Former NFL player dishes up Mom's Meatloaf and other Southern comfort foods.

"We dare you to leave here hungry." That's the motto of Simply Southern, a restaurant in Belmar opened by former NFL player Rasheed Simmons, with his mother, Rita Simmons. Judging from the photos of the food and the menu descriptions, that's just not possible. Featured dishes include Mom's Meatloaf, a catfish sandwich, an all-day Southern breakfast, salmon croquettes and fried pork chops. Also, for fans, on the wall is a framed jersey -- No. 60 -- from Simmons' pro football days. Visit simplysoutherncomfortfood.com.

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The culinary buzz in Montclair centers around the chicken liver toast and rosemary focaccia at Turtle + The Wolf. The restaurant was opened by Lauren Hirschberg, who worked for 13 years at Tom Colicchio's Craft restaurant in New York City with fellow Montclair native Matt Trevenen. On the restaurant's website, Hirschberg is poetic about provenance: "As a chef, I bought into the philosophy that the source of the ingredient was more important than what it would become." For more information, including the chef's explanation of the restaurant's name, visit turtleandthewolf.com.

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Sofia, where you can order a 16-ounce center-cut Berkshire Farm pork chop, a colossal shrimp cocktail or a whole Maine lobster, has opened in Englewood. The restaurant, a dramatic steakhouse also specializing in Italian cuisine (it has a wood-burning pizza oven), has another interesting draw: a downstairs smokers' lounge (the restaurant has an indoor smoking permit). The owner is Eddy Sujak, who also owns a Zagat-rated pizzeria in the Bronx. Sujak is not new to the restaurant business. His Tosca Cafe in Throgs Neck -- featuring straightforward Italian cuisine from family recipes, plus pizza from a restored pizza oven -- is also known for its rooftop brunch and for its place-to-be-seen lounge. Visit sofiaenglewood.com.

MORE FROM INSIDE JERSEY MAGAZINE

Asia has been described by her fosterer as "sweet and affectionate."

Asia 

MILLBURN -- Asia is a tabby/Bengal mix kitten in the care of the Homeless Animal Rescue Team.

She was rescued last year and is ready for adoption. Asia has been described by her fosterer as "sweet and affectionate" and should make a good pet in most any home; she has been spayed and is up-to-date on shots.

HART will hold an adoption event with Asia and other cats and kittens May 15 and May 21 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Pet Adoption Center, 187 Millburn Ave.

The group is also in need of volunteers, age 18 and older, to help clean cages and feed cats at its adoption center. For information on adopting or volunteering, call 908-337-0477 or go to petfinder.com/shelters/NJ384.html.

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 money is part of a $37.5 billion energy and water appropriations measure.

WASHINGTON -- An energy and water development spending bill approved by the U.S. Senate Thursday includes $11 million in federal funding for New Jersey communities imperiled by flooding.

The $37.5 billion legislation includes funding for Army Corps of Engineers projects and Energy Department programs. The House passed its own version earlier this month.

"Our state is routinely in the path of severe storms that can destroy neighborhoods and wreak havoc on people's lives," said U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) "This funding is vital to moving these communities closer to a long term flood mitigation solution that will protect residents and property."

Unfinished project could not protect Somerset

Most of the funds -- $10 million -- will be spent in the Green Brook sub-basin and is designed to reduce flooding in Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties. The project includes floodwalls, levees, gates pump stations and rerouting water flows.

There also is $575,000 to study the impact of tidal flooding from Hurricane Sandy and other major storms in Jersey Shore bays and estuaries; and $379,000 y0o complete a study of how to reduce flooding along the Rahway River Basin in Essex, Middlesex and Union counties.

"New Jersey families deserve to have the peace of mind that they are out of harm's way and don't have to live in constant fear of the next storm," said U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). "These federally funded projects make an important investment in the safety and well-being of New Jerseyans by helping to mitigate the impact of flooding and making us more resilient in the face of future storms."

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

Use this list of 13 haunted locations in New Jersey to plan your own spooky Friday the 13th ghost tour. Watch video

Some say if you cut your hair on Friday the 13th, someone in your family will die.

Wow. Harsh.

Others claim that if a funeral procession passes you on Friday the 13th, the death will be yours. Many people just stay home when the last day of the work week falls the day after the 12th.

But why sit inside and miss all the fun? If you want to try to experience the paranormal yourself, use this list of 13 allegedly haunted spots in New Jersey to plan out on your own tour of spooky spots across the Garden State.

1. Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, Essex County

In 1795, an actual paper mill stood where this theater stands today. With a 300-year history that includes two devastating fires, it's not surprising that cast and staff members have heard disembodied footsteps and voices, and seen full-bodied apparitions here. During a March 2013 investigation, Jersey Unique Minds Paranormal Society (JUMPS, of which I'm a member) captured several EVPs (electronic voice phenomenon) of a woman saying "Don't touch" and "How about you?" in the second floor bar area. 

2. Proprietary House, Perth Amboy, Middlesex County

Built in 1762, Proprietary House was commissioned by the Board of Proprietors of East Jersey for Royal Gov. William Franklin -- Benjamin Franklin's son. It has been two hotels, a Civil War hospital, and an apartment building, but today, is a museum. Both staff and visitors have reported hearing footsteps and voices, seeing apparitions and being touched by an invisible being. For more information about planning a visit, go to theproprietaryhouse.org.

There are many superstitions associated with Friday the 13th.

3. The Spy House / Seabrook-Wilson Homestead, Port Monmouth, Middletown, Monmouth County

The Seabrook-Wilson Homestead, aka The Spy House, was built on the shore of Sandy Hook Bay in the 1650s. British soldiers allegedly frequented the tavern and shared military secrets with innkeeper Thomas Seabrook who passed the information to Colonial forces. Sightings include a boy looking out an upstairs window, a rocking chair that moved on its own, and a man in period clothing sitting in that rocking chair. Experts have declared it the "most haunted house in America." The Spy House is located in Bayshore Waterfront Park which opens at 7 a.m. daily. Call 732-787-3033 for more information.

