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Baseball's wild quarterfinals: Thursday's statement wins, upsets and surprises


Irvington High School prom 2016 (PHOTOS)

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The night started with a toast off at the high school.

WOODLAND PARK - Irvington High School held its 2016 prom on May 27th at the Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park with music played by DJ Shy. The night started with a toast off at the high school.

Be sure to check out our complete prom coverage at nj.com/prom.

Irvington High School 2015 prom (PHOTOS)

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Aristide Economopoulos can be reached at aeconomopoulos@njadvancemedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter at @AristideNJAM and Instagram at @aeconomopoulos  Find NJ.com on Facebook

How an urban greenhouse can help make Newark a healthier place

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The new Beth Greenhouse will produce 10,000 pounds of fresh food each year, hospital officials say.

NEWARK -- The new greenhouse on the corner of Osborne Terrace and Lehigh Avenue in Newark's South Ward isn't a sprawling urban farm.

At about 26 feet wide by 72 feet long, the new building makes a modest impact on the neighborhood, which is known more for its high crime rate than its healthy eating options. But, staff members at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center who officially opened the "Beth Greenhouse" this week say it will pack a big impact into its small package.

The greenhouse is hydroponic, and officials say it'll produce the same amount of fresh vegetables that five acres of farmland would. The about 10,000 pounds of food that will come out of the Beth Greenhouse each year will be available to residents at "affordable prices" at a weekly farmer's market, according to Barbara Mintz, the hospital's Vice President of Community Engagement and Healthy Living.

But, more important than the access to fresh produce, she said, is the community outreach tied to the building. The greenhouse will conduct educational outreach programs to teach locals about the importance of healthy eating habits, she said.

"We could all use something like this...(but) if all you've ever eaten is (processed) food from the corner store...you don't know why you should eat (healthier) food," Mintz said in a phone interview about the new garden.

'Holy grail' Whole Foods coming to Newark

Working with school-based and adult programs, the Beth Israel staff said they are hoping that introducing the community to the fresh vegetables grown in the greenhouse will start a larger conversation about healthy practices.

"It's like that proverb about giving a man a fish versus teaching him how to fish," Mintz said. "That's what it's all about."

Though hospital officials declined to comment on the exact cost of operating the greenhouse, they said they did not wait for grant or other funding to create it. It was paid for using hospital funds, and will be staffed by hospital employees, they said.

"We will lose money off of this greenhouse, that's the point," said Darrell K. Terry, the President and CEO of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and The Children's Hospital of New Jersey. His hope, he said, is that the endeavor will combat the "pretty bleak" healthy food landscape in the city's South Ward, where he said it's "easier, cheaper, and more convenient" to eat unhealthy food.

The greenhouse is the latest step in what Newark Beth Israel officials say is the hospital's transition from focusing on treating illnesses to preventing them. It will work in tandem with the hospital's other major wellness efforts - KidsFit, a school-based curriculum to prevent a treat childhood obesity, and The Beth Challenge, a community weight loss and fitness program. The greenhouse builds on the indoor farm and farmers market the hospital started in 2011, and will double the farm's previous production.

Food not purchased at the market will be donated to the Community FoodBank, and the hospital will officially open a wellness center on Lyons Avenue next month to coordinate its efforts and reach out to residents.

The greenhouse will also house job training and employment opportunities for community members who are disabled, ex-offenders, or veterans.

"It's called investing in your community," Mintz said. "This is a very poignant way to do that."

With portions of the city being referred to as a "food desert," Newark has long struggled with issues like childhood obesity. According to a 2010 Rutgers study on the subject, the childhood obesity rate among Newark's youngest children was more than twice the national average.

Though Terry admits that measuring the success of the greenhouse in reaching residents will be "difficult," he said he's hoping coordinated wellness efforts will eventually have an impact across the city.

Terry hopes to see, he said, statistics on infant mortality rates, morbidity, and incidence of disease, go down in Newark. 

"My goal is to move the needle on those metrics in the right direction," he said.

"I am really hopeful that the community takes full advantage of this."

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

Girls Lacrosse: Milestone meter for 2016 season

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Cop busts Newark man for drunken driving twice in 2 weeks, police say

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The man asked for "another chance" after the officer pulled him over.

bravo-guallpa.jpgJose Bravo-Guallpa, 29, of Newark, was arrested on DWI charges outside the Holland Tunnel early Friday morning, Port Authority police said.  

