The remains of Sarah Butler, 20, a student at New Jersey City University, were found last week at a county park

Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, 20, of East Orange.  

NEWARK -- An East Orange man has been charged with strangling a college student from Montclair and dumping her body in Eagle Rock Reservation, prosecutors said Wednesday.

The arrest of Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, 20, on a first-murder charge comes six days after the remains of Sarah Butler, a New Jersey City University student, were found at the 400-acre reservation in West Orange.

Wheeler-Weaver also faces a charge of desecrating human remains. Bail was set at $1 million and he is being held at the Essex County jail.

Family members reported Butler missing Nov. 23, according to the Montclair police. Her car, a 2007 Dodge Caravan, was also discovered abandoned in Orange. She was last seen Nov. 22 with the vehicle, authorities said.

Butler's body was discovered around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

Sarah Butler. (Facebook)Jessica Mazzola | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Butler was a dancer and worked part time as a lifeguard at the Park Street Branch of the Montclair YMCA.

"As a 20 year old college student, she had a bright and promising future ahead of her," Jo Ann Short, president and CEO of the Montclair YMCA, said last week. "The mystery behind her disappearance and ultimate loss of life is unsettling."

Family friend Pluchet Alexander said loved ones were devastated by Butler's death.

"Everyone is in shock that this happened to such a nice girl," she said last week. "This is a family's worst nightmare. She never did anything to hurt anyone and was loved by all."

Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura's Crime Stoppers Program last week announced a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the killing.

Anyone with information was urged to call the prosecutor's office tip line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

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

Body was discovered Monday in vacant house, according to authorities.

ORANGE -- The death of a female found in a vacant home this week is being investigated as a homicide, law enforcement officials confirmed Wednesday.

Investigators are awaiting the identification of the victim, according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly, of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office homicide unit. The cause of death was not immediately released.

Orange police responded to the home on the 300 block of Highland Avenue for a call of an unresponsive person around 10:35 a.m. Monday, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Orange Police Director Todd Warren said in a previous statement.

Officers found the unidentified female in the building and she was pronounced dead at the scene around 11:22 a.m., according to authorities.

Man charged in murder of N.J. college student

Detectives with the prosecutor's Major Crime Task Force and city police were handling the investigation.

Anyone with information was urged to call the prosecutor's office tip line at 877-847-7432

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

The "golden age" of supermarkets was the 1950s and 1960s.

For parents navigating the aisles of a supermarket with a child in tow, the seat section of the shopping cart is a necessity, I'd say.

It's better to keep young'uns confined in the wagon than risk having them slip unwanted boxes of sugary cereal into the cart when mom isn't looking, or worse, handle and drop things leading to the dreaded call of "cleanup in aisle five!"

When I was a kid, I had to accompany my mother on countless grocery shopping trips. And, to fight the boredom, I would mentally add up the running total of everything my mother bought and see if it matched what the cashier rang up at the end.

Then, New Jersey instituted sales tax in 1966 and messed everything up.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

The "golden age" of supermarkets was the 1950s and 1960s, according to groceteria.com. Supermarket ads dominated daytime television and advertisements were a great source of revenue for newspapers. The centrally located stores stocked everything we needed.

Well, almost everything.

Where a supermarket didn't fill the bill, local food stores and shops completed the task. One of the most enduring aroma-triggered memories many of us have is the delicious smell of the local delicatessen, ethnic food store, butcher shop or mom-and-pop grocery.

Here's a gallery of vintage food vendors large and small in New Jersey. Be sure to have captions enabled to read all about them.

Want more? Click Here and here for a couple of galleries from previous years.

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

Newly released data from the 2011-2015 American Community Survey indicates the state is still having a difficult time recovering from the recession.

The most remarkable thing about post-recession New Jersey isn't that the state is struggling, it's how indiscriminate the pain has been.

A middling farmer in Cumberland County. A poor resident of crime-torn Newark. A member of the state's highest tax bracket in Somerset County. 

All are likely worse off today than they were a decade ago. 

New data from the Census, released today, shows wide swaths of the Garden State remain slow to get back on their feet following the Great Recession.

There are exceptions, of course. Urban-adjacent communities like Maplewood, Summit or Westfield have seen growth in most key economic areas, but overall the news is not good.  

Census data show median income in the state fell nearly 5 percent from the years leading up to the recession when compared to the five years that followed, outpacing the national decline during that time period. 

