The famed vampire story is told through dance, music and spoken work.

FEAR! RAGE PASSION! All will be part of the Roxey Ballet production of Bram Stoker's "Dracula" at the Canal Studios Theater in Lambertville.

The famed horror story of the vampire Dracula and the havoc he wreaks in 18th-century
England is told through dance, music and spoken work in this show, which includes original ballet choreography.

Performances are Oct. 23, at 6 and 8 p.m.; Oct. 24, at 4 and 7 p.m.; Oct. 25, at 2 and 4
p.m.; Oct. 30, at 6 and 8 p.m.; Oct. 31, at 4 and 7 p.m.; and Nov. 1, at 2 and 4 p.m.

The theater is located at 243 N. Union St. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Call (609) 397-7616 or visit RoxeyBallet.org.

TIME FOR TEA

Star-Ledger file photo

Tea Traditions from Around the World explores tea customs and rituals celebrated from China to Russia to the British isles. The Oct. 22 event, from 1 to 3 p.m., will be hosted in the McAuley Heritage Center of Georgian Court University, Lakewood.

Participants will learn how various cultures enjoy teatime, and will be served tea and light refreshments. Tea accessories, including a Russian samovar (circa 1900), Chinese Gong Fu tea set, a Turkish teapot and Tibetan tea bowl, will be on display.

Cost is $20 and reservations are required. Georgian Court University is located at 900
Lakewood Ave. Call (732) 97-2263 or visit georgian.edu.

AND MORE ...

• Carve a pumpkin and decorate it on Oct. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Montclair Art Museum. Cost is $25 for nonmembers and $20 for members. Pumpkins, art supplies and tools provided. Parent or guardian must accompany children. Visit montclairartmuseum.org.

• Jersey horror-punk veterans Misfits ramp up the Halloween season with an Oct. 24 show at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville. Visit starlandballroom.com.

• Alt-rock more your style? Check out Young The Giant on Oct. 24 at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair. The California band is touring in support of its 2014 release "Mind Over Matter." Visit wellmont.theater.

MORE FROM INSIDE JERSEY MAGAZINE

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A Maplewood elementary school has alerted parents that Halloween celebrations will not be held this year.

MAPLEWOOD -- Halloween should be celebrated at home, not at school.

That was the message one New Jersey elementary school sent to parents last week as a reminder that students will not be having Halloween parties at school. In a letter home to parents on Oct. 12, Seth Boyden Elementary School Principal Mark Quiles, and PTA Co-Presidents Amelia Riekenberg and Donna Upton, said the school's diversity prompted the Halloween celebration decision.

"One of the strengths of Seth Boyden is that we are such a diverse community, with many cultures represented, and that we truly value each one," they wrote in the note.

"In the past, in-school celebrations of Halloween have made many of our students feel left out... (and as) a result, after careful consultation and deliberation, we have decided not to hold in-school Halloween activities."

According to the letter, about 20 percent of the school's student body did not participate in last year's celebrations, either while they were at school or by choosing to stay home on Halloween.

According to Suzanne Turner, spokeswoman for the South Orange-Maplewood School District, the policy will not extend to other schools in the district, or to other holiday celebrations at Seth Boyden. There had been no plans to celebrate Halloween at the school this year, the note was just sent home "to avoid confusion," she said.

It comes after a lively debate developed in the community last year when Halloween celebrations at the school were canceled and then reinstated in the days leading up to the holiday.

Superintendent John J. Ramos Sr. issued a statement Monday saying he respected the decision the school made, given the large number of students who have opted out of Halloween celebrations in the past.

"We understand that many families really enjoy the Halloween tradition and of course are not suggesting that anyone cancel or change how they celebrate Halloween outside of school," he said.

Rahmel Belle, 29, of Jersey City, was ordered to pay $125 in fees as his sentence on a disorderly conduct charge

Rahmel BelleEssex County Sheriff's Office

NEWARK — A Hudson County man pleaded guilty this month to a disorderly conduct charge in connection with an altercation with three Essex County sheriff's officers in May after an outburst during the sentencing of the man who killed his brother.

Rahmel Belle, 29, of Jersey City, entered the plea to the disorderly persons offense on Oct. 9 before Superior Court Judge Bahir Kamil. As his sentence, the judge then ordered Belle to pay $125 in fees without any jail time.

"Wish you the best, young man," Kamil told Belle, according to an audio recording of the proceeding.

Belle had been indicted on June 30 on three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and one count of resisting arrest.

Under a plea deal with prosecutors, the aggravated assault charges were dismissed and the resisting arrest charge was downgraded to the disorderly conduct charge. Prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence of fines and fees.

The incident occurred on May 5 while Belle was attending the sentencing of George Jones, 42, of Newark, who fatally shot Michael Belle on July 27, 2013 on Elizabeth Avenue in Newark.

Jones received 10 years in state prison after having pleaded guilty to a reckless manslaughter charge and a weapons offense. The killing occurred a few years after Jones was released from prison in connection with the fatal shooting of another man in 1994.

While his mother, Jacqueline Belle, was speaking during the sentencing hearing, Rahmel Belle stood up and approached the front of the Newark courtroom. Belle cursed at Jones and called him a "coward."

"You took my brother for nothing," Belle shouted at Jones. "You'll never make it outside."

After a sheriff's officer escorted Belle to the outer hallway, authorities said Belle rushed into the three officers in an attempt to get back inside the courtroom. Two of the officers sustained minor injuries, authorities said. One officer was struck in the head and the other was hit on the hand, authorities said.

