Asada Rashidi, 16, rises early on Saturday morning to help a group of Clean Team Ambassadors clean up the streets of her neighborhood in the South Ward.

NEWARK -- It's early Saturday morning and 16-year-old Asada Rashidi looks down Bergen Street and smiles. 

There's no more cigarette butts, soda cans or broken glass scattered on the sidewalk. She grips her small broom with her purple gloves and moves on, past the bus stop and mini market to continue sweeping her neighborhood. 

"I do these things to benefit my city," Rashidi, a high school junior at Bard High School Early College, said. "I don't like litter that much and I like to keep my city clean."

Rashidi spends her Saturdays volunteering with the Clean Team Ambassadors for the Bergen-Lyons-Clinton Business Improvement District to pick up trash, clean up graffiti and beautify her streets. 

"To see someone so young trying to help out in the community, that may inspire some of the other kids," said Kevin Blackwell, 58, a member of the Clean Team in the BLC Business Improvement District. 

Rashidi is the first student volunteer to join one of four clean teams managed by Commercial District Services LLC across business improvement districts in Newark. Business improvement districts collect special tax dollars used to improve and draw new businesses to the area.

The company says it hopes to expand internship opportunities for other students; it currently employs about 20 street cleaners across the wards. 

"The biggest impact we have is influencing the behavior of property tenants and business owners in the district," said Chris Bernardo, president of Commercial District Services. "When they see us pick up trash, their behavior starts to change."

Rashidi volunteers for two hours on Saturday, walking about 20 blocks up and down Bergen Street in the South Ward with her team of three others. She sweeps up candy wrappers, papers and broken glass into her dustbin, scanning the sidewalk for more litter. 

"When outsiders come in, they don't want to see trash," said Rashidi. She said she tells her friends to hold their trash while they're eating or wait to dispose it until they reach a garbage bin. 

"Why are you trying to make your city dirtier?" she says she asks them. 

On this Saturday, Rashidi was bundled up in at least six layers, with a blue cap over her black hijab. She says she enjoys the work except for the occasional worms when it rains (she sweeps around them) and when they stumble on dead animals. 

"It makes us jumpy," Rashidi said. A block later, a dead rat lay in the middle of the sidewalk. Rashidi and team leader Quanike Joseph immediately recoiled. 

Blackwell quickly swept the carcass into his dustpan. "I told you, I got that," he said. 

Rashidi began volunteering about two months ago after she told her mom, who is the vice president of the BLC business improvement district, that she wanted to help pick up trash.

"I asked why?" Rashidi's mother, Atiya Rashidi, said. "And she said our place could look like Springfield, Summit."

Clean Team workers are out six days a week, rain or snow, covering more than two miles of the city. They'll take photos of code enforcement violations to report to the city and on average pick up more than 50 bags of trash a day. 

"We get so many compliments," Joseph, 38, said of the neighbors. "It's like we're famous."

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

Jerome Morgan, a city of Newark employee, was arrested on domestic violence charges in the South Ward on Saturday.

Jerome Morgan, 60, of Newark was arrested for domestic violence Saturday, police said. (Courtesy of Newark Police)Karen Yi | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

NEWARK -- A city of Newark employee was arrested on domestic violence charges Saturday after he allegedly assaulted a woman in a South Ward home, authorities said. 

The Newark Police Division said Jerome Morgan, 60, of Newark was arrested around 1 a.m. after police responded to a call of domestic violence. 

A woman was allegedly assaulted during the incident and was treated for non-life threatening injuries. Her relationship to Morgan was not immediately known. 

Morgan is listed as the president of Newark Council 21, a nonprofit, employee organization of civil servants who work for the city. 

Morgan is currently being held at the Essex County jail. 

A city spokesperson had no immediate comment on the arrest. 

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

First day of fishing season kicks off a timely tradition in the Garden State.

VERONA -- It was a cold morning but that did not stop anglers throughout the state from gathering at their favorite fishing spots on opening day of the 2017 trout season.

In keeping with family tradition, Kenneth Apgar, 22, from Montville, joined his grandfather Kenneth Cozik at their favorite location on the pond in Verona Park.

"My grandfather has been fishing here for 40 years," said Apgar, who added that he has not missed one opening day with his grandfather since he was five years old. 

Nutley residents John Negra and his 14-year-old son, Vincent, arrived before 8 a.m. to make sure they got the spot they wanted.  It paid off, the pair caught two breeder trout each weighing in at over five pounds.

