Joseph W. Tobin, archbishop of Indianapolis and soon to be a cardinal, will be the first red hat to preside over the Archdiocese of Newark. His appointment was made official Monday.

Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin was upending the apple cart, and he was making no apologies for it.

It was 2010, and Tobin was a new archbishop hand-picked by Pope Benedict XVI to serve as secretary of the Vatican congregation overseeing religious orders.

In that role, he had inherited an investigation into U.S. nuns, criticized by conservative theologians as too secular and too quick to steer away from established church orthodoxy. The investigation, Vatican observers said, was meant to send a message to the American sisters to fall in line with Rome.

Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin, soon to be a cardinal, is expected to lead the Archdiocese of Newark. (Associated Press) 

And then Tobin did the unthinkable. He sided with the nuns, angering his superiors and making his Vatican assignment a short-lived one. Two years into a five-year term, he was reassigned to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

"As a result of that dispute, he made a lot of enemies, and he was basically chased out of Rome and given Indianapolis just as a way to exile him," said the Rev. Thomas Reese, author of the book "Inside the Vatican" and a senior analyst for the National Catholic Reporter.

Six years later -- and three years into a new papacy -- Tobin is about to become a cardinal and was named Monday as the new leader of the Archdiocese of Newark, a dizzying reversal for the 64-year-old Detroit native.

"This is almost a resurrection story," Reese said. "For Pope Francis to pick this guy out and make him a cardinal and now move him to Newark is absolutely extraordinary."

Archbishop John J. Myers, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in July, has scheduled a press conference for 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark.

NJ Advance Media disclosed the selection of Tobin exclusively Friday. The Vatican officially announced the appointment Monday morning.

Tobin was among three American bishops elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis last month. The designation will become official at a ceremony in Rome Nov. 18.

For Newark, the appointment will make history. In its 163-year existence, the archdiocese has never been led by a cardinal. It also has never been led by a member of a religious order. Tobin is a member of the Redemptorist order.

In Tobin, the archdiocese's 1.2 million Catholic can expect a more moderate cleric -- and one prone more to pastoral outreach -- than Myers, who has been criticized as a distant figure not in touch with his widely diverse base, Reese and others said.

"The best way to describe (Tobin) is he's a Francis bishop," Reese said. "He's very pastoral. Rather than being someone who wags his finger at everybody, he wants to embrace people and be in dialogue with them. That's Francis. For Francis, the way forward is through dialogue, not through argument."

Christopher Bellitto, a Kean University history professor who has written extensively on the papacy, said Tobin is in many ways a reflection of the pope, who has emphasized tolerance toward other viewpoints -- he once asked "Who am I to judge?" in response to a question about gay priests -- and who has sharply criticized bishops who see themselves as "princes of the church."

"Francis hates clericalism," Bellitto said. "Francis hates climbers and bishops who have been trying to be bishops since they were seminarians. That's what he's trying to root out very strongly.

"If you want to attract young men to be pastors," Bellitto continued, "then you need to put model pastors at the top of the hierarchy, and we certainly have not had that kind of leadership, with rare exceptions, in the United States in the last 30 or 40 years."

As seen in his conflict with the Vatican over American nuns, Tobin has not been one to balk in the face of a dustup.

When Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, now the Republican candidate for vice president, banned the resettlement of Syrian refugees from the state last year, Tobin defied him, resettling one family and then scores more.

For four decades, he said in a statement in December, the archdiocese "has welcomed people fleeing violence in various regions of the world. This is an essential part of our identity as Catholic Christians and we will continue this life-saving tradition."

According to his biography on the Archdiocese of Indianapolis' website, Tobin, the oldest of 13 children, was ordained in 1978 and worked for decades as a parish priest in Detroit and Chicago.

He has served on several Vatican committees and led the Redemptorist order for 12 years, from 1997 to 2009. He also has worked on committees for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

In an interview with America, a Jesuit publication, after Pope Francis announced he would be made a cardinal last month, Tobin spoke at length about his philosophy as a churchman and about his support for nuns in the United States.

The investigation into the sisters, he told America, "got people asking questions about the role of women religious in the history of the United States church. I think they immediately understood, or maybe understood in a more profound way, just what an important, critical role sisters play."

Speaking of the Redemptorist order, Tobin told the magazine Redemptorists "always like to look on the other side of the tracks and care for people maybe the church isn't able to care for."

He spoke, too, about the importance of listening and of constant dialogue. To that end, Tobin recently created a Twitter account with the handle @JoeTobin.

"What I find is really important in positions like mine is being able to listen," he told America. "Maybe not if you just select people who you think agree with yourself. I think that's the real seduction of social media and the Internet, is what should have been a marketplace of ideas becomes even more divisive because it isolates people from other opinions."

It was through Twitter, Tobin said at a press conference last month, that he learned the pope would be making him a cardinal.

His reaction, he told reporters, was one of "shock and a little embarrassment."

"I don't much like a spotlight like that," he said. "I'm not quite over it yet."

Monday's expected announcement will mark the second time the pope has chosen a potential replacement for Myers.

In September 2013, three years shy of the archbishop's mandatory retirement age, Francis appointed Bernard Hebda to serve as Myers' co-adjutor archbishop. Co-adjutor bishops typically succeed bishops when they retire.

Hebda's stay in Newark, however, lasted less than two years, as Francis named him acting head of the Archdiocese of Minneapolis-St. Paul. The pope made the appointment permanent in March of this year.

