Acts of bravery included saving children from inferno, preventing hostage situation, group says

BELLEVILLE -- Newark firefighter Michael Bellina climbed through a window into a burning Bergen Street home and found a 9-year-old girl unconscious in the inferno. Quickly, Bellina handed the child off to Firefighter Tony DeFeo who carried her down a ladder outside.

In the rescue effort, Bellina suffered a severe cut to his hand from broken glass but he kept searching for people crews knew were trapped inside as the flames consumed three structures.

Meanwhile, Firefighter Carlo Dello Russo rushed up three flights of stairs and discovered a 4-year-old girl, also unresponsive, and quickly carried her out of the home. Firefighter Na'eem Howard, joined by city police officers, provided CPR to the child until medical crews could arrive.

Badly hurt, Bellina had located another unconscious person in the blaze. Capt. Frank Fonseca and Firefighter Carlos Henriques joined Bellina as they carried the 31-year-old woman from the building.

Arrest made in slaying of Hackettstown man in Newark

At an area hospital, responders learned the woman they had just pulled out from the fire was pregnant. In all, city firefighters were credited with saving four lives from the raging Aug. 7, 2015 blaze.

That act of bravery was among a host of heroic acts in 2015 honored Thursday at the Essex County 200 Club's 50th Anniversary Valor Awards presentation in Belleville. The organization, formed in 1966, has raised more than $2 million for the families of law enforcement officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty.

The event honored 29 firefighters, detectives and police officers from Essex County.  

"Today is about the men and women who go out each and every day and put their lives on the line," said Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose. "There are a lot of heroes who aren't here today because they are working or they are out injured from police or fire actions."

The day was also a time to reflect on police and firefighters killed in the line of duty, Ambrose added.

For Newark Detective Glen Calderon, a stop for coffee led him to a violent confrontation with a gun-toting robber, officials said.

Calderon pulled into a gas station, at Washington and Court streets, during what he thought was a slow shift Nov. 12, 2015 around 1 a.m. That quickly changed when an employee told him two suspects were robbing the mini-market.

After he radioed for backup, the detective sneaked up to the store and threw open the door, which knocked one robber to the side, said Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura. The second robber jumped the counter carrying a gun and advanced toward the lone detective.

Calderon feared for his life and fired a single shot, hitting the armed attacker in the chest, officials said. He managed to arrest the assailants.

"A quiet night became a potentially deadly night in the blink of an eye," said the Sheriff, who is on the 200 Club's executive committee.

The award ceremony featured guest speaker New York City Police Department Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller, a former crime reporter from Montclair who interviewed Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan.

As a ninth-grader at Montclair High School, Miller cut class to cover breaking news in Newark. He pointed to improvements seen in the city. 

"Newark is a city that keeps rebounding and never stops fighting," he said.

Miller, who held posts in the NYPD, Los Angeles Police Department, FBI and the Office of the Director National Intelligence, said technology and training has brought a "Golden Age" of policing and firefighting. Still, first responders face heightened scrutiny and constant dangers.

"When the danger is there in front of you, no matter how it presents itself, it is you all who still run toward it while everyone else runs away," Miller told the gathering. "That is what separates this group from everybody else."

The full list of valor award recipients is below, as provided by the Essex County 200 Club: 

Essex County Prosecutor's Office

Detective Eric Manns, Detective Carlos Olmo, Detective Kenneth Poggi

The detectives were assigned to the county prosecutor's Homicide Task Force on June 23, 2015 when they spotted a suspect wanted for a murder in Orange that was committed a day before. The suspect got in a vehicle with another person and drove away. The detectives turned on their lights in an attempt to stop the suspect, but the vehicle drove in reverse and repeatedly slammed into the unmarked units, narrowly missing the detectives who were now on foot. The vehicle sped away and was disabled after ramming into several civilian vehicles that were stopped in traffic. The two suspects jumped out and ran in different directions. With Manns in pursuit, the homicide suspect kicked in the basement window of a residence. Manns followed in after him and cleared the house of its occupants to prevent a hostage situation or any injury to those inside. Manns found the suspect who was hiding in the basement and arrested him without further incident. Simultaneously, Olmo and Poggi captured the second suspect and seized a fully loaded, semi-automatic handgun with an extended ammunition magazine.

Newark Police Department's Firearms Interdiction Team

Newark Police Department: Sergeant Matthew Ruane, Detective Ana Colon, Detective Tyrell Wheeler

Essex County Sheriff's Office: Detective Abdullah Holmes

NJIT Police: Officer Antoine Hughes

On the night of November 2, 2015, the Firearms Interdiction Team was patrolling around 4th Avenue and 12th Street in Newark. Officers spotted a group of five males running away from an armed suspect. Ruane exited his vehicle, grabbed the suspect and threw him into nearby garbage cans. With Hughes and Wheeler on the scene, a violent struggle for control of the suspect's handgun was successfully executed. Meanwhile, Colon and Holmes chased a second armed suspect. That suspect aimed his weapon at Colon and Holmes who, while fearing for their lives, fired their service weapon at him. The suspect temporarily eluded capture was soon discovered hiding in the crawl space between two nearby residences. His weapon was also recovered.

Irvington Police Department

Patrolman Edward Pearce

Pearce was dispatched Aug. 9, 2015 to Nye and Union avenues for a report of shots fired and a description of the shooter was also broadcasted on police radio. As Pearce arrived on the scene, he immediately identified the shooter who continued walking and still carrying the gun. Angling his marked cruiser to stop traffic, Pearce advanced on foot, closing his distance on the gunman while updating other units of the situation. While yelling commands to drop his gun, the suspect responded by raising his weapon in an attempt to fire at Pearce. The weapon jammed and another patrolman arrived on the scene.  As his marked unit bore down on the gunman, he opened the driver's door, knocking the suspect to the ground and the weapon from his hand. Pearce moved in and made the arrest.

State Police

Detective II Anthony Giunta, Detective II Edward Schmalz, Trooper Blazej Oczkos

On December 11, 2015, Giunta, Schmalz and Oczkos received an Amber Alert, issued by the New York Police Department, for a suspect driving a 2004 Dodge Caravan wanted for kidnapping a 3-year-old girl and attempted murder of the girl's mother. In an unmarked car, the plainclothes officers strategically positioned themselves where they could monitor traffic on the Garden State Parkway and Route 3. After a few minutes, Giunta observed the wanted vehicle traveling north on the Parkway. He immediately pulled behind and followed it undetected. Schmalz took command of communications, ordering other responding troopers to slow down traffic in the event of a high risk vehicle stop. Giunta now positioned his vehicle slightly in front of the suspect vehicle and activated emergency lights. The officers forced the suspect onto the right shoulder and boxed it in to prevent escape. Schmalz and Oczkos placed the suspect under arrest as Giunta carried away the little girl, who was later safely reunited with her family.

