e-Newspaper for July 26, 2023

National Night Out festivities slated for August 1 at Vets Field

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

It’s almost time for National Night Out and the Kearny Police Department’s Community Policing Unit has a big day planned for residents.

Among the festivities that are planned includes presentations from the Kearny PD and Kearny Fire Department,

PBA No. 21, the NJ State Police and its helicopter, the FBI, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, the Hudson County

Prosecutor’s Office and local businesses. There will be a bouncy house, balloons and ice cream for kids, a video games trailer and more.

And the day will be capped by the annual KPD v. KFD softball game.

Come on down to Veterans Field on Belgrove Drive Aug. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m.

18-year-old man charged with intentionally starting fire in large Kearny building

See Page 19

KPD: Freehold man in custody after shooting

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

AFreehold man is behind bars after he reportedly shot someone in Kearny on Tuesday, July 18, near Quincy Avenue and Trinity Place, the Kearny Police Department says.

That day, at around at 11 p.m., Kearny units were dispatched to the area after reports of shots being fired.

At the scene, officers found a gunshot victim who was reportedly being carried away from the scene.

Officers also found a crashed vehicle with airbags deployed. Most had fled from the scene at this point.

Capt. Tim Wagner, Sgts. Michael Gonzalez and Dean Gasser, Dets. Jordenson Jean, John Fabula and Mike An-

See SHOOTING, Page 19

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

Photos by Barbara B. Goldberg

Each year in July, the Town of Kearny celebrates Peru and its independence — and 2023 was no different. In addition to a ceremony where the Peruvian flag was raised by Council President Carol Jean Doyle, much of the nation’s culture was on display with performances including music, dancing and singing. Peruvian Independence Day is July 28.

SHARPTON TO DELIVER HCCC KEYNOTE

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

The Rev. Al Sharpton will deliver the keynote address at Hudson County Community College’s (HCCC) 2023 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summer Retreat

Wednesday, July 26, at 10 a.m.

Students, educators and the general public are invited to attend either in-person at the college’s Culinary Conference Center at 161 Newkirk St., Jersey City, NJ, or virtually by registering at www.eventbrite. com/e/668767099397

Sharpton is the founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN), a nonprofit organization that boasts more than 100 chapters across the United States and promotes a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunity for all.

In addition, he anchors “Politics Nation” on MSNBC and hosts the nationally syndicated radio shows

He hosts weekly action rallies and speaks out on behalf of those who have been silenced and marginalized. Sharpton has long advocated police re-

form and accountability, voting rights and educational equality.

HCCC President Christopher Reber said, “It is with great pride that we welcome Rev. Sharpton to HCCC. He has devoted his entire life to champi-

oning diversity, equity, and inclusion, promoting nonviolent activism, and providing a voice for those who are powerless. We know he will engage our attendees by providing historic context, thoughtful insight, and extraordinary inspiration on the issues we will explore during our retreat.”

The 2023 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summer Retreat is presented by the HCCC President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (PACDEI). Jelani Cobb, dean and Henry Luce professor of journalism at Columbia Journalism School, and an award-winning writer and social justice advocate, will deliver a session called, “The Future of Equity in Higher Education,” at 2 p.m.

The remainder of the daylong convening will include sessions centered around social justice, accessibility, gender identity, equity, team building and taking stock of the college’s DEI journey.

This is the second year the college is hosting the retreat.

“Keepin’ It Real” and “The Hour of Power.”

Sharpton, left, will deliver the keynote address at the HCCC DEI summer conference while Jelani Cobb will also deliver a session at the retreat called ‘The Future of Equity in Higher Eduation. The entire day is open to the public.

Plenty remains for folks to do this summer at Lyndhurst Library

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

If you’re looking for summer fun activities for the young ones, you only need to look to the Lyndhurst Public Library for some answers — and there’s also plenty for adults, too, so that is where we’ll start.

1:1 tech help available

Do you find technology confusing? Are you interested in e-Books or other digital services, but don’t know where to start? Do you need someone to sit down with you and show you how your new device works? If so, be sure to ask about the library’s 1:1 tech help. To schedule a session, call the Reference Desk at (201) 804-2478, ext. 4.

Audiobooks, e-books & more

With a Lyndhurst Library Card, residents have access to downloadable audiobooks, e-Books, music, videos, popular magazines and more? Visit www. lyndhurstlibrary.org to learn more and to get started.

Museum passes available

The library has purchased vouchers and passes to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum in Teterboro. The vouchers and passes are located in the library’s Children’s Room and will be

given to patrons with a valid BCCLS Lyndhurst Library Card.

Free WiFi hotspots

To increase internet access for Lyndhurst residents, the Lyndhurst Library offers “Internet to Go,” a project to lend WiFi hotspots to patrons. The hotspot is portable, so you’ll be able to connect to your device almost wherever you are.

A resident of Lyndhurst with a valid Lyndhurst Library card may borrow a hotspot for up to a week. The device may be renewed if no one else has placed it on hold. Call the Library with questions about this program or to find out how to apply for a library card.

Crochet Group

The library invites the community to its weekly Drop-In Crochet Group. This group is for beginner to advanced levels. Members teach and help each other. Participants must bring their own supplies. Meetings are every Wednesday from noon to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. No registration is necessary. A kitchenette area is available for participants to bring and store snacks.

Teen Programs

Summer Fine Arts Program for Teens (ages 13-17) take

See LPL, Page 18

Veolia has an unwavering commitment to water quality, operational safety and compliance.

As always, we have prepared a detailed annual water quality report. Our Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) shows how your drinking water measured up to state and federal standards last year. In an e ort to be environmentally conscious, your annual water quality report is now available online.

Please visit our website and enter your zip code to view your water quality report: h ps://mywater.veolia.us/ water-in-my-area/water-quality-reports

Please call 1-800-422-5987 Monday to Friday 8:00am-6:00pm if you prefer a paper report mailed to your home.

Theme announced for 2023 Fire Prevention Week

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

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 100 years — has announced “Cooking safety starts with YOU! Pay attention to fire prevention,” as the theme for Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 8-14, 2023. This year’s focus on cooking safety works to educate the public about simple yet important steps to take to help reduce the risk of fire when cooking at home, and keeping everyone at home safe.

According to the NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires, with nearly half, 49%, of all home fires involving cooking equipment; cooking is also the leading cause of home fire injuries. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires and related deaths. In addition, NFPA data shows cooking is the only major cause of fire that resulted in more fires and fire deaths in 2014-2018 than in 1980-1984.

“These numbers tell us that more public awareness is needed around when and where cooking hazards exist, along with ways to prevent them,” Lorraine Carli, vice president of the Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA, said. “This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign will work to promote tips, guidelines and recommendations

that can help significantly reduce the risk of having a cooking fire.”

Following are cooking safety messages that support this year’s theme:

 Always keep a close eye on what you’re cooking. For foods with longer cook times, such as those that are simmering or baking, set a timer to help monitor them carefully.

 Clear the cooking area of combustible items and keep anything that can burn, such as dish towels, oven mitts, food packaging, and paper towels.

 Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.

 Create a “kid and pet free zone” of at least three feet (one meter) around the cooking area and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

Fire Prevention Week takes place throughout North American every October, and is the oldest public health observance on record in the U.S.

