Two men in their late 20s were shot and killed Sunday, July 19, shortly after 8:30 p.m., following an altercation between two parties, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said.
According to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office: That night, the prosecutor’s office’s Major Crimes Unit responded to the scene of a fatal shooting that occurred near the corner of Ridge Road and Belleville Turnpike in North Arlington.
Specifically, on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at approximately 8:37 p.m., the North Arlington Police Department received several reports of a shooting near that intersection, where Ridge Road
, Page 11
Photos by Lisa Feorenzo & Nuno
Registration open for Latin American Association of NJ’s mini special Olympics
The Latin American Association of New Jersey hosts its second mini Olympics for children with disabilities 9 a.m., July 26, 2026, at 300 Belgrove Drive, Kearny.
If you’d like your child to participate, send a text message to (201) 310-2883 or send an email to latinamericanassociationnj@gmail.com. In the subject line, write: “Attendance confirmation second Mini Olympics for children with disabilities. Include the name of parent(s) and child and the child’ s age.
Kearny firefighter applications open
The NJ Civil Service Commission has opened the application for firefighters. All Kearny residents who are eligible are encouraged to apply by Aug. 31. Requirements and an online application may be found at www. kearnynj.org.
Donations being accepted to aid those in Venezuela
Area organizers are collecting items to send to Venezuela following the deadly earthquake that has claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people and that has destroyed so much. Items needed include face masks, syringes, dispos-
NEWS BRIEFS
able gloves, oxygen tanks, zinc cream, bandages, antiseptic solutions, first aid kits and canned food.
Items may be dropped off at the Five Below Lucky Corner, 10 Kearny Ave. All items will then be sent to Union City and then onto Venezuela.
East Newark hosting Riverfront Park concert series
The Borough of East Newark hosts several concerts in the coming months at Riverfront Park’s amphitheater on Passaic Avenue.
The next concert is an 80s Revolution show July 28. And lastly, a local artists
night Aug. 28
All events kick off at 7 p.m. Bring chairs, blankets and snacks.
Get help paying for food from NA Health Department
The North Arlington Health Department hosts a presentation for residents of North Arlington and surrounding towns to learn how to apply for and receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Health Department, 10 Beaver Ave., Aug. 11 and Sept. 8.
Appointments may be made by calling (201) 991-6060, ext. 123.
To make the application quicker, be prepared to present proof of income, proof of address, costs of rent and utilities,
child- or adult-care expenses and medical expenses for those 60 and older or for those with a disability.
There is no fee to apply. If one is ever asked to pay to apply for such benefits, it is likely a scam.
nnn
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Groups and organization who wish to have events, news, announcements, etc., published should send details in paragraph form (no fliers, posters) to editorial@theobserver.com at least 10 days prior to required publication.
Faxes and hand-written notices will not be accepted.
Loose barge crashes into DeJessa Bridge
By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
An area barge stuck a bridge in Lyndhurst last weekend during high tide, but fortunately, there were no injuries or damage to the bridge, Deputy Police Chief Paul F. Haggerty said. According to Haggerty: Sometime around 12:30 p.m., July 18, an unmanned barge became adrift in the Passaic River and got wedged under the DeJessa Memorial Bridge due to the tide cycle.
The barge once again became adrift upon the tide going out, and was taken control of by its operators.
The bridge remains open with no apparent structural damage sustained.
The United States Coast Guard, New Jersey State Police Marine Unit and the Bergen and Essex County Road Divisions were notified and responded.
The Lyndhurst Police and Fire departments responded to investigate and make necessary notifications.
$2MM
veterans hired since 2015
We’ve
HUDSON COUNTY
Former Hudson Weights & Measures leader arrested on misconduct & other charges
By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Unit arrested the former Hudson County Superintendent of Weights and Measures following a theft investigation on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Hudson County Prosecutor Wayne Mello said.
Frank Alonso, 58, of Union City, is charged with three counts of official misconduct, pattern of official misconduct and theft by unlawful taking. He was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Secaucus and released, pending his first court appearance.
