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N.J. running icon Tom Fleming remembered as committed, passionate mentor and coach

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A two-time winner of the NYC Marathon, Fleming was a coach at Montclair Kimberley and mentor to everyone.

Hall of Fame marathon runner Tom Fleming, a two-time winner of the New York City Marathon, was as accomplished as anyone in the sport but always knew there was room for improvement.

That philosophy became the foundation for Fleming’s passion as an athlete and lifelong commitment to coaching, sharing his knowledge with generations of student-athletes.

As news continues to spread that Fleming, 65, suffered a fatal heart attack Wednesday evening while coaching Montclair Kimberley during a three-team meet in Verona, those close to Fleming remember him as a man of the sport.


RELATED: N.J. running icon Tom Fleming dies while coaching at track meet


“His life was the sport,” said Paul Williams, who coached Fleming at Bloomfield High School in the late 1960s. “He shared that with anybody and everybody that asked him. He didn’t just coach Montclair Kimberley. He coached anybody that came to him.

“I have children of my own, and sometimes as a coach you get close to the kids on the team. When one of them passes away like this, it’s almost like losing one of your own children.”

Fleming’s running career began in 1968 as a junior in high school when he joined the spring track team and “blossomed” when he gave up soccer to run cross-country the following fall, said Williams, 80.

That fall, Fleming helped the Bloomfield cross-country team win the NJSIAA Group 4 title.

“He believed in LSD,” Williams joked. “Long, slow distance running. That was his method for getting as good as he did.”

Fleming would go onto become a four-time NCAA All-American at William Paterson before launching a storied professional career as a marathoner.

As a senior in college in 1973, Fleming earned his first of two second-place finishes in the Boston Marathon. The next year, he won the New York City Marathon and added his second title in 1975. In 1976, Fleming was sixth at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Fleming also won the 26.2-mile race in Cleveland, Washington D.C., Toronto and Los Angeles and added three titles at the Jersey Shore Marathon. He was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in 2013.

“We lost a living legend right here in Essex County,” said former Columbia High and current Bloomfield College coach Lisa Morgan. “It’s so heartbreaking. He had so much knowledge and experience to offer the kids. It’s sad to say he went out doing what he loved, at a track meet.”

Newark Central coach Bruce Berry also remembered Fleming’s love for the sport.

“Every time I think about it, I get teary-eyed,” Berry said. “He was passionate about track and field period. He was passionate about the kids and passing on his knowledge. The guy was fortunate enough to win a whole bunch of marathons, and be recognized worldwide, and would say ‘that means nothing to me, I want these kids to have it.’”

Berry was at the meet Wednesday when Fleming collapsed. Berry said Fleming mentioned he felt ill, but that he was “the same old Tom.”

“We were chomping it up, laughing and joking,” Berry said. “Just a great guy.”

Fleming was a fourth grade teacher at Montclair Kimberley. The school’s headmaster Tom Nammack said in a release that Fleming was a “an extraordinary teacher, mentor, coach and colleague, whose legacy of excellence will make us better people and strengthen our community and school”.

Montlcair Kimberley athletic director Todd Smith added that Fleming’s “love for his sport, love for his athletes and love for teaching the next generation of runners was truly remarkable.”

Fleming was once quoted as saying “somewhere, someone in the world is training when you are not. When you race him, he will win”.

Pat Lanni may be reached at planni@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatLanniHS. Like NJ.com High School Sports on Facebook.


Celebrating one of Newark's own, a living jazz legend, at NJPAC

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Wayne Shorter, still going strong at 83, will also perform during the weekend of events in his honor.

Living jazz legend  Wayne Shorter has been called many things during his 60+ year career,  but one has to wonder if anyone's compared him to a diety, as virtuoso Christian McBride did recently. 

"He's like a real-life Buddha. Being around Wayne, you get so much inspiration from him, even without hearing him play," McBride said. "As a jazz musician, I think I can speak for many of us when I say Wayne has been a source of inspiration."

