Defense lawyers for Farad Roland say they need time to gather information about his intellectual ability.

NEWARK -- The death-penalty trial date for Farad Roland, the alleged Newark gang member charged in several murders and other violent crimes, could be delayed as defense lawyers examine whether he is intellectually disabled and perhaps ineligible for the death penalty. 

In a hearing in federal court Monday, U.S. District Judge Esther Salas gave Roland's defense team a month to get an attorney with expertise in such issues to examine what tests, if any, Roland has taken to determine his intellectual levels. If they haven't been done, the court, the defense and government prosecutors will have to agree on a what tests should be done and how much time that should take. 

Roland, alleged to be a co-founder of the South Side Cartel, an arm of the Bloods street gang, faces the death penalty for  violations of the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act, including conspiring in murders, robberies, carjackings and drug deals.

Roland was arrested and charged nearly four years ago -- and found to be  eligible for the death penalty by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder last year.

Adding a new round of testing, filings and arguments could delay the scheduled Dec. 5 trial date, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Frazer said Monday. 

"Delay is prejudicial to the government," he said, noting that more time makes memories dim and keeping witnesses nearby more difficult.

Crips member sentenced for selling heroin

In a letter to the court Friday, federal prosecutors gave notice they were concerned  about the possibility of the defense raising the question of Roland's possible intellectual disabilities, noting that the issue is not the same as arguing whether the death penalty can be imposed by a jury due to mitigating mental health factors. 

The intellectual disability argument may require a lengthy set of hearings and court filings that could set back the trial months, Frazer said. 

But defense lawyer Richard Jasper said a March ruling in the case of Ronell Wilson, who was convicted of killing two New York police detectives and had his death penalty sentence overturned, "changed the landscape." 

Jasper argued that the 30 days Salas offered to gather information about Roland's intellectual ability might not be sufficient, and might lead to more questions than answers. 

But Salas, with an eye on the calendar, said early May would be the next deadline on the issue.

In the meantime, Salas dealt with other motions related to the case. She denied a defense request to limit the pool of jurors to Essex County residents only. 

Roland's team said it wanted only Essex residents because drawing from the wider region of potential jurors makes it less likely the jury will be racially diverse. Roland is African American. 

Salas said the law is clear that the juror pool can be drawn from Newark's judicial district.

Salas also said she will rule on a defense motion to strike the death penalty as unconstitutional. 

Additionally, Salas will have to decide eventually on a recent government motion to order that the jury remain anonymous and that they be provided additional security. 

Defense lawyers said they would oppose the motion in an upcoming court filing.

Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

No one was hurt in shooting last month.

NEWARK -- City police have arrested a man wanted for a shooting on Irvine Turner Boulevard last month, the department said in a statement.

Police heard cries for help around 5 p.m. March 24 near Stratford Place. When officers responded they saw people fleeing from Irvine Turner Boulevard as a shot was fired. Following an investigation, no victim was located.

Det. Richard Pisano eventually identified Lyonel Finklea, 29, as the suspect. An arrest warrant for Fnklea was issued with a $135,000 bail. Finklea was arrested the day after the shooting near Stratford and Clinton Avenue on a charge of aggravated assault.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Anyone with information is being asked to call the department's 24-hour Crime Stoppers' tip line at 877-NWK-TIPS (877 695-8477) or NWK-GUNS (877 695-4867). All anonymous Crime Stopper tips are kept confidential.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Newark police looking for family of 2 dead men

NEWARK -- Police are looking for next-of-kin who died within the space of a week, the department said in a statement Monday.

On March 10, police found Marcos Evangelista Ortiz, 69, in his home at 167 Ferry St. He was unresponsive when found next to his bed and later died at University Hospital.

On March 14, Hector Torres, 62, was found after police were notified he had not been seen in a few days and had been suffering from medical problems. His body was located at his home at 302-304 Osborne Terrace.

No cause of death has been determined in either of the deaths but police do not believe they are suspicious.

Anyone who may have known the deceased or information about next-of-kin is being asked to call the Robbery Section at 973-733-4439.

More cold mornings are in store for New Jersey this week as chilly spring weather pattern lingers. Watch video

Remember that winter-like chill you felt when you went outside on Sunday morning?

Well, it will feel that way again on Tuesday and Wednesday, thanks to frigid air pushing its way down from Canada.

"We're gonna be in a weather pattern that's remarkably colder than normal," said Tim Morrin, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's regional office in Upton, N.Y.

The news isn't all bad: The next two days should be mostly dry, and the winds won't be even close to the strength they were last weekend. But you'll probably need your winter coat.

Bad storm damage caused by microburst

In many places across New Jersey, Tuesday's high temperature will be near the normal low temperature for early April, Morrin said. For instance, in the city of Newark, the mercury isn't expected to climb any higher than 40 during the daytime, and that's how cold it normally gets overnight.

The temperature in Newark, and many parts of northern and central New Jersey, will be dipping into the upper 20s Tuesday morning and down to the low 20s Wednesday morning -- about 15 degrees below normal.

It'll be slightly colder in the state's hilly northwestern region. Temperatures in South Jersey are expected to be below freezing both mornings but not as cold as it will be in North Jersey.

It will still be cold enough for that region to be placed under a freeze warning early Tuesday and a freeze watch early Wednesday.

Warnings and watches

A freeze warning is in effect from 8 p.m. Monday to 10 a.m. Tuesday for Hudson County as well as eastern Bergen, eastern Essex and eastern Union counties. A freeze warning is also in place from 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday for these 11 counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem. 

A freeze watch has been posted for those same 11 counties from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning, as cold air is expected to linger.

Coupled with northern winds of 10 to 20 mph, the frigid temperatures could "kill or severely damage sensitive vegetation," the National Weather Service said in its freeze warning. The northwestern region of New Jersey is not included in the freeze warning because the planting season has not yet started in that area.

"It's going to be noticeably windy, but nothing like the damaging winds we had" on Sunday, Morrin said.

Sarah Johnson, a meteorologist at the weather service's regional office in Mount Holly, said residents in the freeze warning areas should consider moving any plants or vegetables to warmer places, or protect them if they have to remain outside.

Snow in early April

Two mornings in a row, it was cold enough in northern and western sections of the state for light rain to turn into light snow, and there were some minor accumulations reported by the National Weather Service and the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network at Rutgers University. 

On Sunday, weather monitoring stations in these towns had some snow: Highland Lakes (2.7 inches); West Milford (2.4 inches); High Point (1.1 inches); Holland Township (0.3 inches); Jefferson (0.3 inches); Vernon (0.2 inches); Wantage (0.1 inches); and Newark (trace).

On Monday, snow was reported in these towns: Hardyston (0.8 inches); Andover (0.5 inches); Jefferson (0.4 inches); Rockaway Township (0.2 inches); Montague (0.1 inches) and Randolph (0.1 inches).

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

Newark is asking a judge to dismiss the whistleblower lawsuit from Anthony Graves

NEWARK -- While Union County authorities have charged Newark fire Capt. Anthony Graves with impersonating a police officer, Newark officials are calling on a judge to throw out his whistleblower lawsuit against the city and various municipal officials.

In a motion filed in Essex County to dismiss the complaint, the city rejects Graves's allegations of racial discrimination and asserts Graves has failed to allege an act of retaliation to support a whistleblower claim under the state's Conscientious Employee Protection Act, or CEPA.

Graves has claimed the acts of retaliation include when municipal officials placed him on restricted duty and then transferred him twice, according to the lawsuit he filed in Essex County Superior Court in October.

