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Guatemalan man stabbed to death in Caldwell apartment, authorities say

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The man was living and working in the borough, authorities said.

CALDWELL -- Authorities say a Guatemalan man living in New Jersey was stabbed to death over the weekend.

The man, who authorities have not identified pending a "formal" confirmation of his identity and a notification of his family, worked and lived in Caldwell, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Caldwell Police Chief James Bongiorno announced in a joint release Monday.

The man, who authorities described as "young," was fatally stabbed in an apartment apartment above a business in the 400 block of Bloomfield Avenue Sunday at about 2:30 p.m., officials said. Though authorities said no arrests have been made in the stabbing, they said the man and attacker knew each other before the stabbing.

An investigation into the fatal stabbing is ongoing, officials said.

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

 

Two Essex County men arrested in Jersey City on PCP related charges

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Jersey City police officers said they smelled a strong odor of PCP as they approached a vehicle on Thursday and arrested the two Essex County men inside on multiple drug counts.

Jersey City police officers said they smelled a strong odor of PCP as they approached a vehicle on Thursday and arrested the two Essex County men inside on multiple drug counts.

Tyree O. Thomas, 23, of East Orange, and Ikeef S. Jenkins, 37, of Newark, are charged with possession of two bottles containing the residue of suspected PCP as well as three cigarettes, the criminal complaint says, adding that cigarettes are commonly used to dip in PCP.

IJenkins.jpgIkeef S. Jenkins, 37, of Newark, appears in court in Jersey City Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, on PCP related charges.  

The pair are also charged with possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of School 14, located at 153 Union St., and within 500 feet of Virginia Avenue Park, the complaint says.

Both men made their first appearance on the charges in Criminal Justice Reform Court in Jersey City on Friday via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny. At the hearing, they were ordered released with various conditions of supervision pending trial.

Police seek missing Newark man

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Heriberto Hernandez went missing nearly 2 weeks ago

NEWARK -- Police are asking the public's help locating a 72-year-old resident last seen Feb. 15.

Heriberto Hernandez was in the area of Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville in the early morning hours when he was last seen. He was wearing a brown jacket, blue jeans and black shoes. He weighs about 110 lbs and is 5'3" tall. He has a light complexion and light-brown hair.

Screenshot (126).pngHeriberto Hernandez (Newark police)  

Anyone with information is being asked to call the police department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877- NWK-TIPS (1-877- 695-8477) or 1-877- NWK-GUNS (1-877- 695-4867).

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

 

The 20 N.J. school districts most dependent on state funding

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Some school districts have much more at stake in Gov. Chris Christie's school budget than others.

TRENTON -- When Gov. Chris Christie delivers his 2018 budget address on Tuesday, New Jersey school officials will be listening especially closely. 

How Christie will address education funding is the biggest question about his final budget, leaving administrators bracing for the possibility of funding cuts.

There's some concern Christie could follow through with the "Fairness Formula," a plan he unveiled last summer to give every district $6,599 per student regardless of income or other needs. Though many education groups are convinced Christie won't do that, they still don't have high hopes for increases in school funding. 

"I'm not expecting any good news in the budget," said Richard Bozza, executive director of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators.

N.J. towns with the highest property taxes

New Jersey spends more than $9 billion a year on public schools using a formula that considers each community's ability to raise revenue through property taxes.

It expects wealthier communities to pay a higher percentage of school costs with their own tax dollars and gives school districts extra money for students from low-income families. 

That means some school districts rely almost entirely on the state for revenue, while local tax payers shoulder the majority of the burden for other districts. In other words, some districts have a lot more at stake in the state budget. 

Browse the gallery above to see the 20 New Jersey school districts most reliant on state aid based on data from the 2014-15 school year, the latest available from the state. The figures come from the state's Taxpayers Guide to Education Spending. 

Most of the districts that rely heavily on state aid were represented in the landmark Abbott vs. Burke court case, which guarantees a high level of state funding to urban and low-income districts. 

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClarkFind NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Weighing in: Video previews and more for the 2017 NJSIAA state wrestling championships

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Who will win at every weight? Our experts pick the champs of this year's tournament.

