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Newark responders to drill for major downtown collapse

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Host of agencies to conduct disaster training

Newark drillOfficials setup dummies to simulate victims at a disaster drill in Newark June 29, 2016 (Photo: Department of Public Safety) 
NEWARK -- City public safety officials on Wednesday are set to conduct a mock rescue drill that simulates a collapse of a major downtown structure.

The drill will take place at the city's Fire Training Academy on Orange Street, according to the Department of Public Safety. Emergency crews will train for a mock collapse of the Gateway One walkway.

The scenario will include injuries and people trapped, officials said in a statement. Members of the city police and fire divisions, emergency management office, NJ Transit, local hospitals and Community Emergency Response Team will participate.

In addition to testing rescue skills, the event will help participants hone emergency management decision making for a large disaster, officials said. The course is set to last over more than three days.

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


PSE&G work to knock power, back up traffic in downtown Newark

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The work will happen throughout the day Wednesday, authorities said.

NEWARK -- Aside from the usual commuter traffic in Newark Wednesday, locals should expect back-ups and business closures thanks to utility work in the city.

Police announced Wednesday morning that PSE&G will be changing equipment in the city, which authorities said will cause both power outages and traffic jams.

The outages will be concentrated to two areas of the city, authorities said:

  • The western most border of the grid is Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. between Williams Street and Muhammad Ali Blvd. The southern border is Spruce Street between Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. and Washington Street. The eastern border is Washington Street between Spruce Street and Williams Street, and the northern border is Williams Street between Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd and Washington Street. 
  • A second area encompasses Washington Street between Court Street and Hill Street and Broad Street also between Court Street and Hill Street.

The work will be happening between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Wednesday. 

"People who commute into the downtown area who primarily any of the streets in the impacted areas are urged to use public transportation or use alternative routes which avoid the impacted areas," police said in a release.

"Police will have an increased presence in the impacted areas and will also man traffic control points at the impacted intersections in an effort to expedite the flow of traffic." 

According to PSE&G, the utility is upgrading underground equipment. The outage, a spokeswoman said, will affect about 1,100 customers, who were notified of the work via delivered letters on June 21.

"PSE&G recognizes that this outage may be an inconvenience. That is why PSE&G worked with the City to perform the upgrade at a time when most people are out of the house and when schools are not in session," the utility said in a statement.

"We thank customers for their patience as we perform this important infrastructure work."   

The list of affected streets includes:

  • Dr. MLK Blvd - Between: Muhammad Ali and Williams St
  • Spruce St. - Between: Dr. MLK and Washington St
  • Longworth St. - Between: Dr. MLK and Washington St
  • Crawford St. - Between: Dr. MLK and Washington St
  • Governor St. - Between: Marion Pl and Washington St
  • Vine St. - Between: Governor St and W. Kinney St
  • W. Kinney St. - Between: Marion Pl and Washington St
  • Washington St. - Between: Hill St and Court Street
  • Shipman St. - Between: Court St and William St
  • Walnut St. - Between: Dr. MLK and Washington St
  • W. Kinney St. - 12 Buildings Between: W. Kinney St, University Ave and Court St (BUD#2)

The power play is one of two events that may affect traffic in the Brick City Wednesday. The Public Safety Department is also conducting an emergency drill in the morning at the Fire Training Academy on Orange Street.

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

Shooting leaves 2 wounded in Orange

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Victims identified as male and female

orange police carFile photo 
ORANGE -- Two people were wounded in a shooting Monday night on Hillyer Street, according to authorities.

City spokesman Keith Royster identified the victims only as a male and female. Both suffered non life-threatening injuries, Royster said.

There were no arrests and investigators have not established a motive for the shooting, the spokesman said Tuesday.

Additional details were not immediately released.

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

South Orange library closes after bed bugs found in upholstery

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The South Orange Public Library will remain closed at least through Wednesday, officials said.

bedbug.JPGBed bugs were found on the library's furniture, officials said. (AP File photo)
 

SOUTH ORANGE -- The village library is closed due to bed bugs, officials announced in a post on the municipal website.

According to the post, South Orange Public Library staff members were first alerted to the issue when a patron complained of getting bug bites. After a professional inspection Tuesday found bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) in some of the library's upholstered furniture, the facility closed immediately, the post said.

