minor improvements. Your real estate agent will work with you to help set a competitive price, an

absolute must.

The best time to sell is when you are ready to make that move into your future. As the greater New York area’s top-notch real estate office, we can help you take that step forward. To help set the right price on your home, we’ll combine an objective evaluation of your property with a realistic assessment of market conditions – a job best left to an experienced real estate agent, a job we are very comfortable doing. We’re ready when you are. Call us! We’d love to add you to our ever-growing list of successful property buyers and sellers. “Our success has been built one satisfied customer at a time.”

P.S. It is normal to receive lowball offers in a buyer’s market.

The Kearny FMBA 218/18 and PBA 21 joined forces to collect an untold number of toys and gifts for the less fortunate of Kearny and on Dec. 15, reps from both unions delivered the toys to the Kearny Elks Lodge for sorting for Councilwoman Carol Jean Doyle’s annual Giving Tree project. On Dec. 17, many were back to deliver the toys. Seen here are, from left, assistant Fire Inspector Daniel Neves, Firefighters Steven Dyl, Chris Vezos and Thomas ‘TJ’ Witt, co-coordinators Juan Barroso Jr., secretary of the FMBA & the president of the Kearny Firefighters Foundation and Mina Ekladious, center, PBA president; retired KPD Sgt. Jay Balogh, PBA VP John Donovan, Capt. Paul Bershefski and Bill Dow, a past exalted ruler of the Elks.

Photo by Kevin A. Canessa Jr.

OPINION & VIEWPOINTS

COMMENTARY

time to look ahead to what could happen in the New Year (predictions)

Happy New Year, everyone! It’s time, once again, to look ahead to the New Year with some thoughts and musings about what might happen on the local scene. Remember — these are all predictions. Some of it is based on conjecture. Some of it is based on speculation. All of it is meant to be in good fun and taken with a grain of salt. So with that said, let’s get into it.

In 2023 ...

n East Newark Mayor Dina Grilo continues her unwillingness to deal with the local media, something that has been ongoing since the very first day of her mayoralty. It leads to rumblings — and ultimately, the reality — someone in the borough will challenge her for the mayor’s seat in 2024, perhaps even someone already sitting on the council.

n Sticking in East Newark, the borough administrator lasts the entire year, something that was thought to be impossible, given the inordinate number of admins there have been since Grilo succeeded Joseph Smith as mayor in 2020.

n In Harrison, it’ll be the first election cycle not to involve Anselmo Millan. The former Second Ward councilman decides the last three defeats he’s suffered, the most lopsided of which was in 2022 to Mayor James A. Fife, serves as the writing on the wall — it’s time to bow out of public life.

n Fife, meanwhile, announces plans to build housing for seniors, a major undertaking that was a specific goal of his for a new term. It will cement his legacy as one of Harrison’s most productive mayors of all time.

n Staying in Harrison, something comes of accusations tossed about in the 2022 mayoral campaign.

n David Paszkiewicz announces a run for the Kearny Board of Education on the heels of his defeat seeking a seat on the Town Council. He can do this now that he is no longer a teacher in the school system. He makes reinstituting school prayer a priority in his campaign.

n North Arlington Mayor Daniel H. Pronti, fresh off a big November election victory, unveils plans for senior & veteran housing in the borough, one of the most ambitious ideas he translates into a reality to date. He also announces plans for more new police officers.

n Belleville Mayor Michael A. Melham uses his mandate to announce more redevelopment plans for the township. It will be the start to what will translate into one of the most active and fruitful mayoral terms in Belleville ever.

n It’s year two of Kearny Mayor Alberto G. Santos’s most recent four-year term and sometime in the coming year, he will make an announcement no one saw coming. What that announcement is — let your imagination run wild.

n Kearny Councilwoman Carol Jean Doyle announces this will be her final term in office. She will retire from the council and not seek re-election in 2025, falling just short of serving for 30 years.

Fernandez gets full NROTC scholarship

Mikael Fernandez, the son of Josie Millan Fernandez and Michael Fernandez, has been awarded an NROTC Marine Option scholarship, good for his four years at any college. At the end, he will commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corp.

LaClair: Maybe it’s more just about treating others with dignity and love?

To the Editor:

My friend Damien Garofalo argues that slavery and genocide reflect people losing their way by making ego their master. I agree.

Pastor Garofalo loses his way when he insists that we can be free of ego only through Christian theology – worshiping Christ. That is demonstrably false, as we see through the examples of Buddha, Gandhi and countless others.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Christian theology’s “one way” is not the answer. The way out of ego is to care about others, and put that caring at the core of life. We do not need a middle-man or a story to do that.

Theism creates the very problem that well-meaning theists claim to avoid. We choose which religion to

follow, and how to interpret it. That is why theistic religion is at the core of so many conflicts. In this, nothing has ever saved us from ourselves, or ever will.

No one can serve two masters. That is why a core commitment to the worth and dignity of every person, not to theology, is the solution to our problems.

Paul L. LaClair Kearny

In Memoriam

Mary A. Tortoreti 1942-2016

Lisa M. Feorenzo

lisa@theobserver.com

Co-owner/Advertising Dir.

Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com Editor/Broadcaster

39 Seeley Avenue n Kearny, N.J. 07032 n (201) 991-1600 Fax: (201) 991-8941 n www.theobserver.com

Tina Feorenzo Co-owner/Advertising

Michelle Rybeck advertising@theobserver.com Graphic Artist/Real Estate

Deadlines

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n Obituaries: 10 a.m., Monday

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n Help Wanted: noon, Monday — all ads must be sent to classified@theobserver.com.

Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com Sports Writer

Robert P. Pezzolla gm@theobserver.com General Manager

Kimberley Pezzolla kimpezzolla@theobserver.com Sales/Classifieds

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It’s

3 KHS students arrested in 3 unrelated incidents:

By Capt. Timothy Wagner Kearny Police Department

n Dec. 9, Det. David Bush and Sgt. Michal Gontarczuk took a 15-year-old boy into custody at the Kearny High School main office. The boy was charged as a juvenile delinquent with robbery, luring a child, aggravated assault, criminal restraint, endangering an injured victim, theft, terroristic threats, false imprisonment and weapon possession offenses. A court intake officer then ordered the boy held at a county juvenile detention facility.