Mark Mueller may be reached at mmueller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarkJMueller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Bloomfield Councilman Elias Chalet was indicted earlier this year after allegedly soliciting and accepting a bribe from a township business owner.

BLOOMFIELD -- A township councilman's request to have the bribery and corruption charges against him thrown out has reportedly been denied.

Councilman Elias Chalet has denied the charges. (File photo) 

A Superior Court judge Friday denied Elias Chalet's bid to have the charges filed against him dismissed, NorthJersey.com reported.

Chalet, a councilman in Bloomfield, is accused of soliciting a bribe from a business owner to ensure the township's purchase of the man's property.

Chalet was indicted in January on charges of official misconduct, bribery, evidence tampering, and hindering apprehension, after allegedly accepting the $15,000 bribe. The councilman has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and declined plea deals offered to him in the case.

Chalet continues to sit on the Bloomfield council, despite a recall effort, and calls from political opponents to step down. The charges became an issue during the primary election earlier this year, when opponents criticized Mayor Michael Venezia for not demanding that Chalet step down in light of the accusations.

Councilman in court on corruption charges

Venezia, who faces David Tucker and Richard Galioto, Sr. in Tuesday's general election, said that though he privately asked Chalet to resign, he does not legally have any power to force the councilman to do so.

Chalet is reportedly due back in court for a status conference next month.

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

To counter the divides exposed during the presidential campaign, churches are offering prayers of reconciliation.

It has been that kind of an election.

In response to the strong emotions unleashed by a bare-knuckled campaign, dozens of churches are going beyond traditional election day prayers for the nation by scheduling events aimed at offering solace and a path toward healing.

In Englewood, St. Paul's Episcopal Church will be hosting a "vigil period of intense prayer" on Monday at 7 p.m.

"We must pray for a peaceful transition, no matter the outcome of our elections," states the church's invitation to the community. "We must pray that the demonization of one another's opponents which has characterized this election not be further stoked by its outcome." 

On election day itself, other churches are holding services or following the tradition of opening their doors for the public to have a place for quiet prayer.

At St. James AME Church in Newark , they'll be getting together election night as the polls close, in a Watch Party combining prayer and pizza in a tradition that began with the election of Barack Obama.

"We're definitely going to have prayer for our country, prayer for our nation, and prayer for the country going forward, for healing. And then we will have pizza, and watch the returns come in from various parts of the country," said Craig Stanley, church steward and chairman of its social action ministry.

In Hasbrouck Heights, Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church will be offering a prayer service at 7 p.m. on Monday, election eve, followed by a prayer vigil that extends overnight until the polls open at 6 a.m. Tuesday.

A similar interfaith vigil is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday at St. Rose Of Lima's Roman Catholic Church in Short Hills.

And the day after the results are in, Episcopal Bishop of Newark Mark Beckwith will lead an "Interfaith Service of Post-Election Reconciliation" at the the diocese's cathedral in Newark.

"As the threats, insults, and provocation became more important, it seemed this was something we needed to do," he said. "The temperature and the sense of anxiety is high enough that there needs to be witnesses to some other response than anger or fear."

Beckwith reached out to the diocese's parishes in the closing days of the bruising campaign after realizing the dashed hopes of the losing side would likely linger after the votes were tallied.

"There is no doubt that people are going to be angry and scared on Wednesday no matter how this turns out," he said. "Within our congregations, people may be voting in different ways, and may be having some raw feelings with one another. Congregations will engage in the ancient practice of reconciliation in their churches, and I am inviting them to bring that spirit of reconciliation out into the world."

At Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in South River, they'll continue their long tradition of holding its annual Election Night roast beef dinner. The only thing different this year is they may bring in a large-screen TV because interest is so high in the voting returns, said Bill Kendrick, one of the organizers.

Bill Kendrick has been a member of the church for over 40 years, and the all-you-can-eat fundraiser was already a fixture of the congregation when he joined. The food - roast beef, carrots, green beans, roasted potatoes, and for dessert, apple pie (naturally) - will be served from 6-7 p.m., but diners typically stay later.

In presidential years, there's always a bit more talk of politics than in off-year elections. "But we all know each other well enough so that I don't expect any problems," he said.

Kathleen O'Brien may be reached at kobrien@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @OBrienLedger. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

Andre Vassel was pulled over for speeding on Interstate 895 in Baltimore

A 29-year-old New Jersey man pulled over for allegedly speeding in Baltimore last week was arrested after police found three pounds of marijuana and a loaded gun, authorities said.

Andre G. VasselMaryland Transportation Authority police 

Cops found the drugs and gun in Andre Vassel's 2015 Toyota Corolla following a traffic stop on northbound Interstate 895 on Nov. 1, the Maryland Transportation Authority said in a news release.

Vassel, an Irvington resident, was charged with possession of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute, drug trafficking with possession of a firearm, firearm in vehicle and firearm on person. He also was issued a speeding ticket.

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

Check out previews for the NJSIAA semis

The NJSIAA State Tournament semifinals get underway on Monday. Check out previews for each section in the link below.

North 1, Group 1
North 1, Group 2
North 1, Group 3
North 1, Group 4

North 2, Group 1
North 2, Group 2
North 2, Group 3
North 2, Group 4

Central, Group 1
Central, Group 2
Central, Group 3
Central, Group 4

South, Group 1
South, Group 2
South, Group 3
South, Group 4

North, Non-Public A
North, Non-Public B

South, Non-Public A
South, Non-Public B

A look at 25 big N.J. performances in college football this weekend.

