Authorities say the men were involved in 2 unrelated shootings.

Hutson and Robinson. (Courtesy Newark Police)
 

NEWARK -- Police are asking for help locating two men wanted in unrelated city shootings.

Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose announced Friday a warrant has been issued for Hassan Hutson, 32, of Newark, in the May 5 shooting of a 36-year-old man. Police said Hutson allegedly shot the man at about 9 p.m. in the 700 block of South 19th Street. The man was treated at University Hospital for non life threatening injuries and released, police said.

The second man, 22-year-old Marquise Robinson, of East Orange, is wanted in an unrelated May 7 shooting on the 300 block of North 6th Street, police said. No one was hit in that shooting, police said.

Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call 877-695-8477 or 877-695-4867.

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

Newark resident was set to attend Rutgers graduation ceremony next week.

LINDEN -- A motorist was charged in the early Friday hit-and-run death of a Rutgers University graduate, who was killed in Linden days before he was set to accept his degree at the school's commencement, officials said. 

Eduardo Perez, 33, of Elizabeth, was charged with death by auto and leaving the scene of a fatal accident in the pedestrian crash that killed 23-year-old Mujahid Henry, of Newark, Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park and Linden Police Chief Jonathan Parham said in a statement.

Police rushed to the 1200 block of East Linden Avenue around 12:30 a.m. after receiving a report of vehicle crash, according to authorities.

A 2007 Ford Escape heading eastbound on the street hit Henry, throwing him into a parked car, the prosecutor's office said. He died at the scene.

Perez fled the crash and abandoned the Ford on the 700 block of Lidgerwood Avenue after he crashed into several parked cars, according to the prosecutor's office. Elizabeth police found Perez minutes after the crash and he was arrested.

Pedestrian struck, killed by car in Linden, cops say

Nancy Cantor, chancellor of the Rutgers University Newark campus, said Henry earned his bachelor's degree in January from the School of Public Affairs and Administration.

Cantor described Henry as "beloved and admired by student peers, faculty, and staff alike."

He transferred to Rutgers after attending Essex County College in Newark, Cantor said in a message to students and staff.

"Undoubtedly a star on the rise, he was characteristically hard-working, aspiring to earn a graduate degree and go into politics, amazing all around him with the energy that enabled him to be such a success in college while holding down two jobs and volunteering in support of local public officials," Cantor added.

Henry was going to officially receive his degree next week at the school's graduation ceremony.

"Losing a member of our community is a shock, but it is especially difficult to lose someone on the cusp of entering a new era in life," the chancellor said.

Meanwhile, authorities said the investigation was ongoing and urged anyone with information to contact Linden Police Department Investigator Ian Conk at 908-474-8505.

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

The 15-mile community ride through Elizabeth is one of the city's most popular annual events.

ELIZABETH -- As bikers in Elizabeth's annual 15-mile ride weave through the city streets this month, they'll be greeted by nearly 100 local musicians blaring upbeat music and waving signs.

Riders in the Tour de Elizabeth will meet high school students and professional musicians alike at the "Sounds of our City" themed event on May 21.

Elizabeth Police Detective Paul Pasternak, one of the ride's organizers, got the idea for the "Sounds of our City" theme from participating in races, like the New York City Marathon, where cheer sections are spread across the course. He decide to adapt that concept for the Tour de Elizabeth to involve music, instead of cheering.

"It's a good jolt as you're riding by and you hear a band playing," Pasternak said Wednesday, before he and the ride's other organizers took off on a test run.

The organizers expect anywhere from 600 to 1,000 people to participate this year, and Phillips said the weather on the day of the ride usually strongly affects the final tally. 

The ride starts at City Hall and makes a seven-and-a-half mile loop through the city's southern portion, traveling along Broad Street, along the Elizabeth River, down to the marina in Elizabethport and back to City Hall. 

The second half of the ride veers around the northern half of Elizabeth, through the Elmora neighborhood, to Warinanco Park and again to City Hall. 

Bikers can bail out at the halfway mark if they need to stop, and an ambulance serving as a "sag wagon" will follow the riders in case anyone has an emergency. 

"We want to make cycling fun," said Jonathan Phillips, executive director of Groundwork Elizabeth, which leads the event. "It allows (bikers) to see things that if you're riding in a car or even walking, you can't see." 