What we know about killings of 3 N.J. women, attempted slaying of 4th

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Khalil Wheeler-Weaver has been charged with killing three woman and trying to kill a fourth.

Newark police shooting of suspect terrifies residents of apartment complex

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The relative tranquility residents described at the Grace West Manor Apartments was shattered Monday, when an officer wounded a man said to be armed

NEWARK -- Eboni Kornegay has lived at the Grace West Manor Apartments in Newark since she was 7, and as a little girl she would look out her window and wish she could go play with the other kids.

"I used to wonder why my dad kept me in the house," said Kornegay, now 21 and a parent herself. "And now I know why." 

The peace and quiet that Kornegay and several neighbors said had characterized the brown brick garden apartment complex at Irvine Turner Boulevard and Muhammad Ali Avenue was shattered on Monday afternoon.

A police officer shot and wounded a man who authorities said refused to drop the gun he had been carrying.

Authorities said the unidentified man was hospitalized with a single gunshot wound to his arm, and the officer was treated for trauma.

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office is investigating because the shooting involved police.   

Kornegay, who has a 4-year-old daughter with braided hair accented with white beads, said she was standing outside her front door sometime after 1 p.m. on Monday, when she saw a young man running in a central courtyard to her left.

The courtyard surrounds an after-school education and recreation center for the children of Grace West, a privately-run housing complex where the rents range from $1,164 for a studio to $2,124 for a 4-bedroom apartment, subsidized by federal Section 8 vouchers

The next moment, Kornegay said a police officer came running around her two-story building and across the parking lot in front, in pursuit of the young man. 

"I was standing out here, and I saw the police officer running," she said.

 

Other residents, who declined to give their names, said they saw the officer carrying a gun, and heard him fire several shots. However, Kornegay said she did not hear the shots or see a gun.

"I was kind of bothered, because I have nieces and nephews, and my 4-year-old daughter, she likes to come out and play with them," Kornegay said. "And I don't want to have to keep her inside. You want her to be able to get out and get some fresh air."

While showing some signs of neglect, Grace West is generally a quiet, even peaceful place to live, according to several of the residents, most of whom wished to remain anonymous.

An administrative office at the base of a high-rise senior citizen apartment tower was locked Monday afternoon, and a message left at the number posted on the door was not immediately returned. 

Bicycles, barbecue grills and children's toys lay on many of the patios. The complex has commanding views of Newark Liberty International Airport and Port Newark to the south, and downtown Newark and lower Manhattan to the east.

Trading a cigarette, Kornegay and her longtime friend and neighbor Marie Smith said that on warm nights the twinkling horizon can be captivating.

But Smith, 20, is also a parent, and for her and others, the relative tranquility of Grace West had been obliterated by gunshots and sirens Monday afternoon.

"I felt terrified," said Smith. "I have a 7-month-old son."

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

5th man charged in scrap yard armed robbery, shootout with police

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Anthony S. Brailsford is the fifth person to be arrested in the violent incident at Bayway Scrap Metal in Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH -- A fifth person has been arrested in a 2014 violent armed robbery of a city scrap yard and a shootout with police on Routes 1&9, authorities said. 

elizabeth-armed-robbery.jpgIn April 2014, police cars surround a truck that was stopped on North Avenue in Elizabeth following an armed robbery and a shootout. (Tom Haydon/The Star-Ledger)

Anthony S. Brailsford, of Irvington, joins three Newark men and another Irvington man who were previously accused in the incident, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park said. 

Brailsford, 28, is charged with kidnapping, robbery, aggravated assault, two weapons offenses and resisting arrest. 

The men are accused of going to the Bayway Scrap Metal yard on Amboy Avenue on April 18, 2014, binding several people's hands and feet with zip ties, and assaulting them while armed with guns. 

They stole wallets and cash, filled a trailer with catalytic converters and fled in two cars, one of which was a stolen pickup truck, Park said. 

Police briefly chased the men on Routes 1&9 before one of the men fired a gun at the officers and police returned fire, Park said. No one was injured in the shootout, she said.