Entering its 101st year, the week works to educate people about the leading risks to home fires and ways they can better protect themselves and their loved ones. Local fire departments, schools and community organizations play a key role in bringing the week to life in communities each year and spreading basic but critical fire safety messages.

Today and every day, your water quality is our top priority.

Must-haves for your summer road trip

Summer is the perfect time to jump in your car and hit the open road. But even for the most spontaneous of road trips, it’s essential that your car is properly stocked for the journey. Here are some essential things you’ll need to bring along.

FOOD AND WATER

Put some sandwiches, veggies, fruit and other snacks in a cooler, along with plenty of water. This will spare you from shelling out for food during the drive. Plus, such provisions may prove indispensable if your car breaks down or you get stuck in traffic.

SUNSCREEN

If you’re cruising in the sun for hours, you risk getting a sunburn. Put some sunscreen on before heading out and bring the bottle with you in the car in case you need to reapply.

A MAP

Your phone and GPS aren’t infallible. Plus, these devices might lose their signal or die

unexpectedly. Having a real map on hand is a good idea.

A FLASHLIGHT

If you end up on the side of the road with car problems at night, a flashlight may just save the day. It can also come in handy in a number of other circumstances such as unpacking the car at night or taking a roadside wee in the dark.

A FIRST AID KIT

A well-stocked first aid kit is a must. Essential items include Band-Aids, tweezers, hand sanitizer, antibiotic ointment, gauze, scissors, adhesive tape and a saline solution (for eye washing and cleaning wounds).

Finally, don’t forget to bring items to keep you and your passengers entertained. Think about bringing along music, audiobooks, games and media players. You want to ensure that you and your companions have a fun and memorable trip.

OPINION & VIEWPOINTS

Essex Greenway is just what is needed for this part of Jersey

To the Editor:

Over the past couple of months, there have been a number of newspaper articles with the headlines stating New Jersey has now acquired all of the land needed to create a greenway out of the now abandoned NJ Transit Boonton Line for pedestrians and bicyclists. The current plan will be for the greenway to run from the heart of Essex County, over the Passaic River, directly through the middle of Kearny, then on to the Hackensack Meadowlands, over the Hackensack River, and through Secaucus and Jersey City to the Hudson River Waterfront, creating a viable, green alternative for commuting to New York City, while also providing access to other mass transit options within NJ, including the Secaucus Junction, Journal Square and the Newark Subway,

all of which are within a short walking distance of the proposed greenway.

In addition to the green commuting options, the greenway will also enhance recreational opportunities for the citizens of Hudson, Bergen and Essex counties by linking existing open space, such as Laurel Hill County Park, the Gunnel Oval and Branch Brook Park.

A family now will be able to walk or ride bikes from the Gunnel Oval in Kearny to Branch Brook Park in Newark without having to use a surface street, which is pretty amazing, not to mention safe, when one considers we live in a very densely populated area.

Gov. Philip D. Murphy, as well as any local politicians who may have been involved in making this happen, certainly deserve credit. This greenway will prove to be a tremendous asset for all of us; even motorists who do not use it will benefit from there being less people on the road, driving.

It is my understanding this project will eventually have a state park designation, which is great but it also begs the question: With the greenway

THE OBSERVER’S CORRECTION POLICY

The Observer strives to bring our readers the best and the most accurate news.

However, from time to time, there may be mistakes in what we report. As such, we take our obligation to report errors seriously.

If you believe we’ve made an error, please send an e-mail to editorial@theobserver.com, indicating what is to be corrected.

We will ensure a correction is noted (if necessary) in a future print edition — and online.

If access to e-mail is not possible, please call us at 201-9911600.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

running directly through the Hackensack Meadowlands, more specifically the Sawmill Wildlife Management Area, with a state park designation, then why wouldn’t we incorporate the last 1/3 of open space in the Meadowlands that has not been filled in for light industry or landfills into the proposed state park greenway?

The landfills would be capped and incorporated into the park as a part of this process where they could be turned into upland habitats to complement the marsh. A state park designation would create a world class park directly in the center of one of the most densely populated regions in the

United States, while providing the additional resources the Hackensack Meadowlands needs and deserves.

In closing, there have not been any names suggested yet for this new state park, so let me suggest one: the Capt. Bill Sheehan State Park.

Ryan Martin | North Arlington

Handlin: Worry how committee meeting took place

To the Editor: I have grave concerns on how the County Committee in Kearny held its meeting on July 10, 2023, to select a slate

for interim mayor. I listened to the chairman in my ward explain how the meeting was conducted by the Vice Chairwoman Susan McCurrie and not in accordance with the rules and bylaws of the Kearny Democratic Organization. The vice chairwoman refused to allow the committee to elect a new chairperson to fill the position vacated by former Mayor Alberto Santos and when comments and motions were attempted to be made by members, they were not permitted to do so.

It should be noted that the members are elected by the voters to be representatives. I believe that this is something that needs to be looked into and addressed. Thank you for your time and attention in this matter.

Lawrence Handlin | Kearny

The Observer accepts letters from readers on topics germane to our readership area. They must be no more than 250 words and all letters must be signed with a phone number for verification purposes. Anonymous letters will not be published under any circumstances. On occasion, The Observer accepts letters more than 250 words as op-eds — they are judged for publication on an individual basis. Opinion pieces are published based on space availability. We do not guarantee the publishing of any letter or op-ed. All letters should be submitted to editorial@theobserver.com.

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Police: 2 men expected Grindr dates but instead, each was seriously beaten with fists & weapons

By Det. Sgt. Mike Gontarczuk Kearny Police Department

Two men who thought they were going to meet another man for a date on the app Grindr instead were met with fists and weapons, and were seriously beaten by three males — including one who is a juvenile — and now all three suspects are now behind bars, the Kearny PD says.

The incidents happened on two separate days — July 16 and July 18 — near Garfield Avenue and Elm Street.

In the first case, the victim’s credit card was stolen, his car keys were thrown into a sewer grate and the victim was beaten by three males with a weapon. The victim was able to see the residence the actors ran into, however, and provided this information to the police.

In the second incident, the victim had arrived to meet up for a Grindr date. As

he parked his vehicle, three men appeared and jumped into it. The actors immediately began striking the victim and yelling at him while taking his belongings, including a luxury bag, luxury wallet and the contents thereof and other items.

The victims suffered bruising, lacerations and cuts but their injuries were not life threatening.

Det. John Fabula utilized residential security camera footage, photo arrays with victims and electronic data investigation to identify the suspects involved. Running directly into their family residence after committing both crimes did not help the suspects in concealing their identities, either.

The suspects were identified as a 17-year-old Kearny boy, Luis G. Alonso, 32, of Kearny and Ramon Domenech, 40, of Kearny.

After probable cause had been devel-

oped to arrest the three involved suspects, Det. Fabula began typing up the complaints. But before he could finish, however, Det. Mike Andrews reportedly observed the juvenile walking on Elm Street. As Andrews approached him, the boy fled and a foot pursuit ensued.

Det. Andrews (as he always does) caught up to the perp and, with the assistance of Officer San Martin, was able to handcuff him. A search incident to arrest yielded at least 12 items which were proceeds from the robberies.