On various dates between January
2024 and January 2026, Alonso is alleged to have diverted funds intended for the Hudson Regional Health Commission, the Office of Weights and Measures and the New Jersey Weights and Measures Association into accounts to be used for personal gain. In a separate complaint, he is charged with third-degree theft for using checks without the authorization of the account holder for personal gain. The reported thefts exceed $250,000.
The county immediately suspended Alonso when the theft was reported and he was later terminated from his position.
Hudson County Executive Craig Guy, who fired Alonso, and who since taking office has been no-nonsense about
public corruption, issued a statement following the arrest.
“Corrupt public officials must be held accountable for their bad actions. In late December, my administration initiated a proactive investigation, led by County Counsel Alberico De Pierro, into irregularities in the Office of Weights and Measures, an agency under the leadership of thenHudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari,” Guy said. “We immediately conducted an internal audit and gathered evidence from state and municipal agencies. We referred the matter and handed over these materials to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in swift fashion. I suspended Frank Alonso without pay and terminated his employment soon
after. I applaud the Prosecutor’s Office for carrying out this investigation and I pledge to assist in any way possible.
“I remain fully committed to leading an open and honest county government where those who betray the public’s trust are held accountable. Since moving the Office of Weights and Measures under the Law Department to provide better oversight of the agency, I am proud to say we have had no issues with the unit since the transition. And this week I announced plans to establish the first-ever Office of Inspector General in Hudson County to serve as an internal watchdog for county government. As county executive, I will continue prioritizing an honest, transparent government that residents can trust in.”
Guy proposes creating Hudson County OIG
By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
Hudson County Executive
Craig Guy has proposed an ordinance to establish the Office of the Inspector General, a first-of-its-kind position in Hudson County. The legislation was to be introduced at the Hudson County Board of Commissioners caucus meeting Tuesday, July 14.
“Americans are losing faith in their government and confidence in our political
Lisa M. Feorenzo lisa@theobserver.com Co-owner/Advertising Dir.
institutions is at an all-time low.
Each day we see a new scandal, whether it’s a bribery scheme, a shady corruption deal, or wealthy individuals buying political power. As County Executive I am committed to helping restore our community’s trust in government,” Guy said. “But I know actions speak louder than words.
“Since taking office, I have prioritized increasing transparency and accountability in county government, which
includes new leadership at county agencies and schools, advocating for audits, restructuring departments and establishing new policies and guardrails. This commitment to open government continues with my intent to establish the Office of Inspector General. This newly-created agency will ensure the public remains confident in county government by acting as an internal watchdog and auditor. The Office of Inspector General will promote
DEADLINES
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transparency, accountability, and efficient use of taxpayer dollars.”
Establishing the Office of Inspector General will require changes to the county code, including approval from the Board of Commissioners.
Over the next several weeks, the Hudson County Law Department will conduct a thorough selection process to identify qualified candidates to lead the Office of Inspector General.
Tina Feorenzo Co-owner/Advertising
Robert P. Pezzolla gm@theobserver.com
General Manager
Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com Editor/Broadcaster
The Kearny Town Council voted 5-4 Tuesday, July 14, to adopt a new budget that includes a 14.12% tax increase.
The budget was approved with votes from Mayor Carol Jean Doyle and Councilmembers Marytrine DeCastro, Jose Rodrigues, Fred Esteves and Gerald Ficeto. Voting against the budget were Councilmen George Zapata and Stathis Theodoropoulos. (both of whom previously served on the town’s budget committee) Eileen Eckel and Dennis Solano. The latter three are all lame ducks serving, the final year of their terms in office.
The difficult decision to impose such a tax increase had many facets.
First, the basic math.
For any homeowner whose tax bill is currently $10,000 per year, the increase will amount to about $479 for the entire year or $40 a month. Keep in mind this portion of a tax bill represents 33.9% of the overall bill. The Kearny School Board, meanwhile, which represents more than 55% of your tax bill, like the town is only permitted to increase its tax by 2% per year; however, the board recently vote to transfer up to $20 million from operating to reserve accounts rather than offering tax relief.
