Local students doing well in college

The following are some local residents doing noteworthy things while attending college.

Springfield College has named Cherylann Nicosia from Belleville, NJ to the dean's list for academic excellence for the 2023 spring semester. Nicosia has a primary major of Psychology.

Jocelyn Hernandez, of Belleville received a bachelor of arts degree cum laude from College of the Holy Cross on May 26.

The following students from Nutley graduated from The College of New Jersey on May 18-19: Skylar Hutchison, bachelor of science, communication studies, magna cum laude; Daniella La, bachelor of science, art and art history; Dana Slotterback, bachelor of science, art and art history.

Meghan Mackle of Belleville, earned a bachelor of science and master of science in occupational therapy at Alvernia University.

Paul Kazimier Poplawski of Nutley Named to Spring 2023 Dean's List at Kutztown University.

Alexis Merritt, of Nutley, a Class of 2023 professional writing major at York College of Pennsylvania, was named to the Spring 2023 Dean's List.

Elena Navarra of Nutley graduated with a degree in special education from James Madison University during commencement exercises in May 2023.

Gianna Mattia of Nutley has been named to the Dean's List at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania for the Spring 2023 semester of the 2022-2023 academic year.

Shannon Granelli; Bella Guzman and Meghan Tran of Nutley made the Dean’s List at Bucknell University for the spring semester of the 2022-23 academic year.

The following Fairfield University students received Dean's List Honors for the Spring 2023 semester: Claire E. Brown and Kaitlin A. Peloso of Nutley.

Ethan Gaynor, of Nutley, graduated with a bachelor of science, exercise physiology from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in May.

Emily De Angelo of Nutley, was named to the Muhlenberg College Dean's List for the Spring 2023 semester.

Burcin Tuncalp, of Nutley, graduated from Quinnipiac University during commencement ceremonies held in May, with a master of science, cyber security degree.

Emily De Angelo of Nutley graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor of arts degree as a psychology major from Muhlenberg College.

Jacqueline Rubino of Nutley has been named to the Spring 2023 Dean's List at the University of Rhode Island.

Kara Nitkowski of Nutley graduated from Centenary University with a master of arts in school counseling.

Melanie Bumpus of Nutley was named to The University of Alabama Deans List for spring semester 2023.

Amanda McCullough and Dennis Kirby Jr., both of Nutley, were named to the Dean’s List at Rochester Institute of Technology for the spring semester of the 2022-2023 academic year.

Belleville police will be hosting two events for residents

The Belleville Police Department has two events coming up.

The first is Pizza With A Cop! on July 19 when the Community Relations Unit will be at Algeri's Pizza, at 502 Union Ave from 6 to 8 p.m. and offering a free slice of pizza to anyone interested.

People will be invited to share their thoughts, ask questions, voice concerns and have casual conversation with officers, according to a press release from the department, which said there will also be games, crafts and music.

The second event is National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 1, from 5 to 9 p.m. Mayor Michael Melham, the Township Council and the police department will be host, the release said.

The event will be held at the Belleville High School Municipal Stadium and there will be music, games, bouncy rides, food trucks and more than 20 vendors plus a touch a truck experience, the release said.

National Night Out focuses on enhancing the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. This event is an opportunity to meet and greet your neighbors and local first responders.

Police also ask that anyone wishing to have a block party or gathering for National Night Out contact them at 973450-3348.

Belleville police in ‘Torch Run’

The Belleville Police Department participated in the 40th anniversary New Jersey Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Officers Velazquez and Estrada represented the department and accepted the “Flame of Hope” while joining officers from the surrounding towns as they finished their leg of the run in Newark.

The run on June 9 featured more than 3,000 officers taking to the streets of their communities, split up into 26 separate legs with some starting as early as 4:45 a.m.

The run across the state is to raise awareness for Special Olympics New Jersey.

It precedes the Special Olympics New Jersey’s Summer Games, which took place on the College of New Jersey campus from June 9-11.

Council wants to stop mobs of bikers, ATVs

The mayor and council are calling on state officials to relax directives that prohibit local law enforcement from engaging in vehicular pursuits, except in rare instances.

Specifically, the relaxation of directives adopted in 2020 would assist police in cracking down on a surge of illegal all-terrain vehicle and motorbike riders who are joyriding on public roads, according to a press release from the township.

Often riding in packs ranging from dozens to more than 100 in towns from Belleville to Paterson to Atlantic City, these riders pose a threat to themselves and law-abiding motorists, pedestrians and cyclists, township officials said.

“And they seem to especially enjoy taunting local police officers who are limited by directives to deal with these bad actors and do their stated job: keeping residents safe,” said Belleville Mayor Michael Melham.

A resolution passed at the Council meeting on June 27, says “neutering police officers and local departments, who want to perform their constitutional duties, is leading to not only increased public safety issues, but can be directly related to increased lawlessness in our once quiet communities.”

A copy of the resolution, which also calls for tougher penalties on these ATV and motorbike riders, is to be forwarded to Gov. Phil Murphy, Attorney General Matthew Platkin and the state Legislature.

"If dangerous ATVs and dirt bikes were roaring by the governor's mansion in Middletown, day and night, you can bet this would be a top issue for the Attorney General, rather than directing our police departments to just blindly stand down,” Melham said. “So, because of the ongoing issue in Belleville along with many other suburban and urban communities, I must ask Governor Murphy: What's the difference?”

Belleville moved to pass the resolution after it became the latest municipality to see a surge in illegal ATV and motorbike use.

A disturbing video captured dozens of ATV and motorbike riders roaring down Washington Avenue. Many of them were recklessly riding as motorists hurried to move out of their way.

To minimize these incidents, several municipalities have adopted ordinances making it illegal for gas stations to fuel up ATVs and motorbikes at their pumps.

Melham said Belleville officials are also working on introducing a similar ordinance, but doesn’t think that it goes far enough.

“There’s only one thing that will help keep our roadways safe from these brazen bad actors, and that’s restoring the police’s ability to pursue and arrest them,” Melham said. “I hope our state officials realize the gravity of the situation. I hope it doesn’t take a horrific accident or the death of law-abiding motorists to realize we need to give police every chance to stop these riders.”