4. Essex and Sussex Hotel, Spring Lake, Monmouth County

The Essex and Sussex was a grand hotel in the early 1900s, but began to decline in the 1970s, and shut its doors in 1985. It was recently remodeled into an adult condo community, but spirits of the past still seem to linger. In 1982, a carpet installer came face to face with a ghostly female on the fifth floor. A caretaker has also heard parties taking place in the ballroom, with music, talking and, and glasses tinkling, while the hotel was closed during winter. Check into a condo on Ocean Avenue in Spring Lake.

N.J.'s 10 creepiest places: Don't read if you scare easily

5. Hindenburg Hangar, Lakehurst, Ocean County

When the German airship Hindenburg exploded over Lakehurst Naval Air Station in 1937, 35 people died. Hangar No. 1 served as a morgue and, according to witnesses, may be haunted by the spirits of those who died in the disaster. Visitors have seen shadows, been touched, and felt "bad vibes" throughout the air station. SyFy's "Ghost Hunters" witnessed a figure running up a stairwell in Hangar No. 1, heard a door slam and heard a male voice was grunt near a stairwell. Hangar No. 1 is visible from Route 547 north of Lakehurst, but air station access is restricted. For information about group tours, visit usnasw.org.

6. Burlington County Prison Museum, Mount Holly, Burlington County

Built in the early 1800s, Burlington County Prison housed maximum-security inmates in the "dungeon" cell. Legend says the ghost of Joel Clough, a murderer who spent his final night alive in the dungeon before being hung, haunts that cell. During restoration in 1999, workers heard unexplained noises and voices, and museum volunteers have reported seeing apparitions walking through the courtyard near a reproduction of the original gallows. Burlington County Prison Museum is open Thursday to Sunday. For hours and more information, call 609-265-5858 or visit prisonmuseum.net.

7. Harper's Pub, Clementon, Camden County

Harper's Pub has been part of Clementon's history for nearly 200 years. Originally Clementon Hotel, it burned to the ground in 1911, before being rebuilt by the Gruber family who opened a pub on the main floor, and hotel rooms on the upper floors. Owner Mark Shernoff purchased the pub in 2009 and it didn't take long for him to realize there's more to his new restaurant than meets the eye. While moving in, Shernoff placed a box in the center of his office, and then left, pulling the door shut behind him. When he returned, the box had been moved and was blocking his way into the office. Harper's Pub is open daily. Visit harperspubnj.com.

View from 16-inch guns on the Battleship New Jersey. Friday, Jan. 18, 2013 (Staff Photo by Lori M. Nichols/South Jersey Times)Lori M. Nichols 

8. Battleship New Jersey, Camden waterfront, Camden County

Not only is the Battleship New Jersey known as America's Most Decorated Battleship, it's also known for spirit activity. In April 2013, the JUMPS team boarded the ship to search for lingering spirits. I recorded my own EVP response while investigating outside one of the ship's latrines. I asked if there was "anyone in the potty." When I listened to my recorder later, I heard a male voice answer, "No." It was good to know I wasn't disturbing anyone's privacy. Battleship New Jersey is open everyday through Sept. 5. For more information, visit battleshipnewjersey.org.

9. Olde Stone House Village, Washington Township, Gloucester County

Olde Stone House Village consists of the 1730-era Olde Stone House, the Quay House, Blackwood Train Station, Turnersville Post Office, and Bunker Hill Presbyterian Church. There have been many claims of paranormal activity throughout the grounds. Visitors and staff have reported seeing a soldier wandering the ground, both a little boy and a little girl playing, and an older man who stays on the second floor in the Quay House. Several paranormal research groups have investigated the village and captured EVPs, seen figures on the Kinect system, and had many personal experiences that all support the legend that the park and it's buildings could be haunted. For more information about the village, call 856-589-3227.

10. Barretts Plantation Bed and Breakfast, Mannington, Salem County

Barrett's Plantation House Bed and Breakfast dates back to 1735 and is said to be inhabited by more than just the owners, Gaynel and Craig Schneeman, and many guests they have hosted. While the Schneemans have never seen him with their own eyes, many guests have asked if the little boy they saw wandering around the plantation -- inside and out -- was their grandchild. Gaynel has done much research to try to find who the boy may be, but to no avail. If you're interested in spending the night in a haunted bed and breakfast, call 856-935-0812 or visit BarrettsPlantationHouse.com.

In May 1997, spree killer Andrew Phillip Cunanan murdered cemetery caretaker William Reese in the basement of the caretaker's house shown here. (File photo)File photo 

11. Finns Point National Cemetery, Pennsville Township, Salem County

Finn's Point National Cemetery, established in 1863, is the resting place for more than 2,000 Confederate prisoners and 135 Union soldiers. In May 1997, spree killer Andrew Phillip Cunanan found the cemetery and murdered caretaker William Reese in the basement of the caretaker's building. During a ghost tour in October 2013, I took a K2 meter and went to stand outside the exterior door to the basement where Reese was murdered. As I spoke, the K2 meter reacted. I asked if Reese was there, but got no response. I asked if the spirit was someone else, and the lights came to life. Finn's Point is open to the public every day from sun up to sun down.visit cem.va.gov. Finn's Point National Cemetery is open to the public every day from sun up to sun down.

12. Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May, Cape May County

Known as Cape May's original haunted house, the Emlen Physick Estate was built in 1879. Several spirits including the Dr. Physick's Aunt Emilie, his mother Frances Ralston, her sister Isabella and several dogs have been detected in the building by psychic medium and author Craig McManus. Today, the estate is Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities (MAC) headquarters, and staffers have reported hearing spirits in the main house and Carriage House for many years. Physick Estate hosts ghost tours and other events throughout the year, and now offers self-guided tours on select days throughout the summer. For more information, visit capemaymac.org.

13. Blueplate Restaurant, Mullica Hill, Gloucester County

The building that houses Chef James Malaby's Blueplate Restaurant dates back to the 1800s and reportedly has a few lingering spirits. Malaby sees apparitions walk past his basement office and hears footsteps above him when he is in the building alone. Employees have also heard noises and seen figures in the kitchen. The activity doesn't stop when everyone leaves. A neighbor called police early one morning because the "radio was blaring" in the restaurant. When police arrived, the restaurant was empty and quiet. For more information, visit blueplatenj.com or call 856-478-2112.

