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Kitten likes children and dogs

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MILLBURN -- Little Seven is a 7-month-old kitten in the care of the Homeless Animal Rescue Team. Volunteers describe her as extremely playful and affectionate. Little Seven is very good with children and has lived with small dogs. She has been spayed and is up-to-date on shots. HART will hold an adoption event with Little Seven and other cats and...

ex0108pet.jpgLittle Seven 

MILLBURN -- Little Seven is a 7-month-old kitten in the care of the Homeless Animal Rescue Team.

Volunteers describe her as extremely playful and affectionate. Little Seven is very good with children and has lived with small dogs.

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

HART will hold an adoption event with Little Seven and other cats and kittens Jan. 8 and Jan. 14 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Pet Adoption Center, 187 Millburn Ave. For more information, call 908-337-0477 or email hartrescue213@yahoo.com.

Shelters interested in placing a pet in the Paw Print adoption column or submitting news should call 973-836-4922 or email essex@starledger.com.

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

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Man sentenced to 212 years for schoolyard killings to argue lawyers failed him

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Alexander Alfaro was one of six men convicted of murder charges in the 2007 slayings of three college-aged friends behind the Mount Vernon School in Newark.

NEWARK -- More than half a decade after a Superior Court judge sentenced him to 212 years in prison for one of the city's most shocking crimes in recent memory, Alexander Alfaro is expected Friday to ask the same judge to throw out his conviction.

Alfaro, now 26, was one of six men previously convicted in connection with the killings of three college-aged friends -- and the attempted murder of a fourth -- in August 2007 behind the Mount Vernon School in Newark.

Prosecutors said the men had ties to Mara Salvatrucha, a violent international street gang better known as MS-13.

Alfaro is slated to appear Friday before Judge Michael Ravin in Newark arguing that his conviction was the result of ineffective counsel both at trial and during the appeals process, according to Assistant Prosecutor Romesh Sukhdeo, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Thomas McTigue.

Another defendant in the case, Rodolfo Godinez, last year unsuccessfully sought to overturn his own conviction in the case on the same grounds.

Prosecutors will argue Alfaro received adequate representation throughout the proceedings, and that his former attorneys will appear as witnesses at the hearing, Sukhdeo said Thursday.

At trial, prosecutors described Alfaro violently slashing Iofemi Hightower, 20, with a machete before she was fatally shot, along with Dashon Harvey, 20, and Terrance Aeriel, 18.

Terrance's sister, Natasha Aeriel, was also shot but survived her injuries.

Alfaro's hearing before Ravin is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

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

Proposed overhaul to controversial transfer rule could shake up HS sports scene

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High-profile players hopscotching from team to team has been a major issue plaguing New Jersey high school sports, and the latest proposal is an attempt to curb the problem once and for all.

The much maligned state transfer rule may be getting some new teeth.

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s special public/non-public committee produced a proposal this week seeking to strengthen and simplify the controversial rule for New Jersey high school athletes across all levels of play.

The proposed changes include:

  • Requiring all athletes that transfer schools — freshman, junior varsity and varsity — to sit out 30 days or half the games allowed — whichever is less — for each sport in which they participated the previous year at the prior school.

  • Requiring athletes who transfer on or after the first scrimmage or after the NJSIAA-approved regular season start date to be barred from state tournament play, in addition to incurring the mandatory 30-day or half the season sitting out period.

  • Requiring all athletes who transfer schools more than once to be barred from state tournament play, while also incurring the mandatory 30-day or half the season sitting out period. The penalty would be enforced for each transfer after the first switch.

The current transfer rule requires athletes who switch schools without a “bona fide change of residence” to sit out of competition 30 days. The new proposal would eliminate the “bona fide change of residence” loophole that coaches and athletic officials say has been exploited by families who use inauthentic addresses that schools have neither the means nor expertise to verify on their own.


RELATED: H.S. hoops transfers now at 'alarming' level


The new proposal also would not be open to appeals.

“It’s pretty clear that the way the rule is currently constituted we can’t consistently and effectively administer it,” said NJSIAA project manager Mike Zapicchi, who co-chairs the special committee. “What we’re trying to do is address a number of concerns that have come to us and to our member schools. One is kids going back and forth from school to school. The second is open transfers. The third is kids and their parents actually shopping programs to figure out which is the best for them athletically.”

The proposal will be presented to the NJSIAA’s Executive Committee Jan. 11 at the organization’s monthly meeting in Robbinsville. If it’s endorsed and approved over two readings, the rule will go into effect July 1 and in time for the 2017-18 school year. The Executive Committee also could chose to send the proposal to a vote of the full membership in December, meaning implementation could be delayed until July of 2018.

The special committee already produced one proposal to change the transfer rule in 2015, but it was resoundingly voted down, 244-99. That proposal sought to strengthen the rule to include a mandatory 30-day sitting out period and state tournament ban for all varsity athletes who transfer schools, except those who move from a closed-enrollment school to another closed-enrollment school with a bona fide change of address.


RELATED: Transfers remain major unresolved issue in N.J. high school sports


The concept was “too complicated,” according to Zapicchi.

“This is our second crack at it,” he added.

Zapicchi said the special committee has been analyzing the transfer issue for more than a year and considered all options, including an open transfer policy that would have allowed athletes to switch schools without penalty.