Shorter, a Newark native, will be honored there during a multi-day celebration dubbed "the Wayne Shorter Weekend." McBride, the jazz advisor to New Jersey Performing Arts Center, is one of the artists scheduled to appear there, as are Wallace Roney and his orchestra, Esperanza Spalding, Steve Wilson and Omar Hakim. Shorter, 83,  and his eponymous quartet, joined by Herbie Hancock, will close out the festival Sunday

"NJPAC has some barn-burning shows this weekend," McBride said. "I'm so excited to be part of it."

Shorter, a graduate of Newark Arts High School, began his professional career more than six decades ago and shows no sign of slowing down. He played with Art Blakey in the 1950s, joined Miles Davis in the 1960s, then began leading his own band, Weather Report, in the 1970s. As a solo artist, he's collaborated with Joni Mitchell, appearing on 10 of her studio albums; toured with Carlos Santana; and taken home 10 Grammy Awards, including 1997's Best Contemporary Jazz album honors for "High Life." 

Shorter's skills as a musician are well-known -- he plays both soprano and tenor saxophone. In 2008, The New York Times referred to Shorter as "a contender for greatest living improviser."

But it's Shorter's gift for song writing that will assure his star never fades. Some of the prolific composer's works are already jazz standards, like "JuJu," "E.S.P." and "Footprints." 

"Wayne Shorter has written so many great songs it's not even fair. Everything the man writes is a masterpiece. We all want to be like that," McBride said. "There's never been any fluff in Wayne's music. Every song he's ever written has been killin'"

Perhaps even more impressive is how Shorter continues to create new music. His most recent work is 2016's  "The Unfolding,"  co-commissioned by the Kennedy Center and the Monterey Jazz Festival among others. Christopher Heacox, director of Opening Nights Performing Arts at Florida State University, told The Tallahassee Democrat  that Shorter's "sense of melody is extraordinary."

"Be it an improvisation or a composition, he is a storyteller. That at 83 years old, he continues to create new compositions -- and tour -- is truly a testament to his commitment to the art form and his life's journey," Heacox said.

Shorter plans to keep telling stories, new stories, stories that are hard to imagine. As he told NPR in 2013, "Jazz shouldn't have any mandates. Jazz is not supposed to be something that's required to sound like jazz. For me, the word 'jazz" means 'I dare you.'"

Wayne Shorter Weekend

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

One Center St., Newark. 888-GO-NJPAC.

Through April 23. See www.njpac.org for tickets and times.

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. 

Brand new NJSIAA transfer rule shot down by acting Commissioner of Education

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The stunning decision forces New Jersey back to square one to solve on of the most complex issues plaguing the state.

Acting Commissioner of Education Kimberley Harrington has overturned the state’s new transfer rule, sending New Jersey high school sports back to square one as it seeks to solve a complex issue plaguing the state.

The new transfer rule had been resoundingly approved less than three months ago by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Executive Committee and was set to go into place July 1, in time for the 2017-18 school year.

Harrington’s reversal of the rule reverts New Jersey high school sports back to the old transfer rule, which requires athletes to sit out 30 days of competition unless they have a “bona fide change of residence.”

“While the NJSIAA Executive Committee was eager to have a more enforceable transfer rule, the association remains encouraged and looks forward to working with the Commissioner of Education to develop a solution that discourages transfers for athletic advantage,” NJSIAA Executive Director Steve Timko said in a statement. “Our hope is to meet with the Commissioner as soon as possible to address this important issue.”

The new rule was three-pronged: It required all athletes that transfer schools to sit out 30 days or half the games allowed for each sport in which they participated the previous year at the prior school; athletes who transfer on or after the first scrimmage or after the regular season start date to be barred from state tournament play, in addition to incurring the mandatory 30-day or half the season sitting out period; and all athletes who transfer more than once to be barred from state tournament play, while also incurring the mandatory 30-day or half the season sitting out period.

The intention of the new rule was to deter high profile athletes from hopscotching from team to team in search of the best fit — an issue that has plagued New Jersey for years and is only getting worse, according to coaches.

