Car, Truck and Bike Show rolls into Union
By Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta Correspondent



The Union 2024 Car, Truck and Bike Show was the place to be on Sunday, Oct. 6.
Five zones were blocked off, with motorcycles, jeeps, imports and domestic cars, all having their own sections. There were also food trucks, three beer gardens, vendors and an area for children. The Ruckus performed live music – hip hop, rock and country cover tunes, followed by cover band Who Brought the Dog on the main stage.
Rocco Caneli, of West Orange, said he organized the event with Union Township Sgt. Mike Campos. Caneli was showing his 2017 Ford GT350, Shelby version, with 800 horsepower.
Thomas Weislo was there with his 7year-old son, Jehzion. “I love the cars. The kids have fun. We come every year,” he said.
Alex “Aroc” Ortiz, from Paterson, was showing his 2003 four-door ultra white Honda Accord. The vehicle had powdercoated wheels and no chrome. “Chrome delete,” he said.
Richard Rivera, from Staten Island, N.Y., was showing his 2012 Ford Mustang, which he had for the past six years.
“It’s a never-ending transition,” he said.
The car has 450 horsepower, full exhaust and stainless-steel accessories. He calls the car “Dirty Diana,” because he said, “I can never keep her clean.”
Steve Bullock drove 90 miles from



Above left, Rocco Caneli, of West Orange, stands beside his 2017 Ford GT 350, which he brought to the Union 2024 Car, Truck and Bike Show on the first weekend of October. Above right, Jehzion, Thomas Weislo’s 7-year-old son, poses in front of a car he said he liked. Below left, the ‘Bike Zone,’ a section of the Union 2024 Car, Truck and Bike Show dedicated to motorcycles and other motor bikes, proved a very popular feature this year. Below right, Joseph Muniz aka ‘Joey White Walls,’ of Perth Amboy, stands with his 1952 Chevy Lowrider Bomber, revamped with 1959 Cadillac tail lights, and 1957 Chevy hood ornaments.
Sicklerville to participate in the event. He had a 2007 Chevy Corvette he calls “Cherry Bomb.”
“Custom everything,” Bullock said. “Interior, speaker enclosure, custom
rims.” He’s had the car for six years. Frank Verducci, of Cranford, said he grew up in Union and graduated in Union. He was showing his 1994 Corvette. He’s
See UNION, Page 14

UPD celebrates its fifth ‘Coffee with a Cop Day’ event
By Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta Correspondent
For the fifth year, the township of Union Police Department hosted Coffee with a Cop Day in the parking lot of its headquarters.
Police Officer Ricardo Santos organized the event. Blue Foundry Bank sponsored the coffee truck, Drive-In Cones and Coffee. Blue Ribbon Bakery & Café and Nova’s Restaurant & Coffee Shop donated pastries.
Deputy Chief Scott Breslow said, “We meet people, have a cup of coffee, talk, see what’s important to them.”
Sgt. Michael Loguidice said, “It’s always good to have the town as an approachable atmosphere. Residents get to meet other residents. We try to suggest to our neighbors (that) Neighborhood Watch programs are available.”
A Neighborhood Watch Program is a group of people living in the same area who want to make their neighborhood safer by working together with local law enforcement to reduce crime and improve their quality of life. Neighborhood Watch groups have regular meetings to plan how they will accomplish their specific goals and leaders with assigned responsibilities.



left, Union resident Mike Cohan and Officer Bobby Honeymar stand together to celebrate Coffee with a Cop Day on Wednesday, Oct. 2, in the parking lot at the Union Police Department’s headquarters. This is the fifth year the Union PD has hosted this event, which has run nationwide since 2016. Above center, from left are Jessica Santiago, Officer Debra Rodriguez, Sgt. Michael Loguidice, Deputy Chief Scott Breslow and Officer Ricardo Santos in the parking lot at police headquarters. Above right, Sally Straus, a lifelong resident of Union, showed her support for local officers by attending the event.
Created in 1972, Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and bestknown crime prevention concepts in North America. Registration forms are on the Union Township website. Board of Education member Michael Cohan has lived in Union for 47 years.
Even though he didn’t grow up in Union, he considers it his hometown. “We live in a relatively safe town. Burglary and
car theft are not people in town,” he said. “I’m always impressed with the























Halloween tradition lets students transform Union Center





The greater downtown Union Center shopping district has once again been transformed into a vibrant Halloween wonderland, as almost two dozen talented local students picked up their brushes and painted downtown storefront windows of participating shopkeepers. Generations of budding, young Unionites have expressed themselves through their colorful yet temporary works of art and this year’s batch is frightfully fantastic. Below left, UHS 11th-grader Julissa takes a short break from working on her ‘Coraline’ window. Most of the ghoulish greatness can be discovered along Morris and Stuyvesant avenues and Chestnut Street, so take the time to enjoy them now!