In recent years, athletic officials say transferring has become one of the biggest issues affecting high school sports in New Jersey and around the country. During the 2014-15 boys basketball season, NJ Advance Media identified 27 high-profile boys basketball transfers across the state. Last season, the number of big-time boys basketball players identified swelled to at least 37. Some of the top players even transferred three times.

Other sports such as football, girls basketball, wrestling and soccer also have seen increases in athletic-based transfers, coaches and officials say.

The transfer rule also came under new scrutiny late last year when the powerhouse Wayne Hills High football team was disqualified from the playoffs by the NJSIAA and then allowed back into the postseason after a special hearing over the eligibility status of three players who had switched schools.


RELATED: Wayne Hills back in playoffs after transfer fiasco


The rule also was criticized last spring when No. 1-ranked Major League Baseball prospect Jason Groome of Barnegat High was ruled ineligible after transferring back to his neighborhood school from a Florida boarding school, which did not amount to a bona fide change of residence because he did not move with his parents.

Ultimately, Zapicchi said the special committee decided attempting to curb transferring could have a beneficial impact to both the athletes and teams.

“It affects them academically,” Zapicchi said. “Kids who switch multiple times before the end of their school career are generally a year behind their counterparts in reading and math. The other thing is, it’s really affecting the integrity of the game as we know it.”

The new proposal could penalize innocent athletes who transfer schools for legit reasons, but Zapicchi said the committee tried to walk a fair line.

“The 30-day sit is the shortest sit in the country. Twenty-four states have one-year sits,” Zapicchi said. “During that 30-day sit, they can still practice and participate in all team activities. So they get the bulk of the positive benefits of being on a team, but they can’t compete. It allows us to exert some kind of control over not only the high profile athletes, but the multiple athletes.”

Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Work of late Newark historian Clem Price will live on at Rutgers

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The renowned city historian died in 2014.

NEWARK -- It is not only the memory of renowned scholar and beloved city historian Clement Price that will live on at Rutgers-Newark. Now, his work and scholarship will continue, as well.

The Board of Governors at the university, where Price served as a professor and history scholar for 40 years before he died in 2014, voted in December to create the "Clement A. Price Chair in Public History and the Humanities," in his honor.

The position will produce scholarship on the revitalization of Newark and cities like it, and oversee the Rutgers Institute on Ethnicity, Culture, and the Modern Experience, which Price founded. Since his death, the institute has been renamed in his honor, as well.

"The thing that made Clem most important to us is that he was a bridge," said Rutgers-Newark Professor Belinda Edmonson, who is chairing the search for the Price Chair.

"He brought the Newark community to the Rutgers community and the Rutgers community to the Newark community."

New jazz lounge celebrates Price's love of Newark

The committee is searching for a person who will "continue the work that he started...in the spirit of public engagement," Edmonson said.

The school is conducting a national search, and accepting applications for the position until the middle of February, she said. It hopes to interview finalists in the early spring, and install the Price Chair at the Newark campus sometime in the next year, she said.

The position is being funded by $3 million in donations, including $2 million from an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation challenge grant the school was awarded in October.

At the time, foundation president Earl Lewis said "Clem spent a lifetime as a scholar and public servant explaining the value of higher education, the humanities, arts and diversity to a range of publics. We can think of no better way to honor his memory and ensure the continuation of the work he started than helping to support the creation (of the chair position)."

Price died in November 2014 after suffering a stroke. He was 69. The scholar was one of the state's preeminent authorities on African American history in New Jersey, and the history of the state's largest city.

He worked with agencies ranging from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Newark Education Trust to the Scholarly Advisory Committee to the National Museum of African American History and Culture at the Smithsonian Institution. In 2011, President Obama appointed him vice chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

In 2014, Newark named him the official city historian.

The "Price Chair will attract a high-impact, senior scholar who will play multi-faceted roles as researcher, mentor, catalyst, and collaborator," said Rutgers-Newark Chancellor Nancy Cantor.

"I can think of no more fitting and enduring tribute to our beloved Clem."

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

NJ Devils host blood drive at Prudential Center Sunday

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Donors will receive a limited edition NJ Devils Blood Drive T-shirt.

NEWARK - For the first time, RWJ Barnabas Health and the New Jersey Devils have teamed up to host a blood drive at the Prudential Center on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sally Wells, business development liaison at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital blood services, said blood supplies are low this time of year.

"You go from the holiday season strictly into the cold and flu season coupled with the fact that many colleges are closed for a long prolonged period of time ... and a large percentage of our blood donations come from college students," Wells said.

McMullen going into Ring of Honor

Anyone who donates blood will receive a Devils blood drive T-shirt and be entered in a raffle to win signed jerseys, hockey sticks and pucks. The New Jersey Devils and alumni will stop by throughout the day to meet donors and sign autographs. 

Donors must be healthy, between the ages of 17 -75 and weigh at least 110 lbs. Those who are 16 years old are allowed to donate with parental permission but must weigh 120 lbs. Wells said donors should plan to be at the blood drive between an hour and an hour and a half.

Donations are crucial as the state does not collect enough blood from its residents to supply its hospitals and relies on other states for imports, she said.

"With the pending snow storm this weekend, there could be an impact on the state's blood supply that we were not expecting," Wells said.  

Complimentary parking is available in the parking deck. For more information call 1-800-Red-Cross or visit www.rwjbhinfo.org/blooddonor.

