e-Newspaper for July 12, 2023

POLICE IN THE MAKING

Nutley hosts 10th-annual Junior PD Academy for scores of township middle schoolers

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

Over the last decade, the Nutley Police Department has hosted scores of fifth- through eighth-graders each summer for its Junior Police Academy. Two weeks ago, the kids completed the week-long program and from all accounts, it was an extremely informative and fun experience for all of the cadets.

The academy itself, in operation since 2013, has greatly improved over the years, organizers say and it hs become a township staple years under the leadership of Nutley Police Lt. Michael Padilla. During the week of June 26, students the John H. Walker Middle School students learned basic police fundamentals including marching, self-defense and crime-scene processing, while participating in a variety of presentations.

“I am incredibly proud of everyone who participated in this year’s Junior Police Academy,” Public Safety Director and Commissioner Alphonse Petracco said. “It was an incredible turnout and I want to especially thank all of the police officers, firemen

Lyndhurst PD has busy stretch with numerous collars including attempted bank fraud at Citizens Bank

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

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for the Lyndhurst Police Department and it’s all yielded several arrests.

The first incident took place Wednesday, June 28, 2023, shortly before 3 p.m., when the Lyndhurst PD received a report from the manager of Citizens Bank, 123 Ridge Road, who told them there was a man on the premises fraudulently attempting to open an account using false documents, Det. Lt. Vincent Auteri, of the LPD, told The Observer.

According to Auteri:

The man was subsequently denied service and he said he would contact the bank at a

later date to schedule an appointment to return with the proper information and credentials.

On Friday, June 30, the bank contacted the Lyndhurst PD to report the subject was scheduled to return later in the day. As a result, Det. Nick Abruscato set up surveillance in the area. Shortly thereafter, Det. Abruscato observed a vehicle pull up to the front of the bank and the subject proceeded directly into the bank.

Det. Abruscato was ultimately joined by Officer Anthony Morreale and they both followed the suspect into the bank. They were greeted by bank personnel, who subsequently directed them to the suspect. At that point, Det. Abruscato confirmed the documents presented to the bank were fraudulent and he and Officer

See LPD, Page 15

A grand 4th of July celebration!

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

Township of Nutley

The 10th graduating Junior Police Academy in Nutley following its graduation joins Chief Thomas Strumolo, fourth from right, and other members of the academy’s police staff.

Kearny’s annual 4th of July fireworks celebration drew what authorities estimated was 10,000 people and prior to the fantastic show, the band The Kootz played to the crowd’s delight.

Photo by Barbara B. Goldberg

Feds providing meals for Harrison kids all summer long

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

Harrison Public Schools are again participating in the Summer Food Service Program, a federally funded endeavor via Food and Nutrition Services, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The program provides all children 18 and younger with the same free meal when school is out of session in accordance with the menu provided by the state agency.

A free lunch will be served Monday through Thursday

from July 5 thru Aug. 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Washington Middle School. Use the main entrance at 1 No. 5th St.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices and employees and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orienta-

Annual Hospital Public Meeting

tion, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs).

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the federal relay service at (800) 877-8339.

Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form.

To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit completed forms or letters to USDA by mail to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax at (202) 690-7442 or by email at program.intake@usda.gov.

The USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

KPD: Police use conducted-energy device to subdue belligerent suspect

By Sgt. Mike Gontarczuk Kearny Police Department

Shortly before midnight

July 2, Officer Ryan Wilson was patrolling South Kearny when he observed a vehicle, parked on the shoulder of the Newark-Jersey City Turnpike viaduct. The viaduct is an elevated overpass, with narrow shoulders and a steep drop onto train tracks below, rendering it a hazardous place to pull over or stop a vehicle. To make matters worse, the vehicle had no lights on, making it hard for motorists to see. As Officer Wilson checked on the vehicle, he noted it displayed no license plates.

The driver and owner of the vehicle, Obinna K. Okafor, 33, of Maplewood, admitted it was not registered or insured. A tow truck was summoned, since the vehicle could not legally be driven. Okafor also did not provide Officer Wilson with a driver’s license.

When the tow truck arrived, Okafor refused to get out of the vehicle. Sgt. Tim Castle and Officer Michael Ore arrived and after lengthy roadside negotiations, officers were able to talk Okafor into exiting.

Shortly after, though, Okafor stood between the tow truck and his vehicle, and began arguing with the tow truck

operator and the officers. Officers continued to attempt to calm him and move him out of the way of the tow truck operations. Unfortunately, as the tow truck operator was standing in a lane of traffic, operating the hydraulic bed, Okafor jumped onto the tow truck and began manipulating the rear of his vehicle while it was being winched by a metal cable. Officers pleaded with Okafor to come down. After attempts to reason with him failed, they took hold and pulled him down.

Okafor responded by striking Officer Wilson, and a struggle ensued. Officers attempted to handcuff the assailant; however, they were confined to the limited space between the active lane of traffic, and the small barrier that prevents one from falling off of the highway overpass, down onto the railroad property.

Okafor was given repeated chances to comply as officers attempted to subdue him, but he continued to fight until Sgt. Castle utilized his taser. One probe deployment later, the situation was diffused and Okafor was handcuffed.

After being checked out by an ambulance, he was taken to police headquarters, where he was charged with aggravated assault on a law

POLICE BEAT

enforcement officer, resisting arrest, obstructing the administration of law, disorderly conduct, interference with transportation, failure to possess a driver’s license, failure to possess registration, driving without liability insurance coverage on vehicle and operating an unregistered vehicle.

He was later released with a summons to Superior Court. The tow truck driver was able to safely impound the vehicle without any further obstructions.

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

Sights from annual senior citizens boat cruise around New York Harbor

Each year, the County of Hudson offers a boat cruise around New York City for all senior citizens. These photos, taken for us wonderfully by Kearny Town Photographer Barbara B. Goldberg, were shot when it was Kearny’s two weeks ago. Clockwise from top left, one of the many tables of senior citizens on board the yacht. Next, it’s a look at captains who were charged with ensuring order on the bus ride from Kearny to Downtown Jersey City, where holiday makers caught the boat. And finally, it’s Kearny’s own Pat Donnelly waving as she sailed around the harbor near the Statue of Liberty.

HCCC ‘pays it forward’ for nursing students in study

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

Nursing is one of the most in-demand careers in the United States, but obtaining a college degree in this field can be cost-prohibitive for many students. To close equity gaps in higher education and to support economic growth, Gov. Philip D. Murphy partnered with the NJ CEO Council and Social Finance to launch the New Jersey Pay It Forward Program in 2022.