Cardinal-designate Joseph Tobin, known as a moderate and a personal friend of Pope Francis, is expected to be a distinct change for the archdiocese.

NEWARK -- A month ago, Joseph Tobin learned Pope Francis was promoting him to cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Two weeks after that, he learned the pope was appointing him head of the Archdiocese of Newark.

"I am not sure that my central nervous system can take much more news," Tobin said as his appointment was announced Monday. "So, you will forgive me the occasional stutter or facial tick." 

Signaling a new era for New Jersey Catholics, Pope Francis officially announced Cardinal-designate Tobin as the new head of the Archdiocese of Newark early Monday. NJ Advance Media first reported Friday that church sources said Tobin was slated to get the job.

Church officials made the announcement at a morning press conference at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark before members of the media and several hundred priests, church officials and parishioners.

Standing at a podium at the foot of the altar, Tobin said he accepted his appointment with "both shock and sadness" as he leaves his current job as the archbishop of Indianapolis. The relaxed Detroit native stood with a hand in his pocket as he cracked jokes, answered questions and showed off his ability to speak Spanish in a 45-minute press conference.

He said he was unsure why Pope Francis, his friend of 11 years, chose him for the job.

"Sometimes I think Pope Francis sees a lot more in me than I see in myself," Tobin said.

Echoing the pope, Tobin ended his remarks by asking parishioners to "pray for me" as he takes over the archdiocese.

When asked about Tuesday's presidential election, Tobin said he didn't want to tell people whether to vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump. But he told Catholics to ask themselves a question about their candidates: "Are they calling us together or are they separating us?"

Tobin will take over for Archbishop John J. Myers, who is stepping down after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75 in July.

Myers introduced Tobin. The pair have known each other for several years.

"What an honor the Holy Father has given to the priests, religious and laypeople of this diocese and also the state of New Jersey," Myers said.

Tobin, 64, will be the first cardinal to head the archdiocese's nearly 1.5 million Roman Catholics in Essex, Union, Hudson and Bergen counties. He was appointed a cardinal last month by Pope Francis and will assume that new title Nov. 18.

Tobin is known as a moderate church leader and long-time personal friend of the pope. Tobin and Francis met while sitting side-by-side on a small Vatican committee in 2005 and have remained friends, he said.

Tobin has spoken out about including gay parishioners in the church and expanding the role of women in the faith. He was ordained a Redemptorist priest, an order focused on helping the poor.

Cardinal to be appointed in Newark

Tobin also made national headlines last year when he clashed with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who is now running to be Republican Donald Trump's vice president, over the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the state.

Pence wanted to ban Syrian refugees from the state, citing concerns some might be terrorists. But, the governor ultimately decided not to enforce his ban as Tobin's archdiocese helped bring more than 150 refugees to the state.

Tobin's appointment is expected to mark a sharp change from Myers' 15-year tenure in Newark. Myers was known as a conservative archbishop who weathered several controversies while in office, including questions about how he handled accusations of sexual abuse by local priests.

In 2013, the pope appointed Bernard Hebda as Myers' co-archbishop. Though many expected Hebda would eventually take over the Newark archdiocese, he was eventually moved to the Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul to help take over after church leadership was accused of mishandling sex abuse claims against priests.

Bishop James Checchio, head of the neighboring Diocese of Metuchen, was among those who welcomed Tobin to New Jersey, calling him a "fitting choice."

"Pope Francis has given a great gift to Newark and to the Province of New Jersey. The welcoming of a cardinal for the first time to New Jersey is an added blessing too, and points to the Holy Father's care for this local church,"Checchio said.

Tobin is expected to be formally installed on Jan. 6 in a ceremony at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark.

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook.

Jeremy Arrington was initially called a 'person of interest' in the case, authorities said. Watch video

NEWARK -- The man captured after a standoff in Newark Sunday night has now been charged in the killing of a woman and two children found stabbed to death outside a city home Saturday, authorities confirmed Monday.

Jeremy Arrington is charged with murder and other crimes related to the deaths of Syasia McBurroughs, 23, Aerial Little Whitehurst, 8, and Al-Jahon Whitehurst, 11, who were fatally stabbed in the city's South Ward Saturday, acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray said at a press conference Monday.

Murray said that Arrington allegedly encountered nine people at the home when he approached it Saturday, and over the course of about an hour, stabbed six of them, three fatally. Arrington had known the family that lived in the home for a long time, she said, though it is unclear exactly how.

According to Murray, authorities in Newark had announced on Oct. 13 that Arrington was wanted in connection with an Oct. 9 shooting and sexual assault. One of the stabbing victims reposted that alert on Facebook, which was apparently part of the motive behind the alleged confrontation at the house Saturday, Murray said.

The other three people stabbed, the children's 29-year-old mother and two 13-year-old twins, who were the aunt and uncle of the children, are in the hospital in critical condition, Murray said Monday. The Hedden Terrace home where the stabbings occurred, authorities confirmed, is owned by the grandmother of the two children who were killed.

Man arrested after standoff with police

Authorities have confirmed that the two children killed were brother and sister. McBurroughs was not related to them, officials said.

It is unclear if the three other people in the home at the time of the attack -- one adult and two children, who escaped injury -- are related to the victims.

Arrington is being held in the Essex County jail on $5 million bail, authorities said.

