Nutley Journal - November 2022

The Nutley and Belleville communities came together Oct. 9 for the 40th annual Columbus Day Parade. For more parade photos, see pages 13 through 16.

Communities come together for thrilling Columbus Day Parade

The 40th annual Nutley-Belleville Columbus Day Parade was a great success, drawing large crowds to celebrate Italian heritage and culture on Sunday, Oct. 9. This year’s grand marshal was Tina Cervasio, Fox 5 lead sports anchor and reporter, and host of “Sports Xtra.”

In addition to Cervasio, other honorees this year are: Nutley Woman of the Year Roseann Biasi Vazquez, Nutley Man of the Year Jason Zinna, Belleville Woman of the Year Patricia Ferrara Wells, Belleville Man of the Year James A. Corino, Italian Heritage Award winner Michael V. Calabro, Renaissance Woman Jerri Custode,

Renaissance Man Nicholas F. Cozzarelli, Italian Business Owner of the Year John Monaco of A Personal Touch Florist, Lifetime Achievement Award winner Dolores Del Deo Kirk and Community Excellence Award winner Frank Dauksis.

This year’s parade celebrated 40 years of promoting, protecting and preserving Italian heritage, culture and traditions. The parade had more than 800 participants and more than 50 entries, including marching bands, drill teams, antique automobiles, motorcycles, floats, flags and representation from many local town organizations.

Photos by Steve Ellmore

Nutley honors Iannarone with dedication at library

The township of Nutley honored Anthony J. Iannarone by dedicating the Nutley Public Library’s children’s room in his name. Iannarone has served as a library trustee for 50 years and is currently in his 36th year as library board president. The event took place on Sunday, Oct. 16.

“Anthony’s long, dedicated service to our community and the Nutley Public Library is inspiring,” Mayor Joseph P. Scarpelli said. “It is such a fitting tribute to name the children’s room in his honor.”

Iannarone’s unprecedented service to Nutley — he has served longer than anyone in the history of Nutley as a member of any official municipal board, elected or appointed — speaks to his enduring commitment to the success of the library. Now in his 10th full term, he has been appointed by seven different mayors.

“His stewardship has made the library a dynamic cultural center for Nutley and surrounding communities,” library Director Michelle Albert said. “His foresight for

the evolving needs of the library in the 21st century distinguishes his remarkable tenure as a trustee.”

In addition to his tenure as a library trustee, Iannarone has served in a number of capacities for various organizations, including the Nutley Family Service Bureau, the Virginius D. Mattia Memorial Committee, the auxiliary police force and the Nutley hall of fame committee. In 2013, Iannarone was inducted into the Nutley hall of fame. Among many other

awards, he is a recipient of a New Jersey Governor’s Jefferson Award in the category of “Against All Odds,” and of a “Seeds of Hope” award from New Jersey Monthly magazine.

“What is truly remarkable about Mr. Iannarone’s service to the library is not necessarily his length of tenure, but that he approaches each year with the enthusiasm of a newly elected trustee,” Albert said.

“The result has been an amazing

Photos Courtesy of Township of Nutley Longtime Nutley Public Library board of trustees

President Anthony Iannarone is honored by having the children’s room named for him.

Generations clash in Nutley Little Theatre show

By Yael Katzwer Editor

“What makes great literature?” and “What makes great literature endure?” are two different questions, both of which will be addressed in Nutley Little Theatre’s upcoming production of “Third,” by Pulitzer Prize winner Wendy Wasserstein.

In “Third,” college professor Laurie Jameson encounters an unusual student in her class on “King Lear,” which leads to the multigenerational cast of characters expressing vastly different opinions on bias, success and academic integrity, all as they engage in spirited debates over “timeless” literature and current events. These conflicts force Laurie to deal with several upheavals in her family, workplace and firmly held ideals. “Third” was first produced off-Broadway in 2003.

Performances of “Third,” directed by Brendan Stackhouse, of Hoboken, will take place on Oct. 28 and 29, and Nov. 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 at 8 p.m.; and Oct. 30, and Nov. 6 and 12 at 2 p.m. at Nutley Little Theatre, 47 Erie Place in Nutley. Tickets can be purchased at nutleylittletheatre.com.

Performers include Penny Paul and Rachelle Rennagel, of Montclair; Alex Ward, of New York City; Jillian Mauro, of Warren; and Jim Simpson, of Bloomfield. Crew members include assistant director Ella Oleson, of New York City, and stage manager Susan Brody, of West Orange.

“Wendy Wasserstein was a brilliant playwright. She authored ‘The Heidi Chronicles’ — which won a Pulitzer — and ‘The Sisters Rosensweig,’” Paul told the Nutley Journal. “‘Third’ was her last play, and it captures the thoughts of a brilliant thinker at the end of her career who is taking stock of her life.

“The show reflects the time in which it was first written — during the first Gulf War — and you might be struck by the similarities to the present,” Paul continued.

Above left, Emily, played by Jillian Mauro, cannot

understand her mother, Laurie Jameson, played by Penny Paul, and her obsession with watching the news on TV. Above right, the cast of ‘Third’ is, seated, from left, Rachelle Rennagel, Paul and Mauro; and back row, from left, Jim Simpson and Alex Ward.

“There is a general lack of trust in government and academic institutions, and a growing malaise regarding the traditional metrics used to measure success. The younger people in the show are a lot like my own children, who are questioning the true value of an expensive private college education or whether protesting against the government actually does any good at all.”

According to Paul, the play manages to portray major

existential issues while avoiding doom and gloom.