Newark Police Department

Detective Glen Calderon

Calderon was on duty November 12, 2015 around 1 a.m. when he pulled into the parking lot of a gas station at Washington and Court streets to get coffee. When he got to the service station, an employee told him two people, including one armed with a handgun, just entered the station's market and demanded cash. Calderon saw one suspect standing by the door and the second armed suspect rifling through the cash registers. Calderon radioed back information on his situation. With his gun drawn, he smashed open the door, knocking one suspect to the side. The armed suspect jumped over the counter carrying a gun and came directly at the officer. Calderon, who feared for his life, fired once, striking his attacker in the chest. Calderon arrested both suspects. 

Newark Police Department

Detectives Juan Ramos, Wyhidi Wilson

On the night of Sept. 18, 2015, Ramos and Wilson were on patrol in uniform and using a marked police car along Thomas Street in an area known for multiple homicides, several shootings and armed robberies. They observed a male suspect manipulating a bulky item that was positioned in his waistband. When the officers pulled over to further investigate, the suspect ran from the scene and a foot pursuit ensued. During the chase, the suspect stopped, turned and pulled a loaded Smith and Wesson .357 magnum from his waistband and aimed it at the officers. Fearing for their lives, both detectives opened fire. The suspect was not struck and began running again, but was quickly captured.  The weapon was stolen from North Carolina and recovered.

South Orange Police Department

Then-Captain Kyle Kroll, Detective Steven Davenport

A fast food deliveryman was robbed on July 25, 2015 and Davenport was able to identify a person of interest in the crime. A week later, Davenport, Kroll and other officers in plainclothes tracked the suspect down to a Smith Street address in Newark. The suspect was walking on the street when Davenport and Kroll approached him.  After identifying themselves as police officers, the suspect ran from the scene and a foot-chase ensued through backyards and over fences. Kroll tackled the suspect as he was pulling his loaded, 9mm Ruger semi-automatic handgun from his waistband. The suspect arrested. A follow-up investigation revealed the weapon was previously used in a homicide and two additional shootings.

Newark Fire Division

Captain Carl Wendt, Firefighter Raymond Hatton

On July 12, 2015 around 2 p.m., Newark Fire dispatched companies to a report of a working fire at 248 Hunterdon Street. Fire was found on the first floor of a two-story garden apartment and there was a report of three children trapped inside. Deputy Chief Michael Nasta saw heavy smoke pushing out from the second floor windows, and the arms of small children reaching out between the security bars. All incoming units were immediately notified of the rescue situation.  Engine 6 began an attack of the fire on the first floor, which was blocking the egress from the second floor. This allowed members from Engine 11, Ladder 11 and Rescue 1 to search for the missing children on the second floor. Under extreme heat and heavy smoke, Hatton located the trapped children in a rear bedroom. He notified Wendt and together they were able to bring the children to safety. The children appeared to be coherent and alert, and were transferred to the care of EMS units, where they were transported to University Hospital.

Newark Fire Division

Captain Frank Fonseca, Firefighters Michael Bellina, Tony DeFeo, Carlo Dello Russo, Carlos Henriques

On August 7, 2015 around 3:30 a.m., the Newark Fire Department responded to a house fire in the area of Bergen Street and Avon Avenue. Heavy fire was found throughout two, three-story wood frame houses and flames were rapidly extending to a third structure. First arriving units saw several trapped victims on the third floor of the main fire building. Engine 10 stretched a protective hoseline up the interior stairway to facilitate rescue operations, and DeFeo raised his truck ladder to the third floor. Bellina climbed up the aerial followed by DeFeo. Bellina located an unresponsive 9-year-old girl within the room and handed the child to DeFeo, who passed the victim to Ladder 11 members. They performed CPR on the child until EMS arrived. While rescuing the girl, Bellina received a severe laceration on his hand from the broken window glass. Despite this serious injury, Bellina returned to continue searching for the adult female they initially saw in the window. Simultaneously, Russo entered the building through the interior stairs with members of Engine 10.  When Dello Russo made his way to the third floor, he found an unresponsive 4-year-old girl and carried her out of the building. She was given to Firefighter Na'eem Howard of Rescue 1 and Newark Police Officers Sapienza and Field, who together administered CPR until the arrival of EMS. Fonseca and Henriques made their way to the third floor and met Bellina, who had located the 31-year-old female victim, who was unresponsive. They carried out and CPR was administered. Later at the hospital it was determined that the female was pregnant. Engines 10, 18, 6 and 11 provided protection with aggressive interior attack lines and without their support, these rescue could not have been accomplished.

Newark Fire Division

Captain Delfin Ortiz, Captain Mark Furka, Firefighter Derek Hunter

On January 29, 2015, around 7:15 a.m., the Newark Fire Department was dispatched to a working fire at 863 South 17th Street.  Arriving companies found heavy fire on all floors in the rear of a 2.5-story wood frame house, and it was extending to the building next door. Both structures were occupied and rescue operations were quickly established. A panic-stricken woman was on a second floor balcony requesting help. Hunter grabbed a ground ladder off Engine 18 and raised it to the second floor balcony with the assistance of Ortiz. Once the ladder was in position, Furka ascended the ladder and assisted the panic-stricken woman down to the street. Hunter knew that there were still occupants inside and acted rapidly, without the protection of a hoseline. He entered the first-floor apartment and alerted the occupants of the fire, including a mother, father and their four children, and safely escorted them out of danger.

North Caldwell Fire Department

Lieutenant Lee Sutherlin, Firefighter David Hicock

On the morning of May 20, 2015, the North Caldwell police and fire departments responded to a report of a very strong odor of natural gas at a building in the Four Seasons Condo complex.  Arriving police officers observed the extremely strong odor and were informed that a carbon monoxide detector was sounding in one of the units. The police evacuated the building, as Fire Chief John D'Ascensio arrived at the scene and was advised that the resident of the unit had major health issues. Sutherlin and Hicock donned full personal protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus and entered the building. They were able to force the door to the unit and search using a gas meter. Very high readings of natural gas and carbon monoxide registered. The 88-year-old resident of the unit was found unconscious and unresponsive. Sutherlin grabbed the woman and they removed her from the apartment. Police officers and a doctor who resides in the building gave her oxygen. The firefighters then returned to the apartment and opened the windows for ventilation. An investigation determined the woman turned on several burners after making coffee, and passed out in the den.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Do you have a perfect score in you this week.

Welcome to this week's NJ.com Local News Quiz, the only online quiz that determines how well you know the biggest New Jersey news stories of the past week. Before you are seven multiple choice questions, each more confounding than the next. Your task: Recall the key details of this week's biggest stories to divine the correct answers. Your reward is the glory that can only come from a high  score in a multiple choice online quiz. Do you have a perfect seven in you this week?

John Shabe can be reached via jshabe@njadvancemedia.com. Follow John on Twitter and find NJ.com on Facebook.