The first-of-its-kind in the United States, the $12.5 million program prepares students for careers in growth-fueled industries such as health care, green energy and information technology (IT). New Jersey Pay It Forward was designed to help participants enroll in and graduate from high-quality academic and training programs and provides zero-interest, no-fee loans, non-repayable living stipends, access to emergency aid funds and supportive services like mental health

counseling for students. After completing one of the eligible academic or training programs, participants who earn above a minimum salary, such as $49,290 for a family of three, repay their loans, and those funds are then recycled to finance future students.

Hudson County Community College is the first institution of higher education in New Jersey selected to participate in the health care segment of the program. The HCCC associate of science in nursing degree program was chosen for its proven, high-quality training and track record of strong employment outcomes, employer relationships, and

experience serving diverse learners.

Nineteen HCCC Nursing students were among 100-plus in the state selected as initial program participants. On Thursday, June 15, the local students graduated from the college’s nursing program and

were celebrated with a toast and a pinning ceremony at the HCCC Culinary Conference

Center. Those who helped com-

See HCCC, Page 8

Since 1965,

DISCLOSING A DEATH IN THE HOME

Some home buyers may have concerns or superstitions about purchasing a home where someone has passed away. Most sellers know they are legally obligated to disclose physical defects, but that doesn’t necessarily apply to a death in the home. In many cases, when someone passes away peacefully at home, there’s no legal obligation to disclose the information in most states. However, there are exceptions, such as California, Alaska, and South Dakota. Violent deaths are different, and many states require that murders be disclosed. Keep in mind that regardless of the state, if the buyer asks whether a death has occurred, the seller is

legally obligated to tell the truth. Death in a home isn’t a deciding factor for all buyers.

There are many aspects to buying and selling real estate that you may not be aware of, and as experienced real estate agents, we make it our business to be sure our clients and customers are kept informed of anything that may affect the sale or purchase of a home. If you are thinking of buying or selling property, it is in your best interests to turn to the expertise of a professional. “Our success has been built one satisfied customer at a time.”

P.S. Local real estate agents are knowledgeable about disclosure regulations.

Contributed photo

Nursing graduates celebrate with a toast with HCCC President Christopher Reber and other members of the college staff,

OPINION & VIEWPOINTS

Rodrigues: This

whole ‘process’ to pick a new mayor is baffling

To the Editor:

I am truly baffled by the process of selecting a new mayor. If I am understanding this correctly, the Council President Carol Jean Doyle serves as (acting) mayor until the Democratic County Committee picks three candidates, the council (eight people) then vote for one. This selection should be done by the July 11 council meeting making the vote part of the July 11 meeting.

What I want to know is does the public get a chance to talk at that council meeting before the vote? Do they follow normal procedure with the caucus meeting first, the public portion and then the actual votes like other meetings or will they go out of order?

Isn’t it important for the council members to know the opinions and thoughts of the public before deciding on our behalf?

It is my understanding whomever the council selects will serve until the special election is held in November and the winner of that election would be sworn in to serve the remainder of Former Mayor Al Santos’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2025.

I do not understand the need to appoint an interim mayor for four months/ seven meetings, when over the last 27 years, the council president has run the meetings at least that many times, while the mayor was not present.

What is the purpose of having a council president and a deputy

mayor if not to handle these times?

I cannot imagine that Carol Jean Doyle, Barbara Sherry or Susan McCurrie wants anything more than to see the town continue to operate in an efficient, cohesive manner.

Ann Rodrigues Kearny

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

To the Editor: As a former employee of the town and the shop steward of the crossing guards, I have had numerous interactions with Councilwoman Carol Jean Doyle. I am also a homeowner and taxpayer. Although as shop steward, Councilwoman Doyle and I did not always see eye to eye, I had to appreciate that she was always looking out for the residents and taxpayers of Kearny.

Despite our differences in contract negotiations, I have always known that if I had a problem I the third ward, where I live, I could call, and she would be polite, concerned and attentive to my problem.

Never once did I feel that there was any animosity toward me; we both understood we were doing our jobs and disagreements would arise.

I feel Carol Jean is the most experienced and caring of any councilmember we have and deserves the right to lead our town for the next two years and a half year. I am not saying others care less or won’t try — but there is no try in Councilwoman Doyle, because there is only a let’s

get it done attitude and she always follows through. I have spoken to her at numerous events in town such as meetings for Kearny Cares, the Elks’ Duck Race, fundraisers for any number of organizations, and she is always attentive, concerned and willing to help. For the reasons stated above, I feel Kearny will be better served by Mayor Carol Jean Doyle than by anyone else who has expressed a desire to be mayor.

Carol Manley Kearny

Dolan: Doyle is ready to lead as Kearny’s mayor

To the Editor: Having known Carol Jean Doyle for many years, I would

like to let you know that “you will always be able to count on her.” She is my councilwoman and I could call on her if there is a problem in my ward that needed her attention. She has never failed to look into the matter and find a solution.

When COVID hit and the vaccine became available, Carol Jean Doyle received phone calls from people who were concerned about my husband, who was bedridden.

She called to inform me she would work on finding a solution for him to get the vaccine. (At the time no one was allowed to bring the vaccine to anyone’s house to administer it due to liability...)

Carol Jean worked on finding a solution ... As I said at the time “it takes a village” to do what was done for my husband.

Four fireman carried him in his wheelchair out the door and down the stairs.

The Board of Health had their bus (with a lift for wheelchairs) drive him to Kearny High School, the nurse came to him and administered the vaccine then a fireman

sat with him for the 15 necessary minutes after and he was transported back home and again, four firemen carried him in his wheelchair, up the stairs and into the house!

They did this twice, February and again for the second dose in March 2021.

This is only one incident that makes me proud to tell you about Carol Jean Doyle. She is a loyal Kearnyite, a friendly and loving person and always has time to listen if you have a problem. If she can find a solution, she will.

It was other people who asked her to help my husband but, I will be forever grateful to her for taking the time to care enough about a sad situation and make it better. Thank you Carol Jean Doyle!

Jo-Ann Dolan Kearny

Editor’s note: Candidates seeking Kearny’s mayoralty may submit Letters to the Editor at editorial@theobserver.com. Letters must be submitted by noon, Fridays, for inclusion in the following week’s print edition.

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

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Manley: Doyle’s fair and is worthy of mayoralty

Belleville Historical Society celebrates Juneteenth with grave cleanings

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

Juneteenth commemorates the day, June 19, 1865, when Union Army Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with 2,000 soldiers and announced the end of slavery in the rebellious south. Ironically, slavery would continue that year in New Jersey until the end of December.