“The dialogue is smart and sparkling. There are moments of real humor and also of pathos. The plot closely parallels the plot of ‘King Lear,’ the play that Laurie is teaching that sets off the conflicts in the play,” Paul said. “Humans have been puzzling over these questions for years, and will continue to do so: Am I a good child or

See NUTLEY LITTLE THEATRE

SANTA’S ARRIVAL

Photos Courtesy of Penny Paul

Making You Sick?

really

really

poignancy

fact that it was Wendy Wasserstein’s last — she finished writing it during her terminal illness, and its elegiac quality is hard to miss,” Brody said. “The protagonist, after 25 years of a trailblazing, feminist academic career, is brought up short by a male student who seems to meet none of her own scholarly criteria and yet turns in a brilliant paper on ‘King Lear.’ She jumps to conclusions and publicly accuses him of plagiarism. But then events within her own family force her for the first time to reexamine some of her most basic assumptions. The play is both thought provoking and funny, and the actors are all terrific.”

For Stackhouse, directing this play has been exciting, as he is working from a blank slate. Though the play is approximately 20 years old, Stackhouse has not had experience with previous stagings of “Third,” meaning this production truly hinges on his artistic influence and understanding of the events, as well as those of the cast and crew.

“Even though it was written in 2002 and reflects the political and cultural landscape of that time, the play is

Above, Laurie Jameson, left, played by Penny Paul, shares a moment with her best friend, played by Rachelle Rennagel. At right, Jameson tries to help her grandfather, Jack, played by Jim Simpson.

extremely timely,” Stackhouse told the Nutley Journal. “It has aged beautifully, and this seemed like a really good time to tell this story. I also love the complexity of the characters coupled with Wendy Wasserstein’s fantastic writing. She writes on a deeply intellectual level while still managing to be accessible.”

Simpson, who plays Jack Jameson, the protagonist professor’s father, has certainly drawn inspiration from today’s political scene for his performance.

“My character is older, 80s, has dementia, declines and dies over the

course of the nine months of the play. Honestly, I’ve been studying our president” to prepare for this part, Simpson said. “The so-called culture wars really began decades ago among the college ‘professor-iat’ intellectuals. Wendy Wasserstein has written a clever, hardhitting dramatization of the biases and hypocrisies latent in this conflict.”

To fill Laurie Jameson’s shoes, Paul needs to understand the character.

“I play Laurie Jameson, a professor at an elite New England college who takes great pride in her untraditional approach to liter-

ature, her career and what she sees as her trailblazing approach to feminism. Laurie’s point of view is challenged by her best friend, a new student and her daughter, who all try to show her that her dogma has limits and that she may need to start reevaluating her priorities,” Paul said. “As I am on stage for 85 percent of the play, I started memorizing my lines as soon as I was cast in August. The cast rehearses several times a week, and I have also been reading up on my Shakespeare, Jane Austen and other authors referenced in the play. I have a lot in common with my character: I went to an Ivy League college, my two kids are now grown, I am at the same stage in life — so, I understand personally at least some of what Laurie is going through.”

Photos Courtesy of Penny Paul

Longtime library champion is recognized by town

evolution of the Nutley Public Library as an institution

a transformation from a midsize municipal library to a vital community center,” retired supervising librarian Kiran Patel said. “It is by his guidance, his sagacity and his unflagging support for the endurance and relevance of the Nutley Public Library that we realize our mission of ‘reading, information seeking and lifelong learning among all members of the community.’ He is and always will be our greatest library champion.”

Volunteerism at the community level has an important, positive impact on local citizens. Iannarone is not only an exemplar of community voluntarism, but also an inspirational individual who gives ample evidence that the human spirit can transcend daunting physical adversity and achieve heights of excellence. In May 1949, at the age of 18, Iannarone awoke in a hospital bed having lost both hands in a Rutgers chemical laboratory accident. He returned to Rutgers in September of the same year and not only achieved his degree on time, but did so as president of the senior class with high honors, a Phi Beta Kappa key and a host of other honors, including a Root-Tilden scholarship to New York University School of Law, one of 20 nationally and two from the combined states of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

He earned his Juris Doctorate, achieved the highest grade on the New

On Oct. 16, library board of trustees President Anthony Iannarone, above, had the library’s children’s room dedicated in his honor.

Jersey state bar examination and later earned a master’s degree in law with almost a perfect average, also from NYU.

Most of his outstanding legal career was spent in the law department of Hoff-

mann–La Roche, where he progressed to associate vice president, associate general counsel and assistant secretary.

He moved to Nutley in 1959 and, within a few years, began his involvement in

many civic activities. Iannarone’s wife of 55 years, Ruth, died in 2010. He has three accomplished children, Brian, David and Lisa, all graduates of Nutley High School, and seven grandchildren.

Photos Courtesy of Township of Nutley

Wonderful time is had by all at Nutley’s fall festival

The township of Nutley welcomed hundreds to its annual fall festival on Sept. 25 at Memorial Park, aka the Mud Hole, in Nutley. Adults, children and their pets enjoyed a beautiful fall afternoon of camaraderie, music, fun and some of the best of the township’s vendors. The event was organized by the Parks & Recreation Department.

“This event sparks a sense of community that can only be felt in our great township,” Nutley Commissioner Mauro G. Tucci said. “We pride ourselves on presenting family-friendly community events that help our children understand the importance of tradition. These traditions keep the spirit and drive of Nutley alive, and I am honored to be able to present them year after year to create memories for our families. Thank you to all of the vendors, departments, school groups and attendees that made this another spectacular year at the festival. A special thanks goes out to the men and women of my parks department family who flawlessly set up, break down and make these events what they are. Without them, the magic would not be possible.”

The festival included music from DJMC Entertainment, several inflatable rides for the children, more than 60 vendors and the Nutley Farmers Market.

“Commissioner Tucci and his department do a great job organizing the fall fest,” Mayor Joseph P. Scarpelli said. “This year the turnout was amazing, and

it’s a thrill to see so many smiling faces enjoying a day out in our beautiful park.