The library will be closed at least through Wednesday while exterminators treat the issue, it said. Village officials said Wednesday morning they were not yet sure whether or not treatment would close the library for additional days.

Philly among top bed bug-infested cities

"The Village apologizes for any inconvenience caused by the Library closure and is diligently working to have the situation remediated by licensed professionals as soon as possible," the online post said.

Bed bugs have shown up in schools and municipal buildings throughout New Jersey over the past few years. They spread easily, often brought to new places on clothing, and being bitten by the bugs can cause minor rashes or skin irritation. An infestation can be treated via professional extermination.

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

Shelter offers free clinics for fostered pets

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A vet will examine pets and address wellness issues for animals fostered through rescue groups.

Vet examining dog 

MONTCLAIR -- The Montclair Township Animal Shelter has announced that animals in foster homes by way of recognized rescue groups can receive free walk-in medical care at the shelter.

Veterinarian Elizabeth Houston will be available at the shelter every Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m. to examine pets and to address wellness issues for fostered animals.

The shelter is located at 77 N. Willow St. in Montclair. For more information, call 973-744-8600.

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.

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Convicted 'nanny-cam' attacker sentenced to life in prison

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A man who attacked and beat a woman in her Millburn home with her young children nearby was sentenced to life in prison. Watch video

NEWARK -- A Newark man was sentenced to life in prison, plus five years, in connection with the beating and robbery of a Millburn woman inside her home that was recorded on a "nanny-cam."

Superior Court Judge Ronald D. Wigler ordered the extended sentence for Shawn Custis, 45, of Newark.

Wigler, in announcing the sentence, noted Custis' long criminal history and prison sentences that had failed to stop him from breaking the law.

"There is no deterring Mr. Custis," Wigler said. He said Custis had been convicted of crimes in one-third of New Jersey's 21 counties.

Wigler imposed the life sentence for a robbery charge, and ordered that Custis serve at least 85 percent of that term before being eligible for parole. Under New Jersey law, a life sentence is 75 years. Custis would have to serve at least 63 years and 9 months, or 85 percent, before he could be paroled on that charge.

However, Wigler also imposed a separate five-year sentence for a charge of endangering the welfare of a child, and ordered the five-year term to run consecutive to the life sentence.

During the attack, the victim's 3-year-old daughter sat on a couch just feet away from where her mother was beaten. The woman's 18-month-old son was asleep on the second floor of the home.

When Wigler announced the life sentence, the victim of the crime, who was sitting in the courtroom, broke down in sobs.

She had spoken before the sentence was announced, and had asked the judge to impose the longest possible sentence.

The woman, whose name has been withheld at the request of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, said she suffered a broken bone in her back, broken teeth and a strained knee. She said she still has no feeling on the right side of her body as a result of the beating.

However, she said the emotional effects have been worse. She was forced to move and has been unable to work. She carries a security alarm device at all times, and she becomes anxious each time her door bell rings.

"He (Custis) has taken my sense of security. I spend more time in therapy when I should be spending it with my family," she said.

Both Wigler and Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Jamel Semper commended the victim for her courage to confront Custis and testify during the trial.

Semper had asked for the extended prison sentence, noting that Custis had been arrested 38 times and has a criminal record dating back to the 1980s.

"This defendant has almost as many arrests as birthdays," Semper said.

He noted Custis was arrested in 1992 for breaking into a home that was strikingly similar to the Millburn attack. In that prior case, Custis beat a woman who had an 18-month-old child in her arms, and threw her down a set of stairs, Semper said. The Millburn victim was thrown down her basement stairs, authorities have said.

Semper said Custis has shown no contrition for this attack.

During the sentencing, Custis sat with his hands cuffed, holding a folder against the right side of his head to prevent news cameras from taking his picture. He declined to make any statement before being sentenced.

However, his attorney, John McMahon for the Public Defender's Office, said Custis has maintained his innocence and plans to appeal the conviction.

Authorities say that on June 13, 2013, Custis broke into the woman's Millburn home, discovered she was there, punched and kicked her, and then threw her down the basement stairs, all while her 3-year-old daughter sat on the couch and the son was upstairs.

The attack was captured on a home security camera, a so-called "nanny-cam."