The charges stem from a Dec. 1 incident that occurred at 5:38 p.m. near Veteran’s Field on Belgrove Drive. In that incident, a 16-year-old Kearny boy reported that he was lured to the area by the suspect where he was then assaulted, threatened and robbed by the suspect and a group of teens who

punched and kicked him and ripped his clothes. One of the teens was allegedly armed with an orange-handled knife. A suspect reportedly displayed the knife and told the victim that if he does not call himself a “b—ch” and allow them to take his belongings, they would stab him.

The suspects then stole the boy’s sneakers, coat, sweatshirt, smart phone and book bag before fleeing. The boy was later transported by EMS to University Hospital with hearing loss, several shoe print stomp marks on his body and a lacerated lip. It was later reported to detectives that the involved parties are part of two criminal street gangs recently founded by Kearny High students.

The investigation into the identities of the remaining suspects remains active.

On Dec. 14 at 1:08 p.m., a Kearny High School student reported to School Resource Officer Vanessa Sevillano that she placed her book bag on a cafeteria table as she was purchasing her lunch and the bag went missing. After further investigation, Officer Sevillano found a 15-year-old boy stole the book bag.

POLICE BEAT

The boy was summoned to the principal’s office where he returned the book bag. The victim then found that her credit card was missing from the bag and her school-issued Chrome Book computer was damaged ($340 value). When administrators inquired about the missing credit card, the suspect also turned over the card to them.

Sgts. Michal Gontarczuk and Phil Finch took the suspect into custody. He was charged as a juvenile delinquent with theft and criminal mischief. The boy was later released to his mother.

On Dec. 21, Sgt. Michal Gontarczuk, Det. Kyle Plaugic and Officers Vanessa Sevillano and Jack Grimm took a 16-year-old Kearny High School student into custody at the school’s main office. The boy was charged as a juvenile delinquent with terroristic threats, conspiracy, weapon possession offenses, and simple assault.

The charges stemmed from a Nov. 30 report made by two boys – 14 and 17 — who said they had left the Passaic Avenue Burger King just before 8 p.m. and began walking across the parking lot. A dark-colored vehicle approached the boys and a male inside it pointed a knife at the boys from the car window and asked them if they wanted to die. The boys continued walking.

As the boys reached LA Fitness, they noticed a male wearing a ski mask following them on foot. The male stopped them near the gym and pressed an orange-handled knife against the boys’ backs as the dark vehicle pulled up nearby. One of the boys elbowed the suspect and the suspect reacted by punching the boy several times in the face. The suspect then got into the dark vehicle and fled.

Det. Plaugic and Sgt. Gontarczuk took up the investigation and later identified the suspect as the 16-yearold Kearny High student taken into custody on Dec. 21. After booking, the suspect was released to his mother. The investigation into the identity of coconspirators is ongoing.

All instances took place off campus, police say

WHATCo has a new (and hopefully long-term)home

The West Hudson Arts and Theater Company (WHATCo) is ready to raise the curtain on a new location, a new season and even some new leadership.

That’s because the community theater, which has delivered over 150 productions from full-scale musicals to kid-friendly theater, will now operate from the former Holy Cross School at 15 Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard S. in Harrison.

“It has become clear that the stability of a long-term home is necessary for us to continue to deliver on our mission of providing high-quality theater and arts education opportunities to the West Hudson community,” WHATCo President Brandi-Leigh Miller said. “We are happy to have found a space that will allow us to work toward that goal. Holy Cross is an amazing and welcoming new venue for WHATCo that will put us in a high-traffic and very visible location and help make us more accessible to all audiences, thanks to its proximity to the PATH station and public transportation.”

Current plans are for the new facility to house not only the full season of WHATCo productions presented on a real stage, but also be home to a new series of day-long youth arts workshops in musical theater, a variety of art mediums and more.

Miller views this move as an important time for future growth .

“Our challenge was to not only find a space we could afford, but one that could also accommodate what has widely been recognized as a very exciting and ambitious plan to keep theater alive here in West Hudson,” Miller said.

She says the challenge for WHATCo now is to not only spread the word the theater has a new home, “but even more importantly, to let the West Hudson

residential and business community know that we are going to need their support to keep our doors open for the arts-minded community of all ages.”

To that end, Miller says a fundraising initiative on behalf of WHATCo will also soon be announced under the leadership of newly named WHATCo Vice President Gloria Spence. Spence fills the position vacated by Miller when she was appointed president in January 2022.

“Gloria is a perfect fit for our revitalized board,” Miller said. “She brings with her years of non-profit fundraising experience and a keen understanding of the importance of forming strong relationships with donors at all levels.”

Also joining the WHATCo board as artistic adviser is award-winning North Jersey community theater veteran Beatriz Esteban-Messina.

The 2023 season

The 2023 season at WHATCo in its new home will include “Drop Dead!,” by Billy Van Zant and Jane Milmore; “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” by Charles M. Schultz with book music and lyrics by Mark Gesner and additional dialogue by Michael Mayer; and “The Great Gatsby — a Live Radio Play,” an old-time radio show re-imagining F. Scott Fitzgerald’s American classic novel adapted by Joe Landry.

The season will also feature an original murder-mystery dinner theater production. “Trivia Night Murder” will serve as a fundraiser for WHATCo in March. Consider auditioning to be a part of the productions, or to volunteer off-stage. Information, tickets and more about WHATCo, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, may be found at www.whatconj.org.

Apple Maps

The West Hudson Arts & Theater Company has a new home base for 2023 and hopefully beyond at the former Holy Cross School, Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard South, in Harrison.