A Port Authority police officer arrested a Newark man on DWI charges for the second time in two weeks early Friday morning outside the Holland Tunnel, cops say. 

Jose Bravo-Guallpa, 29, was charged with DWI and reckless driving after Police Officer Rhett Peppi spotted his 2003 Hyundai swerving through traffic on 14th Street in Jersey City at around 4:15 a.m., Port Authority police spokesman Joe Pentangelo said. 

Peppi followed Bravo-Guallpa's vehicle, noting that it had a defective tail light, and pulled him over near the Holland Tunnel, Pentangelo said. 

As the officer was speaking with the driver, Bravo-Guallpa admitted that Peppi arrested him on DWI charges two weeks earlier, but asked for "another chance," according to Pentangelo. 

Peppi noticed Bravo-Guallpa's eyes were red and glassy and then administered sobriety tests, which he failed, Pentangelo said. 

Pentangelo added that Peppi arrested the same suspect on Routes 1&9 in Jersey City on May 13 and charged him with DWI. 

Glimpse of History: Riding with pride in West Caldwell

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WEST CALDWELL — This 1962 photo shows youngsters lined up on their bicycles ready to participate in the West Caldwell Memorial Day Parade. The tradition continues this year as the township's annual parade steps off at 9:30 a.m.tomorrow. For more information, go to westcaldwell.com. If you would like to share a photo that provides a glimpse of history in your...

WEST CALDWELL -- This 1962 photo shows youngsters lined up on their bicycles ready to participate in the West Caldwell Memorial Day Parade.

The tradition continues this year as the township's annual parade steps off at 9:30 a.m.tomorrow. For more information, go to westcaldwell.com.

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.

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State tourney standouts: Top performances through the first week

Shooting victim remains in critical condition; residents uneasy after uptick in Jersey City shootings

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The victim of Stegman Street shooting last night remains in critical condition, while many residents say they are beginning to feel uneasy after an uptick in shootings this week.

JERSEY CITY -- The man who was shot last night in Jersey City after escaping from a Newark halfway house is in critical condition, and residents of the neighborhood where the gunfire erupted say they are uneasy about a recent uptick in street violence.  

The victim was found injured on a Stegman Street sidewalk near Bergen Avenue at around 11 p.m., while a second victim died after being shot near a bench in Audubon Park at around the same time. 

Officials have not released the identities of the two men, but Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill confirmed that the surviving victim was an escapee from a Newark halfway house. 

One woman, who asked to only be referred to as Crystal, said she was on the other side of the park when the gunfire broke out. She recalled hearing about five gunshots before people began running.

She said residents have been left uneasy after seven people were shot in the city in a 26-hour span, beginning with an 11 p.m. shooting Wednesday night at Ocean and Winfield avenues that left three people injured .  

"It's making people jumpy, seeing how this is going on, everybody is just popping out," Crystal said, adding that she was unaware that a second man had also been shot in the incident. 

In a driveway on Stegman Street near where the escapee was shot, a bullet traveled through a woman's dark red SUV. She said she was sleeping when the shootings occurred.

"I'm pissed now, I can't even go to work today," the woman said as she sat near her damaged car.

While she knew of the shooting that left bloodstains on the sidewalk near her house, she was unaware that a man had been murdered just feet away in Audubon Park at around the same. When asked if crime like this common in the area, the woman said she tries not to go out in the neighborhood.

"I go to work and then my house," she said. "I don't hang out here."

Investigators were out canvassing the neighborhood, looking for surveillance video that may have captured the shooting. Police said over the radio that a gun was recovered in the backyard two houses over from where the man was shot on Stegman Street. 

The man's death is Hudson County's 10th homicide this year. 

Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea said today that the city is continuing to use a "a large increase in overtime" to make sure foot patrols are out in areas with high crime rates, specifically the West and South districts. 

"We have, since October, put extra resources in those areas," Shea told The Jersey Journal this morning. "There are 30 to 40 percent more police officers in the South and West districts than there are in the East and North districts." 

Crystal however, criticized the city's initiative to add more foot patrols, saying patrol cars would be more beneficial for the area because police presence would likely be more visible.

