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Driver ticketed after hitting 7-year-old boy, police say

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Boy was struck Thursday morning, police said.

Maplewood police.JPGBoy was struck Thursday morning, police said. File photo of the Maplewood Police Department. (Jessica Mazzola | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
 

MAPLEWOOD -- A driver that hit a 7-year-old pedestrian on his way to school Thursday morning has received a summons, police have confirmed.

A car driving at the intersection of Prospect Street and Lexington Avenue in Maplewood hit the boy as he was walking in the same area at about 8:34 a.m., Capt. Dawn Williams announced Thursday. Police confirmed earlier that the boy was on his way to school when the strike occurred.

The boy was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said.

An initial investigation determined that speed was not a factor in the crash, Williams said. The investigation is ongoing, and the driver was issued a summons as a result, police said.

Police did not immediately release what the summons was issued for, or any other details surrounding the incident. South-Orange Maplewood school officials did not 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.

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Essex County sets example for N.J. by backing banks that support low-income neighborhoods | Opinion

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With the passage of an ordinance which will require banks and financial institutions receiving deposits of county funds to provide information regarding community reinvestment activities, the stage is set for responsible lending to increase in Essex County

By Phyllis Salowe-Kaye

In the past week, with the full support of the County Executive, the Essex County Freeholders took an important step forward that should be emulated by every county and city in New Jersey. With the passage of an ordinance which will require banks and financial institutions receiving deposits of county funds to provide information regarding community reinvestment activities, the stage is set for responsible lending to increase in Essex County.

Congress enacted the Community Reinvestment Act in 1977 to encourage depository institutions to help meet the credit needs of low and moderate income neighborhoods. For over 30 years New Jersey Citizen Action has been a leader in New Jersey, working with banks to ensure they comply with the Act. NJCA has negotiated agreements with more than 30 institutions resulting in commitments of $40 billion in below-market rate mortgages, discounted home improvement loans, construction and permanent financing for nonprofit affordable housing developers and small business loans for women and minority-owned businesses

The ordinance should enable the county to flag an institution like Hudson City Bank, which recently agreed to pay $33 million to settle civil charges in a case of redlining, a practice where an establishment refuses a loan or insurance to someone because they live in an area deemed to be a poor financial risk. The action was brought jointly by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Consumer Financial Protection Board, which will not tolerate racial discrimination in the extension of credit.

Essex County has a history of making sure that banks are held accountable and invest in the communities in which they operate. In 1999, when New Jersey Citizen Action notified the freeholders that one of the banks that held county deposits had made more than a thousand mortgages, of which only two were approved for African American borrowers and none in the City of Newark, the freeholder board removed $12 million from the bank and deposited the funds into another that had a strong record of meeting the lending, investment and service needs of all county residents.

Essex County's ordinance is timely and relevant, with the case of Hudson City Bank, which allegedly wrongfully discriminated against prospective African American and Hispanic borrowers by denying residents in predominantly minority neighborhoods in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut fair access to mortgage loans and credit. Despite their poor lending record, Hudson City Bank is still on the list of banks approved to receive deposits from Essex County. This situation should hopefully change with the enactment of the county's ordinance, and demonstrates the need for every city and county to be deliberate when making decisions as to where taxpayer dollars are deposited.

The billions of dollars deposited into financial institutions can be leveraged to ensure that community reinvestment will take place where it is most desperately needed. This is an incredibly powerful tool elected officials have in their toolbox. The practices and products that are developed by banks and financial institutions have a measurable effect on the tax base, the quality of life and the overall economic viability and competitiveness in our neighborhoods. There is an obligation that depositories commit to fair and non-predatory practices when making loans and providing services.

The Essex County Freeholder Board, led by President Britnee Timberlake, will be reviewing the lending practices of banks to ensure that taxpayer dollars are placed in financial institutions that have truly earned the county's business. The ordinance needs some fine tuning and hopefully that will take place over the next few weeks before the final vote on October 21. New Jersey Citizen Action applauds Essex County for setting the bar in New Jersey to ensure banks reinvest into communities where they operate. Now it's up to others to step up to the plate too.

Phyllis Salowe-Kaye is executive director of New Jersey Citizen Action.

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Man wearing monitoring device among 2 arrested in Newark

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Another armed man arrested after police respond to burglary call, authorities say

NEWARK -- Two people, including a man facing deportation, were arrested Wednesday and Thursday on weapons charges in separate incidents occurring just a few hours apart, police spokesman Sgt. Ron Glover said.

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Members of the Violence Reduction Initiative, a task force of law enforcement that includes gang unit members as well as State Police and New Jersey Parole personnel, were patrolling near Vermont and 18th avenues around 11:30 p.m. when they spotted two men. When they noticed police, one of them, Talib Brown, 30, of Newark, began to walk away, adjusting a handgun in his waistband as he went, Glover said.

Brown ran when police left their vehicle, throwing the gun away and climbing a fence before he was caught by Det. Hubert Henderson, Glover said, adding that the gun is a defaced 9-mm that was loaded at the time.

Brown, who is in the Supervision Appearance Program -- an Immigration and Customs Enforcement program under which those with pending immigration matters are free but tracked electronically via a device worn on the ankle -- has been charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a defaced weapon and of hollow-point bullets, is scheduled for deportation, Glover also said. Glover did not know Brown's country of origin.

Two hours later, officers from the 2nd Precinct responded to a report of a burglary in progress in the 90s block of First Street. When police approached a man who matched a description, Davon Greely, 20, he pulled a gun from his waistband and tossed it onto a roof before running away, Glover said. Greely was captured shortly after and the .25-caliber handgun was recovered.
"I commend the actions of the officers for showing extreme restraint in the apprehension of these individuals and removing two more weapons from our streets," said Police Director Eugene Venable.

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

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What about supporting us, Newark girls ask

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Weequahic High School girls in Newark say they need women mentors in their lives to encourage them and guide them in the right direction.