They instead opted to hold onto the money for future use, while they could have offered tax relief.
In voting against the budget, Theodoropoulos said the town wasn’t transparent enough to his liking.
“We’ve been loud and clear that Kearny’s finances are a
ticking time bomb, and now it’s finally blowing up in taxpayers’ faces. At the eleventh hour, the mayor added millions of dollars to the budget, sticking Kearny families with a 14% tax hike,” Theodoropoulos said. “It’s a bait and switch. Residents packed the meeting and spoke out against this because this will be a huge burden on Kearny taxpayers, and they know it didn’t have to be this way. None of this happened overnight. The warning signs were clear, but they were ignored. Rather than addressing our financial challenges early
and responsibly, the administration waited until we had no other choice. Now residents are being asked to pay for years of financial mismanagement and inaction.”
Here’s the thing, though.
Doyle and the council added the $4 million to be raised by taxes in advance because all of the aforementioned members of the council loudly balked at the idea of using too much of the town’s surplus funds. Their concern was that by doing so, it would leave the town with little surplus left — and in the event of an emergency requiring immediate attention.
So, Doyle and the CFO Shuaib Firozvi listened to Theodoropoulos’s and company’s suggested and instead, tapped into a little-known concept former Gov. Chris Christie created in 2010 following the country’s financial crisis.
It’s called a “cap bank,” where municipalities were able to bank, for a few years, any amount saved below the 2% allowable tax increase per year. For example, Kearny was permitted, in 2020, to raise tax-
es by the same 2% or, in raw money by $1,574,787. But that year, Kearny’s taxes actually decreased. And so, that nearly $1.6 million went into the cap bank. The same happened in 2021, where the municipal taxes decreased by a little more than .5%. And in 2022, the municipal taxes remained flat.
Therefore, all the the taxes that could have been levied, money that could have been
INCONSISTENT BLURRY VISION: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
There are many factors that can cause sudden or temporary changes in vision. It can be caused by something easily solved like dehydration, but it can also be the sign of a more serious underlying problem. If blurry vision is intermittent, it can be the result of something else in your body that’s inconsistent as well: hydration, sleep, blood pressure, hormones, and blood sugar are all factors that can fluctuate and affect vision. Unstable blood sugar can cause acute vision changes, even in non-diabetics. When your blood sugar spikes, it causes the eye’s lens to expand and can distort distance vision. Keeping things like blood sugar, blood pressure, sleep, and hydration consistent will help keep your
vision consistent too.
Many times, blurred vision slowly develops over weeks, months or even years. But it can also show up suddenly and without warning. Blurriness can affect both eyes or just one, and it can make objects look unfocused at different distances. If you need eye care or an eye exam, please call 201-896-0007. We are located at 20 Park Avenue, Lyndhurst. To contact our optical shop, call 201-896-0007. We accept most insurance.
P.S. Vision changes like double vision or vision loss that come on suddenly and are accompanied by pain should be considered emergencies and may indicate an eye condition or disease.
Doyle
Theodoropoulos
See KEARNY, Page 9
THE JIM HAGUE OBSERVER
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE
YEAR
MONMOUTH BOUND
By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com
From a young age Keala Ciccmonhino was aware of the importance of soccer in Kearny, especially when you establish yourself early on as a special talent like she did.
While early expectations and pressure might be a lot for some to handle, it was arguably the biggest strength in Cicchino’s already impressive skill set.
From the moment she first stepped onto Harvey Field as a starter her freshman year and every other match after that, Cicchino’s showed a maturity well beyond her years.
“It was always just like I have to go out there and play my best because that’s what my team needs,” Cicchino said. “Yeah, it was a lot of pressure, but also I feel like especially from my freshman year, that helped me realize that the pressure didn’t really mean anything at the end of the day and I was just going out there to do my best.
“Playing with so many good
players (my freshman year) just kind of forced me to just raise the bar and be the best I could no matter what because it was either that or I wasn’t going to play.”