Last month, 14 of Jersey City's "most violent" gang members were arrested in an early morning sweep after an ongoing dispute between rival gangs. Shea said the department is continuing to working with the Hudson County Prosecutor's Task Force to make similar arrests. 

"We are involving targeting the violent individuals as they get identified and as we identify the disputes between them, targeting them directly with the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office," he said. 

Shea said that "99.9 percent of shooting victims have previous arrests for carrying guns themselves," including both men shot in the Audubon Park area last night, he said. He said he can only name one or two victims off the top of his head this year without gun arrests. 

"I review every single shooting, I look at the victims and the perpetrators and the common denominator is that everyone involved has previous arrests for carrying guns or shooting people." 

Walking through the park this morning, another woman -- who asked that her name not be printed -- said it seems like someone is getting shot "every time you turn around."

"It's too much," the lifelong Jersey City resident said. "I'm about to get out."

Matt Schuman, a spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Corrections, said the man who is now in critical condition failed to contact his halfway house after leaving for school on April 28. He had been missing since and was officially considered a "walkaway," Schuman said.


Former H.S. hoops star pleads not guilty to drugs, weapons charges

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Keywon Savage once appeared headed for a promising college basketball career under several missteps with police

NEWARK -- Keywon Savage, a former all-state high school basketball standout at Newark Central High School, pleaded not guilty to an eight-count indictment of drugs and weapons charges during his arraignment Friday morning in Essex County Superior Court.

Savage was arrested in December 2015 on multiple drug and gun-related charges after investigators found him in possession of vials of heroin and cocaine, according to police. A plea offer from the prosecution Friday included a seven-year prison sentence with a minimum of 42 months served before Savage would be eligible for parole.

A status conference for the case was set for June 27 by Superior Court Judge Michael Ravin.

Former hoops standout arrested for shooting

Once one of Newark's most promising basketball players, Savage's college playing aspirations were cut short because of legal problems, beginning in February 2014, when Savage and others were charged with the robbery of a man shoveling snow in his driveway in Union County.

The charge is still pending, according to court documents.

Savage also is facing aggravated assault and weapons charges in connection with a November 2015 shooting.

Before his alleged criminal activity, Savage appeared headed for a promising college basketball career, coaches said. He scored more than 1,000 points during his time at Central High and had achieved the necessary SAT score and grade-point average to qualify for a Division 1 scholarship.

"He should be somewhere in college now playing," said Shawn McCray, Savage's coach at Central. "It's just sad that these kids graduate and just go right to the streets."

Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Union City student coming home proud from Scripps National Spelling Bee

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Nabil won The Jersey Journal's 57th Annual Hudson County Spelling Bee earlier this year.

nabil.jpgNabil Ettayebi of Belleville, 13, an 8th grader at Miftaahul Uloom Academy, competes in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. 

People from around the country tuned into ESPN last night to watch the best young spellers compete for the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. 

Union City student Nabil Ettayebi was one of the 285 spellers who took part in the competition, and while he came up just short of making it into yesterday's final competition, Nabil will come home with his head held high. 

"It felt actually really good (to take part in the competition)," Nabil told The Jersey Journal earlier today. "It felt nice, and I take pride in being there."

Nabil, an 8th grade honor roll student at Miftaahul Uloom Academy in Union City, successfully made it through the first two rounds of the competition, but didn't qualify for the finals because of one missed point on a written preliminary test. The test requires a score of 27, while Nabil scored 26.

A total of seven New Jersey students participated in the competition in Oxon Hill, Maryland, which ended in a draw for the third consecutive year. Jairam Hathwar of Painted Post, New York, and Nihar Janga of Austin, Texas were named co-champions. 

Nabil qualified for the national competition by winning The Jersey Journal's 57th Annual Hudson County Spelling Bee earlier this year after correctly spelling "braggadocio" in the final round.

The 13-year-old Belleville resident said that severe migraines he suffered earlier this week prevented him from studying as much as he wanted. Despite that, Nabil was able to spell "adnate" and "ethography" correctly in the first two rounds.

Nabil, who will be graduating to MUA's secondary school next Saturday, said he appreciates the opportunity he had. 

"I couldn't make it to the final, but it was OK," he said. "It was my first and last year, so it was a new experience for me."

Nabil's mother, Marisol Soca, said she thinks the experience was an all around plus for her son, who hopes to grow up to be a scientist or a lawyer. 