Harrington’s stunning reversal marks the second time in less than two years the state has stepped in and reversed changes put into place by the NJSIAA. In one of the most significant decisions ever in New Jersey high school sports, former State Commissioner of Education David Hespe ruled in December 2015 to reverse a pair of votes separating public and non-public schools in football and wrestling for the first time in state history. 

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

N.J. grandpa at risk of deportation 'very happy' to get relief from ICE

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Catalino Guerrero, an undocumented immigrant who is fighting his deportation, received a temporary stay of removal but was asked to come with his wife. Watch video

NEWARK -- The Union City grandfather who amassed support from senators and the Archbishop of Newark as he fought his deportation, officially received paperwork on Thursday that allows him to stay in the country for at least one year.

"The pressure continues but when they gave me this news, I felt very content, very happy," Catalino Guerrero, 59, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, said in Spanish. 

Guerrero, however, had expressed concern that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement this week asked his wife, Margarita Onefre, who is also undocumented, to start checking in with the agency periodically. 

Catalino.jpegCatalino Guerrero heads to his meeting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday. He received a one-year stay of removal but his wife, Margarita Onefre, was also asked to begin checking in with the agency. (Karen Yi | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Guerrero and Onefre, of Union City, met with ICE officials on Thursday, spending nearly three hours inside the Peter Rodino Federal Building as their family and supportive clergy members waited outside. 

"I've never been in this" situation, Onefre told NJ Advance Media before her ICE meeting. "It's my turn." 

"I think it's because I'm the famous one's wife," she added with a smile, referring to the media attention her husband's case has received. 

Cesar Martin Estela, the lawyer representing the couple, said it's unclear why Onefre was asked to appear before ICE this week when Guerrero has been fighting his case since at least 2011.

"It's nothing worrying in a sense," Estela said. He said Onefre was asked to check-in with ICE again in July and Guerrero will return in October.

The two are applying for a U-Visa that gives undocumented immigrants who have been victims of a crime and cooperate with police a path toward legal residency. Guerrero and his wife were victims of a home invasion in 2007.

"Because there is relief from removal, (Onefre) is going to be able to do it with a sense of calmness, she can present that argument to the immigration judge as to why she shouldn't be removed and hopefully we'll get this resolved soon," Estela said. 

After Guerrero emerged from his ICE meeting, three of Guerrero's granddaughters ran up to him, hugging and kissing him before embracing Onefre. 

"The fear right now was the first appointment," Guerrero said of his wife's case as he leaned against a cane. But he said he felt relieved and optimistic about their situation. 

"I don't know where I get the strength from but I wasn't worried," Onefre added. 

Faith in New Jersey, a multi-faith social justice group, has been organizing vigils for Guerrero and feared that new policies under the Trump Administration could lead to his deportation. 

Under what advocates have said was bad legal advice, Guerreo filed for asylum in 1992. His case was denied and in 2009 he was ordered deported. He was arrested by ICE in 2011 and granted a stay of removal and an order of supervision due to his poor health.

"What Catalino is to us, he's symbolic of what's happening around the country," said Richard Morales, immigration policy director for PICO National Network, a network of faith-based groups. "He's a long-term resident, he's a person of faith, he's a person that has many ties to the U.S. and yet he's under a threat of deportation."

Morales said the new administration has widened the net of who is targeted for deportation to include those who are not criminals or "bad hombres." 

"They are going to continue looking for as many people as possible to get them into the system," Morales said.

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

Cops search for 2 suspects in armed robbed of grocery store

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City police are asking for the public's help to identify two suspects involved in a robbery at Exito Fresh Market Wednesday night.

NEWARK -- Authorities are searching for a man and a woman who robbed Exito Fresh Market in Newark Wednesday night. 

The duo entered the store, located at 341 Montclair Avenue, around 7:50 p.m. and took money from the cash registers, Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose said.

The man, who is described as 6-feet tall, weighing 140 pounds, was armed with a rifle or shotgun and wore a blue bandana around his face, a blue hooded jacket and jeans. The woman was about 5-feet, 7-inches and weighed about 180 pounds. She was wearing a red hooded jacket and jeans, police said. 