Roughly 60 percent of Tour de Elizabeth participants come from other municipalities, and the event is partly meant to show off the city, Phillips said. Pasternak said former residents of Elizabeth often return for the bike ride. 

Streets will be closed on a rolling basis to keep the city as navigable as possible.

Sign-in on Sunday, May 21, starts at 7:30 a.m., and the ride kicks off at 9 a.m.

Participants can sign up at groundworkelizabeth.org or at elizabethnj.org. The cost is $22.50, plus a service fee, in advance or $27.50 on the day of the ride. 

The first 500 registrants will get a cap, a T-shirt and a raffle ticket for post-ride drawings.

People of all ages can participate, as long as they can keep a pace of 10 miles per hour and ride 15 miles. Helmets are required.

Some of the proceeds from the event will benefit Groundwork Elizabeth, a nonprofit organization that seeks to preserve the city's physical space.

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

The driver stopped in the northbound lanes, got out of the car and crossed into the southbound lanes of the Garden State Parkway, authorities said

IRVINGTON -- A person who abandoned a stolen car on the Garden State Parkway was killed after trying to cross the highway in Irvington early Saturday morning, authorities said.

The pedestrian, who was not yet identified, had been driving a Nissan northbound on the parkway then stopped in the center lane, said Sgt. Jeff Flynn, a New Jersey State Police spokesman.

After getting out of the car, the driver crossed the barrier into the southbound lanes at mile marker 144.7 and was hit by a 2017 Subaru Forester traveling in the left lane at 1:50 a.m., Flynn said.  

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, Flynn said.

He said the Nissan had been carjacked out of Elizabeth.

Flynn did not have an identification of the victim, nor did he know the gender.

He said it was not immediately clear whether the victim was involved in the carjacking.

No charges have been filed against the driver of the Subaru, he said.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Mujahid Henry was a legislative aide to Essex County Freeholder Leonard Luciano and worked on Phil Murphy's gubernatorial campaign.

NEWARK -- The 23-year-old from Newark who was killed in a hit-and-run Friday was active in local and statewide politics and had a "passion to make the world a better place."

Mujahid Henry 

Mujahid Henry worked as a legislative aide to Essex County Freeholder Leonard Luciano and was active in Phil Murphy's gubernatorial campaign.

"The Murphy team mourns the loss of a friend and team member, Mujahid Henry, who was killed in a hit-and-run car accident last night at the age of 23," Murphy's campaign said in a statement on Facebook Saturday morning.

"Mujahid, or 'Mu' as he was known to friends, was a bright, outstanding worker who was looking forward to utilizing his college degree to make a difference in his community," the statement said.

Henry's Twitter feed was full of positive and inspiration quotes, often referring to prayer, forgiveness and god.  

Spread kindness in whatever possible. Remember it's a form of charity. Whatever you do will come back to you in some way, somehow, some day.

-- Mujahid Henry (@mujahidhenry) December 5, 2016

"Mu, we will miss you every day. We will always remember your infectious joy, and your passion to make the world a better place," the statement said. "The entire Murphy team honors the memory of Mujahid 'Mu' Henry. May he rest in peace."

Henry died just days before he was set to receive his diploma from Rutgers University, where he studied Public Affairs and Administration. He graduated in January. 

Nancy Cantor, chancellor of the Rutgers University Newark campus, described Henry as a "hard-working, aspiring" student who appeared to be "a star on the rise."

Cantor had said the Rutgers grad looked to use his degree to get into politics. 

Police have charged Eduardo Perez, 33, of Elizabeth, with death by auto and leaving the scene of a fatal accident in the death of Henry.

The crash happened on the 1200 block of East Linden Avenue in Linden around 12:30 a.m Friday, according to officials. 

Perez hit Henry, throwing him into a parked car, and fled, Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park said in a statement. Perez crashed into several parked cars as he drove away and eventually abandoned his 2007 Ford Escape, prosecutor's office said.

He was arrested minutes later, police said. 

Henry was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Authorities are still investigating the crash. Anyone with information can call Linden Police Department Investigator Ian Conk at 908-474-8505.

NJ Advance Media reporter Noah Cohen contributed to this report. 

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

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The shooting happened near South Arlington and Linden avenues, a city spokeswoman said.

EAST ORANGE -- A man was shot in East Orange on Friday and treated for non-life threatening injuries, a city spokeswoman said.

The shooting occurred around 8:50 p.m. near South Arlington and Linden avenues, the spokeswoman said. 