All three of the above individuals were charged for the first incident — robbery, burglary, conspiracy, aggravated assault, criminal restraint, two weapons charges. The investigation of the second incident is ongoing; however, Domenech has already been charged with robbery, burglary and conspiracy in that case.

Additional charges may be issued in the future.

Youngsters learns the ropes at Essex Junior Police Academy

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

Twelve-year-old Tyler Roman says his dream is to one day become a surveillance expert for a law enforcement agency.

“I like IT and detective work, so I’d love to work in police surveillance,” Tyler, who attends Newark’s Robert Treat Academy Charter School, said.

The morning of July 17, Tyler’s dream took a step closer to becoming a reality, as he joined 19 other youngsters for the start of the Public Safety Youth Academy, an annual summer program for Essex

County children between the ages of 8-13.

The academy is sponsored by the Police and Fire divisions in Newark and East Orange, as well as the Newark Police Department’s Community/Clergy Affairs Unit, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Authorities from those agencies volunteer to work with the children, so the program is free of charge.

The academy’s aim, organizers say, is to show children what it’s like to work as a police officer or a firefighter. Throughout the summer, they’ll also get a closeup view

of the inner workings of the Sheriff’s and the Prosecutor’s offices and learn about various careers in public safety.

“It’s important for our youth to know how essential law enforcement is, how it works, and how it affects our communities,” Debra Smith-Gregory, president of the NAACP Newark branch, said. “Law enforcement offers our youth many interesting and novel career paths, so this academy is a really good idea.”

That same day, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II welcomed the children at a kickoff class at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther

King Jr. Justice Building. Stephens introduced a Newark Municipal Court judge, who swore the children into the academy. Raising their right hands, the children vowed to work hard, pay attention and learn as much as they could.

The academy, which runs July 17 to Aug. 4, has an ambitious agenda.

The cadets will visit the Essex County Prosecutor’s Crime Scene Lab, where they’ll learn about fingerprinting, DNA and other evidence, as well as the Drug Enforcement Agency, Rutgers University Police, and the Sheriff’s Office bomb squad unit.

There’s also a day-long trip to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. They’ll enjoy

other outings such as seeing a movie, visiting the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange and swimming at a local pool.

Milagros Cuevas, Tyler’s mother, said she wanted him to use his summer fruitfully. She recently took a public safety class for adults, which she enjoyed, so wanted her son to have the a similar opportunity.

“I didn’t want him to sit at home playing video games,” Cuevas said. “I enjoyed the public safety class I took and wanted Tyler to have a similar opportunity to learn about law enforcement and public safety. And I hope the academy will have him achieve his dream to become a computer expert in law enforcement.”

Contributed photo Cadets at the Essex Junior Police Academy stand at attention during roll call.

SPORTS & HEALTH

Harrison summer volleyball leagues continue to grow in popularity

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

Nutley American Little League

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

When play began for just the second Little League State Tournament for players ages 7-8, Nutley American Little League head coach Travis Gonick really didn’t know what to expect. Afterall, for many of the Nutley American players, this spring marked the first time they had ever played in a league where the kids do the pitching, rather than having coaches do it.

In just a few short weeks, the team went from having few expectations to visions of a state championship.

Thanks to six consecutive wins, Nutley American finds themselves just one victory away from a North Region Championship and just two away from a state title.

Nutley American has gone

6-0, the most recent victory, a 5-4 win over Oradell this past Thursday. Nutley American will play Oradell again on Tuesday night in Little Ferry with a chance to clinch the North title. If Oradell wins, the teams will meet again in a winner-take-all showdown on Thursday.

The North winner will face the South Regional champion in a one game state championship on Sunday in Trenton.

Nutley American reached the regional after going 4-0 in District 8, culminating with a 9-5 victory over Bloomfield in the title game.

“For us coming out there and going out there not knowing what was going to happen, to win districts and then play for a (North) title is shocking,” said Gonick of Nutley American’s first season having a 7-8 AllStar team. “They’re putting it all out there and they’re having

fun doing it and that’s what they should be doing. We didn’t think it would be a baseball summer, but it turned into one.”

With kids pitching for the first time, merely throwing strikes is a huge advantage and Nutley has the benefit of having three pitchers it can count on, starting with one of Gonick’s twin sons, Tyler.

“He’s not walking kids, he’s getting the job done, striking people out,” Travis Gonick said. “At this age, you’re only allowed to throw 50 pitches and for most kids, 50 pitches will maybe get them through an inningand-a-half (out of a five inning game). Against Oradell, he pitched three complete innings with seven strikeouts.”

Following Tyler Gonick on the mound are Owen Farley and Alex Medaska, who serves

See NUTLEY, Page 10

There’s no denying the growth in boys volleyball in New Jersey, and especially in this area, the last handful of years.

The annual Harrison Recreation Summer Boys and Girls Volleyball Leagues are proof of the rapid increase in popularity the sport is experiencing locally. Despite making the leagues bigger and longer than in past summers, the amount of requests to join the league outnumbered the available spots.

“This year we had to turn down I think three or four teams for the boys league and a couple of teams for the girls league as well,” said Sabia, the longtime assistant coach for the Blue Tide boys team and former Harrison girls head coach. “And that’s with having more teams in than we’ve ever had in the past because we have the other court added in the main gym of the high school. We have more courts, we have more teams and we still had to turn teams down so there’s definitely an interest in the area.”

This summer’s edition, the sixth they’ve hosted, features 10 boys and eight girls teams. Games are Tuesday and Thursday, with two games going on at the same time in the high school’s main gym with another in the auxiliary gym. Even with the main gym hosting two games at a time for the first time, each season was extended a week to ac-

commodate the extra teams.

For Sabia, a 2004 graduate who played in the program’s infancy, the rise in popularity of volleyball, especially on the boys side is meaningful to him. All seven of The Observer area teams have boys volleyball now with Nutley adding it in 2022 and North Arlington this past spring. The 2023 season also saw the NJSIAA change the format of the state tournament, as it went to four groups for the first time due to the amount of schools who now have teams.

“It does mean a lot to me,” said Sabia. “All of these teams are adding volleyball now so it’s just great to see it everywhere, especially all of these boys teams popping up where they look at us as the veteran,

See HARRISON, Page 10

Photo is courtesy of Travis Gonick

First Row (left to right): Joseph Gilberti, Jase Giordano, Tyler Gonick, Vincent Ritacco, Henry Jernick, Taylor Gonick. Middle Row (left to right): Luke Richards, Nolan Lazu, James Poth, Elias Diaz, Owen Farley, Alex Medaska. Back Row: coaches Travis Gonick, Steve Gilberti, Rob Medaska.

Photo courtesy of Anthony Sabia Harrison’s Anthony Narvaez

wins 7-8 District title, is on the verge of more

Continued from Page 9

as the team’s closer.

All three of them also rotate at shortstop and second base, depending on who is pitching.

Joining them on the infield is Vincent Ritacco at third base, who has defended the position at such a high level, that Travis Gonick is amazed at some of the putouts he’s recorded from the hot corner.