Eleanor Glover is the backbone of a Newark feeding program, where she serves up a hot plate of food and encouragement that says tomorrow is a better day.

Eleanor Glover stays in the servant lane.

It's the one marked with humility. There's no judgement -- only encouragement when she hands you a hot meal and offers her get-up-off-the-mat forecast:

"You can be down, but you don't have to stay down.''

Just ask Joann McLucas.

Her life changed 10 years ago when she came to the New Hope Community Feeding Program in Newark, where she met Glover and most likely heard those same words.

MORE: Recent Barry Carter columns     

Disheveled and addicted to drugs, McLucas went there to eat. But Glover, who is in charge of the food program, steered the woman away from her destructive habits with motherly concern, like the matriarch in a family.

"She said there's something better in life for you,'' said McLucas. "She taught me about God. She saw something special in me.''

The sincerity is genuine when this 70-year-old is around, dispensing straightforward truth and advice.  For the past year, the sick and the shut-ins saw Glover a lot when she delivered groceries to their homes in East Orange and Newark. Folks who were hungry and homeless had had her all to themselves for 14 years, until the feeding program closed in December 2014.

Glover, who thrives on helping others, was without a place to operate for a year and the people she served were without a place to call home.

"It was rough, '' she said.

She missed the people and they missed her right back.

"Every time I saw them, they would say, 'When are you going to open?'''

The New Hope Baptist Church didn't want to shut down the program that started in 1996, but the Rev. Joe Carter said the aging building in which it was located on Sussex Avenue became too expensive to maintain.

"We were throwing good money after bad,'' Carter said.

The church suspended the program for a year, but that time period might as well have been the longest yard.

Andrew Alford, the cook, wasn't whipping up eggs, sausage and grits. Glover's trusted sidekicks - Virginia Covington and Frances Dudley - weren't around for her to joke with and serve up 50 to 100 meals daily with other volunteers.

The team was split up. Glover took trips to Miami, the Bahamas and Disney World in Florida twice. Why not? She retired after 33 years as an administrative assistant for Verizon.

But the feeding program - and the kitchen where it all happens - kept tugging at her heart, even as she filled her time with other pursuits.

Glover had been the backbone of the program since 2001, taking up the servant mantle in the tradition of others before her.

"Every time we lose a good leader, we somehow have been blessed to have another one right in place,'' Carter said. "Her ability to inspire others, I think, is what makes it so special.''

There was no fanfare when the new soup kitchen opened last week a few blocks away from the old site. It's not as big, but it's cozy, with folding chairs and rectangular tables. On the walls are inspirational messages, including this one - "Just Be Grateful.''

The word spread quickly that the "New Hope" family was back and Shelton Williams was the first one through the door. He had eaten at other soup kitchens, but they didn't have what he needed on the menu.

Mother Glover.

"There's no place like home,'' he said.

Which means, there's order and decorum and respect and love.

Everyone signs in. The men remove their hats. Heads bow for prayer. Everyone is friendly. They all know each other, giving an update on their lives.

Richard Price is looking for an apartment and a job. Before breakfast, Rasheed Patterson shares with the group that he asks the creator each day to guide his steps.

MORE CARTER: Challenging the lack of historic preservation in Newark 

The hospitality opens them up. It's warm and comforting.  The welcome mat is always there.

Glover rolls it out from Monday through Saturday, wearing a green apron and a pleasant smile, her glasses atop her nose.  She manages the shop, clipping coupons, making sure there's enough for everyone to eat.

If someone shows up after the scheduled time, volunteer Juanita Boozer said Glover is sure to find some food for that person.

Mothers do that.

So, it was only natural for her to do the same thing during a Thanksgiving family vacation in Miami last year.

Glover said there were extra trays of buffet-style food that her family couldn't eat or take with them.

The idea to give it away came from her son, Ron, and she and the family agreed.  

On the streets of Miami, the homeless lined up for near the restaurant, thankful for the generosity.

"If I could help just one person as I pass along the way, then my living has not been in vain,'' Glover said.

It never can be when you stay in the servant lane.

Barry Carter: (973) 836-4925 or bcarter@starledger.com or nj.com/carter or follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL

Tammi was rescued as a stray while pregnant.

Tammi 

BLOOMFIELD -- Tammi is a 2-year-old cat in the care of A Purrfect World Rescue.

She was rescued as a stray while pregnant; she gave birth at her foster home and is now finished nursing the four kittens.

Tammi doesn't have much room where she currently resides and needs a permanent home. She has been spayed and microchipped and is up-to-date on shots.

For more information Tammi, call Kristina at 201-965-9586, email info@apurrfectworld.org or go to apurrfectworld.org. A Purrfect World is a nonprofit group in Bloomfield that places stray and abandoned cats in permanent homes and is currently caring for 100 cats.

Shelters interested in placing a pet in the Paw Print adoption column or submitting news should call 973-836-4922 or email essex@starledger.com.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

 

The lawsuit relates to a Dec. 13, 2015 incident at Felicity Tower in Bloomfield

A lawsuit filed in Essex County Superior Court claims an elderly man was killed in his Bloomfield apartment on Dec. 13, 2015 from extreme heat caused by a defective heating/cooling system.File photo

BLOOMFIELD -- Every Sunday, Neal A. DiNapoli III typically delivered groceries to his grandparents at their apartment at Felicity Tower in Bloomfield, court documents state.

But when DiNapoli and his fiance knocked on his grandparents' door in the afternoon of Dec. 13, 2015, there was no answer and they sensed a blistering heat coming from the apartment, court documents state.

They forced their way inside and found the motionless bodies of Neal T. DiNapoli Sr. and Immaculate DiNapoli, court documents state. DiNapoli began CPR on his grandmother and saved her life, but his grandfather ultimately died, court documents state.

Now the DiNapoli family is suing the owner of Felicity Tower and the management company at the building, claiming a defective heating/cooling system filled the apartment with "extreme heat" and ultimately killed 82-year-old Neal T. DiNapoli Sr., according to the lawsuit filed on April 21 in Essex County Superior Court.

The lawsuit states Neal T. DiNapoli Sr. was "cooked alive" and Immaculate DiNapoli, 77, was seriously and permanently injured. Emergency medical personnel determined Neal T. DiNapoli Sr.'s body temperature was about 108 degrees, court documents state.

On Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Thomas R. Vena directed the defendants to attend a June 8 hearing in the matter.

At that hearing, the defendants must explain why an order should not be issued to allow the DiNapolis to inspect Felicity Tower and, if dangerous conditions are found, to force the defendants to make immediate repairs, according to the judge's order.

The lawsuit identifies the owner of the roughly 147-unit building on Llewellyn Avenue by various names, including Bloomfield Senior Housing Corporation, and the management company is identified as R.P. Marzulli Co., Inc., among other similar names. Thirty units are Section 8, assisted living units for senior citizens, the lawsuit states.