Marisa Sanderson is familiar with the stare of disapproval when someone thinks she's doing something wrong.

That someone is usually her mother. But on Tuesday, the woman looking at her could was stepping into a new role in Marisa's life.

Marisa, a 16-year-old sophomore at Weequahic High School in Newark, likes to talk and that's what she was doing during a program for girls in the gymnasium.

A group of women were there, promising to be mentors, but Marisa was chatting away witha friend and trying to avoid that motherly glare from Flohisha Johnson.

Every time that Marisa looked up, she saw Johnson, a Newark parent, looking right back. The scene was an example of nonverbal communication at its best.

"She kept making eye contact with me, but, inmy heart, I felt like she was reaching out to me,'' Johnson says.

So Johnson started walking toward Marisa. She was talking loudly, pointing at the girl with each step. You thought she might scold her until everyone heard Johnson say,  "You're going to be my baby.'' She was picking Marisaas a student to mentor.

Johnson sat down beside Marisa and gave the kid a hug that only a mother could give as everyone looked on.

She did it so the girls could understand that the contingent of nearly 30 women were serious about being a part of their lives.

Many of the girls say it's about time an effort like this was geared toward them.

Since the start of the school year,they noticed the fellas getting a lot of attention: Mayor Ras Baraka has visited the school to talk to the boys. Representatives from his My Brother's Keeper mentoring program were there, too. Then a crowd of men showed up at the start of a school day to greet the boys and speak with them.

It's all part of Baraka's campaign to get men involved with young Newark males -- to change a culture of violence that many of them get caught up in.

The girls say they understand what the boys are up against, but, hey, being a teenager cuts both ways in their minds.

"Girls need help, (too),'' says Hana Covington, a 16-year-old junior.

She and several friends, including MyeshaGreen, 17, and Kenyetta Baker,16, approached principal Lisa McDonald and wanted to know what was in store for them.

McDonald says the girls at Weequahic need just as much support as the boys.There's bullying and molestation, abusive relationships and social isolation when they try to fit in. Some kids are teen mothers, others are homeless or they're dealing with mental illness.

"We're reacting to it as a school, but at the end of the day, whose really talking to them to really get them through it?'' she says.

That's where the women come in. Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree, manager of Newark's Office of Clergy Affairs, heard from the school that the girls felt left out. She got the women together --  and there they were at 8 a.m. Tuesday, doling out enthusiastic encouragement at the school's entrance.

Myesha Green got a hug and a kiss, and described the welcome as sweet and sincere.

Heartfelt stories shared by the women helped the girls to appreciate the visit even more. Among the many messages of inspiration that the women told the girls was to love themselves and that the past doesn't determine their future.

The girls seemed to be convinced after listening to Valerie Seymoure, of East Orange, who told them of how her father molested her when she was a child. At one point, she explained that she was on drugs, too, but turned her life around through faith. Seymoure now runs  "Beauty for Ashes," a nonprofit community organization that helps the homeless and people with HIV/AIDS.

"So many of them (girls) are being molested and they aren't telling anybody,'' Seymoure says. "If I can help one of them, then may be they can tell their counselor.''

Standing in a small circle of girls after the program, Kisha Baldwin explained how she's now pursuing her doctorate, despite not being able to read well when she was 13 years old. She is now the executive coordinator of the mayor's My Brother's Keeper program.

Alexis Trusty, with tears in her eyes, apologized to the girls -- saying the women should have come long before now to be with them. She told them how she once ran the streets of Newark with the wrong crowd, but overcame her difficulties and now serves as a city youth coordinator.

"I love you she,'' she told the girls. "You are a reflection of me.''

The girls were looking for this kind of truth, a prerequisite they needed to open up and share their stories.

After being singled out, Marisa says she would like to hang with Johnson. Who wouldn't? That day in gym was Marisa's birthday and Johnson had everybody singing to her.

Plus, Johnson kept her word that she would stay in touch.

She called Marisa's mother yesterday morning to introduce herself and to promise she would always be in the young girl's corner.  

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

NJ.com Photos of the Week: Oct. 9-15, 2015

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NJ Advance Media staff's Photos of the Week for Oct. 9-15, 2015, on NJ.com. Watch video

Professional sports in and around New Jersey had some big moments this past week. The Mets will continue their postseason after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. In football, after a rough start to the season, the Philadelphia Eagles won their first home game this season with a convincing 39-17 win over the Saints, and the New York Giants defeated the 49ers, 30-27, with seconds left in the game. Hockey season is just beginning, and NJ Advance Media Multimedia Specialist introduced the Devils' Zamboni ice man, while the Flyers earned two home-ice wins and honored retiree Kimmo Timonen.

Photographer Lori M. Nichols captured images from The Race of Gentlemen, which celebrated America's history of hot rodding. Vintage cars and motorcycles took to the beach in Wildwood to race each other along the water's edge in this weekend-long event.


RELATED: NJ.com Photos of the Week: Oct. 2-8


In news, a South Jersey town was rocked when a 3-year-old boy was reported missing early Tuesday morning, and found dead three hours later a half-mile from his home. The community gathered in Haddon Township that evening to hold a vigil for Brendan Creato.

A statue to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was unveiled in Newark Wednesday, and photojournalist Ed Murray was there to document it, 51 years to the day after the civil rights leader was awarded the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize.

More than 150,000 fans flocked to New York City to attend New York Comic Con 2015, and photographer Aristide Economopoulos spent three days documenting the four-day event. After shooting well over a thousand frames, a few of his favorite photos can be found in the gallery above.

Check back next Friday for more of our top photos. Let us know which ones are your favorite in the comment section below.

Lori M. Nichols may be reached at lnichols@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @photoglori. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

The goats are back at Summit arboretum ... and more events

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Stop by the Reeves-Reed Arboretum to see the goats enjoy their nonstop buffet.

WEED-CHOMPING "green goats" are back at work in the Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit.