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook

Man gets 6 years in prison for killing of East Orange woman

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Antonio McCrimmon had originally been charged with murder in the fatal January 2015 shooting of Tyeshia Obie, but later pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter.

NEWARK -- A Newark man was sentenced Thursday to six years in prison for reckless manslaughter in the fatal 2015 shooting of a woman in East Orange.

McCrimmon.jpgAntonio McCrimmon. (Essex County Correctional Facility)
 

Antonio McCrimmon, 23, previously was charged with murder in the January 2015 shooting of 21-year-old Tyeshia S. Obie, but later pleaded guilty in to the lesser manslaughter charge.

McCrimmon must serve 85 percent of the sentence before he's eligible for parole, according to Katherine Carter, a spokesperson for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

Authorities accused McCrimmon of shooting Obie on Jan. 5, 2015, while she sat in her car in the 200 block of North Maple Avenue in East Orange.

Obie, who was found in the vehicle at 8:39 p.m. that night, was rushed to University Hospital in Newark, where she was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later.

Authorities never specified an alleged motive for the shooting, and while prosecutors said other arrests were expected, none were ever announced.

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

 

Police seek alleged attacker in Newark stabbing

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Man, 33, stabbed multiple times in afternoon attack, according to police.

suspect.jpegGeorge M. Tillman 
NEWARK -- Authorities on Friday asked for the public's help to find the man who allegedly stabbed another man several times in the city's East Ward.

Police rushed to reports of a stabbing in progress around 12:30 p.m. Thursday near Astor and Broad streets where officers found the 33-year-old victim, according to Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.

City detectives identified George M. Tillman, 53, as the attacker in the aggravated assault, Ambrose said. The stabbing stemmed from a dispute. 

Anyone with information about Tillman's whereabouts was urged to call Newark's 24-hour tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). Authorities said all Crime Stoppers tips are kept confidential and could lead to a reward.

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

 

Glimpse of History: An Essex County boy who has gone far

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MONTCLAIR -- A young Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. is shown in this undated photo. Born in Montclair on Jan. 20, 1930, Aldrin, according to NASA, graduated from West Point in 1951 and was in the third group of astronauts selected by the space administration in 1963. He flew on Gemini 12 in 1966 before becoming the second man to set...

MONTCLAIR -- A young Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. is shown in this undated photo.

Born in Montclair on Jan. 20, 1930, Aldrin, according to NASA, graduated from West Point in 1951 and was in the third group of astronauts selected by the space administration in 1963.

He flew on Gemini 12 in 1966 before becoming the second man to set foot on the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969, as part of the Apollo 11 mission.

The nickname "Buzz" originated in childhood: the younger of his two elder sisters mispronounced "brother" as "buzzer", and the nickname was shortened to "Buzz." Aldrin made it his legal first name in 1988.

If you would like to share a photo that provides a glimpse of history in your community, please call 973-836-4922 or send an email to essex@starledger.com. And, check out more glimpses of history in our online galleries Thursdays on nj.com.

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

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Man in serious condition after SUV strike in West Orange

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The man was hit by the SUV early Friday, authorities said.

WEST ORANGE -- A township man is in serious condition after being hit by an SUV early Friday morning.

WestOrangePoliceBuilding.JPGFile photo of the West Orange public safety complex. (Jessica Mazzola | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
 

According to a statement from the West Orange police, the 42-year-old man was crossing Pleasant Valley Way just after 6:30 a.m. when a BMW SUV struck him.

The man was transported to University Hospital in Newark, where he was listed as being in serious condition before noon Friday, authorities said.

The driver of the SUV stayed on the scene of the accident, a spokeswoman said, but the strike and what caused it are under investigation.

The township was the site of several high profile pedestrian strikes over the past year, including one in which a 72-year-old woman was killed in November after being hit by a car on Mount Pleasant Avenue, and another in which a pedestrian was struck and killed by a bus in May.

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

How Ft. Lauderdale airport shooting will affect N.J. travelers

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Multiple people were killed in the Florida airport shooting, authorities have confirmed.

securityjpeg-7076f565df612f53_large.jpgNewark airport. (File photo)
 

NEWARK -- A fatal shooting at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport in Florida will likely reroute and delay travelers at New Jersey area airports Friday.

Newark, LaGuardia, JFK, and Philadelphia International airports all sent out tweets noting that all services to the Florida airport are temporarily suspended, and instructed travelers to contact their air carriers for information about delays and flight changes. All flights from Newark originally scheduled to land in Ft. Lauderdale Friday afternoon were listed as "delayed."

The Federal Aviation Administration released a statement Friday afternoon saying it was ordering all flights across the country that were headed to Ft. Lauderdale to be grounded. Flights that were already en route were routed to other south Florida airports, the FAA said.

Miami news outlets reported that flights from Newark and the Atlantic City International Airport were among those that were rerouted.

Port Authority Police announced that they will be stepping up patrols and deploying officers with "heavy tactical weapons" at all of the area airports in light of the shooting. The increased measures, police said, will include the deployment of counterterrorism measures like armored vehicles and K-9 explosive detection teams, and increased random bag checks.

"As always, the PAPD will be working with the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force and the New York City Police Department, as well as other law-enforcement agencies in New York and New Jersey, to help ensure safe travels," the police said in a release.

One traveler on board a Jet Blue flight from Newark that was already in the air before the shooting occurred said he did not experience delays landing in Ft. Lauderdale, or disembarking from the plane.