“He has many putouts at third base,” Travis Gonick said. “For a little kid, an 8-year-old, throwing the ball from third to first isn’t that easy, but he’s making these plays and doing a great job out there.”

Another standout defender has been first baseman Henry Jernick.

“Henry has made a couple of amazing plays, pop outs to end games,” said Gonick. “He’s playing great at first base, knowing the field and knowing where to throw the ball.”

At catcher is Travis Gonick’s other twin son Taylor. Taylor

has been a fine receiver behind the plate and has unsurprisingly shown an advanced chemistry with Tyler when he’s been pitching that Travis can only sum up as “a twin thing.”

The outfield has been a rotation for Nutley American with Joseph Gilberti, Luke Richards, James Poth, Jase Giordano, Nolan Lazu and Elias Diaz all seeing time out there.

Coaching with Travis Gonick are Steve Gilberti and Rob Madeska. Regardless of how much further this run goes for Nutley American, it is one where not only all expectations have been exceeded, but one that has proven to be memorable for all.

“The smiles on their faces, just their attitude, just the way they play is amazing,” said Gonick. “They’re coming together not just as baseball players, but as a town.

“They’re having so much fun and it’s really a blast seeing how much fun they’re having and the improvements they’ve made. It’s great as a father and as a coach.”

Continued

old team now.”

On the court, Harrison’s boys team will be anything, but that as it graduates all, but one starter, defensive specialist Anthony Narvaez, from this spring’s 27-3 squad, which won the Hudson County Tournament and reached the North Jersey, Group 1 final. For that reason, the experience of summer games together is all the more valuable this summer.

“It’s incredibly crucial for us. We’re going to be a very junior-heavy team heading

into next spring. Most of them were part of our JV team last season,” Sabia said. I think it’s important for them to see the step up in the level of competition so they realize that stuff that kinda came easy to them on freshman and JV isn’t going to necessarily happen on varsity.”

Joining Harrison in the boys league is rival Kearny, who it has squared off with in the County final each of the last two years. Longtime Hudson County contenders Bayonne and St. Peter’s Prep are back as well as fellow HCIAL rivals Memorial, North Bergen and Hudson Catholic.

Abundant Life of Nutley, Payne Tech and West Caldwell Tech round out the field.

On the girls side, locals Harrison, Kearny and Lyndhurst are joined by Abundant Life, Hudson Catholic, which has won six of the last seven Hudson County titles, Newark Tech, Payne Tech and West Caldwell Tech.

Kearny’s Paisley Athletic FC completes first USL-W season, creates new opportunities for women’s soccer

By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com

It was only nine years ago when Jennifer Pettigrew Tuesta had graduated from Seton Hall University and found her options to continue playing competitive soccer nearly non-existent.

Now ,as the General Manager of Paisley Athletic FC, the Kearny native and one-time Team USA U-17 goalkeeper is helping make sure that young female soccer players don’t have to face the same dilemma as she did.

“Even at my level, there weren’t any options,” Tues -

ta said. “There was nothing really, especially local. There were teams out there, but it was so limited that no one knew about them and no awareness.

“It’s just more opportunities for more people to play.”

This spring and summer, Paisley Athletic FC, which is based out of Kearny, completed its inaugural season in the USL-W, a pre-professional league with 59 teams located across the country. The W League is the second highest league under the umbrella of the United Soccer League

See SOCCER, Page 12

Premier Car e TALK S

INNOVATIONS IN PAIN MANAGEMENT

Pain resulting from illness, trauma, disease or nerve damage, lasting three or more months is considered chronic pain and negatively impacts a patient’s qualityof-life and mental well-being.

Recent advances in pain management include neurostimulation implants to manage lower back pain in patients when physical therapy, injections, and medications fail to provide relief. Implants provide electrical stimulation to affected nerves, easing the patient’s pain.

Radiofrequency ablation employs radio waves to impede pain signals by controlling the temperature and strength of the radio waves. Drug-free patches work by “teaching” the nerves to divert pain signals with electromagnetic waves. New topical treatments

deliver capsaicin directly into the skin, eliminating pain. These therapeutic breakthroughs are effective alternatives to opioids and other potentially dangerous medications.

Pain management also may involve lifestyle changes and alternative treatments such as yoga or meditation. 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. The word pain comes from Poine, the Greek goddess of revenge, who was sent from the gods to punish the mortals that angered them.

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.

Dr. Prakash J. Doshi

Dr. Hector Aguilar

Photo courtesy of Trevor Giesberg

SOCCER

Continued from Page 11

which, along with the NWSL, are the two top women’s soccer leagues in the country.

Playing its home games at Harvey Field in Kearny, Paisley Athletic FC went 1-65 in its first season in the new league, finishing sixth out of eight teams in the Metropolitan Division. The previous two years, Paisley was a part of the UWS, which was a lower level pro-am league.

“I think the Super League will supplement (the NWSL) too because there’s just more opportunities. There’s more than 300 people here in the US who can play soccer after college,” said Tuesta, who retired from playing last win-

ter after playing the previous two years with Paisley. “It’s good to see these opportunities continuing to be created because the talent is there, the demand is there. The investment is getting there so I think now is as good a time as ever to make these moves.”

Coached by current Kearny High School girls coach Michael Sylvia, this year’s roster had plenty of local talent, including Skyler Matusz, who is Kearny High School’s career scoring leader and currently plays at Seton Hall. Others with local ties include former Nutley standouts

Victoria Kealy and Natalie Melillo, North Arlington native Arianna Silva and recent North Arlington graduate Arancha Antunes, who will be playing at Manhattan in

C ELEBRATING 25 Y EARS !

EYE CARE

DeLuca Vision Consultants

HYPERTENSIVE RETINOPATHY RISK FACTORS

Hypertensive retinopathy is a condition in which high blood pressure damages the retina. The retina is the layer of tissue at the back of the eye that helps interpret light into images so we can see. High blood pressure can cause the retina to thicken, narrowing the blood vessels and preventing blood from reaching the retina. Common symptoms include eye swelling, impaired vision, burst blood vessels in the eye, and double vision with headaches. Some risk factors for high blood pressure are being overweight, lack of physical activity, a diet high in salt, and stress. In addition to prolonged high blood pressure, risk factors for hypertensive retinopathy include heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and heavy drinking.

Effective treatment for HR

the fall.

Some of them got their start with the legendary Kearny Thistle United program, which has had youth girls soccer programs for five decades.

“Some of them have been involved since they were five years old. What we’re trying to do now with the club is that we still want to be a community-based club,” said Mike Mara, who is Paisley Athletic’s Co-Founder and the Kearny Thistle United President. “We still want to create opportunities for the kids locally that want to play the game at different levels. We want to retain our highest-level players by making sure the environment’s right.”

In order to do that, Kearny Thistle United and Paisley

Athletic announced this spring their plans to expand their Girls Academy in the U13-U18 age groups.

Paisley’s U-19 team recently made it to the President’s Cup National Final as it showed the talent is around locally to compete at the highest level.

“The talent is here in Kearny and I think we have a lot of the right pieces in place. I think the U-19 team and Paisley Academy shows that there’s a demand here, there’s talent and I’m really excited about what we’re building as a whole, especially on the girls side. I want players to have the opportunity to stay with Thistle throughout their career because we’re really taking this to a high level now.”