The victim was treated at University Hospital in Newark and released Friday night. 

East Orange Police ask anyone with information to call the tips line at 973-266-5041.

No other information was immediately available. 

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

No injuries reported.

A building at 45 Branford Place was in danger of collapsing, police said (Google Maps) 

NEWARK -- Two buildings in Newark were in danger of collapsing Saturday, leading officials to warn of road closures and ask people to avoid the areas.

Police closed the street in front of 45 Branford Place, where the vacant structure was considered unsafe and could come down.

Branford Place was blocked between Washington and Halsey streets Saturday afternoon.

A building at 33 Sherman Avenue was also in jeopardy of collapsing, according to authorities. Bricks had already fallen from the building. There were no reports of any injuries. 

Emergency crews and city engineering teams were at the scene.

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

After taking over East Orange General Hospital last year, a for-profit chain working to renovate the aging facility

EAST ORANGE -- As Otis Story walks the halls of the mid-renovation East Orange General Hospital, he beamed with pride at the progress.

"These are all upgrades," Story, the hospital's CEO, said as he pointed to a row of new rooms in the refurbished 2 West wing. "Little by little, we are taking areas that are not occupied, and upgrading them."

It's been a long journey for the hospital, which was saved from bankruptcy when the for-profit Prospect Medical Holdings bought it in 2016.

So far, Story said Prospect has spent nearly $10 million of a promised $52 million investment into improving the entire property.

It is in the midst of building a new psychiatric screening center and new treatment wings. It has also built a new bariatric center, and women's health center.

But, some at the hospital say the new management has been too slow to bring changes. And, an employee and former employee interviewed by NJ Advance Media said they felt the changes were merely cosmetic, calling renovations to the 91-year-old building "patchwork," as opposed to a true overhaul of the facility.  

And, the transition has not always been easy.

According to records from the city health department, two complaints of possible bed bugs were made at the hospital on Feb. 16 and March 3. An extermination was done on March 2, and bugs captured in the hospital were found not to be bed bugs, the records said. An inspection found the patient area "clean and orderly," it said.

Story said the hospital reported the suspected bugs to the  health department.

"Like many inner-city hospitals, East Orange General Hospital treats a significant homeless population that is frequently challenged by personal hygiene and cleanliness issues," Story said.

"Our routine process in such cases includes decontamination, disposal of the patient's clothes, and follow-up inspection by our pest control contractor. We also make sure all other patients are moved away from the area occupied by a patient whom we suspect may be contaminated."

Hospital works to improve as patients decry conditions

Most of the employees' complaints concentrated on the emergency room, which Story said will be renovated in May and June.

"Our goal is to improve the health status of this community," Story said.

He said Prospect plans not only making upgrades to the hospital, but also forge partnerships with other healthcare facilities in and around East Orange.

"We want to improve access. We don't have to do it all, but access is key," Story said.

But, some in the community have been discouraged by the pace of change. East Orange resident Donyale Harris complained to NJ Advance Media after a visit to the ER with her daughter earlier this year, calling the conditions "horrific" nearly a year after Prospect took over.

Story said the renovations take time as the company first had to assess the state of the building, choose and order millions of dollars worth of new equipment, and cordon off the sections of the hospital that are being renovated, moving patients to other areas.

"I don't think it could've happened any faster," he said.

For-profit chain buys bankrupt hospital

The most difficult area to renovate is the emergency room, which sees about 3,000 patients a day, Story said. It will be upgraded one section at a time, so the emergency room can operate through construction.

After a tour of the hospital at the end of March, East Orange Mayor Lester Taylor, who also serves as an advisory member to the hospital's board, urged patience during renovations.

Taylor said the hospital's new for-profit owner makes the property, formerly operated by a nonprofit, into a taxpayer. Though he said the exact tax rates and abatements were still being negotiated, the income the city will generate in taxes from the hospital will be significant.

In addition, he said the hospital is the largest private employer in East Orange with more than 800 employees.

"It's an old asset," Taylor said. "You have to rehabilitate it. ... But, the access to quality and affordable healthcare in an urban community, that contributes to the stabilization of taxes and creates jobs...these are all positive things."

Story said all of the renovations at the hospital should be done by next spring.

In the Bariatric Center's waiting room one March morning, patients said they liked what has been done so far.

"I think it's a very good hospital," said Daina Espinal, an Irvington woman who went to East Orange General for the first time this year when she started her bariatric program.