The goats arrived yesterday and will spend two weeks clearing the arboretum's Daffodil Bowl, where more than 50,000 daffodils bloom each spring. The goats also will be part of the arboretum's Celebrate Fall Festival on Oct. 25.

Stop by to see the goats enjoy their nonstop buffet. The arboretum grounds are open daily from dawn until dusk. Sponsor a goat by visiting the arboretum's website and clicking on the "green goats" link — for $25, you can send a "kid" to the arboretum. Sponsors also recieve a certificate of "good goatsmanship."

Reeves-Reed Arboretum is located at 165 Hobart Ave. Admission is free; however, there is a nonmember suggested donation of $5. Call (908) 273-8787 or visit reeves-reedarboretum.org.


ON STAGE

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The New Jersey Repertory Company opens its newest production Saturday at 8 p.m., with the debut of "The Seedbed."

The play, written by Bryan Delaney, is a family drama set in Ireland, focusing on a husband and wife, and their troubled daughter.

Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Nov. 15. Tickets are $45.

New Jersey Repertory Company is located at 179 Broadway, Long Branch. Call (732) 229-3166 or visit njrep.org.


AND MORE ...

• Ricky Martin brings his One World tour to Atlantic City tomorrow night. The Grammy Award winner's show will kick off at 8 p.m. at Boardwalk Hall. Tickets are $26 to $127. Cal (800) 736-1420 or visit boardwalkhall.com.

The 16th annual Fall Fine Art & Crafts Show at Brookdale Park features more than 160 exhibitors, offering jewelry, furniture, glass, fiber, pottery, oils, watercolors, serigraphs, photography, leather, sculpture, wood and more. The free show runs tomorrow and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the Essex County park, 473 Watchung Ave., Bloomfield/Montclair. Visit rosesquared.com.


MORE FROM INSIDE JERSEY MAGAZINE

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Shepherd mix is a great family pet

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WEST CALDWELL — Schatzi is a 6-year-old female German shepherd mix with Orphaned Pets. Her previous owners had to give her up due to illness in the family. Schatzi is good with children and she gets along with other dogs. She has been housebroken and knows some commands; however, she can jump a 6-foot fence and her new owners should...

ex1018pet.jpgSchatzi 

WEST CALDWELL -- Schatzi is a 6-year-old female German shepherd mix with Orphaned Pets.

Her previous owners had to give her up due to illness in the family.

Schatzi is good with children and she gets along with other dogs. She has been housebroken and knows some commands; however, she can jump a 6-foot fence and her new owners should make provisions for that "skill."

Schatzi has been spayed and is up-to-date on shots.

For more information on Schatzi, call Rosemarie at 973-865-6421. Information is also available by going to awos.petfinder.com/shelters/op.html. Orphaned Pets is an all-volunteer fostering group serving the Essex County area for the past 25 years.

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.

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With 'hands up,' man says he didn't resist arrest at cops' misconduct trial

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Marcus Jeter testified at the trial of Bloomfield Police Officers Sean Courter and Orlando Trinidad, who are accused of official misconduct in connection with Jeter's 2012 arrest

NEWARK -- On the witness stand Thursday in a Newark courtroom, Marcus Jeter raised his hands in the air.

It was the same gesture Jeter claims he made during a 2012 motor vehicle stop on the Garden State Parkway, when Bloomfield police officers approached his car with their guns drawn and ordered him to get out. One officer ultimately broke Jeter's driver's side window and removed him from the vehicle.

The officers have claimed Jeter resisted arrest and tried to disarm one of them, but Jeter denied those allegations. Jeter said his hands were raised the entire time and he didn't get out of the vehicle, because he was afraid of getting shot.

"I had my hands up the whole time," Jeter said. "I was never trying to take anybody's gun."

"I said, 'I'm not getting out of the car. You've got a gun drawn on me. I don't want to get shot,'" he added. "I was afraid."

Jeter offered that testimony during the trial of Bloomfield Police Officers Sean Courter, 35, of Englishtown, and Orlando Trinidad, 34, of Bloomfield, who are facing official misconduct and related charges for allegedly making false statements in police reports about the June 7, 2012 incident.

A third officer involved in the arrest, Albert Sutterlin, who retired in May 2013, pleaded guilty in October 2013 to tampering with records and is awaiting sentencing.

Jeter is slated to continue his testimony on Tuesday.


MORE: N.J. cops go on trial for misconduct charges in dash-cam case

The series of events leading to Jeter's arrest began when Courter and Sutterlin responded to a domestic-related call at Jeter's Bloomfield home. Soon after they arrived, Jeter left the residence and the officers later stopped him on the Parkway.

Trinidad arrived at the scene and struck the front of Jeter's car with his patrol vehicle. After getting approval from his supervisor, Courter ultimately broke the driver's side window and removed Jeter from the vehicle.

The officers claimed in police reports that Jeter had tried to grab Courter's gun and that Jeter had hit Trinidad.

Jeter was ultimately charged with eluding, attempting to disarm a police officer, resisting arrest and aggravated assault.

After prosecutors reviewed the police dashboard video from Trinidad's patrol vehicle, however, they found the video was inconsistent with the officers' police reports. For example, prosecutors claim Courter lied about Jeter trying to disarm him, because the video shows Jeter's hands were raised the entire time.

Based on that video, the charges against Jeter were dropped and Courter and Trinidad were charged with official misconduct, conspiracy, tampering with records, and false swearing. Trinidad also is charged with aggravated assault for striking Jeter during the incident.

Alleged victim testifies in Bloomfield cops misconduct trial(L-R) Attorney Charles Clark, his client Sean Courter along with attorney Frank Arleo, and his client Orlando Trinidad, stand as the jury prepares to enter the courtroom. Courter and Trinidad are Bloomfield cops who are facing official misconduct and related charges in connection with their June 7, 2012 arrest of Marcus Jeter on the Garden State Parkway. Prosecutors allege that a police dashboard video shows Courter and Trinidad lied about the incident in police reports. Newark, NJ 10/15/15 (Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)  

At the trial, the officers' attorneys have attacked Jeter's credibility, noting how he is pursuing a lawsuit against the three officers and other defendants.