The Belleville Historical Society observed Juneteenth in Belleville, Bloomfield and Montclair. In Bloomfield and Montclair, gravestones of three individuals who were born into and had lived as slaves were cleaned and decorat-

ed. Luvenia and Joseph Lloyd were slaves on a plantation in Barbara County, Alabama, when they were married. They eventually moved north and lived in East Orange and are buried at Bloomfield Cemetery on Belleville Avenue. Anthony Thompson was a slave in the household of Dr. Samuel Ward in Montclair. After being freed, he moved to West Orange and he is buried in Rosedale Cemetery in Montclair. At St. Peter Cemetery in Belleville, a team of young church volunteers cleaned the gravestones of all of the Union Army veterans buried there. More than 350,000 Union Army soldiers died in the war which brought an end to slavery.

Continued from Page 5

memorate the occasion included David J. Socolow, executive director of the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA); Tara Colton, executive vice president for Economic Security at the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA); Emily Apple, director of economic security, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA); Christopher Reber, HCCC president; Darryl Jones, HCCC vice president for academic affairs; Heather DeVries, HCCC dean of academic affairs and assessment; Catherine Sirangelo, HCCC dean of nursing and health sciences; Lori Byrd, interim director, HCCC Nursing Program; and representatives from the NJ CEO Council and Social Finance, the nonprofit designing and managing the program.

“The New Jersey Pay It Forward stipend and emergency funds

helped me focus on my classes and worry less,” Eunice Rivera, a graduate of the program who accepted an offer to become an intensive care unit nurse at a nearby hospital, said. “The no-interest loan helps me stay in the here and now, instead of worrying too much about compounding interest that I would have to pay in the future.”

The governor, meanwhile, was elated with the first graduates of the program.

“I commend the students graduating today on their hard work and dedication in making it to this point,” Murphy said. “I look forward to seeing the first group of graduates from our Pay It Forward Program go on to succeed in their careers and help enable the success of future cohorts of eager students. I know great things are ahead for each and every one of these nursing students, who will significantly assist communities throughout our state by filling critical roles among New Jersey’s health care workforce.”

Reber was equally as excited as the governor.

“We are incredibly proud of our first Pay It Forward Program Nursing graduates,” Reber said. “A college degree is the great equalizer on the path to a sustainable career and enjoyable life. It provides the means to secure one’s family, and to help our community thrive. We are thankful to the State of New Jersey, Social Finance, and the NJ CEO Council for providing the resources to make students’ dreams realities, and for recognizing our nursing program as a vital component in helping students attain success.”

In addition to the Nursing Program at HCCC, New Jersey’s Pay It Forward Program serves HVAC and welding students at Camden County College and cybersecurity students at New Jersey Institute of Technology. It aims to add more training programs and to serve more students in the coming years. Murphy has proposed an additional $2.5 million for the program in his 2024 budget proposal.

Garfield School in Kearny names June Students of the Month

Donna Masters, principal of Garfield School, announces the following recipients of Student of the Month for June 2023.

Kin: Zolimar Cepeda, Liam Lopez, Ana Silva.

1st Grade: Antonio Gutierrez, Illary Herrera Tocagon, Thea Silva, Castiel Zapata.

2nd Grade: Ethan Delgado, Rayan Nazhi, Nathan Paredes.

3rd Grade: Carolina Cerron Salvador, Victoria Collado, Abigail Naranjo.

4th Grade: Sebastian Carfagna, Nigel Mangal, Mia Torres.

5th Grade: Megan Delgado, Shary Mejia, Tomas Suarez, Julian Tirado.

6th Grade: Kaylee Garcia, Guilherme Lima, Isabella Mangal, Mason Scarpa.

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HEALTH &

Always on the move, Lyndhurst’s Damian Weaver is The Jim Hague Observer Male Athlete of the Year

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

By electing to play football his junior and senior seasons, Damian Weaver gave up the opportunity to compete in many many elite offseason wrestling tournaments his older brother Dylan and other top wrestlers would participate in.

But when given the opportunity in the Mat-Town USA Fall Classic in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, last October, a rare Sunday tournament, Weaver was all in, even if it meant pulling off a rare example of double duty in the midst of football season.

Just an hour or two after a Lyndhurst football game on Saturday afternoon, Damian and his father, Lyndhurst wrestling coach Scot, were making the three+ hour drive west to Lock Haven. A little more than

24 hours later, they made that same drive back to Lyndhurst, Damian as a champion.

“Right after the game, we ran home, he showered real quick, I was already packed, and we jumped in the car,” Scot recalled. “It was something to watch him compete so well after not competing at all (in recent months).

“He wrestled in a bracket of 32 with some highly touted Pennsylvania and Ohio kids and he defeated them all. He wasn’t even in true wrestling shape.”

“It was a pretty hectic weekend,” Damian Weaver said. “You go from football, you have to get your mind right in football. And then you go to wrestling, wrestle five matches and get in the right mindset. It was pretty tough, but it’s all about being in the right mindset.”

That mindset and the relent-

less work ethic and determination it requires makes Damian Weaver of Lyndhurst The Jim Hague Observer Male Athlete of the Year for the 2022-2023 school season.

The annual award has been named in honor of Hague, an acclaimed sports writer and longtime Kearny resident, who died on June 11.

As part of Hague’s 20-plus year tenure as The Observer’s sports writer, he and the newspaper started presenting one male and female athlete in the area as the Athlete of the Year.

Much like Hague, who worked for several media outlets, Damian Weaver has always been on the move toward the next task at hand.

“I just feel like I’ve been raised like that, going from one

See ATHLETE, Page 10

North Arlington Little League wins District 5 title for first time since 1965

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

Despite its struggles the past two seasons, Javier Cruz knew that North Arlington Little League could do big things on the All Stars level if it could get all of the town’s top baseball talent to play together.

“I’ve been trying to put this team together for two, three years now and it was so hard to get them to play all-stars because a lot of them chose not to play little league and played travel ball instead,” said Cruz, who is the head

coach of North Arlington’s Little League Team as well as president of the league. “A lot of them play for tournament teams, Perfect Game tournaments etc. so they didn’t really want to play Little League and sacrifice time from the travel teams.

“I knew we had the talent and if it came together, I knew we had a shot. I didn’t know how far we could go, but I knew that we had a good shot if we all came together as a team as one, if all the parents came together,

See NA WIN, Page 11

Photo by Jason Bernstein

Lyndhurst head football coach Rich Tuero, Lisa Feorenzo, The Jim Hague Observer Athlete of the Year Damian Weaver and Lyndhurst head wrestling coach Scot Weaver.

ATHLETE

Continued from Page 9

thing to another. Not even just in sports, but anything really, I feel like my life has been like that,” said Weaver. “Every summer, I would have football practice in the morning, then three days a week, I would go to wrestling practice or go lift. It just set up a routine for me.”

“He loves playing football, he loves playing sports. He’s a game and sport-aholic,” Scot Weaver said. “If you want to play tennis, he’ll go out and play tennis. If you want to play basketball, he’ll play basketball. He’s as competitive as they come.”

Despite playing football and lacrosse growing up, Damian was initially wrestling only

his first two years at Lyndhurst.