The pond had been stocked with 470 regular-sized trout and about 40 breeders by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Statewide, there were more than 180,000 freshly-stocked rainbow trout for anglers casting their lines on opening day of trout season, according to Bob Martin, Commissioner of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.

In total, some 570,000 hatchery-raised trout will be released in 200 streams, rivers, lakes and ponds throughout the state by the end of May. Most of the released trout will average 101/2 inches long, but large breeders measuring 15 to 21 inches and weighing up to 5 pounds will also be distributed in the early weeks of the season.

Robert Sciarrino may be reached at bsciarrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SciarrinoRobert. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The data includes a series of implausible statistics and misleading mistakes, school officials say.

TRENTON -- None of Piscataway Township's teachers took a sick day last year, faculty at one Sussex County school were absent for nearly half of the year, and teachers at another school showed up only 10 percent of the time. 

Those unlikely scenarios all played out last school year, at least according to data released in the state's school report cards.

New Jersey for the first time last week released statistics for how often teachers and support staff miss school, showing that the vast majority of teachers are in the classroom more than 90 percent of the time.

But the faculty attendance rates, released amid a national push to judge schools on more than just test scores, also include a series of implausible statistics and misleading mistakes, school officials say. 

Among them: 

• 69 schools reported a 100 percent attendance rate, meaning no teachers or academic support staff took a single sick day last school year. 
• Some entire school districts, including Piscataway, said none of their teachers used sick days. 
• Eight schools reported faculty attendance rates between 2 and 11 percent 
• 110 schools, including every school in Newark, the state's largest school district, either failed to send data or somehow reported that teachers never showed up at all. 

Use the lookup tool at the bottom of the story to see what your school reported. 

See N.J.'s best and worst SAT scores

The mishaps come as New Jersey is collecting and publishing an increasing amount of school data sought by parents and education groups, and the state Department of Education is preparing to comply with a new federal law that requires schools to find new ways to rate schools. 

Beginning next school year, New Jersey plans to base as much as 15 percent of a school's federal rating on chronic absenteeism among students, another statistic that is self reported by schools.  

Several districts said they were unaware of the errors in teacher attendance data until contacted by NJ Advance Media. 

Despite the zeros in the report for Newark Public Schools, most schools had faculty attendance rates above 90 percent, said Paul Nedeau, a district spokesperson. 

"We're trying to get to the bottom of that," Nedeau said of the error. 

In Bergen County, River Edge Superintendent Tova Ben-Dov said the 10 percent attendance rate reported for Cherry Hill School was "ridiculous, obviously a mistake." 

"There is a huge problem," added Craig Hutcheson, superintendent in Hampton Township, where the district inadvertently submitted a 54 percent attendance rate for an elementary school. 

As much as Piscataway would love a perfectly healthy teaching staff, its 100 percent attendance claim was a clerical mistake, public information officer Judy Palermo said. 

"The person who entered the data misread the question," Palermo said. "Just an error on our part." 

The faculty attendance statistics were one of the datasets most requested by education groups, prompting the state to publish it for the first time in this year's School Performance Reports, Department of Education spokesman David Saenz said.

Though the state collects and publishes dozens of data points for the reports, it does not analyze the data, he said. 

"School Performance Reports are designed to be conversation starters by informing parents, educators and communities about how well a school is performing and preparing its students for college and careers," Saenz said. "If the public thinks that the data submitted by the district is questionable, they should reach out to the district and to have a conversation about that data." 

The faculty attendance data covers teachers and certificated support staff but does not include administrators.

Sick days are supposed to count against a school's attendance rate but other approved absences, such as professional days, personal days, staff training days, bereavement days or jury duty, are not, according to the state. 

New Jersey teachers are usually guaranteed at least 10 sick days, said Steve Baker, spokesman for the state's largest teachers union, the New Jersey Education Association. 

The majority of the missed time reflected in the new faculty attendance data is likely related to illness, he said. 

"The worst thing anybody can do to a student or educator is go to school when they are sick and create a bigger problem," Baker said. "You are not being a hero if you go to work when you are sick." 

Teacher attendance data should help communities better understand the climate in their schools, including teacher morale, said Rosie Grant, executive director of the Paterson Education Fund. 

The organization pushed for the release of the data in hopes that seeing problem areas among teachers could also help schools address chronic absenteeism among students, she said. 

Staff writer Carla Astudillo contributed to this report 

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

It's National Library Week. Pick up a book!

Kirill Pavlov earns the Boy Scouts' highest honor.

Kirill Pavlov, second from right, with his parents, Tim and Olga Pendleton, and Scoutmaster Al Welenofsky.