The attorneys have argued Jeter was drunk and that he fled the residence after Courter ordered him to stop. They also said the officers believed Jeter was trying to grab Courter's gun and pointed out how the video shows Jeter lowered his hands at some point.

But during his testimony, Jeter, 31, offered a different account of how the night unfolded.

Jeter claimed he had two beers earlier in the evening at a club and returned home, where he and his girlfriend got into a verbal argument. Her sister called 911 after Jeter threw his girlfriend's cell phone down a staircase.

As Jeter was later driving down the driveway, he said he stopped his vehicle to speak with Courter, and Jeter suggested Courter then indicated he could leave.

According to Jeter, Courter asked Jeter if he was OK and Jeter said he was OK, Jeter said. Courter ultimately turned away and Jeter drove off, Jeter said. The officers did not attempt to flag him down, Jeter said.

A few minutes later, the officers stopped him on Parkway, Jeter said. Jeter said he was preparing to hand over his license and registration when he realized Courter was pointing a gun at him. Sutterlin was pointing a shotgun at him, Jeter said.

Courter yelled at him to exit the vehicle, but Jeter said he did not get out, because "I didn't want to get shot."

"I was just afraid...I'd never been in that situation before," Jeter said. "I said, 'I'm not moving till you call my lawyer.'" Asked why he mentioned his lawyer, Jeter said: "I don't know...I was in so much shock."

As he sat in the car with his hands raised, Jeter said Trinidad's patrol vehicle struck the front of his vehicle. Courter then smashed the driver's side window and "glass flies in my face," Jeter said.

After Courter unlocked the door and opened it, he punched Jeter in the face and, as he tried to take off Jeter's seatbelt, he elbowed him in the jaw, according to Jeter.

"He says, 'Stop trying to take my gun,'" Jeter recalled, referring to Courter. "I'm like, 'I'm not trying to take your gun.'"

Courter kept yelling at Jeter to stop resisting arrest and stop trying to take his gun, but Jeter told him he wasn't resisting and he wasn't trying to grab his gun, according to Jeter. "I never resisted," he said.

After Courter removed Jeter from the vehicle and slammed him face down on the ground, Jeter claimed the officers struck him in the back in the head. Jeter said he never struck one of the officers.

"I said, 'I did nothing wrong. I did nothing wrong,'" Jeter said. "They were saying, 'Shut up. Shut up.'"

Jeter said he was already in handcuffs and being escorted to a police vehicle when he was struck in the back of the head again.

According to Jeter, he later received medical treatment for a laceration on his ear, a sprained wrist, and bruising on various parts of his body.

"I was banged up," Jeter said. "I was bleeding all over the place."

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


Newark Novena Mass honors first responders (PHOTOS)

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Third annual mass was held in the city's Central Ward Thursday.

NEWARK -- Hundreds of uniformed first responders, their friends, and family members crowded into a city church Thursday night for a spiritual 'thank you.'

Newark hosted its third annual Novena Mass for First Responders at St. Lucy's Church, honoring police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians from the city and Essex County. Police Chief Anthony Campos and Fire Director James Stewart were among the officials that thanked the officers during the mass.


ALSO: Newark officials honor police following standoff with carjacking suspects

In addition to the Newark departments, the event also honored members of the Essex County Sheriff's Office, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, and the Essex County Department of Corrections. 

A spokesman for the police department did not respond to a request for comment on the annual event.

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

Seton Hall opera company to perform at Carnegie Hall

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The concert, titled "A Prayer for Peace," is the brainchild of conductor and MAO Artistic Director Jason C. Tramm.

Small opera companies usually have big dreams.

Only two years old, New Jersey-based MidAtlantic Opera is mounting an ambitious concert this Saturday night at Manhattan's august music temple, Carnegie Hall.

Its modest goal: world peace.

The concert, titled "A Prayer for Peace," is the brainchild of conductor and MAO Artistic Director Jason C. Tramm. It's the third in a series of concerts that began in New Jersey earlier this year with the goal of "understanding humanity's universal connection through music."

The New Jersey-based conductor, who before starting MAO was Artistic Director of New Jersey State Opera, says the idea for this series came from the stream of depressing news flowing in from overseas. 

"I think it was a culmination of all the unrest in Ukraine, Syria, and then the worsening of the Syria crisis -- and it just kind of struck me," Tramm says. "Then of course, it's only gotten worse sense then. I think more people will be interested in these concerts because of this."

Tramm has enlisted six soloists, along with the MidAtlantic Opera Chorus and Orchestra, plus the 100-voice strong Seton Hall University Choir to play music by Leonard Bernstein, Behzad Ranjbaran, Ahmed Adnan Saygun and Ralph Vaughan Williams.


RELATED: NJSO concert review: A season opener for cool cats


"Something that's very important to me is finding music with a social cause," Tramm says, "and with a deeper meaning."

The conductor, also an Assistant Professor at Seton Hall, did extensive research to find music that not only had a purpose, but that reflected different world perspectives that can often seem at odds with each other.

"I came up with this idea of finding pieces that represent the three Abrahamic religious traditions," he recalls, "and hopefully it will move people and maybe even foster some inter-religious dialogue."

The concert begins with the Iranian born composer Behzad Ranjbaran's "Elegy" for cello and strings. Following that is a rarely heard (here in the US) piece by Ahmed Adnan Saygun, one of the main proponents of western art music in Turkey during the 20th century. 

"Saygun was the father of the conservatory system in Turkey. He was trained in Paris and then came back," Trann explains. "His music is fascinating, and his most famous piece, 'Yunus Emre,' really struck me."