Jeremy Arrington, 26. (Newark Department of Public Safety)
 

Arrington was initially named a "person of interest" in the case, and was arrested Sunday on charges stemming from the unrelated Oct. 9 incident. Arrington had barricaded himself inside the city home of a friend, and surrendered after negotiating with police.

In addition to the Oct. 9 incident, there are two other felony cases open against Arrington, according court records.

According to Murray, Arrington was out on bail on an assault charge when the stabbings occurred. Bail had been set at $75,000 with a bond option, she said. Arrington had been appearing at court proceedings related to the earlier arrest, she said.

Authorities said Monday that Arrington has no documented history of mental illness.

The fatal stabbings prompted calls from area residents and city officials to stop violence that affects children. Mayor Ras Baraka has been vocal since the stabbings, asking the community to rally around the family of the victims.

"This is not a normal thing and we are not going to get used to it in the city of Newark," Baraka said at the conference Monday. He called the killings "senseless...awful and horrible."

Staff reporter Thomas Moriarty contributed to this report.

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

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

Bands from all over New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania competed at the two-day, US Bands event.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- High school marching bands from New Jersey took four of the six US Bands A Class national championship titles up for grabs this past weekend at J. Birney Crum Stadium here.

Bands from all over New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania competed at the two-day event, as well as several others schools form the northeast. NJ Advance Media was there for day two, on Sunday.

The list of winners, a full list of which can be found at the US Bands website:

Group IA - Delran High School

Group IIA - Bethel High School, Bethel, Ct.

Group IIIA - Audubon High School

Group IV A - Council Rock High School South, Holland, Pa.

Group V A - West Orange High School

Group VI A - New Providence High School

Bands from Maryland to Massachusetts will compete this Saturday at US Bands' Open Class National Championships at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

With the postseason set to start this weekend, here's a look at more than 20 players ready to light up the gridiron.

A Ridgefield woman is suing a nail salon, claiming she received a pedicure that resulted in a staph infection and the loss of her big toenail.

HACKENSACK - A Ridgefield woman is suing a nail salon, claiming she received a pedicure that resulted in a staph infection and the loss of her big toenail.

Kateryna Fabrizio claims in court papers she was injured last April when she went to New Sarah Nails for a manicure and pedicure.

"While receiving the pedicure they cut into her cuticle. She felt the pain," her attorney, Rosemarie Arnold, said Monday.

When Fabrizio started bleeding, a worker dabbed her with a "green substance to make the bleeding stop," Arnold said.

The substance caused more pain and Fabrizio's foot later swelled, the attorney said.

"Her foot began to turn blue and purple. It wasn't healing," the lawyer said.

Fabrizio went to a podiatrist who diagnosed a staph infection and operated on her foot.

"She had her big toenail surgically removed, which is painful," Arnold said. "She still has swelling and permanent scars."

Celebrities born in Bergen County

The lawsuit alleges workers at New Sarah Nails were careless, negligent and "dangerous."

Fabrizio "suffered severe and permanent injuries; was disabled and disfigured; has suffered and will continue to suffer great pain and torment, both mental and physical," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and a jury trial.

In an answer to the suit filed Oct. 27, the nail salon through its attorneys claimed Fabrizio was "guilty of contributory negligence in failing to exercise due and proper care under the existing circumstances and conditions."

Attorney Joseph DeDonato of Livingston, who represents the nail salon, declined to elaborate on the answer when contacted Monday.

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

Charged on Monday with murder, Arrington is currently facing multiple indictable offenses in at least one other case. Watch video

NEWARK -- The Newark man charged Monday with murder in a triple homicide this weekend has a lengthy criminal history including multiple convictions and pending charges, court records show.

Jeremy Arrington -- the man accused of stabbing two adults and four children allegedly over a Facebook post -- has served prison time for at least two convictions, records show.

He currently has at least one case pending on indictable offenses, in addition to the homicides and charges from an alleged sexual assault and shooting on Oct. 9.

In the October incident, authorities allege Arrington shot and sexually assaulted a woman in the city's Clinton Hill section. Authorities say the woman, an acquaintance of Arrington, was able to walk to Beth Israel Hospital after the attack.

That incident wasn't the first time he was accused of violence toward a woman.

In August 2015, police arrested Arrington on a weapons charge after his girlfriend allegedly woke up to find him pointing a handgun at her and making threats. After he fell asleep, the woman called police and a .40-caliber handgun was found in the house, police said.

Arrington was uncooperative and a brief struggle ensued before he was taken into custody, according to police.

In March, a grand jury indicted him on eight criminal counts, including fourth-degree aggravated assault and second-degree burglary.

Facebook post prompted triple fatal stabbing

Arrington previously was indicted in 2008 on a robbery charge, but later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of theft by unlawful taking. He was sentenced to just under a year in prison.

He was most recently released from Department of Corrections custody in 2014 after serving a four-year term for unlawful weapons possession, according to a DOC spokesperson.

Authorities Monday said he was out on bail when he allegedly confronted a group of nine people in a Hedden Terrace home Saturday over a Facebook post one of them had made announcing a police warrant for his arrest.

Over the course of an hour, he stabbed six of the people, three fatally, prosecutors allege.

Officials say Syasia McBurroughs, 23, Al-Ajohn Whitehurst, 11, and Aerial Little Whitehurst, 8, died Saturday of injuries sustained during the stabbing spree.