The getaway cars crashed on North Avenue East, and four of the men were arrested and held on $1 million bail each. Police previously said they recovered an automatic rifle, a sub-machine gun, three handguns and a bag of money.

Three employees of the scrap metal shop were treated at a hospital for minor injuries, police said.

Brailsford was at large until authorities arrested him Friday, Park said.

His four co-defendants -- Michael Howard, Steven Chambers, Sharod Saunders and Rafael Clemmons -- face a 57-count indictment and are awaiting trial. 

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

 

Girls basketball: Statement wins, upsets and surprises from Round 1 of the playoffs

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Highlighting some of the best games from the state tournament's first round

Hospital works to improve as patients claim 'horrific' conditions

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The East Orange General Hospital's new ownership says it is in the midst of upgrading an old, deteriorated facility.

EAST ORANGE -- Leaders at East Orange General Hospital say they are in the midst of major renovations that will change the face of the facility. It's been nearly a year since the for-profit Prospect Medical Holdings of Los Angeles took over the once-bankrupt community hospital, with the promise of investing at least $52 million into updating and renovating the deteriorating facility.

"When Prospect Medical Holdings acquired East Orange General Hospital almost one year ago, it was on the verge of financial collapse, the facilities were in disrepair and overall staff morale was extremely low," CEO Otis Story told NJ Advance Media.

"Unfortunately, as the hospital struggled for years to maintain its services under the burden of massive financial debt, the physical structure of the hospital was not consistently upgraded."

IMG957554.jpgA photo of the renovated lobby. (Courtesy East Orange General Hospital)
 

As Story says he is working on the upgrades in a piece-meal fashion, patients being treated at the facility in the meantime describe the conditions at the hospital as "horrific."

"I couldn't believe that I was in a hospital in this country," said Donyale Harris, whose 18-year-old daughter was taken to the hospital's emergency room by ambulance last month after fainting in their city home.

"I just walked around the entire emergency room taking pictures. ... I couldn't believe (the hospital) had deteriorated to this point."

Big bet a hospital is taking to rebuild

According to Harris, the hospital's emergency room was littered with dust and dirt. Door frames were rotting, the bathroom sink was stuffed up, and falling down, air vents were caked with grime, and baseboards were rotted, she said.

Though Harris said she did not take issue with the medical care her daughter received from doctors, the two ended up leaving the hospital before the girl was treated, because of the conditions.

"You couldn't even go to the bathroom there," Harris said.

Resized_IMG_7560.jpgA photo of a renovated bathroom in the 2 West Wing of the hospital. The facility's owners say the renovation of the emergency room is set to start next year. (Courtesy East Orange General Hospital)
 

Story said redoing the emergency room of the 91-year-old facility is part of Prospect's second phase of renovations, set to start early next year. So far, it has invested about $9 million into improving the emergency room's waiting area, a nursing unit, and the hospital's main lobby. The owner also upgraded the cafeteria and established new departments in the hospital - a women's health center and a bariatric surgery center.

Story said addressing the condition of the emergency room, which sees about 3,000 patients a day, is a top priority.

"Most immediately, we have hired additional building services staff to address the basic need for cleanliness," he said.

"Long-term plans include a total renovation of the Emergency Room."

The recent patient complaints are the latest issue the company has had to deal with since taking over the hospital. According to a spokeswoman for the Department of Health, it last inspected the hospital in July 2016 - a visit prompted by another patient complaint.

In the inspection report, the state cited the hospital in connection with several incidents, including one in which family members were not allowed to see a patient who had died, and another in which a patient was transferred to the intensive care unit without a family member being notified.

In response, the hospital submitted corrective action plans to the state, which have been accepted, and implemented several changes and new procedures, Story said.

"We have set high performance standards for our personnel and we are consistently working to improve the overall customer experience. The hospital has implemented two new initiatives - a Concierge Program and daily updates to the loved ones of our intensive care patients - to add that distinctive personal touch that makes patients and families feel safe and secure under our care," he said.