With the assistance of his attorney, Michael Maher, Belle admitted when he pleaded guilty on Oct 9 to getting "emotional" during Jones's sentencing hearing, according to the audio recording.

Belle said he was escorted out of the courtroom and was then asked not to return. While a sheriff's officer tried to keep him outside, Belle said he physically tried to get back into the courtroom. Belle said he engaged in "tumultuous behavior."

Belle was arrested on the day of the incident and released on his own recognizance on June 2.

On Sept. 9, Belle was arrested in Jersey City on a robbery charge and a weapons offense, court records show. He remains in custody at the Hudson County jail in lieu of $50,000 bail, records show.

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

Franchise's live show reached 32 U.S. cities, from Providence to Austin, but the Bloomfield post-hardcore band never left the state. How?

BLOOMFIELD -- In summer 2014, Franchise's live show reached 32 U.S. cities, from Providence to Austin. 

But the Bloomfield post-hardcore band never left New Jersey. They didn't tour -- at least not in the traditional sense. 

Instead, the tenacious four-piece tapped some of its members' day jobs -- bassist Mark Costa and drummer Corrado Rizzi work in digital advertising -- to organize what they called a "Mobile Tour."

The band first filmed a live session -- to mimic a show performance -- and on nearly three-dozen nights, they purchased Facebook ads and blitzed different markets around the country, spurring newfound fans to watch their video.

"We were mirroring the same effect of packing a van and traveling around the country," Costa says in a recent interview. 

Only without the cost of gas, food and lodging. 

MORE: A detailed history of New Jersey hardcore 

The raging band has played dozens of regional shows since their 2013 formation, but after years spent in other local bands around Essex County, they know a full U.S. tour as relative unknowns would only impact their wallets. 

Franchise instead works to cultivate its local audience, with a sharp, new EP "Santa Muerte" released in June. With enough buzz generated, then the guys would consider hitting the road. 

"We like doing it ourselves," Rizzi says of managing the band. "It's part of the experience for us, playing where we want, when we want." 

The group's new album, shaped by members' love for New Jersey's early '00s post-hardcore scene -- most notably New Brunswick's Thursday -- tackles mental illness and the push for perseverance.  

"We all can't be saved sometimes and that's a tough pill to swallow and accept, but if I can write a record that helps open eyes and brings awareness, then that's half the battle," says singer/screamer Kenny Collette. 

THE LINEUP

Vocals -- Kenny Collette, 29, of Jersey City

Guitar -- Edgar "Mush" Martinez, 28, of Clifton

Bass guitar -- Mark Costa, 27, of Nutley

Drums -- Corrado Rizzi, 27, of Nutley

WHAT THEY SOUND LIKE

Sonically, Franchise is not especially innovative, but the band's ferocious approach to post-hardcore is executed with guile. "Santa Muerte" is anchored by the darkness of Collette's words, and backed beautifully by brooding guitar and crashing drums.  

Collette's tenacious screams are, in tone, very similar to Alexisonfire frontman George Pettit. But Collette's phrasing is superior to many screamers, in that listeners catch his lyrics the first time through. And with solemn messages surrounding depression and suicide, it's important to hear him loud and clear. 

Perhaps most impressive is his range -- Collette also does the clean singing, and delivers with so much polish its difficult to believe he's also the guy ripping the verses with such serration. 

Bloomfield post-hardcore band Franchise opens for Hawthorne Heights at Webster Hall in New York March 6, 2015. (Keeyahtay Lewis of Deadbolt Photos) 

WHO THEY SOUND LIKE

Alexisonfire, letlive., Underoath

WHY THEY MATTER

The process of maintaining a DIY local band can quickly become uncharitable. Between the practices, the bookings, the gigs, the travel, the load-ins and trying to grow a group into a profitable entity, there's not always time or energy to share any small triumphs with other bands. 

But Franchise appears to be a band of the people. 

"Whatever momentum we gain, we hope to share with the other bands," says Rizzi. "They work too hard to not be heard."

These guys function with a sense of awareness, not only for their business model (see the Mobile Tour), but of their place within an Essex County scene that receives little merit. 

They understand that if they win, everyone around them wins. That's almost as admirable as Collette's vocal range or guitarist Edgar Martinez's leading shreds.

WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM

Oct. 22: The Court Tavern, New Brunswick

Oct. 30: Maxwell's Tavern, Hoboken 

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

Patty Spango, the newly appointed Essex County deputy superintendent of elections/deputy commissioner of registration, and Frank A. Cocchiola Jr., a retired educator and administrator, were recognized as "Stellas della Contea di Essex" (Stars of Essex County) at the Essex County Italian-American Heritage Month observance held Oct. 9 in the Essex County Hall of Records.

(From left) Dr. Frank A. Cocchiola, Jr. (Nutley), U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, Toby Santoro (Caldwell), Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr., Patty Spango (West Orange) and Sheriff Armando Fontoura at the 2015 Essex County Italian-American Heritage Month observance.Glen Frieson 

NEWARK -- Patty Spango, the newly appointed Essex County deputy superintendent of elections/deputy commissioner of registration, and Frank A. Cocchiola Jr., a retired educator and administrator, were recognized as "Stellas della Contea di Essex" (Stars of Essex County) at the Essex County Italian-American Heritage Month observance held Oct. 9 in the Essex County Hall of Records.

Spango is a lifelong resident of West Orange, where she served as a councilwoman for two terms and as council president in 2010. Cocchiola has served as interim superintendent of the Essex County Vocational-Technical School District for the past two years.

The honorees were recognized for their "commitment to improving the lives of all residents, their leadership and dedication to public service."