But Newark officials argue those actions do not constitute adverse or retaliatory employment actions under CEPA, in large part because Graves was not demoted and did not experience a reduction in pay, according to a brief filed by the city to support the motion.

Graves, who is African-American, claims he suffered racial discrimination, but the city countered that his latest transfer involved more than 20 captains of various ethnic and racial backgrounds.

"Plaintiff cannot reasonably argue that he was singled out on account of his race," according to the city's brief, referring to Graves.

Graves's attorney, Tisha Adams, did not respond to messages seeking comment.

A hearing on the motion is scheduled for Thursday before Superior Court Judge James S. Rothschild, Jr.

The legal battle comes as the Union County Prosecutor's Office recently charged Graves with pretending to be a police officer and pulling over two motorists on Nov. 3, 2014, one in Hillside and the other in Newark.

In order to avoid any conflict of interest, the state Attorney General's Office transferred the Newark case from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office to the Union County prosecutor, authorities said.

Sources also have said the Union County Prosecutor's Office is investigating Graves and the Newark Fire Department's Environmental Dumping Task Force.

As part of that investigation, detectives with the Union County Prosecutor's Office's Corruption Unit raided the offices of Fire Director James Stewart on July 17, sources previously said. An article about the raid was published the following day in The Star-Ledger.

In Graves's lawsuit, he claims Newark officials retaliated against him by initiating that prosecutorial investigation and leaking details of the investigation to The Star-Ledger.

The lawsuit alleges the retaliation stems in part from how Graves, then a detective with the department's arson unit, reported to superior officers in 2014 that an arson investigator had not attained the necessary qualifications to work as an investigator.

Soon after, Graves was placed on restricted duty and removed from "on call" status, according to the lawsuit.

Pointing to it as an act of retaliation, Graves claims a Newark firefighter later filed an internal complaint against him alleging that Graves had illegally pulled him over while driving in November 2014, the lawsuit states.

In another alleged act of retaliation, Graves said a fire captain submitted a separate complaint in January 2015 alleging that Graves told a civilian that he could have him shot, the lawsuit states.

Graves also was told by colleagues that he was being investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office for allegedly illegally towing a vehicle cited for illegal dumping, the lawsuit states.

In March 2015, Stewart transferred Graves from the Division of Investigations to the Special Service Division, pending the outcome of the prosecutor's office investigation, according to the lawsuit. In May, Graves was transferred to a field position in a firehouse with an effective date of June 8, the lawsuit states.

Graves left the department on sick leave on May 27 after having experienced stress-related chest pains, the lawsuit states.

While out on sick leave, Graves claims he faced harassment by members of the fire department, including through calls about internal affairs investigations and calls seeking medical updates on his condition, the lawsuit states.

Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The First Lady will help students plant their school garden. Watch video

NEWARK -- First Lady Michelle Obama is scheduled to visit a charter school in Newark this week as part of a tour highlighting the importance of gardens. 

Obama is scheduled to stop at Philip's Academy Charter School on Thursday afternoon to help students plant their school garden, according to the White House. 

The White House called about three weeks ago to see if the First Lady could visit, said Miguel Brito, the school's executive director. The K-8 school plans to tell its 370 students on Tuesday that the First Lady is coming, Brito said. 

"I don't know how they are going to contain themselves, to tell you the truth," Brito said.  

Founded in 1989 as a private school, Philip's Academy converted to a charter school in 2013, Brito said. It has a program called EcoSPACES Education that teaches students how food is grown and the importance of healthy eating, he said

The school uses a rooftop garden, teaching kitchen, indoor growing lab and dining room to teach food literacy, and students eat meals served family style at a community table, he said. 

"We don't have any preservatives in any of the food we make. There is no high fructose corn syrup. We don't fry anything," Brito said. "It's a move toward serving a very healthy kind of meal." 

Obama in 2009 planted a vegetable garden on the South Lawn of White House to initiate a national conversation around the health and well being of the country. She will plant the annual White House Kitchen Garden on Tuesday along with students from across the county that have inspiring school garden programs.

Her tour promoting diverse gardens will continue on Thursday with a stop in Georgia before her visit to New Jersey. 

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The Garden State is full of quirky, illogical geographical entities

South Hackensack, which is located in three different parts of Begen County, is less than three-quarters of a square mile in area.Wikipedia Commons 

Think you know a lot about New Jersey's 565 municipalities and 21 counties?

In a state that's home to five Washington townships, two named Monroe and two which call themselves Fairfield, Jersey geography can be a tricky thing.

Of course, you can't always go by a name to pinpoint where a landmark is located. After all, Voorhees Township is in Camden County. Yet Voorhees High School is more than 75 miles away in Lebanon Township, Hunterdon County.

And do we really need tiny burgs like South Hackensack, East Newark, and West Cape May where a driver can blink and have passed through? Still, those obscure locales are actual municipalities, unlike West Trenton (that's a section of Ewing).

None of these quirky Garden State tidbits should be particularly surprising since we can't even agree on what constitutes north, central and South Jersey. All corners of the state are covered in our 10-question quiz, though:

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

Two farm-to-table restaurants, a new waterfront restaurant in North Jersey, and the choice for best talian restaurant in N.J. top our list for April

NJ.com has launched a new regular feature, "Where to eat now in N.J.," highlighting the most exciting restaurants of the moment, including places both new to the scene and ones that have been here a while but are still firing on all burners. If you'd like to recommend a restaurant to be considered for a spot on a future "Where to eat now in N.J." list, let us know in the comments section below.

SKRATCH

Skratch is a farm-to-table restaurant that puts the focus on quality ingredients and the quality of their finished plates. There's no frills to the restaurant as a whole -- the decor is simple, the wait staff bedecked in flannel and denim. The focus here is simply on the food. If you're looking to kick things off proper, you cannot go wrong with one of their personal pizzas. The plain pie ($13) is a sumptuous symphony of quality mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, and fresh basil. On the entree side, you can't go wrong with the SK Burger ($14), the Silver Ferns Farms pasture-raised skirt steak ($28), or the Berkshire pork-based taco de pibil ($18). The ahi tuna entree ($25) made of togarashi, baby bok choy, lo mein, scallions, pea shoots, pickled wasabi stems, dashi, and sesame is fantastic. The fish and chips ($15) are no joke either, especially if you pair them with the heavenly Mexican street corn side dish ($7). If you've got kids, don't shy away from Skratch just because farm-to-table sounds fancy. It's extremely kid-friendly, and you'll probably find yourself picking at your child's dinner because it's so delicious (the mac and cheese is absurdly good). 649 Mattison Avenue, Asbury Park, 732-455-5116.