That maturity, both on and off the pitch, helped make her one of the top defenders — and part-time attackers — in recent Kardinals history. Combined with a fine career in indoor and outdoor track makes Cicchino
The Jim Hague Observer Female Co-Athlete of the Year for the 2025-2026 school year.
The annual award, which honors the top local male and female senior athletes who excel in multiple sports. The awards were established by Hague as part of his 20-plus year career as The Observer’s sports writer and were renamed in his honor following his death in 2023.
It’s an award Cicchino shares with fellow soccer-track standout Nikalena Iacono of Lyndhurst, who was recognized in our last issue.
Cicchino becomes the 10th Kardinals girl to receive the hon-
or, a list that includes several of the recent Kearny soccer stars of the past, including most recently, former teammate Maci Covello in 2023.
“I think it definitely helped me develop way quicker than most people just because especially my freshman year,” Cicchino said. “The team that I was playing with was at such a high level that in order for me to play on the field, I needed to be stronger and be smarter and just develop all my skills way quicker than I would’ve before.”
“I think part of her legacy is continuing to carry that torch of what Kearny Soccer has been all about, not just being able to play, but also to be gritty and tough and resilient,” head coach Michael Sylvia said. “She’s been on championship teams. She’s had to be the leader of teams. And although, of course, we’ll miss her, I think she’s kind of left that behind — that never quit attitude.”
It was why Sylvia had no hesitations putting Cicchino into the fire as a freshman.
On a veteran backline that included standouts Covello and Julia Araujo, it was Cicchino who was often tasked with defending the other team’s top offensive player. Cicchino proved up to the challenge as she helped lead a Kardinals defense that allowed just 16 goals all season, won the Hudson County title and reached the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 semifinals.
Cicchino’s stellar play in the back carried over to her club season and allowed her to verbally commit to play at Monmouth before the start of her junior season.
“Her grit and her timing I think are really special. She’ll get into any tackle, but she’s not restless. She’s not reckless,” Sylvia said. “She’ll wait till the last possible moment and can read the game really well and step in against people who are extremely talented and will always be the first one to pop up, get the ball and keep going.”
Despite being one of the state’s top defenders, there were multiple times in following seasons
where Cicchino was moved into the attack to bolster the Kardinals offense.
As a sophomore, after the Kardinals were off to an uncharacteristic 0-7 start, Cicchino shifted up to forward. She scored seven goals during the eight-game unbeaten streak that followed, culminating with a thrilling penalty kicks win over Bayonne at Red Bull Arena for the Hudson County title. She finished the season with a team-high 10 goals to go with five assists.
In need of a similar offensive boost the next year before the start of the Hudson County Tournament, Cicchino posted hat tricks in the quarterfinals and semifinals before scoring the Kardinals’ lone goal in a loss in the final.
Once again, she led the team with 12 goals.
As a senior, Cicchino set career highs in goals (14) and assists (seven), despite playing the majority of the time at center back. The highlight was her game-ty-
See ATHLETE, Page 8
Photo by Kevin A. Canessa Jr. Cicchino, second from right, with her award.
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Nutley LL wins Intermediate 50/70 state championship
By Jason Bernstein jason@theobserver.com
Rich Jasnowitz has known for more than a year that Nutley Little League was going to have a special team at the 13U 50/70 Intermediate level this summer. All he had to do was look out from his Nutley American LL dugout and see the then-12U players on the field for what was an all-Nutley matchup for the District 8 title.
“Both Nutley teams (Nutley American and Nutley East) were the best two teams left in the whole district as 12-year-olds,” said Jasnowitz. “Knowing that we were going to combine the following year, I kind of knew that we were going to have a successful run at the 13U level after watching all these kids play last season. I knew we were going to have something special the next year when we combined both leagues.”
Now that group can call them-
selves state champions.
Nutley capped off a dominant few weeks of baseball on Friday night with an emphatic 14-4 victory over Franklin Township in the championship game at Middletown Little League in Red Bank.
It marks the third championship for this group as it defeated Bloomfield for the District 8 title, then defeated Teaneck Southern for the Section 2 crown.