A special recognition award was presented to Toby Santoro, a 102-year-old Caldwell resident who competed in bocce and bowling competitions in the New Jersey Senior Olympics.

To submit an achievement, please send an email to essex@starledger.com.

Tweet your pics #JerseyWeen

You see them around your neighborhood at this time every fall: The house that goes overboard for Halloween. A strand of orange lights and a creepy spider aren't enough for some people. Motorized skeletons, creepy music and homemade headstones hit the spot during Halloween season. Do you go overboard decorating your house for October 31, or have you seen a ghastly display nearby? We want to see them too.

Post pics of New Jersey Halloween decor in comments below. Make sure you tell us where in New Jersey the picture is from, and give us details about the best parts of the display. You can also tweet Halloween decor photos @njdotcom with the hashtag #jerseyween. We'll highlight the best decorations on NJ.com next week.

John Shabe can be reached at jshabe@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johndshabe and find NJ.com on Facebook.

The family of Ben Serico won a $6 million verdict in their lawsuit against Montclair doctor Robert Rothberg, in which the relatives claimed he failed to diagnose Serico's colon cancer

An Essex County jury on Wednesday awarded a $6 million verdict to the family of a man who died from colon cancer in a medical malpractice lawsuit against his former doctor, according to the family's attorney. (File photo)

NEWARK -- The family of a man who died from colon cancer won a $6 million verdict on Wednesday in a medical malpractice lawsuit against his former doctor, according to the family's attorney. 

Ben Serico's family claimed in the lawsuit that Dr. Robert Rothberg was negligent for not identifying signs of the cancer during a 2007 colonoscopy. Another doctor discovered the disease about two years later after it had worsened, and the 62-year-old Serico died in December 2011.

Bruce Nagel, the attorney representing Serico's widow and twin sons in the lawsuit, said his reaction to the jury's $6 million verdict was "bittersweet."

"While I'm thrilled with the judgment, it is tragic that Ben Serico died because he didn't get the most basic medical care," said Nagel of the Roseland-based law firm of Nagel Rice LLP.

The trial lasted for about two weeks before Superior Court Judge James S. Rothschild, Jr.

Rothberg's attorney, James Sharp, could not be reached for comment. Rothberg, a colorectal surgeon, has a practice in Montclair.

Serico, who lived in West Caldwell, was an assistant professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

According to Nagel, Serico visited Rothberg in December 2007 and told the doctor he had blood in his stool and that he had an uncle who died from colon cancer. Rothberg conducted a colonoscopy and told Serico the blood was the result of hemorrhoids, Nagel said.

Rothberg also recorded a video of the colonoscopy to be used later for educational purposes, Nagel said.

"He thought he was perfectly fine," said Nagel, referring to Serico.

About two years later, Serico was in severe pain and went to the emergency department at Mountainside Hospital on New Year's Eve in 2009 and the physicians there discovered a large mass in his liver, Nagel said.

On Jan. 5, 2010, a doctor at the hospital conducted a colonoscopy and found that Serico had colon cancer and that it had spread to his liver, Nagel said. Serico then underwent chemotherapy and multiple surgeries before he died on Dec. 27, 2011, Nagel said.

"It was a horrible, horrible two years for him," Nagel said.

Nagel said the video of the 2007 colonoscopy revealed a polyp in Serico's colon. Rothberg said at the trial that he didn't think it was a polyp, but experts for Rothberg and the Serico family both said it was a polyp, according to Nagel.

The cancer grew at the site of that polyp, ultimately causing Serico's death, Nagel said. The family's experts determined that if the polyp had been removed after the 2007 colonoscopy, Serico most likely would have survived, Nagel said.

As a result, Serico's family argued Rothberg was negligent for failing to identify the polyp and remove it, and that the two-year delay led to Serico's death, Nagel said.

"Good medicine requires that every polyp that is seen is removed," Nagel said. "The reality is he didn't remove the polyp that was there."

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

 

Newark, Princeton and several N.J. counties could lose federal funds under the Senate Republican legislation

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Republicans failed Tuesday to get the 60 votes needed to move legislation threatening Newark, Princeton and other municipalities that seek to protect unauthorized immigrants living within their borders.

The Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act would cut off community development block grants, community policing grants and other federal funds to so-called "sanctuary cities" that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials, such as not detaining undocumented immigrants when asked to. 

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey said Newark, Princeton, and the counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Ocean and Union all could have been affected under the Senate bill. 

RELATED: A response to Trump? N.J. cities could lose funding for protecting undocumented residents

The bill was blocked as 45 senators, including U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker of New Jersey and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a Democratic presidential candidate, voted no.

It was supported by 54 senators, including two Republican presidential candidates, U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida, who both co-sponsored the legislation. A third GOP presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, did not vote.

Menendez, one of Congress' strongest supporters of President Obama's executive actions on immigration, called the bill the "Donald Trump Act," after the Republican presidential front-runner, who has called for deporting all 11 million unauthorized immigrants and said of Mexicans crossing the border, "They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists."

"We are witnessing the most overtly nativist and xenophobic campaign in modern U.S. history," Menendez said in a speech on the Senate floor. "That anti-immigrant rhetoric has made its way to the Senate floor courtesy of Donald Trump and some Republicans eager to capitalize on this rhetoric for their own political gain."

Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks declined to comment.

In floor remarks just before Menendez spoke, Cruz complained about municipalities that were "more than happy" to take federal funds but went "out of their way to obstruct and impede" federal immigration officials.

"It makes no sense to continue sending federal money to local governments that intentionally make it more difficult and costly for the federal government to do its job," Cruz said.