For as much as it has already grown in a short period of time, but Tuesta and Mara envision further growth within the program - at all age levels in the years to come.

“I think on our end, we’re a small, but mighty operation right now,” said Tuesta. “We have a couple of people that really care a lot about the growth of the game and the mission of Paisley-Thistle and the rich history of the town.

“Our goal is to work with people who are invested in the game and looking to grow it as much as we are to make this as big as we possibly can. Ultimately, it’s about creating the opportunities for the next generation and making sure they have a place to play.”

The Observer’s correction policy

The Observer strives to bring our readers the best and the most accurate news. However, from time to time, there may be mistakes in what we report. As such, we take our obligation to report errors seriously. If you believe we’ve made an error, please send an e-mail to editorial@theobserver.com, indicating what is to be corrected. We will ensure a correction is noted (if necessary) in a future print edition — and online.

involves controlling and lowering high blood pressure with a combination of medications and lifestyle changes. If you have high blood pressure or HR, your primary care doctor can work with your eye doctor (ophthalmologist) to determine an appropriate treatment plan and monitor your condition. To schedule an appointment, please call 201-896-0096. We are located at 20 Park Avenue, Lyndhurst. To get in touch with our optical shop, call 201-896-0007. We accept most insurance.

P.S. Symptoms of hypertensive retinopathy don’t usually appear until the condition has progressed significantly. If you consistently have high blood pressure, regular exams with an eye doctor are recommended to catch the condition early.

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

Cecilia Agnes Holle

Cecil-

ia Agnes

Jordan Holle was born to James and Rose

Ann Hamill

Jordan, who had emigrated from Belfast, Ireland, (now Northern Ireland) and was raised in the Arlington section of Kearny.

She was the ninth of their 10 children. Ceil was active in her community. She was a founding member of the Fr. Washington Club at St. Stephen’s parish and would harmonize along with her sisters in club productions. She was also proud of her work as an executive secretary at Driver Harris, as well as her tenure as a Girl Scout Leader in Kearny.

Ceil married her sweetheart, John A Holle, a former Marine who had fought at Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima, and earned citations for bravery, including the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. Together they attended many annual 4th Marine Division reunions and travelled the east coast to rifle matches as John was an expert rifleman.

The couple moved to Bloomfield to start their family, and both lived lives of devoted service to their parish, St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Bloomfield. Ceil was a daily communicant, a member of the Rosary Society, the Liturgy Committee and served as a Eucharistic Minister. When at the shore, Ceil would regularly attend Mass at St. Mark’s Church in Sea Girt.

Ceil’s entire life revolved around her family and her faith, inextricably mixed with her Irish heritage. One could

OBITUARIES

not find a more devoted, supportive and nurturing mother and grandmother.

Their Irish roots drew her family to the sea and a love of Spring Lake and Sea Girt. Favorite times were spent on Sea Girt beach and boardwalk (as recently as July 11), and at the lake in Spring Lake.

A lifelong lover of Irish music, Ceil was delighted when The Bantry Boys, long time family friends, became regulars at St. Stephen’s Green Publick House in Spring Lake and she was able to see them often.

Frequent trips to Ireland to visit the family brought her tremendous joy and the beauty of Ireland never failed to enchant her.

Cecilia was predeceased by her parents, James and Rose Ann Jordan; her husband, John A. Holle Sr.; her sons John A Holle Jr. and adopted son the Rev. Laurence P. Dolan, OFM; siblings and siblings-in-law , James Jordan Jr., Edward and Marie Jordan, Elizabeth Anne Jordan, John and Louise Jordan, Thomas and Margaret Jordan, Mary and George Fultz, William Benedict Jordan, John and Rose Wildeman, Ernest C. Corcoran, and Albert Holle; nieces Rosalie Jordan and Regina Holle, great-niece, Megan Jordan; nephews, James Jordan and Thomas Jordan Jr., and great-nephews, Stephen Sherman and Jason Jordan.

She is survived by her children Joan Holle of Spring Lake; Dolores Holle of Sea Girt; James Jordan and Deirdre Cannon Holle of East Hanover; grandchildren James Holle of East Hanover and Brian and Brianne Holle of Hawthorne; her sister, Teresa Corcoran of Sea Girt; countless nieces, nephews and cousins in the U.S. and Ireland and many dear

friends.

Visitation was at Halpin-Bitecola Brookdale Funeral Home, 1284 Broad St. in Bloomfield. The funeral was July 24 from the funeral home. A funeral liturgy was celebrated at Saint Thomas the Apostle Church, Bloomfield. Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Seeing Eye, PO Box 375, Morristown, N.J. 07963.

Richard G. Flynn

Richard G. Flynn, 95, of Tinton Falls, formerly of North Arlington, died peacefully July 18, 2023 at Care One in Holmdel, surrounded by his loving family.

Visitation for Richard was at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, Kearny, on Sunday, July 22. A funeral Mass was celebrated at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Lyndhurst July 23. Cremation was private.

Born in Newark, Richard lived in Kearny, and then in North Arlington, for 30 years. He recently moved to Tinton Falls. Richard was a custodian at Kearny High School for 25 years prior to his retirement. He was also a devoted member of the St. Stephen’s Seniors.

Richard was the beloved husband of 68 years to Theresa “Terry” (nee Dalrymple) Flynn; loving father of Richard Flynn, Robert Flynn, Thomas Flynn, Lori Koblanski and John Flynn; cherished grandfather of 11 and adoring great-grandfather of 11. He was predeceased by his

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

brothers William and Ronald Flynn.

Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Thiem

Elizabeth “Betty” Thiem, a lifelong resident of Harrison,

was born Oct. 9, 1929. She died peacefully on July 16, 2023, at her home surrounded by her family.

Relatives and friends visited

See OBITS, Page 14

Mulligan Funeral Home

331 Cleveland Avenue, Harrison

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

Frank X. Mulligan, Jr. Inactive Private Parking at 10 Frank E. Rodgers Blvd. North 973-481-4333

visit us at: www.mulliganfh.com

Shaw-Buyus

Home for Services

Mario Teixeria, IV, Manager, NJ Lic. #3757

Mario Teixeira, Jr. Director, NJ Lic. #2542 • Monique Teixeira, Director, NJ Lic. #4048

Newly renovated family owned and operated funeral home with multiple locations.

Fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. Handicapped Accessible.

138 DAVIS AVE. • KEARNY, NJ 07032 (201) 991-2265 www.buyusfuneralhome.com

WILFRED ARMITAGE & WIGGINS FUNERAL HOME

Mark G. Wiggins, Manager N.J. Lic. #3916

You will feel as if friends of family have taken over when you entrust funeral arrangements to the Wilfred Armitage Funeral Home. The family-owned firm has been in business for 100 years, serving generations in West Hudson and South Bergen. Its beautiful facilities, in a setting reminiscent of a colonial mansion, reflect the graciousness and tact of its understanding personnel.