The plaintiffs are Neal A. DiNapoli III, Immaculate DiNapoli and her son, Neal DiNapoli Jr., who also is the administrator of his father's estate.

In a statement on Thursday, Wayne-based Scura, Wigfield, Heyer & Stevens, LLP, the law firm representing the DiNapolis in the lawsuit, said:

"The heating/cooling system in this senior citizen complex is recklessly configured putting this low income, senior citizen population at great risk.   In order to cut corners on cost, the owner and management company are responsible for the death of Neal DiNapoli Sr. and near death of his wife. Our firm is hopeful that by bringing this situation to light other senior citizens will be protected, and the great harms and losses suffered by our clients will be addressed."

When contacted by phone on Thursday at the Marzulli headquarters in Bloomfield, a man who only identified himself as Dan said he was a Marzulli representative and declined to comment.

"We have no comment on any pending litigation," said the man, who declined to provide his full name.

Following the incident, the DiNapolis' attorneys conducted a preliminary investigation of the apartment with an HVAC professional, according to the lawsuit.

That investigation revealed the heating/cooling system in the apartment has no temperature control valve and can only run one temperature of water at a time, the lawsuit states. The system cannot self-determine if it is expelling hot air or cool air or automatically shut off if it is getting too hot or cold in the apartment, according to the DiNapolis' attorneys.

Since the system does not have separate lines for hot and cold water, the building management fills the coil with either hot or cold water, depending on the time of the year, the lawsuit states.

In other words, when the incident occurred in December, only hot water was running through the line, the lawsuit states. Hot water also would constantly run in the coil, creating perpetual residual hot air even when the system is turned off, the lawsuit states.

Given the unseasonably warm temperatures outside around the time of the incident, Neal T. DiNapoli Sr. and Immaculate DiNapoli set their thermostat to cool the apartment, according to the DiNapolis' attorney's.

But the thermostat could not determine it was in hot water mode, and continually ran the blower at the highest flow rate, the lawsuit states.

"Consequently, the heating/cooling system will try to reach a cool set point that it will never obtain because only extreme hot air is pumping from the unit," according to the lawsuit.

"The dangerous heating/cooling system defectively functioned in this way, which resulted in the extreme heat event in the DiNapoli apartment unit."

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

From Cape May to Mahwah, New Jersey is chocked full of some of the best high school sports programs. But who's the best ever? We tried to figure that out

From Cape May to Mahwah, New Jersey is chocked full of some of the best high school sports programs. But who's the best ever? We tried to figure that out

The warrant was issued and rescinded in the course of one day on the campaign trail.

Councilman Kerry Coley. (File photo)
 

CEDAR GROVE -- An issued and almost immediately rescinded arrest warrant has become the latest hiccup in an ugly New Jersey mayoral race that is set to play out at the polls next week.

Late Thursday, court officials in Cedar Grove confirmed a judge had rescinded the arrest warrant issued for Orange Councilman Kerry Coley, one of three candidates running for mayor of Orange. The failure to appear warrant had been issued less than a day before, and though stemming from Orange, was being carried out in Cedar Grove to avoid conflicts of interest, court officials said. 

The warrant was issued in connection to accusations that Coley wrongfully took campaign signs from supporters of one of his election opponents, incumbent mayor Dwayne Warren.

A Coley campaign representative blamed Warren for the "bogus" ticket and warrant.

Candidates trade barbs at mayoral debate

"Clearly, Warren will stoop to any low down gutter trick in an attempt to maintain his grip on power and patronage," the rep said in a statement. "But the good people of Orange are not stupid and they will not be fooled."

Reached Thursday afternoon, Warren said he had just heard about the warrant and hoped that it would be resolved quickly.

Photo circulated by Warren camp.
 

"I hope that neither side tries to use it as political ammo. That kind of silliness is not necessary," he said. "The guy is not a criminal. I don't condone criminalizing something that could be contrived, for all I know."

The public exchange over the campaign sign issue started earlier this week, when Warren's camp sent an email blast to supporters containing a photo allegedly showing Coley swiping the signs.

"Kerry Coley is teaching our children to vandalize, cheat and steal," Warren said in the blast. "I am asking Councilman Coley not just to drop out of the race, but to resign from the Orange Municipal Council immediately."

In a Facebook post addressing the campaign sign accusation earlier this week, Coley's camp said the photo was being taken "out of context."

"Of course one would misconstrue an innocent exchange of political affiliation signs because a resident has changed her mind," the post read.

The scuffle marks the latest spat between the two, who are running for mayor, along with former zoning board chairwoman Janice Morrell, in a contest set for next Tuesday.

Last year, Warren blasted Coley for a racy photo allegedly posted on the councilman's Facebook page.

Coley later said his account was hacked, leading to the post, and sued the mayor for his comments. Coley, a former Orange Police sergeant, has also accused Warren of illegally accessing internal affairs complaints against him.

Dan Ivers contributed to this report.

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

A classic Atlantic City dining establishment, a new farm-to-table restaurant, and barbecue in Rumson headline this month's hot restaurant list

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.

SURF BBQ: Popular Jersey restaurateur Victor Rallo, the man behind Birravino and Undici, has brought barbecue to the town of Rumson. Surf BBQ is the first non-Irish pub to take up shop at this location (Molly Maguire's, Murray MacGregor's, and Briody's once called this address home), and the interior has been delightfully transformed from Guinness signs and Celtic swag to a hip Austin, Texas-esque barbecue pit. The restaurant employs a "choose your own adventure" style of ordering. Patrons belly up to a counter where they choose their main course and sides. The brisket ($14 per 1/2 pound) is phenomenal. It's succulent, extremely tender, and the fat renders itself to a near butter-like consistency. It's basically a barbecue symphony in your mouth. The St. Louis spare ribs ($12 per 1/2 pound) are also no joke, as they are massive slabs of meat slathered in a house sauce. The side are divine -- the mammoth cornbread ($4) is nearly dessert-like, the twice-cooked hand-cut fries ($5) are excellent, and the four-cheese mac and cheese ($5-$9) is creamy goodness. For dessert (if you have room), Billy's Homemade Banana Pudding ($6) is the perfect punctuation to a Surf BBQ meal. 132 East River Road, Rumson. 732-530-6590.