According to authorities in Florida, at least five people were killed and eight were injured in the shooting.

A lone shooter, who reportedly was born in New Jersey, had been taken into custody, law enforcement officials confirmed.

Philadelphia International also tweeted condolences to the victims.

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

Killer of jewelry store owner maintains innocence, but he's going away for life

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The 58-year-old Bloomfield man convicted of murdering Xavier Egoavil during a robbery at the man's Kearny jewelry store in 2009 will die behind bars after being sentenced to 75 years in prison today.

JERSEY CITY -- The 58-year-old Bloomfield man convicted of murdering a Kearny jewelry store owner during a robbery in 2009 will die behind bars after being sentenced to 75 years in prison today.

"This is a man who has forfeited the right to walk the streets of this country," Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Leo Rinaldi said of DeRosa, who shot Xavier Egoavil, a father of two, in the head on Aug. 18, 2009 in Rachel Jewelers as his horrified mother watched. DeRosa has prior convictions for murder, attempted homicide and other offenses.

A letter from the victim's family read in court today stated "A monster like this does not deserve the freedom of the rest of his life." It also said "What John DeRosa did that dreadful morning proved to us that a wonderful life can be turned into an endless nightmare full of fear."  

Hudson County Superior Court Judge Patrick Arre sentenced DeRosa to life in prison for murder, 20 years for robbery and 10 years for a handgun offense. The terms are to be served concurrently, but a life sentence is considered to be 75 years and that would make DeRosa 133 years old.

DeRosa was convicted on Oct. 27, 2016 and during the trial co-defendant Elvis Feratovic, 30, of Bloomfield, testified that he was the getaway driver on the morning of the robbery, and that he drove co-defendant Edmir Sokoli, 29, of Bloomfield, to Kearny, where they picked up DeRosa. Sokoli and Egoavil's mother both testified that the 47-year-old was shot when he became aggressive with DeRosa.

Feratovic pleaded guilty to robbery and testified against DeRosa in exchange for a sentence of not more than 20 years. Sokoli pleaded guilty to robbery.

During the trial, Rinaldo presented copious security video evidence, as well as testimony of witnesses who saw two men running from the store after the robbery. In his closing argument the prosecutor reminded jurors that testimony from the victim's mother, SokoliFeratoic and DeRosa's girlfriend was virtually identical. 

At today's hearing, DeRosa's attorney, Scott Finckenauer, said DeRosa maintains his innocence and that his client says witnesses lied on the stand. When asked if he wished to speak before being sentences, DeRosa said "No, Judge."

After the sentencing, the victim's father, Honorio Egoavil said when he saw DeRosa in court today, "My heart stopped." The father said "I'm happy, even though that is not going to return my son and there are two children without him now."

DeRosa betrayed no emotion when his sentence was meted out. He was in prison from Feb. 26, 1987 to May 2, 2001, and before being arrested for the Kearny murder, he had been arrested for burglaries and thefts, officials said.

Our new cardinal seems like a 'Jersey guy' | Opinion

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Asm. Chiaravalloti: Tobin's openness is especially exciting for those of us who are immigrants or first generation Americans

By Nicholas A. Chiaravalloti  

The arrival of Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin to lead the Archdiocese of Newark is exciting and historic. For the first time, the Archdiocese of Newark will be led by a cardinal.  

There will be much written about the potential conflict between Cardinal Tobin and Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York.  This fits nicely into the New Jersey versus New York story line which dates back to Alexander Hamilton.

Of course, Tobin has already rejected the highfalutin title - Prince of the Church. And consider the story of him receiving the news of his promotion -- the highest leadership position in the Roman Catholic Church -- while painting his mother's house. Well, the guy sounds like a Jersey guy to me.  And the story about his workout partners at his local gym in Indianapolis not knowing he was an archbishop - priceless!

The installation of Tobin is important because of its timing. Since the tail end of St. John Paul II through to the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI, the American church, as reflected in the American Bishops, took on a more authoritarian, precise tone. Moral questions had simple yes or no answers - there was no room for debate, discussion or reflection. To many of us of the post-Second Vatican Council, who remembered a younger more vibrant John Paul II, the doors to the church seemed to be closing. There was a darkness, a harshness blanketing the church that seemed foreign to us.

Pope Francis flung open the doors and let in the light.  He did this not by changing church doctrine, but by his approach. He famously responded to a question, "Who am I to judge?"  Pope Francis rejected the notion that any member of our society should be marginalized; instead he focused on each individual's dignity and the role of the church in providing protection. He speaks in terms of love and mercy when facing many of the moral questions raised in today's society. Most importantly, he engages and encourages all of us to engage in the discussion - openly and lovingly.

Tobin has been characterized by those who know him as a reflection of Pope Francis. In reading some of his interviews, it is clear that Tobin considers himself a missionary and pastor. This is welcome news for the 1.5 million members of his church. His openness is especially exciting for those of us who are immigrants or first generation Americans.

The Archdiocese of Newark has been under a significant amount of strain over the past several years.  Although I do not believe the media coverage of the church has always been fair, the Archdiocese has done itself few favors in this regard. The disengaged style of its previous leadership has led to an alienation of many of its followers. 

I am under no delusions that the new leadership will suddenly reject church doctrine and adopt a progressive agenda. Similar to Pope Francis, I anticipate Tobin will hold firm to the church's teachings while still encouraging and welcoming diverse viewpoints and loving each of us as unique individuals, focusing on the poorest and most vulnerable of our community.