NUTLEY -- Kirill Pavlov, a member of Boy Scout Troop 147, was honored last month at an Eagle Court of Honor for earning his Eagle Award, the Boy Scouts' highest honor.

To earn the Eagle Award, a Scout must be active with a troop, earn a minimum of 21 merit badges, assume a position of leadership within a troop and complete a service project that benefits the community.

For his project, Pavlov built six wooden bee houses and mounted them on steel signposts before installing them at the Essex County Environmental Center. The bee houses will provide solitary bees with a place to nest and breed.

In addition to his Eagle Award, Pavlov also received the Bronze Palm, given to Scouts who earn five merit badges after earning Eagle.

Pavlov is a freshman at Nutley High School. He was honored at an Eagle Court of Honor held March 16 at Franklin Reformed Church in Nutley, where he became the 122nd Eagle Scout in Troop 147's 96-year history.

To submit Scout news send an email to essex@starledger.com.

Charles Nolley, a 99-year-old Edison resident and WWII vet, has been named the Grand Marshall in the upcoming parade

EDISON -- One of World War II's Tuskegee Airmen will lead the township's 55th Annual Memorial Day Parade this year.

Edison resident Charles Nolley, 99, a former "Tuskegee Airman"Edison Township 

Charles Nolley, a 99-year-old Edison resident, has been named the Grand Marshall in the upcoming parade, Mayor Thomas Lankey announced Friday. 

Nolley was drafted into the second World War in 1943 and served as one of the first black aviators in the history of the U.S. armed forces. 

He trained at the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama to become part of the Army Air Corps' four squadrons of all all-black servicemen. Nolley flew combat mission over Europe for three years with the 99th Pursuit Squadron. 

"Not only is Mr. Nolley a witness to history, he is living history. His story is one of perseverance, dedication, service and success," Lankey said in release. "We are privileged to have Charles and his wife Martha as neighbors, and we are honored to have him as our parade Grand Marshal."

The elite Army Air Corps units were made up of nearly 1,000 African American pilots who trained at Tuskegee between 1941 and 194 and helped paved the way for the desegregation of the entire military in 1948 by President Harry Truman. 

Nolley, a 1937 graduate of Arts High School in Newark, returned to show business briefly after being honorably discharged as a lieutenant in 1946 and performed in several productions on Broadway. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia State University and a Master's degree in dramatic arts from Columbia University.  

Nolley would eventually end up at Barringer Prep in Newark, where he taught for years and served as vice principal before retiring. 

Selecting a Grand Marshall is the first step in planning the parade set for 2 p.m. on May 28, Lankey said.

The township is still looking for organizations, groups and businesses to participate. Those interested can contact Dana Ligato-Grego at dligato@edisonnj.org or call (732) 248-7298.

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

The NJ Transit train derailed Monday and full service was not restored until Friday morning

Music student make their own album.

Whitehorne Middle School sixth-grader Sarah Wynne at Water Music Studios in Hoboken.Verona Public Schools 

VERONA -- Music class took on an added dimension this year for more than 300 students at Henry B. Whitehorne Middle School who have been working on a special project: Making an album.

Members of the school's three concert bands, two choirs, a jazz band and a percussion ensemble have taken on the additional roles of record producers, graphic designers, lawyers and accountants to produce an album they have dubbed, "The Whitehorne Album."

"We wanted to create a real-world, authentic learning experience that would open students to the many opportunities and careers that exist in the music world. We also wanted them to develop an appreciation for everything that goes into creating the music they hear when they listen for pleasure," said band teacher Dan Halpern, who along with fellow teacher Brian Michalowski are spearheading the project.

The students broke into teams to get the job done. One team created the graphic design concept for the album and then turned it over to Verona High School art students, who created the digital cover design. The legal team worked with an attorney to procure licensing permission for the music on the album, the finance team has been keeping track of the budget, the marketing team will work with a marketing agent on promoting the album, and the web design team will create a website to promote and sell the album online.

Last week, the production team worked with recording engineers during another recording session held at Water Music in Hoboken, for what Halpern calls, "a very eclectic album, with music from several genres."

The album is expected to be completed this spring.

To submit school news send an email to cgiannantonio@starledger.com.

Dogs and cats await adoption throughout New Jersey.

Here is this week's collection of some of the dogs and cats in need of adoption all over the state of New Jersey.

