Andre Ward is the last U.S. boxer to win gold at the Olympics. He thinks Stevenson, who begins his Olympic quest on Sunday, can reach the top, too. Watch video

RIO DE JANEIRO -- It is not a distinction that Andre Ward takes any pleasure in having, and one he hopes is removed from his resume for good in the next few days at the Olympics. 

Still, until that finally happens, Ward is the last American male boxer to win an Olympic gold medal. He climbed to the medal stand in 2004, an eternity ago, and that no one has done it since is stunning for a country that has produced more Olympic champions than any other.

"I'm surprised. I'm amazed. I'm disappointed," Ward said recently in a phone interview. "The United States of America at one time was feared. Unfortunately, right now, we're not feared and I don't even know how much we're respected.

"The only way that's going to change is by going to the Olympics and winning medals, and not talking about it but showing the world that we're a country you have to deal with."

Ward had a good idea who can make that happen. He believes in Shakur Stevenson, the 19-year-old boxer from Newark, and not just because of what he's seen from the undefeated international boxer in the ring.

Meet all of N.J.'s Olympians in Rio

He thinks Stevenson has the mental makeup, too, for greatness. Ward should know: He hasn't lost a fight since he was a 14-year-old amateur, a perfect 32-0 as a professional. 

"You can have all the skill in the world, all the potential in the world, all the best coaches in the world, but when the light comes on he knows how to rise to the occasion," Ward said. "Funny things happen when those lights come on. Some people can perform under them. Some people can't. Shakur wants to fight in the biggest moments. I look at that and I'm impressed."

Stevenson, who earned a bye in the first round of the bantamweight division, will finally begin his pursuit of that Olympic gold at the Riocentro boxing pavilion on Sunday at 11:15 am. He'll face Robenilson Vieira de Jesus, a 28-year-old Brazilian fighter competing in his third Olympics.

If he wins, he'll box either Dzmitry Asanau (Belarus) or Erdenebat Tsendbaatar (Mongolia) in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. A win, and he'd be guaranteed to leave Rio with no less than a bronze medal. 

But Stevenson did not come to Rio for bronze, but this is where his road could get difficult. He likely would face Michael Conlan (Ireland), the defending world champion in the weight class, in the semifinals on Thursday afternoon. Even Billy Walsh, the U.S. women's coach who coached Conlan and Ireland at the London Olympics, thinks Stevenson is the underdog.

"Shakur Stevenson is an exciting young talent, but he is young, only just turned 19, he's never fought at a major championship at senior level," Walsh told the Irish News. "He fought in WSB [World Series of Boxing] and did well, beat a few lads in it, but how can you make a fella like that a favorite when you look at Michael Conlan's track record?"

Then again, international success isn't always dependent on experience. An 18-year-old Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, won gold in Rome. Floyd Paterson was 17 when he won gold eight years earlier.

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Those success, of course, are ancient history now. American boxing desperately wants to return to recapture that glorious Olympic past, and Ward better than anyone understands the spoils that will come to the boxers who make that happen. 

"It's something different entirely when you win a gold medal," Ward said. "It's going to put him in a special place in Olympic history, but it's also going to catapult his professional career way better than it would be if he didn't win a medal.

"No matter what I did as a professional, I knew I was in the history books with the likes of Muhammad Ali and those kind of names. That will always be the shining moment of my career."

Starting on Sunday, in a ring here in Rio, a teenager from Newark will try to put himself on a list with those famous names. Ward, the last American to do so, believes he can. 

Steve Politi may be reached at spoliti@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevePoliti. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

Collapse reported Friday afternoon

NEWARK -- There were no injuries after a partial roof collapse at a school on Woodside Avenue Friday afternoon, authorities said.

Newark firefighters, including the special operations and collapse units, responded to the Maria L. Varisco Charter School shortly before 1 p.m. No students were in the school when the roof collapsed into a second floor classroom, according to authorities.

 Former nightclub building badly damaged after Newark blaze

Police temporarily closed Woodside Avenue as emergency responders worked at the building. A school representative at the scene declined to comment.