Anyone with information can call the Crime Stopper tip line 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

2 charged with DWI within 15 minutes at Lincoln Tunnel

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Two men were charged with DWIs within 15 minutes of each other as they drove near the Lincoln Tunnel on Wednesday, police said.

WEEHAWKEN -- Two men were charged with DWI within 15 minutes of each other as they drove near the Lincoln Tunnel on Wednesday, police said.

Port Authority police said Eddie Quiles Maldonado, 19, of Bellville, was driving eastbound at the Lincoln Tunnel toll plaza around 4:35 p.m. when officers pulled him over for illegally tinted windows.

Before he stopped, the car hit a traffic cone, Port Authority police said. Maldonado told police he had smoked marijuana and was unsteady on his feet when he got out of the car, authorities said.

Maldonado failed a sobriety test and was found with some marijuana in his car, police said. He was charged with drug possession and a DWI. 

Fifteen minutes later, Oshane P. McKenzie, 23, of Brooklyn, was also charged with DWI as he drove along the Lincoln Tunnel toll plaza, Port Authority police said.

Police said McKenzie was driving a car with a rear license plate that was unreadable. When they pulled him over, the car struck two traffic cones, police said. McKenzie late failed a sobriety test and was arrested, police said. 

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

HS baseball's season stats leaders through April 19

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NJ.com looks at the statewide baseball statistical leaders for games played through April 19, 2017

N.J.'s median teacher salary is up; see what every district pays

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The median teacher salary in one district is more than $100,000.

TRENTON -- The median salary among New Jersey teachers is $66,117 this school year, about a 2.4 percent increase from last year, according to new state data. 

The statistic reflects a wide range of teacher salaries that vary from district to district based on regional cost of living, grade levels offered in the district, faculty experience and other factors. 

Northern Valley, a regional high school district in an affluent part of Bergen County, has the highest median teacher salary, $105,650. That's more than twice the $43,911 median salary in East Newark Borough, a tiny K-8 district in a low-income area. 

Use the tool at the bottom of this story to lookup any district or charter school and compare it to other districts. 

The data was released Thursday as part of the state's annual Taxpayers Guide to Education Spending, an overview of how every district spends taxpayer money. It includes information on revenue sources, per-pupil spending and administrative costs, among other categories. 

Unlike superintendent pay, New Jersey has no restrictions on teachers' salaries. The median salary is the figure that splits the middle of the payroll, meaning that half of the teachers in a district make more than that number and the other half make less. 

A district's median salary can be a volatile statistic. A rash of retirements, mass layoffs or an influx of new teachers can lead to a district seeing a large swing up or down in median teacher salary in any given year. 

Some districts saw their median salary rise or fall by more than $10,000 this year. 

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Carla Astudillo may be reached at castudillo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @carla_astudi. Find her on Facebook.

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

 

'Larger than life' running icon Tom Fleming mourned throughout N.J.

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A two-time winner of the NYC Marathon, Fleming was a coach at Montclair Kimberley and mentor to everyone.

State group cross country championshipsDrew Crichlow of Montclair Kimberley places first in the non public boys group B race at the state group cross-country championships at Holmdel Park in Holmdel, NJ 11/15/14 (Amanda Marzullo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) 

A dozen people in Newark sickened by synthetic marijuana

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Police are investigating to determine who supplied the drug, also known as K2

NEWARK -- Police are investigating after several people Thursday were hospitalized  as a result of ingesting synthetic marijuana, Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said.

Officers responded to Railroad Avenue around 7:30 p.m. on a call of someone foaming at the mouth. Police located a total of 12 people exhibiting similar symptoms, and all the victims had taken the drug, also known as Spice or K2.

Synthetic drug 'Pink' more potent than heroin 

Police are trying to identify the source of the K2. Anyone with information about this incident 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 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.  

 

 

Men and their hats: When do you remove your chapeau?

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Gentleman, the etiquette tenet of removing your should not lose its noble luster.

A man and his hat are just about inseparable.

Right, fellas?