This is an exciting moment for the church. As a Knight of Malta, as an elected official and most importantly as a father, I am excited about the prospects of Cardinal Tobin or Padre Jose as he is known to many of his parishioners.  I look forward to welcoming the cardinal to our community. 

I know there are critics of the church who will submit Tobin to their litmus tests - whether from the political left or the political right.  However, the overwhelming majority of his 1.5 million parishioners will not. We will hope and pray that Pope Francis has provided us a leader who understands our diversity and appreciates its value.

Nicholas A. Chiaravalloti (D-Bayonne) is a state Assemblyman. 


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Cardinal Joseph Tobin installed as leader of Newark Archdiocese

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Tobin, who replaces Archbishop John J. Myers, is the first cardinal to preside over the archdiocese in its 163-year history

In a hopeful and historic new chapter for more than a million Roman Catholics in New Jersey, Cardinal Joseph William Tobin, a moderate churchman in the mold of Pope Francis, was officially installed Friday as leader of the Archdiocese of Newark.

Some 2,000 people crowded into Newark's soaring Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, one of the largest cathedrals on the East Coast, to witness the transfer of authority to Tobin, 64, from Archbishop John J. Myers, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in June.

Six of Tobin's fellow cardinals, including Theodore McCarrick, the former archbishop of Newark, attended the Mass, along with bishops and archbishops from around the country. Hundreds of priests, nuns, members of religious orders and clergy of other faiths entered the cathedral to the strains of "O Come All Ye Faithful."

Gov. Chris Christie, former Gov. Jim McGreevey, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and other members of the state's political corps also attended.

Tobin, the first cardinal to preside over the archdiocese in its 163-year-history, was greeted by sustained applause as he strode along the cathedral's long center aisle to the altar. There he was met by Myers, who offered Tobin and the others assembled "a warm and heartfelt welcome on this great occasion."

Myers' attendance at the Mass had been in doubt after he dislocated one of his surgically repaired hips last month, but he was able to stand for a brief period on his own Friday.

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Vatican's ambassador to the United States, read aloud the Pope's order transferring Tobin to Newark from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, where he had served since 2012.

Holding the Pope's order above his head, Tobin then walked up and down the aisles, displaying it for all to see.

He expressed both humility and humor during the Mass, noting at one point that when Pope Francis made him a cardinal in Rome in November, he whispered in Spanish to the Pope, "What have you done?"

Tobin offered praise and thanks to what he described as his many families: the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, the Archdiocese of Newark and the relatives he grew up with.

"Thank you for teaching me how to love. Thank you for teaching me how to share," he said, noting he grew up with eight sisters and one bathroom. "And thank you for teaching me how to pray."

In his homily, the cardinal spoke of his fear over what he called a growing chasm between faith and everyday life.

That rift, he said, worries him more than any "hot-button issue" of the day. The trend, he said, "seems to isolate us, convincing us to neatly compartmentalize our life, subtly seducing us to go to Mass on Sunday, and for the rest of the week, do whatever we we think we need to do to get by."

Tobin expressed a measure of anxiety about his move to Newark, saying it comes with great responsibility.

"It is a daunting proposition, not because of the size, rich history or wonderful diversity of this portion of the vineyard," he said. "Rather, the appointment reminds me the stakes are incredibly high, for if we permit the chasm between faith and life to continue to expand, we risk losing Christ, reducing him simply to an interesting idea or a comforting, nostalgic memory."

He closed with a call to those gathered to rejoice in their faith and to help those in need.

"Rejoice, because we will grow in our unity and humility, and, in the process, discover joy and peace in our life together," he said.

The installation Mass brought to an end the 15-year tenure of Archbishop Myers, a controversial figure in Newark. Myers, seen by some as distant, had been criticized for how he oversaw priests accused of sexual abuse and for spending more than $500,000 to build a 3,000-foot addition on his 4,500-foot retirement home in Hunterdon County.

For Tobin, it has been a whirlwind few months.

After four years in Indianapolis, he received word in October he would be made a cardinal, among the highest honors in the Catholic church.

Just two weeks later, representatives of Pope Francis informed Tobin he would be moving to Newark, an ethnically and economically diverse diocese home to nearly 1.5 million Roman Catholics in Essex, Hudson, Union and Bergen counties.

The cardinal reflected on that period during the Mass, calling it "an interesting roller coaster of emotions, a time of anticipation and change for all of us."

Joining Tobin in his welcome Friday were some of the most prominent figures in American Catholicism, including cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Timothy Dolan of New York, Sean O'Malley of Boston and Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C.

All of New Jersey's bishops attended, as did the man once assumed to succeed Myers: Bernard Hebda, archbishop of St. Paul-Minneapolis.

Hebda had been named co-adjutor bishop of Newark when Francis diverted him to help quell a raging sexual abuse crisis in the Minnesota diocese.

Tobin expressed thanks to those who attended, saying he appreciated the welcome for "the new kid on the block."

Church analysts have said it is Tobin's humble nature that endeared him to the Pope, who has elevated religious leaders he sees as shepherds and has castigated those who portray themselves as "princes of the church" out of touch with the poor.

Through his appointments, Francis has shown he also favors moderate bishops who show tolerance to other viewpoints, even if church orthodoxy on such issues as gay marriage and women in the priesthood has not changed.