Eventually, the desire to return to football as well as some convincing from head football coach Rich Tuero, encouraged Weaver to return to the gridiron.

“It was important because growing up, I always loved football. I got to high school and I stopped playing, but then I realized that I should be playing football,” said Weaver. “I grew up loving football, Coach Tuero’s the man. I love Coach Tuero, I love Coach (Joe) Castagnetti, Coach (Pat) Autieri, so I figured I would give it another shot and play

C ELEBRATING 25 Y EARS !

EYE CARE

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT RETINAL TEARS

The retina is the thin layer of light-sensing cells at the back of the eye that enables us to see. It converts light into signals, which the brain translates into images. A retinal tear is a break in this lining. It can be caused by eye trauma, but more often it is part of the normal aging process and the separation of the vitreous from the retina. The vitreous is a clear, gel-like tissue that is attached to the retina and fills the back of the eye. As we age, the vitreous begins to pull away from the retina. In some cases, it sticks to the retina and cannot pull away, causing the retina to tear.

If a retinal tear is diagnosed

The Observer Male Athletes of the Year

2002-2003-Hugh MacDonald, Kearny

2003-2004-Steve Armstrong, Nutley

2004-2005-Brian Kapp, Lyndhurst

2005-2006-Andrew Amadeo, Kearny

2006-2007-Lou Ritacco, Nutley

2007-2008-Michael Gross, North Arlington

2008-2009-Jose Camano, Harrison

2009-2010-Peter Santos, North Arlington

2010-2011-Patrick Rono, Lyndhurst

2011-2012-Tyler Krychkowski, North Arlington

2012-2013-A.J. Nocciolo, North Arlington

2013-2014-Danny Cordeiro, North Arlington

2014-2015 P.J. Gencarelli, Belleville

2015-2016 Petey Guerriero, Lyndhurst

2016-2017 Mike O’Donnell, Harrison

2017-2018 Dustin Huseinovic, Harrison

2018-2019 Eric McKenna, North Arlington & Marty Higgins, Nutley

2019-2020 Piotr Partyla, Lyndhurst

2020-2021 Tony Alho, North Arlington

2021-2022 John Lembo, Lyndhurst

2022-2023 Damian Weaver, Lyndhurst

for another two years.”

A captain both years, Weaver was named First Team AllNJIC Liberty Division Offense at wide receiver after catching 20 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns in seven games. On defense, he recorded 49 tackles with a forced fumble at safety and also returned kicks.

“His tackling was elite, which is no surprise with the way he shoots in wrestling,” said Tuero, who tried to recruit him to play football for two years. “Damian was a two-year captain, he was a leader for our team. He was a tremendous football player for us. The fire that Damian had and brought to the team was truly incredible.”

Ironically, it was at the same time he returned to football, that Damian Weaver emerged as one of North Jersey’s elite wrestlers.

In 2002, he became the first Golden Bear to win a Bergen County championship when he won the title at 150 pounds. This past winter, as a senior, Weaver won his second consecutive Bergen County title, this time at 157 pounds. A three-time state qualifier, Weaver won two District championships and had 112 victories for his career, going 71-8 over the past two seasons. Following the conclusion of the high school season, Damian committed to continue

his career at the University of Maryland.

“I’m excited, I can’t wait,” said Weaver, who committed in late April. “I love Coach (Alex) Clemson, Coach (Devin) Mellon, Coach (Nick) Brascetta and all the members of the team. I’m excited to get down there, go all out and see what happens.”

Weaver is expected to red shirt this upcoming season as he focuses on strength and conditioning his first year at Maryland. As good as he’s been already on the mats, the belief among coaches is that Weaver just might be scratching the surface of his potential now that he’ll be a 12 month a year wrestler for the first time.

For now, the biggest adjustment for Damian is something he never had to worry about while juggling multiple sports, having plenty of downtime.

“It’s definitely a little bit weird focusing on one sport instead of worrying about another sport or going to practice for another sport,” Weaver said. “You just have one sport to focus on. Now I have practice, go lift and that’s it. You go home and repeat it all over again.”

promptly before it progresses to retinal detachment, the prognosis is extremely good. Retinal tears are typically treated with laser or a freezing procedure. Treatment is performed in an office setting and is very effective and quite safe. To schedule an appointment, 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. Retinal tears are treatable, but if left untreated they can lead to retinal detachment, which is a medical emergency.

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

DeLuca Vision Consultants

NA WIN

Continued from Page 9

had one mind and one goal to play together and be together, then the sky was the limit.”

This past weekend in Rutherford, those expectations became a reality when North Arlington defeated WoodRidge, 7-5, on Thursday night, then downed Wood-Ridge again on Saturday, 11-1, to win the New Jersey District 5 Little League championship.

It is North Arlington’s first District 5 title since 1965 and they did it in dominating fashion. Prior to the best-of-3 championship against WoodRidge, North Arlington went 4-0 in pool play. Overall, it went 6-0 and outscored the opposition by an overwhelming

46-8 margin.

Next up for North Arlington is the Region 2 Tournament in Fort Lee, which begins on Saturday at 4 p.m. against Fort Lee, the District 6 champion.

“These boys really wanted it, they had a chip on their shoulders and I can’t be more proud of them,” said Cruz, who grew up and played at Belleville before moving with his family to North Arlington more than seven years ago. “They really stepped up to the plate and did what they had to do… it was just a great moment for everyone.”

Leading the way for North Arlington has been shortstop/pitcher Noah Vargas. In Thursday’s opener with North Arlington trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth, Vargas launched a grand slam to put

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INNOVATIONS IN CARTILAGE REPAIR

Damaged joint cartilage due to injury or overuse diminishes a patient’s quality of life. There are numerous options in replacing cartilage and avoiding the need for joint replacement and prolonged rehabilitation. MACI, membrane-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation, harvests a patient’s own cartilageforming cells, allowing them to replicate in a lab, then implanting them into the damaged area. Osetochondral grafting is a regeneration procedure that replaces both the cartilage and underlying bone. The graft can be from a donor (allograft) or from other areas of the body (autograft). OATS procedure (mosaicplasty) takes healthy cartilage from non-weight-bearing

joint areas, transplanting it into the damaged areas, eliminating risks from allergy or transplant rejection. These procedures minimize both surgical risks and recovery time for patients.

If you don’t already have a provider, please call PREMIER CARE ASSOCIATES OF WEST HUDSON at 201-998-7474. Our vision is to partner with patients and families to achieve wellness and health from an office that is invested in their local community. We are located at 512 Kearny Ave., Suite B, where walk-in patients are always welcome 7 days a week.

P.S. Ideally, patients should be between 15–55 years old to underg a knee cartilage transplant.

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.

his team ahead for good as they earned the 7-5 victory and Vargas was the winning pitcher.