City leaders say they are keeping tabs on the upgrade process. City spokeswoman Connie Jackson touted the changes made so far, noting that before Prospect took over, there was no one assigned to monitor the emergency room or maintain ongoing communications between the visitors and staff. That has changed, she said.

"We are aware of the conditions and we meet regularly with the hospital's new administration to stay updated on their plans to upgrade," Jackson said.

"The progress is amazing."

Resized95IMG957551.jpgA photo of a renovated patient room in the 2 West Wing of the hospital. The facility's owners say the renovation of the emergency room is set to start next year. (Courtesy East Orange General Hospital)
 
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

How does this winter measure up to past winters in N.J.?

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Snowfall stats over the past three months might surprise some Garden State residents.

Whether you study the statistics or simply look outside for the snow that is not there, you'll come to the same conclusion: This winter was a snow dud in New Jersey. 

How much of a dud, however, depends on where you live.

In the Newark region, despite getting only a few snowstorms in December, January and February, the three-month snowfall total amounted to 20.6 inches -- only 2 inches below normal for the meteorological winter season, according to data from the National Weather Service.

Down in Atlantic City, the snowfall deficit was much more pronounced. Only 7.5 inches of snow fell in the casino city during the past three months, which is half of the normal total of 14.9 inches for that region.

Up in the hills of northern Sussex County, which normally gets 55 inches of snow each winter, 40.5 inches fell this season, said Nick Stefano, who operates the Sussex County Weather Network. That's 27 percent below normal.

7 signs that February's weather was wacky

The meteorological winter runs from Dec. 1 through the end of February, while the astronomical winter -- based on the earth's position in relation to the sun -- runs from Dec. 21 through March 20. That means we technically have three more weeks of winter left, so additional snow is not out of the question.

It certainly hasn't felt like winter of late, with an abundance of spring-like days and temperatures that have broken record highs or come close to matching old records in cities across the region. The warm trend will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the mercury forecast to rise into the 60s and 70s.

Occasional rain showers will spoil the day on Tuesday, and strong thunderstorms could roll through the state on Wednesday, bringing heavy downpours, frequent lightning and gusty winds, forecasters said. After that, the roller coaster ride will continue, as temperatures drop down to the 30s and 40s on Thursday and Friday.

Forecasters said some light snow could fall Friday morning, as a fast-moving clipper system moves through New Jersey, but no major snowstorms are in sight.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 
 

Newark seeks feedback on policing and public safety

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First event scheduled for Saturday.

NEWARK -- Newark residents can share feedback about policing and public safety in the city through a series of community surveys set to begin Saturday.

The surveys will be available in each of Newark's five wards and offered in Spanish, Portuguese and English, according to a city news release. The effort comes amid widespread reform of policing in Newark after a federal probe uncovered civil rights abuses among the state's largest municipal police department.

"We are making good on our promise to bring about real reform, real change, and true transparency in public safety," Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said in a statement. "As part of building trust between our police and the community, it is important to hear from residents what we can be doing better as well as what they are pleased with."

The surveys are a joint program with city officials, the police division's independent federal monitor and New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.

Federal monitor seeks public input on Newark police reform plan

"This community feedback is critical to the roll-out of important reforms to the police division," Ryan P. Haygood, president of the NJISJ, said of the surveys.

A 2014 U.S. Department of Justice investigation revealed a "pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing," in the Newark, which included illegal stops and arrests, and excessive force by officers. Baraka's administration entered into a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice and hired former Essex County Prosecutor's Office Chief of Detectives Anthony Ambrose to oversee an overhaul of public safety operations in the city.

Refreshments will be offered at the survey sites and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions. More information is available at www.newarkpdmonitor.com

The events are scheduled at the following dates and locations:

  • Saturday, March 4: Training, Recreation, and Education Center, 55 Ludlow Street, Noon to 2 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 11: Bethany Baptist Church, 275 West Market Street, Noon to 2 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 18: West Side Park Community Center, 600 South 17th Street, Noon to 2 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 25: Ironbound Community Corporation, 25 Cortland Street, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 1: La Casa de Don Pedro, 23 Broadway, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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

 

Shooting threat on social media prompts charter school closure

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People's Preparatory Charter School closed Tuesday after a threat was made on social media against its students.