Proponents cited the case of Kate Steinle, who was shot to death by Francisco Sanchez, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who had been repeatedly deported. Sanchez killed Steinle after San Francisco officials refused to honor a request to keep him in custody until federal authorities could pick him up.

Gov. Chris Christie, who also is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, has called on Congress to pass legislation named for Steinle that imposed a mandatory five-year prison sentence on those who re-enter the U.S. illegally after being deported. That provision was added to the Senate sanctuary cities bill.

Opponents of the bill said that protecting unauthorized immigrants was crucial to efforts to build trust between local police and residents, encouraging witnesses to crimes to come forward if they know they won't face deportation.

"Using federal purse strings to punish New Jersey localities that have policies upholding constitutional protections turns our democracy on its head," said Ari Rosmari, public policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey. "Localities that have adopted limited detainer request policies have done so to protect public safety, build trust with immigrant communities, and uphold the protections in the Constitution."

The House passed similar legislation, largely along party lines, in July. President Obama threatened to veto the measure.

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

Seth Boyden Elementary School in Maplewood cancelled all Halloween activities at school. The reason: 20 percent of its students wouldn't participate. Wast that the right decision?

MAPLEWOOD -- To celebrate, or not to celebrate?

That was the hotly debated Halloween question Tuesday as NJ.com readers reacted to news that a New Jersey elementary school has decided not to celebrate the holiday in school this year. Seth Boyden Elementary School in Maplewood cited the school's diverse population as the reason behind its decision.

"In the past, in-school celebrations of Halloween have made many of our students feel left out...(and as) a result, after careful consultation and deliberation, we have decided not to hold in-school Halloween activities," principal Mark Quiles and the school's PTA co-presidents announced in a letter home to parents.

NJ.com readers had passionate reactions to the decision, with the vast majority of comments against Seth Boyden's decision. Read what some NJ.com users had to say (some comments were edited for clarity); take our informal poll and continue the conversation in comments.

Tinkerbelle_13

joearch

ewrpex87

SimplyD

Dooberstien

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

Larry C. James, 41, resisted arrest after Orange police told him to stay away from his car in 2013 when it was being towed following a motor vehicle accident, authorities said

Larry C. JamesEssex County Correctional Facility 

NEWARK -- A Newark man was sentenced on Tuesday to seven years in state prison for resisting arrest after ignoring Orange police's commands to stay away from his car in 2013 when it was being towed following a motor vehicle accident, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced.

Larry C. James, 41, received the sentence from Superior Court Judge Alfonse Cifelli after being convicted by a jury on Aug. 17 of the resisting arrest charge, according to a news release from the prosecutor's office.

James must serve three and a half years before becoming eligible for parole, authorities said.

James was found not guilty on three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and the jury could not reach a verdict on drug charges against James, authorities said.

Those charges were resolved when James pleaded guilty on Aug. 31 to possession of heroin and possession of cocaine, authorities said. A three-year prison sentence on the drug offenses is expected to run concurrent to the seven-year prison term on the resisting arrest charge, authorities said.

Since James has five prior felony convictions, he was sentenced as a "persistent offender," according to Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Marissa Kawecki, who handled the case.

"We believe this sentence is appropriate and necessary to protect the public given this defendant's long history of violating the law," Kawecki said in the news release.

MORE: 'One-man crime wave' gets 9 years for resisting arrest by Newark cops

The case stems from a Sept. 28, 2013 crash involving James's vehicle and another car at the intersection of Central Avenue and Hickory Street in Orange, authorities said. Three Orange police officers patrolling the area responded to the scene after hearing the crash, authorities said.

James was the driver of one vehicle and the other vehicle was visiting from Maryland, authorities said. Since the damage to both cars rendered them inoperable, the officers called for tow trucks to remove them from the scene, authorities said.

Before their car was towed, James and his girlfriend were permitted to retrieve items from the vehicle, authorities said. But as the tow trucks were about to tow James's vehicle, he continued to approach the car, authorities said.

The officers told James to back away from the vehicle for his own safety, but James refused, ignored their commands and ultimately pushed them, authorities said.

The officers told James he was being placed under arrest, but trial testimony revealed that he continued to physically resist arrest, pushing the officers and flailing his arms, authorities said. All three officers were finally able to subdue James and arrest him, authorities said.

James was placed in the back of a police vehicle and transported to the Orange police station for processing, authorities said.

After getting out of the vehicle, one officer discovered a prescription bottle in the back seat bearing James's name and address, authorities said. The bottle was later found to contain 65 tiny baggies of crack/cocaine and 10 envelopes of heroin, authorities said.

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

 

Several township police officers were sworn-in, and others promoted, at a Tuesday celebration in Irvington.

IRVINGTON -- In a local church packed with dozens of attendees and township officials, 18 Irvington police officers were honored today in a promotion and swearing-in ceremony.

Seven recent graduates from the Essex County Police Academy were sworn into duty, while 11 veteran officers received their official promotions.

The ceremony represents the latest step in the city's attempts to rebuild the police department's depleted ranks. In 2011, the department laid off 31 officers due to budget cuts, bringing its total to 132 officers. The number of sworn officers currently working for the department was not immediately made available.

The department is scheduled to hire an additional nine officers after their expected graduation from the county academy next year, said Police Chief Michael Chase.

Also in attendance was recently rehired township police director Tracy Bowers, who left the department in February 2015 seven months after Mayor Tony Vauss first appointed him to the position.

A 25-year-veteran, Bowers retired in February to build and manage a law enforcement and security consulting company. In the months that followed, the department was overseen by township business administrator Musa Malik and the man Bowers replaced, contract consultant and former township police director Joseph Santiago.