(Continued from Page 2)
Police Department. I think their training is impeccable. They do a great job. I’m impressed by the diversity on the force. We’re a diverse community.”
Robert Cowper, superintendent of Union’s Recreation Department, said, “I love that the Police Department does events like this to bring the community together. I applaud all the support they give us. Great men and women work for the department. I’m proud to be one of their colleagues.”
John Reed, of Blue Foundry Bank, said, “It’s a great opportunity to meet with the Police Department and connect with the community; to have a positive experience in the community.”
Sally Straus, a lifelong resident of Union who is very involved with the community, was really enjoying herself. She said, “It’s a wonderful opportunity for all residents to reach out and say, ‘thank you’ to the Police Department.”
Andrea Terrezza, of Union, said, “It’s a beautiful day to come out and meet those who keep our neighborhoods and town safe.”
Amy Shaw, of Union, said, “Police wanting to interact with the community is awesome. I love the handsome officers!”
Coffee with a Cop Day is a nationwide event dedicated to encouraging communication and positive interac-





tions between law enforcement agencies and the public. It began in 2016 and continues each year on the first Wednesday in October, furthering
efforts to bridge the gap between the community and the law.
To learn more about National Coffee with a Cop Day, visit:
coffeewithacop.com/national-cwacday/. To learn more about the Union Police Department, visit ucnj.org/public-safety/division-of-police/.












RWJBarnabas Health & Rutgers Athletics honor 16-year-old
As the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team opened the season 4-0 with a historic Blackout victory over the University of Washington on Friday, Sept. 27, at SHI Stadium, 16-year-old Gabriel Soares of Union, a Children’s Specialized Hospital patient, was honored as the Shining Knight of The Game.
A collaboration between Rutgers Athletics and Official Healthcare provider, RWJBarnabas Health, The Shining Knight of The Game is a meaningful initiative designed to lift the spirits and shine the spotlight on a pediatric patient battling healthcare challenges.
Just last year, Soares experienced sudden bleeding in the brain and couldn’t feel the left side of his body. He was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery to reduce the swelling.
While recovering from surgery, Soares suffered a stroke and needed another brain surgery to relieve pressure. He was then transferred to inpatient rehabilitation at Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, part of the Children’s Health Network at RWJBarnabas Health, where he began his road to recovery.
Soares’ traumatic experience impacted his mobility and cognitive abilities, but thanks to his incredible family support system and the caring medical and rehabilitation team at Children's Specialized Hospital, Soares is heading in the right
resident

direction and regaining function.
After arriving on the Rutgers University campus, Soares was immersed in a full line-up of Rutgers Football Game Day activities. To culminate the Game

Day celebration, Soares was joined on the field by his family and Sir Henry –the Rutgers Scarlet Knight – where he was saluted for his bravery and strength to fight, which included a rousing ova-
tion from Scarlet Nation. Soares and each future Shining Knight of the Game will be enshrined in a Rutgers Athletics facility highlighting their unique game-day experience.





























NJ state trooper guides inner-city boys on the baseball field
When Rey Cruz Jr., Class of ’04, was pursuing his bachelor’s degree in bilingual elementary education/history at Kean University, a professor gave him life-changing advice: In order to know the community you serve, you must walk the streets your students walk.
Cruz applied that principle as an Elizabeth middle school teacher, relating to students differently after witnessing children’s numbness to a street-corner drug bust.
“In my classroom,” he said, “I had a poster of Mahatma Gandhi with the quote: ‘You must be the change you wish to see in the world.’”
The Kean alumnus left education to become a New Jersey State Police trooper, but still embraces that professor’s philosophy.
Cruz, his wife and their two sons moved from Carteret to Elizabeth, where they feel both connected and empowered.
His wife, Diana, teaches in Elizabeth, and as director of community relations for Troopers United Foundation Inc., a nonprofit associated with the state police, Cruz volunteers as head coach of the Union County Troopers. The club baseball team, for middle and high school boys across the region, was originally based in the Elmora section of Elizabeth, where he has coached for the past 10 years.
The team is named in honor of