“He’s a great player in multiple sports. Basketball, base-

ball, football, he’s just a true all-around athlete and a great player,” Cruz said. “He’s just an excellent player, he’s the heart and soul of our team. I don’t

see many players better than him anywhere around here. Anywhere he goes, he stands out.”

Two days later, it was North Arlington’s other ace, Maverick Michalski’s turn to dominate. Michalski, who threw a perfect game during pool play, tossed a two-hitter in the title game and according to Cruz has “been probably our most productive hitter,” during this run.

“He’s our 1A as a pitcher because he’s an excellent pitcher as well,” said Cruz. “When he’s not pitching, he plays the outfield as well.”

In addition to Vargas and Michalski, Javier Cruz Jr., Mi-

Dr. Prakash J. Doshi

Dr. Hector Aguilar

Photo courtesy Josephine Heatherly Left to Right: Owen Alvarez, Jayden Beauchene, Noah Vargas, Josh Figueroa, Jacob Castillo, Cesar Echavarria, Jayven Guzmen, Michael Faulk, Javier Cruz Jr., Maverick Michalski.

See NA WIN, Page 15

American Legion baseball returns to Kearny

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

Once a staple of summer, American Legion Baseball has largely gone away in several parts of New Jersey as years have gone on and a greater emphasis has been placed on travel ball and other sports.

One place where American Legion has made a comeback however is in Kearny. For the first time in more than a decade Kearny, under the sponsorship of Kearny Legion Post 99, has a team in American Legion.

This summer the Kearny Rangers are in the Bergen County American Legion League, a nine-team league, which includes Lyndhurst Post 139 and schools from all over Hudson, Passaic and the southern part of Bergen County.

“I remember the American Legion from growing up in Harrison. We had it and then after moving to Kearny, I remember them being involved,” said Kearny Rangers head coach Armando Diaz, recalling hearing about the opportunity to join the league from a friend, who

coaches at North Bergen. “We went to the first meeting and we found out what’s needed to participate and we realized we could do this.”

The lone requirement that Diaz was unsure of was the part that the majority of the players had to be from the town of the sponsoring post.

In total, 11 of the 18 players on the Kearny Rangers live in Kearny, the rest of the roster is filled out with kids primarily from Newark, but also neighboring Harrison, North Arling-

ton and Belleville.

Heading into the final week of the regular season, Kearny has gone 8-5-1 as the league has provided Diaz and the Rangers just what they were hoping fora summer baseball option that is both competitive and affordable for their players.

“I wasn’t sure what it was about in terms of how big the league was. I hadn’t really looked into it or heard much about it because Kearny hadn’t been involved for so long,” said Diaz, who noted that after some

fundraising efforts, the cost per player is $250 for the season with uniforms, a fraction of the cost of other travel teams. “The competition for the most part has been very, very competitive.”

Leading the way for the Rangers, both at the plate and on the mound, has been Eli Jablonski, a Kearny native and St. Peter’s Prep graduate. Jablonski leads the team in hitting at .448 with 11 RBI while also leading the team with 22 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings while posting a sparkling 1.72 ERA.

Jablonski, who plays right field when he’s not on the mound, is joined in the outfield by another St. Peter’s Prep teammate Nico Duarte. Duarte, a Kearny native, is better known for his work with the Marauders’ football team, but was able to play one last summer of baseball before heading to Sacred Heart University where he will be a kicker and punter.

Duarte is hitting .375, but has been even more valuable as a source of leadership.

“He came on like a week or two before we started and we lucked out because he’s been there nearly the whole time,” Diaz said. “He’s a really good leader. He’s definitely been a good guy to lean on.”

Diaz’s older son, Bryan Diaz, is the starting center fielder and has a team-best 16 stolen bases

to go with a .333 average. The Kearny graduate will look to make the baseball team at Kean University this fall.

Younger brother Jayden, a rising junior, starts in right field when Jablonski is on the mound, but can play all over the outfield as well as Aaron Nieves, a Newark Tech graduate.

Splitting the duties at catcher are Kearny graduate Rexhep Berisha, Alam Lopez (Barringer) and Sebastian Santana, a rising ninth-grader expected to attend St. Mary’s of Rutherford.

The versatile Berisha is also in the mix at first base along with Kearny’s William McChesney and Jonah Menendez as well as Landon Pinho, a Kearny native who plays at St. Peter’s Prep. Marcos Atehortua, a rising sophomore at Belleville splits second base with North Arlington graduate Angel Elliott.

Atehortua, Kearny graduate Lucas Perez and Barringer’s Legend Anderson share responsibilities at shortstop. Edwin Olaya of Newark Tech and Harrison’s Carlos Estrada split time at third base.

Headlining the pitching staff has been Kearny graduate Joseph Drefko. Drefko, who served as the Kardinals’ ace during the spring has two wins and 15 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings.

Nieves, who has 19 strikeouts and a 0.66 ERA in 13 2/3 innings, and Jayden Diaz (1.00 ERA and eight strikeouts in nine innings) have been the other primary pitchers behind Drefko and Jablonski.

For most of the players, this American Legion season will be the last time they will play competitive baseball.

“It’s one last hurrah for some of these guys,” Diaz said. “Some of them will continue to keep playing, who knows what the other will do, but it’s good to see them go on out on the kind of high note they didn’t get during the high school season.”

Photo by Jason Bernstein

Charles E. Robinson

On June 24, 2023, Charles E. Robinson, a native and longtime resident of Kearny, died at St. John’s Nursing Home in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, after a long battle with cancer.

He was 85.

Charley was born August 27, 1937, at West Hudson Hospi-

OBITUARIES

tal. He grew up in Kearny and attended Kearny High School. Charley served in the US Navy from 1954 to 1959. He then returned to Kearny where he worked in a local factory and eventually met and married his first wife Carmen.

After his retirement in 1997, they moved to Florida.

After Carmen’s death in Florida, Charley met and married his wife Freda nine years ago and the couple lived in Boca Raton, Florida until his passing. Charley had a great sense of humor and was always quick with a joke, a laugh or a song. A devout Catholic, Charley was active in church and volunteer

activities and was a life member of the Dominican Laity. A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. John’s Church in Boca Raton and Charley will be interred at the National

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

Cemetery at Bushnell, Florida. Charley is survived by his wife, Freda, and his brother John (Jack) Robinson. He will be missed by those who knew and loved him.

Mulligan Funeral Home

331 Cleveland Avenue, Harrison

Arrangements may be made in Spanish, Portuguese or Polish Frank X. Mulligan III, Manager, NJ Lic. 4221

(StatePoint) With the national COVID-19 Public Health Emergency officially over, medical experts say it’s time to address the health challenges that may have been neglected during -or created by -- the pandemic.