"Yunus Emre" is a full-length oratorio inspired by the poetry of a thirteenth century Sufi mystic. 

Following these two eastern rooted pieces are two western works by more familiar names. Leonard Bernstein's 1965 composition "Chichester Psalms," a 20-minute long choral work which uses texts from psalms set in Hebrew; and then after intermission, British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams' 1936 oratorio "Dona Nobis Pacem," an hour-long piece set to Christian liturgical texts and poems by Walt Whitman.

The crashing together of all these cultures and musical styles is the point, says Tramm. "New York City is such a perfect place for this. It's such a multi-cultural city -- there are so many places in the world where you couldn't do this program -- it wouldn't be allowed."

Although not presented by Carnegie Hall -- the event is produced by MAO and Seton Hall -- it still stands to be the highest-profile performance yet for the company. Tickets for the one-night only concert range from $10 up to $90 and one-third of the net proceeds will be donated to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for refugee relief.

"Music and diplomacy are interestingly tied together," says Tramm, "and the creative impulse that's necessary to make art and music is a similar -- if not the same -- creative impulse to communicate and try to get along. Music is a natural form of diplomacy. "

James C. Taylor can be reached at writejamesctaylor@gmail.com. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.

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Redman, the Jersey Devil, naked runners all made this week's news quiz

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Take NJ.com's weekly news quiz

Think you've got a perfect score in store for this week's NJ.com News Quiz? Unless you know a little something about rap, landlord-tenant disputes and New Jersey's paranormal activity, this probably isn't your week. Truth be told, you might be satisfied with four maybe five correct answers this week. However the quiz below turns out for you, share your score in comments. As you know, this is a no-judgement zone ... unless you do really, really badly.



 

John Shabe can be reached at jshabe@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johndshabe and find NJ.com on Facebook.
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NJPAC event to tackle problems, promise in N.J. cities

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The inaugural "NJ Spotlight on Cities" event will include speakers and panel discussions on topics including community policing, economic development, education, prisoner reentry and health

NEWARK - An all-day conference set for Friday will take on both the problems and promise surrounding New Jersey's urban centers.

The inaugural "NJ Spotlight on Cities" event at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, hosted by non-profit news site NJ Spotlight, is focused on how cities are "developing economies, transforming schools, and improving resident quality of life."

The event will include dozens of speakers and panel discussions on topics including policing, economic development, education, prisoner reentry and health.

Notable participants include U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson, Camden former governor and Jersey City Employment & Training Program Executive Director James McGreevy, KIPP-New Jersey Chief Academic Officer Joanna Belcher, Camden County Police Chief J. Scott Thomson and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.

The event's finale will be a discussion entitled "NJ Urban Mayors: The New Generation", featuring Baraka, Jackson and Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp.

All-inclusive tickets for the conference are still available online for $150 each. Separate admission for a post-event reception at 5 p.m. are on sale for $35.

Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Celebrating 350 years of Newark as a beacon of hope and blueprint for change | Opinion

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As America's third oldest city, Newark has had a significant role in the history of the United States

By Junius Williams

The late distinguished Rutgers University Newark Professor Clem Price had a vision for
Newark's 350th Anniversary. As a historian who brought Newark's history to life for everyday people, he wanted all residents of the city to be engaged in celebrating the city's rich and diverse history.

As chairman of the Newark Celebration 350 committee, I am responsible along with the NC350 Board of Trustees for carrying out our good friend's vision of inclusion.

In the last few weeks, we have held community meetings in each ward of Newark. I am pleased by the turnout and encouraged by the enthusiasm for celebrating our city's history. Each ward now has a committee responsible for coming up with ward-based ideas for NC350.

Why is this essential? Far too often, those of us in positions of influence and authority presume to know what the people want. In this case, and perhaps uniquely for these kinds of celebrations, we have asked the people in their neighborhoods to jointly and individually interpret Newark's 350 years, and its meaning to them.

We have so much to be proud of as residents of this great city. As America's third oldest city, Newark has had a significant role in the history of the United States. Ken Gibson, Newark's first African-American mayor, popularized the saying, "Wherever American cities are going, Newark will get there first." Therefore unlike Las Vegas, what happens in Newark, doesn't stay in Newark. Our city's history serves as a beacon of hope and a blueprint for change for cities similarly situated all over the nation. We'll applaud the new construction downtown, but also explore periods of conflict, such as the 1967 Rebellion, to derive lessons of empowerment and reconciliation that will enable future generations to avoid the mistakes of the past.

Throughout Newark's history, we have welcomed successive waves of new immigrant groups who live in Weequahic in the South Ward, to the Old Third Ward (now the Central Ward), to Forest Hill in the north, to Vailsburg in the west and the Ironbound in the east. We shall look at the history of each group of immigrants who arrived and rose to power in the city, in hopes that we all learn that we are more alike than different. We predict that current newcomers can learn from the success stories of those who preceded them, and learn to pass on their own formula for community building that has helped Newark turn itself around in recent years.

Newark has many voices that speak to us through the ages. We plan to celebrate the great musical, artistic and intellectual contributions Newark has bestowed upon the world, through jazz diva Sarah Vaughn, Pulitzer Prize winner Philip Roth, world class poets Amiri Baraka and Allen Ginsberg, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Paul Simon and Frankie Valli, Grammy-award winner Queen Latifah and future basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal. History provides role models; Newark needs new role models who have been inspired by these and other predecessors, and will come home to help others succeed.

We're off to a great start, and I would encourage residents to propose their own event or public discussion by submitting a proposal electronically on our website.

We are kicking off the celebration this Saturday in the newly refurbished Military Park. The free event, run in conjunction with the Military Park Partnership, and Mayor Ras Baraka's administration will feature a series of live family friendly concerts and performances, arts and crafts and global cuisine.

We hope that residents of Newark will join us and see what Newark and its people have to offer starting Saturday, and throughout 2016.