Kean
Trooper Thomas J. Hanratty 4971, a Kean graduate who died in the line of duty in 1992. The Troopers occasionally practice on the university’s fields.
Cruz’s professionalism and dedication.
“Reinaldo Cruz’s commitment to his community is evident in his active
involvement,” Davis said.
“As a baseball coach, he not only teaches the fundamentals of the game but also imparts valuable life lessons, fostering a sense of teamwork and perseverance among the young athletes.”
Cruz said his goal is to help inner-city children understand that law enforcement exists to serve, not to inspire fear.
“While at Kean, I was a Middlesex County corrections officer working at the Juvenile Detention Center when I realized a lot of kids didn't have positive male role models,” he said. “I wanted to make a bigger impact.”
Working with community outreach partners, Cruz and Troopers United support anti-hunger efforts, including Kean’s Cougar Pantry; teach children about law enforcement; assist those in homeless and women’s shelters; run basketball and baseball initiatives; and spearhead coat drives and other organized events.
“Rey is a good person with a big heart who gives so much back to the community,” said Associate Athletic Director Jason Sgaramella.
“There’s a huge benefit to helping the athletic youth in the communities surrounding Kean University, and it gives them a great introduction to Kean Athletics.”
State Police Lt. Robert Davis praised







State trooper helps guide youths
(Continued from Page 8)
“Rey embodies the finest traits of our amazing state troopers and brings great pride to Kean University as a graduate with unwavering dedication to serving his community,” said Matthew Caruso, Kean’s chief advancement officer.
“Rey’s devotion to helping others extends beyond his work, and it’s what
makes him such an admirable man, father and coach.”
Cruz credits his success to his faith, his family, as well as his Kean degree and the network it helped him build.
“That one piece of paper has opened up the doors for so much,” he said, “and has allowed me to effect a positive change in the lives of so many.”
IN MEMORIAM
• CRYAN – James “Jimmy” T., of Little River, S.C., formerly of Vailsburg, South Orange and Union; Oct. 2. Business owner, husband, brother, uncle, 59.
• EMERY – Constance Ann “Connie,” of Union, formerly of Jersey City, Maplewood; Oct. 4. Widow, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, 91.
• LEVIDOW – Beatrice Ezrol, of Springfield, formerly of Brooklyn, N.Y., Union, and Silver Spring, Md.; 2024. Deputy attorney general, mother, 102.
• MCEVOY – John J., of Union, formerly of Newark; Oct. 15. Husband, father, 82.
• PARKER – McKinley F. Sr., of Vauxhall, formerly of Nottoway County, Va., and Newark; Oct. 13. Korean War Army veteran. Father, grandfather, uncle, 94.
• ROBERTS – Carol V., of Union; Oct. 8. Retired, library assistant, Union Public Library. Member of Irish society of Union. Widow, mother, grandmother, 82.
• SOMMER – Rose M., of Union, formerly of Bloomfield; Oct. 26. Homemaker, cook, baker. Wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, 96.
In Memoriam is a monthly 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.



























Kevin Herget’s No. 16 was recently retired by Kean Athletics to honor the Kean Hall of Fame baseball player and MLB pitcher’s remarkable journey from Kean University to the major leagues.

Kean Athletics recently retired No. 16, the jersey number of Hall of Fame member and MLB pitcher Kevin Herget. He is the first baseball player and the third athlete in Kean history to receive the prestigious honor.
The campus community celebrated the 2015 graduate’s remarkable journey from Kean University to the major leagues at a special ceremony on Friday, Oct. 11. Herget has played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Cincinnati Reds and now Milwaukee Brewers.