Wilfred Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home 596 Belgrove Dr. • Kearny, NJ 07032 (201) 991-0657

Fourth quarter honors announced at Kearny’s Franklin School

Yvonne Cali, principal of Kearny’s Franklin School, presents the school’s fourth marking period honor students:

2022-2023 Presidential Award Winners: Michael Clark, Ester Glanzmann Cerqueira, Paul Torres

Perfect Attendance 20222023: Ayla Alves, Edison Azcona Duran, Maximiliano Delgado Vallejo, Gia Fucilli, Aaliyah Giraud, Pedro Grinan, Alexander Horruitiner Gonzalez, Matangi Jani, Javier Moreira Ferrin, Emma Orellana Cruz, Emma Polanco, Sophia San Martin, Vani Sharma, Leo Valderrama, Jorge Valverde.

6th Grade, Principal’s Honors: Isabella Barrantes, Michael Clark, Joselyn Espinoza Morquecho, Ester Glanzmann Cerqueira, Aditi Jani, Joshua Konopka, Chloe Lin, Noushin Mahmud, Katherine Marrero, Liza Savytska, Paul Torres, Joe Yang.

OBITS

Continued from Page 13

CELEBRATING

6th Grade, Honors: Camila

Cabrera Adames, Justin Canales, Emiliano Castellanos, Kate Cordova Velez, Lysander Di Lorenzo Nunez, Kal-El Espinoza, Christopher Fernandez, Samuel Garcia Ojeda, Pedro Grinan, Nathan Lara, Jessenia Reyes, Shirley Rojas Ullauri, Janiya

Salazar, Steven Speranza, Ryan

Tenesaca, Angelo Ureta, Maria Zapata Calle.

5th Grade, Principal’s Hon-

ors: Isabelle Almonte, Daniel Cooke, Jade Hernandez, Mason

How Chung, Scarlet Jaramillo, Omayra Juarez, Dylan Marin

Jimenez, Joseph Montoro, Gabriela Moreno Valdez, Daniel Ribeiro, Shannon Ryan, Jeremay Santos De Freitas, Mia

Torres, Valeria Vargas.

5th Grade, Honors: Gianni

Abanto, Gabbriella Acevedo, Sophia Balseca, Laura Boni Do Vale, Zineb Boumia, Rayyan Bourquia, Adriana Cruz, Mason

Da Costa Rowling, Benjamin Davila Rivera, Jada DeJesus, Jean Delanoe, Maria De Olivei-

at the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, Kearny. A funeral Mass was celebrated at Holy Cross Church, Har-

SUCCESSES

ra Vieira, Camila Dominguez, Nathan Gonzalez, Gabriela Goya Garcia, Camille Kopp, Maliah Mataro, Brielle Mora Pineda, Lismel Nunez Diaz, Amayiah Oliva, Damian Pagan Campos, Samir Pardo, Lucas Paz, Maria Peixoto Valada, Jillian Platero, Nicholas Platero, Anneliese Ramos, Isabelly Ribeiro De Paula, Kevin Reis, Camilla Silva, Bryan Toledo, Emily Tom, Wilson Vega, Liliana Ventoso.

4th Grade, Principal’s Honors: Mateo Alvarado Cedeno, Anthony Andrade, Marcus Cerqueira Castromil Filho, Alexandra DaSilva, Leslie Fuentes Perez, Arthur Glanzmann Cerqueira, Penelope Lewczuk, Brizydes Martinez Hernandez, Jazilyn Montilla, Myles Morales, Daniel Ribeiro, George Rosaly, Louis Silva, Samantha Vazquez, Madison Velazquez, Yihuan Zhuang.

4th Grade, Honors: Mia Acevedo, Victoria Alves Farias, Brian Brandao, Mackenzie

rison. Entombment was in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. Condolences and memories may be shared at

Carrasco, Cataleya Castro Ruiz, Bryant Cirelli, Jorge Cortes, Kamila Criollo, Aiden Cruz, Brandon Delgado, Estefano Delgado Vallejo, Helen Escobar Acosta, Caroline Gonzalez, Olivia Hipolito, Julissa Huanacaya, Yanati Ixcoy Shivir, Kalel Izquierdo, Luna Lopes, Sophia Lopez, Aliyah Lorenzo, Audrey Lugo, Maria Clara Martins Laignier, Chloe Martinez, Luciano Mejia Ortega, Lucas Mercado, Reyna Montesinos, Ellena Neto, Andrew Oriondo, Isabella Osorio, Olivia Pacheco, Daniela Payano, Adriana Quila Quinde, Valentina Ribeiro, Ayden Rodriguez, Suzivette Rodriguez, Emmanuel Rubi Reyes, Alanis Sampaio, Alexander Sanchez-Morales, Jae Silva, Emma Traqueia, Lucas Zanandrea.

Woman’s Club awards scholarships to 9 recent Kearny High grads

The Woman’s Club of Arlington recognized several Kearny High School Seniors with scholarships. The awards

www.thiele-reid.com.

Elizabeth was born and raised in Harrison and was a registered nurse, first for the Jersey City Medical Center, later for the Town of Harrison and then retiring after a 25-year career with Bell Telephone of New Jersey.

Elizabeth earned her bachelor’s degree from St. Elizabeth’s College in Convent Station, and was an active parishioner at Holy Cross Church, Harrison, where she was a member of the Rosary Society. Elizabeth touched the lives of many people with her smile and generosity.

Elizabeth was the sister to two brothers, Richard Roberts and the late Francis Roberts Jr., all born to the late Francis and Mary (Banks) Roberts. Elizabeth was predeceased by her loving husband Charles, her

are intended to assist the graduates in their transition to college.

The scholarship recipients were selected through collaboration between the Guidance Department and the KHS scholarship committee. They are:

 Thayna Schiavini was awarded a $500 scholarship.

 Lesly Samaniego was presented with the English Medal and a $125 stipend.

 Mayra Morocho Ludizaca received the $200 Hudson County College Scholarship.

 Yinezca Adams was awarded a $200 Vocational Scholarship.

 Emily Horvaht was given a $200 STEM Scholarship.

 A $200 Arts Scholarship was awarded to Sandra Arater

 Anthony Perez received the $200 Culinary Scholarship.

 Guadalupa Peralta and Manal Ibnouelkady each received a $100 Achievement Award.

companion of 55 years, with whom she shared a love of travel. She will forever be remembered by her beloved daughter, Elizabeth McNamara and her husband, Daniel; treasured grandchildren Meaghan and her husband, Mihaly; Kieran and Kieran’s fiancée, Hanna Work; Colin and cherished great-granddaughter Madelyn. Elizabeth is also survived by many devoted nieces and nephews. Her loss will also be mourned by other friends and family who were blessed to know her. Elizabeth loved traveling, reading, laughing, being with her family and friends.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Harrison Cancer League or to her Beloved Holy Cross Church, Harrison, each in care of the funeral home.

“We treat you like Family”

Belleville Sons of American legion swear in new & returning officers

The Sons of the American Legion (SAL) Squadron 105 of Belleville installed its executive board and officers at the post home on Washington Avenue recently. The officers were sworn in by American Legion Essex County Executive Committee Adjutant Henry DelTosto and will serve until June 2024.

Squadron Commander Steve Sangemino, as well as Adjutant and Finance Officer Rusty Myers, were both elected to their fifth term as officers. 1st Vice Commander James Elsmore

was elected to his second term, as was Joseph Florenza as sargent-at-arms.