Day boat fluke with summer ratatouille and rosemary at d'Floret in Lambertville. (Cathy Miller | Inside Jersey)Cathy Miller 

D'FLORET: The husband and wife team of Dennis Foy and Estella Quinones have been serving up culinary excellence in Lambertville since 2012. Foy is one of the top names in Jersey dining (Shore natives may remember Dennis Foy's in Point Pleasant), and his Lambertville bistro has certainly impressed diners in the hip town. The restaurant combines Foy's love of cooking and painting, evidenced by the unique art pieces hanging on D'Floret's walls. The menu changes each week; recently among the tantalizing selections were a seared rare tuna Nicoise salad with white Belgium endive and spinach ($28), sauteed foie gras with cabbage, lardons and a raspberry glaze (market price), organic whole roasted Amish chicken for two with pomme puree ($26 per person), and the sauteed tian of crab with thyme and aioli sauce ($17). Please note that D'Floret is open Thursday-Sunday and is a cash or check only restaurant. 18 South Main Street, Lambertville. 609-397-7400.  

REDD'S BIERGARTEN: Biergartens are all the rage these days, so it makes sense that one would open right across the street from Newark's Prudential Center, a bustling hub for concertgoers and sports fans. The move to open a 7,000-square-foot German beer hall was made by people who know a thing or two about opening a restaurant near a popular New Jersey stadium -- the people behind Redd's in Carlstadt (located right by MetLife Stadium). The menu at Redd's Biergarten is teeming with German-inspired fare, including spicy cheddar brats ($6.99), Jaegerschnitzel ($14.99) and the classic Bavarian soft pretzel ($10.99). For those not into the Germanic menu items, there are fresh salads ($7.99-$8.99), barbecue baby back ribs ($24.99), pasta primavera ($11.99), and fish and chips ($14.99). Its draft beer selection is legit, serving everything from German beers such as Paulaner and Franziskaner to Hawaiian beers like Kona. 218 Market Street & 37 Edison Plaza, Newark. 201-933-0015. 

The legendary wings at LBI's Chicken or The Egg are a must-have app this summer.Bill Bodkin 

CHICKEN OR THE EGG: One of the classic eateries at the Jersey Shore. The Chicken or the Egg (or "Chegg" as it is affectionately known) is a seasonal 24-hour eatery that re-opened in April. This is a must if you're down on LBI for the summer, or even if you're visiting for the day. Breakfast is served all day long, and one cannot recommend the omelettes ($7.29-$9.29) enough. In fact, if you're a big breakfast person you can try to take its legendary "The Ultimate" omelette, which is six eggs, any or all of their various ingredients, along with home fries and toast for $13.99. Speaking of legendary, you cannot talk about Chicken or the Egg without mentioning the wings. These wings gained national attention when Travel Channel's "Man v. Food" profiled them in 2010. You don't have to engage in a wing-eating challenge like the show's host Adam Richman did, but you should challenge yourself to eat these wings. They come breaded (original) or naked, and you can chose one of 16 sauces ranging from the mild teriyaki to the "ludicrous" hot sauce. These are big, juicy, meaty wings that get sauced to perfection. 207 North Bay Avenue, Beach Haven. 609-492-3695. 

ROWENA'S DELIGHT AND CAKEHOUSE:  In a recent article, the internationally recognized food magazine Saveur wrote at great length about the Filipino food explosion happening in Jersey City. One of the landmark Filipino restaurants in JC is Rowena's, serving up Philippine cuisine since 1997. For those who have been curious about Filipino dining, it's recommended you try some basic dishes. These would include: the Shanghai eggroll, lechon kawali (crispy fried pork belly), bistek (thinly-sliced steak covered in soy sauce and caramelized onion rings), kare-kare (stew covered in thick peanut sauce), or the chicken or pork adobo. Customers have also raved about Rowena's Sisig (sizzling fried pork) and the fried banana.  444 West Side Avenue, Jersey City. 201-435-1567. 

JAMES ON MAIN: James on Main opened its doors on March 25. The concept of the new eatery is simple: New American dinners and brunches using a wood fire grill and locally sourced seasonal ingredients. The brunch menu is served Thursday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and sports health-conscious items such as multigrain pancakes, a baby kale and wheatberry salad, and a wood-grilled chipotle chicken and quinoa wrap. There's also options such as the Hackettstown hanger steak and eggs, the Main Street Monte Cristo and wood grilled burgers, so there's a nice balance of healthy options and comfort food. The dinner menu, served Tuesday-Sunday at 5 p.m., has casual fare such as the Catskill Mountain smoked salmon baguette and nachos (which can be topped with barbecue pulled pork or bison chili) and unique entrees such as a Berkshire hog chop, Vienna schnitzel, and wood-grilled wild American shrimp. You can end things on a sweet note with crispy apricot doughnuts or a citrus trifle. 105 Main Street, Hackettstown. 908-852-2131. 

Arena, the latest addition to the West End of Long Branch's culinary scene, serves up a delectable Picada.Photo Courtesy of Arena  

ARENA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE: Arena is a unique spot on the Jersey Shore, blending classic American bar and grill fare with Caribbean influences. That influence can be seen at the top of the menu with empanadas ($8.99), Caribbean coconut shrimp ($9.99), and the Dominican sancocho de pollo ($7.99). Even the burgers have a bit of twist -- the Arena burger ($10.99) is covered with avocado, sauteed jalapenos and salsa. The entrees are "latitude changing" with churrasco ($23.99), ropa vieja (Cuban shredded beef topped with peppers and onions, $14.99), and Caribbean tilapia and shrimp ($15.99). The bar serves up frozen and tropical drinks just in time for the warmer weather. If you're wondering where to find Arena, it's located in the heart of the West End section of Long Branch, and occupies the corner where former nightspots such as The Draft House and Groove Lounge once stood.  100 Brighton Avenue, Long Branch. 732-693-5016. 

THE RYLAND INN: "Old soul, new traditions." This is the mantra of the Ryland Inn, built in 1796 and currently run by the people behind Jersey City's Liberty House and The Stone House in Warren. The culinary concept of the Ryland Inn was designed by chef Craig Polignano. Polignano uses a local and sustainable farm-to-table ethos that allows the Ryland to change their menu seasonally. Lunch is served 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and diners can opt for a $36 prix fixe menu (appetizer, entree, dessert), or they can choose from items ranging from flatbread ($12) to day boat halibut ($26). Dinner ranges from the causal Ryland burger ($21) to the classy Griggstown chicken served with asparagus and savory bread pudding ($29). The "Duck Bar" at Ryland serves up homemade barrel-aged cocktails. 115 Old Route 28, Whitehouse Station. 908-534-4011. 

KNIFE & FORK INN: Last year on his CNN series "Parts Unknown," celebrity chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain spoke about how the "rebirth" of Atlantic City would be fueled by the city-by-the-sea's dining scene. One of the anchors of that scene for the past 104 years -- and one of the restaurants Bourdain spoke so highly of -- is the Knife & Fork Inn. The Knife & Fork is the type of place that makes you want to dress a little nicer and order a classic (and classy) Jersey Shore dinner -- seafood, steaks, etc. -- and lots of it.  If you're looking for intriguing appetizers, they've got you covered with Kobe sliders ($14), crispy duck leg confit ($12), crab and avocado terrine ($12), and colossal shrimp or crab cocktails ($18). Their steaks range from a 12-ounce sirloin ($34) to a seafood-covered filet Oscar ($49). Seafood ranges from a $29 pan-sauteed flounder with crabmeat to a $51 lobster Thermidor. If you're looking for king's ransom of food, go for The Knife & Fork Dinner ($64), which comes with corn and crab chowder, Jersey tomato and Buffalo mozzarella salad, a 1-pound lobster Thermidor, and 6-ounce filet mignon. 3600 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City. 609-344-1133. 