Mark Cuban Foundation to bring AI Bootcamp to
Union teenagers
The Mark Cuban Foundation, in partnership with Elizabethtown Gas, is offering the only artificial intelligence camp of its kind, free of charge, to high school students in Union. With a custom and highly relevant curriculum focused on teaching students about the latest developments in the world of AI and Generative AI, the camp will provide the tools to make these technologies work for them while educating, inspiring and fueling the next generation of AI professionals.
These AI bootcamps are introductory and accessible to students in grades 9-12 with an interest in technology. Students do not need any familiarity with computer science or programming to attend. Through the course of three half-days, students will learn what AI is and isn’t, where they already interact with AI in their own lives, the ethical implications of AI systems and much more. Students also learn how to utilize ChatGPT via tailored inputs and use Microsoft's cloud computing tools to build their own AI applications.
This year’s bootcamp, taking place at the Elizabethtown Gas Union office, on Nov. 9 and 16, is hosted and staffed by Elizabethtown Gas. Elizabethtown Gas is a subsidiary of SJI and delivers safe, reliable, affordable natural gas to more than 300,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in parts of Union, Middlesex, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Morris and Mercer counties.
Elizabethtown Gas is one of 25+ companies to host camps across the United States.
Applications for the boot camp are now open at: markcubanai.org.
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The Union Zoning Board of Adjustment meets on Wednesdays, Nov. 13, 20 and 27, at 7:30 p.m., in the Municipal Building, 1976 Morris Ave., Union.
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Township Committee meets
The Union Township Committee will meet on Tuesdays, Nov. 12 and 26, to have a conference at 6:30 p.m., followed by a regular meeting at 7:30 p.m., in the Municipal Building, 1976 Morris Ave., Union.
Walkway of Honor Ceremony to be hosted
The township of Union Education Foundation invites the community to attend the Walkway of Honor Ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 13, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., at Union High School, North Third Street, Union. The ceremony will be adjacent to the main entrance on North Third Street to honor members of our community who have had bricks donated to honor them.
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Local drop-off locations to open for Operation Christmas Child
Volunteers are preparing to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, Nov. 18 to 25. More than 4,700 drop-off locations will open across the country in November, and shoebox packers can find their local drop-off locations nearest them.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering gift-filled shoeboxes to children including many who are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster. Operation Christmas Child hopes to reach another 12 million children in 2024 with the hope of Jesus.
Shoebox packing is fun for individuals, families and groups. Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage. The project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children in need. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination.
“Children need hope, and they need to know that they are not alone and God loves them,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Gift-filled shoeboxes open the door for us to share the hope of the Gospel with boys and girls around the world. Please pray that these simple gifts have an eternal impact.”
Participants can find the nearest drop-off location and hours of operation as they make plans to drop off their shoebox gifts. The online lookup tool is searchable by City or ZIP code. Signs at each location will identify the drop-off.
Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 220 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.







National Black male mental health heads to New Jersey
The National Black male mental health tour, “Just Heal, Bro,” will head to New Jersey for its 35th stop on Friday, Nov. 8, with a pre-event wellness mixer at 6:30 p.m., followed by an interactive panel at 7:30 p.m., at Kean University’s Wilkins Theatre, 1000 Morris Ave., Union.
Living Hope Productions will present the “Just Heal, Bro” tour in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health featuring a curated cast of credible wellness speakers specializing in clinical and experiential mental health expertise. The tour will foster healing through experiential and clinical dialogue led by Black male experts in support of mental health education, healing and brotherhood.
Ignited by the uptick of depression and suicide rates in the Black community, cities across the nation have embraced this movement in support of mental health
education, healing and brotherhood. The national tour and educational programming will foster healing through contextual and culturally responsive solutions.
advocates, community leaders and men across the metro area have been invited.
A pre-event wellness hour will include wellness resources and free testing.
“Mental health is a pervasive issue in all communities yet there are unique determinants that adversely impact Black men. This tour is an opportunity for men to find strength in vulnerability, to develop emotional intelligence and receive tools that will foster healing while building brotherhood,” said Executive Producer Hope Allen.
The tour lineup will include actor/health advocate Lamman Rucker; former NFL Player/mental health advocate Jermaine Brown; clinical therapist Dr. Jay Barnett; Hampton University Psychology chairperson Dr. Oshan Gadsden; and relational intelligence expert Lawrence Adjah. Area therapists, health

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Suicide is the third leading cause of death in Black adolescents ages 15-19 and second leading cause of death in Black youth ages 10-14. African American adults are 20% more likely to experience mental health issues than the rest of the population. Sixteen percent or 4.8 million of
Black and African American people reported having a mental illness, and 22.4 percent of those or 1.1 million people reported a serious mental illness over the past year. Suicides amongst Black men have doubled in the past two years, and 95% of people of color will end therapy prematurely, usually after the first session, because of the cultural divide with the therapist.
In a safe, “male-only” space, men of all walks of life will converge on an emotional and mental healing journey together. The event will foster healing through experiential and clinical dialogue from influential Black men.
The event is sponsored by Hackensack Meridian Health in partnership with Kean University.
Registration is free at justheal.co for all male participants.