Newark celebrated its 350-year history with a weekend with a festival and superstar musical performances.

NEWARK -- It was a little overcast, and the turnout was lighter than expected, but Brick City was nonetheless bustling on Saturday with hundreds in Military Park enjoying street food, music and community in celebration of the city's 350th birthday.

The Newark Celebration 350 Founders Weekend Festival -- an outdoor jubilee free to all -- began on Friday and will conclude on Sunday.

"We came to have a good time, to celebrate Newark," said Marion Anthony, a Newark native of 47 years, who was with her children and nieces.

Teaya White, of East Orange, and her son, were together with Anthony and her family.

For White, the event celebrated more than 350 years of history -- it celebrated a city she said is also growing.

"The city is feeling good, and safe," White said. "People are starting to see" and take notice, she said.

White commended the police department for making an effort with community policing.

Throughout the afternoon, officers were spread out around the park, smiling, laughing, and chatting with attendees.

A music concert at the Park was scheduled for later in the evening Saturday at 7 p.m. with performances by Faith Evans, Naughty by Nature, India, and Robert Glasper Experiment.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Hundreds gathered in downtown Newark to see a slew of Grammy Award-winning artists who were Newark natives to celebrate the city's 350-year history.

NEWARK -- Wearing a black hoodie and white shorts, he humbly entered the backstage of the venue, by himself, no entourage, as if he were just another member of the community.

But that was because Vin Rock, vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning trio, Naughty by Nature, was just another member of the community. He arrived Saturday night at the Newark Celebration 350 Founders Weekend Festival, celebrating the city's 350-year history. Vin Rock still lives in East Orange today where his group, led by rapper Treach, along with DJ Kay Gee, emerged in the late 1980s.

The concert was held in the 147-year-old Military Park in downtown Newark.

The concert followed a festival in the afternoon, and the event was part of a weekend-long jubilee free to all with musical performances by Newark and local natives, including Faith Evans, who performed the night before.

As the trio took the stage and began singing their hit song, "O.P.P," the crowd of hundreds erupted and cheered.

Vin Rock said to this day, all the members of the group stay close to the community.

"We always kept a rapport," said Vin Rock, referring to residents and leaders of East Orange, which borders Newark.

Vin Rock said he'd been working a lot with his community to bring a recreation center to the youth in East Orange.

Rah Digga, rapper, actress and former member of the Flipmode Squad, also headlined Saturday night. As a Newark native, she said she was excited to be back in her home city.

"As a Brick City native, I feel like it's my duty," she said backstage. "I always had a home here."

The event hosted a diverse collection of musical genres; the U.S. Air Force's premier jazz band from Washington performed, as did the Grammy Award-winning group the Robert Glasper Experiment, along with soul singer and songwriter Angela Johnson.

Junius Williams, chairman of NC350, said there was something for everyone at the event.

"It's an opportunity for people from all walks of life to celebrate," Williams said.

As for Newark, Vin Rock said he was hopeful for the city's future.

"I think it's evolving," he said.

Naughty by Nature will hold a free concert in East Orange on the Fourth of July.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Marijuana, cocaine also seized

NEWARK -- Police officers on a foot patrol in the city's Vailsburg section arrested a 15-year-old boy with a loaded gun and drugs Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

Officers Jose Danoys and Said Mohammed were walking near South Orange Avenue and Smith Street when they arrested the teen without incident, Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose announced in a statement.

The teen was also caught with marijuana and cocaine, police said. His name was not released because of his age.

Sting targets illegal alcohol sales near Newark park

Both officers were assigned to the city's Community Deployment Team, a unit that places newly-minted officers on walking patrols with training officers.  

The boy was sent to the Essex County Youth House on charges including possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, possession of unlawful ammunition and drug offenses.

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

This $8 billion agency has the means to fix it. It just chooses not to. Watch video

In the Ironbound district of Newark, where there are 200 trucks thundering through the streets leading in and out of the Port Newark-Elizabeth every single hour, the residents are collateral damage in the pursuit of commerce.

The physical toll is documented: One in four children have asthma, which is three times the state average. And the DEP reported elevated cancer risks attributable to emissions from port activity throughout Newark and Elizabeth and Bayonne, where diesel pollution can be 150 times higher than the level considered safe to breathe.

In short, the trucks and barges around the busiest container terminal in the East are poisoning children and ruining lives by spitting emissions have been linked to everything from heart disease to developmental defects, and the $8 billion agency that can reverse this trend is doing as little as possible.

The Port Authority had a chance to invest in a Truck Replacement Program that would refit or replace 6,300 of these poison-spewing diesel monsters built before 2007, but it reneged on a commitment to clean up its act in January.

When an identical program was implemented at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles - subsidized by container fees and state grants - it reduced emissions by 80 percent. If it were adopted in Port Newark, the diesel emissions would drop by 90 percent.

The Port Authority knows this, but it invested a paltry $1.2 million in the program after getting sticker shock. It would cost $150 million to cover the program, which a large sum, but not for an agency that routinely spends billions on capital projects like raising the Bayonne Bridge - a $1.3 billion project that will bring in twice as much cargo and produce more truck pollution.

Gov. Christie himself likes to filch the PA's reserves for his own purposes, such as spending $1.8 billion on the Pulaski Skyway and $500 million to redesign Atlantic City Airport.

But they can't spend $150 million to replace the pre-2007 diesel fleet, because the health of children doesn't rank on their list of urgent priorities.

The PA noted in a statement that reduced emissions by 41 percent since 2006, but cannot quantify how much was through mitigation of ships, the port's biggest polluter; and it says it has invested $600 million in cleaner rail facilities, but 85 percent of what comes into the terminal leaves on trucks.

In Washington, Senators Cory Booker and Robert Menendez - noting the "environmental justice concern" of 3.5 million children living near major ports - sent a letter to the EPA Wednesday urging the feds to take "additional action" to reduce emissions from ports and the freight network.

And in Trenton, state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Elizabeth) will introduce a bill Monday that requires the PA to adopt the California emission standards for port vehicles, with upgrades funded by a "clean truck tariff."

These are good initiatives, but a kid in the Ironbound can't hold his breath forever. The Port Authority says they are committed to being "good environmental stewards to the communities" that surround Port Newark, but ample medical evidence proves that this steward is an indifferent failure.