"Everybody's so nice."

Got a tip for NJ Advance Media to investigate? Send us your tips here.

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

Mikie Sherrill is one of two Democrats seeking to oust U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen in 2018

MONTCLAIR -- A former federal prosecutor who recently announced her Democratic candidacy against Republican U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinguysen lives a few blocks outside Frelinghuysen's district, the Daily Record reported.

Mikie Sherrill lives in a section of Montclair that is in the 10th Congressional district of Rep. Donald Payne Jr., a Democrat, the newspaper reported.

Mikie SherrillPhoto courtesy of Mikie Sherrill 

Monclair is one of three Essex County municipalities divided between the 10th District and Frelinghuysen's 11th District.

Living outside the district, though, is not a legal barrier to her candidacy. Candidates for Congress are not required to live in the district they are seeking to represent.

Sherrill, a mother of four and former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, told the Daily Record that her "family life in centered in the district," as it is where she shops, attends church and also where her children play sports.

She and a second Democrat, Jack Gebbia, have registered their 2018 candidacies with the Federal Election Commission, according to the FEC website.

Sherrill announced her candidacy on Wednesday, six days after Frelinghuyen voted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Frelinghuysen, a 12-term congressman and chair of the House Appropriations Commmittee, had $788,390 in his campaign account through March 31.

In addition to Essex County, his district includes parts of Passaic, Sussex and Morris counties, including his hometown of Harding.

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

The men were convicted in a 2010 shooting death in Irvington.

NEWARK -- Two men serving life sentences for the 2010 fatal shooting of an Irvington man are staying in jail.

An appellate court this week denied the appeals of Derrick Miller and Arthur Thompson, who were convicted in 2013 of breaking into an Irvington home and shooting 47-year-old resident Anthony Hunt.

Miller and Thompson had appealed their convictions and sentences, alleging the courts made a slew of errors that violated their rights and denied them a fair trial.

In a written decision issued Wednesday, Superior Court Judges Ellen Koblitz, John Kennedy, and Robert Gilson disagreed with the more than 15 arguments made by the two Newark men.

"We discern no basis warranting reversal," the judges wrote in the decision. "We affirm the sentences imposed."

Carjacker charged in alleged accomplice's death

The two had said, among other arguments, that a witness's identification of the two as the gunmen in the home was questionable and should not have been allowed in the trial. They also argued their life sentences were excessive.

The appellate court disagreed.

Prosecutors said the two men broke into a two-family Brighton Terrace home on Jan. 18, 2010, and shot Hunt three times in the torso, killing him. At the time, six other people were in the home, including members of Hunt's family and a 6-month old baby.

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

A Berkeley Heights bank executive is seeking to take on Rep. Leonard Lance next November.

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Leonard Lance, who represents one of just 23 Republican-held congressional districts that supported Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, has gained another opponent.

Linda Weber, a bank executive from Berkeley Heights, officially announced Sunday that she would seek the Democratic nomination to take on Lance (R-7th Dist.), who is rated just a slight favorite to retain the seat by the Cook Political Report, a Washington-based publication that tracks congressional races.

"Like many Americans, especially a lot of women, I was pretty shocked and angry after the election," Weber, 53, told NJ Advance Media. "I thought it was time to act. This is the way I have chosen to give service to my country."

They're lining up to challenge Lance

She said the Republican-controlled Congress has been unwilling to stand up to Republican President Donald Trump, and she would.

"Trump's behavior really is unacceptable," Weber said. "We have a system of checks and balances for a reason in our government. My plan is to go Washington and represent the district and hold Donald Trump accountable."

Lisa Mandelblatt, a teacher in Westfield, and Scott Salmon, a lawyer from Scotch Plains, also have announced their candidacies, and Peter Jacob, who had the endorsement U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) when he ran for the seat last November, has filed to run again.

Democratic congressional candidate Linda Weber.Ira Casel 

Weber is a senior vice president at IDB Bank and a five-time chairwoman of the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life in northern Union County. She pointed to her leadership experience in those areas, as well as being one of the first women to move up the corporate ladder and run an online banking operation.

She emphasized two areas of disagreement with Lance, on the environment and on abortion rights. Lance received a lifetime score of 21 percent from the League of Conservation Voters and a 0 percent score this year from Planned Parenthood.

Lance is considered the most vulnerable of the five House Republicans in the state.