HARVEST SEASONAL GRILL: Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar, located in the Moorestown Mall, serves up a menu that is populated with local, farm-fresh items, many of which are under 500 calories per plate. If you want a snack, you can order appetizers such as the local farms cheese plate ($14), the organic hummus trio ($8), the spinach pierogi potstickers ($11), or blue claw crab cake ($13). The entree side of the menu sports a healthy amount of seafood, including the spicy shrimp noodle bowl ($20), pan-seared Thai curry grouper ($26), and spring sea scallops ($27). If you're a meat lover, don't fret: There are grass-fed burgers and a filet mignon as well as chicken and pork chops. 400 Route 38, Moorestown.  856-581-0044. 

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

Bars and taverns have always been an integral part of American life

IRVINGTON -- This photo from the 1940s shows Carl's Bar and Grill at the corner of Chancellor Avenue and 40th Street in Irvington; the site is currently home to a grocery store and deli.

Much like the lyric in the "Cheers" theme song, bars and taverns have always been an integral part of American life, often places where everyone actually does know your name.

Quoted on the websitedrinks.seriouseats.com, sociologist Ray Oldenburg described bars as "a third place, different from home or work, where people could escape but still be part of a group."

If you would like to share a photo that provides a glimpse of history in your community, please call 973-836-4922 or send an email to essex@starledger.com. And, check out more glimpses of history in our online galleries Thursdays on nj.com.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

 

One man remains at-large Watch video

UPDATE: Second man arrested in murder of NJIT student, authorities say

NEWARK -- One man was arrested and another was wanted for the slaying of a New Jersey Institute of Technology student, who was fatally shot during a robbery at his fraternity house near campus, authorities said Friday.

Taquan Harris, 22, of Newark, and Nafee Cotman, 18, of Irvington, were each charged with murder, felony murder, burglary and weapons offenses in the killing of 23-year-old Freehold native Joseph Micalizzi, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced at a press conference. Micalizzi was shot in his bedroom at the Tau Kappa Epsilon house on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard around 3 a.m. Monday. 

Cotman was arrested at his Irvington home early Thursday, said Quovella M. Spruill, acting chief of investigators with the county prosecutor's office. 

Harris remained at large and authorities said he should be considered armed and dangerous. 

The two attackers did not know Micalizzi and were searching for cash before the deadly encounter, Murray added. It was unclear if they entered the house through a locked or unlocked door, and why they targeted the residence. 

"This is a loss of a promising young man, who by every indication, was poised to make a great contribution to the state of New Jersey," Murray said.

According to police sources, Micalizzi struggled with the two intruders and was shot in the hand and head. He was rushed to University Hospital, but pronounced dead about two hours later.

The Essex County Sheriff's Office and NJIT offered rewards in the killing. Murray declined to say if anyone would collect the sum, citing the need to keep the program anonymous. 

Micalizzi's killing came less than a month after a Rutgers-Newark student was gunned down at his off-campus residence, also near the school. Law enforcement sources previously told NJ Advance Media that shooting was a possible drug-related robbery gone wrong. 

The violence sent shockwaves through Newark's college community and prompted police to boost patrols. Serious crime remains low in the NJIT and Rutgers area, officials have said. 

"NJIT is a safe campus," said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who joined a host of local and county law enforcement officials at the press conference. "It is always bustling with people and activity and it's one of the best institutions we have in the state of New Jersey, and we are proud of it."

Anthony Ambrose, the city's public safety director, said he met with police chiefs at both schools to enhance police patrols in cooperation with the college officers. 

NJIT President Joel Bloom also said the school campus was secure. Security measures include certified, armed police officers among a 60-person public safety department. The campus force works closely with Rutgers and city police, he added.  

"I am there 25 years and this is the first time I've had to deal with a murder on our campus," Bloom told reporters. "This has been a terrible, terrible tragedy for all of us, particularly the family." 

"We will continue to work in keeping our campus safe," Bloom added. 

Micalizzi, a junior, transferred to NJIT to pursue a mechanical engineering degree after studying for two years at Brookdale Community College in Monmouth County. He earned a spot on the Dean's List and was remembered by a former teacher as focused, humble and respectful. 

"He was the kind of kid you would want your own kids to be friends with," Howell High School teacher Joe Cantaffa told NJ Advance Media this week. 

Hundreds of students gathered Tuesday at NJIT for a candlelight vigil honoring Micalizzi. 

Authorities urged anyone with information about Harris' whereabouts to call the Essex County Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force at 1-877-847-7432. 

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Mayor Dwayne Warren was among those who attended a ribbon-cutting for Le Parc Place in a new building near the city's train station

ORANGE - City officials on Thursday welcomed the first signs of life into a building they hope might help resuscitate its downtown.

Mayor Dwayne Warren and others helped cut a ribbon outside Le Parc Place preschool - the first business to take root on the ground floor of a mixed-income, 72-unit residential building at 50-55 South Essex Avenue.

In a brief address at the school, he recalled the state of the property just a few years ago - when it was little more than a vacant lot across from the city's NJ Transit station. The building opened to tenants in spring 2014.

"There was a lot of work to be done. Historically in Orange we didn't do well in terms of leasing commercial property," he said, crediting owners L&M Development for much of its transformation into a vibrant building filled with new tenants and now a preschool.

"L&M builds this building, populates this building and then turned around and said we have a beautiful commercial tenant. Our city was filled with joy at the progress."

Le Parc Place, which also has a school in Maplewood, is currently accepting applications, and will begin its first classes of children up to 5 at its newest location in early June.

The school practices a self-professed "progressive" method of education based on a personalized approach based on each student's personality, according to Chief Operating Officer Zina Phillips. It also emphasizes learning in new languages such as French, Spanish and Sign Language and maintains its own chef and nutritionist to feed students healthy, locally grown produce.

Officials and other partners said the unique approach helped contribute to a new image of Orange as a city ready to blossom for years to come.

"We don't have to dig too deeply to find explanations for why we are so excited about Orange," said John Cortell, L&M's vice president of development.

The approval is the latest in a multi-year process to implement the federal consent decree.

NEWARK -- The agreement that will allow for a federal monitor to oversee the Newark police department is now official.

In a statement released Friday, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman confirmed that the agreement has been approved by the U.S. District Court for New Jersey.

"This consent decree, now approved by the court, provides a roadmap for reform in Newark and a model for best practices for police departments across the country," Fishman said in the statement.