More: Recent Star-Ledger editorials.

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

Lancers Robitics win the "Think Award" in the First Tech Challenge.

Members of the Lancers Robotics team at the FIRST Robotics Championships, top row, coach Lauren Atkins, Matt Quan, Forest Song, Andrew Matievski, Miles Troijan, Andrew Jones, James McGovern IV, David Milter and Nick McCaffery; bottom, Grace Lin, Olivia Yao, Harris Paspuleti, Kamal Paspuleti and AJ Keenan. Missing from the picture is team member Rachel Margolin.

LIVINGSTON -- Lancers Robotics, the Livingston High School robotics team, won the "Think Award" in the FIRST Tech Challenge at the FIRST Championships held April 27 to 30 in St. Louis.

The students in grades 7 to 12 who participate in the FIRST Tech Challenge design, build and program robots to play a game on the floor during competition. The Think Award is presented to the team with the best engineering notebook, which describes the steps they took to create their robot.

For the competition the Lancers designed a robot that could pick up debris such as small plastic blocks and balls, climb a ramp, and place the items into baskets.

To submit school news send an email to essex@starledger.com.

A wonderfully diverse series of performances is set for the Newark venue, including Steve Martin and Martin Short

NEWARK -- Upon a new, eclectic series of performances at New Jersey Performing Arts Center, there's plenty to look forward to. 

And ahead of the 135 shows that comprise the Newark venue's 2016-2017 season, Executive Producer David Rodriguez tends to feed off the energy of his visitors. 

"What gets me most excited is when the artist is excited," he says, in a recent interview. He's certain that passion will be felt throughout the venue's next year of performances, which include rarified matches -- Martin Short and Steve Martin, Herbie Hancock with The Wayne Shorter Quartet, the James Brown band with Grammy winner Christian McBride, or renowned Portuguese fado singer Mariza with Brazilian Bebel Gilberto.  

"It's like a dinner party, when you think who you would like to invite to dinner and listen to the conversations," he says. 

"We are really proud to be in a state that's remarkably diverse -- whoever you are, there's at least a few things for you," adds John Schreiber, NJPAC President and CEO. "Our goal is to celebrate diversity with the greatest artists we can bring in, and invite everyone to the party."

More than 100 events are still to be announced in the coming months, but for now, let's take a look at the highlights from NJPAC's loaded upcoming season. 

THE SEASON'S MUST-SEE SHOWS

Steve Martin and Martin Short -- Venerable comedian Steve Martin, who earlier this year performed stand-up for the first time in decades, will join longtime friend and comedy vet Martin Short for a night of stand-up, film clips, musical numbers and conversations about their lives in show business. In what will surely be one of the season's hottest tickets, the unique event, titled "An Evening You Will Not Forget for the Rest of Your Life," is steeped in "the camaraderie they've had all the way back to 'Saturday Night Live,'" Rodriguez said. Oct. 30, 8 p.m. 

Veteran comedians Steve Martin and Martin Short (Photo courtesy of NJPAC). Bobby Olivier | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

Wayne Shorter Weekend -- NJPAC celebrates Newark's legendary jazz saxophonist and composer with three nights of tremendous events. Grammy-winning jazz bassist Christian McBride, of Montclair heads a tribute to Shorter's time with virtuosic band Weather Report, in what Schreiber describes as "an electrified, fusion jazz fest." April 22, 2017; 8 p.m.

The fun continues with a one-on-one between McBride and former Best New Artist Grammy winner and bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding. April 23, 2017; 3 p.m.

Closing the weekend will be the Wayne Shorter Quartet itself, performing with renowned pianist Herbie Hancock. April 23, 2017, 7 p.m. 

Legendary Newark saxophonist Wayne Shorter. (Courtesy of NJPAC) 

Get On Up: A James Brown Celebration -- Following the 2014 biopic immortalizing the Godfather of Soul, NJPAC hosts members of the original James Brown band, including his "cape man" Danny Ray. And there's more - McBride, Jersey's own soulful songwriter Bettye LaVette and Sharon Jones (Dap-Kings) will join in for this one-time-only event, as part of the larger, TD James Moody Jazz Festival. Ten years after Brown passed away, it's time to honor him once more. Nov. 18, 8 p.m.

Savion Glover's "Chronology of a HooFer" -- Another Newark great -- tap-dance master Savion Glover -- takes the NJPAC stage this season, in a new production titled "Chronology of a HooFer." The performance "chronicles Glover's life growing up in Newark, to being nominated for several Tony Awards in 'Shuffle Along,'" Rodriguez said. "And it's not just a chronology of Savion, but the greatest tap dancers of the last 100 years." 

Rodriguez references tap greats Jimmy Slyde, The Nicholas Brothers, Howard "Sandman" Sims and Gregory Hines, all of whom have influenced Glover, who is now NJPAC's dance advisor. Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. 

Renowned Newark tap dancer Savion Glover. (File photo) 

"Carefree: Dancin' with Fred & Ginger" -- "It's a contemporary celebration of the films, songs and dances of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers," Schreiber said, in support of a new, original production that next season will expand and tour nationally, as did the venue's "Hip-Hop Nutcracker" "we think we have another winner here," Schreiber said. 

An evening with Neil deGrass Tyson -- Neil deGrass Tyson, the celebrity astrophysicist, director of New York's Hayden Planetarium and host of "Cosmos" and "StarTalk" on television, stops by Newark for a chat and unraveling of the mysteries of modern science. For those enthralled by the endless questions deep space creates, a Q&A with Tyson is a can't miss. Dec. 15, 8 p.m. 

Astrophysicist and television host Neil deGrasse Tyson (Courtesy of Nat Geo)  

Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Poetry Festival -- The enormous, biannual poetry fest -- the largest in North America -- returns to Newark, and will again fill NJPAC and other venues around the city with spoken word. Schreiber notes he's most excited about the weekend's opening day, which will feature more than 4,000 local high school students reading original poetry. "Poetry is a unique way for kids to express their authentic voices," he said. Main stage readings, discussions and explorations will follow. Oct. 20-23.