The ahi tuna entree from Skratch in Asbury Park is a delightful and delicious option at the new farm-to-table restaurant.Bill Bodkin | For NJ Advance Media

ABRIL COCINA

Abril Cocina, located in downtown Maplewood, bills itself as a modern Mexican fusion restaurant. Its menu takes inspiration from around the world and is interpreted through the lens of Mexican cuisine. Simply put, there's a Mexican twist to the flavor profile of each dish, from the Chilean sea bass Veracruzana ($26) to the the organic half chicken with green mole sauce ($22) to the Baja-style tuna tartare ($15). If you're a fan of tacos, Abril Cocina has got you covered. You can order up the simple taco such as a grilled chicken ($4) or brisket ($4.75), or the exotic taco -- the "Gobernador" ($5) features corn husk-smoked wild shrimp, asadero cheese and charred corn. Abril Cocina also serves lunch during the week, and brunch on weekends. 175 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood, 973-327-2023

THE LOBBY

The Lobby in Elizabeth is a destination for partygoers and sports fans to kick back and have a good time -- but don't sleep on its menu. The Lobby is proud to be known for "its rich and authentic Latin-American cuisine," seen on menu items such as the camarones al ajillo (sauteed shrimp in garlic and white wine sauce, $9.95) or picada (combo plate of chicken, Colombian chorizo, steak, pork, arepa, yucca fries, tostadas and potatoes, $25.95), both appetizers, or churrasco ($24.95) or taco ($8.95-$10.95) dinners. If you don't feeling like having some Latin flair on your plate, there are options such as the New York Strip steak ($19.95), chicken Murphy ($14.95), or the popular "Don" hamburger ($11.95), which features sauteed crimini mushrooms, caramelized onions, refried black beans, pickled jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, and bacon. Outdoor dining at The Lobby begins on April 1. 821 Spring Street, Elizabeth, 908-469-8088.

The fish tacos are just some of the tantalizing menu items at The Lobby, a restaurant, sports bar, and nightspot located in Elizabeth.Courtesy of The Lobby

BRICK FARM TAVERN

A farm-to-table experience that actually takes place in a farm house -- you can't get more authentic than that. The tavern is located in a renovated original 1800s farmhouse located on the land of the restaurant's farm partner Double Brook Farms (which provide a majority of the food for the tavern's menu). The vision of executive chef Greg Vassos (who once served as sous chef under celebrity chef Eric Ripert) is to source his ingredients as locally, sustainably and ethically as possible. Diners can sink their teeth into seasonal dishes such as the Double Brook lamb chops with butternut squash flan and smoked beet puree ($35), the Berkshire pork sirloin with fennel, turnips, charred leek spelt and a cranberry trio ($34), or a pom pom mushroom steak parsnip puree with romanesco "cous cous," and beet Bordelaise ($24). 130 Hopewell Rocky Hill Road, Hopewell, 609-333-9200.

CAFE 2825

Cafe 2825, which has been operating in Atlantic City for more than 30 years, was just named New Jersey's best Italian restaurant by NJ.com in our "Best of New Jersey" series. It took top honors because, according to our own Pete Genovese, "[it] outdistanced all competitors with its winning combination of old-school charm and high-end dining." The charm of the restaurant can definitely be found in the restaurant's signature table side Caesar salad ($12) and fresh mozzarella ($14). A highly recommend entree is "The Pork" ($32), described by Genovese as "a daunting, delicious pork chop stuffed with mozzarella and broccoli rabe," and don't forget the Sunday gravy, with braciole, meatball and sausage. 2825 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, 609-344-6913.

The pork ragu over polenta at Cafe 2825, which was named the best Italian restaurant in the state by NJ.com.Alex Remnick | NJ Advance Media

EXIT ZERO COOKHOUSE

An Indian restaurant in Cape May owned by a Scotsman. What sounds like the beginning of a quirky indie film is actually the true story of the Exit Zero Cookhouse. Owner Jack Wright brought the curry-centric restaurant (which also serves Thai, Caribbean and American cuisine) to this summer destination, which is 40 miles from the nearest Indian restaurant. For Wright, curry dishes back in his native Scotland are like pizza is to American diners -- it's comfort food at its finest. Curries on the menu include chicken curry pot pie ($18), butter chicken ($18), Thai chicken ($18), coconut shrimp ($18), and Thai lobster ($24). The rest of the menu ranges from light and playful (watermelon and feta salad, $8) to robust (lobster and crab pot pie, $24). 109 Sunset Boulevard, Cape May, 609-305-5203.

ORAMA

Orama immediately impresses with its absolutely gorgeous architecture. Builder Allen Myhren, architect Mark Virgona and artist Alex Morales pooled their creative resources to open their "forward-thinking vision" in Edgewater -- a two-story restaurant in the style of Mediterranean villa. The views of the Manhattan skyline are breathtaking, and the actual restaurant itself is just as captivating. The menu at Orama takes influences from American, Asian and Mediterranean cultures, with seafood being one of the major players here. It serves up a bountiful raw bar with a chipotle shrimp and crab cocktail ($28), and a "seafood surf" option ($52, $96) that sports oysters, shrimp, and king crab legs. The eclectic menu provides such delectable options as foie gras mousse with black truffles ($25), crab Rangoon ($15, $26), goat cheese-stuffed dates ($14), yakitori ($28), a 100 percent Angus ribeye ($54), and a pan-seared Maine lobsters ($56). Behind the bar they are serving craft beers, specialty cocktails, and an immersive wine list curated by sommelier Christian Galliani. 595 River Road, Edgewater, 201-945-2020.

FRITZ'S

New Brunswick's Easton Avenue is mainly known for two things -- college bars and pizzerias. But there are a few culinary gems hidden amongst the pilsners and pepperoni. Fritz's is one of them. Located in a renovated house from the 1880s (which you'll swear you've hung out at before), Fritz's serves excellent food. The restaurant describes itself as "fast casual" and the casual aspect we get. You go up to the counter, which is teeming with delicious desserts (smart move), and you order like you would at any deli or sandwich shop. But the "fast" aspect of Fritz's only applies to the speed with which you get your food. There is no sacrifice in quality in the food served to you here. For instance, the hot roast beef sandwich ($9.50) tastes like a sandwich you could easily get for double the price at a trendy Manhattan restaurant. The beef is seasoned magnificently, the baguette is crisped to perfection, and the cheese they use is heaven. The Reuben is no joke either. Using Pat LaFrieda corned beef and a muenster and Swiss cheese tag team, this sandwich rivals the great Reubens this state has produced (and it has produced many). Fritz's is a prime lunch location, and is definitely a great spot to eat on Easton Avenue. 115 Easton Avenue, New Brunswick, 732-543-0202.

The hot roast beef sandwich with "Buffalo fries" is an excellent lunchtime choice from Fritz's on Easton Avenue in New Brunswick.Bill Bodkin

THE PARK TAP & GRILL

Many a bar and restaurant has inhabited the building on the corner of Route 35 and Holmdel Avenue in Hazlet. Yet despite the name and theme changes, one thing has always remained the same -- top quality food. The Park Tap & Grill is the latest incarnation of this building, and the kitchen here knocks it out of the park (pun intended) with every dish. You can kick off your meal with any number of appetizers, but the hot pretzels are the way to go. Accompanied with a beer mustard and a cheese dip, you will thank the gods of all things carbs when you sink your teeth into these babies. The calamari and Buffalo wings are no joke either. For your entree, you definitely should be making the Sunday gravy a priority. This heaping helping of marvelously cooked pasta doused in rich sauce chock full of rich sausage and pork shoulder is to die for. Yes, we'll make the cliche "just like your grandma made it" reference because it is that good, and tastes just like home. The sushi bar at The Park is also highly recommended -- the rolls containing eel and the classic California are must-haves. 3352 Route 35 South, Hazlet, 732-739-2002.