SPORTS & RECREATION

North Arlington girls, Belleville and Kearny boys win holiday basketball tournaments

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

The holiday tournament week has been a successful one for The Observer Area basketball teams. Three local programs, the North Arlington girls team and the Belleville and Kearny boys teams each were the champions in the holiday tournaments they competed in. For each, it’s the latest example of the progress they have made early on this basketball season.

North Arlington girls snap skid in William Ferguson Tournament

North Arlington head coach Brendan Queenan noticed his team might have seen its confidence shaken just a touch when the Vikings entered the holiday break with consecutive losses to Rutherford and Lyndhurst.

But at its own annual William Ferguson Holiday Tournament, North Arlington shook off any lingering doubts and emerged as champions in the event for the first time since 2014.

First, the Vikings overwhelmed University Academy Charter of Jersey City, 66-6 on Tuesday. Then, the next day North Arlington held off Bergen

Tech, 36-32 in the final.

“I think we were a little discouraged after (losing to) Lyndhurst and Rutherford last week,” Queenan said.” I think this just shows that when we play hard, smart and together, we can compete with just about anybody.

“It was big on a number of fronts. Bergen Tech was a team that we played in the summer league that really manhandled us. They’re a group 4 school and we’re a small group 1 so this was a real measuring stick game for us and we answered the bell.”

Junior guard Sophie Veloso was named Tournament MVP after recording 12 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals in the title. Veloso also scored 17 points in the first round, but her impact went far beyond that.

“There’s so many things that she does that don’t show up on stat sheets,” said Queenan. “She really leads by example out there and just made some clutch plays.”

Teammates Skyla Acosta (14 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals vs. Bergen Tech and Lia Cruz (13 points over two games) joined Veloso on the All-Tournament Team.

“They’re starting to see the things we’ve talked about actually coming to fruition in front of them. Now they can lay claim to winning a championship,” Queenan said. “Granted it is a Christmas tournament, but the other three teams didn’t do it, but we did.”

Belleville takes charge, defeats North Arlington for title

After graduating virtually the entire rotation from last season’s 18-9 team, Belleville head coach Jim Catalano has made it clear that this season’s group will need to excel on the defensive end if it hopes to compete. In particular, that means getting on the floor, taking charges and forcing turnovers.

“Defensively, we do a lot of different things, but everything is based on taking the charge,” said Catalano. “The one good thing so far with this group is that they’ve really bought into what we’re doing. We took seven and eight charges and that really changed the tempo in the game.”

That combined with some

Nutley wrestler Brandon Toranzo makes an instant impact

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

Brandon Toranzo’s initial introduction to wrestling wasn’t necessarily an easy one. Such early struggles are certainly understandable in retrospect as his first and most common early foe on the mat was his older brother Michael.

“There were days I wouldn’t want to walk into practice, especially going against my brother, who is probably the most aggressive wrestler I’ve ever gone up against in my life,” said Brandon, about Michael, a redshirt freshman at Rutgers. “And since it’s brother on brother competition, he’s never going to go easy on me. There’s a big toughness factor that he gave me.”

The start of Brandon’s high school varsity career has done quite a bit differently.

Toranzo, who transferred back home to Nutley High School from St. Joseph Regional less than two months ago, has started his junior season with a perfect 9-0 record at heavyweight for the Maroon Raiders. Six of those wins were by pin and in both the Kearny Holiday Tournament and Rahway Holiday Tournament, Toranzo was selected as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.

Toranzo’s early dominance makes him The Observer Athlete of the Week, the first recipient for the winter sports season.

The performance is all the more eye-opening when it comes with the realization that due to a torn ACL in his right knee as well as playing football at St. Joseph, Toranzo only returned to competitive wrestling about seven

weeks ago.

“I knew that coming into the season I was going to be under the radar, especially coming back from a torn ACL where I missed the whole season last year and I couldn’t compete in any of the offseason tournaments,” said Toranzo. “But when I came into this season, I knew I was ready to go and I knew I had something to prove.”

Toranzo was certainly well prepared for the moment from all of his years practicing against his brother as well as his former St. Joseph teammate Jimmy Mullen, a Kearny native and two-time state champion heavyweight.

The two spent plenty of time going against each other in St. Joseph’s wrestling room and still train together three nights a week at DC Trained in Paramus.

“I’ve been wrestling with Jimmy my whole life and he’s definitely a big factor in why I’ve been doing so good in the beginning of the season,” Toranzo said. “He’s such an agile and fast heavyweight. I really am inspired to be just like him.”

All of the hours training against Mullen and his older brother Michael, who took third in the state his senior season at 220 pounds, has definitely influenced Brandon’s style on the mat.

Like them, Brandon wrestles like a lighter weight due to his exceptional quickness and agility. That, combined with his strength from years as a powerlifter, make Brandon Toranzo an especially challenging opponent.

“At a young age, I had the classic heavyweight look, but as a I saw my brother

Photo courtesy of Athletic Director Josh Aronowitz

The second photo is of the North Arlington girls basketball team after winning the William Ferguson Holiday Tournament in North Arlington.

BASKETBALL

timely outside shooting allowed the young Bucs, who play as many as four sophomores on the court at any given time, a 43-31 victory over host North Arlington in the William Ferguson Holiday Tournament.

Tournament MVP Connor Cook made four 3-pointers to finish with a game-high 13 points for Belleville which won without top shooter and defender Anthony Valdez. Valdez scored 12 points in the Buccaneers’ 55-38 win over Bergen Tech in the first round.

Cook (19 points in two games) was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Eli Hannon (24 points, 15 rebounds) and Andrey Laquindanum (10 points). Elijah Pickering added 21 points over the two wins and took four charges in the final.

“They’re starting to see that what I said at the beginning of the year is coming to fruition,” Catalano said. “Even in the games that we lost to better

teams, we kept the score close because of our defense. They’re locked into that (defensive mindset) for sure.

“They see that when we play defense, we’re going to limit teams.”

For North Arlington, senior Daniel Janosek (13 points, 13 rebounds in two games) and Justin Bunnell (nine points, nine steals, seven assists) earned spots on the All-Tournament Team. The Vikings, who defeated University Charter, 70-24 in the first round, have already matched last season’s win total this season.