"The Hip-Hop Nutcracker" -- We've all seen some iteration of Tchaikovsky's classic Christmas tale, but what about "The Hip Hop Nutcracker," a pulsing remix featuring rap veteran Kurtis Blow? The production, which transforms the story into a contemporary urban setting and features a DJ, electric violin and a cast of all-star dancers, returns to NJPAC. Dec. 17, 3 p.m.

"The Hip-Hop Nutcracker." (Photo courtesy of NJPAC)  

FULL SCHEDULE

CLASSICAL

London Symphony Orchestra

Gianandrea Noseda, conductor

Yuja Wang, piano

Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 8pm

Works by Wagner, Ravel and Shostakovich

Renee Fleming in Recital

Friday, November 4, 2016 at 8pm

"America's reigning diva..." (Washington Post)

Trilogy: An Opera Company Five

Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 7pm

Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra

Matthew Halls, conductor Radovan Vlatkovich, horn Sunday, November 27, 2016 at 3pm Works by Mozart and Beethoven

Handel's Messiah

New Jersey Symphony Chamber Orchestra George Manahan, conductor

Members of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

Featured soloists and Montclair State University Singers

Sunday, December 18, 2016 at 3pm

Budapest Festival Orchestra

Ivan Fischer, conductor Richard Goode, piano Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 8pm All Beethoven program

Orchestre National de Lyon

Leonard Slatkin, conductor

George Li, piano

Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 3pm

Works by Ravel, Slatkin, Rachmaninoff and Berlioz

Trilogy: An Opera Company

Das Rheingold

Saturday, March 19, 2017 at 7pm

Munich Philharmonic

Valery Gergiev, conductor Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano Sunday, April 2, 2017 at 7pm

Works by Strauss, Ravel and Beethoven

JAZZ

TD JAMES MOODY JAZZ FESTIVAL

Buena Vista Social Club presents Omara Portuondo

with Roberto Ronseca, Regina Carter and Anat Cohen

Saturday, October 15, 2016 at 8pm

Jazz in the Key of Ellison

Wynton Marsalis, Catherine Russell, Angelique Kidjo,and Andy Farber with the After Midnight Orchestra Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at 7:30pm

Sponsored by Audible

The Brubeck Songbook

The Brubeck Brothers Band, Hilary Kole and Michael Bourne

Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 3 & 7pm

Antonio Hart Quartet

at Bethany Baptist Church

Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 6pm

Cole Porter from A to Z: Celebrating 125 Years

with Judy Kaye and Robert Kimball Sunday, November 13, 2016 at 3pm

Brandee Younger Quartet at Gateway II

Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at 12pm

GRP Jazz Revisited: Honoring Larry Rosen

Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, David Sanborn, Phil Perry, The Yellowjackets and more Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 8pm

Get On Up: A James Brown Celebration

Sharon Jones, Christian McBride, Bettye LaVette and The James Brown Alumni Band Friday, November 18, 2016 at 8pm

NJPAC Day of Swing

Celebrating New Orleans

Saturday, November 19, 2016 * 11am - 3pm

Sarah Vaughan Celebration 

The Christian McBride Trio, Dianne Reeves, Lisa Fischer and Sheila Jordan Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 7:30pm

Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition - SASSY Awards +

Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 3pm

WAYNE SHORTER WEEKEND Cecile McLorin Salvant

Winner of 2010 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Competition

with Sullivan Fortner & The Emmet Cohen Trio Friday, April 21, 2017 at 7:30pm

Wayne Shorter: Weather Report and Beyond Reimagined

Christian McBride, Rachel Z, Joe Lovano, Steve Wilson, Omar Hakim & Manolo Badrena Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 8pm

Christian McBride and Esperanza Spalding: One on One

Sunday, April 23, 2017 at 3pm

Wayne Shorter Quartet with Herbie Hancock and Gretchen Parlato Sunday, April 23, 2017 at 7pm

DORTHAAN'S PLACE JAZZ BRUNCHES

Renee Rosnes

Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 11am & 1pm

Toshiki Akiyoshi & Lew Tabackin Quartet

Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 11am & 1pm

Kevin Mahogany

Sunday, February 12, 2017 at 11am & 1pm

Rob Paparozzi

Sunday, March 12, 2017 at 11am & 1pm

The Bucky Pizzarelli and Ed Laub Duo

Sunday, April 2, 2017 at 11am & 1pm

POETRY / THEATER / DIALOGUE

Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival 2016

October 20-23, 2016

Two Centuries of Piano Passion: Seymour Bernstein & Dr. Victor Parsonnet in Concert and Conversation

Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at 6:30pm

NJPAC Stage Exchange: The Commissions

Friday, April 21, 2017 at 7pm Friday, May 19, 2017 at 7pm Friday, June 23, 2017 at 7pm

DANCE

Savion Glover's Chronology of a HooFer

Friday, September 23, 2016 at 8pm

Cinderella

State Ballet Theatre of Russia

Sunday, December 4, 2016 at 3pm

Forces of Nature Dance Theatre

with special guests Les Nubians

A Kwanzaa Celebration

Saturday, December 17, 2016 at 2 & 8pm

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

with special guest MC Kurtis Blow

Saturday, December 17, 2016 at 3pm

Dance Theatre of Harlem

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 8pm

Swan Lake

Moscow Festival Ballet

Saturday, April 15, 2017 at 8pm

Jersey Moves! Festival of Dance

Carolyn Dorfman Dance

Friday, April 28, 2017 at 8pm

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Friday, May 12, 2017 at 8pm Saturday, May 13, 2017 at 8pm Sunday, May 14, 2017 at 3pm

Jersey (New) Moves! Festival of Dance

Friday, June 16, 2017 at 8pm

AMERICAN SONG

Betty Buckley

Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 6 & 8:30pm

Broadway's Best with Seth Rudetsky

Friday, October 7, 2016 at 7:30pm

Carefree: Dancin' with Fred & Ginger

Saturday, November 4, 2016 at 7:30pm Sunday, November 5, 2016 at 7:30pm

Michael Feinstein's American Songbook at NJPAC

Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 7:30pmpm Friday, December 2, 2016 at 7:30pm