Sunday gravy, a medley of rich meats and perfectly cooked pasta, served up daily at The Park Tap and Grill in Hazlet.Bill Bodkin

PJ CAVANAUGH'S

There was a distinct lack of Irish pubs in the town of Somerset. Luckily this problem has been addressed. Sure, PJ Cavanaugh's is located in the Holiday Inn across from the Garden State Convention Center, but this hotel bar and grill comes from a long line of pubs from the Philadelphia and Delaware region dating back to the 1930s, and they know what they're doing. At the time we dropped in, the menu was still limited, but the menu has currently expanded to include more entrees and appetizers. Items now include blackened tilapia ($14.99), a N.Y. strip steak ($24.99), a big fish sandwich ($8.99), and a foot-long hot dog ($7.99) While we were there, we ordered up a plate of wings ($9.99), and they were everything you want in a wing -- meaty, properly sauced, and just the perfect amount of crunch-to-spicy kick ratio. No wonder they've won "Best in Philly." The burgers ($8.99) here are legit awesome. The meat is bursting with natural juices, and they grill their brioche rolls, so you're getting an added crunch to your juicy, sloppy burger. 195 Davidson Avenue (The Holiday Inn), Somerset, 732-356-1700.

Bill Bodkin can be reached at bodkinwrites@gmail.com. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.

The city will elect three new members to its School Advisory Board on April 19

NEWARK - Voters will head to the polls in less than two weeks to choose three new members of the city's School Advisory Board.

The election occurs annually, though 2016's version boasts issues and dynamics unique among Newark's highly charged and ever-changing educational and political landscape.

Here is the all information needed to make a decision and cast a ballot.

The date: Tuesday, April 19. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Polling locations can be found here.

The background: Out of New Jersey's more than 500 school districts, Newark is one of just 20 to continue to hold elections in the spring. Turnout for the annual vote has traditionally been light over recent years, often around 10,000 voters, or about 7 percent of the 152,000 registered in Newark.

Incumbents Ariagna Perello, Rashon Hasan and Khalil Sabu Rashidi are not seeking re-election, meaning voters will elect three new members to three-year terms.

The stakes: The board has held its "advisory" status since 1995, and holds little actual power in how the city's state-controlled district is run. For the first time in more than two decades, however, it appears the state is ready to relinquish its grip on the schools.

Officials have predicted local control could be returned as soon as 2017 - giving this year's candidates hope they may hold both the district's purse and policy strings at some point during their terms.

At forum, Newark school board candidates take aim at state control

The issues:  In addition to the long-awaited return of local control, city officials and education advocates are also grappling with a number of other pressing concerns.

Among the most visible is the recently revelation that nearly half of the city's schools have water supplies contaminated with dangerous levels of lead - the result of aging pipes and other equipment. Testing has determined the problems date back to at least 2012. Children and teachers in the schools are drinking bottled water while leaders search for a path toward fixing the problem.

The perpetually cash-strapped district is also facing yet another budget deficit of approximately $50 million, a figure that may loom large once city residents regain oversight over school spending. The long-simmering debate over the expansion of charter schools and their effect on their traditional counterparts is also alive and well, though Mayor Ras Baraka and other officials have attempted to calm rhetoric on either side of the debate by forming a so-called "Unity" slate of candidates.

The field: This year's election boasts a slate of 12 candidates, including longtime teachers, political players, a well-known anti-violence activists and the longtime head of the city's teachers union. Below is a short summary of each hopeful's background.

Jody Pittman - A 17-year employee of the Newark Public Schools and a mother of two, Pittman helped rally the community to preserve the tenure of former Superintendent Marion A. Bolden in 2003. She has billed her campaign as a defense of "equal and quality education" for all students across the city.

Octavio "Tave" Padilla - A lifelong Newark resident, Padilla works as assistant recreation director for a large youth leadership and recreation program. He is a former city business owner who worked as chief of staff to former Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo, and as a legislative aide to Assemblywoman Nellie Pou of Paterson. He is a member of the "Newark Unity" slate.

Thomas Ellis - The founder and president of the "Enough is Enough Coalition", Ellis is a minister and longtime anti-violence activist. He is also an Air Force veteran and hosts local radio and television programs. He is hoping to raise graduation rates improve access to quality education across the city.

D. Kim Gaddy - A former chief of staff to Councilwoman Mildred Crump and aide to former Councilman Donald Bradley, Gaddy works as an environmental justice organizer with Clean Water Action of New Jersey, a leading advocacy group for environmental issues around the state. She also founded and served as executive director for the South Ward Cultural Center, and led parent-teacher groups at Weequahic High Schools and Harriet Tubman Elementary School. She is a member of the "Newark Unity" slate.

Leah Owens - Owens came to Newark in 2004 to teach English as part of the Teach for America program, and remained beyond her two-year commitment to take a position developing curriculum, after school programs and other educational initiatives. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Essex County College and Rutgers-Newark, and currently works as a community organizer for New Jersey Communities United. She is a member of the "Newark Unity" slate.

Sheila Montague - A professor at Essex County College, former Newark Public Schools teacher and a mother of three, Montague fell just short of a school board seat during a 2015 run. Along with Jason Dotson, she is a member of the so-called "Transparency" slate.

Jason Dotson - A program co-director at the Hispanic Multi-Purpose Youth Center, Dotson counsels LGBTQ youth between the ages of 14 to 24. The father of a teenage son, he has also worked as a crisis specialist for children whose behavioral disorders prevent them from learning at home or at school. He is a member of the "Transparency" slate.

Carole A. Graves - A former special needs teachers at Dayton Street School, Graves is also served as president of the Newark Teachers Union from 1968 until 1995. She has worked as a commissioner on the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission and has been an adjunct professor of Labor Relations at Essex County College and Rutgers Institute of Labor and Management Relations.

Jimmie White - A 27-year-old activist and graduate of Malcolm X Shabazz High School, White is a member of the People's Organization for Progress and serves as director of education for local youth club FP YouthOutCry. He is also the owner of I.M.P.A.C.T (Initial Major Progressive Articles Creating Tranquility) LLC, which works to "showcase, spread and create positive and progressive news" about Newark.

Juan Silva - A native of Ecuador, Silva emigrated to Newark as a child and lives in the city's East Ward. He works for Solar Technology and Urban Farming and served as campaign manager for an East Ward City Council candidate in 2014.

George Tillman Jr. - Tillman is the owner of a local construction business, a former commissioner on the city's Affirmative Action Review Board and the father of 11 children in the Newark Public Schools. He is hoping to represent parents on the board.

Tamara Moore - Moore is a mother of children in the Newark Public Schools who is seeking a seat on the School Advisory Board.

Read more about the candidate's backgrounds and their positions on local education issues at the Newark Trust for Education's website. The Trust is also hosting an candidate forum Tuesday night from 6 to 8 p.m. at Essex County College's Smith Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Both men are believed to be members of the Bloods gang, officials said.

Angel Kearney (file photo)

IRIVINGTON -- Two alleged male gang members and a female suspect were arraigned Tuesday on multiple weapons and drug charges following their arrests on gun and drug-related charges, authorities said.

The surveillance operation--led by detectives fro the Essex County Sheriff's Office, Irvington Police Department and Bloomfield Police Department-- began on Friday when the task force staged a plainclothes surveillance operation near the intersection of Grace Street and Clinton Avenue in Irvington, said Sheriff Armando Fontoura.

At noon on Friday, officers observed suspect Angel "Jimmy" Kearney, age 26, of East Orange, and a reputed member of the 793 Bloods gang set, loiter on the porch of 19 Grace Street, Fontoura said.

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/04/second_suspect_arrested_in_alleged_plot_to_kill_ne.html

"Within a short period of time, Kearney engaged in brief conversations with two male passersby which culminated with the exchange of cash from the passersby for items that were in Kearney's pocket," he said.

The two male passersby were followed from the scene, detained and searched, Fontorua said.