Housing values too have dropped 20 percent in New Jersey between those time periods, while they fell only 13 percent nationally. However, housing costs have the opposite trend -- New Jersey housing costs fell less than the national average, and remain higher than the rest of the nation.

A closer look at year-to-year data reveals weak growth in the past few years. New Jersey was ranked last in the nation in income growth from 2014 to 2015. 

The state has been lagging behind the country in unemployment as well, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While unemployment has dropped from its high in 2009, the state has not quite reached pre-recession levels. 

New Jersey entered the recession in a difficult fiscal situation, which put it in a tough spot when the economy began to tank, said Jon Whiten, vice president of New Jersey Policy Perspectives, a liberal-leaning, Trenton-based think tank.

"The impulse of the state legislature and governor was to cut costs, when usually a recession is a time to increase revenue," he said.

In an era of growth concentrated on urban centers, the state has continuously struggled to revive major cities that could attract jobs and businesses, he said. 

Many young people are leaving the state to get better access to jobs and better living environments, he said. The state has the highest percentage of millennials living with their parents, a large obstacle to growth in New Jersey.

"When you combine high costs with a stagnated economy, there's no path for people starting out in the job market," he said.

Meanwhile, Census data has previously shown that residents have been moving out of the state, leading to a slowdown in its population increase.

Erin Petenko may be reached at epetenko@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @EPetenko. Find NJ.com on Facebook.  

Al-Muakhkhir Kearney, who was fatally shot last week, became the Queen City's ninth homicide of 2016.

PLAINFIELD -- When he got out of the halfway house, Al-Muakhkhir Kearney promised himself he would make a fresh start.

Things would be different. He would be different. So, he started a business. He became a motivational speaker. He formed a plan to open his own gym. 

Kearney, 35, was living with his fiancee, Gorchawn, in an Elizabeth apartment and trying to set a good example for his six kids, his family said.

His sister, Sharlenea Easter, said he was meeting people in Plainfield on Dec. 1 to help him move his belongings to a storage unit.

Authorities said they found Kearney unresponsive with gunshot wounds on the 100 block of Netherwood Avenue around 9:30 p.m. that day. He was rushed to a hospital, but pronounced dead an hour later.

The mother of Kearney's fiancee lives blocks away from where he was found, his sister said. 

As a young adult, Kearney was in and out of the legal system. Court records show a jury in 2005 acquitted him of killing a man in Newark. He was imprisoned on weapons charges from July 2009 until October 2012, a state Department of Corrections spokesman said. 

Through Aktion Figures Fitness, the company Kearney founded in 2015, he sold his own line of workout clothes and mentored people who wanted to lose weight. Schools hired him to talk to students about health and how to live in a way that makes a difference. 

Kearney used his own life as an example of how to turn from a pattern of legal trouble to helping other people, his sister said. 

"He would talk to them to help them change their lives around, as well," Easter said. "He'd say, 'Just because you may have gotten arrested for drunk driving, don't make that be the end of your life. You could change that around and do good for others.'"

Easter said Kearney, who was born in Newark and raised in Plainfield, taught his children about physical fitness and they would echo what he told them. His kids range in age from 20 months to 16 years, and the two kids he had with Gorchawn lived with them. 

"They would come and say, 'My dad said you gotta eat vegetables in order to grow strong,'" Easter said. "It's funny how they would listen to him and then tell other kids that."

On Thanksgiving, Kearney filmed a fitness challenge with his relatives and posted it on YouTube. His 13-year-old cousin beat him in a race, which Easter said made Kearney laugh.

"That video keeps being played over and over again," she said.

Easter said her brother was a free-spirit and "God-fearing." He attended Cathedral International in Perth Amboy and often visited Miami, his favorite city because of the beach and the warm weather. 

After Kearney's death, his family chose to donate his skin for use in transplants or medical research -- a decision Easter said her brother would have loved.

Kearney would have turned 36 on Wednesday. To mark the occasion, his family planned to visit the spot where his body was found. 

Plainfield has seen nine homicides this year, with the number topping the total of seven in 2014 and 2015. City residents in July formed the Plainfield Anti-violence Coalition to push for action to address the bloodshed. 

Salaam Ismail, an activist and the director of the National United Youth Council, said the community group needs more collaboration from city and county government to quell the violence. 

"I think until you deal with it in a proactive way, you're going to continue to have this problem," he said. 