Following Bowers departure, Vauss told NJ Advance Media that he would look for candidates from outside the department as replacement. But an expansive search never materialized, Vauss confirmed Tuesday.

"I needed someone who knew the players, who knew the structure, who could get things done right away," Vauss explained following the ceremony. "I didn't want to go through a long drawn-out process of searching when I already had a viable candidate who previously held the position." 

After several failed attempts, Vauss said he managed to persuade Bowers to take his old job as head the police department. Bowers returned Sept. 1 and was confirmed by the township council later in the month, Vauss said.

"I couldn't refuse the offer to come back and work for the department that I know and in a town I love," Bowers said. His salary compensation was not immediately made available.

Bowers returns to a department still working to resolve a number of internal issues, including including public complaints from some officers over the reinstatement of Chief Michael Chase despite the lack of resolution on dozens of administrative charges against him, and the suspension of a recently promoted captain for allegedly attempting to run down Newark Councilman John Sharpe James.

Maurice Gattison, president of the Irvington Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, said he's confident that Bowers will work toward resolving the department's issues.

"He knows what's needed to steer us in the right direction," Gattison said. "I'm sure he'll take care of every matter that needs to be addressed."

The seven promoted officers are: Sgt. Douglas Polk, Sgt. Taj Jackson, Sgt. Ana Perez, Sgt. Tiffany Charles, Sgt. Jerry Ramos, Sgt. Akilah Jenkins, Sgt. Sheyla Marquez-Zepeda.

The newly sworn-in officers are: Darrell Lewis, James Dorval, Dwight Jackson Jr., Sidney Barnes, Amiri Ricketts, Darrell Perry, Kabierah Outlaw, Zhane Morgan, Peter Rosemy, Edwin Pierre and Jeannette King.

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

A resident also anonymously surrendered a weapon Monday night

NEWARK -- Two people, including a juvenile, were arrested Monday night on weapons charges.

 

The arrests were made by members of the gang unit and the city's violence reduction initiative, which includes personnel from the State Police, FBI and the Essex County sheriff's and prosecutor's offices.

Those personnel were patrolling near 15th Avenue and 16th Street around 8 p.m. when they smelled marijuana coming from a parked car, a department spokesman, Sgt. Ron Glover, said. The passenger, a 16-year-old, appeared nervous and was seen moving a gun from between the seat and center console to his waistband, Glover said. The teen was charged with weapons offenses including unlawful possession of a weapon, a loaded .40-caliber Smith and Wesson reported stolen in 2013.

As some personnel handled that arrest, the rest continued patrolling, eventually going to Clinton and Milford avenues after receiving an anonymous tip of someone in the area with a gun. Police set up surveillance in the area until they spotted a man matching the description provided by the tipster. When officers approached, the man, Eric Pressley, 21, pulled a weapon from his waistband and ran, Glover said. Pressley, who was caught after a brief chase, tried to discard the weapon as he fled, Glover added.

Pressley was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun and other offenses.

Earlier Monday, before the arrests, a resident anonymously surrendered an unloaded .32-caliber handgun to someone from Mayor Ras Baraka's critical response team. The gun was later turned over to Det. Sgt. Joseph Conzentino, commander of the Violence Reduction Initiative.

"The citizens have several ways that they can report crimes. They have the anonymous crime stopper's tip line, they have the police department directly and they also have the mayor's critical response team who are out in the field with the units most evenings," said Police Director Eugene Venable.

"Any way they choose to report, I'm thrilled that they are. Because of the citizens' obvious commitment to abating crime, we are removing guns from our city streets in record numbers before they can be used in criminal activity."

Police are asking that anyone with information about this or any other crime call the department's 24-hour Crime Stoppers  anonymous tip line at 877 NWK-TIPS (877 695-8477) or NWK-GUNS (877 695-4867).

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

 

Richard Adebay and Amos Peter Agbajaife could each face more than 30 years in prison if convicted

Two Essex County men were indicted Tuesday on federal charges related to a $350,000 credit card scheme, according to authorities. (Star-Ledger file photo)Dan Ivers | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

NEWARK - Two Essex County men were indicted Tuesday on charges they used fraudulently obtained credit cards to finance more than $350,000 in shopping sprees.

Richard Adebayo, 38, of East Orange, and Amos Peter Agbajaife, 37, of Newark, are each charged with eight counts of wire fraud and single counts of aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said in a statement.

According to the indictment returned by a federal grand jury, the scheme began in March 2014, when the duo was able to obtain personal information, including birth dates, passwords and Social Security numbers for various credit card holders.

Using the information, they were able to have replacement cards mailed to an address in Newark, which they used to buy thousands of dollars in "high-value" goods from retail stores around North Jersey, Fishman said.

During one such spree on March 22, 2014, they ran up a total of $21,464 at a single store in Bergen County, according to the indictment returned Tuesday.

Before authorities stopped the scheme in April 2014, more than 70 credit card holders had been defrauded, Fishman said.

Adebayo and Agbajaife were originally charged five months later, though Agbajaife remains at large.

Each count of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud against the men is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and $1 million in fines. A conviction on aggravated identify theft carries a mandatory minimum of two years behind bars, which must run consecutively with any other sentence.

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

 

FAIRFIELD — Driving through New Jersey's many highways and freeways, it's hard sometimes to remember how much of the state is untouched. In fact, around forty-two percent of N.J. is forested. As the days get shorter and colder, that means our state's many trees and foliage have started to change into some fantastic colors.  On Wednesday afternoon, I went up in...