On June 1, a jury found Custis guilty of aggravated assault, robbery, endangering the welfare of a child, burglary, and criminal restraint. He was found not guilty of the more serious charge of attempted murder.

Wigler also imposed 10-year sentences for the aggravated assault and burglary charges and five-year terms for the restraint charge, but ordered those sentenced run concurrent with the life sentence. 

Prosecutors had said the robbery charged carried a 20-year maximum sentence, and that Custis, because of his prior criminal record, could receive the extended sentence.

During the trial, four women, two of them former girlfriends of Custis, testified and identified him as the man in the video.

Prosecutors had to deal with claims that police were biased because the first police detective to arrive at the house after the attack was recorded on the nanny-cam as referring to the then unknown assailant using racial slurs.

Authorities said Custis broke into the home and discovered the woman, then beat her until she fell to the floor. He then went upstairs, but quickly came down and attacked the woman again as she was trying to get up and reach for a phone.

Days after the attack, police released the video of the attack and received tips from more than 20 people.

Custis was arrested one week after the attack in an apartment in New York City.

Tom Haydon may be reached at thaydon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_HaydonSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Longest-running Black Film Festival opens in N.J. Wednesday

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The Newark festival will last five weeks.

Newark Museum.jpgThe Newark Museum will host the festival. (File photo) 

NEWARK -- The longest-running film festival featuring African American movies kicks off its 42nd season Wednesday night.

The Newark Museum plays host to the "Newark Black Film Festival," which organizers say is the longest-running event of its kind in the country.

"What Happened, Miss Simone?" a documentary about pianist Nina Simone, will kick off the five-week festival at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

According to the Newark Museum's website, an RSVP-required opening ceremony at 5:30 p.m. will feature addresses by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and Leopoldo Fleming, Simone's percussionist.

See N.J.'s other summer festivals

"Screening in the summer months, the films that are shown reflect the full diversity of the black experience in America, both past and present," the post explains.

"Each film selection encompasses a wide range of cinematic forms and formulas, from documentary to the avant-garde, for youth and adults."

The rest of the grant-funded festival schedule includes:

  • June 29 - What Happened, Miss Simone?
  • July 6 - The Watsons Go To Birmingham
  • July 13 - A Ballerina's Tale
  • July 20 - Celebrating Newark's Own
  • July 27 - Ayanda
  • August 3 - Paul Robeson Awards (a biennial competition happening this year)

The film screenings are free, but space is limited. To RSVP to Wednesday's opening, contact 973-596-6550 or rsvp@newarkmuseum.org.

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

College students get hands-on experience at Summit hospital

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Seventeen college students spend a month shadowing doctors at Overlook Medical Center.

SUMMIT -- At the beginning of the day, 21-year-old Candace Pallitto wasn't sure if she wanted to be an OB/GYN. In eight hours, she may change her mind.

That's the concept behind Overlook Medical Center's elite summer internship. For four weeks, 17 college students get to see the ins and outs of the medical field. The students spend their mornings learning from a medical professional, and then they're sent on rotations with different professionals.

Wednesday, June 29, is like any day. Around 8 a.m., the students file into a conference room where they drink coffee and take notes on genetic counseling. In an hour, they break into their rotations. Some will spend the day in an operating room. Some get to see an ophthamologist. Today, Pallitto was with Russel Hoffman, an OB/GYN who's been with the program since it started seven years ago.

Pallitto, a rising senior at Georgetown University, said she'll be taking a gap year, but she knows she'd like to be a doctor for the same reasons she likes to play lacrosse: She likes the team atmosphere.

"Someone's life is in your hands, and it's not just you - it's everyone you're working with," she said.

According to Clifford Sales, a vascular surgeon who started the program, the it is aimed at exposing students to the realities of life in the medical industry.

"What's it like to be a doctor? How does it impact your life? Can I afford it? And is it cost-effective?" Sales said. He said it's important that the students understand what it's like to be a medical practitioner.

"I tell them that this is real life," he said.

He leads courses every Friday that deal with the different aspects of medicine, including money, death and ethics. It gives students a chance to compare notes and share their experiences.

"Invariably, someone's seen a death and someone's seen a birth that week," Sales said.

***

In the operating room, David Weinberg spent the day shadowing Glenn Forrester, a general surgeon. On Wednesday, he was performing a sleeve gastrectomy.  