"I'm very happy and proud that he made it this far," Soca said. "I think as a parent I'm very blessed." 

N.J. is now home to 2nd longest mural in the U.S.

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The oversized painting is along Route 21 in Newark.

NEWARK -- The second longest mural in the country is in Newark, New Jersey.

Stretching 1.39 miles on the walls underneath the Amtrak train tracks along Route 21, the newly-painted mural is about the length of 25 football fields, city officials said in a recent announcement. It is the longest continuous mural on the East Coast, and the second longest in the U.S., city officials confirmed.

The "Portraits" mural, part of the larger "Gateways to Newark" beautification effort, was painted by 17 different artists. It depicts multiple styles and images all meant, the city said in a release, to reflect the cultures of Newark's diverse residents.

"'Portraits' celebrates the uniqueness and oneness of our city," Mayor Ras Baraka said in the release.

Is town's controversial mural 'art'?

"The murals honor our rich history, cultural intersections, and narratives of day-to-day life here in Newark. The images represent a powerful, yet entertaining and spirited, compilation of visual expressions."

The project, a collaborative effort between the city, Newark Downtown District, and the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation, will likely get a lot of attention. The city estimates about 1.1 million people drive the highway each month.

The Gateway effort, city leaders said, is meant to make entry points into the city look more appealing - something they said could spur development interest in Newark.

"These murals not only enhance our city's entryways, but also serve as strong visual reminders of the creativity, commitment and authenticity of the 330,000 people that work and live in Newark," said Baye Adofo-Wilson, Deputy Mayor of the city's Department of Economic & Housing Development.

"They are sure to stimulate the city's economy for decades."

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

2 men wounded in Newark shooting

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Both men treated for non life-threatening injuries

NEWARK -- Two Newark men were shot late Thursday in the city, authorities said.

The men, both 23, were wounded when shots rang out on the 100 block of West Kinney Street, according to city police spokesman Capt. Derek Glenn. They were each treated for non life-threatening injuries at University Hospital.

The investigation was in its early stages and police have not established a motive for the shooting, the spokesman added.

Police officers honored at Newark ceremony

Police asked anyone with information to contact the city's 24-hour Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 877-NWK-TIPS (877-695-8477) or NWK-GUNS (877-695-4867).

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

 

Newark man charged with stealing $130K in heavy equipment from Jersey City businesses

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A 38-year-old Newark man has been charged with stealing nearly $130,000 worth of heavy equipment from three fenced in lots in Jersey City earlier this year.

JERSEY CITY -- A 38-year-old Newark man has been charged with stealing nearly $130,000 worth of heavy equipment from three fenced-in lots in Jersey City earlier this year.

Rafael Duran, of Garside Street, is charged with three counts of burglary and three counts of theft, the criminal complaint says.

Police say he entered a lot on the 600 block of Monmouth Street on Feb. 21 and stole a trailer generator valued at $65,000, according to the complaint.

Duran also entered a lot on the 700 block of Tonnelle Avenue on March 6 and stole another trailer generator valued at $46,000, the complaint says.

Finally, police say he stole a trailer compressor valued at $17,000 on March 13 from a lot on the 1000 block of Secaucus Road.

Duran made his first court appearance on the charges this afternoon in Central Judicial Processing court in Jersey City. The complaint says his bail was set at $50,000 with a 10 percent cash option.

2 lose Newark sanitation jobs after heroin arrest, officials say

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Detectives seized 256 decks of heroin, police say

NEWARK -- Two men were terminated from their jobs as city sanitation workers after they were arrested on drug charges, officials confirmed Friday.

Timothy Jones, 35, and Najee Phillips, 23, both of Newark, face various drug charges, according to Capt. Derek Glenn, spokesman for the city Department of Public Safety.

Detectives with the police division's Special Enforcement Bureau stopped Jones for driving a Dodge Charger recklessly and at high speed on 15th Avenue shortly before midnight Thursday, the spokesman said.

Jones and Phillips were arrested after detectives discovered 256 decks of heroin in the Charger, Glenn said. Jones was also issued numerous traffic summonses.

City spokeswoman Marjorie Harris said the employees "have been terminated."

Both men were hired as sanitation workers in April, according to officials.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the city's 24-hour Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 877-NWK-TIPS (877-695-8477) or NWK-GUNS (877-695-4867).