FAIRFIELD -- Driving through New Jersey's many highways and freeways, it's hard sometimes to remember how much of the state is untouched.

In fact, around forty-two percent of N.J. is forested. As the days get shorter and colder, that means our state's many trees and foliage have started to change into some fantastic colors. 

On Wednesday afternoon, I went up in a Cessna single-prop airplane to capture some of N.J.'s changing colors. 

The plane was flown by Capt. Stephen M. Lind, a pilot since 1969 and a flight instructor with The Eagle Flight Squadron, based out of East Orange. We flew through Morris County all the way to the Delaware Water Gap and back, slowing down every now and then for pictures.

Greetings from above NJ pic.twitter.com/Meg8Sq6PSV

-- Alex Remnick (@AlexRemnick) October 20, 2015

Alex Remnick can be reached at aremnick@njadvancemedia.com or on Twitter @AlexRemnick. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Marcus Jeter compared his 2012 arrest to the beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police in 1991

NEWARK -- Marcus Jeter said he grew up watching Rodney King and other individuals of color become victims of police brutality.

On June 7, 2012, Jeter claims he became a similar victim when Bloomfield police officers falsely arrested him and assaulted him during a motor vehicle stop on the Garden State Parkway.

In explaining why he later spoke to the media, Jeter tied his experience to those other cases on Tuesday during his testimony at the trial of Bloomfield Police Officers Sean Courter and Orlando Trinidad, who are accused of making false statements in police reports about the incident.

"The world needs to understand that people are falsely accused every day and they deal with...the things like I dealt with of possibly being shot, possibly being dead," said Jeter, who is African-American, after previously referring to King's beating by Los Angeles police in 1991.

"I just wanted to tell my story," the 31-year-old Jeter added.

On cross-examination, however, Courter's attorney, Charles Clark, raised questions about that story in an effort to attack Jeter's credibility, and repeatedly noted how Jeter is suing the two officers and other defendants.

The attorney pointed out how Jeter has not provided certain details about the night in question, and Clark suggested Jeter was misrepresenting the extent of his injuries.

Clark also took aim at the most critical piece of evidence in the case -- a police dashboard video from Trinidad's patrol vehicle.

Prosecutors claim that video shows Jeter's hands were raised the entire time, proving Courter lied in reports that Jeter tried to disarm him when Courter was removing Jeter from the vehicle. Around the same time, Jeter claims Courter punched him in the face.

But Clark argued that just as Jeter believed Courter punched him, Courter believed Jeter was trying to grab his gun -- even though both moments are not captured on the video. He also noted how Jeter's hands disappear from view in the video for a brief moment.

"We can't watch a tape and understand what's going on completely, can we, sir?" Clark said to Jeter.

Courter, 35, of Englishtown, and Trinidad, 34, of Bloomfield, are charged with official misconduct, conspiracy, tampering with records, and false swearing. Trinidad also is charged with aggravated assault for striking Jeter during the incident.

Courter and Trinidad have been suspended without pay from their positions.

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. Sutterlin is expected to testify today.

The case began when Courter and Sutterlin responded to a domestic-related call at Jeter's Bloomfield home. After they arrived, Jeter left the residence and the officers later stopped him on the Parkway and drew their guns on him.

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.

In police reports, the officers claimed Jeter had tried to grab Courter's gun and that Jeter had hit Trinidad.

Jeter has testified he had his "hands up" the whole time and said he never tried to disarm Courter and did not strike Trinidad. Jeter has said he spoke with Courter at the residence and the officer indicated he could leave.

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

Prosecutors initially only had the police dashboard video from Courter's vehicle. After prosecutors later reviewed the video from Trinidad's vehicle, they determined that video was inconsistent with the officers' police reports. As a result, the charges against Jeter were dropped and Courter and Trinidad were charged.

Charles Clark, attorney for Bloomfield police officer Sean Courter during the criminal trial of Bloomfield police officer Orlando Trinidad and Bloomfield police officer Sean Courter who are charged with official misconduct and related charges before Judge Michael L. Ravin in the Essex County Courthouse in Newark. Looks at videotape of the arrest. 10/20/15 (Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

During the trial, the officers' attorneys have 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.

The attorneys also have focused in large part on Jeter's departure from his home. They have alleged Jeter was drunk and that he fled the residence after Courter ordered him to stop.

As part of that argument, Clark challenged Jeter on Tuesday about how he could not recall which club he visited earlier that evening and which specific people he was hanging out with. Clark noted how those friends would have seen Jeter drinking and the bartender would know what he served him.

"Alcohol didn't affect your memory that night?" Clark asked Jeter.

Jeter said he wasn't drunk, and indicated he couldn't remember those details due to length of time that has passed. "It happened so long ago," Jeter said.

Clark questioned Jeter about how he claims in his lawsuit that the officers had committed an act of "racial profiling." Answering Clark's questions, Jeter acknowledged the officers were initially responding to a 911 call and did not randomly select his home.

Clark and Jeter also sparred over the extent of Jeter's injuries.

In addition to Courter allegedly punching and elbowing him inside the vehicle, Jeter claims Trinidad hit him in the back of his head while outside the vehicle.

Jeter later received medical treatment at the township police headquarters and at a hospital. He has said he suffered a laceration on his ear, a sprained wrist, and bruising on his body, and that he was "bleeding all over the place."

Clark pointed out how Jeter claims in his lawsuit that he was denied medical treatment after being arrested. Jeter acknowledged he received medical care that night.