Cook rated his seat and 19 other Republican districts more competitive after House Republicans voted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act 

Inside Elections, another Washington publication that rates congressional contests, said that Lance, re-elected last fall with 54 percent of the vote, was a strong favorite for re-election but was the only New Jersey Republican incumbent potentially vulnerable.

Weber took aim at the Republican legislation that would cover 24 million fewer Americans by 2026 and allow states to seek a waiver to the federal ban on insurers charging higher premiums for policyholders with pre-existing conditions such as cancer or diabetes.

"It's not hyperbole to say that people will die without access to health care," she said.

While Lance voted for provisions of the bill in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, he became the first New Jersey GOP House member to oppose the completed legislation once it reached the House floor. He also was one of only two House Republicans in the country to vote against legislation to make it easier for military veterans judged mentally incompetent to buy guns.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. 

Keith Belton, 24, of East Orange, was his by a 2017 Subaru Forester shortly before 2 a.m. on Saturday, police said.

IRVINGTON -- Authorities identified on Sunday the pedestrian killed on the Garden State Parkway early Saturday morning as a 24-year-old East Orange man.

Keith Belton was hit around 1:50 a.m. on the southbound side of the parkway at milepost 144.7 in Irvington, said Sgt. Jeff Flynn, a New Jersey State Police spokesman.

Belton was driving a Nissan northbound on the parkway when he stopped the vehicle in the center lane and got out of the car, Flynn said. Belton then crossed the barrier into the southbound lanes of the parkway and was hit by a 2017 Subaru Forester traveling in the left lane, Flynn said.

Belton was pronounced dead at the scene, Flynn said.

The Nissan was stolen out of Elizabeth, Flynn said. But it's unclear if Belton was involved in the carjacking.

Elizabeth police did not immediately return a phone call seeking more information on the carjacking.

No charges have been filed against the Subaru driver, Flynn said.

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Officers detected the gun as it passed through an X-ray machine at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Authorities at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday arrested a Lehigh Valley man who they said had a loaded semi-automatic handgun in a carry-on bag.

Transportation Security Administration officers stopped the traveler, who was ticketed to fly to Havana, Cuba, after detecting the 9mm pistol at a security checkpoint X-ray machine.

Authorities did not immediately release the man's name but said he was from Northampton.

The handgun was loaded with 18 hollow-point bullets, including one in the chamber, officials said.

TSA officers immediately contacted the Port Authority Police Department, which  confiscated the gun and arrested the man on New Jersey weapons charges.

Authorities said weapons, including firearms, firearm parts and ammunition, are not permitted in carry-on bags.

Travelers who bring firearms to a checkpoint are subject to criminal charges from local law enforcement and civil penalties from TSA of up to $12,000.

Passengers are responsible for the contents of bags they bring to the security checkpoint, and TSA's advice to passengers is to look through bags thoroughly before coming to the airport to make sure there are no illegal or prohibited items, according to a news release.

Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.

The lines at flower shops are out the door and restaurants are packed this Mother's Day. But for children, whether they are young or adults, celebrating mom today is what's most important: she's a strong, supportive, and bright woman. Here's what people dining in Hudson County had to say about their favorite mom today.

Dogs and cats throughout New Jersey await adoption.

Here is this week's collection of some of the dogs and cats in need of adoption in 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 here and here.

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

Homeless women and their children were surprised with an extreme makeover of their shelter.

NEWARK -- In one room, paintings of the ocean and the shore line the sand-beige walls. Another room is decorated in clean grays and whites, with two kid-sized armchairs in the corners. 

"It looks like you're in a resort," Nadege Duvernay, executive director of the Apostles' House said as she walked the three floors of the newly renovated women's shelter here. She said mothers and their children with no place to go can now find shelter in "beautiful rooms, a room that feels like a spa."

Last week, several companies and volunteers sponsored an extreme makeover of the property, renovating nine bedrooms, building a small playground and giving the workers new furniture. 

"It feels like a home," said Jessica Dickerson, 30, who is staying at the emergency shelter with her three children. "It gives us hope. There's people out there that care about us. We are not alone."

There's new mattresses, linens, accents on the walls, curtains and even a new swing set in the backyard. An inspirational poster hangs in one room that reads: "She's a dreamer, a doer, a thinker, she sees possibility everywhere."

"The small things that people do for them make them really happy," Duvernay said. "This was one of those moments."