We are now accepting dogs and cats to appear in the gallery from nonprofit shelters and rescues throughout New Jersey. If a group wishes to participate in this weekly gallery on nj.com, please contact Greg Hatala at ghatala@starledger.com or call 973-836-4922.

More pets in need of adoption can be seen by clicking here and here.

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

Where to catch the best baseball action in New Jersey this week.

Sunny skies added to the beauty of the opening weekend of the 41st annual Cherry Blossom Festival, sponsored by Essex County at Branch Brook Park

NEWARK -- Thousands flocked to Branch Brook Park in Newark for the start of Essex County's 41st annual Cherry Blossom Festival Sunday with the park's pink beauty all the more dazzling under sunny blue skies.

"It's looking awesome everywhere," said John Lee, a 27-year-old accountant from Palisades Park. "This is beautiful."

"Awesome, beautiful," said his girlfriend, Seul Lee, 25, also of Palisades Park.

An estimated 20,000 visitors were at the park on Sunday alone, said Anthony Pugliesi, an Essex County spokesman. Many of them were drawn by the blooming of Branch Brook's 5,000 cherry blossom trees.

Surpassing the 3,750 cherry blossoms in Washington D.C., Branch Brook Park's collection is said to be the largest in North America.

The park began in 1976 with a planting of 1,000 trees by a civic-minded Prudential lawyer, Kathleen Gallop. There are now 17 species, which vary in shade from pinkish-white to deep fuchsia, and typically bloom from early to mid-April, depending on the weather.

"We're thinking that Easter weekend is going to be peak season," Pugliesi said. "And then with all the different varieties we have, there will be another two weeks after that when everything will be in bloom."

The festival is an annual event sponsored by Essex County that includes nationally known bike and running races, as well as guided tours, live performances and other events, through April 23.

The event is held And it's all against the backdrop of the pinkish blooms and naturalistic landscaping of the 360-acre park, designed by the Olmsted Brothers, whose father laid out New York's Central Park.

Things got rolling Saturday morning with the Cherry Blossom Challenge, a group of eight cycling races for men and women, with age groups and classes. The xhallenge kicks off the North American spring racing season, said the race organizer, Tom Mains. This year, the race attracted 450 cyclists from as far away as Colombia, South America. See the results here.

One of them was Tom Godfrey, a 45-year-old tax lawyer who lives in Virginia, but returns to Branch Brook Park to race every year.

"It's a nice course, it's a great venue," Godfrey said Saturday. "I drove up this morning from Arlington, Va. It's not a bad trip, actually, seeing the sunrise on the New Jersey Turnpike."

Sunday's running race, known as the Cherry Blossom 10K, drew 1,300 runners, said Pugliesi. Results are posted here.

Other athletes at the park on Sunday included Charlie Baez, 12, who plays first base and pitches for the Red Sox of Newark's North Ward Little League. Baez made a major league catch on a foul ball well outside the first base line during practice at the park's Rick Cerone Field. 

"Great!" is all Charlie had to say, when asked what it was like to be on the field Sunday.

But the biggest group of people were there for the cherry blossoms.  

"It was definitely worth the trip," said Sonam Agrawal, who had driven to the park with his wife and 2-year-old daughter, plus another couple, from Jersey City. "It was great to be outside with the weather. And the park is beautiful."

Kassandra Cruz, 22, a legal assistant who lives in of Newark, was watching the Red Sox practice. Her fiance, Carlos Bernard, is the assistant coach. Cruz loves the cherry blossoms -- from a distance.

"I'm allergic," she said.

But the blossoms are so beautiful, Cruz said she might have to throw caution to the wind.

"Even though I'm allergic, I just might take my engagement photos with them," she said. 

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

Schools might be going on Easter break but softball teams aren't as the schedule starts to pick up.

Take a look at how the boys lacrosse Top 20 looks after the first full week of the season

What are we hungry for this month? An arepas storefront in Newark, a classic French bistro in Red Bank, two new riverfront restaurants in South Jersey, and a return to old-school dining in Hoboken

1. Porter Collins, Hoboken

Back in 2012, Hoboken chef-restaurateur Anthony Pino (Bin 14, Anthony David's) signed a lease on a building in the northwest corner of Hoboken that had been home to an auto repair shop and cabinet maker, and he initially considered opening it as a gastropub. One economic recovery later, Pino finally opened the doors on Porter Collins last month. It's a glam mid-century-inspired restaurant with all the trappings: table-side Caesar ($12 per person), a Scotch cart, oyster platters with an intriguing choice of mignonettes (saffron and tomato; chorizo and cilantro, frozen rose, $22 for six oysters), and the piece de resistance, a 30-day dry-aged porterhouse For two with green peppercorn sauce ($86). There is also live music or a deejay most nights. Pino says his wife and partner Liz helped inspire the sophisticated concept: "I love her so much and I want to be able to take my wife out on a date -- not just to eat, on a date." 1426 Willow Ave, Hoboken. (201) 977-2108. portercollinsrestaurant.com.