Kearny offense comes alive

After an up-and-down start to the season, Kearny’s up-tempo offense was running all cylinders this week during its Kearny Holiday Tournament.

On Wednesday, the Kardinals overwhelmed Marion P. Thomas Charter, 76-66, in the first round. Then, the next day, Kearny blew out Abundant Life, 68-43, in the title game.

Each victory followed a similar script for Kearny as it used a balanced attack on offense to build an early lead and never

look back. In each game, the Kardinals had four players score in double figures and five finish with eight or more points.

Point guard Shamar Bailey, who scored 17 points over the two games, was named Tournament MVP. Bailey was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Matheus Mullins (30 points in the two games) and Jose Escalante (22 points). In addition, Jayden Figuereo scored 28 points in the tournament and Luis Rodriguez had 23 Nutley, which lost to Abundant Life in the opener, bounced back with a 66-40 win over Marion P. Thomas Charter in the consolation game to earn its first victory of the season.

Anthony Pinal led the way with 18 points.

Kearny, Nutley girls set for finals showdown

The Kearny and Nutley girls were set to square off in the final of the William Masopust Jr. Holiday Classic in Lodi this past Friday evening, after our deadline for this week.

Kearny, winners of five straight, overwhelmed Harrison, 59-14, in the first round on Tuesday, then defeated Indian Hills, 56-34, in the semifinals on Wednesday. Maci Covello has posted back-to-back double-doubles, totalling 34 points and 22 rebounds in the wins, while Ava Hyams has 41 points, 12 rebounds and eight steals in the tournament.

Nutley defeated Memorial of West New York, 49-17, in the first round, then held off Saddle Brook in the semifinals, 53-43. Sophomore Isabel Riccardi had 14 points and seven rebounds in the opener. In the semifinals, the Maroon Raiders relied on a balanced offensive effort as Riley Sebastiano scored 15 points, Grace Christie had 12 and Lauren Minichini added 10.

Premier Car e TALK S

AORTIC ANEURYSMS: WHAT EXACTLY ARE THEY?

Aortic aneurysm is a protrusion in the aorta, the large artery that transports blood from the heart through the body. Although some aortic aneurysms are asymptomatic, the pressure of rapidly pumping blood can split the arterial wall layers, creating blood leaks that cause the layers to rupture and trigger potentially fatal internal bleeding. Smokers represent the highest risk category for aortic aneurysm, although genetics, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and hardened arteries are other factors. Prescription medicines can lower blood pressure and reduce risk for aneurysm rupture. However, in certain cases, surgical intervention, such as endovascular repair in which a small incision is made, or open surgery requiring a graft

to repair the damage, may become necessary.

Diseases and unhealthy behaviors that damage your heart and blood vessels can increase your risk for aortic aneurysm. Some inherited connective tissue disorders can also increase your risk for aortic aneurysm. To schedule an appointment, please call PREMIER CARE ASSOCIATES OF WEST HUDSON at 201-998-7474. We are located at 512 Kearny Ave., Suite B, where walk-in patients are always welcome 7 days a week.

P. S. Considered one of the most daring and accomplished surgeons in history, Greek surgeon Antyllus was the first to record the cause and treatment of aneurysm in the 2nd century AD.

Premier Care Associates of West Hudson is available on a walk-in or appointment basis for your primary healthcare needs.

Dr. Prakash J. Doshi

Dr. Hector Aguilar

LEFT: The Belleville boys basketball team after winning the William Ferguson Holiday Tournament in North Arlington. RIGHT: The Kearny boys basketball team.

evolve and watched Jimmy wrestle my whole life, I changed,” Toranzo said. “They always wrestled like they were 160, 170 pounds so that inspired me to wrestle just like that. I feel like that’s always worked to my abilities as a big, athletic kid.”

“He is extremely strong for a teenager his size,” said Nutley head coach Mike DiPiano. “He’s extremely, extremely athletic. He’s strong as an ox, fast. He doesn’t wrestle like a heavyweight, he wrestles like a (150 pounder), he can move.

DiPiano compares Toranzo to another all-time great from the area, his younger brother Mike, who won 189 matches and was a multi-time High School All-American at St. Benedict’s.

Despite Toranzo’s early success, the junior is far from satisfied. The two Most Outstanding Wrestlers are merely the start of the lofty goals he has set forth for himself this season.

“I definitely want an undefeated regular season, a district title, a regional title,” Toranzo said. “And I want to go out there and compete at states and place at least top three or top five.”

Have you seen this bloke? Kearny PD need to find him

Police say Det. Jordenson Jean, who has been investigating the crime, has exhausted all others means of identification. If you, per chance, know who this is, call the detective at (201) 998-1313 or send him an email to jjean@ kearnynjpd.org.

If you prefer to remain anonymous, send an email to tips@kearnynjpd.org on this or any other crime.

RETINOSCHISIS

“Schisis” means division or splitting. Retinoschisis happens when the retina separates into two layers. Peripheral vision is usually affected, but the condition can also spread to the macula and affect central vision. The condition is characterized by the slow but progressive loss of vision in the affected areas and may include loss of overall visual acuity. Although blindness is rare, retinoschisis can lead to very poor vision that cannot be improved with corrective lenses. If it spreads to the macula, retinal detachment can occur, and surgical intervention is recommended. Retinoschisis has two forms: a congenital form present at birth that mostly occurs in boys, and an acquired form that affects both men and

women usually middle aged or older.

It is normal for vision to worsen with age. Glasses or contact lenses can help correct most mild vision problems. It is worth visiting an eye specialist if the problem becomes severe and affects daily functioning. He or she may perform some diagnostic tests, such as an electroretinogram, to check for damage in the retina. To schedule an exam, please call 201-8960096. We are located at 20 Park Avenue, Lyndhurst. To reach our optical shop, call 201-896-0007. We accept most insurance.