Adding the Nutley Farmers Market worked out very well. This was just a great time for all who attended.”

Wishes for a

Thanksgiving

Photos Courtesy of Township of Nutley

The Nutley community had a grand time at the town’s annual fall festival on Sept. 25.

Essex County’s 2022 leaf collection schedule is announced to the public

schedule for

County’s

To organize leaf collection on county roads, Essex County is divided into four sectors. There will be three pickups in each section of the county. Residents on county roads should check the county leaf collection schedule and coordinate their fall cleanup activities with the schedule.

should be swept to the curb or placed in biodegradable bags at the curb no more than seven days before the scheduled pickup time. In addition, residents are asked to pile leaves at least 10 feet from a storm drain.

Leaves will be picked up as follows:

• Section I, which is Cedar Grove, Millburn and West Orange: Monday, Oct. 24, to Saturday, Oct. 29; Sunday, Nov. 20, to Saturday, Nov. 26; and Sunday, Dec. 18, to Friday, Dec. 23.

• Section II, which is South Orange and Maplewood: Saturday, Oct. 29, to Saturday, Nov. 5; Sunday, Nov. 27, to Saturday, Dec. 3; and Monday, Dec. 26, to Saturday, Dec. 31.

• Section III, which is Belleville and East Orange: Sunday, Nov. 6, to Saturday, Nov. 12; Sunday, Dec. 4, to Saturday, Dec. 10; and Sunday, Jan. 1, to Saturday, Jan. 7. The last pickup will be made only if it is needed.

• Section IV, which is Irvington, Newark and Orange: Sunday, Nov. 13, to Saturday, Nov. 19; Sunday, Dec. 11, to Saturday, Dec. 17; and Sunday, Jan. 8, to Saturday, Jan. 14. The last pickup will be made only if it is needed.

Essex County has entered into shared services agreements with Bloomfield, Caldwell, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Montclair, North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, Verona and West Caldwell. In these municipalities, the local department of public works will collect leaves on county roads. Those whose property is located on a county road in one of these towns should consult their municipal public works department for more information or to obtain a schedule.

Residents who have questions about the leaf collection schedule may call the Essex County Department of Public Works at 973-226-8500, ext. 0.

Towns celebrate Italian culture at annual parade

Photos by Steve Ellmore

Nutley and Belleville residents came out en masse to celebrate Italian culture and heritage at the annual Columbus Day Parade. For more photos, turn the page and visit EssexNewsDaily.com.

Photos by Steve Ellmore

Italian flags, big smiles and more to see at parade

Photos by Steve Ellmore

Nov. 8 midterms hold many choices for local residents

By Yael Katzwer Editor

The Nov. 8 midterm election will prove important for residents of Belleville and Nutley, both on the local and national level.

On the national stage, Democratic incumbent Mikie Sherrill is fighting to keep her seat representing the 11th Congressional District against two chal-

lengers, Republican Paul DeGroot and Libertarian Joseph Biasco. Both Belleville and Nutley are part of the 11th Congressional District.

On the state level, Nutley residents will vote in a special election for state senator of the 28th Legislative District. Democrat

Renee Burgess and Republican Joy Bembry-Freeman will face off. Burgess, who

previously served as Irvington Township Council president, was sworn in as the 28th District’s state senator on Sept. 29, following the resignation of longtime state Sen. Ronald L. Rice. Burgess was chosen by Essex County Democrats in early September to succeed Rice temporarily. Burgess will serve through Nov. 8; the results of the special election will determine who will fill the rest of Rice’s term, which expires in January 2024.

On the county level, Democratic incumbent Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. is running for his sixth four-year term as county executive. The Republican challenger is Adam Kraemer.

as the “Looking Forward” slate. Running solo campaigns are challengers Tom D’Elia under the slogan “Innovative, Experienced, Invested”; Theresa Teri Quirk under the slogan “Your Voice Matters”; and Emanuele Triggiano under the slogan “Excellence in Education.”

Essex County will hold early voting for the Nov. 8 election from Oct. 29 through Nov. 6, Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Early voting will be held at the following locations:

• Watsessing Park Community Center, Bloomfield Avenue and Conger Street in Bloomfield.

A HOLE IN ONE — Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr., center, congratulates the winners of the 2022 Essex County Golf Tournament. William Cannon, left, of Belleville, won the Amateur Division with a three-day score of 215. Tom McDonald, right, of West Caldwell, won the Super Seniors Division with a score of 227. One round of the tournament was played at each Essex County public golf course, including Hendricks Field Golf Course in Belleville, where the championship round was played on Saturday, Sept. 17. The winners each received a plaque and their own parking space at the course of their choosing.

In Belleville, there are six candidates running for three open seats on the Board of Education. Running as the “Better Belleville BOE” slate are incumbents Luis Antonio Muñiz Jr. and Gabrielle BennettMeany, along with challenger Michael Louis Derro. Running solo campaigns are challengers Ruben Angel Rodriguez under the slogan “Parents for Education”; Michael Sheldon under the slogan “$500 Tax Refunds”; and Lissa Missaggia under the slogan “Putting Children First.”

In Nutley, there are also six candidates running for three open seats on the Board of Education. The sole incumbent running is Charles W. Kucinski, running under the slogan “Experience Integrity Stability.”

Challengers Laura Valente and Andrea Podgarsky are running a joint campaign

• East Orange City Hall, 44 City Hall Plaza in East Orange.

• Fairfield Community Center, 221 Hollywood Ave. in Fairfield.

• Irvington Municipal Building, 1 Civic Square in Irvington.

• Verona Community Center, 880 Bloomfield Ave. in Verona.

• Berson Education Center at Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Ave. in West Orange.

• Essex County Complex Parking Garage, 50 W. Market St. in Newark.