NEWARK -- People's Preparatory Charter School closed its doors Tuesday after a finding "potentially threatening messages" on social media against its students, school officials said. 

"We acted out of an abundance of caution to keep our students at home today," the school said in a statement. "We seek to avoid any disruption in student learning, but we feel this will help ensure that our students are safe and that there are fewer interruptions going forward."

Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said the social media post suggested there would be a shooting at the school. No gun was found at the school, police said. 

Detectives are investigating whether the threat is related to a fight between two students at the school last week. 

The charter school shares a building with Bard Early College High School, a public school run by the district. District officials said classes and activities at Bard were not canceled or interrupted. 

"Law enforcement officials were immediately contacted to investigate the incident and have assured our security personnel that the building is safe," the district said in a statement.

"The threat did not identify any Bard High School or Newark Public School students, and we are not aware of any actions that have been carried out related to the threat. The Newark Police Department will continue to have a presence on campus while this matter is being further investigated."

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477).

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

 

Swastikas painted on bridge in South Mountain Reservation

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County officials said the swastikas were removed by Tuesday afternoon from South Mountain Reservation. The incident is under investigation.

SOUTH ORANGE -- Authorities are investigating several swastikas that were spray-painted along a new bridge in the South Orange section of South Mountain Reservation.

Photos show at least seven swastikas splattered across the bridge with the words "they lie" and the numbers "666." The markings -- made in purple, red, green and black -- were cleaned by Tuesday afternoon after park workers painted and sandblasted the bridge early in the morning, county officials said. 

swastikas.jpegAuthorities are investigating several swastikas that were spray-painted along a new bridge in the South Orange section of South Mountain Reservation. (Courtesy of Rabbi Jesse Olitzky) 

"What's happening in South Mountain Reservation is discouraging and maddening," Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. said in a statement. "In Essex County, our diversity is our strength, and our open spaces are there for the enjoyment of everyone. We do not condone the defacing of public areas and we do not tolerate the hateful intent of this graffiti."

Rabbi Jesse Olitzky of Congregation Beth El in South Orange said some of his congregants called him early in the morning after they saw the symbols. 

"As a rabbi it's hard for me to deny that graffiti is just graffiti when I see that. It's an expression of hate, it's a hate symbol," Olitzky told NJ Advance Media. "We know that's not who we are in this town." 

The graffiti follows bomb threats made across the country at several religious facilities.

The Katz Jewish Community Center in Cherry Hill was forced to evacuate Monday after a bomb threat. The hoax was one of at least eight similar threats across New Jersey this year and one of dozens reported at religious facilities across the U.S., according to state and federal law enforcement officials.

"Theres no denying that there's a spike in anti-Semitic acts and there's a spike in hate acts directed toward many minority groups," Olitzky said. "I think we are living in a society where some believe hate and bigotry is condoned and accepted. I refuse to accept that. I refuse to believe that is who we are as humanity, that is who are as Americans."

Sheriff Armando Fontoura said his department is working with the Prosecutor's Bias Crime Unit to investigate.

"This incident clearly supersedes mere mischievous behavior or graffiti and it cannot and will not be tolerated," Fontoura said. "We have already increased our uniformed and plainclothes patrols in the area. We have also deployed security cameras to this location."

Fontoura said Crimestoppers is offering up to $10,000 as a reward for anyone with information that leads to an arrest. 

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

Man admits he illegally charged nearly $1M on N.J. company's credit card

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Ohio resident John Tekulve faces 20 years in prison

NEWARK -- The owner of a medical supply company pleaded guilty Tuesday to wire fraud in connection with a scheme to bilk an Essex County firm out of $950,000, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Paul Fishman said.

John Tekulve, 44, of Milford, Ohio, sold products to the unnamed New Jersey firm and eventually obtained the firm's credit card information. Between January 2011 and October 2012, he used that information to fraudulently bill the company for goods and services that were never provided. Tekulve spent the cash on luxury items including cars and jewelry, authorities said.