P.S. The juvenile form of retinoschisis is more serious, and the adult form may be asymptomatic, making it difficult to diagnose. www.delucavision.com

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

DeLuca Vision Consultants

So he’s really got the whole package.”

Photo by Jason Bernstein Brandon Toranzo

Kearny Police Department Police are looking for this man for his involvement in a February carjacking.

The Kearny Police Department is calling on the public to help them identify the man in the photo above for his connection to a February carjacking in the parking lot of Kearny ShopRite.

14.

The encounter began on a dating app and Meola reportedly traveled to the Walmart in North Bergen to meet the boy. Instead, he met Ramy, the OBL Nation founder, several of his crew and numerous cameras, one of which was streaming live to Ramy’s YouTube page, www.YouTube.com/@oblnation.

The interactions Meola reportedly had were not really with a 14-year-old boy but were instead with an OBL Nation decoy purporting to be the boy. The chats were, at times, extremely graphic.

Ultimately, Meola, Ramy and the crew returned to Nutley, where they were met by the Nutley Police Department outside a township deli. Town Attorney John Bruno was also already on scene. Apparently, a viewer of the program altered Nutley police to to incident.

After the investigation was transferred to the North Ber-

gen Police Department and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Meola was then arrested and charged with luring of a minor and attempted contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Meola spent one night in the Hudson County Jail in South Kearny, but after his first appearance in Hudson County Superior Court, he was released on his own recognizance, but ordered to remain away from any minor.

To that point, Meola had been suspended from his chiefly duties. That was before he was arrested. It is not immediately clear whether any further disciplinary action has been taken following his arrest. The Observer will continue to follow this story as it makes its way through the courts.

n No.8: Newark man arrested in Kearny, is charged with killing Belleville bodega owner, ECPO says

This was a web-only story. As family prepared to lay his victim to rest, the man authorities believe killed a Belleville

man who owned and operated a bodega in Newark was hauled into custody in July while he was in Kearny, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II and Interim Newark Public Safety Director Raul Malave said over the weekend.

Quadree Richardson, 24, of Newark, was arrested and charged with the murder of Rabel Ramos-Gomez, Stephens said.

On July 17, Ramos-Gomez, 46, of Belleville, was fatally shot on the 200 block of South 10th Street, Newark, while working at the corner store he and his wife owned and operated . Richardson has been charged with first-degree murder and two weapon offenses.

The victim, Ramos-Gomez, was born in the Dominican Republic and dreamed of moving to America to have a better life for his family and himself. He and his wife, Alicia, took over the bodega in 2019.

When the pandemic hit, he actually kept the doors to the bodega closed one day a week so he could serve the under-

privileged residents of the area near the store.

n No. 7: Victim of Kearny homicide identified by HCPO Combined with its other reports, this indent was more read about than any individual story in 2022. However, on its own, it ranks 7th overall, and is about the killing of a Kearny man, on Belgrove Drive, in September.

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office identified the man found dead Sept. 20 as 34-year-old Corey McFadden.

At approximately 5:45 a.m. that day, the Kearny Police Department received a 911 call of an individual lying on the ground in the area of Belgrove Drive and Afton Street. Responding officers located McFadden with multiple apparent stab wounds to the lower body. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:20 a.m.

A source unauthorized to speak about the incident told The Observer the victim was stabbed in the femoral artery in a leg, causing him to bleed out. The Observer was also told at the time of the incident it was isolated — and other than the victim, no one else in the area was in any danger of any kind.

Later in the month, Matthew Kochell, 32, of Kearny, was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon. Kochell and codefendant Elliot Barton, 39, of Kearny, were both previously charged with desecrating/disturbing human remains. Both were remanded to the Hudson County Jail in South Kearny.

n No. 6: Nutley man who once stabbed Newark police ser-

geant nabbed in North Bergen with illegal weapons & ammo by HCPO

A Nutley man with a troubled legal past found himself behind bars yet again after he was pulled over in North Bergen Nov. 16 and law enforcement found he was in possession of illegal weapons and ammo, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Gang Task Force says it recovered two handguns and high-capacity magazines and arrested 27-year-old Mark Peralta, of Nutley, following a motor vehicle stop.

He was charged with two counts of possession of a weapon (handgun), two counts of unlawful possession of prohibited devices (high-capacity magazine), two counts of certain persons not to have a weapon, two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon having a prior No Early Release Act (NERA) conviction, and resisting arrest, a disorderly-persons offense.

Shortly before 7 p.m. that night, the Gang Task Force conducted a motor-vehicle stop in the area of Liberty Avenue and 41st Street, North Bergen, and Peralta was found to have an open warrant out of Jersey City and he was ultimately placed under arrest.

Published reports indicate Peralta was arrested and charged with stabbing a Newark police sergeant in 2016 in what was described, at the time, as a large street fight. Back then, he was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes and resisting arrest. (Sound familiar?)

John

OBITUARIES

Kimberly A.

Blakely

Kimberly A. Blakely (nee Ireland) of Kearny died Dec. 22, 2022.

She was 56.

Visiting was at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, Kearny. Mass was celebrated at Our Lady of Sorrows, Kearny. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.

Kim was the beloved wife of Chuck Blakely and cherished daughter of Ruth and Rodger Ireland. She also is survived by her beloved brother Sean Blakely (Stephanie) and their son Andreas. She is also survived by her best pal Zoey and many loving cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to the American Diabetes Association.

William C. Boutilette

William C. Boutilette passed away on Dec. 27.

He was 58.

Born in Newark, he was a

lifelong Kearny resident also having lived sometime in Lanoka Harbor.

Visiting will be Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, from 3 until 8 p.m. at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. Mass will be celebrated Friday, Jan. 6, 2023 at 10 a.m. at Sacreda Heart Church in Lyndhurst. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.

Billy cherished his memories of marching in Drum Corps. He was a member of the Schuyler Fishing Club. He was a fabulous cook and loved cooking for family and friends. He was a carpenter for many years.