The Department of Engineering inspected the school and found the structure is stable, according to a city statement. Officials were working to determine what caused the collapse. 

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

Detectives setup surveillance in response to complaints about drug dealing

(File photo) 

In response to complaints about drug dealing in the area, sheriff's narcotics officers conducted surveillance at Delavan Avenue and Romaine Place Thursday, according to Sheriff Armando Fontoura. With investigators watching, Rodney Burch, 23, and Christopher Ojeda, 22, showed up at the intersection and soon met two other men on bicycles, the sheriff added.

Burch and Ojeda exchanged items for cash with the two cyclists after a brief conversation, Fontoura said in a statement. Narcotics detectives moved to investigate and discovered the drugs.

No reported injuries after roof collapse at school in Newark

According to the sheriff, Burch had 67 vials of crack cocaine while Ojeda was arrested with 43 vials of the drug. Officers did not locate the two bikers.

Burch and Ojeda face charges, including possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute the drugs within 1,000 feet of Broadway Elementary School, authorities said. The pair were ordered held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 bail.

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

Extreme weather? New Jersey has seen it all, from triple-digit temperatures to teeth-rattling wind chills. Watch video

You don't have to be stuck in a desert in Arizona to swelter in 110-degree heat. 

It can get that hot here in New Jersey, and that's exactly what happened in the summer of 1936, when the Garden State had its highest temperature reading ever recorded. On July 10 that year, the thermometer at a climate station in the Runyon section of Old Bridge soared to 110 degrees, a record that still stands today, said New Jersey State Climatologist David Robinson at Rutgers University.

The closest scorcher since then was a 108-degree temperature reading at Newark International Airport on July 22, 2011, when New Jersey was suffering through a brutal summer heat wave.

And, in case you're wondering, that was the actual air temperature -- not the "real-feel" heat index. Same with the 110-degree reading in Runyon, Robinson said.  

Through the past 121 years, when reliable data started being documented, New Jersey has had its fair share of extreme weather, from torrential rain storms to nasty blizzards.

The most recent record set was Wednesday: the hottest ocean temperature ever recorded, 83.3 degrees, off the coast of Atlantic City, as the first heat wave of August was getting under way.

Some of the state's most notable meteorological records can be found in the photo gallery above.

The heat wave is expected to continue this weekend, with temperatures climbing into the mid-90s. Forecasters say the heat index -- how hot it feels when you combine the air temperature with the humidity -- could get as high as 105 to 110 degrees.

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

Tiffany Carpenter, 21, was charged with leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury and endangering an injured victim

NEWARK -- A Dunmore, Pa., resident was arrested Friday after she hit a pedestrian with her car and then left the scene, police said.

Tiffany Carpenter, 21, was charged with leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury and endangering an injured victim, Capt. Derek Glenn, a spokesman for the city's Department of Public Safety, announced in a news release.

Tiffany Carpenter, 21, of Dunmore, Pa. (Courtesy of Newark Department of Public Safety) 

Glenn said a 28-year-old man was crossing the street shortly before 5 p.m. at the intersection of Bergen Street and Clinton Avenue when Carpenter hit him with her Dodge Avenger.

Carpenter then fled the scene and was later arrested on Osborne Terrace, located about a mile south of where the crash occurred.

The victim, whom Glenn did not identify, was taken to University Hospital in Newark where he is in stable condition.

Carpenter was also charged with failure to report a crash, crossing double yellow lines, reckless driving and unsafe operation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Newark Police Department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). All tips are kept anonymous and could lead to a reward, police said. 

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The Gateway in South Orange was fully leased at the time of sale, broker said.

SOUTH ORANGE -- The $32.77 million sale of The Gateway -- a luxury mixed-use apartment complex on South Orange Avenue -- has set a new real estate standard in Essex County, according to the commercial realtor who brokered the deal.

The sale of the complex, which is comprised of 57 luxury apartments and 9,000 square feet of retail space near the South Orange train station, set a new record, the realtor, the Kislak Company, said in a release about the sale.

The purchase cost of over $500,000 a unit bested the previous Essex County record for the highest sale price per unit of an apartment building by more than $100,000, the company said.