Tools of the Trade....handmade agnolotti. #handmade #pasta #freshpasta #italian #wemakeitinhouse #stella

A post shared by Stella Artisan Italian (@stella.italian) on Nov 15, 2016 at 8:24pm PST

2. Stella Artisan Italian, Ridgewood

From the owners of Ridgewood's acclaimed pizzeria S. Egidio and executive chef Heather Bertinetti-Rozzi, a pastry veteran of many of the top destination restaurants in New York, comes this charming bistro and gourmet market with a well-curated and seasonal Italian menu, freshly-made pasta ("If I can make bread dough, I can make pasta dough," Bertinetti-Rozzi laughs) and absolutely killer cannoli (try the pistachio). In the mornings, Stella does brisk bakery and coffee business with commuters (it's next to the train station). At lunch, there are pressed sandwiches, and at night, the juicy pork porterhouse with potato puree  and glazed carrots ($28) is winning raves, while the vibrant and veggie-friendly saffron fusilli, squash blossoms, almond and poppy seeds ($22) is a favorite of the chef. 18 E. Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood. (201) 857-2677. stellaartisan.com.

3. Riverview Restaurant, Burlington

Is New Jersey's next foodie destination this small Colonial-era downtown by the Delaware? The hip restaurant group Smith opened a branch of its popular Brickwall Tavern here in late 2015, and now the old Cafe Gallery has been turned into a chic and airy destination restaurant and bar with a farm-inspired menu and housemade butter (flecked with shallots and thyme on my visit) and a rotating assortment of breads that will be the best $6 you can spend. The restaurant, which opened in February, currently offers lunch and dinner Thursdays through Saturdays with Sunday brunch. Chef Ross Scofield is still finessing the menu, but expect the grilled 22-ounce ribeye with demi-glace ($49) and towering Riverview burger with Cabot cheddar and housemade bun ($15) to stick around, says co-owner Adrian Turner. He also expects to open a coffee roastery in the back of the building soon for both wholesale and retail sales. 219 High Street, Burlington. (609) 614-6624. riverviewnj.com.

4. Criminals and Tacos, New Brunswick

The year-old Criminals and Tacos (named for an apocryphal underground taco shop at Alcatraz) has a short menu that is already on the culinary fringe: the House Arrest, with tequila-marinated chicken, cashews and cranberries, is a best-seller, and the Life Without Parole features carne asada and scorpion tails ("three times the protein," says chef-owner Andrew Schiff). But the taco shop is known for going rogue, with daily experiments such as the recent barbecue shrimp tacos with grapefruit and jalapeno guac, and plenty of vegan options as well. Tacos are $4 each. The small storefront is decorated with infamous mug shots, and you can pose for your own on the mug shot wall. 105 Easton Ave., New Brunswick. (732) 339-8298. criminalsandtacos.com

5. The Buttered Biscuit Cafe, Bradley Beach

Think again about ordering that extra biscuit at Jersey Shore brunch favorite the Buttered Biscuit -- now it's open for dinner, too, Wednesdays through Saturdays. Co-owner Liz McAllister's favorite dishes are the buttermilk fried chicken with a popover and honey butter ($18) and the seared pork belly with cabbage chow chow ($12; she'll be swapping the cabbage with fresh peaches in season). And yes, there are still the cafe's trademark biscuits, with smoked butter and house-made pickles ($6). They don't take reservations and it's still a BYOB, but McAllister says they will soon be offering margarita makings and mixers. 700 Main St., Bradley Beach. (732) 807-4069. thebutteredbiscuitcafe.com. 

Be safe out there everyone! Stay positive because the weekend is almost near and you will get to order some shrimp!