Billy is the son of Lorraine (nee Lysiak) and the late Joseph Sr. dear father of Ashley Boutilette (son-in-law Randy Laveille), Brianna Boutilette and Lauren Boutilette.

Brother of Karen Catapano (Joseph), Kevin Boutilette, Michele Walsh (Kevin), Joanne Connelly (Michael),

Joseph Boutilette Jr. and Joan Boutilette. He was also the loving grandfather of Amelia and Jameson. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews and their families Kate, Jenna, Jessica, Sal, Erin, Shawn, Jamie and Tricia. He was recently predeceased by his cherished nephew Anthony.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to Billy’s children to help with their future needs. If you graciously decide to participate please make a check payable to Ashley Boutilette and send it to the funeral home. We will forward all gifts to Ashley. Thank you.

Dorothy ‘Dotty’ Kerr

Dorothy “ Dotty” Kerr, 86, of Kearny passed away peacefully at home Dec. 29, 2022. Beloved wife of the late Joseph Kerr (2015). Devoted mother of Lorrie Nash (her husband Joel), Darcy Barbulescu

(her husband Ryan). Wendy Kerr and James Kerr and his wife Susan, and his stepchildren, Rebecca Galada and Nicholas McEwen. Cherished grandmother of Karly Fisher, Tara Ortuso (her husband Richie) and loving step grandmother to Rebecca and Nicholas. Dear sister of Mae Arnot (her husband Robert) and she was predeceased by her siblings, Robert and Clem Cockcroft. Dotty is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

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

Before retiring Dotty was an office manager for Crosta & Rossi Dental Assoc., Lyndhurst.

Viewing was at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, Kearny.

An 11 a.m. funeral service will take place in the funeral home on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Private cremation will follow.

In lieu of flowers kindly consider a donation to the American heart Association or consider your own favorite charity in Dottie’s memory.

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2022

n No. 5: DEVELOPING — Police activity on Thomas Avenue in Lyndhurst

This one started only as an alert and it was very simple from May 3.

A day later, we learned all about this fascinating case of a man who kept police at bay for more than 21 hours. The Thomas Avenue man was identified as 51-year-old Robert Condit, Det. Lt. Vincent Auteri, of the Lyndhurst Police Department, said.

Here’s a recap of what happened, according to Auteri.

The morning Condit began his saga with the Lyndhurst Police Department, he had a court appearance to determine whether he should be required to surrender his firearms and gun permits. Turns out that case was necessitated because of a family member, with a legal matter, he was involved with. That day, a judge handed down a decision Condit was to surrender, to the Lyndhurst PD, his license to buy firearms and his cache of weapons (six firearms) and all ammunition. He didn’t want to comply, so when he got home, police were already waiting for him, he snuck past them and the saga was underway.

During that time, reports surfaced on social media that Condit was holding hostages and that shots were fired. That never occurred. Period.

Condit did shoot something off at cops, however, while he was keeping them busy. Somehow, Auteri says, Condit was able to purchase a massive flame thrower. While police patiently waited for him to surrender, he reportedly shot the flame thrower off, in the direction of the tactical officers, multiple times, while he wore body armor. This all led to attempted-murder charges.

Just a little past 1:10 p.m., Wednesday, May 4, Condit surrendered, peacefully, without further incident and without anyone being harmed.

The charges levied against Condit included two counts of attempted murder (for shooting off the flame thrower), aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officers, resisting arrest, terroristic threats, possession of prohibited weapons and devices, possession of weapons for unlawful purposes, unlawful possession

of a weapon, unlawful use of body vests, possession of a destructive device, hindering apprehension, obstruction, contempt of court and added later in the week, four counts of possession of high capacity magazines.

He was taken to New Bridge Medical Center for psychiatric evaluation.

n No. 4: A look at what (actually) happened at Kearny Marshalls Monday, Dec. 19

This one had social media in an unnecessary frenzy after Facebook & Ring warriors decided, incorrectly, to “post” shots had been fired at the Kearny Marshalls on Dec. 19. Naturally, there were no shots fired at any point in the day, though law enforcement including the FBI were nearby in pursuit of two suspects.

Carlos Ovidio Gonzalez, 35, of Newark, and Hector Martinez, 31, of North Bergen, were charged by complaint with one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. Gonzalez was also charged with one count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of three firearms and ammunition.

On Dec. 19, 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Gonzalez and Martinez conspired to distribute the aforementioned drugs and were arrested shortly after they arrived at an agreed-upon location in Kearny the Marshalls’ parking lot to complete the sale.

After their arrests, a search of Gonzalez’s home and an apartment also uncovered two loaded firearms, an unloaded firearm, ammunition, drug packaging materials, and suspected heroin, cocaine, oxycodone and Xanax pills.

Among the specific items found in two vehicles used by the suspects were, according to the official complaint: a brick of suspected cocaine, a vacuum-sealed bag containing suspected fentanyl, a bag containing 74 suspected fentanyl pills, a narcotics-style scale, a 9 mm Taurus handgun with 8 rounds in a magazine of 12, a .40 Smith & Wesson handgun with 9 of 10 rounds in place with a fiveround extender, 42 loose 9mm bullets, more than 2,100 baggies of suspected heroin, 584 pills of Oxycodone at 30mg a piece, 81 Xanax pills and other items used to package drugs.

Jarlynn

n No. 3 — 2 men — one a former Harrison cop, another a former Kearny resident — admit to bilking customers after Super Storm Sandy: OCPO Two former area residents, including one who is a retired Harrison police officer who spent time on the rubble at Ground Zero after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on America, face several years behind bars after pleading guilty to Hurricane Sandy-related fraud charges this week, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

On May 6, 2022, former HPD Officer John Bishop, 57, now of Celebration, Florida, pled guilty to theft by failure to make required disposition, Billhimer said. Three days later, Bishop’s business partner, Paul Rueda, 50, of San Diego, Texas, formerly of Kearny, pled guilty to the same charge.

Billhimer said both defendants’ guilty pleas stem from their stealing funds through contractor businesses they operated together between October 2014 and May 2017 in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties.