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

 

3 admit roles in deadly feud over drug turf in Newark

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The men were involved in a 2009 slaying, authorities said.

NEWARK -- A trio of convicted felons pleaded guilty Friday to charges related to the shooting death of a Newark drug dealer nearly seven years ago, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said.

Prosecutors reached plea deals with Ali Bass, Arsenio Payton and Tyree Miller as a trial was set to begin in the death of Quawan Robinson, 31, of Newark.

On Dec. 11, 2009, the three men robbed a 15-year-old on Johnson Avenue who sold drugs for Robinson, holding the teen at gunpoint and ordering him to call out to Robinson. When Robinson arrived, Payton fired, fatally wounding him as he sat behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Authorities said Robinson was killed in a bid for control of the neighborhood's drug trade.

"The killing of Quawan Robinson was a cold, calculated business decision made in an effort to take over Robinson's drug territory on Johnson Avenue," Assistant Prosecutor Michele Miller said.

Payton, 27, of Newark, is expected to get 14 years when he's sentenced in July as well as three years for perjury, to be served consecutively, for false statements he made during the trial of Bass on eluding charges in October 2015.

Miller, 33, of Orange, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, robbery and weapons charges and was expected to be sentenced to nine years.

Miller, 33, of Orange pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Bass, who is currently serving 20 years on an unrelated charge, is expected to receive 15 years. He is also awaiting trial in the fatal shootings of two other men unrelated to the case, Hassan Brown, 29, of Newark, and 47-year-old Franklin Johnson of East Orange. Both men were killed on 12th Street in Newark.

 

How 1 nonprofit is fighting a health crisis among black women

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GirlTrek says 80 percent of this demographic is overweight. Here's what they're doing to change that. Watch video

VERONA -- Debe Davis was tired of waiting.

She was spending hours in doctors' offices, sitting anxiously, as her son underwent appointments for a debilitating mitochondrial disease that eventually killed him. 

One day, Davis became fed up with the stillness. She got up, and she did what her son struggled to do: She started walking.

She explored the neighborhoods around the hospitals, using movement to take her mind off the constant uncertainty surrounding her son's health. 

"It helped me to get through," Davis said this month. "It still helps me to get through, even after seven years of having lost my son."

The habit eventually led her to GirlTrek, a national health movement designed to get black women and girls to change their lives by walking.

Just walking. Not sprinting, not biking, not jogging. Walking. For 30 minutes a day, five days each week. 

GirlTrek, which has chapters throughout New Jersey, is grounded in civil rights history meant to remind participants of the power of black women, working together, to create change.

It also appeals to the more basic idea that in their tendency to be self-sacrificial and service-oriented, black women often neglect themselves. The organization says two-thirds of this demographic participate in little or no physical activity, and 80 percent are overweight. 

Taking half-hour spurts of time dedicated to self-care, a co-founder said, is an act of rebellion against women's belief that they are not worth the effort and energy. 

"For us, this was a shift in mindset and a big bet that walking outside can be really fulfilling in the moment," said T. Morgan Dixon, who started GirlTrek in 2011. "This is not to fit into our skinny jeans or to lose 30 pounds in six months. This is that walking, in and of itself, is a great pleasure in life and has benefits right now."

GirlTrek has its origins at Link Community Charter School in Newark, where Dixon worked as an eighth-grade history teacher and dean of student life. When she read that half of black girls born in 2000 were likely to develop diabetes, she started convening female students to walk around the neighborhood during lunchtime and an elective period. 

But Dixon's best friend, Vanessa Garrison, challenged her: Would getting girls to walk at school move the dial on the health crisis facing black families? Would that alone create a transformative change? 

The answer was no, so Dixon and Garrison started considering the role of mothers.  

"When have mothers taken collective action?" Dixon said. "That brought us back to all kinds of wonderful things that happened [in black women's history], and those things always included walking -- the Montgomery bus boycott, all the way back to women who walked for their own freedom, including Harriet Tubman."

They also were familiar with research that said when citizens walk or exercise publicly in parks, crime plummets. 

"We got great inspiration," Dixon said. "We said, 'We bet we can turn around the health crisis if we can rally a million women to walk in the highest needs neighborhoods in America.' It also serves for a point of inspiration and active role modeling for girls in our lives."