• Stephen N. Adubato Sports Complex, Building No. 24, Branch Brook Park, Bloomfield and Lake avenues in Newark.

• New Jersey Reentry Corp., 936-938 Bergen St. in Newark.

• West Side Park Community Center, 600 S. 17th St. in Newark.

Photo Courtesy of Essex County

Parade

The Nutley-Belleville Columbus Day Parade and Italian Heritage Committee celebrated its 40th anniversary at an honoree dinner at Nanina’s in the Park on Wednesday, Sept. 21, with well over 300 guests. Above, from left, are 2022 parade honorees Michael Calabro, Nicholas F. Cozzarelli, Frank Dauksis, Jason Zinna, Tina Cervasio, Jerri Custode, Dolores Del Deo Kirk, Roseann Biasi Vazquez, John Monaco, Patricia Ferrara-Wells and James A. Corino. At left are Renaissance Man and Woman honorees Cozzarelli and Custode.

Above is Dolores Del Deo Kirk, 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, with Chairperson Rosemary Costa and co-Chairperson Bill Freda. Below, parade committee members, from left, are Cavaliere Susan R. LaMorte, Diane Stanzione, Edie Peters Liguori, Chairperson Rosemary Costa, the Rev. Thomas Nicastro, co-Chairperson Bill Freda, Ben Costa, Barbara Freda, Melissa Matturro, Vito Matturro, Joe Gencarelli and Cavaliere Pasquale Meola.

Photos Courtesy of Susan LaMorte

tackles timely themes at Little Theatre

(Continued from Page 8)

has greatly enjoyed working with the five cast members of this show, who have brought insight and compassion to the text.

“I work largely in musicals, so it’s been really rewarding and fun to work on a play, and it’s a whole different animal. We’ve been having some really amazing discussions so far and really dissecting moment by moment through the script, which has brought to light a lot of interesting discoveries,” Stackhouse said. “This company of actors is fantastic, and it’s been fascinating hearing them speak to their differing interpretations of certain moments.”

Just as each member of the cast and crew has taken away a message from the show, they hope audiences will both enjoy the show and be left thinking about it long after it ends.

“Everyone, no matter what their age or profession, can relate to issues like not understanding your family members of both older and younger generations, or wondering whether what you do really makes a difference in the world. I think people of all ages and backgrounds will appreciate the examination of these timeless topics,” Paul said. “I hope audiences will be entertained by the beautiful language of the play, which illustrates these

universal themes through complicated and interesting characters and situations. I also hope audiences realize the joy of live theater again. Nutley Little Theatre, like so many local venues, closed during the pandemic. For actors, crew and audience members, it is so wonderful now to be able to gather together to enjoy art and community in person, the way these things are meant to be experienced.”

According to Simpson, he expects audiences to go through a range of emotions, ultimately leaving with an altered viewpoint.

“They’ll laugh, they’ll cry, they’ll question, they’ll think about the world around them a little differently,” Simpson said.

Ultimately, Stackhouse hopes this play will inform audience members on how to hold constructive dialogue regarding difficult topics.

“The play speaks volumes about openmindedness in theory versus practice, and I think that, as a country, we struggle to find actionable ways to change or challenge our mindset,” Stackhouse said. “This play serves as a reminder of the dangers of having your viewpoints set in stone and unchallenged. I hope audiences leave with a renewed perspective on how to have productive discourse with those who might see things differently from themselves.”

Water main break in Nutley leads to emergencies

By Yael Katzwer Editor

An Oct. 5 water main break in Nutley has caused Glen Ridge and Montclair to declare states of emergency. The break, which spans more than 70 inches of main, has affected several Essex County towns, including Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair and Nutley — as well as others in Passaic and Hudson counties.

The Nutley Water Department announced on Oct. 5 that the break was in “one of the main transmission supply lines in the area of Bloomfield Avenue and Church Street.” While these lines “transverse Nutley from Bloomfield into Belleville,” they do not actually provide water to the Nutley water system. As such, Nutley residents did not experience any disruption to water service.

The township confirmed on Oct. 7 that North Jersey District Water Supply Commission personnel were on scene — supported by the members of the Nutley Water, Police and Fire departments, along with EMS — to fix the main. While the work was being completed, residents had to navigate road closures and detours in the area.

On Oct. 5, Belleville issued a water advisory to residents, stating: “Due to a water break in Nutley, some areas in Belleville are experiencing low water pressure. This break may cause water discoloration. At this time a boil-water advisory is not in effect.”

While Nutley and Belleville residents were largely spared the effects of this water main break, it did wreak havoc on some nearby towns. On Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m., Glen Ridge officials declared a state of emergency under which residents must avoid any nonessential use of water.

“This week, North Jersey District Water Supply Commission experienced an unprecedented event involving an aqueduct controlled by them. The 72-inch water main break in Nutley affects water service for hundreds of thou-

A Bloomfield fire truck helps transfer water from the East Orange water system into Glen Ridge’s water system. Glen Ridge was one of the many towns adversely affected by the water main break in Nutley.

sands of residents in Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties.

Efforts to repair the break remain ongoing,” the borough stated in its Oct. 8 announcement. “In conjunction with Montclair utilities and the fire department, multiple efforts have been taken to make up for the loss of water from the aqueduct. While these efforts have been successful, the temporary systems are becoming strained. We need to reduce the demand for water on our system.”

On Oct. 10, a statement from the borough read, “We remain concerned about the demands being placed upon the water system.”

During the emergency, Glen Ridge tapped into the East Orange water system for water supply. On the south

end of town, a Bloomfield fire truck could be seen helping to move the water from the East Orange system into the Glen Ridge system via a fire hydrant.

Glen Ridge lifted its state of emergency on Oct. 14, more than a week after the main had burst.