No arrests have been made in connection with Kearney's death. County officials urge anyone with information to call Homicide Task Force Sgt. Johnny Ho at 908-403-8271 or Detective William Guy at 908-347-2212.

The Union County Crime Stoppers also are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment. Anonymous tips can be given by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477), by texting "UCTIP" and a message to 274637 (CRIMES), or online at www.uctip.org.

Staff reporter Thomas Moriarty contributed to this story. 

Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The new 'Chief Sustainability Officer' started this week.

NEWARK -- There is a new "CSO" in town.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka announced Monday the addition of a new position to his administration - "Chief Sustainability Officer" - a person who will be responsible for working to make Newark a "healthier and greener" city, he said.

File photo of Mayor Ras Baraka. (Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
 

Baraka has hired Nathaly Agosto Filion, a former manager with Sustainable Jersey, as the administration's first CSO.

"Bringing on a Chief Sustainability Officer as part of my administration is an important milestone in a long history of Newark residents fighting for a cleaner, healthier environment," Baraka said in an announcement about the hire.

"All of Newark's children should grow up in an environment that nurtures them. This means getting dangerous toxins out of our neighborhoods, and making sure families have access to the same environmental assets that their suburban counterparts enjoy - parks, playgrounds, trees, healthy food, affordable energy bills, working water infrastructure, and green job opportunities."

The city has long dealt with numerous health and environmental issues, including air pollution and elevated asthma rates among city kids, the pollution of the Passaic River, and high levels of lead found in the school system's drinking water, caused by aging infrastructure, among other issues.

4 ways city schools are combatting lead

In the new role, Filion will partner with other local and government agencies to work toward a list of sustainability goals for the city. Those goals including the development of a green storm water infrastructure system, the creation of clean energy and efficiency plans, and the expansion of the city's support of community-led green initiatives, like urban farming and tree planting.

Filion started in the position this week, city officials confirmed. Her salary was not immediately available.

"I'm honored to be working alongside the interdepartmental sustainability team Mayor Baraka has convened to carry forward the work of making Newark a greener and cleaner city," Filion said in a statement.

"Newark is blessed with fiercely committed staff and community partners who have (already) accomplished a great deal."

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

Newark, Laguardia and JFK airports are all set to get big price increases on parking rates

NEWARK -- It will soon be more expensive to park in several lots at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The price of maximum daily parking at the lots closest to the terminal will climb from $33 to $39 on Jan. 8, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Wednesday. The hourly rate will remain $8.

In Lot P4, near the AirTrain station, the new daily maximum rate will jump from $27 to $34. Valet parking in that lot stays at $40 a day.

On-site parking lots 1 & 3 will go from $24 to a maximum of $27 a day. 

Long-term parking, about two miles from the terminals, remains unchanged at $18 per day.

Parking rates will also rise at certain parking lots New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport.

In the most jarring increase, the price of terminal parking at LaGuardia will soar from $39 to $59 per day.

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

Parking rates will increase in several Newark Liberty International Airport lots next month.Port Authority of New York and New Jersey 

Mall and security cameras have been seeing thieves use electronic devices that can hack keyless-entry systems. Sometimes they break in and steal what's inside. Sometimes they just drive off.

It has yet to be seen in New Jersey, but car thieves have a new way to make off with someone's wheels.

Investigators say they are increasingly seeing electronic black boxes with the capability to hack modern theft-deterrence technology, giving high-tech crooks the ability not only to unlock and open vehicles, but also to start and steal them.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau, an industry group which tracks insurance fraud and vehicle theft, said after years of anecdotal stories, it recently obtained a so-called "mystery device" that can exploit keyless-entry systems.

The electronic gizmos first came to light about two years ago, after thieves were being seen on security cameras at malls and parking lots using some kind of unknown handheld equipment that enabled them to unlock vehicles and steal valuables inside.

"We've now seen for ourselves that these devices work," said NICB President and CEO Joe Wehrle. "Maybe they don't work on all makes and models, but certainly on enough that car thieves can target and steal them with relative ease. And the scary part is that there's no warning or explanation for the owner."

Wehrle said unless someone catches it on a security camera, there's no way for the owner or the police to really know what happened.

"Many times, they think the vehicle has been towed," he said.

Earlier this year, the FBI and U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a bulletin that warned motor vehicles with sophisticated electronic controls were becoming "increasingly vulnerable" to hacking.