Tobin had advocated for a greater role for women in the church, and he has spoken out about the need to be more welcoming to gay parishioners.

The oldest of 13 children, Tobin was born in Detroit and served as a priest there and in Chicago after his ordination in 1978.

He is a member of the Redemptorist order, which is known for its devotion to the poor. He expounded on that philosophy in an interview with the Jesuit magazine America in November, saying 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."

Tobin's elevation to cardinal, along with his move to Newark, marks what one veteran analyst, the Rev. Thomas Reese, has called a "resurrection story" of sorts.

Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to head up the Vatican congregation overseeing religious orders in 2010, Tobin was immediately thrust into an investigation involving American nuns, who were under fire from conservative theologians for espousing views seen as too secular and out of line with established church teachings.

Tobin, raising hackles in the Vatican's conservative circles, sided with the nuns. And with that, what was to have been a five-year stint as head of the congregation ended after two years. In Reese's view, Benedict banished Tobin to Indianapolis.

The surprise pick of Pope Francis in 2013 brought a change of fortunes. Francis and Tobin have known one another for more than 11 years, and the Pope has spoken fondly of him in the past.

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

Newark 'schoolyard killer,' sentenced to 212 years, argues lawyers failed him

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During a post-conviction relief hearing in Newark, Alexander Alfaro's new lawyers argued his trial and appellate attorneys pursued problematic strategies.

NEWARK -- Their tattooed client shackled and guarded by heavily armored state corrections officers, attorneys for convicted killer Alexander Alfaro on Friday made their case that Alfaro's original counsel failed him throughout his trial and appeals.

The post-conviction relief hearing before Judge Michael L. Ravin in Newark came more than five years after Ravin sentenced Alfaro, now 26, to 212 years in prison for his role in the 2007 slayings of three college-aged friends behind the Mount Vernon School in Newark.

Attorney Adam Toraya, who is representing Alfaro in the post-conviction proceedings along with attorney Howard Bailey, vigorously questioned trial counsel Raymond Morasse and appellate counsel Michele Adubato regarding the strategies they chose to pursue in Alfaro's defense.

Prosecutors at trial described Alfaro, then 16, violently slashing Iofemi Hightower, 20, with a machete before she was fatally shot along with Dashon Harvey, 20, and Terrance Aeriel, 18.

Authorities said Alfaro and the six other men convicted in the case were affiliates of Mara Salvatrucha, a violent international street gang better known as MS-13.

Alfaro, surrounded by officers from the state Department of Corrections' Special Operations Group, kept his eyes fixed forward throughout the proceedings, occasionally trembling visibly.

Toraya's questioning focused primarily on Morasse's handling of a contested juror, and how Adubato employed prior court rulings and Morasse's previous in-court objections during the appeals process.

At one point during deliberations, Morasse testified, prosecutors became aware that one of the jurors had a prior criminal history she hadn't disclosed.

While Morasse said he was initially "disturbed" by the revelation, he testified that he later began to view her as a potential swing vote for the defense, believing she was growing alienated by questioning from prosecutors.

Noting that Morasse's only on-the-record comments about the juror indicated he was in favor of her remaining on the case, Toraya asked whether he ever communicated his initial concerns to the judge off the record.

"I may have," Morasse said. "I don't have any specific recollection."

Under cross examination by Assistant Prosecutor Romesh Sukhdeo -- who tried the original murder case -- Morasse said he was "as satisfied as I could possibly be" with the initial screening of jurors in the case.

Toraya also probed Morasse's objection to an inference by prosecutors that one of Alfaro's tattoos was symbolic of the killings. He went on to ask Adubato why the objection, which was overruled at trial, wasn't part of the appeal she later filed on Alfaro's behalf.

Adubato responded that she didn't think the objectionable material was sufficiently prejudicial to raise at appeal.

Questioned by Toraya about a petition for cert she filed to the Supreme Court, Adubato also said that in hindsight, it "possibly" would have been a better move to raise the question of whether a related appeals decision retroactively applied to Alfaro's case.

Sukhdeo didn't cross examine Adubato.

Man convicted in killings argues lawyers failed him

Ravin continued the proceedings to 1:30 p.m. Monday, with former assistant prosecutor Thomas McTigue -- who tried the case with Sukhdeo -- expected to appear as a witness.

Sukhdeo is expected to be replaced by a different prosecutor during that phase of the hearing, Ravin said.

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

N.J. town to open 150-year-old time capsule

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The 1860's capsule was found in the cornerstone of a church during demolition.

MAPLEWOOD -- Whatever is hidden inside might just be New Jersey's best kept secret.

MaplewoodTownHall.JPGFile photo of Maplewood township hall. (Jessica Mazzola | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
 

A time capsule that is likely to be about 150 years old is set to be opened in Maplewood Saturday. According to Mayor Vic DeLuca, construction workers found the capsule in the cornerstone of the former Hilton United Methodist Church.

The church, which was built in the 1800s, was demolished last year as part of an apartment complex construction project, he said. The relic was discovered during demolition.

The township is planning an unveiling of whatever is inside the capsule Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Hilton Branch of the Maplewood Library on Springfield Avenue. The event is open to the public.

"We are not sure when the capsule was placed there, and we are excited to see what it contains," DeLuca told NJ Advance Media.

The capsule was apparently buried at an interesting time in the area's history. The town was only first incorporated in 1861. It was known as the "South Orange township" until its name was changed to Maplewood in the 1920s.