Montclair also declared a state of emergency on Oct. 8. Montclair and Bloomfield tapped into several different systems to provide water for their residents and businesses. Because water pressure dropped too much in their system, Bloomfield issued a boil-water advisory. Bloomfield’s water system was also affected by water main repairs being conducted in Newark. The advisory was lifted Oct. 10.

While Glen Ridge did not institute a boil-water advisory, they did make it clear to residents that water should be used only for essential functions. Prohibited uses included watering lawns, gardens, plants, etc.; the noncommercial washing of motor vehicles; washing streets, driveways and sidewalks; serving water in restaurants unless specifically requested; ornamental use, such as for fountains and reflecting pools; running partial loads in washing machines and dishwashers; and operating nonessential ice machines.

According to Montclair officials on Oct. 11, NJDWSC Commission personnel had sealed the main break and were working to fully restore its water supply to affected towns. Full-service restoration by NJDWSC included refilling, disinfection and flushing main; testing its lines; and treating and monitoring its water supply. It was unclear how long this might take, though Glen Ridge officials noted on Oct. 10 that this process could take “several days” and that NJDWSC was working with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to complete all necessary steps. Full water service was restored by end-of-day Oct. 14.

Photo Courtesy of Glen Ridge

Winners announced for annual parks photo contest

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. presented awards to the 10 winners in the annual Essex County Parks Photography Contest on Tuesday, Oct. 11. Winners were awarded in adult, youth and professional categories.

“We congratulate the winners of the Essex County Parks Photography Contest and thank all the contestants for sharing what they experienced in our historic parks system,” DiVincenzo said. “Events like these encourage our residents to visit our open spaces and share their artistic talents. All these photographs capture the beauty, highlight the diversity and natural splendor of our parks, reserva-

tions and recreation facilities.”

In the adult category, Bruce Goodman, of Verona, received first place for “Verona Park”; Joshua Goodman, of West Orange, received second place for “The Crag, South Mountain Reservation”; Gary Wiener, of Nutley, received third place for “Grover Cleveland Park”; and Izabela Van Tassel, of Bloomfield, received an honorable mention for “Turtle Back Zoo.”

In the youth category, Mason Nunez, of Newark, received first place for “Turtle Back Zoo”; Elly Dixon, of Newark, received second place for “Branch Brook Park”; Aaron Cruz, of Newark, received third place for “Verona Park”; and Sophia

Jacob, of East Hanover, received an honorable mention for “Hemlock Falls Frog, South Mountain Reservation.”

In the professional category, Pawel Wozniak, of Bloomfield, received first place for “Kip’s Castle”; and Mary Del Negro, of Belleville, received second place for “Presby Iris Gardens.”

The photography contest was sponsored by the Essex County Environmental Center and judged by members of the Essex County Photography Club. Anyone with a camera was encouraged to participate. All photographs went on display at the environmental center in September and will remain hanging through October.

7:00. You can participate in either one of these classes -or both- through Zoom by calling the church to get placed on the Zoom call list. There are several other opportunities throughout the week involving prayer, study, and community for all age levels. Brookdale is a loving and caring congregation under the leadership of Pastor Love Saquing and Pastor Jim Treffinger. Our mission is to be a Family Growing Together in God.

Above left, Belleville resident Mary Del Negro, center, is congratulated for receiving second place in the professional category for ‘Presby Iris Gardens’ from Essex County Environmental Center Director Tara Casella, left, and Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr., right.

Above right, Nutley resident Gary Wiener, center, is congratulated for receiving third place in the adult category for ‘Grover Cleveland Park’ from DiVincenzo, left, and Casella, right. Del Negro and Wiener’s winning pieces were hung in the Essex County Environmental Center.

Photos Courtesy of Glen Frieson

Whoever your heart beats for, our hearts beat for you.

Leaders in emergency and elective angioplasty. Ever feel tightness in your chest when going up a flight of stairs, or short of breath after carrying in the groceries? These can be signs of coronary artery disease. If you think you maybe at risk, you should talk to a cardiac specialist at Clara Maass Medical Center. As one of the first community hospitals to perform emergent and elective angioplasty, our heart team can clear blocked or narrowed arteries to safely restore blood flow to your heart. Schedule an appointment with one of New Jersey’s top cardiac specialists at rwjbh.org/heart

St. Anthony of

Church in

will celebrate

dancing on Sunday,

Upcoming events at Vincent United Methodist Church

anniversary, the church

30.

with Mass at noon, followed by a buffet dinner and dancing at the Chandelier, 340 Franklin Ave. in Belleville. The reception will begin at 3 p.m. and go to 7 p.m., and will feature live music by the band Jersey Sound. Everyone is invited to attend the Mass. To purchase tickets for the dinner event, contact parish secretary Leonora DiLauro-Ragab at 973-481-1991.

St. Anthony of Padua Church has a rich history within the Silver Lake community of Belleville, Newark and Bloomfield. St. Anthony’s was first opened on Oct. 30, 1901. In 1955, the Rev. Thomas Gillick introduced the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine for youths. In 1976, the local Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts planted a tree and installed a plaque and time capsule to commemorate the church’s 75th anniversary; the time capsule was opened at the church’s 100th anniversary celebration. Various renovations have taken place over the years to beautify the church and area surrounding the parish. Since 1995, the Feast of St. Anthony’s celebration has taken place annually and has become a staple event in the community.

For more information about the church, visit saintanthonybelleville.org.

Vincent United Methodist Church, located at 100 Vincent Place in Nutley, is open for worship on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. and offers the following events and study group:

• “Trunk or Treat” on Sunday, Oct. 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the church parking lot. There will be safe trick-or-treating at more than 15 car “trunks,” a take-home craft, hot chocolate and cookies, all for a modest donation. All are welcome.