Clark also noted how medical records state Jeter suffered "minor" injuries and that there was no swelling on his head. After the hospital treatment, Clark said a hospital doctor wrote that Jeter was "resting comfortably and in no distress, denies pain and discomfort."

But Jeter claimed those documents were inaccurate. He said his injuries were not minor, and that the doctor must have missed the swelling on his head. Jeter claimed police officers were rushing the hospital staff, and that "they never asked me how I feel before we left."

Clark also confronted Jeter with a document purportedly signed by Jeter after receiving treatment from the EMS workers. By signing the document, Jeter refused additional medical treatment, Clark said.

Jeter maintained he didn't sign the form. "That's not my signature," he said.

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

Parents Tuesday reacted to news that their children would not be celebrating Halloween in school this year.

MAPLEWOOD --  The families of students affected by a New Jersey elementary school's decision to cut in-school Halloween celebrations were split Tuesday afternoon on their feelings about the new school policy.

"I don't have a problem with them cancelling it, because now my child is not excluded from whatever is going on," Tricia James said outside Seth Boyden Elementary School in Maplewood Tuesday afternoon. Her family is Muslim, and does not believe in celebrating Halloween, she said.

"I think, given the number of students who sit out, (this is a good decision). Why lose a day of instruction?"

Seth Boyden's principal and PTA co-presidents brought attention to this year's new policy, which says that the school will not be having any Halloween celebrations, in a letter home to parents on Oct. 12. The school cited the diversity of its students as a reason behind the decision.

According to the letter, about 20 percent of the school's approximately 530 students chose not to participate in last year's festivities, either by staying home, or by participating in an alternative activity while the Halloween celebration was going on.

Wendy Suppa said her daughter, a Jehovah's Witness, stayed home on Halloween last year. Suppa's first grader sits out of all celebrations that the school has, so her daughter would not have participated with or without the new policy, she said.

"Whether the school did anything or not, we have our own stand," she said.

A 'Happy Fall' sign greeted kids at the Seth Boyden Elementary School in Maplewood Tuesday. (Jessica Mazzola | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
 

South Orange-Maplewood School District spokeswoman Suzanne Turner declined to say Tuesday which specific groups of students have opted out of the celebrations in the past, saying that mentioning them would negate the school's objective of making all of its students feel included.

"The last thing we want to do is single out the groups who have not participated," she said.

SHOULD SCHOOLS HAVE HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS?

Halloween dates back some 2,000 years, with most historians tracing its origins to the ancient Celts in what is now Ireland. The day, which marked the end of the harvest and the year, was believed to be a time when ghosts of the dead came to earth. During a large bonfire on Halloween, the Celts wore costumes and made animal sacrifices to help protect them during the coming winter.

Catholic missionaries who encountered the Celts attempted to transform the day into a celebration based in Christianity, naming Nov. 1 "All Saint's Day," or "All Hallows," meaning all holy. The Celtic traditions changed, but their essence persisted, with the day before All Saint's Day becoming known as "All Hallow's Eve."

The celebration went through several transformations over time, with the current American holiday being the result of several different traditions melding together. Religious and cultural groups, including conservative Christians and Jews, and some Muslims and Hindus, have denounced the celebration of Halloween as embracing evil over good.

But Gwen Trezza, an administrative assistant at St. Philomena's, a Catholic school in nearby Livingston that has students of various faiths, said its trunk-or-treat, parade and costumes were a fun break from the usual uniforms and instruction.

"We are multicultural," Trezza said.

"Some students participate (in our parade), and some choose not to."

Some Maplewood parents Tuesday said they felt stopping a celebration that 80 percent of the student body participated in was unfair.

"I think it's silly," Rachel Massoni said of the decision. "It seems a little extreme to me."

Cindy Carothers said she wished that her daughter would be able to dress up at school.

"It's fun and it's cute," she said. "I don't really get it...if some people don't want to participate, they could just not participate."

DIVERSITY

The Maplewood school is not the first to tackle the issue. A school district in Milford, Conn. made headlines earlier this month for first cancelling its Halloween parade to be more inclusive, and then reinstating it when parents reportedly protested the decision. 

Seth Boyden had a similar experience last year, when it nixed Halloween festivities, then reinstated them, saying the cancellation did not give parents ample notice of the change. This year, the school had no plans for a celebration, and sent out the notice merely as a reminder, officials said.

Though it does not track religious affiliations, the New Jersey School Report Card says that the school is made up of approximately 56.5 percent black students, 30.9 percent white students, 7.2 percent Hispanic students, and 5.4 percent Asian, mixed, and other race students.

In an editorial on The Village Green blog, PTA Co-President Amelia Riekenberg said diversity was not at the heart of the decision to do away with Halloween, unity was.

"Yes, we are a diverse community. Most of us celebrate that diversity and love Seth Boyden because of it, not in spite of it," she wrote.

"But diversity did not lead to the decision not to have a Halloween parade in school. Unity led to this decision - everyone counts, or nobody counts."

School officials said Tuesday that celebrating Halloween is not the district's responsibility, educating is. And, it wants its entire student body to feel comfortable when it does that.

"Ultimately, schools are charged with educating children. That is our primary mission," Turner said Tuesday.

"The 80 (percent) of students who participate in Halloween have other opportunities to do so outside of school...the 20 (percent) of students who do not participate in Halloween miss a day of their education and have no other opportunity to make it up."

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

 

A former Secaucus woman who was reported missing in July was found dead in an abandoned building in Newark, family said.

A former Secaucus woman who was reported missing in July was found dead in a vacant building in Newark, a family member said.

Crystal Passante, 26, was last seen on Ferry Street in Newark on July 16, after leaving her father's home. 