Steven Easterling, 58 of Newark, and Rufus Martin, 57 of Irvington, were both found to be in possession of small amounts of heroin-filled envelops, stamped "REDBULL" in red ink, Fontoura said.

After executing a search warrant at Kearney's Grace Street apartment, police discovered a fully-loaded semi-automatic handgun with an illegal expanded capacity magazine, 63 additional heroin-filled envelopes and 46 vials of 'crack' cocaine Fontoura said. 

Dequan 'Nutty' Wiggins, a 28-year-old alleged Bloods gang member from Newark, and apartment's resident, Martha Inman, 51, were also arrested and detained, Fontoura said.

Kearney, Wiggins and Inman now face two counts each of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of CDS with intent to distribute.

Kearney and Wiggins were also charged with the possession of a weapon while committing a CDS crime, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and multiple other gun and drug related offenses.

Bail for Kearney and Wiggins was set at $200,000. Inman's bail was set as $100,000.

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Their spirits undampened by rain, civil rights activists gather at a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the anniversary of his death, noting that the struggle for civil rights continues Watch video

NEWARK -- The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited New Jersey just eight days before his death in 1968, making several appearances in Newark, a city where the kind of poverty, brutality and lack of opportunity that King struggled nonviolently against had ignited into deadly rioting the year before.

It's a struggle that continues to this day in New Jersey, said civil rights activists who gathered in Newark on Monday to mark the 48th anniversary of King's assassination, which occurred in Memphis on April 4, 1968. 
 
"I remember the look on my mom's face going stone cold," said Zayid Muhammad, a veteran Newark activist and member of the People's Organization for Progress, recalled of the day king was fatally shot.

Zayid and two dozen others stood for more than an hour in the freezing rain monday afternoon at the King memorial outside the Essex County Hall of Records, at 13th Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. A life-size statue of King with his arms outstretched stands on a pedestal chiseled with words, "I have a dream..." from his speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C, on Aug. 28, 1963. The pedestal's other three sides include the words, "Peace, Courage," "Love, Respect," and "Hope, Equality."

"We stand here today not just for Martin Luther King Jr., but for all the martyrs, all those hwo gave their lives in the struggle for what we call civil rights," said People's Organization for Progress Chairman Larry Hamm. Noting that King and others had not given their lives in vein, he added, "As bad as things are, they are better than they were."

As raindrops ran down the statue's bronze cheeks, Hamm recounted how King, in Memphis to support a sanitation workers' strike, was standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel at about 6 p.m., when a single bullet tore through his jaw and his neck. The Baptist minister, Nobel Peace Prize winner, husband and father of four, was pronounced dead an hour later.

James Earl Ray, a 40-year-old petty criminal from Illinois who had worked on the 1968 presidential campaign of segregationist George Wallace, pleaded guilty to King's murder in March 1969, following his arrest in London. Ray was sentenced to 99 years in prison, where he died in 1998, but only after recanting his confession and seeking unsuccessfully to be tried by a jury.

A few blocks from the King statue, a section of the lower level of City Hall on Broad Street is dedicated to King's visit to Newark on March 27, 1968, when he appeared at the Mount Calvary Baptist Church and spoke at South Side High School. Hamm noted that King also appeared at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, where the People's Organization for Progress holds its meetings, and that the civil rights icon visited the home of a young poet and activist named Everett LeRoi Jones, who later changed his name to Amiri Baraka. His son, Ras Baraka, is now the mayor of Newark.

The visit came nine months after the Newark riots of July 1967, which left 26 people dead.

Aminifu Williams, a 75-year-old Irvington resident originally from Richmond, Va., said he met King on several occasions as a young civil rights activist in the South. Williams said he was struck by King's unassuming manner, especially compared with his reputation as a forceful orator. 

"He was very down-to-earth, very quiet on a personal level," recalled Williams, whose own personal style included rings on every finger, Jamaican bracelets, and a zebra-striped cowboy hat. "He did more listening than he did talking."
 
Hamm told the rain soaked gathering that some federal investigative files on the assassination remain sealed, and he called on Congress to unseal them.

He also reiterated his group's call for federal civil rights investigations into some much more recent cases in New Jersey involving the death or injury of black men in encounters with police: Abdul Kamal, 30, of Irvington, fatally shot by local officers following a domestic violence call on Nov. 11, 2013; Kashad Ashford, 23, of Newark, shot and killed in Lyndhurst on Sept. 16, 2014, by four officers from the Lyndhurst, Rutherford and State Police departments after they said he tried to run them down in a stolen SUV; and Radazz Hearns of Trenton, who was 14 when he was shot and wounded on Aug. 7, 2015, after police said he pointed a gun at them. Hearns, who had turned 15, pleaded guilty to a weapons possession charge in January, law enforcement sources said.
 
Hamm said the U.S. Attorney in Newark, Paul Fishman, had agreed to investigate one case in response to calls from the dead man's family and activists, the death of Jeraome C. Reid, a 36-year-old Millville man fatally shot by Bridgeton police following a traffic stop on Dec. 30, 2014.

Matthew Reilly, a spokesman for Fishman's office declined to confirm or deny any such investigation.

Reid's parents were at the rally.

"My son is lying in the ground, and I don't have justice," Sheila Reid told supporters. "It's time to wake up."

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

University police received a call about a fight and stabbing at the Floyd Hall Arena late Monday night.

LITTLE FALLS -- A Cedar Grove man is facing charges after he allegedly stabbed a man while inside the Floyd Hall Arena at Montclair State University. 

Montclair State University police received a 911 call shortly before 11:30 p.m. Monday from the Clifton Police Department about an altercation inside the arena, a spokesperson for the school said in a news release.

At the scene, police found that two men had gotten into a fight with each other and that one of the men had suffered an ear injury during the altercation.

Investigators determined that during the fight one of the men -- later identified as Nick Kael, 48, of Cedar Grove -- had threatened to stab the other with a knife. Officers at the scene recovered a knife after the fight but are still trying to determine if it had actually caused the ear injury.

The 36-year-old man who was allegedly stabbed by Kael received medical care for his ear injury. His name was not released.

Both men were non-student visitors to the arena, said the spokesperson.

Kael was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon with unlawful purpose. His case will be heard in Little Falls Municipal Court initially, according to the spokesperson. 

The arena, leased and operated by a private entity, holds adult hockey and private hockey events on weekday evenings, according to its website.

Fausto Giovanny Pinto may be reached at fpinto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @FGPreporting. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Find out what the governor said about lawmakers' proposals to address lead in school drinking water.

TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie doesn't want to make a knee-jerk reaction to elevated lead levels found in water at the state's largest school district and isn't yet ready support to mandatory water testing in schools, he said Tuesday. 

The primary lead concern in New jersey is the outdated lead-based paint in its old houses, not its water sources, Christie said during a news conference. 

Schools are already testing their water, he said, and for the the most part that's been fairly successful.

One of the governor's concerns about mandating testing in schools is that the state would be responsible for funding and overseeing a program that would span 4,000 school buildings, he said. Currently, schools are left to conduct testing when they want to and without state supervision. 

"Do we really want the state to be responsible for testing every faucet in every school in the entire state is, I think, a question really worthy of debate and discussion and not jumping to conclusions," Christie said. 

Michelle Obama to vist N.J. school

Lead has been a national topic of discussion since water in Flint, Mich. tested higher than the threshold the federal government considers dangerous. In New Jersey, the issue became a focus of state lawmakers after elevated lead levels were recently found in 30 schools in Newark Public Schools, the state's largest school district.