• Take-out pasta dinner, on Tuesday, Nov. 8, with pickups from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The dinner will be penne with meat sauce, salad, bread and dessert. A fee applies, with proceeds going to support the mission and ministries of the church. Orders must be placed with the church office by Sunday, Nov. 6.

• “Signs and Wonders” study group meets Monday mornings from 9:30 to 11 a.m. via Zoom. The “Signs and Wonders” book is written by Amy-Jill Levine and “explores selected miracles of Jesus in historical and theological context.” Contact the church office for more information.

For additional information about Vincent Church, visit vincentumc.org.

St. Anthony of Padua Church in Belleville

MEMORIAM

• ADUBATO – Thomas Joseph “T.J.,” of Nutley; Oct. 8. Worked for Pine Brook Tire Co., Pinebrook, for 42 years. Husband, father, brother, grandfather, 66.

• CURVIN – William, of Millburn, formerly of Belleville, Newark; Sept. 16. Employed by H.J. Heinz. Husband, father, brother, 97.

• DEROSE – Joseph A. Sr., of Belleville; Sept. 24. World War II Army veteran. Father, brother, uncle, 96.

• FIERRO – David T., of Newton, formerly of Nutley; Oct. 1. Assistant supervisor and greenskeeper at Essex Fells Country Club. Son, brother, uncle, 27.

• GIACOBBE – Raymond, of Bradley Beach, formerly of Newark and Belleville; Oct. 16. Elementary education supervisor. Husband, father, grandfather, 87.

• LEFEBVRE – Raymond P., of Manhattan, N.Y., formerly of Belleville, Mendham and New York City; Oct. 9. Navy veteran, husband, father, grandfather, 84.

• LONGO – Johanna “Jody,” of Nutley, formerly of Jersey City; Sept. 29. Teacher, member of the Actors’ Factory, Jersey City. Cousin, aunt, 77.

• MERGNER – Victoria A., of Bloomfield, formerly of Belleville; Oct. 6. Chemist at Bristol-Myers Squibb, then Schering-Plough. Wife, mother, sister, 75.

• MONTANARI – Rev. Shirley A., of Somerset, formerly of Belleville, Bloomfield; Oct. 1. Minister, widow, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, 89.

• POLITO – Barbara Ann, of Nutley; Oct. 11. Wife, mother, sister and grandmother. Was 64.

• TENSFELDT – Eugenia P., of Belleville, formerly of North Bergen and Secaucus; Sept. 27. Court transcriber. Widow, mother, grandmother, 93.

• WASILEWSKI – Maureen “Fogarty,” of Bayville, formerly of Nutley; Sept. 14. Business owner. Widow, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, 88.

Memoriam is a feature compiled by the news staff from various sources. We also provide the opportunity for families and funeral directors to publish a more extensive, special notice about their loved one called an obituary. These notices are published on our website immediately and then in the next edition of this newspaper. To place a paid obituary send an email to obits@thelocalsource.com or fax to 908-688-0401. Family and friends’ submissions must include sender’s name, address, phone and the name of the funeral home. Call 908-686-7850 for assistance.

Essex County blood drives

New Jersey Blood Services, a division of New York Blood Center, will conduct the following blood drives in Essex County: Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Rutgers Law School’s Center for Law & Justice, 123 Washington St. in Newark; Sunday, Nov. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the YMCA Civic House, 13 Jefferson Ave. in Maplewood; Monday, Nov. 21, from 1 to 7 p.m. at Knights of Columbus 2346, 150 Chestnut St. in Nutley; and Sunday, Nov. 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Igreja Universal, 51 St. Francis St. in Newark.

To donate blood or for information on how to organize a blood drive, call 800933-2566 or visit nybloodcenter.org.

Veterans Day Ruck March

The Nutley community is invited to take part in the township’s second Veterans Day Ruck March on Friday, Nov. 11, immediately following the annual Veterans Day ceremony. This 5K march, which mimics “true military fashion” as participants carry a 22-pound weighted rucksack or backpack, takes participants through Memorial Park from the World War II monument to Kingsland Manor and back. As a way to raise awareness for those veterans struggling with mental health, the weight is a symbol of the average of 22 veterans a day who take their own life.

This year’s event will go one step further. The township has expanded its efforts to benefit resident veterans and

others in need as participants are invited to replace the 22 pounds with 22 canned items to be donated to the Nutley Family Service Bureau’s food pantry.

All participants will be responsible for packing and bringing their own rucksack or backpack. Carrying any weight or no weight will be permissible. Registration is open until Oct. 31. For registration and more information, contact Jacoby at 973284-4951, ext. 2428.

Veterans Day in Belleville

On Sunday, Nov. 13, Mayor Michael Melham and the Belleville Township Council will present the Belleville Veterans Day 5K Run/Walk at 9 a.m.; the race will be dedicated to the men and women of Belleville who have served in the U.S. military. Register for the race online at bellevillevet5k.org. Bib pickup runs from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

Following the race, the town’s annual Veterans Day Parade starts at noon. The township encourages all residents, clubs, organizations, civic groups and sports teams to participate. For additional information, call 973-450-3345. Participants will line up at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of Holmes Street. and Union Avenue. The parade ends at the Veterans Memorial at Union and Tiona Avenues.

SECC awards

The Suburban Essex Chamber of Commerce will hold an awards dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 5:30 p.m. at the

Brookside Banquets, 41 Broughton Ave. in Bloomfield. The chamber acknowledges businesses that have made major capital investments and improvements to their property and businesses that are celebrating an anniversary in a five-year increment, citing confidence in the local business community. This event will include awards given from 2020 to 2022.

The chamber will also be honoring members of Belleville’s American Legion Post 105, Sons of American Legion Squadron 105, American Legion Post 299 and Belleville-Nutley Disabled American Veterans Chapter 22.