Researchers at the German car club ADAC in March claimed that tests on dozens of car models found many to be vulnerable to an "amplification attack" that boosts the signal of an owner's electronic key fob to trick the car's security system that the fob is near the vehicle. The club said its experts were able to open and drive cars in seconds, without leaving any visible traces of burglary or theft.

The NICB said the device it obtained was purchased through a third-party security expert from a company overseas. It was originally developed by engineers in an effort to provide manufacturers with the ability to test the vulnerability of various vehicles' systems.

In a series of tests involving 35 different makes and models of cars, SUVs, minivans and a pickup truck, researchers were able to open more than half of the vehicles and start and drive away 18 of them. The device, called a "relay attack" unit, only works on cars and trucks that use a keyless remote and a push-button ignition.

The top 10 places where your car is most likely be stolen

A spokesman for the Newark Police Department said the city, which last year had more stolen vehicles than anywhere else in New Jersey, had not heard of any thefts involving the hacking of an anti-theft system. The NJ State Police did not respond to calls for comment.

Roger Morris, and NICB spokesman, said unless there's closed circuit or security footage, there's usually no any real indication that a device has been used.

"We have several videos of break-ins, but not starting the vehicle," he said.

According to the NICB, a number of devices similar to the one it obtained can be found on the black market, with varying technology and capabilities.

"We don't think this is the only type of device," said Morris. "Some may use different approach/technology and they vary by power and range."

He added that they are being sold at prices ranging from about $4,000, to as much as $60,000, "depending on who's selling them."

The Alliance of Auto Manufacturers, a Washington-based association of 12 major automakers, said its understanding of the tool was that it was a high-technology device not unlike the old-fashioned lock pick or "slim jim" once used by thieves to get into a vehicle.

"Obviously any of these devices in the wrong hands can be used for wrongdoing," said spokesman Wade Newton in a statement. "Protecting vehicle access and security continue to be top priorities for this industry, and automakers have been working on multiple fronts to address the security of their products."

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Bob Hoatson is one of a few Democrats seeking the party's nomination to succeed Gov. Chris Christie.

TRENTON -- Bob Hoatson has an unconventional resume for a budding gubernatorial candidate.

The 64-year-old West Orange resident is a one-time Catholic priest who changed course and became a vocal advocate for sexual abuse victims. He's never been elected to public office.

But now, Hoatson is one of the many contenders seeking the 2017 Democratic nomination to succeed Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican. 

And he's hoping the recent rise of non-politicians like Donald Trump, a businessman with no government experience who was elected America's 45th president last month, makes his chances of becoming New Jersey's chief executive less of a long shot.

"My real passion is real leadership," Hoatson, who launched his bid last month, told NJ Advance Media in an interview Wednesday. "New Jersey is in such bad shape right now. We need leadership."

Trump adviser likely to join governor's race 

Hoatson grew up in West Orange and spent 23 years as a member of the Congregation of Christian Brothers. He later spent 14 years as a Catholic priest. 

Hoatson was also a middle school and high school teacher, as well as principal of Holy Trinity School in Hackensack.

While still a priest, Hoatson began speaking out about sexual abuse allegations against clergy. He said he's a survivor of sexual abuse himself.

Hoatson claimed he was removed as director of schools at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Newark in 2003 because of his advocacy. He sued the Newark Archdiocese for $5 million in 2006. 

Archdiocese officials argued that Hoatson requested a transfer. The suit was dismissed in 2009. 

Asked for comment Wednesday, James Goodness, a spokesman for the archdiocese, referred to a statement he made after the case was thrown out. 

"It is our hope that Father Hoatson finally will come to understand that his claims of retaliation, loss of economic benefit, and distress are baseless," Goodness said at the time. "The archdiocese has remained patient in its dealings with Father Hoatson because it is well aware, as we have said many times before, that he is a troubled man."

Hoatson successfully lobbied the Vatican in 2011 to leave the priesthood.

He co-founded Road to Recovery, a nonprofit designed to help victims of sexual abuse, in 2003. He has also lobbied the New Jersey Legislature to reform the statute of limitations on sexual abuse of children in the state.

In 2014, Hoatson ran unsuccessfully for town council in West Orange.

Hoatson, who received a doctorate in educational administration and church leadership from Fordham University, said much of politics these days involves "transitional leadership" -- those who seek control to get something in return. Instead, he said, he wants to bring "transformational leadership" to New Jersey. 