At 7 a.m. on a rainy Saturday, about 20 women in royal blue GirlTrek apparel circle around a city captain to prepare for a walk through Verona Park. They join hands for a quick prayer before they take off in small groups, umbrellas open and neon-colored shoes tapping down the sidewalk. 

Newark resident Naiya Atkins first came to GirlTrek -- reluctantly -- through her mom, who walked with the group. She worried joining the organization would mean athletic competitions and running half marathons. 

In the five years since, Atkins has learned she was wrong. Now, GirlTrek serves as motivation to get going, especially on days when she simply doesn't feel like it. 

"It kind of sets a fire up under you to get up and be more active," she said as she made her first lap around the pond that Saturday. 

Here's how it works: The organization asks its members to walk for at least half an hour, five times each week. Social media forums, like Facebook groups, connect participants looking for someone else to walk with. 

"You see everyone posting, like, 'I'm out on the track, I'm walking. Who wants to join me?'" Atkins said. "It's like, okay, let me get my sneakers, let me start walking."

On Saturdays, women gather in local groups to walk as part of a larger team. They bring their moms and their daughters -- all generations rallying for their own health. 

"Especially seeing my mom and older women, I'm just like, okay, I can do this. I can walk 30 minutes," Atkins said. "I can walk home from work. I can walk to the store, instead of driving." 

Members are quick to praise GirlTrek for lifting women's spirits, facilitating friendships and motivating walkers to get outside -- even when there are 30 inches of snow on the ground. 

The movement has a natural rhythm to it, with each season of the year corresponding to a different priority. In the spring, walkers build their strength and mental health. A "Mamathon" celebrates mothers by asking women to walk 52.4 miles in May -- twice the length of a marathon, in honor of moms giving their children twice as much as anyone else. 

The women then carry that energy into summer activities, like hikes and healthy barbecues. 

The fall brings opportunities to leverage black women's history of service to others. They deliver "stress protests" to college campuses, encouraging students to keep from gaining the infamous Freshman 15. They weave together faith and health in "prayer treks." 

In the 40 days leading up to Thanksgiving, they do a "gratitude trek."

"If someone's out at a supermarket when you're trekking, you pay for their groceries," said LaRae Gunn, captain for North Jersey. "Or if someone is out here with their child, you help them along with their child."

GirlTrek asks women to maintain their weight over the often treat-heavy holiday season, and they restart the formal walking schedule in the spring. 

"With so many diseases out there, especially from being overweight, just walking helps. It helps your heart, it helps you jump-start your exercise regimen," Atkins said. "That's what this team is to me. It's just motivation and the support of women."

MORE ESSEX COUNTY NEWS

Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

After fundraiser, Hillary Clinton to campaign in N.J.

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The Democratic front-runner will be in the Garden State for three days next week.

WASHINGTON -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has a New Jersey fundraiser scheduled for Tuesday, will remain the Garden State for rallies the next two days in advance of the June 7 primary,

She's scheduled to appear at the Golden Dome Athletic Center at Rutgers University in Newark on Wednesday and then the Physical Education Building at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor on Thursday. Both are being touted as "organizing events," according to a campaign statement announcing the appearances.

Both Clinton and her rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, are spending most of their time in California, which also votes June 7 and will send 548 delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July, compared to 142 for New Jersey.

Hillary raising money in N.J.

But since Clinton is just 73 delegates short of the 2,383 she needs for a first-ballot victory, she could sew up the nomination before the polls close on the West Coast with a strong victory in New Jersey.

Clinton is coming to the state Tuesday for a fundraiser with U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who has been mentioned as a potential vice-presidential nominee for her.

Clinton led Sanders, 54 percent to 40 percent, in the most recent poll of likely New Jersey Democratic primary voters, taken May 10-16 by Quinnipiac University.

Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, campaigned in Edison Friday, touting the former secretary of state's experience in foreign policy.

"If you believe in a strong defense, a strong diplomacy, and an intelligent sense of safety, then she's the one you want to be president," he said.

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

N.J. town bans leaf blowers: Noisy nuisance or needed equipment? (POLL)

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Maplewood recently enacted a temporary ban to address residents' concerns about noise and air pollution.

large_Leafblower.jpgShould N.J. suburbs ban leaf blowers? (File photo)
 

MAPLEWOOD -- Leaf blowers: inconsiderate noisemakers, or a necessary part of suburban life?