Top 10 Essex summer day trips

The previous owners -- EEA Industries, LLC, Soundview Real Estate Partners, South Orange Commons Tenant, LLC, and South Orange Commons III Urban Renewal, LLC -- sold the property to a private investor, the release said.

"My partners and I are very pleased with the results and are committed to remaining in South Orange and being a part of its continued renaissance over the next few years," Edward Ayuso II, the founder and principal of EEA Industries, said in a statement.

The building, a former abandoned car dealership that reopened as the luxury complex in 2014, is part of an ongoing transit-oriented redevelopment of South Orange's downtown. Realtors in the area have started marketing South Orange and its neighbor, Maplewood, as "Brooklyn West" to buyers looking for a hybrid urban-suburban lifestyle.

At the time of The Gateway sale, the building's nine one-bedroom apartments and 48 two-bedroom apartments were fully rented, Kislak said in the release. Two of the three retail spaces on the ground floor were occupied, and the third recently rented, the company said.

"Growing up in South Orange, it is exciting to see how much it has changed and improved in recent years," said Julie Gralla, a Kislak associate who represented the buyer in the sale.

"The Village has become like Hoboken...and is also attracting local and national investors and developers."

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

Shooting victim, 25, remains hospitalized

NEWARK -- Authorities say they are searching for a gunman who shot a 25-year-old man on a Newark street last week.

The shooting victim, a city resident, remained hospitalized late Friday in stable condition after the attack, according to the Newark Department of Public Safety.

The assailant shot the man in the 600 block of 15th Avenue on Aug. 3 around 10 a.m., a department statement said. Authorities released a photo of a suspect and a Mercedes Benz the attacker was last seen driving.

Investigators were also seeking to question the occupants of a Honda Fit spotted near the shooting scene, police said.

Pa. woman hit Newark pedestrian, fled the scene, cops say

Anyone with information about the gunman, the whereabouts of the Mercedes Benz, the Honda Fit or its occupants was urged to call Newark's 24-hour Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). Police said all Crime Stoppers tips are kept confidential and could lead to a reward.

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

Cops found the victim bleeding with a large bump on her head

Markita S. Fleming (Dept of Public Safety) 

Officers were initially dispatched to reports of a sick or injured person, who was discovered bleeding and had a large bump on her head July 29 on Hedden Terrace, according to a statement from the city's Department of Public Safety.

A woman with the victim, Markita S. Fleming, told officers the injured female was intoxicated, fell on the sidewalk and hit her head, authorities said. Emergency crews brought the victim to University Hospital and she later revealed that Fleming robbed her and struck with an unspecified weapon. Police did not say what was stolen in the attack. 

Police seek public's help to find gunman in late morning shooting

Markita S. Fleming is also known as Marketa Seymor and Marketa Fleming, according to police. Anyone with information about her location was asked to call the 24-hour Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). Authorities said tips are kept confidential and could lead to a reward.

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

Officials credit helicopter with aiding cops in recent arrests

The Newark Public Safety Department helicopter, called NPD1, in this file photo (Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)Noah Cohen | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

After seeing the erratic driver, the officer in the helicopter alerted colleagues on the ground who pulled over the vehicle without incident on Mercer Street, the Department of Public Safety said in a statement.

A passenger in the car, 25-year-old Michael Griffin, of Newark, was charged with possession of marijuana and various weapons offenses for having loaded gun with an extended magazine, according to the department's statement.

Newark police chopper assists in another arrest

Police said the driver, Bilal Ward, 24, also a city resident, was arrested on active Newark Municipal Court warrants and issued traffic summonses for having an unregistered vehicle, driving with a license and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.

Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose credited with the helicopter, dubbed NPD1, with helping officers make arrests. On Tuesday morning, police tracked a stolen vehicle from the air and relayed its location to officers below.

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

Despite heat advisory warnings, thousands came out to the seventh-annual Montclair Jazz Festival.

MONTCLAIR -- Jazz isn't dead.

Despite full parking lots and excessive heat, thousands made the trek to the Montclair Jazz Festival Saturday. 