Weinberg, a 21-year-old at the College of New Jersey, isn't sure which area of medicine he wants to go into yet. That's why he likes the program - he gets to see different areas and the different approaches doctors take.

He can picture himself in almost every area he's shadowed, he said, except for obstetrics and gynecology.

"We'll talk a lot about careers today," said Forrester before he took Weinberg off to the operating room. "Medicine's a hard road no matter what you do."

***

A few weeks ago, Dr. Russel Hoffman, an OB/GYN at Overlook Medical Center was standing at the beach. He thought the woman next to him looked familiar. In his 23 years as an OB/GYN, he estimates he's delivered 4,000 babies, but he remembered this woman. He'd delivered her four children.

He wanted to be a baseball player. His dad was one. Sometimes, if he's watching a game, he thinks, "I could've done that." But he's glad he didn't. He wanted a job that directly impacted peoples' lives.

"That's the key. The theme here is motivation," he said of the program. "My role is to motivate, and that motivates me."  


Cops seek witnesses to hit-and-run that killed N.J. business owner

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Investigators released photos taken at scene of hit-and-run

VERONA -- Authorities on Wednesday asked for the public's help to identify several potential witnesses to a hit-and-run that killed a longtime Verona resident near his business in the township.

Matthew BeneduceMcGrath, 59, was crossing from the south to north side of Bloomfield Avenue, near Hillcrest Terrace, when he was struck by a vehicle around 9:30 p.m. last Friday, according to Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Verona Police Chief Mitchell Stern. The 29-year resident of Verona died about a half hour later at University Hospital in Newark.

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office released several still images taken from a police car dashboard camera at the scene in the hopes of identifying any possible witnesses.

Artist killed in hit-and-run and police are looking for help

The people in the pictures should contact investigators, said prosecutor's office spokeswoman Katherine Carter. 

BeneduceMcGrath owned Benegrathic Sign Design on Bloomfield Avenue, where he created handcrafted signs for Essex County parks, businesses and towns around the area.

In a 2011 interview with New Jersey Monthly,  BeneduceMcGrath described his distinctive signs as "the voice of the building, the mission, the space."

Some of BeneduceMcGrath's work was also used at Verona fire stations, the department said on its Facebook page.

"Each of our fire stations has a beautiful Maltese cross created by him," the town department's post said. "He will be missed."

BeneduceMcGrath was married for 32-years, according to his obituary. The Logansport, Indiana-native was also active with the American Sign Museum and supporter of For Lee's VFW Post 2342.

The prosecutor's office said an investigation into the hit-and-run was ongoing. Anyone with information was asked to the agency's Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

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

Convicted murderer was on parole during fatal shooting, authorities say

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A Newark man was convicted of fatally shooting another man seven times, including five times in the back.

Screen Shot 2016-06-29 at 5.03.33 PM.pngDawan Ingram, now 21, was convicted of the September 2013 murder of a man in front of a Newark grocery store. Authorities said Ingram was on probation for a juvenile offense when the shooting occurred. (Essex County Prosecutor's Office) 

NEWARK -- In September of 2013, Dawan Ingram, then 18, had an electronic bracelet strapped tight around his ankle, monitoring his movements while he was on probation for a crime committed as a juvenile, authorities say.

Prosecutors say the bracelet sent out alerts when Ingram left his home in Newark, and on the evening of Sept. 21, went out, shot, and killed a man in front a city grocery store.

On Wednesday, a jury found Ingram guilty of the murder of Najee Montague, 21, also of Newark, acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said in a statement.

Authorities said Montague was shot seven times, including being wounded five times in the back. 

"We are pleased with the jury's just verdict in this case," said Assistant Prosecutor Adam Salzer, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Roger Imhof.

"Mr. Montague was killed in a senseless, cold-blooded attack by this defendant. We hope this verdict brings some level of closure to the victim's family," Salzer said.

During the trial, Murray said, a defense attorney argued that Ingram was home at the time of the shooting, and even presented family members testified that they saw him at home.

Salzer presented testimony from Ingram's juvenile parole officer, who said records from the electronic bracelet showed the defendant was not at home when the shooting occurred, Murray said.