Additional testing also revealed lead contamination in eight other facilities in the city, including charter schools, West Side Park and Newark School Stadium.

New Jersey schools are not required by state law to test their water, and lawmakers, including State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester,) have introduced legislation calling for mandatory testing and parental notification if lead levels are higher than recommended. 

Exposure to lead is especially hazardous for children and has been linked to developmental problems and other negative health effects, but Christie and local officials have urged caution because the lead levels in Newark were "nowhere near crisis or dangerous levels," Christie said previously. 

On Tuesday, Christie reiterated that "there is no danger in Newark at the moment" and said other districts have been successful testing for lead and remediating their problem with water filters.

Until there's more evidence that the state needs to mandate testing or help replace school pipes, Christie wants to avoid a "shoot now, aim later" approach to addressing the issue, he said.

"I would rather rely upon the experts to decide that and not the politicians," Christie said. 

Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, said Christie is downplaying the impact lead could be having in schools. 

"Schools are the Governor's responsibility and he is not doing anything to address the problem of lead-filled drinking water," Tittel said. "He is failing to fulfill his oath by continuing to deny and address the very real problem of lead in New Jersey."

Some school districts have already announced plans to test their water and release results to parents.

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Union organizes tenants to protest plans by the Irving Housing Authority to outsource maintenance. The agency director says employees don't have the skills for needed repairs. Watch video

IRVINGTON -- You don't even have to walk into Danise Garner's apartment to know something's wrong.

The smell of mold and rotten plaster wafts into the hallway as soon the 53-year-old tenant opens the door of her third flood studio at Camptown Gardens, a high rise complex maintained -- poorly, residents say -- by the Irvington Housing Authority, an agency funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD.

Down the wall of the sleeping alcove where the head of her bed rests, a meandering column of ruined, bulging plaster snakes in relief from the ceiling to the floor, the result of a water leak from above, Garner said. The plaster, which crumbles away at the slightest touch, is the same way in the bathroom, the closet, and the living room, where the wiring of an electrical outlet is exposed because the plaster around it has turned to dust.
 

"I can't have company because my apartment is so bad," said Garner, a former East Orange school lunch aide who is on disability because of her asthma.    

Other problems at Camptown Gardens include elevators that don't work, piles of debris inside and out, missing smoke detectors, and handicapped access doors that are inaccessible without two free hands to push and hold down buttons.

That Camptown needs improvement is beyond debate. Just how things got that way is another matter.

Garner was among 30 or so tenants carrying signs reading, "We need more services," and "Financial mismanagement hurts us all," in a noon demonstration Monday organized by Local 617 of the Service Employees International Union. It was in response to a plan by the housing authority's executive director, David Brown, to layoff maintenance staffers and contract with a private firm or enter into a service agreement with the Town of Irvington to do maintenance work.

The union says excessive salaries for some employees and mismanagement by Brown have deprived the housing of adequate maintenance staff to keep up with the work.

"We're the lowest paid workers here," said Caleb Bryant, 46, of Irvington, a  maintenance worker who stands to lose his job under the plan. "Mr. Brown, he makes $212,000 a year for a housing authority with 600 units, that salary's comparable to Newark, which has thousands of units."
  
Brown, on the other hand, says the workers are the problem. Among the staff of 15 full-time workers in the maintenance department, he said few are skilled enough for the plumbing and electrical work often required, and that they have failed to upgrade their skills despite years on the payroll, some nearly as long as the 15 years he has run the agency. As a result, Brown said, the authority is forced to hire private contractors for skilled work, while continuing to pay unskilled employees. 

"I would hope that they work better than they did when the started," Brown said. Unfortunately, he added, many haven't, and now, "the plan is to outsource."
 
Brown put the agency's annual budget at close to $10 million, which pays the salaries of close to 30 employees, who maintain 670 housing authority-owned apartments at Camptown, and administer more than 400 housing subsidies, or vouchers, for poor and disabled residents of private housing elsewhere in Irvington.

Mayor Tony Vauss, who worked as a security supervisor at the housing authority under Brown before being elected in 2014, said he is open to a service agreement between the agency and the town, if that is what Brown wants. Vauss said town employees in the public works, housing and economic development, and construction departments could do the kind of work needed, under some kind of payment arrangement with the housing authority to insure local taxpayers do not foot the bill.

Vauss said one example of a past success was an agreement under which Irvington Police officers are stationed on housing authority property, rather than simply responding to calls there, a move that he said has reduced violent crime dramatically at Camptown.

But Vauss declined to take sides in the debate over whether the workers or management were to blame for the poor maintenance, or to characterize the competence of his old boss, Brown.

"The city's stance is that we are not involved," in the dispute, Vauss said. "But we will not let the residents suffer."     

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The money will be used to investigate and clean up as many as 500 homes in New Jersey.

TRENTON -- In an about-face, Gov. Chris Christie announced Tuesday the state will commit $10 million to this year detect and remove lead paint from as many as 500 old homes and apartments that threaten to poison thousands of children in New Jersey.

The Republican governor's decision comes after longstanding pleas from public health officials and affordable housing advocates that he stop diverting some $7 million to $10 million a year from a lead abatement fund supported by a 50-cent tax on paint. 

Christie has vetoed legislation three times that would have allocated $10 million for lead abatement activities, and has criticized legislators for not included the funds in the budgets that have approved. A month ago, he called the concern about lead poisoning in old housing "an overdramatized issue" because testing and abatement work has contained the problem.

But on Tuesday, Christie said he had changed his mind.

"It's been proven to me by my staff that (spending more is) necessary," Christie told reporters at a Statehouse press conference.

Christie said he wanted to address the complaints that the state isn't spending the $10 million it is supposed to spend on lead remediation. Once he determined that was happening, his next question was, "Do we need to do more to get a handle on this issue?" he said. 

Lawmakers want money to 'get the lead out'

His staff said another $10 million would be helpful, Christie said.

Christie said he found the money in the current budget and earmarked it for the assessment and remediation of one- and two-family homes and apartments at $20,000 a piece. The Department of Community Affairs will coordinate the effort.

Christie stressed the state has made great progress in combatting the problem. Last year, 205,600 children were tested for lead exposure, compared to 10,200 in 1998.  

"New Jersey has been a national leader on the issue of lead paint in housing and the resulting decline in cases proves that point, so we are working hard and making sure that lead poisoning -- while it is a concern -- does never become an epidemic in New Jersey," the governor said.

Staci Berger, advocacy director of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, called the governor's actions "a huge victory." 

"There are more than 109 organizations that have asked him to do this," Berger added. "I am glad he has listened to those organizations and the parents that have come forward."

Emphasizing the testing of homes will mean the difference between preventing lead poisoning and treating it, she said.

New Jersey has one of the oldest housing stocks in the country, with most homes built before 1978, the year lead paint was outlawed. There is no safe level of lead exposure in children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lead poisoned children may experience learning delays, vision and hearing impairments, and extreme cases, death. 

Lead testing is required by state law for children at ages 1 and 2 and by age 6 if the earlier milestone have been missed. Health advocates say compliance has been weak, with most children only getting tested once.

David Henry, health officer for the N.J Association of County and City Health Officials called the governor's announcement "great progress."

Henry also asked whether Christie would support pending legislation that would  require New Jersey to follow the stricter guidelines the CDC recommended in 2012, when it cut in half the amount of lead exposure that warrants intervention. 

The CDC recommends follow-up if a child's blood test reveals at 5 micrograms per deciliter of lead in the blood. New Jersey relies on an old recommendation that calls for monitoring at 10 micrograms.