Adults sipped craft beer (North Coast Brewing brought in Brother Thelonious - a Belgian ale named for Thelonious Monk), and children experimented with rhythm on bongo drums. Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride, before taking the stage, read a children's book to a tent full of fledgling jazz aficionados, most under the age of 10. 

The festival, now in its seventh year, has grown quite a bit. It's run by Melissa Walker, founder of Jazz House Kids. Over the course of almost nine hours, 13 acts took the stage, bringing styles of jazz that ranged from big band to vocal ensembles, and included tributes to Prince and David Bowie. The entire event, including parking and shuttles, was completely free.

Margarethe Laurenzi, vice chair of the board of Jazz House Kids, got involved after her son attended the music camp seven years ago. At the end of the camp, nearly 300 people gathered to enjoy the commencement of the program. Last year, about 8,000 came to the Montclair Jazz Festival. 

"It's all about family and the community and living legends," Laurenzi said. "We're passing that on to younger generations."

The festival took up the entirety of Montclair's Nishuane Park. Sponsors and vendors peppered the park, offering trucks full of water bottles and CDs.

Guitarist Benjamin Samuelson, 17, said that one of the biggest misconceptions about jazz is that it services a small market, and that it doesn't appeal to young people.

"You think it's a small world, but this program is proof (that it's more widespread)," he said, referring to the amount of young people involved in Jazz House Kids.

Mistress of Ceremonies S. Epatha Merkerson, known for roles on "Chicago Med" and "Law and Order," said the festival is something she looks forward to all year.

"I'm a big fan of the music," she said. "And I'm a bigger fan of Melissa Walker and Christian McBride."

When her 89-year-old mother came to the festival last year, she was amazed that young people were playing the music she had grown up with.

"It was huge for her," Merkerson said.

For headliner Christian McBride, the entire day was a "joy."

Before he went on stage, he hung out with other musicians in his trailer, and was extremely excited about his set.

"Put your dancing shoes on," he said. 

 Kate Mishkin may be reached at kmishkin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KateMishkin. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The Newark native begins his Olympic gold medal quest at 11:15 am ET.

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Newark native Shakur Stevenson, considered the best hope for a U.S. men's boxer to win a gold medal at these Olympics, will fight for the first time on Sunday morning. 

Stevenson, who earned a bye in the first round of the bantamweight division, will face 28-year-old Brazilian fighter Robenilson Vieira de Jesus at 11:15 am ET. The fight will be streamed live on NBCOlympics.com, with complete coverage beginning at 10 a.m. 

If he wins, he'll box either Dzmitry Asanau (Belarus) or Erdenebat Tsendbaatar (Mongolia) in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. A win in that bout, and he would be guaranteed to leave Rio with no less than a bronze medal. The semifinals (Thursday) and finals (Saturday) are later in the week.

Stevenson, 19, started boxing at his grandfather's gym when he was 5 years old. He is undefeated internationally. 

Steve Politi may be reached at spoliti@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevePoliti. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

Amina Anekwe presents "MathWizGames."

Sanaa Smith, Alexis Boykin, Jaclyn Scott, Zolah Francis, Marley Dias, Briana Anderson and Nina Williams participate in a math-based activity at MathWizGames.Mark Saca 

NEWARK -- Last month, Amina Anekwe, 11, an incoming seventh-grade student at Roosevelt Middle School in West Orange, presented "MathWizGames," a day of math designed specifically for girls in grades 1 to 6.

Nearly 100 girls attended the program, held at the Newark YMCA, participating in games and activities to improve their math skills and confidence.

Amina founded MathWizGames after attending the GrassROOTS Community Foundation Super Camp, a summer leadership program for middle school girls of African descent. The girls who participated in the program completed internship projects; MathWizGames was Amina's project.

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

Students participate in the Air Force Association's CyberCamp at the East Orange YMCA.

Dylan Brooks, 11, a sixth-grader at Rosa Parks Community School in Orange and Leah Lashley, 12, a sixth-grader at Florence M. Gaudineer Middle School in Springfield at the East Orange YMCA's CyberCamp.