A post shared by @ajamontgomerynj on Mar 14, 2017 at 11:17am PDT

6. Aja Asian Cuisine, Montgomery

Brothers-in-law Jason Lin and Chuan Tan run New Brunswick's Aja Asian Cuisine & Lounge and Matawan's Ganga Asian Bistro, both known for their terrific sushi and high style. They've outdone themselves at their brand-new Aja in Montgomery, turning the cavernous restaurant formerly occupied by Tusk into a jaw-droppingly sexy space, with communal tables of glowing stone, lushly-upholstered banquettes and womb-like red leather chairs. The menu is the same as the New Brunswick location, with creative small dishes (yellowtail ceviche with jalapeno, $17), curries, noodles,  grilled and wok-fried entrees (tangerine-roasted duck with lychee and sticky rice, $26), and over-the-top sushi that is delicious but definitely not for purists. 1736 Route 206, Montgomery. (908) 262-2512. ajamontgomery.com

7. Cooper House, Pennsauken

The long-stalled replacement to the Lobster Trap in Camden County's Cooper River Park, Cooper House finally opened last summer with a more upscale menu and sophisticated but still comfortable atmosphere. Share a plate of deviled eggs with smoked trout and salmon roe ($5) or the charred octopus with chimichurri ($15) as you take in the views of the river from the expanse of windows in the back of the restaurant, or, as the weather warms up a bit, enjoy a selection from the long list of mostly local beers on tap, including Shamong's Brotherton, Pennsauken's Double Nickel or Mount Holly's Spellbound Brewing, in the outdoor beer garden. Just remember, friends don't let friends canoe drunk! 5300 North Park Drive, Pennsauken. (856) 333-6653 cooperhousenj.com 

8. O Bistro Francais, Red Bank

Marc Fontaine, the owner of Red Bank's late and lamented Bienvenue, is back with an large but inviting French BYO that has everything you'd expect -- pate de campagne and cornichons ($11), steak frites ($33), coquille St. Jacques ($33), and Edith Piaf over the speakers -- and a few dishes waiting to be discovered, such as the crepe with duck confit, black currants, pine nuts, and spinach in a port wine sauce. Fontaine and his co-owner, the solicitous Frederic Chirol, are also transforming the front of the barn-like building into a French cafe and market that should be open around June. 15 N. Bridge Ave, Red Bank. (732) 852-2705. obistrofrancais.com 

9. Munchies by Antonio, Newark

Munchies by Antonio, the six-month-old fast casual spot near NJIT, specializes in arepas, the addictive Venezuelan stuffed corncake sandwiches -- the best-seller is the pabellon, with shredded beef, black beans, white cheese and sweet plantains, $8 -- but the other offerings are equally hard to resist, particularly the hamburguesas, "very big and loud," according to Antonio Dinis, who also runs the acclaimed pizzeria Porto by Antonio in North Bergen and Livingston. If you dare, try La Doble -- two times the beef, ham, bacon and egg, plus avocado, corn, cheddar, potato sticks, lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, mustard and ketchup ($13.50). There's also overloaded hot dogs, flaky empanadas and healthy-ish wraps. 42-48 Norfolk St., Newark. (862) 241-1084. munchiesnj.com

10. Tower Dogs, Lawrenceville

Bring your appetite and your bib to Tower Dogs, the outgrowth of chef Jim Forkel's decades-long quest to build a better weiner. Opened since last summer, the counter-service restaurant in Quakerbridge Commons offers an insane array of gloriously messy toppings for Forker's signature all-beef hot dog, from the BLT (American cheese, chopped bacon, Buffalo mayo and a fried egg atop a bacon-wrapped dog, $8.99) to the Cuban (melted Swiss, yellow mustard, pulled pork and dill pickle, $8.49). You can also order chicken sausage, bratwurst, and even falafel dogs, plus burgers, chicken sandwiches and even salads (but why would you?). 4110 Quakerbridge Road, Lawrenceville. 609-269-9056. tower-dogs.com

Our selections are based on personal visits, word of mouth, OpenTable availability, crowdsourcing websites and local food blogs. If you'd like to recommend a restaurant to be considered for a spot on a future "Where to eat now in N.J." column, let us know in the comments section below, or e-mail vhyman@njadvancemedia.com.

Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy or like her on Facebook. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook. 

A St. Peter's Prep graduate who was Hudson County Baseball Player of the Year in 2015 was killed when he was struck by a train in Massachusetts, according to published reports.

A St. Peter's Prep graduate who was Hudson County Baseball Player of the Year in 2015 was killed when he was struck by a train in Massachusetts.

Dan Cooney, 20, who was a sophomore at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., was struck by a CSX freight train at 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning, MassLive.com reported.

Calls to authorities in Massachusetts for details on the tragedy were not immediately returned.

MassLive.com reported that Cooney, of Verona, was struck in Southborough, which is roughly 12 miles from the school, in Worcester County. 