The difference is between reaching nearly 900 children whose lead levels exceeded 10 micrograms last year, and 3,500 children whose readings were between 5 and 9 micrograms, Henry said.

Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club and a frequent critic of the governor, called Christie's announcement "misleading." 

"The $10 million that he said he's giving for lead abatement for paint in homes should have been in the budget in the first place," Tittel said. 

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Captain Jose Robles of the Newark Fire Department has been indicted on charges he sold thousands in pirated DVDs out of his Newark comic book shop.

NEWARK -- Comic books and graphic novels aren't all Newark Fire Department captain Jose Robles sold out of his Newark comic book store, according to county officials.

Robles, 50, now stands charged with second degree trademark counterfeiting, second degree misconduct by a corporate official and third degree pirating offenses after investigators found him in possession of over 11,000 counterfeit and pirated DVDs, said Essex County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Katherine Carter.

Robles was indicted for making and selling the DVDs at A Fortress of Solitude on University Avenue, Carter said. According to investigators, the seized DVDs are worth more than $100,000.

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/arts/index.ssf/2008/10/the_fortress_of_solitude.html

Detectives also seized several pieces of computer and digital equipment believed to have been used to make counterfeit DVDs from the comic store, Carter said.

Robles' indictment comes on the heels of the announcement of impersonating a law enforcement officer charges against Newark fire captain Anthony Graves.

According to investigators with the Union County Prosecutor's Office, Graves, a 16-year member of the department, used the emergency lights on his fire department vehicle to initiate the stops and then verbally questioned each of the drivers.

Reached Tuesday, Acting Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said he will review the details of the investigations in preparation for making a decision on the employment status of both Graves and Robles.

Robles' next court appearance for Robles is scheduled for April 15.

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A burglary suspect and a man accused of child endangerment were both arrested in Newark.

NEWARK -- A suspect wanted for burglary and a second man accused of child endangerment were arrested Monday, Acting Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a statement.

Edwardo Ocasio, 51, was wanted for a March 10 burglary at an apartment in the 600 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard. The burglary was filmed by a home surveillance camera, police said.

He was picked up early Monday morning by the Fugitive Apprehension Team and charged with the burglary and was also held on an open warrant. His bail was set at $50,000.

Later that day Stephen Boone, 48, was arrested in the 20 block of Norwood Street. Boone allegedly used an electrical cord to discipline his 13-year-old son, police said. , The incident was reported to police by the boy's mother after she learned of his injuries from school officials, police also said.

Boone, who was arrested following an investigation by the Special Victims Unit, was being held on $35,000 bail on charges of child endangerment and cruelty to a child.  

Police are asking anyone with information about this or any other crime to contact the department's 24-hour Crime Stoppers' tip line at 877 NWK-TIPS (877 695-8477) or NWK-GUNS (877 695-4867). All tips are kept confidential. 

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A Newark man was charged with car thefts in Mendham and Fairfield

FAIRFIELD -- A Newark man was linked to the theft of a car from a Philip Drive home after he was caught while in possession of a vehicle stolen in Mendham, Chief of Police Anthony Manna said in a statement.

Kenyon Esannason, 18, was arrested in Newark March 21. Det. Michael Nyhuis, who has been working with police in Newark and other communities to investigate a rash of car thefts in Fairfield since February, identified Esannason from surveillance video shot during the Philip Drive theft, which occurred March 8.

Kenyon Esannason (Fairfield police)  

Esannason was served with an arrest warrant from Fairfield in the Essex County Jail. Bail was set at $25,000.

Police are still looking for at least two more people who are believed to have been involved in the thefts of vehicles from Fairfield.

"This was a great collaborative effort on the part of so many law enforcement agencies, especially by the Newark police. There is no doubt that this individual and his associates have been responsible for a large number of car thefts in Essex, Passaic, Morris Bergen and Union Counties. It's great to see that law enforcement is finally tracking them down," said Manna.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Inside Jersey went in search of opportunities to get off the couch and out of the house.

THERE'S SOMETHING about April that makes you want to quote Alexander Pope: "Hope springs eternal in the human breast."

Hope that those tulip bulbs you planted in the fall will bloom (and that the deer won't snack on them). Hope that you can soon open your windows to let the fresh air in and the stale, closed feeling of winter out. Hope that the temperate weather to come will jump-start stalled new year's resolutions.

Knowing just how you feel, Inside Jersey went in search of opportunities to get off the couch and out of the house. New Jersey is the Garden State, after all. Read on for nature walks and talks offered at gardens and parks, eager to show off their springtime splendor. Be sure to confirm dates and times before you head out the door.

1 | Salt Marsh Safari

For several decades, the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor has offered a Salt Marsh Safari, calling it the foundation of the organization's educational programming.

"The salt marsh is a very wet and muddy place, and for that reason, it is an environment that many people know little about and find very intriguing," says outreach coordinator Kaitlin Gannon.

Offered daily from May through October, this hourlong guided tour offers visitors the opportunity to relish the caress of warm ocean breezes, the salty taste of succulent pickle grass and the rotten egg smell of the wetlands at low tide. (Okay, so maybe you won't be relishing the latter, but that familiar sulfur smell is the sign of a healthy marsh.)

"The salt marsh wetland is one of the most bio-productive ecosystems on the planet, which means there are many food sources available," Gannon says. "The abundance of food attracts living things of all shapes and sizes, especially birds during migration. Salt marshes are like a bed and breakfast to passing migrants."

Be sure to wear shoes that can get muddy. The salt marsh tour follows a quarter-mile scenic walking trail, while providing an unparalleled view of the wetlands from a 750-foot-long elevated walkway. Admission to the institute, which includes the tour, is $8 for adults; $6 for children, ages 3 to 12; and free for children 2 and younger.

The Wetlands Institute | 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd., Stone Harbor | (609) 368-1211 | wetlandsinstitute.org


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2 | Leonard J. Buck Garden

What is different and appealing about the Leonard J. Buck Garden in Far Hills are the large outcroppings of rocks, around which vibrant wildflowers and ferns, brilliant azaleas and stunning rhododendron bloom. Named for the geologist who developed the garden in the late 1930s as part of his estate, the 33-acre wooded haven was donated to the Somerset County Park Commission by Buck's widow in 1976.

The blossoms are at their most beautiful between April and June, but the garden is worth exploring well into the fall. You can tour it on your own or arrange a weekday guided tour for a group.

"It's really quite astounding," says park employee Laurel Magrini, about the variety of flowering plants.

Oh ... and bring a book. You just might want to spend an hour on a bench under a leafy canopy amid the fragrant jonquils, Virginia bluebells and Chinese fringe trees.

The garden is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. It is closed on weekends and holidays from December through March. Though there is no formal fee to enter the garden, the requested donation is $3 per adult and $1 per senior or child.

Leonard J. Buck Garden | 11 Layton Road, Far Hills | (908) 234-2677 | somersetcountyparks.org

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3 | Firefly Festival

Who knew that there is more than one species of firefly? Visit Duke Farms in July for its Firefly Festival and you'll learn that there are about 100 species (five of them in New Jersey), distinguishable by their flicker patterns.

Attracted by the tall native grasses on the sprawling former estate of American heiress Doris Duke, the persistent glow of these tiny insects provides a magical quality to the evening. "It's one of those romantic things about summer," says Duke Farms program director Nora Wagner.

The free Firefly Festival will be held on July 8 and 9, from 8 to 11 p.m. Volunteers staff educational stations along the lighted 1-mile walk, regaling visitors with all sorts of fun firefly facts and activities.