A manhunt for Arrington ensued Sunday after he was named a person of interest in the stabbings. Officers from the Newark Police Department, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the U.S. Marshals Service took Arrington into custody on a warrant for the October incident around 9 p.m. Sunday at a residence on Pomona Avenue in Newark.

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office on Monday charged Arrington with murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of knives and a gun, and other offenses in connection with the attack.

Multiple people in the neighborhood where he surrendered characterized Arrington as unfriendly and aggressive. All of the residents declined to give their names for fear of retribution.

Staff reporter Steve Strunsky contributed to this report. 

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Students remember Syasia McBurroughs after she was killed in Newark on Saturday.

JERSEY CITY -- Friends of Syasia McBurroughs say they will always remember the bright smile she wore while walking through the New Jersey City University campus.

McBurroughs had dreams of becoming a teacher, they said, and she had even just started a new job Friday night. But the 23-year-old's life was cut short Saturday afternoon when she was one of six people stabbed inside a Newark home.

McBurroughs, of Cedar Knolls, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before two young children died at University Hospital following the brutal attack, authorities said. 

Two days after her death, members of the NJCU community are still trying to cope with the fact they will never again see her smiling face on campus.

McBurroughs was studying early childhood education and history at NJCU. She worked part-time at the campus bookstore and started a second job working for Amazon the night before she was killed.

"Syasia was the sweetest person with the most vibrant smile," said Karla Lee, one of McBurroughs' co-workers at the school bookstore. "Whenever she laughed she would change your whole mood."

The 23-year-old enjoyed dancing in her dorm room and listening to her favorite artist, Trey Songz, friends said.

Authorities arrested Jeremy Arrington in connection to the stabbing in the Newark South Ward on Sunday afternoon. He was formally charged with the hour-long attack on Monday. 

NJCU is offering counseling to grieving students. University president Sue Henderson described McBurroughs as a "highly involved" student who was "beloved by all who knew her."

"She excelled academically and personally and had a positive impact on everyone she met," Henderson said in an email to students. "We are truly blessed to have known her and will remember her as a dear part of our NJCU family."

James Stewart met McBurroughs after leaving an event at Saint Peter's University a few years ago. The two were both headed toward Journal Square to take the PATH train back to Newark that day and became good friends. He said she loved children and helping others.

"She was a real bubbly person," the 22-year-old graphic design major said. "She cared about everyone."

Stewart said he last saw McBurroughs in their history class on Wednesday. He remembers saying goodbye to his friend as he left a few minutes early to get to work on time.

Students are planning a vigil on campus in McBurroughs' memory, according to Shantasia Artis, who described her friend as being "full of life" and a person who "would brighten every room she went in." 

Friends said McBurroughs would give someone in need her last dollar, adding that the campus will not be the same without her. 

"I'm going to miss her not only because of her smile but because of her presence," Lee said. "Life without her will never be the same." 

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.

There's a lesson in high school runner's "sportsmanship"

Adam Mahabub wasn't sure what happened.

"It was like I blinked and then I realized I was down," said the 17-year-old Bloomfield High School runner.

This was 10 days ago at the Essex County Cross Country championships at Brookdale Park in Montclair. Mahabub estimated he was in the top 15 runners -- and in front of all of his teammates -- when he went down.

"We're taught to keep racing no matter what," Mahabub said. "Some of my teammates asked if I was okay, but I told them to just keep going."

But from the middle of the pack came a young man who did not "just keep going."

Dan Castano, a 19-year-old senior from Belleville High School and the captain of his team, stopped to help Mahabub. And he wouldn't leave, even after the Bloomfield runner insisted that he keep going without him.

Today is an Election Day filled with more spit and vinegar than most of us have seen in our lifetimes. The campaigns have been uncivil, even vulgar. The anger level of some voters borders on frightful. The media throws gas on the fire. Most reasonable people are sad or depressed, wondering what the heck happened to our country.

So here is a story, as Mahabub said, about "a random act of kindness."

MORE: Recent Mark Di Ionno columns

It's about a young man, who, in a county championship that would be the second to the last race of his career, stopped to help not only a competitor -- but a complete stranger.

"It's one of the stories that just makes you feel good about our kids," said Dan Sanacore, Belleville High School's athletic director.

Both runners recounted the incident Saturday at the state sectional meet at Garrett Mountain in West Paterson, where they ran in separate races.

"It's good to see you again," Mahabub said to Castano, as they uncomfortably posed for pictures for this column, both a little surprised by what all the fuss was about.

"I never thought it would blow up like this," Mahabub said, as his teammates joked during the photo shoot.

Castano seemed even more embarrassed.

"It was nothing. It was no big deal," Castano said, which is exactly what you would expect someone who did what he did to say. "If I see somebody on the floor, my first instinct is to help them. It's an instinct like pulling your hand away when you touch something hot."

Mahabub, also a senior, isn't sure why he fell. He was having a good race, but the cold conditions and what he called "the stress" made him short of breath.

"Maybe I didn't have enough carbs in me," he said.

When Castano got to Mahabub, "he was just laying down holding his head. I tried to help him up, but he said to me, 'No just keep going.' But I wasn't going to leave him there like that."

Mahabub said he didn't want to hold Castano up, but Castano insisted. "He said to me, 'It's not that important. It's just another race.' "

Castano helped Mahabub to his feet and then draped Mahabub's arm around his shoulder.

They walked off the course to the nearest trainer. Neither finished.