In tournament play, Nutley has gone an incredible 9-0 with four of the games ending early due to the 10-run mercy rule.
Nutley now moves on to the Little League Intermediate (50/70) East Regional Tournament in Dover, Del. from July 23-28.
“The kids are just pumped, they really are,” Jasnowitz, who played for Nutley under Tom Gargiulo, said. “I think their
confidence level is pretty high that we have a really good shot at this after the sectional round. We took care of business during the states and yeah, the confidence level is extremely high.”
The key to Nutley’s success begins on the mound, where it has
been fortunate to have a stellar trio to lead the rotation. Matthew Lenik dominated the first game of the state tournament with a complete game one-hitter with 12 strikeouts in Nutley’s 5-1 victory over Freehold Township last Tuesday.
“It basically set the tone for the rest of the playoffs,” Jasnowitz said. “The rest of the team saw that and I think that worked out to our advantage.”
One day later, it was John Macari’s turn and, after a rough first inning, struck out 15 in a 5-1 win over Ridgewood. Richie Jasnowitz started the clinching game on Friday
Coming out of the bullpen are Evan Della Fave, who closed out the game against Ridgewood
Premier Car e TALK S
GALLSTONES
Gallstones are hard, stone like pieces that form in the gallbladder, a small organ beneath the liver that stores digestive fluid called bile. They often form when bile contains too much cholesterol or bilirubin, or doesn’t drain properly. Most gallstones don’t cause symptoms, but if a stone blocks the bile duct, it can trigger a sudden, cramp like pain in the upper right abdomen, known as a gallbladder attack or biliary colic. This pain often follows a fatty meal, can last for hours, and may spread to the right shoulder or back. Other possible signs include nausea, vomiting, bloating, or mild yellowing of the skin or eyes known as jaundice. If symptoms recur or complications develop, treatments may include medications or surgery.
Obesity and being overweight increase the risk of gallstones. Work to achieve a healthy weight by reducing the number of calories you eat and increasing the amount of physical activity you get. Once you achieve a healthy weight, work to maintain that weight by continuing your healthy diet and continuing to exercise. To schedule an appointment, please call PREMIER CARE ASSOCIATES OF WEST HUDSON at 201-998-7474. We are available at 512 Kearny Ave., Suite B, where walk-in patients are always welcome 7 days a week.
P.S. Gallstones can be as tiny as a grain of sand or as big as a golf ball, and people may have just one or many.
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
Photos courtesy ofTom Michels
ATHLETE
Continued from Page 6
ing goal late in the Hudson County Tournament semifinals at Bayonne. This season also saw her mentor two freshmen starters in the back as well in Alyssa Badia and Gianna Covello, the latter representing a full circle moment for Cicchino as she was mentored by older sister Maci as a freshman.
For her career, she had 36 goals and 18 assists, despite limited action up front.
“One of the things that we would always say is we wish we had two of her. Because what you get going forward, you kind of have to make up for her in the back,” Sylvia said. So being able to use her strategically added some versatility to what we do.
That versatility will absolutely be missed.”
“I definitely think it would’ve been fun (to be a forward and score a bunch of goals), but I really do enjoy the position I’m at,” Cicchino said of the thought of being an attacker more. “I love being a defender and I just think a defender carries so many bigger roles, I feel like I just enjoy that so much more. Ever since I was little, I’ve always enjoyed it.”
Cicchino’s versatility also proved valuable in track & field as well.
Over the course of her time with the Kardinals, she ran distances, sprints and high hurdles.
“She’s one of the most versatile athletes I’ve ever coached. Being able to score at a high level in the 1600 or 3200 actually 1600, 3200 down to the 55 high hurdles really shows her wide range of how versatile she is,” Kearny
with five-straight outs, and Antonio Algieri closed out the win over Franklin Township.
Continued from Page 7
head coach Al Perez said. “She was incredibly valuable to her team the last four years. During the indoor season, we won the HCIAL Relays and she was a huge part of that. That doesn’t happen without her.