Pat Laguerre, Cooney's baseball coach at St. Peter's Prep, said that Cooney was recovering from "Tommy John" surgery and was looking forward to getting back on the field. This past week Laguerre received a congratulatory text from Cooney after earning his 300th win.

"Danny left a real positive impact on the team," Laguerre said. "He was one of the captains on the team as a senior. ... That team was a tight-knit group."

Babson College is regarded as one of the top institutions for entrepreneurship, and Cooney was looking beyond the diamond when he decided to go there.

"Danny had many talents," said Laguerre. " A very bright, smart kid. He just wanted to extend his playing career at Babson, but he wasn't the type to say that he was going to be a big-leaguer. He could have done anything he wanted to."

In his senior season at Prep, Cooney was 4-1, with a 2.18 ERA in helping the Marauders to a 26-3 record and the 2015 Hudson County Tournament championship. Cooney earned all-state honors and Prep finished as the No. 6 team in the state.

Just at a loss for words. Lost a teammate from one of the greatest teams in Prep history today. Rest Easy Cooney pic.twitter.com/xzjJBAKO9F

-- Drew Casey (@Drew__Casey) April 10, 2017

Cooney, who graduated in 2015, excelled in the classroom and was a member of the National Honor Society.

"He was very much a team player on the field and in the classroom -- a stalwart student, in the top of the class," said teacher Dom Scibilia, who had Cooney in classes in Cooney's sophomore and junior years. 

"He's one of those students you remember."

Scibilia called Cooney "a quiet leader. He was a center of influence. He could bring groups of students together and help them focus and stay on task."

In July 2016, Prep hockey and rugby player Jeffrey Hoens died while open diving and spear fishing in the Shark River Inlet in Avon-by-the-Sea. 

Montclair's Fresco da Franco will featured on a new series in which restaurateurs hope to improve their Yelp rating

The Food Network is debuting "Help My Yelp," its own version of "Kitchen Nightmares" on Monday (think sneering Yelp critics instead of shouty Gordon Ramsay), and will feature Montclair's Fresco da Franco on its May 15 episode. 

In the show, produced in conjunction with the crowdsourcing review website, host Monti Carlo brings six undercover Yelpers and hidden cameras to the targeted restaurant to identify problems with food and service, and then works with the owners to help. Later, she brings in another group of Yelp Elite Squad members to give their feedback on the (hopefully) improved restaurant. 

The worst Yelp reviews about Church Street's Fresco da Franco centers on slow and inattentive service, with some criticism for bland food and too-loud music. One man said he signed up on Yelp "just to rip this place a new one" for his lousy waiter, while another called it a combination of a copycat LuNello, the acclaimed Italian restaurant in Cedar Grove, and the Bada Bing, the strip club from "The Sopranos."

Owner Franco Porporino Jr. doesn't hold back on the site, either. He responded to several bad reviews by claiming they were from his competition setting up fake Yelp accounts, and directed prospective patrons to OpenTable, the reservation service that also offers customer reviews. He responded to another reviewer with an Elite designation by suggesting she would be better off at the Olive Garden: "Maybe Yelp will move you up one more notch from Elite to B------!"

On OpenTable, the restaurant does fare better, with a 4.2 rating out of five.  The Star-Ledger's restaurant reviewer Cody Kendall gave Fresco da Franco 2 1/2 stars out of four in 2015, praising the hearty fare, big portions and lively atmosphere but also noting the noise level and dinging the service. 

In the episode synopsis, the Food Network reveals that Porporino is resistant to Carlo's suggestions and even abandons the restaurant at one point, forcing Carlo to "come save the day." 

"Help My Yelp" airs Mondays at 10 p.m.

Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy or like her on Facebook. 

Prosecutors say the man also falsified records subpoenaed for a grand jury investigation in Ohio

A federal judge in Ohio has sentenced the co-owner of a New Jersey-based energy company to five years in prison for fraudulently claiming more than $7 million in tax credits meant to encourage the production of renewable fuels.

Malek Jalal, manager and co-owner of Newark-based Unity Fuels, previously pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio to charges of conspiracy and obstruction of justice under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, according to court records.

In a statement, federal prosecutors and the Internal Revenue Service said Jalal had worked with other conspirators to fraudulently claim tax credits for the same fuel multiple times. The group would buy fuel from a New York-based company, blend it with other fuels and then sell it back to the same company, according to prosecutors.

After Jalal received a subpoena from a federal grand jury in Ohio, authorities said, he modified or destroyed some of his records, and ordered an employee to fabricate others.