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


Man pleads guilty in scam that preyed on debt-ridden customers

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He preyed on vulnerable people who were trying their best to stay out of debt or keep their homes. And when he was caught, he decided to do it again.

JERSEY CITY -- He preyed on vulnerable people who were trying their best to stay out of debt or keep their homes.

And when he was caught, he decided to do it again.

But if Germaine Theodore wants more clients for his bogus debt relief service, he'll have to find them in prison. The 36-year-old Maplewood man pleaded guilty yesterday to one of two Ponzi scheme operations that bilked customers in Hudson and Essex counties out of roughly $300,000.

Theodore, who appeared before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Mitzy Galis-Menendez, is expected to be sentenced to seven years in prison, the state Attorney General's Office said. 

He must pay restitution of approximately $250,000 to clients of TGC Movement and approximately $48,000 to clients of Save My Future, the two bogus businesses he created. Sentencing is scheduled for June 23.

"Instead of delivering the debt relief that his clients desperately needed, Theodore ruthlessly compounded their problems by stealing from them," Attorney General Christopher Porrino said in a statement. "We've ensured that Theodore will serve a long term in prison, where he can't swindle any more vulnerable consumers."

People like Diane Anderson of Jersey City found out the hard that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Like so many others, she became a member of Theodore's "Save My Future" business and handed over cash for her bills to be paid. Theodore promised customers that for a small fee they would only be responsible for 65 percent of what they owed. Government grants or a philanthropic donor would do the rest, he reassured them.

When the bills weren't paid and she was out $1,200, Anderson was nearly evicted from her home. In some cases, Theodore paid customers' initial bills with cash from new clients, which created trust and helped him recruit new customers.

Under his plea agreement, Theodore is required to plead guilty in the TGC Movement case in Essex County Superior Court.

Under the plea agreement the state will recommend that Theodore be sentenced to seven years in prison on the TGC Movement charge and four years in prison on the Save My Future charge, with the sentences to run concurrently. 

"Ponzi schemes take many forms, but this one was especially egregious because it targeted victims who already were struggling financially," Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice said in a statement. "White collar criminals like Theodore harm people as well as businesses, as this case starkly illustrates, and we will continue to prosecute them aggressively."

In September 2013 complaints against Theodore and TGC Movement, Inc. began piling up and he was arrested on Oct. 15, 2013.

He posted bail and two months later opened Save My Future on Atlantic Street in Jersey City, authorities said. In August 2014, he was re-arrested on similar charges after numerous complaints from Save My Future customers. 

Newark Teachers Union claims 11 school admins unqualified, should be removed

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The Newark Teachers Union wants the state to intervene and fire 11 district administrators

NEWARK -- The city's teachers union is asking the state to remove 11 high-ranking school district administrators from their jobs, alleging in a complaint the employees were illegally hired because they are not certified for their positions. 

"We're looking to have all these people terminated and/or replaced with authentic, certificated or endorsed administrators," said John M. Abeigon, president of the 4,000-member Newark Teachers Union. 

The union said the administrative hires, made in the last year and a half, do not have the required certifications to serve in those roles, according to a request for a declaratory ruling filed with the state Commissioner of Education Thursday. The complaint also seeks to rescind all actions taken by the 11 administrators in the district. 

But, school officials had harsh reactions to the claims made by the union.

"As we've seen in the past, rather than spending time and energy on getting a contract negotiated for his members or more resources for children, John Abeigon prefers to use his members' dues to file frivolous lawsuits in order to get his name in the paper," said Christopher Cerf, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools.

"As with previous challenges of this nature filed by Mr. Abeigon, these new claims are a distraction from the important work of educating children and serving families."

The state Department of Education said it does not comment on items awaiting review. Abeigon said the Commissioner of Education can make a decision or send it to an administrative law judge. 

Antoinette Baskerville-Richardson, Chairperson of Newark's School Advisory Board, declined to comment, pending more information on the complaint. The advisory board, however, does not formally vote on hires, according to the district. 

Abeigon said none of the administrators are local to Newark and only a handful are from New Jersey. He said the union does not think the administrators are effectively handling their jobs. 

"It's becoming a big problem with evaluations," Abeigon said. "These are teachers who have five, 10 years of experience being told what to do and how to manage a classroom by people who don't have a similar experience."

The union filed a similar complaint against former Chief Talent Officer Vanessa Rodriguez in 2015, claiming she lacked the proper certifications to perform her duties, including the approval of layoffs and filing of tenure charges.

Rodriguez later resigned in 2016.  

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook

 

Newark celebrates Three Kings Day at 23rd annual event

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4000 donated gifts were distributed to hundreds of city children.

NEWARK - Hundreds of kids packed the gymnasium at Essex County College Friday evening for the city's 23rd annual Three Kings Day celebration. 

"We continue to promote our diversity," said Newark At-Large Councilman Luis A. Quintana who organizes the largest and most consecutively celebrated Three Kings gathering in the state. "It's not about Latinos, it's about all of us, the mosaic of America, the mosaic of the world."

Quintana said children would receive about 4,000 donated gifts from businesses and residents. "On the 6th we give toys to our children as the three kings," he said. 

Local public school students performed on stage while other children in attendance gathered at face-painting tables or waited for clowns to make them funny-shaped balloons. 

"It's a beautiful tradition Councilman Quintana has maintained," Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) told the crowd in Spanish. 