He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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

 

 


Newark police seek man who burglarized chicken restaurant

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The South Orange Avenue business was hit Feb. 22

NEWARK-- Police are asking the public's help in finding a man who broke into a restaurant last week.

The suspect entered Ambassador Fish and Chicken, 362 South Orange Ave., around 5 a.m. Feb. 22. He entered the business by climbing through a hole in the floor of an apartment above.

Screenshot (127).pngThis man was caught on video as he burglarized a Newark restaurant last week, police said. (Newark police)  

He was  wearing a black puffy coat with a baseball-type cap featuring the word "Money" in multiple colors. Once inside, it appears that the suspect had removed the black puffy coat and baseball cap and replaced it with a blue, skully-type hat with a pom-pom on top that covered his mouth and chin. Inside, he was also wearing a thin jacket and dark gloves with white tips.

Anyone with information is being asked to call the Department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877- NWK-TIPS (1-877- 695-8477) or 1-877- NWK-GUNS (1-877- 695-4867).  All anonymous Crime Stopper tips are kept confidential and could result in a reward.

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

Sneak peek: Newark's Whole Foods opening Wednesday

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Look inside the long-anticipated high-end supermarket opening in Newark's revitalized Hahne's building.

NEWARK -- The shelves are stocked, the staff is prepped, and the sale prices are set. After years of anticipation, Newark's first Whole Foods supermarket will open in the redeveloped Hahne's building on Broad Street Wednesday.

The opening is the culmination of years of planning and preparation, with politicians saying the store will be "transformative" for the city. Former Mayor Cory Booker even called the supermarket his "Holy Grail."

"This store stemmed from the idea that good, nutritious food is for everybody," Whole Foods spokesman Michael Sinatra told NJ Advance Media late last year, when the store was still under construction. Newark, which also welcomed a ShopRite in the Central Ward in 2015, had previously been referred to as a "food desert," for its lack of supermarkets.

7 trendy eateries a sign of success in Newark

Wednesday's opening, slated to start at 8:30 a.m., is expected to include a bread-breaking ceremony, and comments from Mayor Ras Baraka and Whole Foods executives. The Whole Cities Foundation will also award 11 healthy food access grants to Newark-based groups that it says "increase access to fresh, healthy food" in the community.

Whole Foods is the anchor of a fully-renovated Hahne's building, which was redeveloped by L+M Development Partners and celebrated its grand opening last month. The revitalized building, which laid dormant for some 30 years after the Hahne's department store closed its doors, will also be home to a Rutgers arts collaborative, City National Bank's headquarters, a new restaurant concept from celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, 160 apartments, and about 25,000 square feet of additional office and retail space.

The store is the 17th Whole Foods in New Jersey, and the third in Essex County. 

Before doors open to shoppers at 9 a.m., see a sneak preview of the store in the photo gallery above.

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

N.J. had warmest February ever recorded

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February 2017 felt almost as warm as a typical March.

All those days of spring-like weather during the past few weeks helped make last month the warmest February ever recorded in New Jersey, according to  data compiled by New Jersey State Climatologist David Robinson.

The average statewide temperature in February was at least 39.3 degrees, which is 0.2 degrees warmer than the mildest February on record, in 1998, Robinson said.

The normal February temperature in New Jersey -- the average of the daily highs and daily lows in each region of the state -- is 33.5 degrees, so this month has been about 6 degrees warmer than usual and almost as mild as it usually is in March, Robinson noted.

Was this winter a snow dud in N.J.? 

Robinson, who teaches at Rutgers University and oversees the New Jersey Weather & Climate Network, said his office is in the process of confirming all the specific numbers, but as of now it appears the meteorological winter season (December, January and February) will rank as New Jersey's sixth mildest winter, with an average temperature of 37.3 degrees. That is about 4 degrees above average for the season.

February 2016 was the 19th mildest February on record in New Jersey, with an average temperature of 35.6 degrees, and February 2015 was the third coldest February on record, with an average temperature of 21.9 degrees.  