In addition to the 60-month prison term, U.S. District Judge James L. Graham in Columbus on Friday ordered Jalal, 52, to pay a $12,500 fine and $1,017,087 in restitution, prosecutors said.

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

Police said they arrested the man during a traffic stop Sunday in connection with a robbery reported in November 2016 at Lisa Court and Lorretto Street.

NEWARK -- City police on Sunday arrested a 19-year-old Orange man in connection with the armed robbery last fall of a woman who had planned to buy a cellphone from him.

Shyheim S. Clark. (Newark Department of Public Safety)
 

Shyheim S. Clark was arrested without incident by officers from the department's Special Enforcement Bureau following a traffic stop at the intersection of Morris and 14th avenues, Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose said in a statement.

Police said they obtained a warrant for Clark's arrest after he was identified as a suspect in a robbery reported around 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 11, 2016 at Lisa Court and Lorretto Street. The victim reported she had been robbed of her cash and belongings by a man she had agreed to buy a cellphone from.

Clark has been charged with robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, according to police.

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

The symphony handled the lighter fare on its weekend program better than the concert's main event.

A mix of old and new, familiar and obscure marked this weekend's light but diverting concerts given by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.

The program began with NJSO Music Director Xian Zhang leading the company premiere of Tan Dun's "Internet Symphony #1." Commissioned in 2008 by YouTube and Google, this four-movement piece (which under Zhang's baton ran a fleet five minutes) was assembled, rehearsed and premiered online -- but it works just fine in an old-fashioned concert hall.

It opens with a tremulous flutter of percussion -- including four "break gongs" (commonly known as hubcaps, or rims) -- and then hits its symphonic stride with a plaintive, Copland-esque horn melody. Allusions to famous classical works litter the score, like a riff on Beethoven's Eroica Symphony and a wave towards Wagner's Rhein motif from "The Ring." 

It tickles the ear, but no more -- it often sounds like the theme music television networks play during Olympic Broadcasts. But as the NJSO showed last month (when they provided the full, live soundtrack to the first Harry Potter film) they can play this type of light fare quite well. This was certainly the case on Sunday afternoon at NJPAC.

Next up in the program was another piece performed for the first time by the NJSO, Ralph Vaughan Williams' 1954 Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra. The soloist was NJSO's own Principal Tuba player, Derek Fenstermacher, who was seated to Zhang's right. The first movement began with Fenstermacher playing a smattering of low notes on his horn. It was pleasant but felt like the composer was having fun with a quirky instrument. 

It was in the second movement, though where quirky sounds became expressive music -- as if the class clown suddenly turned into a sincere suitor. Fenstermacher played the tuba in such a manner that you forgot the low notes that came before it (to say nothing of the instrument's ungainly size) and just heard the sweet melodies; it almost sounded as if they were emanating from a jazz sax. In this movement, Zhang smoothly melded these sounds with the orchestral passages -- and then whizzed through the third movement and its ascending and descending scales (and more super low notes that evoked a few chuckles in one tuba solo section.) 

Fenstermacher followed the concerto with a solo encore: a tuba arrangement of a Bach flute partida that was more interesting than stirring. Still, he earned a nice hand at curtain call for his efforts.

After intermission the hubcaps and tubas were gone, and the stage was set for two familiar, orchestral crowd-pleasers, "The Carnival of the Animals" by Camille Saint-Saens and Ravel's "Bolero." Two young pianists from the Curtis institute, Ying Li and Zitong Wang, were featured in the Saint-Saens piece -- and both played with accuracy and sparkling tones. 

The famous "Aquarium" vignette featured both of them, and combined with Zhang's effective conducting, the result was eerie and evocative. Other memorable moments were "The Elephant" section, which bassist Paul Harris played with aplomb, and "The Swan," played lovingly by the two pianists and NJSO cellist Jonathan Spitz.

The finale was the can't-miss "Bolero." And yet, despite its inherent energy and verve -- and a big ovation when it came to its crashing finale -- it was the least inspiring performance of the show.  Zhang whopped and whipped about on the podium (conducting without a score), but despite the big sounds created by the orchestra, the piece never clicked. An extended off-key run in the winds didn't help either, but mainly what was wrong was a missing connection, a certain vitality that just wasn't there. 

One year into her run as Music Director, Zhang is still finding her voice and the orchestra's voice. The carnal and corybantic "Bolero" is a piece that will be interesting to hear the NJSO play again a few years into her tenure.

New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

Ravel's "Balero"

April 9, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark

James C. Taylor can be reached writejamesctaylor@gmail.com. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.