Three Kings Day is known as "El Dia de Los Tres Reyes" in Spanish and is celebrated on Jan. 6 all over Europe, South and Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. It marks the arrival of the three wise men or Magi, who brought gifts for baby Jesus.

 

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook

8 significant bills that Christie could sign or veto soon

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They include regulating the ride-sharing industry, restoring sales tax discounts in five cities and prevent domestic abusers from owning guns.

TRENTON -- On Tuesday, Gov. Chris Christie will deliver his annual State of the State address, outlining the goals of his final year in office.

The governor's legacy will also shaped by the legislation he chooses to sign into law.

And the state Legislature - at the half-way mark of its two-year session - has sent him about 200 to consider. Of them, Christie has signed 95 into law. Another 57 bills sit on Christie's desk from action lawmakers took in the last two months of 2016.

While there's no huge rush of legislation that accompanies the end of the two-year session, several of the bills could have wide-ranging impact on New Jersey residents.

Here's a look at eight of them. 

1. RESTORING SALES TAX CUTS IN 5 CITIES

The sales tax for some businesses in Bridgeton, Camden, Newark, Plainfield, and Trenton nearly doubled on Jan. 1. That's because a law allowing big sales tax breaks to spur businesses in poor cities expired for the original five cities that qualified for "Urban Enterprise Zones" three decades ago. Christie has been critical of the program, but lawmakers have sent him a bill (S2670/A4189) to extend it for two years while a study is conducted. 

2. LIMITING GUN ACCESS 

A bill (S2483) that had bipartisan backing would restrict access to firearms for those under restraining orders or convicted of domestic violence offenses. Sponsors say the bill has the backing of former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was shot several years ago and is now a gun control activist. 

3. PUNISHING CARL ICAHN

Christie will decide on legislation that would prevent Donald Trump adviser Carl Icahn from reopening the Trump Taj Mahal with non-union workers for five years. The measure would suspend  the gambling license of any New Jersey casino that "substantially closed" this year or in the future. While not mentioned in the bill, the legislation was a response to Icahn's decision to close the Trump Taj Mahal after its workers struck over benefits. It would prevent him from reopening the Taj Mahal with a non-union staff for five years. Icahn has blasted the bill. He says he will surrender his casino license but has no plans to sell the building.   

4. HIRING MORE JUDGES

State Senate President Stephen Sweeney has pushed through a bill (S2850) that would add 20 new judges at a cost of $9.3 million as part of a broader effort to reform the state's bail process aimed at making sure poorer defendants don't remain behind bars simply because they can't make bail.

Lawmakers advance bill to help clear N.J. jails of those who can't pay bail

5. LOTTERY DELIVERY?

This bill (S2370) would allow courier services to deliver your lottery tickets to your door. Christie vetoed similar legislation in 2015. 

6. ANNOUNCING WHEN PEOPLE ARE INNOCENT 

Law enforcement officials usually send out press releases when someone is indicted. This bill (A1945) would require the Attorney General and each county prosecutor to post information and send out a press release when someone who was indicted or prosecuted is later acquitted of the crimes or had the charges dismissed. 

7. GOING AFTER PRICE GOUGERS

Lawmakers say they would protect consumers with a bill (S2321) that would protect against price gouging by those seeking to take advantage of people in the 30 days after the governor declares a state of emergency. 

8. REGULATING UBER, LYFT

The fast-growing ride-sharing industry would have to pay licensing fees to the state and its legion of drivers would have to undergo background checks.

The bill (S2179) requires ride-share companies to provide certain safety standards, but leaves to the discretion of the state attorney general if they should conduct their own background checks.

In New Jersey, taxi drivers and chauffeurs must meet higher standards, by obtaining a special driver's license, passing a criminal background check, undergoing fingerprinting, and passing a drug test. They must not have prior convictions for serious crimes such as aggravated assault, burglary and homicide.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

See what was found in this 119-year-old N.J. time capsule

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A 119-year-old time capsule was opened in Maplewood on Jan. 7, 2017.

MAPLEWOOD -- "To begin attack on Santiago tomorrow."

"Admiral Sampson to Commence Bombardment from the Outer Harbor."

That is what a front-page story read from an edition of the Newark Evening News on July 8, 1898 -- referring to the U.S. Navy's siege of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

The newspaper was one of several items unveiled Saturday at the Hilton Branch of the Maplewood Library from a time capsule that was nearly 120 years old. The capsule was found by construction workers in the cornerstone of the former Hilton United Methodist Church, which was built in the 1800s, but demolished last year as part of an apartment complex construction project.

The items included a New Testament book, writings about the church and its membership and 19 cents, including four pennies, a nickel and a dime, all from 1898. There were also business cards and a photograph of the church.

The library on Saturday was packed with hundreds of people -- including community members and township officials -- standing with curious faces, eager to see what was inside. No one knew what the time capsule contained before it was opened.

Mayor Victor DeLuca held the capsule above his head just before it was sawed opened.

"We're happy to be here today, we didn't know what was going to be in the box," DeLuca said.

When the developer of the construction project told DeLuca what had been found, the mayor felt it would be great to do something that involved the entire community.

"I said, 'Let's do something special; let's get the community involved,' And we planned this -- it really was exciting," he said.

Several members of the community who attended the opening were particularly fond of the old Newark Evening News newspaper -- at one time the state's most powerful newspaper.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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