How many patients were served, how much marijuana was sold and how many doctors are recommending patients to the program.

The city of Newark is ending a year of celebrating its 350th birthday.

NEWARK -- For the last year, the city has celebrated 350 years of its history through art, music and community festivals.

The city's 350th anniversary commemorative quilt hangs in City Hall. (Karen Yi | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) 

There was a play about the funeral business, a Newark restaurant week and a literary festival featuring Newark-centric books. 

City officials gathered this week to cap off more than 200 events and to announce that photographs and articles of the celebrations will be archived in the public library for future generations to remember. 

"This was not a top down operation, this was a top, middle and bottom approach to celebrate," Junius Williams, chairman of the Newark Celebration 350 said Tuesday. "We had a wonderful birthday party because people bought into it."

Williams said the events served more than 280,000 residents. 

A quilt commemorating the city's anniversary and containing fabric from all five wards was also unveiled and now hangs in City Hall.

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"It's a culmination of all the culture and the people of the city of Newark," said Central Ward Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins, who came up with the idea.

She said quilts "were something that was done by our grandparents. Our grandmothers would sow them and it was a right of passage, it made you remember various members of your family."

To help community organizers around the city host events and reach out to residents, $2.7 million was raised, through donors large and small. That helped plant 350 trees in the city and give Newark students grants for college. 

"Newark is the heartbeat of this state, it's the pulse of this state. It is actually the coolest thing in the corner of this corridor," Mayor Ras Baraka said. "Where writers were born, where musicians were born. This is a maker town, an inventor town."

The archives of the celebration will be housed at the Newark Public Library. A digital copy will be available at the Rutgers University Dana Center. The archives will also be used in a new Newark schools curriculum on Newark history. 

"Newark is a town of immigrants, ex-slaves, which is really what America is ... People try to make us different than everyone else. We are different in our style but we are the same in our situation," Baraka said. 

He said the city's anniversary events were a way to celebrate that.

"We wanted to say our name as loud as we can because that is our name. We are saying we were here for 350 years," he said. 

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

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Demolition of the once grand reception space and luncheon club starts Friday.

NEWARK -- Four days after hosting its last-ever wedding reception, the dinner plates, silverware, pots, and pans, are all gone.

"We sold pretty much everything," General Manager Harry Prott said Thursday morning of an auction that cleared out the shuttered Newark Club.

About 30 restaurant supply companies, restaurateurs, and caterers shuffled into the top floor of the One Newark Center Wednesday to bid on everything from forks and knives to a baby grand piano. Though Prott said Thursday morning he did not have a total tally yet of what sold, there were thousands of items on the auction block.

Newark Club closes after 24 years

"I had over 1,000 dinner plates alone," he said.

The items' new owners are picking them up Thursday, and demolition of the 22nd floor to make way for new, leasable office space, begins Friday.

The auction marked the absolute end of the Newark Club's 24-year history as a reception space for weddings, and an elite club that served as the backdrop to countless political deals. Declining membership prompted the owners of the space to shut the club, Prott said. Since announcing its closure, the manager said he's been inundated with calls and messages from past brides and members recounting fond memories at the club.

"It's been the place with the best views, it's been the best place in the city for a very, very long time," Mayor Ras Baraka said when asked about his memories of the club.

"Right now, there's no place that could replace the Newark Club. ... We've obviously got our work to do to build something else."

Staff reporter Steve Strunsky contributed to this report.

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

The barbecue here is Memphis style, but the shrimp and grits, catfish and collards are also fantastic.

It's located in Montclair, but this restaurant's soul is in Memphis.

Bluff City BBQ, named after the Tennessee town famous for its 'cue, serves not only the deliciously smoky ribs ($16/$28) and pulled pork ($15) you'd expect, but also a variety of southern selections, such as shrimp and grits, sparked by Andouille sausage, peppers, tomato and onion ($11/$18).

The kitchen involves a collaboration between owner Scott Hermo, a retired Wall Street bond trader with a passion for barbecue, and Patrick Yves Pierre-Jerome, a chef whose resume includes stops at New Brunswick's Stage Left and his own Yves in Montclair, which sadly closed more than two decades ago.

Pierre-Jerome is nothing if not eclectic, so those looking for something off the main track of the establishment's cuisine can always go with the likes of the lush crabmeat salad and cucumber Charlotte ($10) or roasted beets with baby kale and goat cheese ($10). Innovation is part of the fun. Buttermilk fried chicken ($16) takes on a different personality with the addition of black pepper garlic honey that gives new meaning to finger lickin'.