"Frankly, the leadership of many institutions is corrupt to the core," Hoatson said. "I think that's a universal principle. It's one of reasons I've stood up to leaders of the church."

Hoatson will face an uphill battle in the governor's race. The front-runner for the Democratic nomination is Phil Murphy, a former banking executive and U.S. ambassador to Germany who has widespread support from county party chairs and millions of dollars in his campaign chest.

Also running are activist and former firefighter Bill Brennan, former U.S. Treasury official and federal prosecutor Jim Johnson, and state Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex).

But Hoatson said he plans to run a grassroots campaign similar to the one Bernie Sanders did in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary.

"We're putting together a website with a button on it where people can donate," Hoatson said. "If we can engage in just talking to New Jerseyans about real issues, who knows?"

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

It is unclear whether or not the two knew each other before the incident, police said.

NEWARK -- Police have arrested a man who they say locked a screaming woman in the trunk of a car Wednesday night.

Little. (Courtesy Newark Police Department)
 

Responding to a call of a man striking a woman in the area of South 20th Street and 19th Avenue at about 8:17 p.m., officers said they arrived in the area to find screams coming from the trunk of a 1993 Pontiac Bonneville parked on the street.

Authorities found a 25-year-old woman inside, they said. While canvassing the scene, police said they found Kevin Little, 35, of Irvington, nearby. He was on aggravated assault charges. The car the woman was locked in was not Little's car, police said.

The woman was taken to University Hospital for treatment, police said.

Authorities said they are still investigating whether or not Little and the woman knew each other before the incident, and what may have prompted it. But, police did say the altercation "is not a domestic incident."

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

A look at the quarterbacks who cracked 2,000 yards passing this season.

Man's body was found in Newark on Nov. 30, authorities say.

Police are looking for the family of Philip Melchione. (Courtesy Newark Police) 

NEWARK -- Police are looking for family members of a man who was found dead last month.

The body of Philip Melchione, 56, who lived on South 12th Street in Newark, was found on Nov. 30.

Police are seeking help locating Melchione's next of kin.

Anyone with information on the man's family is asked to contact Detective Richard Warren of the Newark Police Division at 973-733-4418 or warrenr@ci.newark.nj.us.

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

Police say 11 face drug distribution offenses

NEWARK -- Police arrested 23 people, seized hundreds of heroin packets and more than $2,000 in proceeds from drug sales in an operation over three days that targeted a North Ward public housing complex, authorities said Thursday.

Members of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Task Force and Newark police division's Special Enforcement Bureau made the arrests at the Riverside Villa complex between Nov. 30 and Dec. 2, according to Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.

In all, authorities said 11 people were arrested on drug distribution-related offenses, nine were charged with wandering with the intent to purchase narcotics along with one trespassing arrest and another two people were taken into custody for open bench warrants.

"I commend members of the Special Enforcement Bureau and the Narcotics Task Force for their commitment to safeguarding the quality of life for our citizens," Ambrose said in a statement. "Crime reduction strategies such as this important narcotics operation ensure that our neighborhoods remain safe to both residents and visitors."

Police seized 333 envelopes of heroin, 88 cocaine vials along with 28 plastic bags of cocaine, two bags of marijuana, a marijuana cigarette and $2,171.30 in cash from drug sales at the complex on Grafton Avenue, near Route 21, according to authorities.

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

Long-term tenant Panasonic will remain in the building.

NEWARK -- The building that houses Panasonic's North American headquarters has been sold to an international investment fund, the former owners of the Newark tower announced Wednesday.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, KFH Capital Investment Co., a Kuwait-based firm that manages the fund, bought Two Riverfront Plaza in Newark for $165 million from previous owners SJP Properties and Matrix Development.

While on the market, the building attracted interest from investors from Malaysia, the Middle East, and China, the report said.

Panasonic, which rents the entire 337,500-square-foot, 12-story office tower as part of a long-term agreement, will stay in the building, the previous owners announced. The company moved into the newly-built tower in 2013.

"This sale reflects the unparalleled quality of this building - which resulted in tremendous interest among institutional-grade investors from all around the world - as well as Newark's growing reputation as an established hub for global business," SJP's CEO Steven J. Pozycki said in a statement.

Mega development replacing Bears stadium

"We're extremely proud to have delivered a building that has helped to put this city on the radar of international investors."