"This is a really competitive sport," Mahabub said. "People go down all the time and everyone just runs past them. For him to remove himself from the race for me, I thought was really amazing."

But it did not surprise Castano's coach, Nick Campione.

"I was watching everybody come in and I thought, 'Where's Dan?' I thought maybe he pulled up or got hurt.

"Then the trainer came up to me and said, 'I need to speak to you. It's something good.'

When Campione heard the story, he said he was immediately in awe.

"You try to teach your kids that good sportsmanship comes first," Campione said. "That no matter what happens, good sportsmanship comes first."

And if that is not a lesson for today, then what is?

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

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A Seton Hall professor who has studied the use of music in presidential campaign ads says it could play a part in influencing voters. Watch video

SOUTH ORANGE -- In what has become one of the most contentious presidential elections in modern history, pundits and politicians are looking for anything that could tip the scales for voters.

One New Jersey professor is suggesting residents consider the influence of campaign music.

Paul Christiansen, an associate professor of music at Seton Hall, and author of the upcoming book, "Orchestrating Public Opinion: How Music Persuades in Television Political Ads for US Presidential Campaigns, 1952-2016," said music can have a bigger impact than most people realize.

Music, Christiansen said, "is largely ignored by scholars...(but is) such an important part of the overall impression of an ad."

Campaigns use music, he said, to appeal to voters' emotions, and influence their feelings about candidates and issues.

After his decade-long study of campaign music - in which he considered the tunes used by presidential candidates running in the general elections from 1952, the first year of televised presidential campaign ads, to this year - the researcher concluded one party has certainly trumped the competition, in terms of the effective use of music to impact voters.

"Republicans up to now seem much more savvy at choosing music," Christiansen said.

Some of the most effective ads of the past 60 years, he said, include Dwight D. Eisenhower's "I like Ike" ad of the 1952 election, and several of the ads produced by George W. Bush's campaign in 2004. Bush's ads included the "Wolves" about terrorist attacks, and the "Windsurfing" ad that characterized his opponent John Kerry as a flip-flopper.

Though Christiansen said voters aren't always aware of the role music plays, ad makers are.

Phil Swibinski, whose firm Vision Media Marketing Inc. won a national award earlier this year for an attack ad created for a candidate in a Hudson County mayoral race, said music is one of the most important components when crafting an ad.

"The right music is essential for setting the tone and mood of a political ad and making sure it creates an emotional connection with the viewer," Swibinski said.

"Whether you're looking for a bright piano tune to compliment a candidate's positive message or a heavy dirge to back up a negative ad, all the pieces matter when crafting powerful political media, and music is one of the most critical components."

Election 2016: Live updates

So, as statisticians are making predictions in the presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump this year, should they just look to the music?

In past elections, Christiansen said that may have been enough. In many cases, campaign music played a role in determining the winner, he hypothesized.

But, he doubts it will this year - partially because there are more important issues at play for voters, and partially because neither candidate was that good at using music, he said.

Both the Clinton and Trump campaigns, Christiansen said, "struggled to find interesting music... (and) there are too many other important variables to point to music in this one."

If effective music usage had been the decider this year, who would have won?

"The most interesting music was actually (Bernie) Sanders," Christiansen said.

See all of the campaign ads used in this year's election here.

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

A South Jersey Irish pub, an All-American eatery, a popular Italian bistro, and a new healthy alternative are some of the top places to eat this month

Welcome to NJ.com's monthly feature, "Where to eat now in N.J.," highlighting the most exciting restaurants of the moment, including places new to the scene and ones that have been here a while but are still firing on all burners. If you'd like to recommend a restaurant to be considered for a spot on a future "Where to eat now in N.J." list, let us know in the comments section below, or e-mail: bodkinwrites@gmail.com.

OLD GLORY KITCHEN + SPIRITS: The latest addition to the Keyport restaurant roster may be one of the best additions to the entire Jersey Shore's culinary scene in 2016. Old Glory opened its doors in early October, taking over the site of the old Trinity Restaurant, and the two-level bar and restaurant specializes in innovative American comfort food, and brick oven pizzas. The atmosphere of the restaurant is one of a kind -- picnic-style seating, a sprawling outdoor bar and dining area, and the American flag emblazoned on the cathedral ceiling. The food here is absolutely tremendous. The aforementioned brick oven pizza is to die for. The Old Glory pizza ($12) features the perfect sauce-to-cheese ratio, an exquisitely crispy crust, and roasted garlic that melts in your mouth. Classic comfort food such as the thin and crispy chicken parm ($15), succulent braised ribs ($17), and the outstanding bacon-wrapped meatloaf ($16) are just the tip of the culinary iceberg. Everything here is prepared with loving care, giving you a mom-cooked dinner in an extremely cool and fun atmosphere. 84 Broad St., Keyport. 732-497-5555.

The classic pad Thai dish at Metuchen's Phattra Thai.Courtesy Phattra Thai

PHATTRA THAI: Despite its small size, Metuchen is one of the most culinarily diverse towns in Central New Jersey. Walk down Main Street and you'll find dining options from around the world, including Phattra Thai. Owned and operated by a Thai family, Phattra Thai prides itself on putting "love and care" into every single dish. The reason for this love and care? They want to bring the "true flavor of Thailand" from their plates to your stomach. This gorgeous Thai restaurant sports playful appetizers such as the crabmeat pancake ($9.95) and the shrimp phyllo ($9.95) as well as the classics such as the spring roll ($7) and a steamed dumpling ($7). Phattra Thai has four main curry dishes -- green, red, panang, and massaman -- that will run you $12.95 per dish. Phattra also serves up a wide variety of duck, seafood, sauteed, and grilled entrees. 426 Main St., Metuchen. 732-515-9333.