An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office’s Economic Crimes Unit revealed Bishop and Rueda formed John Paul Building, LLC, in November 2012. Six homeowners throughout Ocean, Monmouth, and Middlesex counties reportedly entered into contracts with building company to repair their homes after Superstorm Sandy.

Collectively, these homeowners paid the pair in excess of $350,000, which the defendants agreed to use to complete the projects. The homeowners received little to no work on their projects.

Subsequently, between July 2016 and May 2017, Rueda entered in agreements with four additional homeowners under his newly formed contracting business, PKR Construction. These homeowners paid PKR Construction a total of $363,575 toward construction projects on their properties.

n No. 2 Situation at Oakwood and Kearny Avenue — what we know The second-most read story of 2022 involved another situation where a person kept police at bay, and while this was in Kearny wasn’t as long as the one in Lyndhurst was, it was nonetheless a difficult day for the Kearny Police Department, the Hudson County SWAT Team and other departments that provided assistance.

It started in the morning hours of Dec. 2 at 78 Oakwood Ave., after a woman barricaded herself inside the home, threatening to kill herself with a shotgun (which later turned out to be a BB gun). Police tried to quickly remove her from the home, but she retreated into the house.

The public was, for hours, barred from walking anywhere near the home

out of an abundance of caution.

After more than six hours of keeping police and SWAT at bay, the woman ultimately emerged from the home without a weapon on her. Capt. Timothy Wagner, the Kearny PD’s press liaison, said the woman had been taken to an area hospital where she was expected to undergo an extensive psychiatric evaluation.

After searching the home, police found a BB gun not a rifle.

Deputy Police Chief Scott Macfie, who was the incident commander that day, said the woman, was to be charged with aggravated assault since she “pointed the gun at workers” who were performing construction on an adjacent home.

Charges aren’t always a foregone certainty when someone holds police at bay.

Unfortunately, the home is one police have often been called to for a variety of reasons. In fact, in a police blotter a week before this incident, we learnt the woman in this case was arrested in November after she first fled the home to the Exxon Station at Oakwood and Kearny and told police someone was going to kill her and then just hours later, stood accused of threatening to kill someone, herself, who also lived in the same home (which, by the way, does not have electricity.)

There were other reports you may have previously read in this newspaper involving the woman and other residents at that house involving anything from noise complaints to violations of restraining orders to physical assaults.

Despite all of the intense action which included locking down Lincoln Middle School, just half a block away from the scene of the incident not a single person the victim, civilians, police was injured during the course of the day.

And, fortunately, since the incident was isolated to the home, the general public was never at risk for harm.

Meanwhile, as tends to happen when incidents such as this one occurs, there were numerous egregious social-media reports about what was happening at the scene, the worst of which is that people were being held hostage.

At no time was it ever a hostage situation.

n No. 1 KPD: Shoplifting woman who crapped her own pants ordered to get fingerprinted — after she cleaned up Sometimes, all it takes is reading a headline to know a story will be well read and such was the case with this police blotter entry from Capt. Tim Wagner, of the Kearny Police Department. Now we knew this piece

would be well shared but never to the extent it actually was. Because not only was this the most read story in 2022, it is also the single most-read story in theobserver.com’s history, which dates back 26+ years to 1996.

It was four short paragraphs long. We suspect the other blotter entries might not have gotten as much attention of the opener did. Here it is, therefore, precisely as it appeared Sept. 8, 2022.

On Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m., Officer Michael Ore and Sgt. Tim Castle were dispatched to ShopRite to assist Det. Jordenson Jean who had detained an

alleged shoplifter. A store manager had informed Det. Jean he observed Nelsa Portillo, 70, of Newark, conceal Axe body sprays, fish and vitamins in her bag and then pass the cash registers without paying the $138.88 sale price for the merchandise.

When Det. Jean confronted Portillo, she allegedly defecated herself.

Since officers were able to positively identify Portillo on the scene, they issued her a summons for shoplifting and an order to appear later at KPD HQ for fingerprinting when she became unsoiled

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Help control the Lanterfly population

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher encourages residents to help eliminate spotted lanternfly egg masses.

While the adult spotted lanternflies cannot survive the freezing temperatures, they do lay egg masses that survive the winter and then hatch in late April or early May.

“The more of these egg masses that can be destroyed now and before spring, the less of these nuisance pests there will be next year,” Fisher said.

Spotted lanternfly egg masses hold between 30-50 eggs of the invasive species. One sign to look to see where spotted lanternflies have been is black sooty mold on a tree.

The spotted lanternfly prefers the Tree of Heaven, which is common in New Jersey.

The egg masses may be found on almost any kind of surface, including on vehicles, park benches, steps or outdoor stairways, or on the sides of buildings. The egg masses may be scraped with a credit card (or something similar). It is important to press against the egg mass and hear the eggs

popping as they are being scraped. The popping sound signifies the eggs are being destroyed. Scraping cards are available at the Rutgers Extension office in each county.

Since Oct. 1, 2021, NJDA and USDA staff have scraped nearly 340,000 egg masses and atreated almost 20,000 acres.

While the Spotted Lanternfly is not a threat to humans or animals, it is known to feed on numerous types of vegetation.

The Spotted Lanternfly is native to Asia, but arrived in the U.S. in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on a shipment in 2014. The species has been advancing ever since. Because of the insect’s excellent hitchhiking ability, 14 states now have confirmed populations.

For homeowner and business resources, and other information about spotted lanternfly, visit www.badbug. nj.gov.

BEATING

Continued from Page 2

sight in the other.

Police were called to the Dunkin at around 10:15 p.m. and learned what Acevedo is alleged to have done to to victim, 54.

There was about 75 minutes in-between Acevedo reportedly threatening to the man and when he returned to the donut shop, went behind the counter and assaulted the defenseless man.

In addition to potentially blinding the man in his one functioning eye, Auteri says Acevedo reportedly broke the man’s nose. Ultimately, it was another patron at Dunkin who altered police to the ongoing situation.