According to reports at the time, Matrix bought the then-empty building lot for $5 million in 2003, and spent about $200 million to build it.

Panasonic moved its U.S. headquarters from Secaucus when it received a $104.4 million the Urban Transit Hub tax credit from the state's Economic Development Authority.

"The sale of Two Riverfront Plaza demonstrates the continued demand for premier office assets in urban lifestyle environments with mass transit connectivity, such as Newark," said Jeffrey Dunne of CBRE Institutional Properties, which represented the sellers in the deal. 

"As the headquarters for Panasonic Corporation of North America, one of Newark's most prominent corporate anchor tenants, this world-class building is well positioned to provide the owner with long-term value."

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

A jazz trio and singer provided the entertainment

NEWARK - More than 50 veterans were honored at Newark Liberty Airport Thursday morning. They attended a brunch in the USO lounge hosted by the shops and restaurants of Terminals A & B. 

Lusi Weghiazaryan, of Hewitt, backed by a jazz trio, provided the entertainment as she sang during the brunch. 

Vietnam Veteran Robert Limardo, of Bloomsbury, says attending the brunch is great,

It "opens my heart to see I still have brothers to talk to and feel comfortable with," said Limardo, a U.S. Marine.

Aristide Economopoulos can be reached at aeconomopoulos@njadvancemedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter at @AristideEco and Instagram at @aeconomopoulos  Find NJ.com on Facebook

"My vision for New Jersey is to make sure the other 49 states envy us," Republican Steven Rogers said as he launched his campaign to succeed Chris Christie as governor.

MORRIS TOWNSHIP -- A few people in the crowd wore familiar-looking red baseball caps with white lettering. But no, unlike the ones sported by Donald Trump supporters, they didn't say, "Make America Great Again."

Instead, the hats read, "Steve Rogers for Governor."

Rogers, a township commissioner in Nutley, has formally joined the ever-growing race to succeed Chris Christie as New Jersey's governor, kicking off his campaign for the Republican nomination with a Trump-like message Thursday.

Among the promises Rogers, who was an adviser to Trump during the president-elect's campaign, made at his launch event: reversing the recent state gas tax hike, charge drug dealers of serious narcotics as terrorists, and make it easier for people in the state to legally carry a gun.

"My vision for New Jersey is to make sure the other 49 states envy us," Rogers, 64, told supporters at the Madison Hotel just outside of Morristown. "And there is no reason we cannot reach that goal."

Rogers is a U.S. Air Force vet who served for years in both the U.S. Navy Reserves and the Nutley police department. He was previously served on the Nutley school board and was elected to his second term on the township's council in May. 

Rogers has also been a frequent commentator on Fox News. He announced his gubernatorial bid Wednesday night during an appearance on Fox Business Network.

BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT- STEVEN ROGERS ANNOUNCES HIS CANDIDACY FOR NJ GOVERNOR. https://t.co/gKCL07FxXo

-- Steven Rogers (@LtStevenLRogers) December 8, 2016

The Trump parallels were obvious Thursday. Echoing the former Atlantic City casino magnate who was elected president last month, Rogers vowed to "renew and restore New Jersey," partially by getting rid of establishment politics. He also promised to "produce thousands upon thousands of jobs just by thinking a little outside of the box."

"We're Americans. We can do anything," said Rogers, who claims to have been the first elected official in New Jersey to endorse Trump.

Steven Rogers, Republican candidate for N.J. governor: "We're Americans. We can do anything." pic.twitter.com/kWFQNIWcaQ

-- Brent Johnson (@johnsb01) December 8, 2016

As for the hats? They're not official campaign merchandise. A Rogers supporter had them made and handed them out.

The hats at the news conference Steve Rogers is holding to discuss his run for N.J. governor. Look familiar? pic.twitter.com/6fgaytA9Aw

-- Brent Johnson (@johnsb01) December 8, 2016

How a populist message plays out in the Garden State is unclear. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1 in the state, which went for Trump's top opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, by a wide margin last month. Political experts say the Democratic Party is favored to retake the governor's office after eight years of Christie, a Republican. 

Rogers is also considered a long shot in a suddenly crowded race for the GOP nod. State Assemblyman Jack Ciatterelli (R-Somerset) and Ocean County businessman Joseph Rullo have already declared their candidacy.

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno is expected to join the party's primary race. Other possible candidates include Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick, Evesham Mayor Randy Brown, and comedian Joe Piscopo.