Junius Williams is the chairman of the Newark Celebration 350 Committee and the director of the Abbott Leadership Institute at Rutgers University-Newark.

Follow The Star-Ledger on Twitter @starledger. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

N.J. counties ranked highest to lowest in debt

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SmartAsset, a New York financial technology company, recently released a study uncovering the counties across America with the lowest per capita debt or lowest debt on average, per person.

How bleak is your debt picture?

If you live in Hudson or Mercer counties, there's a chance that you may have less debt than if you lived elsewhere in New Jersey.

SmartAsset, a New York financial technology company, recently released a study uncovering the counties across America with the lowest per capita debt or lowest debt on average, per person. They studied debt-to-income ratio across three categories: credit cards, auto, and mortgage.

Relying on information from the Federal Reserve of New York and the U.S. Census bureau, the counties were analyzed by the amount of debt residents held across those categories. The debt was then compared to local income.

In New Jersey, Hudson County residents have, on average, the lowest debt-to-income ratio in the state. Mercer County is second.

Residents in Hudson County earn an average income of $32,641, carry a credit card debt of $3,210 a year, giving them a credit card debt-to-income ratio of 9.8 percent.

Hudson County residents each carry, on average, an auto debt of $2,055 and a mortgage debt of $35,404, which is 108.5 percent of their annual income.

In Mercer County, the average resident's income is $37,465, they carry a credit card debt equal to about 9 percent of their income and an auto debt of 7.5 percent. The average mortgage debt carried each year is $46,028.

Further down the New Jersey list are:

  • Morris County, where residents have an average income of $48,814 a year and carry $4,310 a year in credit card debt, $70,152 in mortgage debt and $3,620 in auto debt;
  • Somerset County, where residents have an average income of $47,803 a year and carry $4,210 per year in credit card debt, $72,094 in mortgage debt and $3,495 a year in auto debt.
  • Atlantic County, where residents have an average annual income of $27,391, carry an annual credit card debt of $3,140, an annual mortgage debt of $38,044 and an auto debt of $2,749.

Among the least desirable places for debt in New Jersey are Ocean, Sussex and Passaic counties, where residents carry a credit card debt of $3,360 to $4,460 a year and carry an average mortgage debt of $43,043 to $53,706 a year.

Passaic County ranked the lowest overall debt-to-income rank in New Jersey, with the average resident's income at $27,152 a year and an auto debt-to-income ratio of 10.5 percent and a mortgage debt of $43,043 a year.

Nationwide, Connecticut was the state with the highest per capita income at $36,209, and New Jersey was second at $35,504.

"What this shows is the diversity of the people who live within the arbitrary lines that make up our counties," said Marc Pfeiffer, assistant director of the Bloustein Local Government Research Center at Rutgers University.

Pfeiffer said Hudson County residents probably fared better in the study because many of them are renters who have no mortgage to pay and no auto debt because they use mass transit.

"Also, you have a phenomenal mix of incomes in Hudson County," he said.

Densely populated Passaic County may have more residents deeper in debt because of lower income overall, the need to own a car and purchase a home, he said.

"When you own homes and have to have a car, it's going to drive up your debt," he said.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Lucky geek will be on N.J. stage with Colbert, J.J. Abrams

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The two are hosting a fundraiser for the Montclair Film Festival at NJPAC this November.

MONTCLAIR -- Attention nerds: It could be your very lucky day.

Township resident and longtime supporter of the Montclair Film Festival Stephen Colbert announced Thursday a fundraiser that will give a fan an up-close-and-personal experience with the Late Show host.

In a video message posted Thursday, Colbert announced that one fan will have the chance to be a part of "The Stephen Colbert and J.J. Abrams: Celebrity Nerd-Off." The event, a fundraiser for the MFF, will see the comedian and producer/director square off in a stage discussion of their influences, ideas, and creative work.


ALSO: Colbert dishes late night insight on Seinfeld's 'Coffee' episode filmed in Montclair

The duo, Colbert announced, has now partnered with "once in a lifetime experience" charity organization Omaze to launch the contest. Fans who make a $10 donation through the Omaze platform are entered to win a hotel stay in NYC, tickets to attend a taping of "The Late Show," a luxury box at the "Celebrity Nerd-Off," a backstage meet-and-greet, and a role to play on stage during the show.

The Late Show with Stephen ColbertStephen Colbert. (Courtesy CBS) 

"You could win the nerdiest night of your life," Colbert says in the video.

"The winner can join me and J.J. Abrams on stage to ask us the nerdy question of their choice."

The Nerd-Off, announced last month, will feature Colbert and Abrams - the mind behind "Lost" and director of the two recent "Star Trek" and upcoming "Star Wars" movies - talking on stage at NJPAC on Nov. 21.

The sixth annual film festival kicks off on April 29 of next year. In addition to the 10-day event, the nonprofit MFF also works to create year-round arts programming in Montclair.

Omaze co-founder Ryan Cummins called playing a role in the event a "privilege."

"Stephen and J.J. are both incredible influencers inside and outside the world of entertainment, and it's inspiring to be able to work with them to use that influence for good," he said in a statement about the contest.

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

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Kean U. student robbed at gunpoint on NJ Transit bus, police reports say

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A Kean University student was robbed Wednesday while riding a New Jersey Transit bus in Newark, police reports say.

NJ Transit bus The victim was robbed of cash, identification cards and other items while riding a NJ Transit bus. (Molly J Smith|The Jersey Journal)

NEWARK -- A Kean University student was robbed Wednesday while riding a New Jersey Transit bus in Newark, according to a police report on the incident.

The 19-year-old victim, whose name is being withheld by NJ Advance Media, was riding a bus heading west on 16th Avenue when a male suspect seated behind him placed a silver handgun to his head and demanded his cell phone, the report said.

A second suspect then searched the victim's pockets and removed his wallet, according to the report. The suspects then exited the bus, the report said.