We wear stylish felt and straw fedoras, or fashionable newsboy, longshoreman and Gatsby caps.

It's our signature, but it begs this question:

Gentlemen, when do you remove your chapeau?

Is it when you greet a lady, as I once was politely asked to do in my early 20s?

MORE: Recent Barry Carter columns  

Do you keep it on at a concert, at dinner or when you enter someone's home?

What about church and other places of worship?

As the spring weather calibrates, hat-wearing men I met at Dan's Hats & Caps in Newark offered their thoughts on this etiquette tenet that shouldn't lose its noble luster.

Wesley Miller, 44, of Jersey City, said his mother and grandmother always made sure that he removed his hat under any circumstance.

"They would have a fit,'' said Miller, if he didn't take it off. "When you are under a roof, you've got to remove your hat. It shows your appreciation for having shelter."

That kind of reminds me of an old saying that - when standing in someone's home, because the roof doesn't have any leaks, be respectful and take off your hat.

Most men agree with this inside rule, but only to a point.

On official business, the men at Dan's said, the hat stays on in government buildings until they reach the office they came to visit. At the dinner table, even at home, most of the men said the hat comes off, too.

"I think every man has to be his own gentleman,'' said Dennis Mosley, 66, of Newark.

Marc Donnadio, 42, of Plainfield, concurs with that sentiment. He entertains a lot, he says, and wears his cap at home when he's cooking Italian cuisine or sipping wine while mingling with guests.

It's part of his outfit, he says, and that makes him feel comfortable as the host, giving himself a bit of flair for the evening.

Okay, then what about nightclubs?

Vernest Moore, a Newark designer and stylist, said back in the day it was acceptable for that generation of men, in the 1950s, to sport their hats in clubs and speakeasies.

"It was part of their style, their look and their makeup,'' said Moore, who has been designing men and women's clothing for 35 years. "As time went on, we kind of got out of that because we find it to be inappropriate.''

For some men, though, the quality of the club or venue dictates whether or not to remove their hat.

"If it's elite, you can check your hat, but if you can't check your hat, you shouldn't take it off,'' said Mr. Drake, a Newark resident, who identifies himself this way.

"Say that again,'' said Dan Phillips II, owner of Dan's Hat.

Phillips lives by that hat check rule when going out. If there's no hat check, the hat stays on.

With the exception of church, funerals and someone's home, you'll always see Phillips with a cap. You'd think it was sewn into his scalp. It's on so much, he said, people wrongly think he's trying to hide a bald head.

"I want to wear my hat everywhere,'' he said. "When I go, mine better be on in my casket.''

So let's go to that place.  Yes, I mean the funeral home.

Robert Kelly, 72, of Orange, shakes his head with disgust. He had just come from a funeral on Saturday, where, he said,  some men - of all ages - did not remove their hats in the funeral home.

"Some people just don't care,'' Kelly said. "They're going to keep their hat on.''

It's a troubling sign that Moore has also begun to see at churches.

"For some reason in the church sector, brothers are thinking it's okay to keep their hats and caps on,'' he said.  "When are we going to let protocol be protocol and stop giving in to a fad or a whim?''

In less formal settings, the men said, they want to be relaxed and wear their hats at events such as a comedy show or concert.  It's their time to show off the ensemble they've meticulously put together and topped with a nice brim.

"When you wear your hat, that's a statement,'' said Keith Frazier of Newark. "It says 'This is who I am.' You want to be seen in your hat.''

The fellas, however, say they do make one mannerly exception. They don't want to be rude, so they will remove their hats during a show if it's obstructing someone's view.

"Especially if it's a lady behind you,'' said Yusuf Mutakabbir of Newark.

"I'll remove my hat, but not for long or I'll have to move from that spot so I can put my hat back on.''

That's how much he loves his head gear. He doesn't do anything without it. In fact, he says, a hat to him is just as personable as a purse is to a woman. The only hat he doesn't remove is the kufi he wears during prayer at the masjid.

MORE CARTER: Newark condo owners prevail - for now - against affordable housing development

Decorum is a way of life for Rashon Hasan, 32, of Newark, who is teaching his son, Jordan, 6, how to conduct himself.