James Monroe Iglehart

Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 6 & 8:30pm

One Hand One Heart: 100 Years of Leonard Bernstein

Scott Coulter, Tony Yazbeck, Lisa Howard, Mary Testa & Jessica Vosk

Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 7:30pm

Judy Kuhn

Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 6 & 8:30pm

Paulo Szot

Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 6 & 8:30pm

CONCERTS

Boyz II Men | En Vogue

Sunday, July 24, 2016 at 7pm

Jill Scott

Thursday, August 11, 2016 at 8pm

Bonnie Raitt

with special guest

The Richard Thompson Trio Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 8pm

An Evening with Styx

Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 7:30pm

The Hot Sardines

Sunday, October 9, 2016 at 3pm

Patrizio Buanne

Friday, October 28, 2016 at 8pm

Simply Three

Friday, November 11, 2016 at 8pm

Festival of Soul

Russell Thompkins Jr. and

The New Stylistics, The Dramatics, The Jones Girls, Harold Melvin's Blue Notes, Ted Mills-The Voice of Blue Magic

Friday, November 25, 2016 at 8pm

The Piano Guys

Friday, December 9, 2016 at 8pm

Jose Feliciano

Holiday Feliz Navidad

Sunday, December 18, 2016 at 3 & 7pm

Arlo Guthrie | Taj Mahal

Friday, March 3, 2017 at 8pm

WORLD MUSIC

Beres Hammond and Marcia Griffiths

with special guest Luciano

Saturday, July 9, 2016 at 8pm

Jorge Celedon | Grupo Niche

Friday, July 22, 2016 at 8pm

SalsaPalooza

Tito Rojas, Charlie Aponte, Paquito Guzman, Ray De La Paz Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 8pm

Zakir Hussein with Niladri Kuma

Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 3pm

Mariza

with special guest Bebel Gilberto

Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 7pm

The Chieftains

with special guests Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy

Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 7pm

COMEDY

Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias

Thursday, July 7, 2016 at 8pm Friday, July 8, 2016 at 8pm

Chris Tucker Live!

Saturday, July 30, 2016 at 8pm

Ron White

Saturday, August 6, 2016 at 8pm

The Second City's Paved & Confused 2: Please Don't Feed the Candidates

Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 3 & 8pm

FAMILY

Sesame Street Live!

Elmo Makes Music

Friday, October 7, 2016 at 6:30pm

Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 10:30am & 2pm

Broadway Sings The Muppet Christmas Carol

Paul Williams' score sung by John Treacy Egan, Allison Guinn, Molly Pope, Bret Shuford & Judy Gold Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 3pm

Brown Bear, Brown Bear

and other Treasured Stories by Eric Carle Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 11am

Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company

Year of the Rooster

Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 2pm Sunday, January 29, 2017 at 2pm

Peking Acrobats

Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 1pm

A Year with Frog and Toad

Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 2pm

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters

Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 2pm

VARIETY

Bring It! Live

Thursday, August 4, 2016 at 8pm

Steve Martin and Martin Short

in "An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life"

with The Steep Canyon Rangers

and Jeff Babko

Friday, October 30, 2016 at 8pm

The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses

Sunday, November 13, 2016 at 7:30pm

Last Fan Standing

with Bruce Campbell

Friday, December 2, 2016 at 8pm

An Evening with Neil deGrasse Tyson

Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 8pm

Shen Yun Performing Arts

Friday, May 5, 2017 at 7pm Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 2 & 7pm Sunday, May 7, 2017 at 2pm

Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier. Find NJ.com on Facebook

He was shot in the leg.

EAST ORANGE -- A 23-year-old man was shot Saturday night on Prospect Street, city spokeswoman Connie Jackson said.

The man was shot in the leg, Jackson said.

He was treated at University Hospital in Newark and is in stable condition. The shooting is still under investigation, but it "appears to be a drug deal gone bad," Jackson said.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The state's largest city celebrated its musical history on Sunday, with appearances by artists including Cissy Houston, to cap a three-day festival at Military Park. Watch video

NEWARK -- The birth of Emily Drinkard on Sept. 30, 1933, at first may not sound like one of the more notable historic dates since Newark was founded in 1666 by Connecticut Puritans led by Robert Treat.

But Drinkard, who later became known to the world as Cissy Houston, went on to sing backup for Elvis Presely and Aretha Franklin, and earned fame as a two-time Grammy winning solo artist and the mother of Whitney Houston.

On Sunday, Cissy Houston helped Newark celebrate the 350th anniversary of the city where she grew up as one of eight children with an appearance and a song on the last day of a three-day festival at Military Park, across the street from the Robert Treat Hotel.
 

  
After clouds and occasional rain drops throughout the day, the skies finally opened up just before show time, sending attendees scurrying for cover from the downpour. But after just a few minutes, the rain stopped and the clouds parted, offering the afternoon's first solid block of blue skies and sunshine. 

And at 4:00 p.m., Houston walked on stage to join the Rev. Stef & Jubilation Chorus for the Francis Crosby hymn from 1875, "Savior, More Than Life to Me," that brought what until then was a relatively subdued crowd to the front of the temporary bandstand.

"We've all been here quite a while, you know," the 82-year-old singer said in a brief interview following her performance. "I'm loving it. I still love Newark."

As to how did she felt performing backed by the 25-member choir, Houston said, "I love the Lord. I could sing all night and all day." 

Others picked up where Houston left off. And after a packed day of festivities Saturday featuring an evening concert by hip hop greats Naughty by Nature, the city's birthday party, known as Newark Celebration 350, came back to life Sunday evening, with a show by the salsa princess India, with horns and percussion that had celebrants on their feet and dancing. 

With an estimated population of 280,579 in 2014 -- a 1.2-percent increase from 2010 -- Newark remains New Jersey's largest city, and the 67rd largest in the United States, a vastly diverse city, racially, economically and in term of its neighborhoods.

It is a place perhaps better known to the rest of the country and even its home state for its airport, Newark Liberty International, its huge shipping container port, and despite a new downtown sports arena and performing arts center in recent years, the same kinds of problems that plague many cities.

"It's not just a place to land in an airplane or on a boat," said City Councilman Luis Quintana, who was at the festival on Sunday. "It's a place where you can buy a home and raise a family."
 