“Any event we put her in, she excelled in it. Anytime we had a big meet, she knew that she was going to be doing four events. You really need to be a special type of athlete to be able to do that.”
At the HCIAL Relays, in January, Cicchino was a part of the 4x800 Meter Relay, the Distance Relay and the 4x51.5 Meter Shuttle Hurdles relay teams, each of which took second place. This winter also saw her take fifth in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Championships in the 55 Meter Hurdles.
In the spring, Cicchino was a part of Kearny’s 4x800 Meter
Relay team that took sixth at the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 Championships. She also claimed fourth in the 400 Meter Hurdles.
Earlier in her career, Cicchino won two Hudson County Indoor Championship medals in the 800 Meter Run and as a freshman, medaled in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 Championships in the 1,600 Meter Run.
“I think with distance events, it wasn’t that much of an adjustment because when you’re playing a soccer game, you’re running so much and it’s just nonstop,” Cicchino said. “But once I started hurdles, I definitely think there was a huge adjustment period of getting the right technique and everything.”
“I’ve been coaching for a while and I think in 24 years of doing this, I’ve never had an athlete with her level of versatility,”
Perez said. “I’m sure there were other events that we could have put her in and she would’ve excelled as well.”
With the length of her accomplishments, it might feel like Cicchino was at Kearny forever, but to her, the time flew by. That especially hit home in her final days before reporting down to West Long Branch to begin her college career when she will once again be the freshman with something to prove.
“I’m excited obviously (to be heading to Monmouth), but I’m definitely kind of in shock that everything went so quick,” Cicchino said. “I feel like I remember starting freshman year with soccer and track and the seniors would tell me how quick everything was going to go. Every time you’re like, ‘oh, what are they talking about?’ Now I’m literally moving into college.”
Colton Schlitt is another capable reliever who got clutch outs in the Region 2 Tournament.
Behind the plate for Nutley has been a rotation with Jeremiah Torres, Macari and Noah Serrano catching depending on who is on the mound.
shortstop, which moves Torres over to second.
Dante Pares starts at first base, while Richie Jasnowitz is the main starter at second base. In addition to pitching, Jasnowitz can also slide over to third or
As a leadoff hitter, Torres has set the tone for a deep and dangerous Nutley lineup with Jasnowitz hitting second, followed by Della Fave, Macari and Lenik.
Della Fave has been a stellar defender at shortstop for Nutley and Lenik is the starter at third.
Serrano starts in left field while Charlie Smith is the starter in center. Algieri and Michael Urbanovich platoon in right field, while Chase McGee, Vincent Celona and Schlitt also see time in the outfield.
Rich Jasnowitz was also quick
to praise the work of assistant coaches Chris Serrano and John Macari.
Now this group is set to head down to Delaware with hopes emerging out of the region with a spot in the Little League Intermediate World Series in California in August.
“Our motto is to play with championship effort no matter what the situation is,” Jasnowitz said. “They completely bought in and I think their confidence level is high because they know if they’re playing with max effort that good things are going to happen.”
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
KEARNY
Continued from Page 5
taxed by law carried over to the current year and had to be applied now or else the availability would otherwise expire
Therefore, the $4 million “bait and switch” to be raised by taxes remained in the surplus, per the suggestions Theodoropoulos and company made.
Now, ironically, despite all of this, Theodoropoulos was, himself, a part of the “mismanagement” he claims, having been elected in 2022 and having taken office in January 2023. In the first three years of his tenure, he served on the budget committee he is now slamming. Doyle, meanwhile, says she recoils from the memory of the cuts and pain the
financial crisis of 2008-09 caused.
“The night after the meeting, I didn’t sleep,” Doyle said. “But we knew difficult decisions had to be made. Councilman Theodoropoulos says we sprung all of this at the 11th hour, but the reality is we listened to his suggestions rather than coming close to depleting our reserves. None of us wanted this. But we, maybe incorrectly, listened to what we were advised to do in the years leading up to this. No matter what, we will continue to make the difficult decisions needed and we will look at every option at our fingertips including lobbying the state to help us as they have with other municipalities, so long as the help does not harm our residents or financial rating.