Matthew Hale, a political science professor at Seton Hall University, said there's "definately room for an outsider candidate to surprise us" in the race.

But, Hale added, it's "not clear what is gained in New Jersey by running as a mini-Trump."

Rogers rolled out a number of ideas Thursday, some of which seemed lofty:

* Repealing the controversial 23-cent gas hike that lawmakers passed and Christie signed to pay for state transportation projects.

Rogers said during his speech he would get rid of it through executive order. While governors can issue executive orders, it's unclear if they'd be allowed to repeal laws that way.

Rogers told reporters afterwards he would try to convince lawmakers to find another solution. 

"I believe when you sit down with people and show them how bad this is, I think they're going to think twice," he said. 

* Prosecuting dealers of high-level drugs -- such as opiates like heroin -- as terrorists. Rogers said he would probably need to develop that plan with the federal government.

"I have a message for every drug dealer in the state: You better pack your bags before I get elected," he said. 

Rogers said he would not go after marijuana dealers.

* Making it easier for New Jerseyans to obtain a license to carry a concealed firearm. Under current state law, people need to prove to the court they have a "justifiable need" to carry. Rogers said if need be, he'd resort to an executive order to change that, too.

"The Second Amendment is not negotiable," Rogers said.

* Restoring cost-of-living increases to pension benefits that were frozen under a law Christie signed in 2011.

* Eliminating PARCC testing and Common Core. 

"We need to give the power to teach back to the teachers," he said.

* Easing traffic along the Route 3 corridor by creating new ferry services along the Hudson River. 

The favorite in next year's race is Democrat Phil Murphy, a former banking executive and U.S. ambassador to Germany who loaned his campaign $10 million. But Rogers said he isn't worried about facing wealthy opponents.

"I'm a middle class guy who has a calling from God," Rogers said. "I believe this is a calling."

One major difference from Trump? Rogers said he won't criticize his opponents and will focus on policy instead.

"We are not going to lower the bar," he said. 

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

16-year-old boy already faces a murder charge in the shooting of a cab driver in Orange, according to authorities.

Sheedley Pierre (Photo: ECPO) 

ORANGE -- Essex County homicide detectives on Thursday arrested a second person in the murder of a livery cab driver, who was found fatally shot in his wrecked taxi on a city street, authorities said.

Sheedley Pierre, 20, of Orange, was charged with felony murder, robbery and conspiracy after the death of driver Jonas Larose, 55, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. 

A 16-year-old boy was arrested Friday and charged with murder in the Nov. 30 killing of Larose. The teen, whose name was not released because of his age, is also accused of a robbery that occurred approximately 24 hours before Larose was killed, authorities previously said.

Police found Larose, of East Orange, shot and unresponsive in his vehicle after officers were dispatched to a car crash on the 200 block of Snyder Street around 11 p.m., according to the prosecutor's office.

Neighbors said they heard at least two pops and a loud crash. The livery cab appeared to have struck a fence, a tree and another parked vehicle on the residential block.

Investigators with the prosecutor's Homicide Task Force arrested Pierre early Thursday, according to Essex County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly. He was ordered held at the county jail in lieu of $500,000.

In a statement, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray credited the work of the homicide unit with bringing the latest arrest.

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

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Zoe Jackson, a vibrant Newark toddler, lives on through organ donation. Her heart went to a 2-year-old boy; her liver to a 1-year-old boy. And a 19-year-old Newark man says her kidney is a gift from God.

Five years ago, Abel Montesino missed an entire year of school in Newark.

The then-eighth-grader was on dialysis, a tiresome process that began to wear on him, making the 14-year-old teen doubt he'd ever receive the kidney he desperately needed.

"I was getting depressed,'' he said. "Dialysis was painful."

That same year -- on April 7, 2011 -- 13-month-old Zoe Jackson was with her cousin and aunt as they crossed South 18^th Street at 18^th Avenue in Newark. At the same time, a stolen Jeep, with two teens in it, came speeding the wrong way along the one-way street. The driver lost control of the Jeep and it hit another vehicle, sending that car crashing into Zoe and her family members.

The little, chubby-cheeked girl died two days later. But her mother, Patti Jackson, didn't want that to be the end of her daughter's life.  

Zoe lives on through organ donation. Her heart went to a 2-year-old boy; her liver to a 1-year-old boy. 