EAST ORANGE -- Internet security took center stage for the young campers attending the Air Force Association CyberCamp, held earlier this month at the East Orange YMCA.

CyberCamp is one of the AFA's CyberPatriot programs, a national program designed to inspire students to pursue careers in cyber security and other technical fields.

Thirteen middle school students from East Orange, Orange, South Orange, Springfield and West Orange attended the camp, where the lessons included the importance of creating passwords and changing them frequently to protect their personal devices from computer hackers. The campers also dabbled in website administration.

"I never knew I had the skills to do technical stuff on the computer,'' said Dylan Brooks, a sixth-grader at Rosa Parks Community School in Orange.

"Kids are naturally attuned to computers, and CyberCamp exposes them to mind-expanding opportunities, fostering creative, productive thinking to solve real-world challenges," said Metro YMCA chief development officer Lisa Kelly.

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

Police are asking for help to identify two men whose pictures were captured by in security camera photos.

Police are appealed for help from the public in identifying two men wanted for a home invasion that occurred Saturday. (Newark Depart. of Public Safety photo) Tom Haydon | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

NEWARK -- Police released surveillance images of two suspects wanted in a home invasion in the city on Saturday.

One man is wearing a bright red shirt and the other is in camouflage pants.

Authorities released the photographs of the two men on Sunday and asked for the public's help in identifying them.

"While police are actively searching for the suspect, we seek the public's assistance in quickly locating and removing him from our streets. This investigation is active and ongoing," Newark police said.

The home invasion occurred Saturday on the the 100 block of West Market Street.

Anyone with information is asked to call the department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-695-8477 or 1-877-695-4867. All calls to the tip line are kept confidential and could result in a reward, authorities said.

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

Stevenson gives himself a "C-minus" but he advances to the quarterfinals, where he'll face a Mongolia boxer on Tuesday.

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Her son was about to enter the arena for the biggest fight of his life when, almost out of nowhere, a primal roar filled the building. It was almost like the fans threw the first punch, and even though she knew it was coming, it hit Malikah Stevenson square in the jaw.

"Where did all these people come from?!" she wondered.

Shakur Stevenson had braced himself for the hostile reception, too, but it was as if the building went from library quiet to the last day of Carnival. Sure, it was understandable that the Brazilian crowd who cheer for one of its own, Robenilson de Jesus, given how passionate this country is about its sports.

But then the announcer introduced the American opponent, and that whole Olympic spirit thing floated through those five empty rings and right out the door.

"I never got booed like that in my life," Stevenson said. "I knew it was coming, but once you're there it's a little different than I expected. I didn't think it was going to be that bad. I was like, 'Damn!'"

13 cool things about Shakur Stevenson

He went from excited to a little nervous in an instant. Stevenson brought an undefeated international record into his first Olympic bout but he hadn't fought a real fight since March. The rust, the crowd, the pressure -- he had plenty of excuses for a poor performance.

That's what made what happened at the end so sweet. The announcer gave the result by unanimous decision, the referee held the Newark teenager's arm to the air, and the hometown fans couldn't even muster the energy to boo the decision because, well, they knew.

"They got quiet then," Stevenson said with -- as usual -- a big toothy grin.

And so it begins. The kid who is carrying the hopes of his tight-knit family, the New Jersey city he loves and all of USA Boxing shook off some early jitters to dominate his opponent on Sunday afternoon.

He gave himself a C-minus as a grade, and without question, he left himself room to improve. He went to the third round up on one card and tied on the other two, but that's when he destroyed de Jesus with a series of combinations and jabs. The Brazilian, a stitched-up cut above his right eye and welts all over his face, looked like he had stepped out of a nasty car wreck when it ended.

Stevenson? He looked like he was relieved, most of all, but also hungry for more. He had spent the first half of the Olympics watching his teammates, one after another, get their shot in the ring while he waited. Patience, he let it be known, is not one of his strengths. 

"That was the worst part of the thing," he said. Competition in his bantamweight started late and doesn't end until the night before the Closing Ceremony, and after waiting most of his 19 years for this opportunity, the last few days were gnawing at him. 