“To say they knew and warned us is disingenuous. Our CFO said if we keep using reserves moving forward, we would not be able to sustain our current position and they knew that.”
Kearny UNICO honors area scholars
IDEAS WORTH PRINTING
If someone calls, texts, or emails you and asks for payment for a bill, or for you to pay for someone’s bail, using a gift card, 100% of the time:
At its June meeting, the Kearny chapter of UNICO hosted its scholarship recipients and their families. Chapter President Annamarie Latushko (back center) is flanked by chapter scholarship recipients Keala Ciccone (left) and Vincent Ball (right) and members of the chapter. Ball is graduating from Seton Hall Prep and will be attending Montclair State University in the fall to major in film and media studies. Ciccone is graduating from Kearny High School and will be attending Monmouth University where she will be studying nursing.
OBITUARIES
All obituaries must be submitted by email by 10 a.m., Mondays, to obituaries@ theobserver.com. Payment is due at submission.
Adrianne Barbara Kessler
Adrianne Barbara Kessler (nee Pernice) died July 18, 2026.
She was 83.
Born in Jersey City, she was living in Aberdeen, North Carolina, before moving to Lyndhurst two years ago. A memorial service will take place Friday, July 24, at noon at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny.
Ty Pennington encourages
(StatePoint) Some respiratory symptoms are easy to dismiss, especially when they come and go over time. But recurring symptoms can be a sign that it’s time to ask more questions and take a deeper look at what’s going on beneath the surface.
Bronchiectasis (BE) is a serious and chronic lung disease that can get worse over time, and people living with
Adrianne was the loving mother of Adrianne Newman Remy, Andrea Lynn Newman, Gary Newman, Daniel Newman, Yolandra Feltmann and the late
Keith Kessler. Sister of the late Robert Pernice, she is also so survived by her cherished grandchildren; Isabelle, Madison, Sylvano, Waylen, Vyncenza and Josephyna.
Adrianne was a retired accounts representative from ADP in Morristown.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to the ASPCA in her memory.
people to take a deeper look at their lung health
BE may experience recurring respiratory symptoms such as chronic cough, excess mucus, and repeated lung infections. Because these symptoms can overlap with other respiratory conditions, like COPD or asthma, some people may live with BE for years before receiving a diagnosis.
Helping shine a light on the disease is Emmy Award-win-
Mulligan Funeral Home
331 Cleveland Avenue, Harrison
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Novena to St. Jude
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. Please grant my request. Say this prayer 9 times a day. By the 9th day your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. Thank you Saint Jude.
B
ning TV host, designer and carpenter Ty Pennington, whose mother has lived with bronchiectasis for nearly two decades. Her journey living with unresolved respiratory symptoms for more than 40 years, along with the extended time it took to receive a BE diagnosis, inspired Pennington to team up with Insmed on the Suspect Bronchiectasis (Suspect BE) initiative to raise awareness about the disease.
An estimated 500,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed with BE, yet experts
believe many more may be living with the condition without knowing it. As part of the Suspect BE initiative, Pennington draws on his home improvement expertise to highlight an important parallel: whether in a home or the lungs, taking a deeper look means exploring beyond the surface.
“In my world of home renovation, if something isn’t working, you don’t just paint over the problem — you look deeper to understand what’s really going on. Lung health isn’t that different,” Pennington said. “My mom is one of the most resilient people I know, and her experience taught our family the importance of asking questions and continuing to search for answers. If recurring respiratory symptoms keep coming back or don’t seem to improve, it may be worth talking with a pulmonologist and learning whether bronchiectasis could be part of the picture.”
To learn more about bronchiectasis and the Suspect BE initiative, visit SuspectBE.com.
If you or someone you love is experiencing recurring respiratory symptoms, it may be worth asking a pulmonologist whether additional testing, like a CT scan, is the right next step to rule out or confirm bronchiectasis.
SHOOTING
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becomes Kearny Avenue at the border of the two municipalities.