Federal watchdog has long N.J. history

"Implementing the systemic changes outlined in the consent decree will take time, but this is what the city of Newark and the men and women who serve in the police department want and need."

Spokespeople for the Newark police department and city did not immediately return requests for comment on the approval.

The move comes about a month after officials announced former state attorney general Peter C. Harvey was chosen as the monitor who will oversee the implementation of the consent decree. When the choice was announced, Mayor Ras Baraka said the city looks at the agreement as "an opportunity."

The ongoing reforms "will get Newark to where it needs to be," he said at the time.

The agreement, the result of a damning 2014 Department of Justice investigation into the department that found sweeping misconduct and violations of residents' civil rights.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta called the court approval "swift."

"As Newark implements this agreement, we will continue to work closely with city officials, law enforcement and community members to put in place the necessary changes that can make Newark a national model for constitutional, effective and accountable policing," she said in a statement.

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

Police announce charges in other recent killings

NEWARK -- Authorities were investigating a homicide that occurred late Thursday on Mount Prospect Avenue, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office confirmed.

Additional details were not immediately available. The killing came a night before law enforcement officials announced charges in several recent slayings in the city, including the murder of a New Jersey Institute of Technology student.

The state's largest city logged 34 homicides this year, according to an NJ Advance Media tally.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Arrest came hours after authorities identified the suspects Watch video

 NEWARK -- The second man wanted in the shooting death of a New Jersey Institute of Technology student was captured late Friday afternoon, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.

Taquan Harris, 22, was arrested in Irvington, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray and Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a joint statement. Detectives with the Essex County Major Crimes Task Force captured Harris on the 100 block of Munn Avenue.

Hours earlier, law enforcement officials announced Harris was being sought for the murder of Joseph Micalizzi, a 23-year-old Freehold-native who was shot in a robbery at the Tau Kappa Epsilon house on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, near NJIT's campus early Monday.

2 charged in killing of NJIT student

Another man, Nafee Cotman, 18, of Irvington, was arrested Thursday for Micalizzi's killing, authorities said. Both men face charges of murder, felony murder, robbery, burglary and weapons offenses.

Micalizzi was shot around 3 a.m. Monday at his fraternity house and died hours later at University Hospital. Law enforcement sources told NJ Advance Media the junior mechanical engineering student fought with his assailants.

Murray, the acting prosecutor, said the attackers did not know Micalizzi and the shooting stemmed from a robbery.

Officials said Harris was being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility on $1 million bail. 

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

No one was hurt in the incident. Watch video

NEWARK -- City police are asking for the public's help in identifying a man allegedly involved in a shooting at the end of April. 

Police believe that one or more of the men shown in the surveillance video released Friday may have been involved in a shooting on the evening of April 24, which stemmed from a verbal argument outside the Sonic on the 200 block of Springfield Avenue.

2 charged in killing of NJIT student

According to the report, a 27-year-old woman told police that an unknown man pulled a gun and threaten to shoot her after the two exchanged words. 

The woman told police that as she got into her car, she heard a gun shot and quickly drove away.

No one was hurt in the incident.

Police are asking for any information about the men shown in the video. 

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig. Find NJ.com on Facebook.    

It's been a very gloomy May. Here's how much rain has fallen so far across New Jersey.

You don't need a rain gauge at your house to confirm that May has been a dreary, soggy month, with New Jersey being stuck in this seemingly endless rut of on-and-off showers.

After six straight days of measurable rain falling across the Garden State, you might think the record books are on the verge of being torn up. Well, they're not.

Despite all these soggy days, many parts of New Jersey -- primarily northern and central counties -- have picked up a grand total of only 1.5 inches of rain, according to preliminary data from the National Weather Service. 

Mystery blob appears on Jersey Shore radar

The heaviest bands of rain have fallen in South Jersey, where Atlantic City picked up 3.5 inches of rain from May 1 through May 6. That's a little more rain than the Atlantic City region normally gets during the entire month of May.

However, that's still more than 5 inches short of Atlantic City's monthly rainfall record. Back in May 1948, the area was drenched with 8.8 inches of rain, and that record still holds today, according to weather service data.

This morning in Atlantic City @NatGeo @NatGeoPhotos Arizona Ave @JSHurricaneNews @NJTVNews @ACPlanningDept DuckTown pic.twitter.com/FGA8GfCDwg

-- City Of Atlantic (@CityOfAtlantic) May 6, 2016

Up in the Newark region, only 1.5 inches of rain has fallen this month. That area normally gets 4.1 inches of rain in May, and the monthly record is 10.2 inches, set in 1984.

Brighter skies to return

For everyone who is feeling down about this month's gloomy weather pattern, there's a little bit of good news. Although Saturday is expected to be mostly cloudy, there's only a small chance of rain early in the day.

Mother's Day will likely start out cloudy with scattered showers, but that should be followed by clearing skies and some sunshine in the afternoon, said Sarah Johnson, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.

Monday could turn out to be the first rain-free day this month, with mostly sunny skies and temperatures near 70 -- which is normal for this time of year but far warmer than our recent highs in the 50s.

After that, forecasters say New Jersey could be heading into another unsettled weather pattern for at least several days.

"There is a silver lining to this weather pattern we're in," Johnson said, noting it has helped chip away at the rainfall deficit New Jersey has had during the past few months. 

"It hasn't totally erased our deficit," she said, "but it certainly has helped."

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

This teacher and a mother in the Newark schools system says she wants to ensure that more Newark parents are able to provide opportunity for their children.

By Erica Fortenberry

I have taught in Newark's district schools for 17 years. Currently, I am in a school that works on behalf of the students. I would love to say that this is a consistent practice; but that is not the case in many schools.

I love being a teacher in Newark, and the one constant is that we passionately want success for our students. Many of us lose sleep at night thinking about our students. We worry about their future, whether they are getting a good night's sleep, and if they have had dinner.  

Teachers in Newark pay for much needed school supplies out of their own pocket. We even buy additional T-shirts, underwear and socks, knowing some of our students can't afford extra and will need them. Newark teachers care, but we are part of a system that is broken. 

As a district teacher, I have seen firsthand unbelievable bureaucratic waste. For years, the lack of consistent educational guidelines from the district offices, have caused conflicts in teaching and learning. Each change brings costly rounds of education materials, trainings, and curriculum development.

Our current superintendent is the first person I can remember who has made real progress fixing this issue, but Newark still receives over a billion dollars a year from the state. And yet, as a teacher I do not see the funding reaching our students.

It is frustrating as a teacher in Newark and an alum of the Newark public school system to see first-hand what is happening in Newark.  But as a mother, it is terrifying.

This is why I am also one of the thousands of Newark's parents who have chosen to send my child to a Newark public charter school. My son is 13 years old and attends Link Community Charter School.