"I want to say something,'' said Jordan as his father was talking to me in the hat store.

"Every time you're in a building, take off your hat,'' he said.

And one day, he'll most likely tip his hat in the same manner as his dad, who displays the gentleman gesture when opening doors for elder women. 

"It (the hat) is an extension of who we are, and they represent our style and our culture,'' Hasan said. "I think having something on top of my head is always a constant reminder that there is someone or something above me as a man, which is God.''

For me, it's pretty much a habit to rest my hat.

It's an old-school trait, but I forgot my manners at the Whiting Auditorium in Flint, Mich. in the late 1980s. The lady I mentioned earlier kindly spoke to me about civility after her poetry reading.

"Would you please remove your hat when you greet me,'' she said, smiling politely.

It wasn't a problem.

That lady was the late Maya Angelou.

Barry Carter: (973) 836-4925 or bcarter@starledger.com or http://connect.nj.com/user/bcarter/posts.html or follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL

Man shot in Newark parking lot has died

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The shooting took place across the street from a Mulberry Street club

NEWARK -- A man shot in the head in a parking lot across the street from a Newark nightclub early Friday died this morning, authorities said. 

A large group of people left The Boulevard club on Mulberry Street before the 2:30 a.m. shooting, ABC-7 reported. 

No arrest have been made. The victim, whose identity was not disclosed pending notification of his family, was taken to University Hospital where he was pronounced dead Friday morning. 

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

 

 

Compare what your district spends per-pupil versus any other district

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Some districts spend twice as much per student as others.

TRENTON -- The average cost of educating a public school student in New Jersey eclipsed $20,000 a year for the first time in 2015-16, according to new state data. 

The state's school districts and charter schools spent an average of $20,385 per student last school year, a 3.8 percent increase from 2014-15, according to total per-pupil spending data released by the state Department of Education. 

Included in the total cost are pension payments the state makes on behalf of school districts and tuition and fees districts paid to send students to other schools, including expensive programs for special education students.

Every N.J. district's median teacher salary

The average spending figure captures the middle ground in a state where some districts spend twice as much as others. Use the tool at the bottom of this story to see how much your district or charter school spent and compare it to any other district in the state.

Data was released as part of the state's annual Taxpayers Guide to Education Spending, an overview of how every district spends taxpayer money. It includes information on revenue sources, median teacher salaries and administrative costs, among other categories. 

Special services districts operated by each county to serve special education students top the list of the highest spenders while charter schools primarily occupy the bottom of the list.

Among traditional school districts, Avalon School District, a tiny shore district with about 75 students, spent the most per student, $60,129. 

Guttenberg Public School District, a K-8 district in Bergen County, spent the least, $14,422.

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Carla Astudillo may be reached at castudillo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @carla_astudi. Find her on Facebook.

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

 

FIV-positive kitten needs a home

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WEST ORANGE -- Amelia is an 11-month-old FIV-positive kitten in the care of West Orange Trap Neuter Vaccinate and Return. Veterinary professionals point out that FIV cats typically live long lives with few symptoms and can only infect other cats through a deep wound. Volunteers describe Amelia as a typical kitten -- playful and affectionate. She has been spayed and...

ex0423pet.jpgAmelia 

WEST ORANGE -- Amelia is an 11-month-old FIV-positive kitten in the care of West Orange Trap Neuter Vaccinate and Return.

Veterinary professionals point out that FIV cats typically live long lives with few symptoms and can only infect other cats through a deep wound.

Volunteers describe Amelia as a typical kitten -- playful and affectionate. She has been spayed and is up-to-date on shots.

For more information on Amelia and other adoptable felines, email wotnvr@gmail.com or go to wotnvr.petfinder.com.

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

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

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Ruling throws curveball in Newark's dispute with custodial company

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An appellate ruling has placed a hold on Newark's bidding processes for janitorial services.

NEWARK - Newark should be blocked from seeking bids for a custodial contract to clean the city's 48 buildings while a months-long legal battle with its current contractor remains pending, an appeals court ruled this week.