Authorities said the shooting occurred about 7:35 p.m. on Sept. 21, 2013, in front of a grocery store at 1006 South Orange Avenue, near Salem Street, where Montague was talking with friends.

The jury also convicted Ingram of unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, Murray said.

She said Ingram faces of penalty of 30 years to life in prison when he is sentenced before Superior Court Judge Siobhan Teare on Aug. 5.

Tom Haydon may be reached at thaydon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_HaydonSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Boom! Newark police seize thousands of fireworks

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City has 'zero tolerance policy' on illegal fireworks

NEWARK -- A city man was arrested Wednesday after he was spotted selling fireworks from his car, Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a statement.

Police were sent to the 200 block of Vassar Avenue after receiving a tip from a member of the public around 7 p.m. As police approached, they noticed the car's trunk was filled with items, Ambrose said.

Ahmad Harris, 35, was arrested and 6,300 individual fireworks confiscated, including bottle rockets, Roman candles, bunker bombs and other fireworks.

Ambrose, who said the police department has a zero tolerance policy towards illegal fireworks, also said that "getting these fireworks off our streets may have saved someone from serious injury or possibly death. We will continued our zero-tolerance enforcement efforts and we urge the public to help us by reporting those using or possessing illegal fireworks."

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

 

Vintage photos of American pride in N.J.

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Fireworks -- one of the few things that people from the past 200+ years have all shared the same way.

I could try to open with a joke, but I don't think I could do better than Stephen Colbert:

"It's Fourth of July weekend, or, as I call it, Exploding Christmas."

The holidays are as different as July is to December, of course, but they are the same in that they're both chock full of tradition. They are celebrated with family, food and festivities. And, in the case of Independence Day - fireworks.

With these vintage galleries, we look back on a variety of topics. And, we can see differences from one decade to the next in just about all of them. With Fourth of July photos that feature fireworks, however, there is a certain sameness.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

Fireworks have been magnificent for centuries. Invented by the Chinese millennia ago, people were launching fireworks in the late-18th century to celebrate America's independence, and not only did they look and sound pretty much the same way they do today ... they were technologically similar as well.

146727832.jpgThat grown-up feeling when you were finally allowed to handle a sparkler on the Fourth! 

There is a company named Pyrotecnico on Garden Road in Franklin Township, Gloucester County. It used to be the Vineland Fireworks Co. when I was a lad, and for decades they've crafted aerial bombs and exploding shells the way it was done ages ago.

Certainly, the launch methods have gotten fancier in some places; many of the huge fireworks shows employ computer-controlled launch circuits wired to thousands of mortars. But in most local shows, trained professionals fire off shells from mortar tubes by lighting fuses with magnesium flares.

There's something genuinely satisfying about watching fireworks light up the night sky, hearing the ooohs and aaaahs of the crowd, and knowing that it's one of the few things that people from the past 200+ years have all shared the same way.

Here's a gallery of vintage photos of people celebrating America in New Jersey on the Fourth of July. Be sure captions are enabled to learn more about each photo.

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

The most famous feuds in New Jersey history

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From deadly mob disputes to heated political battles and entertainment squabbles, New Jersey has had more than its fair share of nasty - and sometimes wacky - feuds. One involved a cannon, another involved toilet paper. Here are 20 of the most prominent disputes that have taken place in the Garden State.

N.J. man had 15K bags of heroin in speeding car, report says

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38-year-old Newark man was stopped on Interstate 78 in Bethel Township, Pa.

A 38-year-old New Jersey man was found with a large amount heroin after being clocked going 92 mph in Pennsylvania, according to a report.

Screen Shot 2016-06-30 at 8.16.38 AM.pngManel Smith 

A police dog detected drugs in a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Manel Smith of Newark, according to LDNews.com. A search of the vehicle turned up about 15,350 bags of heroin in a gym bag, Pennsylvania State Police told the website.

The trooper who stopped Smith on Interstate 78 west in Bethel Township on June 20 became suspicious because of an "overwhelming odor of air freshener," the report said.

Smith was sent to the Lebanon County Correctional Facility and held on $1.5 million bail after being charged with possession with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing later Thursday.

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

 

For the 'nanny cam' victim, a life sentence, too | Di Ionno

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Woman tells judge: I am in my own prison

"I am in my own prison."