Duke Farms | 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough | (908) 722-3700 | dukefarms.org

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4 | Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival

You don't need to travel to Washington, D.C., to enjoy the soft pink splendor of cherry trees in bloom. The 40th annual Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off this month in Newark's Branch Brook Park, where the display of 28 varieties of cherry blossoms is nothing short of spectacular.

More than 4,000 cherry trees fill the 360-acre park, which dates back to the late 1800s, much of it designed by the architectural firm of Frederick Law Olmstead Sr.

The festival includes a bike race on April 9; a 10K run on April 10; a mile fun run and walk, and oodles of family activities on April 16; and Bloomfest! on April 24. Most of the events are free. Guided tours of the park leave from the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center daily during cherry blossom season. Tour tickets are $5 per person.

Cherry Blossom Welcome Center | Branch Brook Park, Newark | (973) 621-2542 | essexcountyparks.org/parks/branch-brook-park

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5 | Butterfly Walk

"There's a tiger swallowtail, right on cue," Don Torino told about 50 enthusiasts eager to begin the annual Butterfly Walk last year at the New Jersey Botanical Garden.

This is a serious butterfly-watching bunch, with sturdy hiking boots, and binoculars and cameras with multiple lenses dangling around their necks.

The great spangled fritillary is present in abundance, attracted by the nectar of the purple coneflower, yarrow and Queen Anne's lace. There's also the silver-spotted skipper, a flitting flier that prefers a flower of any color, except yellow.

Torino is the president of the Bergen County Audubon Society. For the past three years, he has shared his extensive knowledge of these delicate critters and the native plants they love on the free NJBG Butterfly Walk, which is set for July 10, at 1 p.m. The botanical garden will host a free Butterfly Festival on Aug. 14, from noon to 3 p.m.

Also in July, at the Meadowlands, is a celebration of butterflies on a grander scale. Torino says between 800 and 1,000 people attend Butterfly Day at Richard W. DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. This free event is scheduled for July 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"If you had to pick one month, July is the time of year when most species are out," says Torino, who has helped to run Butterfly Day for the past eight years. "It's definitely the prime time for butterflies."

New Jersey Botanical Garden | Ringwood State Park, 1304 Sloatsburg Road, Ringwood | (973) 962-7031 | njbg.org

Bergen County Audubon Society | P.O. Box 235, Paramus | bergencountyaudubon.org

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6 | The Willowwood

Bring your cellphone to the Willowwood Arboretum in Chester for a high-tech tour of the gardens. For example, you'll find the Trochodendron aralioides ("wheel tree") at Stop No. 301, with a whorl of horizontal branches that resemble the spokes of a wheel. Stop No. 501 reveals a mix of subtropical flora in the conservatory -- succulents, vines and flowering houseplants. The magnolia stellata, or star magnolia, can be found at Stop No. 111; the colors of its flowers vary from year to year.

"Cellphone tours are a way of providing in-depth information for visitors. It's like taking a walk with a curator," says Lesley Parness, superintendent of Horticultural Education for the Morris County Park Commission.

These tours, which take about an hour, are available from May through October. Themed tours in past years have included "The Medicinal Plants of the Civil War" and the "Story of Scent." The Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center and the Frelinghuysen Arboretum will join Willowwood in offering cellphone tours this year. Willowwood is open free year-round, from 8 a.m. to dusk.

The Willowwood Arboretum | 300 Longview Road, Chester | (908) 234-1815 | willowwoodarboretum.org

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7 | Presby Memorial Iris Gardens

The Presby Memorial Iris Gardens have a nickname that beckons. Each May, the so-called "Rainbow on the Hill" showcases roughly 10,000 plants of 1,500 iris varieties -- producing more than 100,000 blossoms in every hue.

The carefully arranged flower beds tell the iris garden's story. Bed 1 houses species and heirloom varieties from the early 1900s. Bed 9 illustrates the history of hybridizing, a practice near and dear to Frank Presby, for whom the garden is named. There are beds for Hall of Fame irises and beds for antique historic tall bearded irises. Bed 20 showcases remontant bearded irises that bloom more than once.

Most of these beauties are around only a short time, however, so plan your visit accordingly. The annual spring bloom season typically runs from mid-May through the first week in June; the park is open from dawn to dusk. Check with the garden for the exact schedule. There is no admission fee, but there is a suggested donation of $8 per person.

Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens | 474 Upper Mountain Ave., Upper Montclair | (973) 783-5974 | presbyirisgardens.org

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8 | The A.J. Meerwald

Go on a sail aboard New Jersey's official tall ship for a real-life lesson on the ecology of the Hudson River. For more than 15 years, the Tenafly Nature Center has partnered with the A.J. Meerwald to offer educational sails, during which you might trawl for plankton and crabs, and perform water quality tests. You and your family also can help to hoist the sails and coil the lines aboard this floating classroom.

"Okay, guys. We're going to learn how to tie a figure-eigt knot," a sailor told his makeshift crew on a summer sail last year.

The ship docks at the Alpine Boat Basin for just one weekend -- this year, from July 14 through 17 -- and sails rain or shine. Each trip is limited to 40 people; fees to participate vary, depending on the sail, since the event is a fundraiser for the nature center.

Tenafly Nature Center | 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly | (201) 568-6093 | tenaflynaturecenter.org

MORE FROM INSIDE JERSEY MAGAZINE

The $5 million gift is going toward several school initiatives, including scholarships and athletic facility upgrades.

SOUTH ORANGE — Seton Hall is set to receive one of the largest donations in the school's 160-year history.

University officials announced Wednesday that the chair of its Board of Regents, Patrick M. Murray, and his wife, Mary Ann Pfaff Murray, have committed a $5 million gift to the school.

Though a list of the largest donations in the college's history was not immediately available, school officials confirmed $5 million marks the largest donation since President A. Gabriel Esteban was appointed in 2011, and one of the largest ever in Seton Hall history.

Patrick M. Murray, Seton Hall University Board of Regents Chair. Murray and his wife have pledged a $5 million donation to the school. (Photo courtesy Seton Hall University)
 

"Pat and Mary Ann are two of Seton Hall's most loyal supporters and their generous gift will have a tremendous impact on the University and our students," Esteban said in a statement.

"As the chairman of our Board of Regents, Pat has provided strong leadership and this significant gift clearly demonstrates his support for the future direction of the University."

The large donation will be used in several ways, university officials said, including in the establishment of merit and need-based scholarships, the endowment of a faculty chair at the Stillman School of Business, and the funding of unspecified athletic facility renovations. To thank the Murrays, the school plans to name the scholarship program, the endowed faculty chair in business, and the Leadership Forum for Student-Athletes in their honor.

"Mary Ann and I are proud to support Seton Hall at this critical time in the University's history," Pat Murray said in a release about the donation.

"Seton Hall has made great strides in recent years in achieving its goal of becoming one of the nation's leading Catholic universities. With the coming addition of a new medical school and a new College of Communication and the Arts, Seton Hall will rise even further."

Murray, who holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and Master's in business administration from Seton Hall, is the retired Chairman and CEO of Dresser, Inc., a leading manufacturer of energy industry equipment that was acquired by General Electric after his retirement.

This latest gift caps a long history of the Murrays' philanthropic support of Pat's alma mater, which includes past donations to the Science and Technology Center construction project, planned expansion and renovation of the University Center, Seton Hall's athletics program and the Seton Hall Annual Fund. 

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.