MORE: Recent Barry Carter columns  

And Montesino, now 19, received her kidney. The last time I wrote about Zoe, we didn't know who the recipient of her kidney was. Nor did Jackson.

Montesino and Jackson met in 2013, two years after the transplant. He came to her home and it was an emotional visit. The meeting had been arranged by the NJ Sharing Network, a nonprofit procurement organization that is part of a national organ recovery system.

"We all sat around,'' Jackson said. "We cried together, we ate together. It was really nice.''

Since then, they've stayed in touch, checking in with phone calls and getting together on several occasions.

"She (Zoe) was a gift from God,''  Montesino said.

Spiritually, yes.

But the gift also shows the importance of organ donation, a choice that needs to be stressed most especially in the African-American community.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Minority Health, African-Americans are the largest group of minorities in need of a transplant -- making up 29 percent of the 131,347 people on the national waiting list, but just 13.5 percent of the organ donors.  

In New Jersey, the figures are just as challenging. The NJ Sharing Network said African-Americans in the state represent 37 percent of the 5,000 people on the transplant waiting list. In the last five years, African Americans have been 23 percent of organ donors in the Garden State.

Jackson, after talking with Zoe's dad and her family, didn't hesitate to give her approval when she was approached by the Sharing Network.

"She didn't even let the sentence finish,'' said Oscar V. Colon, a clinical donation specialist. "She said if Zoe can't be saved, let her save other babies."

Jackson believes this was the best decision she's ever made to honor the memory of her daughter, a bow-legged toddler who seemed to get into everything.

"Zoe was such a life force,'' Jackson said.

She started walking at 7 months and her vibrant personality made everybody want to know this child.

"Deciding to donate her organs was the only choice to make because she had to go on. She had to live on forever,'' Jackson said.

She shared her thoughts Tuesday at Newark's University Hospital, which was honored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for its work in organ and tissue donation, and raising awareness in the African-American community.

"This giving of life comes with great sacrifice,'' said John N. Kastanis, chief executive officer of University Hospital. "Yet, through that tragedy, her family was able to understand the power and importance (Zoe's) shortened life could have on others.''

Montesino is studying to be a phlebotomist, but always makes time to see Jackson and let her know he remains healthy.

"Since I have that kidney, we're like family,'' Montesino said. "She (Zoe) is inside me, but I take care of her.''

Jackson doesn't have updates on the other two boys who received Zoe's organs. She last heard from their families in a letter after the transplants in 2011. They were doing fine at that time.

The life-saving donation continues to help Jackson cope, rather than focus on the juveniles who have not been held responsible for taking her life.

"That's why I go so hard on this,'' she said.

Thomas Fennelly, a spokesman for the Essex Couonty Prosecutors Office, said the teens were never charged because investigators could not determine who was driving the car.

You got away with murder, young men. If you see this story, the only thing one can hope for is that you've changed your lives.

"I could be walking past them on the street and never know it,'' Jackson said.

She tempers her anger, stays private with her grief. On cemetery visits, Jackson tries to be sure to go with others when she places balloons and flowers on Zoe's grave.

MORE CARTER: Butt out! Why Newark residents are pushing back at feds 

"I don't want to leave,'' she said, if she's by herself. "That's the last place where I know my baby was.''

This year's anniversary of the accident was difficult, too. It fell on a Thursday, the same day of the week that Zoe was killed.

Jackson and her mother were on their way to the bank when she was overcome with anxiety. Her teenage son, Ameer, 14, was walking to the store with his 4-year-old sister, Parker. Doing what Zoe was doing -- walking on the street.

"It dawned on me what day it was, what time of day it was, where they were going,'' Jackson said. "I almost had a panic attack.''

Although painful, she moves on, thrusting herself into organ donation advocacy while raising four children with their dad. On Jan. 2, she'll be at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., where she'll stand on the parade route to see a floragraph picture of Zoe on the Donate Life float.

At home, Zoe's adorable baby face is comforting, too. She smiles in pictures on the walls. Some are the same ones I saw when I wrote about Zoe and another baby, Madison Spearman, who was almost a year old when she died violently. Both children are buried in Rosehill Cemetery in Linden. Same row, 11 graves apart. Madison's organs were donated, too.

Should Jackson want to be closer to Zoe than a picture in a frame, she doesn't have to visit the cemetery

She can simply hug Montesino.

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