Other projections by Robinson's office:

  • February 2017 will turn out to be between the 10th and 20th driest February on record, with 1.57 inches of precipitation (rain and melted snow combined).
  • Statewide snowfall in February averaged 4.7 inches, which is 3.4 inches below average.
  • The northern third of New Jersey had 9.9 inches of snow in February, which is only 0.2 inches below average, while the southern third received 1.1 inches of snow, which is 5.5 inches below average. Central New Jersey had 6.1 inches of snow in February, which is 2.9 inches below average.

February records in Newark and Atlantic City

Statistics from the National Weather Service show Newark had its warmest February on record, with an average temperature of 41.6 degrees -- exactly 7 degrees above normal. The city's previous record was 40.7 degrees, set in February 1998. 

The weather service also said Atlantic City had its warmest February on record, with an average temperature of 43.0 degrees. The previous record was 40.6 degrees, set in February 1954, and the city's normal February average is 35.3 degrees. 

Philadelphia and Allentown, Pa., also set new temperature records in February, the weather service said. Philadelphia's average temperature was 44.2 degrees, topping its old record of 42.2 degrees set in February 1925. Allentown's average temperature was 39.2 degrees, beating its old record of 38.6 degrees set in February 1998.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Frelinghuysen zings Trump, respectfully, in telephone town hall

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GOP Congressman says Trump should release his tax returns, choose his words more carefully

MORRISTOWN -- U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinguyhusen staked some distance between himself and President Donald Trump during an invitation-only "telephone town hall" on Tuesday.

Frelinghuysen, (R-11th Dist.) said Trump should release his tax returns, challenged his views on Russia and said his administration needs to "step up its game" responding to a national wave of anti-Semitic harassment.

He defended Trump's intent in seeking a travel ban targeting seven nations while acknowledging "bumps in the roads" in how the stalled plan was rolled out via executive order.

"I don't think he chooses his words carefully," Frelinghuysen said of Trump.

When one caller questioned Trump's psychological health and described him as "not fit to serve," Frelinghuysen offered a response that fell short of a rebuttal.

"I know some people have reached that conclusion," Frelinghuysen said.

"I do think, quite honestly, that the voters spoke last November. A decision was made," Frelinghuysen said.

Frelinghuysen, who recently became chair of the House appropriations committee, has been the focus of widely-publicized, weekly protests outside his district office over Republican plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act and other issues and statements from Trump.

He has been criticized for not holding town halls or showing up at events organized by the protesters.

"Has it been a rough 40 days? From my perspective, it has been damn rough," Frelinghuysen said.

Tuesday's 51-minute telephone town hall followed a similar, but less-publicized, event last week.

Callers were identified by their first name and location.

"Samantha in Morristown," for example, described herself as a Democrat who voted for Frelinghuysen because she perceived him as both moderate and pragmatic.

Frelinghuysen sought on several occasions to display independence from prevailing Republican thought.

When 'Mary from Hopatcong' alluded to Lake Hopatcong being free of ice and alluded to climate change, Frelinghuysen responded, "I'm not a denier."

Frelinghuysen said that, unlike many other Republicans, he is pro-choice and praised the work Planned Parenthood does in Morristown, despite voting in favor of defunding the national organization.

"I have always been supportive of a woman's right to choose," Frelinghuysen said.

Frelinghuysen was pressed by several callers Tuesday to clarify his views regarding Trump.

"I think he should release his tax forms," Frelinghuysen said.

Referencing Russian President Vladimir Putin, a frequent subject of Trump's praise, Frelinghuysen described him as "not a good person."

"On Russia, I strongly disagree with him," Frelinghuysen said.

On the stalled travel ban, Frelinghuysen offered a nuanced response.

"I think it's right to take a pause, looking at these seven countries where there's actually lawlessness and no leadership," Frelinghuysen said, adding, "We want to do it in a way that is respectful of people, whatever their race or religion or country of origin."

"I do err on the side of both security and national security, but I think the administration needs to be far more careful about the language it employs," Frelinghuysen said.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

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