“Making time for you and your family’s preventive medical care and investing in your mental health is essential right now,” says Jack Resneck Jr, MD, president of the American Medical Association (AMA).

“As you settle into old routines or find new ones, you may be feeling overwhelmed, anxious, afraid or depressed. Give yourself permission to express these emotions, while taking steps to get needed care.”

For better health and wellness, the AMA offers these tips:

1. Stay connected: According to the U.S. Surgeon General, the health consequences of isolation include a 29% increased risk of heart disease, a 32% increased risk of stroke, and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults. Spending time with loved ones, friends or community groups can quickly have a positive impact on mental and physical health.

2. Practice self-care: Getting regular exercise, practicing gratitude and getting enough sleep are all forms of self-care

that can improve mental health. Check out the National Institute of Mental Health’s resources, which include ideas for better understanding what causes your symptoms and what coping techniques might help you manage your mental health.

3. Know the signs: Feelings of hopelessness or irritability, loss of interest in hobbies and activities, and decreased energy or appetite can all be signs of depression. If you are experiencing signs of a mental health condition, speak to your primary care physician or a psychiatrist. Be aware of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a national hotline available 24/7. Anyone experiencing a suicidal, substance use or mental health crisis can call or text 988 to speak to trained crisis counselors.

4. Get screened: It’s estimated that since April 2020, 3.9 million breast cancer, 3.8 million colorectal cancer and 1.6 million prostate cancer diagnoses may have been missed due to pandemic-related care disruptions. If you’re due for preventive care, tests or screenings, make an appointment.

5. Don’t wait: An estimated 41% of adults with one or more chronic health conditions reported delaying or forgoing health care since the pandemic

started. Additionally, one in three of those adults reported that doing so worsened one or more of their health conditions or limited their ability to work or perform other daily activities. Whether you have a chronic health condition or not, don’t wait until something is wrong before seeing a doctor. If something does feel off, schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

6. Get vaccinated: Adolescents and adult immunizations sharply declined during the pandemic and an estimated 26 million recommended vaccinations were missed in 2020 as compared to 2019. Make sure your family is up-to-date on vaccines, including the annual influenza vaccine and the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. Your doctor can let you know if you’re due for a COVID booster. If you have questions, consult your physician and trusted resources, including getvaccineanswers.org.

For more tips and information, visit http://www.ama-assn. org.

“It’s vitally important to prioritize mental and physical health. Contact your health care professional to schedule the care you need to keep you and your family healthy,” says Dr.

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Prioritizing your health now that the public Health emergency is over

HUDSON URBAN HUDSON COUNTY AND HUDSON COUNTY CONSORTIUM

NOTICE OF PY 2023 DRAFT ACTION PLAN

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD & PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

AMOUNT OF ANTICIPATED FUNDS AVAILABLE

The County of Hudson Urban County (County) is announcing the release of the draft PY 2023 Action Plan. This Plan identifies programs that the County intends to implement with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds, and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds. These funds are received annually from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for local projects that primarily benefit low income persons. The amount of funds for the 2023 Program Year (July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024) from HUD for the recommended proposed projects contained in the PY 2023 Action Plan is below:

2023 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROJECTS-$2,017,843

PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

Hudson County will hold an in-person and virtual public meeting open to all residents of Hudson County, especially low- and moderate-income residents and households of the Urban County municipalities of East Newark, Guttenberg, Harrison, Kearny, Secaucus, Weehawken and West New York, concerning the CDBG and ESG Programs. In addition, Hudson County is the lead agency for the Hudson County HOME Consortium, consisting of the Urban County municipalities and Entitlement communities of Bayonne, Hoboken, North Bergen and Union City concerning the HOME Program. The public meeting will provide an opportunity for all residents and non-profit providers to address and comment on future proposed activities and community priorities to be undertaken by the County in its submittal to HUD.

IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING:

PLACE: Division of Housing and Community Development 830 Bergen Avenue, Suite 5A, Jersey City, NJ 07306

DATE: July 26, 2023

TIME: 4:00 p.m

To register for this public meeting, please email Hhanks@hcnj.us or call 201-369-4520 to attend in-person or virtually.

The purpose of this public meeting is to furnish citizens, public agencies, and other interested parties with information concerning the amount of funds available for proposed community development and housing activities , priorities of the use of the funding and the range of eligible activities that will be undertaken in the future under the PY 2023 Action Plan.

All interested persons are encouraged to attend and make valued comments regarding the 2023 Action Plan. Additionally, all interested persons are encouraged to review the County’s proposed Draft PY 2023 Action Plan available by contacting Heather Hanks, CDBG Program Manager at hhanks@hcnj.us or call 201-369-4520 and at the Division of Housing and Community Development website located at https://www.hcnj.us/housingand-community-reintegration/housing-and-community-development/

The County of Hudson will make efforts to provide translation assistance for public meetings and program information. Please contact the Housing & Community Development office at least 48 hours in advance if translation assistance is needed for the public meeting The location of hearing is accessible to persons with disabilities. If special accommodations are needed for persons with disabilities, those with hearing impairments, closed captioning will available during the virtual public meeting To request assistance please contact: call 201-369-4520.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

Thomas A. DeGise County Executive

Abraham Antun County Administrator

Frank Mazza Director, Department of Housing and Community Reintegration

Thomas A. DeGise County Executive

Abraham Antun County Administrator

Frank

Pursuant to Federal regulations, the County of Hudson will hold a 30-day public comment period open to all residents, especially low-and moderateincome residents on the PY 2023 Draft Action Plan. The purpose of the 30-day comment period will be to obtain from the public their views and comments on the proposed Hudson County’s Action Plans for PY 2023. Federal regulations require that Hudson County provide a 30-day public comment period for the Draft PY 2023 Action Plan.

Mazza Director, Department of Housing and Community Reintegration

Susan A. McCurrie

Deputy Director, Department of Housing and Community Reintegration

George F. Serio, Jr.

Division Chief, Housing and Community Development

Susan A. McCurrie Deputy Director, Department of Housing and Community Reintegration

George F. Serio, Jr. Division Chief, Housing and Community Development

Hudson County Board of County Commissioners

Hudson County Board of County Commissioners

LPD

Continued from Page 1

Morreale subsequently placed the suspect under arrest.

Det. Abruscato identified him as 28-year-old Devonte Jackson, of the Bronx.

While the pair of officers were in the bank, Sgt. Phil Reina and Officers William Kapp and Robert Litterio executed a motor vehicle stop of the vehicle which had dropped Jackson off at the bank. Further investigation revealed the driver had no connection to the fraud and was released.

In addition to the fraudulent documents, Jackson was found to be in possession of credit cards and identification in the names of several others and he was charged with identity theft, possession of a stolen credit card (five counts), uttering a false government document and possession of

Continued from Page

a false government document (two counts).