For more information, contact Donna Pietroiacovo at 973-748-2000.

ECBCC meetings

The Essex County Board of County Commissioners will meet at 5 p.m. in person in the ECBCC chambers, Room 506 on the fifth floor of the Hall of Records, 465 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Newark, on the following days: Nov. 2, Dec. 1 and Dec. 14.

The commissioner board room is equipped with an assistive-listening system, and a sign language interpreter will be available upon advance notification to the Essex County Office of the Disabled at 973-395-8429.

NIAA grand marshal dinner

Nutley Irish American Association will hold its Grand Marshal Dinner on Satur-

day, Feb. 4, from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Brownstone, 351 W. Broadway in Paterson. For more information as the date approaches, visit nutleyirish.com.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The Nutley St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held Saturday, March 4, with Mass first at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 17 Monsignor Owens Place in Nutley. The parade steps off at 1 p.m. at Holy Family Church, 28 Brookline Ave. in Nutley. A post-parade party will run from 3 to 7 p.m. at Nutley Parks & Recreation, 44 Park Ave. in Nutley.

Community Care Kitchen

The Community Care Kitchen has reopened by serving hot, takeout meals twice per month at Vincent United Methodist Church, 100 Vincent Place in Nutley, on the third and last Saturday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Prepared and shared currently by people from Vincent Church and Grace Episcopal Church, the meal might be chicken, beef or pasta with sides and vegetables. Everyone is welcome to come by the Community Care Kitchen and pick up a meal to-go, including families and seniors. In these tough times, there is a growing need and the churches are partnering with others in the community to make a difference. Anyone who would like to make a contribution can visit vincentumc.org/ for more information.

Daidone graduates

James Daidone, of Nutley, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in construction management from Missouri State University, located in Springfield, Mo., on May 20.

Patel earns honors

Luvish Patel, of Belleville, was one of more than 900 students who received degrees from New York Institute of Technology, located in Old Westbury, N.Y., as spring graduates of the Class of 2022. Patel received a Bachelor of Science in computer science.

Patel was also named to the presidential honor list at NYIT for the spring 2022 semester. To qualify for the presidential honor list, a student must achieve a minimum semester grade-point average of 3.7 and complete at least 12 credit hours without any incomplete grades.

Gizzo receives BA

Daniel Gizzo, of Nutley, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Tufts University, located in Boston, Mass., on May 22.

FDU Metro grads

In commencement exercises on May 21, Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Metropolitan campus, located in Teaneck, conferred more than 2,400 degrees at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, including on the following graduates: Belleville’s Phyllis

Bindi, Gloria Williams, Deanna Smith, Genesis Meza, Alejandra Gracias, Noreen Ali, Ana Villalobos, June Barriere, Natasha German and Ruth Omoyinmi; and Nutley’s Gabriela Sanchez, Deanna La Rosa, Garivaldi Longo, Nicole Dimayuga and Brandon Perdon.

Florham campus honors

The following students at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Florham Campus, located in Madison, have been named to the honors list for the spring 2022 semester: Belleville’s Alexandria Henderson, and Nutley’s Khanh Doan, Alexander Pena, Abigail Lopez, Sophia Lockwood, Jenna Calero, Nicole Sullivan and Robert Harbison. Godwin Adedoyin, of Nutley, was named to the dean’s list.

To qualify for the honors list, a student must carry a grade-point average of 3.5 or better out of a possible 4.0 and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 letter-graded hours. To qualify for the dean’s list, a student must carry a GPA of at least 3.2.

FDU degrees

In commencement exercises on May 18, Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Florham campus, located in Madison, conferred more than 2,400 degrees at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, including on the following graduates: Belleville’s Annmarie Rodriguez and Alexandria Henderson, and Nutley’s Khanh Doan, Abigail Lopez and Jenna Calero.

Metro campus honors

The following students at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Metropolitan Campus, located in Teaneck, have been named to the honors list for the spring 2022 semester: Belleville’s Natasha German and Sophia Imparato, and Nutley’s Patricia Ressell-Deras, Aaliyah Vega, Emory Osmani and Michael Conforti. Ruth Omoyinmi and Jalianyss Martinez Rivera, both of Belleville, and Lorianne O’Connor, of Nutley, were named to the dean’s list.

To qualify for the honors list, a student must carry a grade-point average of 3.5 or better out of a possible 4.0 and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 letter-graded hours. To qualify for the dean’s list, a student must carry a GPA of at least 3.2.

Sullivan on dean’s list

Shane Sullivan, of Nutley, earned dean’s list honors at Emerson College, located in Boston, Mass., for the spring 2022 semester. Sullivan, a member of the Class of 2023, is majoring in media arts production.

To make dean’s list, a student must earn a grade-point average of 3.7 or better for that semester.

Stack earns degree

Jillian Stack, of Nutley, graduated summa cum laude from the University of Rhode Island, located in Kingston, R.I., in May and received a Bachelor of Science in

business administration and finance. Students who graduated summa cum laude earned a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.7.

White coat for Ibrahim

Kean University graduate student

Moura Ibrahim, of Belleville, was among 20 students in Kean’s Doctorate of Physical Therapy program to be presented with their white coats at a ceremony in August.

Ibrahim and the other students are in their final year of the DPT program at the university and received the honor as they prepared to enter their clinical experience.

Honors at SNHU

Deanna Napolitano, of Belleville, has been named to the president’s list at South-

ern New Hampshire University for the summer 2022 semester, and Sabrina Smith, of Belleville, was named to the dean’s list.

To be named to the president’s list, a student must earn a grade-point average of at least 3.7 for the semester. To be named to the dean’s, a student must earn a GPA of at least 3.5 for the semester.