The victim later told police the the suspects made off with his credit card, $12 in cash and multiple identification cards.

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Newark man to face trial in killing of IHOP manager

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Edward Turner, 28, is facing murder and related charges in the fatal shooting of Papa Khaly Ndiaye, 30, of Middlesex Borough

Edward TurnerEdward Turner 

NEWARK -- Jury selection has begun in the murder trial of a Newark man accused of killing an IHOP restaurant manager during a 2013 dispute between two groups at the city eatery.

The attorneys began selecting jurors on Thursday for the trial of Edward Turner, 28, who is charged with fatally shooting Papa Khaly Ndiaye, 30, of Middlesex Borough, on March 23, 2013 at the Bergen Street restaurant. Two other people were wounded in the shooting.

Turner is facing murder, attempted murder, witness tampering and weapons offenses. He remains in custody at the Essex County Correctional Facility in lieu of $1 million bail.

The trial will be held before Superior Court Judge Peter Ryan. Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Eric Plant is representing the state and Richie Roberts is representing Turner.


RELATED: Shooting at IHOP in Newark turns American dream into nightmare

The early-morning shooting stemmed from a dispute between two groups of customers at the restaurant.

One group was a mix of 13 men and women, and the other group was an all-female party of six. The customers included two women, one in each group, who were former lover in the throes of a bitter breakup, authorities said.

Law enforcement sources have said a man in the larger group approached the all-female group and started hitting on them.

After the women indicated they wanted to be left alone, the man became upset and the situation ultimately turned physical with members of both groups shoving each other, according to police accounts.

Ndiaye - a Senegalese immigrant from a prominent family in that West African country - stepped in to try to help customers flee the store.

But a man dressed in a hoodie then entered the restaurant, and challenged the man who had approached the women to step outside. As the man went outside, shots rang out and Ndiaye was caught in the gunfire with a bullet to the head. He was pronounced dead several hours later at University Hospital.

Soon after the incident, authorities offered a reward of up to $10,000 for help in identifying a man caught on surveillance cameras fleeing the restaurant.

Turner was arrested about a year later.

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

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30-year sentence for Jersey City PATH train shooter

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An East Orange man who shot two people on a PATH train at Jersey City's Newport Station in 2013 was sentenced to 30 years in prison today and at the hearing he showed no remorse and did not accept responsibility for the crime which was captured on video.

JERSEY CITY - Sentenced today to 30 years in prison for shooting two people on the PATH train at Jersey City's Newport Station, an East Orange man showed no remorse and accepted no responsibility for the crime, which was captured on video.

Instead, Tari Turpin, a 36-year-old father of three, shocked Hudson County Superior Court Judge Joseph Isabella by blaming his lawyer, Michael Rubas, for his conviction.

"I would like to say I didn't receive a fair trial at all due to my counsel. I did not," Turpin said. "I was not carrying a gun that day."

Isabella wasn't having it. "I presided over the trial, I've been doing this 16 years and the evidence was absolutely overwhelming," he told Turpin. "Did you see the video? It's mind-boggling how you can stand there and deny this.

"The video shows the whole thing," Isabella continued. "Your lawyer did an excellent job. Actually, he made only one mistake. There is only one deficiency in his performance. He couldn't convince you to take the plea... He tried to convince you. I tried to convince you. Based on the video, we saw there was a really good chance a jury would convict you, and they did."

The state's offer, which Turpin turned down, would have put him behind bars for 8 1/2 years.


RELATED: Man convicted of PATH train shooting in Jersey City

Isabella sentenced Turpin to 20 years in prison for shooting Diamond Drummer in the leg and 10 years for shooting Aubree Marshall in the hand during the Aug. 25, 2013 incident.

Drummer, whose leg was shattered by a hollow-point bullet, now has a rod and screws in the leg and permanent disability. Another bullet ripped three fingers off Marshall's dominant hand, leaving him permanently disabled.

Turpin had 20 prior contacts with the justice system, two criminal convictions for receiving stolen property and a handgun conviction for which he served one year in prison in New York. It is due to his prior record that he was eligible to be to be sentenced to an extended prison term on one of the aggravated assault convictions.

Drummer testified that she and friends were returning from New York on Aug. 25, 2013 after a night of drinking. She said when she sat on the floor of the packed train, Turpin began kicking her. She told him to stop but that led to an argument between Drummer and Turpin's girlfriend, who had a baby in her arms and another in a stroller.

Eventually, Turpin pulled out a gun and Drummer and her friends backed off and decided to get off the train. But as it rolled into the Newport Station, Aubree Marshall, one of Drummer's friends, took a swing at Turpin, Drummer testified.

Marshall testified that he was upset because Turpin "was arguing with a female and it wasn't a situation you would take out a gun." He said Turpin again reached into his pocket for the gun, so Marshall put his left hand over Turpin's pocket and as they struggled, shots rang out.

The packed train cleared, but Drummer realized Marshall was not with her so she returned to find him struggling with Turpin who had the gun in his hand. Eventually, Turpin ran from the train and fired two rounds at Drummer, striking her in the ankle, she testified.

Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Karen Kazanchy asked Isabella today to sentence Turpin to 48 years. Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez attended the sentencing as did agents of The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

After the sentencing, Suarez said Turpin put the lives of everyone on the train in danger. "The court imposed a sentence that is entirely proper based on this defendant's prior criminal history and the facts adduced at trial," Suarez said. "The defendant will now serve the better part of the next 30 years in prison for his criminal actions."

The state's case was bolstered by more than a dozen security videos that captured the incident from various perspectives, including one showing Turpin hiding the gun as he left the station limping from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg.

Several Port Authority police officers testified, as did a gun expert and both victims. The ATF was able to track Turpin's gun form Virginia to New Jersey where it was sold to him.  

"Today's lengthy conviction is a confirmation of ATF's commitment to making our neighborhoods safer," George P. Belsky, the special agent in charge of ATF's Newark's Field Division, said in a release.