Upon arrival, officers from the North Arlington Police Department, who were assisted by nearby agencies, including the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and the Kearny and Lyndhurst police departments, located two men, who had both sustained gunshot wounds.
First responders rendered aid to both victims, aged 28 and 29, before transporting them by separate ambulances. Both men, however, were later pronounced dead at University Hospital, Newark.
Immediately following the incident, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Special Investigations Squad were notified, responded to the scene and initiated a joint investigation with the North Arlington Police Department.
A preliminary investigation has so far revealed the shooting took place near the intersection during an altercation between two small groups of people.
At this time, the names of both victims are being withheld, pending full family notification.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the North Arlington Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Horton.
Meanwhile, North Arlington Mayor Daniel H. Pronti, himself a retired police sergeant, released a statement the day after the incident. Though he cannot say much about it, he wanted to directly assure residents there is no additional threat to the
borough.
I am reaching out today to address the tragic shooting that occurred on our streets last night, which resulted in the loss of two lives. First and foremost, our deepest condolences go out to the victims and their families during this incredibly difficult time.
“I want to officially assure all residents that there is no reason
to believe anyone in our town is in danger,” Pronti said.
“Due to an ongoing investigation, the amount of confirmed information must remain limited. Law enforcement has, however, confirmed that this was an isolated incident. The individuals involved were known to each other, and this was not a random act of violence. Furthermore, I want to clarify that
none of our local businesses were involved, nor were any of the parties associated with any business in our community.
“The incident occurred strictly on the sidewalk, and the actors immediately fled the area.
“The North Arlington Police Department, alongside the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, are working diligently to close this case. We remain a safe, tight-knit community, and our officers will continue to maintain a strong, watchful presence to ensure your peace of mind.
No other information is available at this time, but additional details will be released when possible.
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Available 08/01 Credit check a must Leave a verbal message 09W03
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More sights from Spanish Pavillion World Cup party
Photos by Lisa Feorenzo
Argentina. The Observer’s Lisa
10 of 12 Hudson mayors endorse Guy’s re-election
By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
Most of Hudson County’s mayors announced endorsements of Hudson County
Executive Craig Guy’s bid for re-election next year.
The endorsers include Brian Stack, Albio Sires, Carol Jean Doyle, Richard Turner, Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski, Emily Jabbour, James Fife, Dina Grillo, Wayne Zitt and Mike Gonnelli. Not endorsing Guy are Jersey City Mayor James Solomon and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco.
“Craig has followed through on the promises he made when
he ran for county executive years ago, and he has been a guiding force and tremendous partner in providing the resources and vision our cities need to strive,” the mayors said in a collective statement. “Whether it was his office leaping to action during one of the biggest snowstorms we have seen in years, or his coordinated response to the SNAP crisis to help combat food insecurity during last year’s federal government shutdown, Craig remains a resourceful and reliable partner. We know that working with Craig yields true results, and we will need that level of efficiency
if we are going to achieve our shared goals of providing more affordable housing and clean, safe neighborhoods for every county resident.
“We are also proud of the work we have accomplished with Craig in advocating for an open process that allows for all voices to be heard. Craig is a proven uniter, not a divider.”
Guy thanked the mayors for their confidence and their support while vowing to make sure he and his office remain responsive, efficient partners with municipal, state and federal government.
“Hudson County families deserve the best from their
government officials and the best way to provide the most efficient and effective service is to make sure we are working in partnership with every elected official,” Guy said. “Receiving these significant endorsements today reaffirms for my staff and I that we are moving in the right direction and that is to the benefit of every Hudson County family. The political infighting and grandstanding that often defines partisan politics does not improve anyone’s life. Continuing to work together and providing a transparent, efficient, and inclusive government remains our focus.”
Guy’s re-election campaign has already been endorsed by Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters and community activist Sherry Singh.
While serving as county executive, Craig Guy has focused primarily on initiatives to improve residents’ quality of life, provide increased cost efficiencies throughout county government, bolster safety efforts throughout the county and protect friends and neighbors from the horrific MAGA Republican policies out of Washington.
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