Lamond makes the cut

Sofia Lamond, of Nutley, is a member of the NCAA Division III women’s soccer team at Albright College, located in Reading, Pa., this fall. A graduate of Nutley High School, Lamond is a junior sociology/criminology major at Albright.

Dean’s list at SHU

Seton Hall University, located in South

Orange, named the following local students to its dean’s list for the spring 2022 semester:

• From Belleville, Cayla Carino, James Laquindanum, Alexia Seeram, Melanie San Martin Martinez, Renaldo Payne, Mariabelem Sanchez, Shiv Patel, Oliver De Leon, Kirsten Ontal, Rawle-Ann Sobransingh, Danny Vu, Christian Almestica, Ann Gottschalk and Sasha Rosario.

• From Nutley, Amy Jacobsen, Hailey DiGiuseppe Erdmann, Lucia Rizzuto, Pooja Mehta, Jessica Marciniak, Timothy Georgetti, Emily Jablonowski, Cristina Sabia, Lauren Costello, Sydney Kunz, John Christman, Christian Soto, Gianni Feraco, Jordan Zarro, Anthony Fabiano, Nicolette Strollo, Victoria Ventura, Noah Ibasitas, Yuvraj Raja and Ari Burdulis.

After the close of every semester, undergraduate students completing all courses with a grade-point average of 3.4 and no grades lower than a C qualify for the dean’s list.

Rojas matriculates

Gabriela Rojas, of Belleville, has enrolled at St. Lawrence University, located in Canton, N.Y., as a member of the Class of 2026. Rojas attended Belleville High School.

Schroeder enrolls

Nicholas Schroeder, of Nutley, has enrolled at York College of Pennsylvania, located in York, Pa., for the fall 2022 semester.

Photo Courtesy of Kean University

Moura Ibrahim, of Belleville, received her white coat at Kean University.

Nutley High football team defeats rival Belleville

By Joe Ragozzino Sports Editor

The Nutley High School football team defeated rival Belleville High School, 28-8, at BHS’ Doc Ellis Field/Municipal Stadium on Friday, Oct. 7.

The NHS Raiders, under first-year head coach and athletic director Joe Piro, improved to 3-3 on the season, while the BHS Buccaneers, under first-year head coach Brian Antab, fell to 0-7 on the season.

Senior running back Mitchell Mainiero rushed for 202 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries to power the Raiders. Senior running back Mike Zitola had nine rushes for 62 yards, and sophomore quarterback Clark Mohrbutter passed for 97 yards on eight of 16 attempts for Nutley. Mohrbutter also had two carries for 27 yards, senior Justin Cifelli had four carries for 15 yards, and senior Brandon Lucia had one carry for 4 yards.

Senior Donald Slane had two catches for 36 yards, junior Joe Volpe had two catches for 21 yards and senior Vincenzo Rizzuto had two catches for 18 yards. Zitola and junior Sean McAloon each had one catch for 6 yards, and Mainiero had one catch for 15 yards.

The Raiders have won the past 11 meetings and lead the all-time series, 56-19-4. The last time Belleville defeated Nutley was in 2008, when Belleville was guided by then–firstyear head coach Chris Strumolo, who was an NHS graduate. Belleville won, 22-12.

From 1984 to 2011, the teams played on or around the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Above, the Nutley Raiders charge onto the field for their game against rival Belleville. At left, Nutley sophomore quarterback Clark Mohrbutter takes the snap against Belleville; at left is Nutley senior Mitchell Mainiero. Below, Mohrbutter drops back to pass against Belleville.

Photos by Steve Ellmore

Nutley High School senior Mitchell Mainiero breaks free as a Belleville defender gives chase.

Above left, Nutley senior Anthony Pinal pressures the Belleville quarterback. Above right, Nutley senior Joseph Cifelli, No. 22, carries the ball during the win over Belleville; Nutley senior Vincenzo Rizzuto, No. 2, blocks a Belleville defender. Below, Nutley senior Mitchell Mainiero runs with the ball against Belleville.

NHS girls tennis serves up support for cancer patients

The Nutley High School varsity and junior varsity girls tennis teams hosted their first serve-a thon fundraiser in conjunction with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Tuesday, Oct. 18. The event was a huge success.

All players from both teams, 27 girls, participated in the event to raise funds for Wings Cancer Support, a non-

profit foundation whose many free programs support cancer patients and survivors.

Representatives from the foundation attended the event and interacted with the girls as they served to raise money for this worthy cause.

The Nutley varsity team, under head coach Valerie Martin, tied with Cedar Grove for the Super Essex Con-

ference–Colonial Division championship this season with a 7-1 divisional record. Nutley finished 9-6 overall. Nutley and Cedar Grove split their two divisional meetings this season.

“At the beginning of the season, our goal was to win the division,” Martin said. “We achieved our goal, and we became co-champions with Cedar Grove.”

RAIDER NATION — Superintendent of Schools Kent Bania cuts the ribbon on the new ‘Raider Nation’ floor in the Nutley High School gymnasium in early October. The floor, resurfaced over the summer, is now ready for use by high school students and athletes. NHS Principal Denis Williams, Athletic Director Joe Piro and business administrator David DiPisa join the girls volleyball team before their home game against Cedar Grove for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Also in attendance were Board of Education President Dan Carnicella and board members Frank Demaio, Charlie Kucinski and Nick Scotti.

Pictured above left are members of the Nutley girls varsity and junior varsity tennis teams. Standing at the left of the sign is varsity head coach Valerie Martin. Standing at far right is assistant coach Joe Martin.

Pictured above right are representatives from Wings Cancer Support, a nonprofit organization that supports cancer patients and survivors, holding the yellow signs in front of Nutley head coach Valerie Martin.

Photos Courtesy of Valerie Martin

Photo Courtesy of Nutley Public Schools