With these six words, the woman savagely beaten in the "nanny cam" case spoke for victims of violent crime everywhere.

Criminals go to jail, penned by walls and bars. Victims, too, live confined, by fear and distrust.

"I am in my own prison."

She said this during her victim impact statement, just moments before Essex County Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler sentenced her attacker, Shawn Custis, to life in prison.

The woman's implied message to the judge was this: I am in prison for the rest of my life, so he should be, too.

 In a clear, strong and unwavering voice, the victim described her emotional jail cell to the judge, one declarative sentence at time.

"I continue to live in a constant state of anxiety."

"I haven't opened a window in my house for two years."

"When the doorbell rings, I cringe and look for the phone to dial 911."

"I spend more time in therapy than I do with my family."

MORERecent Mark Di Ionno columns

And then there are the physical injuries.

She spoke of the constant pain in her back from cracked vertebrae. On the 3-minute video of the attack, Custis is seen straddling her as she lies face down. He pulls back and punches her three times in the kidney area, hard.

"I can't sit in a car. I can't drive my children to school."

She spoke of nerve damage to the right side of her face. On the video, the left-handed Custis begins every sequence of beatings with a punch or kick to that side of her face, before he shoved her down the cellar stairs.

"I no longer have feeling on that part of my face," she said, gingerly touching it as she spoke.

She also spoke of the loss of energy, drained by the oppressive fear only someone brutalized in this way can know. Fear now runs her life - she did not want her identity revealed by the media nor did she want to be photographed.

This is what Custis did to her.

And much more. She uprooted her family and left their Millburn home, where the attack occurred. She was forced to leave her job. She wonders how the child who witnessed the attack is haunted by it -- now and forever.

She lives with all that, in a prison of her own.

"My life has been dark and difficult. We have moved. I haven't been able to work."

She made these wrenching admissions without hesitation or whimper, exposing her physical and emotional wounds to the court.

The only time her voice wavered was when she described the Mother's Day cards her children made her.

"I thought, 'What would their lives be like without me?' " she said.

It was her way of reminding the judge of how close Custis came to erasing her from their lives.

Only when she returned to her seat, did she begin to silently sob, laying her head on her husband's shoulder.

Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Jamel Semper, who tried the case, said he was "amazed" by her composure.

"She exceeded all of our expectations," Semper said. "I continue to be amazed by how strong she is, at her core."

Semper said the strength the victim exuded in even surviving the beating carried her through the trial -- including the day she looked at Custis and identified him as her attacker during her testimony.

"She was very scared to come to court to face this man," Semper said.

But she did. Once as a witness, then to hear the verdict and again yesterday to read her statement.

And while she had the courage to face Custis all three times, he didn't have the courage to face her.

Custis opted to stay in the court holding cell when the jury announced its "guilty" verdict four weeks ago. Yesterday, he hid his face behind a document holder as she spoke.

Some tough guy.

"It's never a fair fight," Semper said during his statement in court yesterday. "He goes after women and children, the most vulnerable."

Semper was finally able to air the fact that Custis, 45, was convicted of a similar incident in 1993, when he beat a young mother during a home invasion the year before. In that one, he pushed the woman down the stairs while she was holding a baby.

It was part of the "massive, crushing weight" of Custis' prior convictions that Semper noted, in asking the judge to impose a life sentence.

"Since 1988, he's had as many felony arrests as he's had birthdays," Semper said. "Thirty-eight arrests, 17 felony convictions, 12 prison terms ... half-measures and leniency didn't work with this defendant. He goes right back to doing what he did before."

Wigler agreed, saying Custis' prior record was "rather staggering."

Then he began to read the sentences for each count in the case. When he said the word "life," the victim's sobs intensified and she began to cry audibly.

Not tears of joy, not tears of relief, but some combination of those and an abject emotional breakdown that defies description.

Semper tried.

"She was very excited about the prospect of putting this behind her," he said.

But he knows she never will, not completely.

She is in her own prison.

And now, Custis is in his.

Mark Di Ionno may be reached at mdiionno@starledger.com. Follow The Star-Ledger on Twitter @StarLedger and find us on Facebook.


Creation to installation: 50-foot mural celebrates HS history (PHOTOS)

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The mural celebrating Newark School of the Arts and 350th anniversary of the city of Newark is being unveiled Thursday.