The chef's talents fit into Hermo's concept of something that was more upscale than the usual BBQ place, with offerings outside the predictable items so vegetarians feel welcome, too There are several fish dishes with nice touches. The blackened salmon ($21) gets its personality from an intriguing brown sugar mustard sauce, while the oven-fried catfish ($16) is dressed up by smoked tomatoes and a jazzy fennel relish. Everything meshes beautifully with moist cornbread, which comes with entrees and also is available as a side ($3).

The main draw, obviously, is the barbecue, amid the aura of fragrant smoke that beckons and beguiles at Bluff City. Hermo visits Memphis annually to enjoy barbecue and learn more about it. As he began thinking about starting his own restaurant, Hermo took entrepreneurial classes at the International Culinary Center,

In 2015, he began working at Giotto, which was in the space where Bluff City is now located. He also got involved with barbecue restaurants in New York City and Cambridge, Mass., before taking the leap to open his place at the end of December. The owner put not only his heart, soul and money into the project, but also his handiwork, sanding and refinishing as the chic rustic interior with its distressed wood tables took shape.

Hermo would like to spend more time out on the floor and working with such aspects as catering and takeout, but he has been busy in the kitchen, handling the smoking and barbecue work as well as pitching in on the line when necessary.

The rub is his own recipe, made for him in Arkansas from 10 different spices, and used on a variety of items, though the tender brisket is "just straight up salt and pepper." The vinegary yet sweet barbecue sauce is also his creation. Without giving away the whole recipe, it's sufficient to say it includes ketchup (the only item not made in-house), tomato sauce, cider vinegar and brown sugar, among other ingredients.

The barbecue sampler of ribs, brisket and pulled pork ($22) and of course, sliced pickles, is served on a tray covered in brown paper, no plate. For those wanting to get an overview of Bluff City, this does the trick. While the Memphis style of ribs is usually dry, Hermo gives the meat a quick light brush of sauce to glaze them, imparting a more alluring look and color.

Shrimp and grits cakes offers an alternative fo meat at Bluff City BBQ.Steve Hockstein/Harvard Studio |For NJ Advance Media

I expected desserts to be an afterthought, as they often are at various barbecue places I've frequented elsewhere in the country. At Bluff City, happily, they're a main attraction. Forget the ribs, the brisket, the chicken--I'd go back just for the raggedy pecan cornmeal cookies ($6) with dulce de leche on the side for dipping. They have a welcome crunch and are comfortingly tasty even without the dip. Red velvet cake ($7) is an on-the-mark rendition of a classic, while pecan pie ($7) is not too sweet, which can often be the downfall of this dessert.

We were waited on by a young person who was trying hard but lacked training, resulting in a service glitch. I was impressed that manager Nelson Rangel was on it immediately and took a percentage off our bill to make things right. Other employees were warm and welcoming, sharing their enthusiasm about their workplace.

Hermo acknowledged staffing has been an issue as he wends his way through the trials of starting his first restaurant, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. He is pleased with improvements at the front of the house where his wife, Heather, pitches in as a receptionist.

The restaurant seats 76 and will serve more outside once warm weather returns. Reservations are taken during the week for anyone, but on the weekends, only for groups of six or more. That can mean a wait for couples or small families on weekends, but for barbecue lovers, it's worth it and the price is right.

Bluff City BBQ

21 Midland Ave. Montclair. 973-744-4657. bluffcitybbqnj.com. Hours: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-9 Mondays and Wednesdays; 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.Thursdays-Fridays; 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. Saturdays, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. 5-8 p.m.Sundays. Closed Tuesdays. BYOW. 2 1/2 stars.

Cody Kendall may be reached at CodyDine@aim.com. Follow Cody on Twitter@CodyDine. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.

Residents, firefighters and a dog were not injured after a house fire.

IRVINGTON -- Crews doused two nearly simultaneous fires at a medical office building and a multi-family home Thursday morning in Irvington, fire officials said.

Irvington firefighters responded around 9:45 a.m. to the four-family residence on Rosehill Place, near Norwood Avenue, according to fire department officials. Responders contained the flames to a single apartment on the second floor and knocked the fire down in about 15 minutes.

Firefighters rousted a woman who was asleep in another apartment and was apparently unaware of the emergency, fire officials said. Crews cut a hole in the building's roof to check if any fire had spread.

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A resident also told firefighters he removed a puppy from the building, according to fire officials. There were no injuries to firefighters, the dog or building residents. The Maplewood and East Orange fire departments assisted at the Rosehill Place incident.