HAT CITY KITCHEN: This restaurant, bar and live music venue brings a little bit of New Orleans to Orange, with appetizers including the Cajun fried calamari ($10), Abita BBQ shrimp and grits ($10), catfish sticks ($9), and po' boy sliders ($12). Burger aficionados can sink their teeth into a 9-ounce crab burger ($13), the classic "Righteous" burger ($12), or the andouille sausage-topped Cajun burger ($14). HCK's entrees will have you forming your own second line after devouring them. Other tasty options include Creole shrimp ($20), the catfish fry ($20) or the comforting Southern buttermilk fried chicken ($18). Don't forget to add black-eyed peas ($4), collard greens ($5), or cornbread ($4) as a side. Hat City Kitchen is also a home for jazz, blues, blues and soul music that can be heard throughout the week. 459 Valley St., Orange. 862-252-9147.

FRESHII: Founded in 2005 by Matthew Corrin, the Freshii chain is marketed as the "global health-casual, fresh food concept that provide nutritious meal choices that energize people on the go." Its first New Jersey location opened on Nov. 1 in Flemington. With fall in full swing, Freshii is offering a selection of hearty and healthy chilis to warm the bones, including sriracha chicken chili and steak and cheddar chili. If you're on the go in the morning, Freshii offers health-conscious items such as green eggs and kale (scrambled egg and kale, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, pesto), the spinach, mushroom and cheese grilled egg pocket and the Cali smoothie bowl (freshii green smoothie, banana, mango, strawberries, granola, and coconut). It also offers a plethora of burritos, soups, smoothies, and salads for lunch and dinner. 100 Reaville Ave., Flemington. 908-367-5691.

Brunch is a huge part of the success of Echo Tap and Grill in Mountainside.Bill Bodkin | NJ Advance Media

ECHO TAP AND GRILLE: Echo is an absolutely intriguing restaurant from both a visual and culinary standpoint. You can easily find yourself staring, mouth agape, at the wild, and innovative design of the restaurant -- it's truly one of the more unique restaurants you'll see in New Jersey. If there is one word that can describe its menu, it's options. For lunch or dinner you can find yourself ordering from brick oven pizza, mac and cheese, flatbread, taco, gyro, burger, sandwich, or salad options -- and that doesn't even include its entrees. Those include snow crab legs ($24.95), churrasco ($25.95), penne vodka ($21.95) and baby back ribs ($26.95). Echo also serves a killer brunch on weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The poached eggs and avocado on toast ($12) are absolutely dynamite, as are the homemade pancakes ($10-$13.25), Belgian waffles ($10-$13), and its Benedict stack ($13), which has scrambled eggs, fried chicken, and chipotle hollandaise sauce. 1079 U.S. Highway 22, Mountainside. 908-264-7100.

The avocado rice dish at Jersey City's Cellar 335.Courtesy Cellar 335

CELLAR 335: Chef/owner Jamie Knott (who operates The Saddle River Inn) opened Cellar 335 over the summer. It's a visually stunning restaurant that serves "progressive American cuisine with Asian influences." There's a number of dishes that fall under the "to share" portion of the menu, so if you're with fellow diners who like to mix and match their food, they'll totally dig what's happening here. You can share items such as crispy Duroc ribs ($14), avocado fried rice ($12), Korean-style wings ($10), chicken wontons ($12), and charred edamame ($8). The "large format" entrees include crispy chicken with mozzarella, shisho pesto and tomato jam ($24), prime Polynesian prime rib ($39), and the duck duet ($39). Behind the bar, tiki-style cocktails will help you wash everything down. If you want dessert, you can grab classics like zeppoli ($10), pumpkin crumble ($10), chocolate cheesecake ($10), and homemade ice cream sandwiches ($10). 335 Newark Ave., Jersey City. 201-222-1422.

PIATTINO: Mangia in Morris County at Piattino, where they put a modern twist on classic Italian dishes. Love pizza? Then you "knead" to check out Piattino's hand-stretched Neapolitan-style pizza, baked at 800 degrees in its imported Italian stone-fired pizza. You can order up the cheese-centric Formaggio (herbed-milk ricotta, fresh mozzarella, provolone and Parmigiano-Reggiano, $14) or the sweat-inducing Calabrian ($13) topped with hot soppressata, Calabrian chilies, smoked mozzarella and yellow tomatoes. Outside of pizza, you can order options from the Piedmont section of the menu, including cauliflower carbonara ravioli ($17) and the Piemontese baguette (braised veal and beef, fontina, and salsa verde, $13). In 2017, Piattino will be opening another restaurant in a 5,200-square-foot space in Summit. 88 East Main St., Mendham. 973-543-0025.