All of the other officers were either elected or appointed to their first terms. The Squadron elected 2nd Vice Commander Vincent Ferriole and 3rd Vice Commander Richard Vlasakakis, and the Commander appointed Anthony Noto as historian; Carl Slaughter as vhaplain and Robert Hildebrandt as service officer.

The officers are seen, in photo, during the swearing-in ceremony. The photo is courtesy of Rusty Myers.

325 Orient Way, Lyndhurst, NJ • 201-939-7708

Hablamos Español

2023 GMC TERRAIN SLE AWD

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2023 GMC ACADIA SLE ELEVATIoN EDITIoN AWD

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Stk#43359 Vin# PZ207605 MSRP $43,060, 2.0 l, auto, p/str/brks/abs/wind/locks, , a/c, driver convenience, info. Pac, security system, 3 year OnStar, alloy wheels. lease total payments $14,364 Residual $24,544 Price includes $4,596 down payment with $4,995 due at inception. lease price includes $3,000 factory cash and $2,250 lease loyalty cash requires a 2018 or newer leased Buick or GMc in household.

2023 GMC SIERRA 1500 PRo DoUBLE CAB 4WD

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Stk# 43410 Vin# PZ280643, MSRP $49,920, 5.3l V8, 10 speed auto. Pro Value Pac, Snow Value Pac, PS, PB,PW, Ac. lease total payments $17,964, residual $31,449. Price incl $3,701 down with $4,200 due at signing. lease price includes $750 Factory Rebate plus $1,500 lease loyalty/lease conquest cash requires a 2018 or newer leased Vehicle in household

2023 GMC SIERRA 1500 PRo REGULAR CAB RWD

Buy FOR Only $39,930

Vehicle color is Summit White

Stk# 43626 Vin# PG340999. MSRP $42,430, 5.3l V8, 8 speed auto. PS, PB,PW, eZ lift tailgate, trailering Pac.w/ Brake controller, Ac. Buy for Price includes $500. Franks discount and $2,000 trade Assist requiring a 2009 or newer trade-in. PluS receive 1.9% APR up to 60 Months available to well qualified buyers thru GM Financial. Price excludes doc Fee of $289. And includes all applicable rebates, incentives and discounts.

$695 Acquisition + $289 doc fee included on lease vehichles. lease includes 10,000 mi./yr. and $.25/mi afterwards. Price includes all costs to be paid by consumer except licensing & registration fees & taxes. lease thru GM Financial to qualified buyers. All Offers expires 7/31/23. See dealer for details and limitations, not responsible for typo errors.

Vehicle color is Summit White

The Town of Kearny is accepting applications for Registered Environmental Health Specialists (REHS). This is a full time position with a starting salary of $58,528. Under direction of the Health Officer, this individual will coordinate activities pertaining to lead hazard risk assessment inspections and the prevention of childhood lead poisoning. 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, inspections and other duties as assigned. 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. Possession of a current New Jersey Lead Inspector/Risk Assessor license is preferred. For Application see https://www.kearnynj.org/job-opportunities/ application deadline is 8/18/23

11W03

UEZ Coordinator

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

Collection System Supervisor Kearny Municipal Utilities Authority, Hudson CountyKMUA is seeking a Collection System Supervisor for the Authorities five pump stations, approximately 9 miles of gravity sewer, and 3 miles of force mains. Will report directly, and function under the supervision of the Executive Director. Assists with & perform daily operation, control, process changes, maintenance, repairs, inspections, reports, and recordkeeping. Ability to troubleshoot and identify operational failures. Oversees, trains, and works with the operational staff on operations, maintenance, collections systems, and other KMUA functions including jetting, vacuum cleaning, CCTV inspection, street sweeping, salting, and snow plowing. Assists with preparing work schedules and equipment maintenance protocols, coverage for emergency call outs, and personnel issues. Required to be on-call for emergencies 24 hours per day including weekends/ holidays. Intermediate computer skills are required (MS Office). Requires at least 5 years’ experience in pump station & collections operations and maintenance with at least 1 year of lead experience. High School diploma, Min. NJDEP C-1 license, NJ state driver’s license, and NJ CDL Class B w/Tanker required. A full job description and employment ap- plication can be found at https://www.kearnynj.org/ kmua-links-notices/ under Employment Opportunities. Salary range is requested. Resumes should be forwarded to jquinones@kmua.org 12W04

Bilingual full time receptionist/administrative assistant: CDL ACCOUNTING SERVICES EXPERT in Kearny, NJ is seeking a highly organized and customer-focused individual to join our team as a full time Receptionist/Administrative Assistant. Experience and Spanish speaking is a must. Pay range is $15-$22 per hour depending on experience. Email CDL Accounting Services at Cdltruckservice@gmail.com or call (732)261-7476

12W03

PART TIME

Looking for a person to do light bookkeeping and office work call Dan (973)851-6363 11W03

Midtown Pharmacy seeks a retail associate 30 hours weekly.

Background check required, apply in person to Midtown Pharmacy

581 Kearny Ave. No phone calls please 10W03

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

HARRISON 2nd fl. 2 BR, EIK, LR. $1500 + 1.5 months security. Utilities separate. 8 mins.to PATH. Avl. September 1st. (973) 7572051 12W03

HARRISON 2nd floor, 3 1/2 BR’s, LR, DR, EIK $1,800 + 1 1/2 month security. Utilities separate. No Smoking/Pets. Credit Check. Close to TRANS & PATH, Avl. Now (973)517-6544 or (973)207-7796 12W03

KEARNY Arlington section First floor. 2 BR’s. EIK. LR. 1.5 months security. Utilities separate. Walking distance to Schools, Bus, Supermarket & Church. Close to Police Dept. Available August 11th (973)954-8542 or (201)657-2119 11W03

LYNDHURST Large 1 bedroom. 1.5 months security. No Smoking No Pets. Call (201)9319212 12W01

KEARNY Studio Apartment in quit family oriented home. LR, BR, Bath, kitchenette, “Micro & Refrigerator No stove”. Utilities included no pets $1000 + 1 months security (973)668-8305 12W03

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

HARRISON Room in Home $600 + 1 months security. Share kitchen, Utilities included. No Pets/Smoking. Available now Call (973)4200056 12W03

LYNDHURST Large 3 bedroom/1 bath apartment. EIK, dining room and living room. Heat, central AC, cable TV, wifi, gas and electric included. Washer and dryer on site. No pets. No smoking. Parking spot available. $3500 a month. 201-394-1470

11W03

N.ARLINGTON

Ground floor. New 2 BR Apartment w/ updated kitchen and bath. Hardwood floors throughout. $2100 + 1.5 months security. Utilities are separate. No Pets No Smoking

Credit/Background

Check req. Contact: (201)693-3480 12W03

Exterminator part time. Will Train. 20 hours a week.

(201) 438-1987 11W03

KEARNY Furnished room, Share Kitchen & bathroom. No smoking. (FEMALE PREFERRED) (862)240-6509 & (849)407-3844 12W01

How to put on a good garage sale ...