The Appellate Division ruling overturned a decision last year denying United Services Incorporated's request for an injunction against Newark to block new bids.

"That portion of the December 16, 2016 order denying USI's application for a preliminary injunction against Newark is reversed," the judges wrote in their decision. "(Our Jan. 31) order enjoining Newark from making any award of the contract is continued until resolution of the underlying complaint," they said, remanding the case back to trial court.

USI, which has been contracted to clean the city-owned buildings since 2008, sued the city in July, claiming the city unfairly rigged its bidding processes to exclude the company from getting the job.

In September, a judge issued a restraining order barring the city from rebidding the contract. The ban was lifted by the December ruling, but reinstated as a result of this appeal.

106-year-old former HS gets $99M facelift

"We are happy that the Appellate Division is providing USI with the opportunity to prove that Newark improperly rejected its bid for janitorial services while maintaining the status quo," USI's attorney Gabriel Halpern said in a statement.

"USI's bid would have saved the taxpayers of Newark more than a million dollars per year as compared to the next lowest bidder. USI intends to demonstrate that Newark had ulterior motivations when it improperly rejected USI's bid."

The dispute started in March 2016, when the city advertised for bids to clean its buildings.

Though USI submitted the lowest bid, the city rejected all of the bids, and instead revised the specifications.

USI has argued that the process was unfair, saying, among other things, that the city rigged the bidding process to choose companies with workers who are members of the Local 32BJ union, a political supporter of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.

A city spokeswoman declined to comment on the allegations, citing pending litigation. Though not a party to the lawsuit, the union has denied the implication that the organization played a role in the ongoing battle.

USI continues to provide janitorial services in Newark buildings.

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

 

A 4-HR week, plus more hot teams, hot players and hot topics in N.J. baseball

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Highlighting some of the best performances from around the state.

Who are the 17 undefeated softball teams left in New Jersey?

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These high school teams have yet to lose a game.

Glimpse of History: In Anderson Park a century ago

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MONTCLAIR -- Annie Anderson Clark of Montclair is shown with her children, Betty and Guy Jr. in this photo from 1914. Annie's father, Charles Anderson, donated the land for what is now Anderson Park, the first park in the Essex County Park Commission system. Betty grew up to be the first female member of the Montclair Township Commission. If you...

MONTCLAIR -- Annie Anderson Clark of Montclair is shown with her children, Betty and Guy Jr. in this photo from 1914.

Annie's father, Charles Anderson, donated the land for what is now Anderson Park, the first park in the Essex County Park Commission system.

Betty grew up to be the first female member of the Montclair Township Commission.

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 on nj.com.

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

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Lawyers want to ask potential Menendez trial jurors if they voted for him

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Robert Menendez, a Democrat, was charged in 2015 with fraud, bribery and conspiracy.

NEWARK -- Lawyers are arguing over whether prospective jurors in the corruption trial of New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez can be asked if they voted for him and what they feel about his stance on issues like the Iran nuclear deal.

Attorneys argued in court Friday about the juror questionnaire. Menendez didn't attend.

He is scheduled to go on trial Sept. 6.

Menendez, a Democrat, was charged in 2015 with fraud, bribery and conspiracy.

Prosecutors say he took official action on behalf of Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen, who had given him gifts and campaign donations including a Paris vacation.

Menendez has contended his actions were protected under a constitutional clause shielding lawmakers when they conduct normal legislative duties.

Melgen is on trial in Florida for Medicare fraud in a separate case.

Victim in Newark fatal shooting is identified, cops say

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William Porter, 23, was shot in a parking lot around 2:30 a.m.

NEWARK -- The victim in Friday morning's fatal shooting is a 23-year-old city man, authorities said.

William Porter was shot around 2:30 a.m. on Oliver Street, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release.

The shooting took place in a parking lot across the street from The Boulevard lounge on Mulberry Street, WABC-7 said.

Porter was taken to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:46 a.m. No arrests have been made, though the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the prosecutor's office tip line at 1-877-847-7432.

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

 

 

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