RAISE THE BAR LOUNGE: This new sports bar and restaurant, opened in mid-October, is located in the heart of South Amboy's downtown. RTB is the brainchild of celebrity drink slinger Rob the Bartender, whose goal is to open a fun and friendly sports bar and restaurant that can become the city's favorite hang. He's looking to build this atmosphere with classic tavern fare such as jumbo wings ($10.95), nachos ($9), fried ravioli ($8), Reubens ($11), turkey clubs ($8), and classic mac and cheese ($8). But keep your eye out on the menu and you'll notice some more creative options such as the delicious truffle mac and cheese ($9), the delectable steak salad ($11), and the creative (and gut-busting) mozzarella stick-topped burger ($12). Any place that offers to throw an egg on top of your burger for $2 is doing it right. 117 North Broadway, South Amboy. 732-599-3399.

WHISKEY BAR AND BISTRO: The Whiskey Bar and Bistro has taken over the legendary Whiskey Cafe, which was a staple in the North Jersey scene for a number of years. Opened in late summer, the Whiskey Bar and Bistro offers breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a complete football menu. In the a.m., you can grab yourself a yogurt, bagel, pastry, or breakfast sandwich to fuel your morning commute. For dinner or lunch, kickstart your meal with "pork and beans," a braised pork belly app ($14), duck confit poutine ($16), adobo-spiced wings ($10), or a baby kale salad ($10). There's a number of delicious pizzas ($12-$14) and house-blended burgers ($9-$12). If you're looking for something a little more high-end, check out its entrees: pan-fried skate ($23), coriander-crusted scallops ($21), and chicken fricassee ($19). Recently it added truffle mac and cheese with candied bacon crumble, beet salad with aged balsamic, apple cinnamon and a pork chop with chipotle dust to the menu. 1050 Wall Street West, Lyndhurst. 201-896-5500.

TIR NA NOG KITCHEN AND IRISH PUB: One of the hallmarks of a good Irish pub is delicious food. The menu at Tir Na Nog is crazy diverse for an Irish pub. Will you find corned beef ($14), fish and chips ($17), and shepherd's pie ($17) here? Of course you will. But how many Irish pubs are serving up chicken liver pate ($9), Mediterranean sea bass ($24), or Korean-style BBQ wraps ($9)? Exactly. You can get fancy as you want at Tir Na Nog, or you can keep it simple with a burger, pizza, or sandwich. The pub also has a number of wallet-friendly dining options on its $10 lunch menu or $30 three-course price fixe menu on Sunday and Tuesday, plus a pretty affordable and mouth-watering Sunday brunch. 482 East Evesham Road, Cherry Hill. 856-520-8312.

Bill Bodkin can be reached at bodkinwrites@gmail.com. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.

Locals mourn 44-year-old man known as "Uggie"

Eric Bowens, known as "Uggie" in Newark (Submitted photo) 

NEWARK -- A Newark street performer known around the city was fatally shot late Monday and authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Eric Bowens, 44, known to many in Newark as "Uggie," was pronounced dead around 11:15 p.m. at University Hospital, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

Police discovered Bowens suffering from a gunshot wound in front of a residence on the 200 block of Bergen Street around 10:40 p.m., the prosecutor's office said. Officers were initially called to the scene for reports of someone injured.

No arrests have been made and authorities did not say if there was any possible motive for the shooting. 

News of death spread quickly on social media, where posts mourned his death and people shared videos of Bowens. He was often seen at events and on city streets dancing and singing along to music. Tributes shared online and those who knew Bowens, described him as a happy and kind man, who was born with an unspecified developmental disability. 

"Literally the whole city of Newark upset uggie got killed," one user wrote on Twitter.

"This is sad. UGGIE never bothered nobody," a Facebook comment stated.

"I'm disgusted with some people in our city..," another Facebook post said. "Dude was harmless and just loved to dance."

Newark community activist Bashir Akinyele, who is a member of the Newark Anti-Violence Coalition, issued a call to the end violence that claimed the lives of Bowens and others in the city. 

"With the tragic killings of a woman, children, and now a Newark icon, brother Uggie, as he was known in the streets, we need to understand that neglected poor conditions are creating abnormal levels of violence in the city of Newark, and all over cities in America, for nearly 50 years," Akinyele wrote in a statement.

The slaying came three days after the brutal stabbing deaths of two children and a woman stunned and outraged city residents.

In that case, Jeremy Arrington is accused of killing Syasia McBurroughs, 23, Aerial Little Whitehurst, 8, and Al-Jahon Whitehurst, 11, at a home in city's South Ward. Arrington allegedly carried out the stabbings, which wounded three others, after he saw one of the victims post an alert on Facebook saying he was wanted on for an unrelated sexual assault and shooting Oct. 9, authorities said.

Murders were down in Newark this year, according to police department records. As of Oct. 30, the city reported 77 killings this year compared to 83 during the same time span last year.

The prosecutor's office urged anyone with information about the shooting to call (877) 847-7432.

RIP UGGIE, a Newark, NJ LEGEND. Just was murdered and today would've been his birthday too. Rest in peace, King. The streets love NO ONE pic.twitter.com/0jweSdhSzP

-- Dad (@boogietweets) November 8, 2016

I cant believe someone killed Uggie...like come on UGGIE

-- Coach Janie (@_BellaJ_) November 8, 2016

Rest in Peace Uggie! Idk how someone could be so heartless. You were filled with nothing but good vibes & always had me laughing[?] pic.twitter.com/iISmeZ4ZEa

-- Capri[?] (@LILYANDY_) November 8, 2016

R.I.P to a Newark legend, Eric Bowes b.k.a
"UGGIE". Today is your birthday. Happy Birthday. pic.twitter.com/XugG2dClSq

-- MINK (@MINKSWEARABLE) November 8, 2016