Eight days earlier, on Thursday, June 22, 2023, a local restaurant on the 600 block of Stuyvesant Avenue reported the theft of cooking oil. The proprietor reviewed surveillance video and determined on June 6, at approximately 6:30 a.m., two unidentified men entered the property and without authorization removed a cooking oil drum and loaded it into a passenger van.

Det. Chris Cuneo tracked the van to Dwan Myles, 46, of Newark and the investigation revealed that he would go from business to business looking to purchase cooking oil which he would then sell to a recycling company. Further investigation revealed the second party captured on the surveillance video was employed by Myles and he had no knowledge of the criminal act, believing the

ner.”

restaurant was simply a client. Over the following days, Myles learned investigators were looking for him and he subsequently turned himself in. Myles was charged with burglary and theft before being released.

On Monday, July 3, 2023, Lyndhurst police officers responded to ShopRite, 540 New York Ave., to investigate a report of a shoplifting in-progress. ShopRite loss prevention also reported they recognized the suspect as a habitual shoplifter.

A description of the suspect was dispatched to the responding officers, who had converged on the area. Additionally, the loss-prevention manager reported the suspect had taken an assortment of items ranging from soap to packaged meat, which he had concealed in a backpack and duffle bag.

Shortly thereafter, Officer Michael Scalese observed a man matching the description of the suspect walking away from the store and down a residential block. As Officer Scalese approached the suspect, while in his marked police vehicle, the suspect started to increase his pace in the direction of the Lyndhurst train station.

Officer Scalese eventually confronted the suspect between a parked motor vehicle and the property line of a residential home. Officer Scalese was joined by Officer Michael Carrino, at which time both officers discovered the suspect to be in possession of the stolen items.

Officers Scalese and Carrino then placed the suspect, later identified as Michael Scalici, 34, of Nutley, under arrest without incident.

Scalici was charged with shoplifting before being re-

leased.

The stolen items totaled $200+.

Finally, on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, Officer Michael Carrino was alerted to the presence of a stolen rental van that had entered the township. Shortly thereafter, Officer Carrino located the van and was able to execute a motor vehicle stop on Orient Way and Valley Brook Avenue without incident. The van had been stolen out of Jersey City nearly a year ago — in early July 2022.

The driver of the van, identified as Kishon Moses, 24, of New York City, was questioned about the vehicle and claimed he had no knowledge the van had been stolen. He further said he assumed possession after he rented it from a third party.

Moses was charged with receiving stolen property before being released.

chael Faulk, Joshua Figueroa and Owen Alvarez have provided valuable contributions on the mound.

Figueroa, a three-year player in the program, has been a breakout player this spring following a growth spurt. He starts at catcher and hits cleanup.

Another veteran of the program is first baseman Jayden Beauchene.

Cruz Jr., the son of the head coach, is the starting second baseman and leadoff hitter as he has more than held his own against the older competition.

“He’s one of our youngest players, but he does whatever it takes,” said Cruz, about his son, who is 11.”He’s trying his hardest to compete with these older boys and he’s been doing really well.”

Vargas is the main shortstop with Faulk taking over at short when Vargas is pitching.

At third base is Alvarez, who is one of the guys who had elected to play travel ball over little league before this year. Said Cruz, “he has a great glove, he hits the ball well and he’s just a very consistent player for us at the hot cor-

Perhaps the most impressive part of North Arlington’s two wins over Wood-Ridge this past week was that it was accomplished without two of its mainstays in the outfield. Braden Duffy, the team’s regular center fielder was sidelined due to illness and corner outfielder Ricky Lopes was also unavailable this past weekend.

In Duffy’s place in center was Jacob Castillo, who moved to North Arlington from Kearny last year and is Cruz’s most versatile player.

“He’s one of those utility guys who can play every position,” Diaz said. “We can plug him in anywhere and not have to worry about him.”

Cesar Echavarria started in left field and Jayven Guzman started in right field.

“We’re getting hot at the right moment,” Cruz said. “All of our boys are doing a great job hitting the ball at the moment.”

Joining Cruz on the coaching staff are assistants Ed Duffy, Bill Alvarez and Richie Vargas.

The Region 2 tournament features North Arlington, Fort Lee, Elmora Little League out of Elizabeth and Montclair.

EMPLOYMENT/ HELP WANTED

EMPLOYMENT/ HELP WANTED

Accepting applications for a part-time Administrative Assistant. Valid driver’s license and multi-lingual are both pluses. The company is located near Kearny, NJ. Please send your resume and references to: internx2@gmail.com OR

Admin, 108 Second Avenue Apartment 6B Bradley Beach, NJ 07720 09W03

Accepting applications for a full-time Painter and Maintenance Person. Valid driver’s license and multi-lingual are both pluses. The company is located near Kearny, NJ. Please send your resume and references to: internx2@gmail.com OR Maintenance, 108 Second Avenue Apartment 6B Bradley Beach, NJ 07720 09W03

The Town of Kearny is accepting applications for Registered Environmental Health Specialists (REHS). This is a contracted grant-funded position funded through June 30, 2024. Under direction of the Health Officer, responsibilities include, but are not limited to: lead inspections, sanitary inspections for compliance with applicable public and environmental health regulations, investigations of nuisance complaints and violations of applicable public health laws and ordinance, educational outreach activities, maintenance of accurate paper and electronic records of surveys, investigations, and inspections performed. The position may require periodic evening and/or weekend activities. Must possess an active Registered Environmental Health Specialist License issued by the NJ Department of Health. Appointees will be required to possess a current driver’s license valid in New Jersey. $45-55/hour – Salary based on qualifications and experience. For Application go to https://www.kearnynj.org/job-opportunities/ applications Dealine is 7/28/23 09W03

Instructor Wanted part time afternoons. Must be reliable. Please email NJDRIVINGSCHOOL@ Hotmail.com or call (201)246-8000

08W03

EMPLOYMENT/ HELP WANTED

Dishwasher wanted Part time Friday and Saturday nights in busy Lyndhurst restaurant Call

(201)935-0004 08W03

NEEDED ASAP Apply in person: Office assistant / Customer service 260 Schuyler Ave Kearny,NJ,07032 No soliciting calls or emails

09W03

Experienced Grill cook needed

Apply in person 6 Wilson Ave. Newark. Andros Diner. Se necesita cocinero con experencia para la grill. Desde 7pm-5am Presentarse en persona

6 wilson Ave Newark. Andros Diner 10W03

BELLEVILLE Modern 2 BR Apt. C/A & H/T, Laundry room. 1 parking space. $2,000 +1.5 months security. Utilities separate. No Smoking/Pets. Avl. Now. (201) 463-6684 08W03

KEARNY 3rd Floor. 2 BR’s, LR, Newly tiled EIK, 1 Bath, 2 huge walk in closet’s. $2000 + 1.5 months security. Utilities separate. Water included. No Pets/ smoking. Background check. Available Now (973)932-5082 09W03

N.ARLINGTON Desired location. Beautiful renovated apartment. Large rooms. 2 BR’s. EIK. LR/Dining raoom. $2300 + 1.5 months security. Utilities separate. Hot water paid by owner. Plenty of public parking. Closed to transportation. No Pets/Smoking Available now (201)693-7771 09W03

HARRISON 1st floor.