Newark has not had a major anniversary celebration since its tricentennial 50 years ago, said the event's chairman, Junius Williams, a well-known attorney and activist  who is now director of Rutgers University's Abbott Leadership Institute. Williams was also a one-time deputy to Newark Mayor Kenneth Gibson, an historic figure in his own right, who served from 1970 to 1986 as the first African-American mayor of a major northeastern U.S. city, before he was defeated by Mayor Sharpe James.

Newark is also the birthplace of New Jersey's current governor, Chris Christie.

The three-day Founders Weekend Festival at Military Park was part of an ongoing celebration of the city's anniversary, which includes educational, art and poetry programs listed on the anniversary web site, nc350.org.

"Baraka's poetry is there," Williams said, referring to the former New Jersey Poet Laurent and Newark native, Amiri Baraka, whose son Ras Baraka, is Newark's current mayor.

Another one of Newark's musical legends celebrated Sunday was the jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, who grew up on Brunswick Street and was among the first students at the city's Arts High School after it opened in 1931.  Among her countless laurels, Vaughn, who died in 1990 at age 63, was awarded to National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award a year before her death.

Tributes to Vaughan included a performance by a jazz vocal trio of Janet Van Kline, Wincey Terry and Jackie Jones, the latter two of whom grew up in Newark.

"It was exhilarating," Terry said after the trio's performance on the main stage, "because when I heard about the celebration I wanted to be part of it, so when I got the call it was like a dream."

The three singers recalled being part of a vibrant live jazz scene in Newark in the 1970's at clubs like Mr. J's, the Melting Pot, and Top Brass at the Robert Treat Hotel across the street from Military Park, though the the music is still played at Duke's Southern Table and other city venues.

Amina Holiday, 46, who grew up and still lives in Newark, had just caught the trio's tribute to Vaughan, and recalled seeing the legend herself perform in Newark around 1979.

"She would have been very honored," Holiday said.

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

Wendell Pierce is scheduled to pick up an honorary degree from Rutgers-Newark on Wednesday.

Wendell Pierce, star of HBO's "The Wire," was arrested over the weekend and charged with battery after a fight in an Atlanta hotel, according to the Associated Press.

Pierce is scheduled to be the commencement speaker and receive an honorary degree at Rutgers-Newark's graduation ceremony Wednesday.

Pierce was arrested early Saturday morning at the Loews Atlanta Hotel, according to a statement from the Atlanta Police Department.

Rutgers names HBO star as grad speaker

The New Orleans native, best known for his roles on "The Wire" and "Treme," did not indicate he was an actor when he was arrested and the incident was treated as "any other arrest," the statement said.

No details about the alleged fight were released.

Jail records show Pierce was arrested on a charge of simple battery and released on $1,000 bond, the AP reported.

Rutgers officials did not immediately respond to questions about whether Pierce's arrest will affect his role as commencement speaker on the Newark campus Wednesday.

Just 6 percent of some 3,000 longshore workers at the Port live in Newark.

By Ryan P. Haygood   

My staff and I joined Mayor Ras J. Baraka and more than 500 other local residents in the powerful protest he led at Port Newark.  We were there to confront a difficult reality: that the door of opportunity to a middle class job at the Port of New York and New Jersey, America's third busiest port, is largely closed to Newark residents.

In 2015, this Port handled more than $200 billion worth of goods, and its operations provide nearly 200,000 direct jobs and over $21 billion in personal income. 

But, incredibly, just 6 percent of the more than 3,200 longshore workers at the Port live in Newark. And, less than 12 percent of the Port's 2,300 total warehouse and maintenance workers have Newark addresses.

Thus, while the Port is one of the largest employers in our region, residents of the city in which it is housed are overwhelmingly excluded from sharing in its prosperity. Unfortunately, this is a pattern across our city for many middle-class jobs. 

Newark is a mighty city.  It is one of the largest transportation hubs in the United States, and it is home to major Fortune 500 businesses, world-class research universities and cultural institutions, and a large network of hospitals and community health centers. Given our thriving and diversified economy, it is not surprising that a majority of the approximately 137,000 jobs in Newark pay more than $40,000 annually. 

Yet, local residents only hold 10 percent of these middle-class jobs paying more than $40,000 annually. This is part of a broader, troubling picture -- Newark residents, incredibly, hold only 18 percent of all jobs in the city. 

Nearly 50 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. looked to Newark and other urban communities and explained that the country consisted of "Two Americas," sharply divided by race.  In one America, "children grow up in the sunlight of opportunity," with the ability to realize their full potential.

But in the "other America," King explained that people "find themselves perishing on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity." King's reference to an "ocean of material prosperity" describes with eerie precision the opportunities available now at the Port, and the thousands of additional jobs that have been created as a result of efforts underway to widen the Panama Canal and raise the Bayonne Bridge to allow larger ships to reach the Port.

Notwithstanding this reality, Newark remains the embodiment of King's "Two Americas," as 33 percent of local residents live below the federal poverty line, even as the majority of jobs here pay enough for a middle-class life. It is for this reason that we are at a turning point in Newark, across New Jersey, and around the country.

Consistent with King's vision of bridging the "Two Americas," the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, Mayor Ras Baraka and the City of Newark, and other partners are launching an ambitious initiative to combat poverty by connecting unemployed Newark residents to meaningful, full-time work that pays a living wage. Our ambitious and achievable initial goal is to eliminate the unemployment gap between Newark and New Jersey, one of the wealthiest states in America. 

Through this work, the Institute is seeking to develop a blueprint for other urban communities around the country seeking to promote an inclusive economy with full employment for all residents. As an initial step, we will be hosting a National Convening on Economic Mobility, Jobs and Workforce Development on Wednesday, May 18, in downtown Newark.  This convening will bring together leaders from around the country and right here in Newark, including Eric M. Seleznow, the assistant secretary of Employment and Training Administration in the U.S. Department of Labor and Baraka, along with workforce leaders from our sister cities of Baltimore, Detroit and New Orleans.    

We know there is much work to be done. Indeed, during a powerful moment at the Port march, more than 50 people held up their TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) cards at Baraka's urging to demonstrate their readiness to work. One of the individuals, who holds a master's degree, interviewed for one of many currently unfilled jobs at the Port and is still waiting to hear back.