His debut was an anticipated one among boxing observers, too. De Jesus, at 28 and competing in his third Olympics, was a known commodity. Most here only knew Stevenson's reputation as a boxer with a lot of talent, but that doesn't always mean Olympic success.

Besides, the U.S. hadn't produced a men's Olympic champion since 2004. It qualified just six out of a possible 10 weight divisions for Rio, making it the smallest contingent of boxers Team USA has ever sent to a non-boycotted Olympics since 1908.

Andre Ward: Stevenson is golden

The people who knew him the best weren't worried. His grandfather Wali Moses, the one who brought him into the ring when he was 5, watched from the front row with Malikah and his father, Shahid Guyton. Kay Koroma, who has coached him for almost half his life, was curious to see how the boxer responded to the hostile atmosphere but wasn't the least bit surprised. 

"Man, being with Shakur since he's been a kid, he's built for this moment," Koroma said. "With him, he rises to the occasion. He likes this. When the pressure is on, he loves it. To see him smiling each time in the ring every time he came to the corner, I was like, 'That's Shakur.'"

Wearing blue trunks and the signature gold shoes of another New Jersey Olympian, wrestler Jordan Burroughs, Stevenson got better in each of the three rounds. By the end, he looked every bit like the contender the Americans so badly need here.

And he fully expects the result to be "completely different" when he fights in the quarterfinals on Tuesday morning against Mongolian Erdenebat Tsendbaatar. A win in that bout, and he would be guaranteed to leave Rio with no less than a bronze medal.

"I'm floating still. I'm floating," Guyton said. When the fight ended, the proud father turned to the pro-Brazil fans, pointed at the photo of his son on his T-shirt and yelled, "AZUL! BLUE CORNER!"

Their response? Silence. Shakur Stevenson's fists had made it so they had nothing they could say.  

Steve Politi may be reached at spoliti@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevePoliti. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

The 13-year-year-old cyclist suffered minor injuries. The 26-year-old driver was arrested soon afterward in nearby Lavallette

SEASIDE HEIGHTS -- Police in Seaside Heights say a Newark man was driving drunk and left the scene of an accident after he struck and injured a 13-year-old boy on a bicycle Saturday night.

Police said the driver was pulled over and arrested by a Lavallette police officer in that town shortly after the accident.

Seaside Heights Police say a 13-year-old boy was injured by a drunk driver near the intersection of Blaine Avenue and Ocean Terrace.Google 

Seaside Heights police got a call at 8:10 p.m. on Saturday reporting the boy had been struck by a vehicle in the area of Ocean Terrace, said Detective Steve Korman, a department spokesman.

The boy, who lives in Seaside Park, suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene, Korman said.

The vehicle that struck the boy had left the scene, but was followed by a concerned citizen, who told police which way it was headed, Korman said.

The driver, 26-year-old DeVonne Ramsey of Newark, was stopped in Lavallette on Route 35 North near President Avenue by a Lavallette police Patrolman Ryan Crisalli, and charged with DWI, Korman said. Ramsey was also charged with failure to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident and careless driving. 

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

A CSX train carrying hundreds of new automobiles from Kentucky to Newark was stalled for 1 1/2 hours Sunday afternoon, when police say it blocked grade crossings

A CSX train carrying hundreds of new automobiles broke down in Bergenfield on Sunday, Aug. 14, blocking traffic at local grade crossingsJersey Journal file photo 

BERGENFIELD -- A mile-long train carrying new cars made an unscheduled stop in Bergenfield on Sunday, breaking down and blocking two grade crossings for more than an hour before the problem was fixed, police and a railroad spokesman said. 

The CSX train stalled at about 2:15 p.m. due to an air-break problem while en route from Louisville, Kentucky, to Newark, where the freight carrier has a rail-to-truck distribution facility for automobiles, said Rob Doolittle, a CSX spokesman.

The train, which included 100 autorack rail cars for carrying automobiles, resumed rolling at 3:40 p.m., Doolittle said. 

The number of automobiles on the mile-long train was not available, but autoracks typically carry about a dozen automobiles each, stacked two or even three rows high.
 