Acevedo reportedly fled after the assault, but didn’t get too far, Auteri says.

Officer Robert Litterio found Acevedo not far from the Dunkin, arrested him and charged him with aggravated assault, stalking, making terroristic threats, criminal mischief and shoplifting a bottle of soda from the store’s display case.

In the past, Acevedo has been transported to New Bridge in Paramus for psychiatric evaluation, but this time he was instead remanded to the Bergen County Jail

MARSHALLS

Continued from Page 3

an unloaded firearm, ammunition, drug packaging materials, and suspected heroin, cocaine, oxycodone and Xanax pills.

Among the specific items found the the two vehicles used by the suspects were: a brick of suspected cocaine, a vacuum-sealed bag containing suspected fentanyl, a bag containing 74 suspected fentanyl pills, a narcotics-style scale, a 9 mm Taurus handgun with 8 rounds in a magazine of 12, a .40 Smith & Wesson handgun with 9 of 10 rounds in place with a fiveround extender, 42 loose 9mm bullets, more than 2,100 baggies of suspected heroin, 584 pills of Oxycodone at 30mg a piece, 81 Xanax pills and other items used to package drugs.

in Hackensack.

Auteri says because of the seriousness of the crimes he is alleged to have committed, prosecutors will seek to detain Acevedo this time, without bail, until his case is adjudicated.

“His destruction of the monument, thought bad, is somewhat different than this,” Auteri said. “Normally, he’d go to New Bridge then sign himself out. But this crime is alarming. It’s the first time he’s shown these kinds of behaviors. Causing seriously bodily injury is absolutely a cause for serious concern. It’s alarming.”

Auteri says a determination as to whether he will get bail will likely be dependent on the ultimate outcome of the victim’s medical treatment.

and second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, and was sentenced in 2009 to 30 years in prison.

LAW & ORDER

The count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years in prison, and fine of up to $5 million. The felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a potential maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI and officers with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked Newark Police Department for its assistance. It was those two agencies that conducted the operation.

Gonzalez had previously been convicted, in New Jersey Superior Court, Morris County, of firstdegree drug distribution, seconddegree weapons possession during a controlled-substance offense

During the takedown, it was Gonzalez who reportedly fled into the store. He tried to hide but was ultimately apprehended, but as law enforcement searched for him, the entire store was evacuated for everyone’s safety.

Acevedo

KEMS

point, he said, Kearny EMS had two ambulances, then began slipping back to “one and a half,” and was “trying to put a second in service based on the growing demand during peak hours.”

JARVIS

Continued from Page 1 Brunswick, says it can do it at no cost to the town.

RWJBarnabas will be required to operate from the same town-owned Maple Street facility as the current provider and offer a minimum of two ambulances staffed by four EMTs “at peak hours” during one 12hour shift and at least one ambulance and two EMTs during the other 12-hour shift. It will provide basic life support only. It will also pay for its own gas, unlike KEMS. Similar to the current setup, the vendor would bill those receiving the ambulance service through patient insurance plans and/or patient fees. All billing would be handled by the vendor, not the town.

Neighboring communities that have mutual aid agreements for emergency ambulance service, when needed, are being notified of the pending transition in Kearny, the source said.

Between July 2011 and January 2014, Kearny EMS had been an “interim provider” of emergency ambulance services to Harrison and East Newark, but opted out after concluding it wasn’t collecting sufficient revenues to cover its costs, Mayor Santos said at the time. Having no hospital affiliation agreements that could facilitate fiscal reimbursement applications was a factor in that decision, according to the mayor.

As Kearny’s emergency ambulance

service provider, Kearny EMS has operated rent-free from the Maple Street building where the town continues to monitor indoor air levels, aided by a Licensed State Remediation Professional, following the removal of an underground oil storage tank in the 1990s.

The town has covered the cost of utilities for the building, along with the insurance premium on the ambulances and gas for those vehicles, according to the source, who said state policy limits municipal expenses in support of EMS functions to no more than $70,000 annually.

Nonetheless, Kearny EMS has reportedly struggled to stay afloat and has “petitioned to have the town take over the service,” but has failed to respond to the town’s request for financial paperwork that could lend credence to the operator’s economic hardship, the source said.

A retired Kearny Fire Department superior officer said in recent years, mutual aid calls for emergency ambulance service “were on the increase, not just in Kearny but everywhere in the region.” At one

But he said “COVID took its toll” on EMT personnel.

Several years ago, the Town Council in a split vote defeated a proposal for the KFD — whose members are required to become certified EMTs — to take over EMS duties. Kearny firefighters can treat victims at a fire scene but cannot transport them to a hospital — a task assigned to Kearny EMS.

The source familiar with Kearny EMS matters estimated if the KFD did assume that responsibility, the town would likely have to pay up to $1 million to set up and run a billing system for the transporting of residents to area hospitals and related responsibilities.

Harrison and North Arlington, in particular, have been helping Kearny with mutual aid, she said.

Doyle said the difficulties associated with running such a service aren’t unique to Kearny.

Kearny EMS Chief McNeil, who has in recent years faced personal and professional financial pressures unrelated to the ambulance service, was the target of a complaint filed earlier this year by an EMT alleging failure to provide worker’s compensation. He did not yet respond to a request for comment.

See www.theobserver.com for more.

Dispatch assigned the call, but by pure chance, Jarvis, already out on the road, was closest to the location, so he responded.

When he arrived onscene, he was met by a friend of the 26-year-old, who directed the chief to a bathroom in a house. When Jarvis got the loo, he found the victim lying on the floor with a belt wrapped around his neck, signs of an apparent suicide attempt.

Jarvis then immediately removed the belt and began resuscitation efforts. Jarvis was then joined by two officers, Michael Carrino and James Colacci, who assisted and administered oxygen, as the man regained consciousness.

The man, who was reported to be suffering from depression, was transported to New Bridge Medical Center, Paramus, for a mental and physical evaluation.