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his 2012 Ford Mustang GT, which he calls ‘Dirty Diana.’ Above right, Steve Bullock, of Sicklerville, and his 2007 Chevy Corvette, which he calls ‘Cherry Bomb.’
Union 2024 Car, Truck and Bike Show
(Continued from Page 1)
had the car for six years and said, “It has 60,000 miles, 6-speed.”
Verducci commented on the growth of the Union Car, Truck and Bike Show. “I came to the show the first year it started, to see friends. It’s grown huge. There are 500, 600 cars.”
Greg Daro, of Metuchen, came with his 1970 Dodge Challenger Convertible, which he calls “Purple Haze.” The color is called “plum crazy metallic.”
“It’s not the original paint, but the original color,” he said. Frank Drevite, of Union, was there with his 1973 Triumph TR6. He said, “It’s a six-cylinder. It’s fast. It’s four-speed. Not automatic.” The car has a leather seat and an AM/FM stereo. “The polish aluminum rims are original to the car. There are two carburetors, one behind the other.”
His girlfriend, Christina Gould, added, “It’s a British car, popular in the American market. My boyfriend used to wash cars as a young boy and grew up with a passion for cars.”
The couple belong to the NJ Triumph Association Club. “It’s for people who own or appreciate Triumphs,” said Gould.
Joseph Muniz aka Joey White Walls, of Perth Amboy, was there with his 1952 Chevy Lowrider Bomber, which he calls the “Cherry Bomb.” He revamped the car with a variety of things including putting on 1959 Cadillac tail lights, 1957 Chevy hood ornaments, a shift handler an artist created by using a mold of Muniz’s daughter’s hand and a swamp cooler with a picture of his wife, “so she could always go to shows with me.”
Muniz said the car was put together “on a poor man’s budget,” because he was saving for his daughter’s college education.
Sponsors for the event included Titan Engineers PC, the township of Union, The Center, the township of Union Police, the township of Union Fire Department, Connect One Bank, Northfield Bank, Colliers Engineering and Design, BCB Bank, Titan Engineers, Centurion and Union County Savings Bank.


Above left, Frank Verducci, of Cranford, who grew and graduated from Union, stands with his 1994 Corvette. Above right, Greg Daro, of Metuchen, shows off his 1970 Dodge Challenger, which he calls ‘Purple Haze.’ At right, Christina Gould stands beside her boyfriend’s 1973 Triumph TR-6, a four-speed six-cylinder with a leather seat and an AM/FM stereo.

First-generation students chosen for ‘America Needs You’ career program
Eleven first-generation Kean University students have been selected for fellowships with America Needs You, a national program that helps students from lowincome and first-generation backgrounds build career skills for future success.
The students, most in their sophomore year at Kean, are part of a group of 89 students from New Jersey named to the twoyear fellowships.
"Kean is dedicated to supporting our first-generation students as they build successful futures,” said Barbara HarmonFrancis, vice president for the Division of Student Success and Retention at Kean.
“The America Needs You fellowship gives them invaluable access to mentors and hands-on experiences that will open doors and help them confidently navigate their career journeys. We’re excited to see these students take advantage of this opportunity and eager to see what they’ll accomplish.”
Viviana Zambrano, director of the Office for Student Retention and Educational Innovation at Kean, said she worked with the Office of Student Retention to bring the ANY program to Kean and encourage students to apply. Applications are now open for the 2025 cohort.
“The goal of ANY is to create upward economic mobility for first-generation

A group of first-generation Kean University students have been selected for fellowships with America Needs You, a national program that helps students from low-income and first-generation backgrounds build career skills for future success.
college students, teaching them tools to navigate the career process,” said Zambrano, herself a first-generation graduate.
“We always encourage students to take advantage of Kean’s career services, to have an internship. Taking part in ANY
really makes it clear to students – this is how you go about that.”
ANY offers monthly workshops for the student fellows on topics such as resume development, networking, interview skills and “elevator pitches,” as well as mentor-
ing by volunteer professionals from the workforce. Students receive an annual stipend of $1,000, intended to help with the costs of transportation to events, professional clothing and related items.
Zac Cuffe, an ANY mentor and the ANY New Jersey Associate Board recruitment chairperson, said ANY has proven success. According to the group’s 2023 annual report, he said, 96% of fellows graduate from a four-year institution within six years; 87% land career trajectory internships; and 82% of alumni fellows find jobs with an average starting salary of $66,000 or enroll in graduate school within six months of graduation.
“I am a firm believer in the power of association,” Cuffe said. “As part of the ANY Fellows program, students are given a unique opportunity to have critical access to professionals from a multitude of industries, disciplines and companies. The opportunity to establish and develop those relationships opens doors, and provides visibility and exposure where it might not otherwise exist.”
Many of the Kean students accepted to ANY are also graduates of other university programs that support student success, such as the pre-college Upward Bound program and EOF.