The township committee in Maplewood took a stance on the town-wide debate earlier this month when it voted unanimously to ban commercial leaf blowers in Maplewood between June 1 and August 31 of this year.

According to a Village Green report, the ban - which is meant to address resident complaints of the noise pollution created by the blowers used by professional landscaping companies - is a pilot program that officials plan to assess at the end of the summer. It makes more stringent a previous township ordinance that only banned blowers above a certain decibel rating that was too difficult to enforce, the report says.

Residents and lawn care professionals were seen in a video of the May 17 committee meeting debating the pros and cons of a leaf blower ban.

"As a homeowner and a person who has physical disabilities, I have to employ groundskeepers...if you ban the leaf blowers it's going to require more time for those people to finish the job they are doing," resident Martin Youngberg told the council in the video.

"Who's going to be paying for that time? The homeowner."

Others said the town was overstepping its authority by implementing the ban.

Jody Shilan, the executive director of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association, which he said represents about 550 companies, also spoke, arguing that the resolution "unfairly" targeted the industry. He suggested, instead, limiting the time of day that the blowers could be used.

"The equipment is still necessary. People want our services; they want their properties kept pristine," he said.

But, other residents welcomed the ban, saying the blowers detract from their quality of life.

Tracey Woods told the council that she researched multiple other municipalities across the country that have enacted similar bans.

"This is not an unprecedented practice," she said, noting that other towns have reported positive results from the ban.

Others said they were in favor because losing the blowers means losing the particles that they blow into the atmosphere.

"At first I thought the issue was mainly noise," resident William Steinbraun says in the video, before arguing that leaf blowers are a health concern, blowing "particle matter" like allergens and dust into the air.

"There's a big impact on health."

In passing the ordinance, the committee emphasized that it was a temporary ban, and the issue will be addressed again at the end of the summer.

What do you think? Is banning leaf blowers over the summer a good idea? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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

11 blazes in 2 days: Newark FD responds to rash of fires

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The department typically responds to 10 fires a week, officials said.

IMG954317.pngFrom a house fire in the 100 block of 2nd Avenue. (Courtesy Newark Public Safety Department)
 

NEWARK -- City firefighters have been busy over the past two days, responding to nearly four times as many fires as they normally do.

In a release Saturday morning, Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose commended city firefighters, who responded to 11 fires in the past two days. Typically, the department responds to about 10 fires per week.

IMG954315.jpg2nd Avenue fire was one of 11 in Newark over the past two days. (Courtesy Newark Public Safety Department)
 

"We have a dedicated group of firefighters that are willing to go through the extreme measures to help ensure the safety of our residents and their homes," Ambrose said in the release.

According to a spokesman for the department, the three most recent fires were two-alarm house fires. Aside from one or two car fires, the majority of those responded to were structure fires, spokesman Capt. Derek Glenn said.

No injuries were reported in any of the fires, though at least six people were relocated as a result of the larger home fires, Glenn said.

Though several of the homes suffered significant damage, officials applauded firefighters for putting out the blazes without causing serious damage to the homes flanking those on fire, some of which are as close as 18 inches away from the compromised structures.

Officials said the causes of the fires are being investigated. Fire Chief John Centanni said the hot temperatures over the past several days have made responding to them even more difficult.

"Our firefighting efforts are complicated by the fact we're battling the intense heat of the fires and the 90 degree temperatures we've experienced these past two days," he said.

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

Woman critically injured after being hit by bus in Newark

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Police seek witnesses

NEWARK -- A woman was in critical condition after she was hit by an NJ Transit bus in the city Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

The woman, who is in her 60s, was stuck by the bus as it turned from Mount Prospect Avenue onto Heller Parkway, where she was crossing at the intersection, according to a statement from Capt. Derek Glenn, spokesman for Newark's Department of Public Safety. The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m.

The woman was likely to lose both of her legs, according to Glenn.

The bus driver remained at the scene, Glenn said. 

City police were in the early stages of their investigation and asked any witnesses to contact the Newark Police Division's toll-free hotlines at 1-877-NWK-TIPS, (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS, (1-877-695-4867). Authorities said all calls would be kept confidential.

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

 
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