Wednesday, 21 July 2021
www.TheObserver.com
Vol. CXXXIV, No. 11
ON THE INSIDE Jim Hague takes a look at some local Little League champions See Page 9
BELLEVILLE • BLOOMFIELD • EAST NEWARK • HARRISON • KEARNY • LYNDHURST • NORTH ARLINGTON • NUTLEY
SEARING SUNDAY
Firefighters battle three-home fire, July temps at Elm Street blaze that took 3+ hours to control
By Kevin Canessa kc@theobserver.com
A
five-alarm fire tore through three homes on Elm Street in Kearny the morning of July 18, 2021, but all occupants of the homes affected fortunately survived the blaze, though several pets did not make it, Kearny Fire Chief Joseph A. Mastandrea said.
Top: The aftermath of the Sunday fire revealing the destruction it caused to three homes. Bottom: Firefighters use bucket ladder to battle the fire about 1.5 hours into the blaze in photo taken by Lewis Battista, of Kearny.
“The Kearny Fire Department received a 911 call at approximately 9 a.m., reporting a fire at 350 Elm St. The Kearny Police Department arrived first on scene and was instrumental in getting an occupant to EMS and removing the occupants of both 348 and 352 Elm St.,” the chief said. “Kearny EMS transported a patient to the Burn Center at Saint See FIRE, Page 19
After 30 years of service, Knapp bids adieu to East Newark By Kevin Canessa kc@theobserver.com
I
n the world of Hudson County government, there are certain names synonymous with various municipalities. There’s Frank E. Rodgers and Harrison. Frank
Hague and Jersey City. Nicholas Sacco and North Bergen. And whilst he’s not an elected official the way the aforementioned are or were, there’s also Robert Knapp and East Newark — a man who’s served the tiny Hudson borough since early on in 1991. And now, Knapp, 74,
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has decided to call it a career in East Newark, having retired from his last position here as treasurer of school monies. He also bid adieu as East Newark’s clerk, registrar of vital statistics and welfare coordinator one year ago following the election of Mayor Dina Grilo.
Knapp was appointed to all of the positions he served by the borough’s mayor who served before Grilo, Joseph Smith, and who lost his seat following a 2019 primary election. Knapp will continue to serve in his See KNAPP, Page 15