On Sept. 18, police found a decomposed body inside an old building in Newark, Passante's aunt, Nicole Romano, said. The body was not identified until Oct. 13, after the results of dental records came back, she said.

Passante, who was five months pregnant, miscarried the baby, an autopsy revealed, Romano said. No foul play is suspected in the death and authorities are awaiting results of toxicology tests to determine the cause of death, she added. 

The family was told Passante had been in the building for a long time and Romano thinks she may have been there since her disappearance.

Passante's mother, Alice Scola, told The Jersey Journal back in August that her daughter had just moved back to New Jersey from Milpitas, Calif. a few days earlier.

The day she went missing, Passante had told her father that she wanted to left alone, Scola said back in August.

The family has not yet received the body, pending further tests. Funeral arrangements are still pending. 

Officials held a groundbreaking for the expansion last week.

BLOOMFIELD -- Another college in Essex County is expanding, thanks in part to a funding referendum approved by New Jersey voters in 2012.

Bloomfield College officials held a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 16 to announce an $8.2 million renovation that is being partially funded by the New Jersey Building Our Future Bond Act. The project will convert the school's 17,400 square foot student center into a 26,100 square foot CAT building - a center for Creative Arts and Technology, officials announced.

The new center "will combine cutting-edge computer and other electronic technology to multiple areas of the arts, including music, video and game development," College President Richard Levao said in a statement about the groundbreaking.

The new Liberty Street building should open before the start of the Fall 2016 semester, school officials said. It is set to include an art gallery, a green screen filming studio, a black box studio and a painting studio.

About $2.2 million of the construction cost is coming from the bond, which was presented as a statewide ballot question to voters in 2012.

"This is a dream come true for the our program," said Bloomfield Division of Creative Arts & Technology chairperson Nancy Bacci.

"Having a space that is built to handle our high-tech needs means that the program can continue to be innovative and forward-looking."

The groundbreaking comes as other area colleges are also taking advantage of the public funding. Montclair State University recently held ceremonies to christen two new buildings on its campus partially paid for by the bond act.

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

 

The FBI today released photos of a serial bank robber they say is behind three recent robberies in Union and two robberies in Essex County.

UNION -- The FBI today released photos of a serial bank robber they say is behind three recent robberies in Union and two robberies in Essex County.

FBI spokeswoman Celeste Danzi confirmed the department is searching for James Glenn, 59, and provided a list of the robberies Glenn is suspected to have committed:

• Friday, Aug. 28, 2015, at approximately 9:30 a.m., the ConnectOne Bank, located at 356 Chestnut Street in Union.

• Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015, at approximately 10:45 a.m., the Hudson City Savings Bank, located at 187 Eagle Rock Avenue in Roseland.

• Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, at approximately 11:00 a.m., the TD Bank, located at 394 Scotland Road in Orange.

• Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2015, at approximately 9:32 a.m., the ConnectOne Bank, located at 356 Chestnut Street in Union.

• Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, at approximately 9:30 a.m., the Santander Bank, located at 324 Chestnut Street in Union.

RELATED: Man behind 3 Union bank robberies wanted in 2 others, police say

The FBI describes Glenn as a 59-year-old black male, 5'5" in height and weighing approximately 150 pounds.

In all of the robberies, Glenn used a threatening note passed to tellers, not a weapon, and was able to flee before police arrived, Danzi said.

Glenn is still at large. Anyone with information about Glenn is urged to call the FBI at 973-792-3000. All calls are kept confidential. The FBI advises that citizens should never attempt to apprehend a fugitive on their own and should dial 911 in an emergency.

Union Police also said that anyone with information on Glenn could contact police or submit an anonymous tip by texting "UCTIP" and a message to 274637 (CRIMES), or submitting online at www.uctip.org.

MORE UNION COUNTY NEWS

Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessicaRemoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The 17-year-old Newark teenager arrested last week on multiple robbery charges demanded cell phones and cash from six Bayonne teenagers in four separate incidents over a two-week span, city police said today.

BAYONNE -- The 17-year-old Newark teenager arrested last week on multiple robbery charges demanded cell phones and cash from six Bayonne teenagers in four separate incidents over a two-week span, city police said today.

On Sept. 30, the 17-year-old -- whose name has not been released because he is a minor -- showed a gun to a 14-year-old boy in the area of Juliette Street and Avenue A at 4:15 p.m. and demanded the boy's cell phone and money, police said.

After the boy turned those over, the 17-year-old took an additional $500 in cash after forcing the boy to withdraw the money from an ATM at Fourth Street and Kennedy Boulevard.

A little over two weeks later, the 17-year-old approached three 14-year-old boys in the area of 10th Street and Avenue A at 4 p.m., and after telling them he had a gun, he took each of their cell phones, police said.

Later that same day, Oct. 15, the 17-year-old threatened an 18-year-old with a knife and took his cell phone in the area of Eighth Street and Avenue C at 10:12 p.m., according to police.

On Oct. 16, the Newark teenager went up to a 16-year-old boy in the area of 17th Street and Kennedy Boulevard at 8:18 a.m. and told him he had a gun, police said. The 16-year-old refused to hand over his phone, but turned over 50 cents and a bus ticket, at which point the robber fled, police said.

That same day, police officers apprehended the 17-year-old in the area of 22nd Street and Avenue A, where they found him with five cell phones, the bus ticket, and 50 cents, police said.

The 17-year-old has been charged with six counts of armed robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose; and one count of kidnapping. He is currently being held at the Union County Juvenile Detention Center, police said.

Jonathan Lin may be reached at jlin@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @jlin_jj. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.