I have dedicated my life to educating our students in Newark and I have not given up. Part of making a difference is speaking the truth.

Link produces results not because they have more money. Their accomplishments are rooted in the same values of most Newark parents -- they figure out how to do more with less, they find a way to make things work.

As a district schoolteacher, I would like to see the effective practices being implemented at Link replicated in my district school.

As a mother, I want desperately to ensure that more Newark parents are able to provide opportunity for their children.

Many Newark children never go beyond their own neighborhoods, but Link has enabled my son to continue his education with unique educational trips inside and outside the United States, all expenses paid. He has also participated in a multitude of innovative programs.

I have seen first hand how Newark district schools have struggled for years to build effective curriculum, but my son utilizes Link's highly regarded elective program, which partners with city leaders and organizations, in and outside of Newark, as well as Link faculty to develop classes and work studies that go far beyond the educational basics.

Most of all, Link is located in the heart of Newark, yet I know my child is safe. They open its doors at 7:15 am to provide breakfast to all. Homework help is provided late into afternoon. If a child is having difficulty out of school, there is support from talented and dedicated social workers, nurses, and faculty advisors.

Link also makes sure parents are involved in their children's educational experience. They proactively keep parents informed about the latest trends in education and host valuable events throughout the year.

Thanks to the public education at Link, my son was recently provided a full scholarship to the prestigious Delbarton School. Shouldn't every child in Newark have these kinds of opportunities?

It is time for Newark to embrace, celebrate and replicate experiences like my son's public education at Link - so every child in Newark is provided a high quality education. Whether we call them district, magnet, charter or community schools - it does not matter to me, or most in the city.

The key to success is making sure parents are provided options.

Erica Fortenberry in a Newark parent and has lived in Newark her whole life.  She continues to work as a Newark district school teacher, where she has served for over 17 years.

Follow NJ.com Opinion on Twitter@NJ_Opinion. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

Hillary Clinton's daughter will campaign in New Jersey on Friday.

WASHINGTON -- Chelsea Clinton will campaign for her mother in Essex and Middlesex counties next Friday, Hillary Clinton's campaign said.

Details on her trip will be announced later.

The campaign said she "will talk about how her mom is the best candidate to break down the barriers holding families back and raise incomes for New Jersey families" and recruit volunteers in advance of the June 7 primary.

Chelsea Clinton's trip is scheduled two days after her mother the candidate will visit the state.

A Monmouth University poll released this week showed Clinton, who representing neighboring New York in the U.S. Senate for eight years, with nearly 2-to-1 lead over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in New Jersey..

Clinton to campaign in N.J. on Wednesday

Sanders is scheduled to hold rallies Sunday at Rutgers University's athletic center in Piscataway, and Monday at the Atlantic City boardwalk.

The New Jersey primary rarely has been important as the presumptive Democratic and Republican presidential standard-bearers have sewn up their nominations well before Garden State voters to go the polls.

But Hillary Clinton is still 154 delegates short of the 2,383 needed to clinch the nomination, and a strong performance in New Jersey could guarantee her a first-ballot victory even if she does not do well in other upcoming primaries.  She leads Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders by more than 700 delegates, according to the Associated Press.

Clinton won nine of Guam's 12 delegates on Saturday, with Sanders getting the other three.

Donald Trump's win in Indiana on Tuesday and the subsequent withdrawals of his last two rivals, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, made the New Jersey primary almost irrelevant except to ensure that the billionaire businessman reaches the 1,237-delegate threshold at the national convention.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

The reputed gang leader was sentenced for a drive-by shooting in Newark that killed a city man. Watch video

NEWARK --With her voice cracking, Marjorie Dingle stood in a Newark courtroom Friday and said it was "not enough" for Al-Shareef Metz to be sentenced to 15 years in state prison for killing her son.

"My son is gone now," said Dingle, before referring to Metz: "He don't know the pain we go through."

A reputed gang leader, Metz, 30, formerly of Newark, received the 15-year prison term after having pleaded guilty on March 24 to an aggravated manslaughter charge in connection with the July 11, 2011 drive-by shooting in Newark that ultimately killed 28-year-old city resident Kenyon Simon.

As part of a plea deal, that 15-year sentence will run concurrent to the 65-year prison sentence Metz received in March 2015 for the July 29, 2011 fatal shooting of Tariq Walker on Shephard Avenue in Newark. Metz was convicted at a 2014 trial of murder and weapons offenses in Walker's death.

Metz will not be eligible for parole until November 2066, when he will be 81 years old, according to the New Jersey Department of Corrections.

Before being sentenced on Friday, Metz offered his apologies to Simon's family members for their loss.

"I just want to apologize sincerely," Metz said.

In pleading guilty, Metz admitted he was a passenger in a vehicle being driven on Spruce Street in Newark on July 11, 2011 when he opened fire into a crowd of people with an assault-type weapon. Metz said he was looking to shoot people in the crowd.

One of the bullets struck Simon in the head and Simon died from his injuries on Aug. 4, 2011.

A reputed leader of the Brick City Brims - a set of the Bloods street gang - Metz has a long history of violence in Newark.

In the summer of 2007, for example, Metz allegedly helped kick off a bloody street war by seeking revenge for his half-sister getting shot, authorities said. That war left at least two dead and four wounded, police have said.

During Friday's hearing, Superior Court Judge Richard Sules -- who became a judge in 2014 and sentenced Metz in both homicide cases -- noted that "in the short time that I've been on the bench, I've had the opportunity to sentence you to not one, but two sentences involving your killing two of our citizens."

With the two lengthy prison sentences, Sules said he hopes "this will be the last."

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

Newark mayor speaks of 'tragic week' in the city

Meljia T. Oliver, 31 (Photo: ECPO) 

Meljia T. Oliver, 31, of East Orange, was charged with murder and weapons offenses in the April 30 shooting death of Taquan Boston, 27, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray said Friday. Boston, of Newark, was gunned down on Isabella Avenue.

In another case, Newark resident 24-year-old Khalid Greene is accused of fatally shooting Tyree Scott, 20, also from the city, on North Munn Avenue around 11:30 a.m. April 29, authorities said.

2 charged in killing of NJIT student

Greene also faces murder and weapons charges. The shooting stemmed from a dispute, according to the prosecutor's office.

Khalid Greene (Photo: ECPO)Noah Cohen | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

Both men were at large as of Friday, officials added.

The allegations were made public as authorities also announced charges against two men in the slaying of a New Jersey Institute of Technology student. Detectives took both men into custody this week.

"This was a tragic week for us here in the city of Newark," Mayor Ras Baraka said at a press conference about the homicides. "There were senseless deaths in our community."

The latest in a series of homicides came late Thursday on Mount Prospect Avenue. Details on that investigation were not immediately available.

Authorities urged anyone with information about the wanted men to call 1-877-847-7432.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.