At approximately the same time, a fire sparked in a Union Avenue eye doctor's examination chair, officials added. Though it was a small fire, the flames caused thick smoke to spread on the first three floors of the 10-story office building, near Nye Avenue.

Fire officials estimated they evacuated about 125 to 150 people from the complex. With Irvington firefighters tied up at the earlier blaze, departments from Union, Millburn, Orange and West Orange assisted at the medical office fire.

It was not clear if the chair was occupied when the small fire started. The building was reopened, but the doctor's office remained closed.

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

The Port Authority police arrested a Montville woman on Wednesday for carrying 90 tablets of codeine.

NEWARK -- Port Authority police arrested a 22-year-old woman at Newark International Airport on Wednesday for carrying 90 tablets of codeine in her suitcase without a prescription.  

Sandra Abdul-Massih, of the Towaco section of Montville, had returned from Paris on a United Airlines flight when police said they found codeine tablets in her carry-on luggage.  

Sandra Abdul-Massih, 22, was arrested by the Port Authority in Newark Airport on Wednesday. (Courtesy of Port Authority)Karen Yi | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

Abdul-Massih was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance. 

Authorities said the arrest did not interrupt airport operations. 

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

Prove you know New Jersey news.

Ready for this week's New Jersey news quiz? You'll have to be well-versed in many different types of stories that appeared on NJ.com this week. The seven questions below are based on some of our most popular stories, so a lot of the questions should look familiar to you if you are on NJ.com regularly. Once you're done, crow about your score in comments. Let's see which of you really know New Jersey news.

John Shabe can be reached via jshabe@njadvancemedia.com. Follow John on Twitter, and find NJ.com on Facebook.

Rodney Frelinghuysen opts for distance as Republicans across the country face angry crowds

MORRISTOWN -- Following weeks of demands from constituents that he hold a face-to-face meeting in his district, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11) opted instead to engage with the public in a little-publicized teleconference Tuesday.

The event, reportedly invitation-only, largely flew under the radar and was attended by only one journalist, who learned of the event at the last minute, MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow said Wednesday.

Great questions and comments during my Telephone Town Hall meeting last night! Thousands of constituents on the line, I'm listening!

-- Rodney Frelinghuysen (@USRepRodney) February 22, 2017

According to that journalist, Frelinghuysen said the House Appropriations Committee would deny funding for President Trump's proposed Mexican border wall. In a statement to Patch, Frelinghuysen's office said the claim was not true and that Frelinghuysen, who chairs the committee, added that a request for funding would be treated like any other appropriations request.

Frelinghuysen's phone meeting comes as Republican members of Congress return home for a recess this week to angry crowds at their traditional in-person town halls across the country. The atmosphere is reminiscent of the Tea Party activism of 2009 -- except this time, the protesters are advocating for a traditional Democratic agenda and Republican lawmakers are the focus of the ire.

Those showing up at the events are demanding answers on a range of issues, from the fate of the Affordable Care Act to lingering questions about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Frelinghuysen's fellow GOP Jersey delegate, Rep. Leonard Lance, hosted one such raucous meetup with constituents in Branchburg Wednesday night.

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

The stops were carried out in the heavily Latino East Ward

NEWARK -- With undocumented immigrants across New Jersey on edge as President Trump promises a more aggressive deportation policy, a routine road-safety checkpoint program in the East Ward has been misconstrued by many residents, Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a statement Thursday.

The police division "is not performing immigration enforcement or conducting roadblocks to detain undocumented immigrants," Ambrose said.

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"Newark police officers are not conducting any operations aimed at checking the immigration status of any individual or group."

Ambrose acknowledged there was "growing concern" that some may be detained for immigration purposes. But the program in the East Ward -- which has a large population of Latin and South American immigrants -- was solely intended to target speeders and those committing other motor-vehicle violations.

Mayor Ras Baraka has joined other mayors across the state in declaring Newark a "sanctuary city," where city officials will not assist in federal deportation efforts.

"Newark has a policy of protecting undocumented immigrants from deportation by U.S. immigration authorities. We see no reason to change that policy," Baraka said in an interview last month.

This week, Trump has announced a series of measures to speed up deportations of undocumented immigrants, including hiring more immigration agents, building additional detention centers and enlisting the help of local police.

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

The members of an American Legion post known for community service in Newark was blown away when a mother and her 7 year old son collected $55 to help rebuild their building that was destroyed in a fire.