It doesn’t matter if your goal is to make some quick money or just de-clutter the house; either way, the better organized you are, the more people will buy. Here are a few pointers for throwing a garage sale that draws in buyers, puts money in your change purse, and gets junk out of your house for good.

Plan ahead

Start setting items aside several weeks in advance. As you set them aside verify if they are in working condition and that they are clean. Start price tagging your items early, and keep prices reasonable. Borrow tables or trestles and plywood sheets to display your things. Tidy up the yard; it signals that you’re selling good quality stuff.

Advertise

Place an ad in the local weekly newspaper to announce the sale; specify at what time it will start and end. Advertise on community websites and newsletters. A couple of days before the sale put up photocopied posters at the end of your street, at the grocery store, and at busy intersections nearby.

Plan for weather

Check the long-range forecast. If it looks like rain, reschedule. Have plastic sheeting or old shower curtains on hand to throw over tables during rain showers.

Expect to bargain

On sale day, be polite and welcoming. Don’t push items on people, but be available to answer questions. Try to be open to bargaining—the big mistake most sellers make is to expect to recover what they originally spent on items. If your goal is to get rid of stuff, be willing to part with it for a song. Or, lower your prices in the afternoon when things slow down.

PC

A tidy yard and nicely displayed items will help you get better prices at your garage sale.

2 Commercial parking spaces available in Nutley, NJ up to 24 ft. (201) 390-1729

LPL

Continued from Page 3

place Thursday, Aug. 3, at 1 p.m. Artists will learn a step-by-step process to make cartoon-like clay frogs. A Teen Origami Workshop will take place Tuesday, Aug. 15,

at 1 p.m.

Children’s Room

Weekly Snacks & Crafts are available Mondays from 1 to 5p.m. Bookworms Storytime takes place every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Learn about magnets Wednesday, Aug. 2, at 3:30 p.m, for grades K-3.

LYNDHURST UPDATE

An Electricity program takes place Thursday, Aug. 5. At 5 p.m. Kid’s Yoga is set for Friday, Aug. 4 and 11, at 3:45 p.m., for children aged

5 to 12.

Edible Bouquet Craft takes place Monday, Aug. 8, at 4 p.m. Summer Sing & Play, meanwhile, is scheduled Tuesday, Aug. 8, at 10:30 a.m. This is a special storytime with music, singing and dancing.

Summer Sing & Play is

Tuesday, Aug. 15, at 10:30 a.m. This is also a special storytime with music, singing and dancing.

A Magic Show is set for Wednesday, Aug. 16, at 3:30 p.m. Mineral Mania, meanwhile, is Thursday, Aug. 17, at 5 p.m. This is for children in grades 3-6.

Lyndhurst Legion awards scholarships to 8 graduating high school seniors

American Legion Post 139 has awarded eight scholarships for Lyndhurst graduating seniors who will attend colleges this fall.

 Kenneth Paglio was awarded the Charles R. Carroll Scholarship – $1,000. American Legion

 Angela Ellis was awarded the Dennis Taras Memorial Scholarship – $1,000.

 Brielle Pell was awarded the Kenny Stevens Memorial Scholarship – $1,000.

 Ryan Wilde was awarded the Brian St. Leger Memorial Scholarship – $1,000.

 Alexa Augustyniak was awarded the American Legion Auxiliary English Award –$250.

 Edward Cohen was awarded the American Legion George Garrett Memorial Award for History – $100.

 Caila Barreiros was awarded the American Legion Honor Award Medal – $100.

 Laura Sanchez was awarded the American Legion Wallace Walker Memorial Award for History – $100.

Students submitted applications which were reviewed by a selection committee and were approved for their outstanding leadership, academic achievement and commitment to community service.

SHOOTING

Continued from Page 1

drews, and Officers Anthony Oliveira, Taylor Latka, Bryan San Martin, Jose Castillo, Matthew Knighton and Tom Collins quickly secured the scene and began searching for camera footage of the incident.

That footage assisted detectives in identifying the shooter as Pool Brayan Mendoza Cruces, 28, of Freehold — and he was arrested shortly thereafter.

Detectives learned the shooting victim had arrived at a local area hospital. Two detectives responded there to speak with him and confirmed he was the victim. The victim was taken in for emergency surgery, but is expected to survive the injuries.

Mendoza Cruces was transported to KPD HQ

MAN, 18, WHO STARTED FIRE AT LARGE KEARNY BUILDING ARRESTED ON ARSON CHARGES, OTHERS: KPD

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

An 18-year-old Kearny man finds himself in some serious trouble after he allegedly tried to start a fire in a large Devon Street building in Kearny, the Kearny Police Department says.

Det. Alan Stickno obtained statements from witnesses who observed the suspect lighting the fire. Stickno also reviewed camera footage from the interior of the building, which corroborated the witnesses’ statements.

and charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes and unlawful possession of a weapon and also had an outstanding $1,000 warrant out of Milltown. He was taken to Hudson County Jail, where he remains as of July 21, and the investigation into the matter is continuing.

On July 11, Officer Jonathan Lima was dispatched that building in response to a suspicious fire. An employee there reportedly observed smoke and an activated fire alarm, and then used a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze before it could cause further damage or grow out of control.

Kearny Fire Department inspectors and Kearny police officers and detectives investigated the scene. It was determined the fire was intentionally lit, but the person responsible had fled prior to the arrival of first responders.

It was determined the culprit’s first attempts at lighting a fire failed, due to fire-resistant paint. Frustrated, he reportedly selected more flammable materials and was successful on his second attempt. Luckily, the aforementioned employee followed the smoke and extinguished this fire before it grew out of control.

Jerick Teran, 18, of Kearny, was arrested and charged with arson, causing or risking widespread injury or damage, three counts of endangering another person, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct-creating a hazardous or physically dangerous condition.

fixed period. The renewal rate is based on an index plus a margin of 2.00%, 2.00% annual adjustment caps, a floor rate equal to the initial rate, and a 6.00% lifetime cap. Current Index is the 5 Yr. Treasury Security. Actual monthly payment may be higher, payment examples do not include applicable property taxes, fees, insurance premiums or other related costs. Rates and annual percentages are effective as of the publication date of this ad and are subject to change. Please speak with our Mortgage Department for additional terms and conditions that may apply. Subject to credit approval. Other rates and programs are available.

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Payment Example: $8.17 per $1,000 borrowed on a $100,000.00 15-year fixed rate mortgage at an interest rate of 5.500% will result in 180 payments of $817.08. Payment Example: $6.32 per $1,000 borrowed on a $100,000.00 30-year fixed rate mortgage at an interest rate of 6.500% will result in 360 payments of $632.07. Actual monthly payment may be higher because example does not include applicable property taxes, fees, insurance premiums or other related costs. Annual percentage rate (APR) based on $100,000.00 loan with a 15-year or 30-year amortization term. Financing on owner occupied residential 1-4 family properties located in Essex, Union, Hudson and Bergen Counties. Minimum finance charge of $455.00. Owner occupied rate. New loans only. Rates and annual percentage rates are based on 80% loan to value with 20% equity or 20% down payment. Rates and annual percentages are effective as of the publication date of this ad and are subject to change. Please speak with our Mortgage Department for additional terms and conditions that may apply. Subject to credit approval. Other rates and programs are available.