NEWARK -- It is only fitting that Newark School of the Arts would celebrate its history through art.

Over the past 90 days, city and school officials, community members, and artists have been working together to formulate and create a mural celebrating the history and impact of the Newark public school. The 53-foot-by-27-foot painting, which artist Sterling Brown has been working on for the past few weeks, depicts aspects of the four disciplines highlighted in the school's curriculum - drama, dance, music, and visual arts.

The mural, which was created inside a gymnasium and installed over the past two days, will be officially unveiled in a public ceremony next month.

N.J. now home to second longest mural in U.S.

"I'm big into legacy," said Rodney Gilbert, the executive director of Yendor Productions, the company that has overseen the creation of about 40 murals in the city over the last several years.

"For the people who attend the school, or drive by it; for the community that lives there, for alumni and for future students, I hope it adds beauty into their lives, and gives them a taste of the school's legacy as they create new work."

The mural, its creators say, honors not only the history of the school building, but of the entire city, which is in the midst of a yearlong celebration of the 350th anniversary of its founding. The mural is one of the hundreds of ways the Newark Celebrate 350 committee is acknowledging the milestone birthday.

"Newark has always had a passion of telling the untold stories of our people, places and history through our city's great tradition of mural art," said NC 350 Chair and Director of the Rutgers-Newark Abbott Leadership Institute, Junius Williams.  

"This beautiful mural...is befitting of our 350th celebration of Newark as a city of the arts. It instills great pride in all of us about our past and future generations of artists."

The mural is one of many that have gone up all across the city as part of an arts program started seven years ago. Recently, Mayor Ras Baraka has pushed for even more murals, including the second-longest mural in the country along Newark's Route 21.

The public unveiling of the Newark School of the Arts mural is scheduled for 4 p.m. on July 13 at 89 Lincoln Park in Newark, and is free and open to the public.

Editor's Note: This article previously incorrectly stated that the mural was on Arts High School. It is, in fact, on Newark School of the Arts.

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

Newark taking homeland security 'very seriously' at mock terror attack

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Several law enforcement and medical response agencies came together Wednesday morning to train for a doomsday situation in which all the entities would all respond. Watch video

NEWARK -- A car bomb goes off, collapsing the walkway between Newark Penn Station and the Gateway Center during a snowstorm. 

There are mass casualties, and the terrorist attack occurs on a busy day for the city -- there is a New Jersey Devils home game, several concerts and more than a thousand elected officials in town for a conference. 

This was the mock scenario emergency responders pretended to react to Wednesday morning at the Newark Fire Department Training Academy on Orange Street, where numerous agencies joined together as part of a three-day training.

"This would be something that would shut down the city," said Casey Richardson, marketing manager of Texas A&M's Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), which had 12 trainers helping teach authorities how to respond to the mock doomsday. "And it's designed to be difficult." 

The instructional training, organizers said, allows responders to better communicate with numerous agencies at once during a large-scale attack.

Agencies on scene included New Jersey Transit, University Hospital Emergency Medical Services, Newark Fire Department and Newark police's Emergency Service Unit, said Frank Bellina, deputy coordinator of field operations and tactical training for the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security who helped organize the simulation.

Bellina said about 55 people responded to the mock scene on Orange Street, while those back at Newark police's 5th precinct on Clinton Avenue monitored their activity in the Emergency Operations Center, watching live video to assure enough responders were on scene and that they had the proper equipment, among other things. 

The real-time simulation allowed for the department to logistically go through its planning and response process -- how to bus people to warming shelters, how to allocate funds, how and when to let citizens and reporters know specific information. 

"Let's call them back and get another number before anyone goes public," one officer said during a meeting of releasing the number of casualties.

To make the fake situation as real as possible, some pretended to be injured citizens at local hospitals, news reporters and even Gov. Chris Christie.

"It was weird to talk to Christie with a Texas accent," David Lippman, senior public information officer for the city, said of a TEEX trainer who impersonated the governor.

The simulation, which took two months to plan, Bellina said, lasted about two hours as part of the three-day training with TEEX. Bellina, who worked as a firefighter for more than 30 years before becoming a deputy coordinator, said he is organizing another drill -- this time a Hazmat one -- for October. 