1 BR, LR, EIK, 1 bath, Laundry in unit. $1950 + 1.5 months security. Utilities included, including internet. Access to backyard patio. Close to Transportation. No Smoking/Pets Available Now (732)4299372 09W03

HARRISON New Home 2nd fl. 3 BR’s, 2 Baths. Close to transportation. No Pets/ Smoking. Available Now. (201)709-0645 or (973)741-8292 Leave Message. 09W03

Laundromat attendee wash/fold, phone, customer service. Part time . Experience only call Penny (862)763-1977

08W03

The Town of Kearny is seeking a highly organized and energetic individual to assume the position of Kearny Urban Enterprise Zone (KUEZ) Coordinator. The KUEZ office manages the day-to-day operations of programs that promote economic and community development.

Working closely with the KUEZ Board, the Kearny governing body and the State of New Jersey, the KUEZ Coordinator needs to maximize resources, expand program activities and promote Kearny as a destination for living, working and investment.

See https://www.kearnynj.org/job-opportunities/ for application and job description. Application deadline is 8/11/23 10W03

HARRISON 110 Passaic Ave. 1st fl. 2 BR, Kitchen, LR, Bathroom. Good Condition. $1,700 + 1.5 months security. Utilities separate. No pets/Smoking Avl. August 1st. or July 15th (973) 704-4246

HARRISON Newly renovated. 1st & 2nd floor. 2 BR’s. 1.5 Baths. Full kitchen w/new appliances. LR. DR. $2600 + 1.5 months security. Utilities separate. Access to yard. Washer/ Dryer included. Great location, public Trans. Available August 1st (251) 509-6766 10W03

LYNDHURST Large 1 bedroom. 1.5 months security. No Smoking No Pets. Call (201)9319212 10W01

N.ARLINGTON 2nd floor 2 BR. LR. EIK. Laundry, Parking, and use of yard/Deck. Close to TRANS. $2400 + 1 month security. Utilities not included. No Pets/ Smoking. Avail. Now (917)294-4024 10W03

KEARNY

KEARNY 1 room. Share Kitchen & Bath. $575 + 1.5 months security.

Utilities included. Men Preferred. No Pets/ Smoking Available Now (201)290-2788 09W03

N.ARLINGTON Studio $1200 + 1.5 Months security. Utilities included. No Pets/No Smoking. 1 person only. Available Now (201)428-8815 08W03

3 Families! Spectacular Summer Garage Sale Sat. July 15th, 9am-4pm. Webster Ave, Kearny 1 Block from Arlington Diner. Furniture, Home Decor, Appliances, Men, Woman & Children Clothing. Toys and So Much More! No early Birds please 10W01

UEZ Coordinator

UNICO awards several scholarships

Members of Kearny UNICO and the Kearny Ladies of UNICO attended Kearny High School’s Senior Awards Night last month to present scholarships to graduating seniors. At the presentation were, from left, chapter President Annamarie Latushko, Dennis Latushko, Joseph Drefko, Michael Charney, Maci Covello, Destiny Figueroa and Celeste and Lou Pandolfi.

Belleville girl wins fishing derby

Sofia Guevara of Belleville caught the most fish in the girls’ ages 6-10 category at the Essex County Fishing Derby in Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park after reeling in five fish. Presenting her with the award is Deputy Parks Director Kate Hartwyk.

JPA

Continued from Page 1

and EMTs for taking the time to educate our township’s youth in public safety. It was a rewarding experience for all.”

Padilla says one of the biggest challenges in the 21st century for students is managing the constant presence of social media. This was a major topic explored throughout the academy.

“It’s easy to become desensitized by smartphone activity and lose awareness of the real world,” Padilla said. “We attempt to teach students how decisions affect others and how, despite the increased use of social media, we must continue to be mindful of one another.”

By the end of the week, the organizers say, there was a significant difference in how students interacted with each other as they held the door for one another and spoke to people they previously hadn’t. It was clear the message of mindfulness had been received.

In addition to exploring real-world awareness in the face of social media, students also experienced first-hand crime scene processing and obtained investigation skills. Following directions, discipline and respect are key traits needed by a first-responder or law-enforcement official, and each of those areas were paramount throughout the course of the week.

Additionally, a special opportunity was provided to Nutley High School students interested in a law enforcement career as they were able to serve as squad leaders. The older kids worked on team-building leading drills as a unit to complete tasks and learn more about police equipment.

Student Ryan Kenny has participated in the program for five years. He started off as a blue shirt (beginner) and has since moved up in rank to a yellow shirt, signifying his advancement to a leadership role.

“As a blue shirt, I learned how to form a team and work together as a group,” he said. In his upgraded position, this year, he “found new confidence to be able to speak out and grow as an individual.”

Similarly, recent Nutley High School graduate Milan Ramirez participated in the program last year and spoke of being highly “impressed by everything the police department did to make it all happen.”

As she explained, “I want to go into the criminal-justice field, so it’s a really good experience for me to be able to have this background knowledge and apply it to my

future endeavors.”

On the final day of the program, students were lauded for their efforts at a graduation ceremony.

Lt. Padilla spoke of the program’s ability to run all these years without ever having to charge.

“Our goal is to make the academy all-inclusive for everyone,” he said. “We want everyone to have equal opportunity. That’s important to what we do.”

As a result, the police department says it hopes to create a welcoming environment among cadets to “be comfortable to be able to talk to us in what’s going on and and how we can help because that is our job,” Padilla said.

With special opportunities, including bringing in the EMS, participants were able to learn CPR and develop necessary communication skills that will ultimately build their life resume.

The academy is looking at feedback from parents and students to evolve its structure and to keep the program sustainable. Students are encouraged to return as they will encounter new speakers and activities to keep them engaged in the following years.

One parent, Gina Thomas, shared her daughter’s incredible experience in a Facebook post:

“A big thank you to Nutley PD, Fire and EMS during this week for the Junior Police Academy,” she wrote. “Gia was born profoundly deaf and she uses American sign language to communicate. Participating in large events is very challenging for her, but this team made it possible for my girl to have the best time of her life. Police officers are her favorite, so spending a week hanging out with them made her dream come true.”

Next year, the program will return to Spring Garden School and Padilla says he is excited to invite new helping hands as the program continues to adapt in creating impactful experiences for the children.