It's not a lot of money, but Paige Blue and her 7 year old son figured the American Legion post in their Newark neighborhood could use the $55 they collected.

Guyton-Callahan Post 152 has been at the corner of Elizabeth Avenue and Branford Street since the early 1990s, its second home in 88 years until disaster struck last month.

A raging two-alarm fire destroyed the building where members known for community service and goodwill meet.

The Legion post held coat and shoe drives and gave away back-to-school book bags stuffed with supplies. The summers were for cookouts. Food baskets arrived at Thanksgiving, and children received Christmas toys when members of the post knocked on their door.

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Blue's son, Teron, showed me the arcade game that he received last Christmas from the post and said the fire upset him.

"I was sad,'' he said, firing one of the tiny arcade balls from its slot.

So, with a glass jar in hand, Teron and his mother walked along Branford Street and Elizabeth Avenue collecting donations to pay back a little kindness to the post.

"They were always doing something or us,'' the mother said.

Members of the post were touched by their gesture. More like blown away.

"I was taken aback,'' said Terence Baine,'' a post member wo served in the Marine.

 "You never know you're having an impact until something like this happens.''

The members didn't want to take the money. What the boy and his mother did was more valuable. The post plans to rebuild and Paige Blue will keep collecting donations, thinking the members can use it for the next Christmas toy drive.

"If they don't want to take the money, we'll buy them (post) a couple of toys so they can give it to the kids.''

Mohammed Baig, owner of a discount store across the street from the post, can't wait until the veterans return.

They patronized his business frequently, but the members and their guests also became his friends over the past 12-years.

"They're very nice people,'' Baig said. "I'm going to miss them.''

Members of Post 152 can't help but find some solace hearing this. They've been devastated since the early morning fire ripped through the three-story wood frame building on Jan 5.

Kyle Bowman, a Newark police officer and Iraq war veteran, drives by often, parking his car to sit and reminisce.

"It's like I lost a family member,'' he said. "It's not the same.''

The oldest member, 92-year-old Vince Wells of Newark, said that when his bus passed the Legion post on the way home from a doctor's appointment, he couldn't believe the ruin he saw.

"If I had blinked, I would have cried,'' said Wells, a World War II Navy veteran.

But Kamal Brown, an Army veteran, had the most heartbreaking view the morning of the fire. He's a Newark fire captain, whose engine company responded when more help was needed to fight the roaring blaze that began around 3 a.m.

"When they called for a second alarm, that took the wind out me,'' Brown said. "When I came down the street, it hit me like a ton of bricks.''

The post was engulfed with flames shooting through the roof in freezing temperatures, and ice cycles dangled from the building, trees and telephone wires in the aftermath of the blaze.

Everything was lost.  Silk banners and American flags, including one from the U.S. Capitol.  Pictures of past commanders on a wall called "Commanders Row.'' License plates collected from American Legion posts across the country and overseas.

Gone, too, was the new boiler and fire suppression system in the kitchen, electronic equipment and surveillance cameras.  Even a fire-proof bank safe couldn't protect $1,000 in petty cash.  Only a few visible pieces of $20 bills were left in the ashes.

For members, the post was a "home away from home," not just a social club to kick back and hang out all day.

Older veterans helped Tracey Gilliam, the senior vice commander, suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome after he survived two 1985 terrorist bombings in Frankfurt, Germany.

"I'll never leave this post,'' said the Air Force veteran. "The American Legion provided that home for me, that sense of belonging.

Fallen veterans were not forgotten, either.

On Memorial Day, members of Post 152 placed American flags on veteran's graves at Fairmount Cemetery in Newark. And every December, they paid homage to the African-American soldiers for whom the post was named - Emmet Guyton and Archie Callahan.

The post started at 264 Prince St. in 1929 under Guyton's name, according to records from The American Legion, Department of New Jersey. Members of the post said Guyton was an Army-Air Force veteran killed in World War I.

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In 1958, Callahan's name was added to the post to honor the 19-year-old Navy seaman, who was the first Newark resident killed during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

A monument bears his name in Newark's Military Park, where members gather every year near or on the date of the Pearl Harbor anniversary to observe Guyton-Callahan Day.

In its Prince Street hey-days, between the 1970s and the 1980s, long-time members said Post 152 had nearly 400 members and a color guard.

They marched in just about every parade, visited different American Legion posts and sponsored numerous outings.

The rebuild, however, is not going to be easy for the post. There is an insurance policy, but Baine said it's not enough to cover the estimated $500,000 to construct a new building.