"Each time they do this, they just want to do more," Bellina said of the first responders. "Newark is definitely taking homeland security very seriously. We want to lead in homeland security."

Luke Nozicka may be reached at lnozicka@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @lukenozicka. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Officials warn of traffic delays after water pipe breaks in Newark

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Cars removed from closed street

police lights file photo.jpgA section of Warwick Street was closed June 30, 2016 in Newark (File photo) 
NEWARK -- City officials are asking motorists to consider alternate routes as crews work to repair a broken water pipe Thursday on Warwick Street.

Warwick Street is expected to be closed for at least several hours between Jefferson and Adams streets, according to the Department of Public Safety. Drivers should expect traffic delays in the nearby area.

Officials said four cars were removed from the street to make room for the repair work.

Newark taking security 'very seriously' at mock attack

Anyone looking for their missing vehicle on Warwick Street can call 973-733-6000 to find out if it was relocated.

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

Man lured by Craigslist ad robbed at gunpoint in Jersey City: police

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A 32-year-old Orange man was robbed at gunpoint last night after meeting up with two men for car parts he found on Craigslist, police said.

JERSEY CITY -- A 32-year-old Orange man was robbed at gunpoint last night when he met up with two men to purchase car parts he found on a popular buy-and-sell website, police said. 

The victim met the suspects on Old Bergen Road at about 9 p.m. to look at parts for a 2005 Saab 9-3 convertible that were advertised on Craigslist. But when the victim arrived, the men told him the car was at a family member's house on Stegman Place, according to a police report. 

The two men attempted to get inside the victim's car, but the 32-year-old refused to let them in the vehicle. The suspects then got inside a Honda Accord and led the victim to a home on Stegman Place, police said. 

When they arrived at the home, the suspects led the victim down a driveway to the back of the house, where one of the men pulled out a gun and demanded the $1,000 for the purchase, police said. 

The victim told the suspects he didn't bring the money with him because he was just planned on just looking at the parts. One of the suspects grabbed the victim's cellphone before the two assailants got in their car and fled, the report states. 

After the robbery, the victim walked to the Bergen Avenue firehouse to report it.

Teacher accused of sexually assaulting 6 teen boys loses license

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The certificate revocation is pending the outcome of the charges against Nicole Dufault, the DOE Board of Examiners said.

MAPLEWOOD -- The teaching certificate of the Columbia High School teacher accused of sexually assaulting six of her male students has been revoked, pending the outcome of the criminal charges against her.

In a New Jersey Department of Education State Board of Examiners written decision adopted on June 23, Nicole Dufault's three teaching certificates - a Teacher of English Certificate of Eligibility With Advanced Standing issued in June 2001, a Teacher of English certificate issued in June 2002, and a Teacher of Elementary School in Grades K-5 certificate issued in April 2005 - were suspended.

She could appeal to the board to revoke the suspension, if the charges "are resolved in her favor," the decision reads.

The Board "finds that Dufault's potential disqualification from service in the public schools of this state because of her indictment for Aggravated Sexual Assault and Endangering the Welfare of a Child provides just cause to take action against her certificates," it states.

Who is Nicole Dufault?

In a statement to NJ Advance Media, Dufault's attorney, Timothy Smith, said the board was too quick to hand down the revocation.

In the statement, Smith reiterated the position he has held in court, that she was diagnosed with the neurological disorders "Dorsolateral Frontal Syndrome and Orbitofrontal Syndrome." The mother of two, he said, developed the disorders during her pregnancies. They required the placement of a shunt in her brain, he said.

"This in turn created cognitive deficits consistent with a neurocognitive disorder. It also rendered her highly susceptible to duress," Smith said.

"Given the unique complexities associated with this case, and the presumption of innocence that Ms. Dufault is cloaked with, the decision of the board of examiners is clearly premature."

Last year, a grand jury handed down a 40-count indictment against Dufault, who is accused of sexually assaulting six 14 and 15-year-old boys on multiple occasions between July 2013 and August 2014. The sexual acts, authorities have said, took place in Dufault's classroom and car.

In addition to the boys' allegations, authorities say they have obtained a cell phone video that allegedly shows Dufault performing sex acts on two of the boys.

The 36-year-old Language Arts teacher has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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