Our ultimate charge is to challenge barriers that prevent the maximum possible number of Newark residents, like this gentleman, from being competitive candidates and receiving due consideration for positions at the Port and in each industry.

As the former Mayor Kenneth Gibson said, "Wherever American cities are going, Newark will get there first." Together, we will create a pipeline for powerfully promoting local hiring so that all residents have the opportunity to earn a living sufficient to support their families in this new economy.

We cannot afford not to.

Ryan P. Haygood is CEO and president of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, a Newark-based urban research and advocacy organization dedicated to the advancement of New Jersey's urban areas and residents.  A Newark resident, he formerly served as deputy director of litigation at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Dogs and cats in need of adoption from northern and central New Jersey.

Some notes on homeless animals in New Jersey:

* According to the State of New Jersey Office of Animal Welfare, "it is estimated that the number of free-roaming cats in the United States may be equal to that of owned cats, approximately 70 million. If left unchecked, free-roaming cats will breed and their populations increase at locations where they find suitable shelter and food."

Star-Ledger archive photo 

The office goes on to note that pet cats that are abandoned will not easily fend for themselves outdoors. Unfortunately, most of these cats and their offspring will suffer premature death from disease, starvation or trauma.

* Among shelters and rescue groups around New Jersey, the top 10 reasons for owners relinquishing a dog are: (1) moving; (2) landlord issues (3) cost of pet maintenance; (4) "no time for pet;" (5) inadequate facilities; (6) "too many pets in home;" (7) pet illness; (8) "personal problems;" (9) biting; and (10) no homes for litter-mates.

Star-Ledger archive photo 

Other interesting facts from the Office of Animal Welfare:

* As many as 25 percent of dogs entering shelters across the country each year are purebreds.

* One unspayed female cat and her unaltered offspring can produce 420,000 cats in seven years.

Here is a gallery of homeless animals from northern and central New Jersey. Consider visiting a local shelter or contacting a local rescue group when looking for a pet for your family.

More pets in need of adoption can be viewed here and here.

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

Rain could return Tuesday and Wednesday

It's not supposed to be this cold in the middle of May.

Temperatures normally don't fall below to the upper 40s in most of New Jersey this time of year. This morning was an exception with record-breaking low temperatures in several spots. Trenton fell to 40, one degree below the all-time low set in 1987, according to the National Weather Service. 

In Newark, the 40 degrees recorded just before 6 a.m. tied a record that has stood since 1937. Morristown fell to 36 degrees just after 5 a.m. but that's still warmer than the 33 degree reading recorded in 1947.

The low of 37 degrees Monday morning in Allentown, Pa., tied that city's record from 1939, the weather service said. In Philadelphia, the morning low of 42 degrees was 2 degrees away from the city's daily record of 40.

A frost advisory for Sussex and Warren counties expires at 8 a.m. The coldest temperatures in the state as of 7 a.m. can be found in those counties -- 34 in High Point and 35 in Hope, the state climatologist's office said.

The good news for those who'd prefer it to be a bit warmer two weeks before Memorial Day is that temperatures will climb into the mid 60s under sunny skies later this afternoon. It will feel chillier, though thanks to winds that could reach more than 20 mph.

Temperatures will fall back into the upper 40s to about 50 overnight under mainly clear skies. 

There's about a 50 percent chance of rain on what should be a cloudy Tuesday with temps in the low 60s. Wednesday is likely to bring another cloudy day with a threat of precipitation before sunny, milder conditions return Thursday and Friday.

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

More New York City area weather

More Philadelphia area weather

Plenty of teams made statement wins in the final week of the regular season heading into the state tournament.

Freshman phenoms: A look at the best freshmen softball players in N.J.

Dara Brevard receives the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Inspirational Teacher Award for 2016.

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WEST ORANGE -- It's been nearly a year since Isabel Kaspriskie graduated from West Orange High School and her former math teacher, Dara Brevard, is still very much on her mind.

Brevard has received the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Inspirational Teacher Award for 2016 thanks to Kaspriskie, the West Orange High School Class of 2015 valedictorian and a freshman at the MIT. Each year MIT students are invited to nominate a former teacher who inspired them for the award, but only a handful are chosen for the honor.

"I had Mrs. Brevard for Honors Algebra II my sophomore year, and the fact that the lessons she taught me inside and outside of the classroom still influence my life on a daily basis shows just how great of a teacher I consider her to be," said Kaspriskie. "The importance she places on keeping a work-life balance has also kept me from forgetting about the other essential parts of life, like family, friends, and doing non-work activities that are enjoyable."

Brevard is the second West Orange High School teacher to receive the award; in 2013 physics teacher Michael "Doc" Lawrence, who retired in 2014, was honored with the award.

To submit school news send an email to essex@starledger.com.

Wendell Pierce, star of HBO's "The Wire," was arrested Saturday, days before he was scheduled to pick up an honorary degree at Rutgers-Newark.

NEWARK -- Rutgers-Newark is switching commencement speakers after its original honoree was arrested over the weekend, campus officials said Monday.

Wendell Pierce, star of HBO's "The Wire," was arrested Saturday and charged with battery after a fight at an Atlanta hotel just days before he was scheduled to pick up an honorary degree and serve as Rutgers-Newark's commencement speaker.

"This morning Rutgers University- Newark was informed by actor and humanitarian Wendell Pierce that in order to assure that commencement 2016 will be a celebration of the accomplishments of our students free of distractions, he is declining to join us and consequently must decline the conferral of an honorary degree," Rutgers officials said in a statement.

7 shout-outs to Jersey in Obama speech

Pierce will be replaced by journalist Soledad O'Brien, Rutgers officials said. O'Brien will deliver the commencement address to Rutgers-Newark students at Wednesday's ceremony at the Prudential Center in Newark.

"I'm excited and looking forward to it!!" O'Brien said on her Twitter account shortly after the announcement.

Pierce has not commented publicly about his arrest Saturday. An Atlanta police spokesman said the actor was arrested at the Loews Atlanta Hotel early Saturday morning after a fight. No details of the alleged altercation were released.

Pierce was arrested on a charge of simple battery and released on $1,000 bond, according to the jail website.

The New Orleans native, best know for "The Wire" and "Treme," was slated to receive an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Rutgers before his commencement address.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.