The post, he said, is planning fundraisers, such as selling bricks for $100 each, with the donor's name printed on it. They will be used to build one of the walls in the new building. There's also a GoFundMe page  https://www.gofundme.com/3ba0tv4 that the post hopes will draw interest from the public. In the meantime, Baine said the post is seeking grants, philanthropic donations and any other help it can get.

In spite of the setback, the members are gearing up for their comeback. They now meet at Club Mentors, the Newark headquarters for the Bronze Shields, an organization of African-American Newark police officers.

"We're going to make this thing happen,'' Gilliam said.

And there's a mother and child, with $55 in a jar, who couldn't agree more.

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

The New Jersey Flower & Garden Show kicks off its 15th annual event in Edison offering flower and garden enthusiasts a weekend of breathtaking color, education and fun.

EDISON -- With spring less than a month away, what better way to wash away those winter blues than to head to the 15th annual New Jersey Flower & Garden Show at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center in Edison.

This year's theme is "Color The World" because visitors can enjoy a rainbow of breathtaking color as they walk through feature gardens, representing various states and counties. The gardens were created by landscapers, nurseries, garden centers and non-profit organizations according to their website.

The four-day event also offers flower and garden enthusiasts competitions in horticulture and artistic floral arranging, gardening presentations, seminars and demonstrations.

Show hours are 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Show information and ticket prices are available online. The convention center is at 97 Sunfield Ave., Edison.

Patti Sapone may be reached at psapone@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @psapone. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The attorney found out she held the lucky N.J. ticket when she showed up to see if her ticket won anything at a Newark news stand

NEWARK -- An attorney who works at the Gateway Plaza in Newark is the holder of the $2 million Powerball ticket for Wednesday's drawing sold in New Jersey, according to a report.

Television cameras were waiting when Jessica Macarone went to the News Day newsstand in the lobby of the office complex to check her ticket, WABC-7 reported.

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Macarone, a South Bound Brook resident, didn't know she held one of seven tickets sold across the country to match five numbers but not the Powerball. She spent an extra $1 to exercise the Powerplay option, doubling her winnings from $1 million to $2 million.

Macarone told WABC-7 her father and uncle died in the past year and that her mother was not doing well, either.

She said she once won a few hundred dollars playing the lottery and usually buys a few tickets when the jackpot gets large.

Macarone is an associate at McCarter & English, according to the law firm's web page.

A ticket sold in Lafaytte, Ind. matched five numbers as as well as the Powerball and is worth $435.3 million, the 10th largest lottery prize in the United States.

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

Police seek help from the public to locate 19-year-old man.

Rajahn Smith (Photo: Dept. of Public Safety) 

NEWARK -- A 19-year-old man, who escaped from authorities in Trenton, is suspected in several robberies in Newark, officials said Thursday.

Rajahn Smith, of Newark, is wanted for escape and is a suspect in the Newark robberies, according to a police bulletin. Smith was being transported when he managed to escape in December.

Authorities urged anyone with information about his whereabouts to call Newark's 24-hour Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). All anonymous tips are kept confidential and could led 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.

MILLBURN -- Bacall is a 1-year-old female Maine coon mix in the care of the Homeless Animal Rescue Team. She was surrendered to the group when her owners relocated and could not take her with them to their new residence. Described by volunteers as sweet and affectionate, she should make a good pet in most any home. She is FIV/FeLV...

Bacall 

MILLBURN -- Bacall is a 1-year-old female Maine coon mix in the care of the Homeless Animal Rescue Team.

She was surrendered to the group when her owners relocated and could not take her with them to their new residence.

Described by volunteers as sweet and affectionate, she should make a good pet in most any home. She is FIV/FeLV negative, spayed and up-to-date on shots.

H.A.R.T. will hold an adoption event with Bacall and other cats and kittens Feb. 26 and March 4 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Pet Adoption Center, 187 Millburn Ave. H.A.R.T. is in need of volunteers, age 18 and older, to help clean cages and feed cats at its adoption center. For information on adopting or volunteering, call 908-337-0477 or go to petfinder.com/shelters/NJ384.html.

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.

 

Everything you need to know about the state tournament.

This week's options include '80s soft rock hitmakers and an aspiring soft rock star.

Here they are, the ones that you love

If you understand that headline, then you'll be happy to learn that Air Supply's latest tour stops at the Bergen Performing Arts Center Feb. 24. The soft rock superstar duo of the 1980s -- whose albums have sold more than 20 million copies -- are still singing, still touring, performing faves like "All Out of Love," "Making Love Out of Nothing at All," and "Lost in Love," 1980's Song of the Year. 