Doolittle said CSX offered its apologies to Bergenfield residents for any inconvenience the breakdown may have caused.

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

Thousands of dogs and cats at shelters and rescues in New Jersey need homes.

If you're interested in helping homeless animals but aren't able to adopt one, there are a number of other ways you can be of assistance.

Realistically, not everyone can adopt. People who live in apartments or developments that have no-pets policies fall into that category, as do people with allergies or disabilities that will not allow them to care for pets of their own. Adoptapet.com offers these suggestions for ways people who want to help can participate in caring for homeless animals.

* Help out at a local shelter. It's not glamorous work by any means, but it's vital and will be very much appreciated. You can do anything from help walk dogs to bottle feed kittens, help clean kennels or cat's cages or even help with bathing and grooming. Contact your local shelter to find out their policies regarding volunteers.

* If you're handy, you can lend a hand in many ways. Shelters usually need repairs of many kinds, so fixer-uppers can help out like that. If you sew, quilt or crochet, you can make blankets for your local shelter.

* Help out at an adoption event. Many shelters and rescue groups participate in local events by hosting a table with pets available for adoption. They also hold these program at malls, pet supply stores and banks, and can always use a helping hand.

* For galleries like this one and for online adoptions sites, often a shelter or rescue group doesn't have the time or equipment to shoot good photos of their adoptable pets, Something as simple as making yourself available to shoot and provide digital files of pet photos can be a big help.

* Donate. It doesn't have to be money; shelters need cleaning supplies, pet food, toys for the animals and often even things we don't think twice about getting rid of like old towels and newspapers. Every little bit helps.

If you don't know where your local animal shelter or rescue group is, a quick online search will reveal a number of results. It doesn't take a lot of time or effort to get involved but it provides immeasurable assistance.

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

The rapper is helping pitch a big event for Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Watch video

NEWARK -- Rap icon and actor Snoop Dogg is telling fans to take part in Newark's annual 24 Hours of Peace event on Friday and Saturday.

"August 19th, August 20th, Mayor Baraka, Newark, New Jersey, 24 Hours of Peace," the rapper says in a brief video posted on the city's YouTube channel. "Newark, New Jersey, stand up!"

Snoop Dogg, born Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr., in Long Beach, Calif., was putting his stamp on the #24hoursofpeace event presented by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.

The event will run from 6 p.m. Friday through 6 p.m. Saturday, at the intersection of Broad and Market streets.

Newark spokesman Frank Baraff said the city welcomed the rapper's support: 

"The 24 hours of peace is an important even for the city," Baraff said. "It's a statement against violence, a statement against crime. It's using hip hop as a tool in an effort to spread that message to young people. If Snoop Dogg lends weight to that cause, why not?"

The event was conceived by Baraka while he was a city councilman in the wake of a bloody 24-hour period in 2010 when 12 people were killed in Newark.

And even the annual 24 Hours of Peace can be marred by violence. Last year, two men were killed elsewhere in Newark while the event was taking place.

A message on another YouTube video publicizing the event invites people to: "Join us on August 19th & 20th as we unite for peace & justice for the citizens of Newark. We will have 24 Hours of Peace and will Occupy the City at Broad and Market Streets downtown. Bring your family and friends for community uplift and entertainment. See you there!"

Peace, Love, Unity and Safely Having Fun #24HrsofPeace2016 https://t.co/yNkp5m3TbZ pic.twitter.com/EhcdjIX0WN

-- Rhymageddon (@Rhymageddon) August 4, 2016

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

The fire may have broken out in the boys' locker room, officials said.

MILLBURN -- Firefighters responded to a small fire at Millburn High School, officials said Monday morning.

The fire "started in a locked closet near the boys bathroom, it appears from a cardboard box near a light fixture," Millburn Police Capt. Michael Mulligan said. 

The fire appeared to be small, with no visible damage outside the school.

There were no injuries as a result of the fire, and everyone was allowed back inside the school, Mulligan said. Students and teams were seen using the facilities and nearby athletic fields later Monday morning.

It is unclear whether or not the fire caused any damage to the locker room.

A school spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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