The women's shelter houses 35 beds for homeless or at-risk women and their children. In 2007, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) who was then Newark's Mayor, organized a similar renovation of the space. 

"When we performed the first extreme makeover of the Apostles' House in 2007, it was an unforgettable experience," said Donald Shauger, executive vice president of The Shauger Group. "We all were passionate about the project, and there wasn't a dry eye in the room when we unveiled the renovated shelter to the families who lived there. It's something that none of us could ever forget, and we are so glad we can once again bring this project to life. The residents of the shelter deserve it."

Duvernay said one mother told her she had never felt so warm and safe and comfortable. "I kinda got teary-eyed," Duvernay said, remembering that after seeing her room, the young mother told her she "never knew people could care about us like this."

The volunteers also donated three new computers and treated the residents to a day at Turtle Back Zoo before revealing the newly-furnished rooms. 

"I was just in shock," Dickerson said. "My kids were so happy, saying 'Oh my god, mommy, we got pillows!'"

Iris Yanta, the shelter's operations coordinator, said she was "flabbergasted" at the changes. She said many of the mattresses were more than 10 years old and it made the women feel good to be the first ones to sleep in the new beds and linens.

"Everyone is happier and they're starting to feel like a community," Yanta said, as she sat in her new desk. "They'll never forget."

The other companies that sponsored the renovations include the New Jersey Devils; Bobcat of North Jersey; Atlas Desk & Office Services; Trenk, DiPasquale, Della Fera & Sodono, P.C.; SUEZ North America; Pure Properties; and Inglesino, Webster, Wyciskala, & Taylor, LLC.

"Sometimes people think homeless people are the ones they see in street," Duvernay said. "But there's homeless women with children who were working who just lost their job and couldn't pay their rent ... you're one check away from being homeless."

"These women deserve a second chance," Duvernay added. 

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

The boys lacrosse Top 20 welcomes three new teams as state tournament play kicks off.

We ask the pertinent questions. The answers will come in the next few weeks

Newark Academy students pen winning plays.

LIVINGSTON -- Newark Academy students Gabrielle Poisson and Kianni Keys are among a handful of young playwrights to win the 34th annual New Jersey Young Playwrights Festival.

To participate in the contest, hosted by the Writers Theatre of New Jersey, a not-for-profit professional theater company in Madison, budding playwrights in grades 4 to 12 were required to submit an original play to be judged by a panel of professional playwrights.

Poisson and Keys were winners in the high school category; Poisson won for "Trust No One" and Keys won for "Smile." Poisson and Keys are repeat winners, having won in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Other winners include "Learn Your ABCs" by Elijah Gaines, Lindenwold High School, and Jaleel Lindsey, Greenfields Residential Community Home in Ringwood; "Hot Dogs and Feminism" by Jasmine Sharma, a student at Bergen County Academy for Visual & Performing Arts in Hackensack; and "Packing, " by Michael Villanueva, a student at the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School in East Brunswick.

The winners will receive the Governor's Award, along with a one-year membership in the Dramatists Guild, the professional playwrights' union. The winning plays will be performed by professional actors during a staged reading at Luna Stage in West Orange.

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

Check out the schedule for all 20 groups

The NJSIAA state tournament has been seeded and we're ready to go on the way to determining 20 sectional champions, six state title holders and for the first time ever, one Tournament of Champions winner.

Click on the links below for the brackets for the schedules and matchups for every postseason tournament in the state. It's playoff time, New Jersey and NJ.com has you covered.

• North Jersey 1, Group 4
• North Jersey 1, Group 3
• North Jersey 1, Group 2
• North Jersey 1, Group 1

• North Jersey 2, Group 4
• North Jersey 2, Group 3
• North Jersey 2, Group 2
• North Jersey 2, Group 1

BRACKETS: County/Conference tournaments

• Central Jersey Group 4
• Central Jersey Group 3
• Central Jersey Group 2
• Central Jersey Group 1

• South Jersey Group 4
• South Jersey Group 3
• South Jersey Group 2
• South Jersey Group 1

• North Jersey Non-Public Group A
• North Jersey Non-Public Group B
• South Jersey Non-Public Group A
• South Jersey Non-Public Group b

Bill Evans can be reached at bevans@njadvancemedia.com or by leaving a note in the comments below. Follow him on Twitter @BEvansSports. Like our High School Softball Page on Facebook.