$39-99, Feb. 24, 8 p.m., Bergen PAC, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood. 201-227-1030.

Exercise your brain with some candy

The young and those hoping to keep their aging brains agile will appreciate "Brain Candy Live!" at New Jersey Performing Arts Center's Prudential Hall Feb. 26. On the Discovery Channel's "MythBusters," host Adam Savage used science to test myths, rumors and news stories. Michael Stevens is the mind behind Vsauce, the educational YouTube channel that questions scientific oddities. The show as been promoted as "a two-hour play date with Walt Disney, Willy Wonka and Albert Einstein."

$39-119, Feb. 26, 3 p.m. NJPAC,  1 Center St., Newark. 800-GO-NJPAC. 

He had you at "Hey, Heidi Klum, how you doin'?"

Long Island pizza deliveryman turned crooner Sal Valentinetti continues to make the most of his "America's Got Talent" stint, bringing his old school style and charm and Rodney Dangerfield-esque speaking style to Mayo Performing Arts Center Feb. 24. The 20-something also known as "Sal the Voice" loves the classics he learned on his grandmother's knee -- songs by Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and Dean Martin. He hopes his audience -- and Ms. Klum -- enjoy the show. 

$29-69, Feb. 24, 8 p.m., Mayo Performing Arts Center, 100 South St., Morristown. 973-539-8008.

Boogie on the (almost) bayou

Singer/pianist Marcia Ball adeptly interprets New Orleans classics while dazzling with her own compositions every time she takes the stage with "Boogie on the Bayou: A Mardi Gras Celebration featuring Marcia Ball & The Subdudes," as she will Feb. 25 at the South Orange Performing Arts Center. The seemingly-ageless blues artist is joined by The Subdudes, a band of native New Orleanians who blend blues, funk, gospel and R & B. If you can't be at Carnival, this is the net best thing. (Fat Tuesday is Feb. 28.)

$45-65, Feb. 25, 8 p.m., South Orange Performing Arts Center, One SOPAC Way, South Orange. 973-313-2787.

Sister's class is in session

The latest in this on-going comedy series looks at marriage at the Count Basie Theatre Feb. 26. The audience of "Late Nite Catechism: 'Til Death Do Us Part" are the students and Sister is the teacher. She requires class participation as she delivers lessons on the sacrament of marriage and Last Rites. 

$30-39, Feb. 26, 3 p.m. Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank. 732-842-9000. 

Natalie Pompilio is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia. She can be reached at nataliepompilio@yahoo.com. Find her on Twitter @nataliepompilio. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook. 

We put our expertise on the line, as play tips off Monday

Prosecutors said the ATM skimming operation was the largest ever uncovered by law enforcement.

NEWARK -- A Romanian man was sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison Thursday after admitting his role in what prosecutors called the largest ATM skimming operation ever uncovered by law enforcement.

An ATM skimming device in a file photo.

Alin Carabus, 43, was involved in a $5 million scheme that installed card-reading devices and pinhole cameras on ATMs to steal bank account information from thousands of customers, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said.

The secret devices were installed on ATMs in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Florida and other states, he added. 

Carabus, who was arrested in Spain and extradited to the U.S., previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini to a charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He was sentenced Thursday to 4 years and 9 months in prison.

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Martini also sentenced Carabus to five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $5 million in restitution. Carabus is one of 16 individuals charged in the skimming scheme. Fifteen of the 16 charged individuals have been convicted, authorities said. 

Marius Vintila, 34, also a Romanian national, organized the operation, authorities said. Vintila and Bogdan Radu, 34, designed the card-reading devices that Carabus and others later installed on ATMs, authorities said. 

The stolen information was used to create thousands of ATM cards and withdraw millions from customer's accounts with Citibank, TD Bank, Wells Fargo and others, authorities said. 

Carabus' attorney, Joseph Corazza, did not immediately return a call for comment.

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

NUTLEY -- It was built for bicycles, but the Nutley Velodrome, seen here in a 1939 photo, was also home to midget auto racing. The track opened in 1933 for cycling, but reopened in 1938 as a wood-track auto racing venue. The final checkered flag was dropped on Aug. 26, 1939. If you would like to share a photo that...

NUTLEY -- It was built for bicycles, but the Nutley Velodrome, seen here in a 1939 photo, was also home to midget auto racing.

The track opened in 1933 for cycling, but reopened in 1938 as a wood-track auto racing venue.

The final checkered flag was dropped on Aug. 26, 1939.

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.