"Targeting and arresting armed criminals and those who engage in firearms trafficking remains a top priority for ATF.  Together with our law enforcement partners the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutors Office and the Jersey City Police Department, we will continue to focus on combating violent crime and seeking the maximum penalties for armed offenders that put the public at risk."

Turpin was convicted on June 16. He must serve 25 years before becoming eligible for parole. He was convicted of additional charges but those sentences are to be served concurrently. 

Accused 'nanny-cam' attacker says he wants to go to trial

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Shawn Custis, 44, of Newark, said he was not interested in the 20-year prison term he would receive if he entered a guilty plea in the alleged 2013 home invasion attack Watch video

NEWARK -- Instead of pleading guilty in the case, a Newark man indicated on Friday he wanted to go to trial on charges of beating a Millburn woman in a 2013 home invasion attack caught on a "nanny-cam."

Shawn Custis, 44, said he was not interested in the 20-year prison term he would receive if he entered a guilty plea. That figure represents the maximum sentence for the most serious charges against Custis.

But during Friday's hearing, Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler reminded Custis that, due to his criminal record, he would be eligible for an extended prison term if he is convicted at the trial.

That extended term means that if Custis is convicted of a charge that normally carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, Custis could be sentenced to 40 years in prison, according to Wigler. Custis would then have to serve at least 85 percent of that sentence before becoming eligible for parole, Wigler said.

"You understand that?" Wigler asked.

"Yes," Custis replied.

The judge said jury selection is scheduled to begin on Nov. 4 and opening statements would occur on Dec. 2.


MORE: Trial date set for accused 'nanny-cam' attacker

In May, Wigler ruled Custis is competent to stand trial after hearing testimony from two doctors. One doctor evaluated Custis for the defense and the other evaluated him on behalf of the state.

The judge found the state's expert to be "somewhat more credible." That doctor determined Custis understood the nature of the charges, could assist in his defense and understood the court procedures and roles of the parties involved, including the prosecutor, defense attorney, judge and jury.

Custis is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, robbery, burglary, criminal restraint and theft in connection with the June 21, 2013 incident.

Authorities allege Custis kicked, punched and threw the woman down the basement stairs as her daughter sat on the living-room couch. Her 18-month-old son was asleep in an upstairs bedroom. Custis also stole various items from the house, authorities said.

During Friday's hearing, Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Jamel Semper, who is handling the case, said the evidence against Custis includes the video and DNA evidence showing that the victim's blood was found on Custis's clothing.

But Custis later said, "I never seen no video." The judge said Custis's attorney, Olubukola Adetula, has the video and can show it to him.

Custis also disputed the alleged DNA evidence. "Ain't no DNA was found...on my clothes," he said.

"That can certainly be an issue at trial," the judge responded.

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

Trial delayed for Georgia man in stabbing death of woman

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Brian Love, 42, of Riverdale, Georgia, is facing murder and weapons charges in the killing of Denise Ramsey

NEWARK -- A trial will be delayed till early next year for a Georgia man charged in the stabbing death of a woman whose body was found in an empty lot in East Orange.

Jury selection was scheduled to begin on Monday in the trial of Brian Love, but due to scheduling conflicts, Superior Court Ronald Wigler on Friday set a new trial start date of Jan. 25.

The delay is due in part to the fact that Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Naazneen Khan, who is handling the case, began a murder trial this week for Ernest Williams, Jr., who is accused of fatally shooting Brian Schiavetti in Montclair in July 2012. That trial is expected to run through the beginning of November, Khan said.

In rescheduling Love's trial, the judge also noted how Love's attorney, Olubukola Adetula, is expected to be involved in November and December in the trial of Shawn Custis, who is charged with beating a Millburn woman in a 2013 home invasion attack caught on a "nanny-cam."

Love, 42, of Riverdale, Georgia, is facing murder and weapons charges in the killing of Denise Ramsey, who was discovered under a mattress on Jan. 25, 2012 after her sister had reported her missing.

His co-defendant, Johnny Jones III, is also charged in Ramsey's murder, but he remains a fugitive.


MORE: Georgia man headed to trial in murder of 'go-go' dancer in East Orange

Ramsey, 33, was last seen in the early morning hours of Dec. 3, 2011, when she was working as a "go-go" dancer at the Doll House in Irvington, authorities said.

At that time, two men at the club became angry when they gave Ramsey three one-hundred-dollar bills and asked her for change in the form of singles, but then only received change for one hundred-dollar bill, according to eyewitnesses, court documents state.

The witnesses recalled one of the suspects saying, "if we don't get the money, then we gonna go outside, pop the trunk and kill everybody in here," court documents state. Ramsey was last seen by witnesses leaving the Doll House that evening and getting into a vehicle with the male suspects, court documents state.

Khan has indicated Jones and Love were the male suspects with Ramsey on the night of her disappearance.

Love's DNA was found under Ramsey's fingernails, Khan said. According to court documents, Jones's DNA was linked to DNA found in a sweatshirt that was wrapped around Ramsey's body and DNA found under Ramsey's fingernails.

Love also gave a statement to police in which he indicates he was present when Ramsey was being stabbed to death and that he helped in disposing of her body, according to Khan. The empty lot where Ramsey was discovered is less than a mile from where Jones and Love were residing at the time, Khan said.

Another Georgia resident, Corey Fallen, is pursuing a federal lawsuit over the case, claiming he was falsely arrested and unlawfully imprisoned in connection with Ramsey's murder.

Fallen was identified by witnesses as being with Ramsey when she went missing, but his DNA was not found on her body and detectives ultimately confirmed that Fallen was not in New Jersey at the time of Ramsey's disappearance, court documents state.

After spending nearly six months in custody, Fallen was released on his own recognizance in April 2013. About a month later, an Essex County grand jury decided to not indict Fallen in Ramsey's death.

In May 2014, Love and Jones were indicted in the murder.

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

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