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Police release video of SUV possibly connected to Newark shooting

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Two people suffered non-life-threatening wounds Watch video

NEWARK --  Police are asking the public's help in identifying the suspects in a shooting that left two wounded Wednesday night, Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said.

Two men, aged 20 and 26, were shot around 10:25 p.m. at Bergen Street and Avon Avenue. Both were treated and released from University Hospital.

A black Hyundai SUV was in the area of the time of the shooting and was seen on video. At least two male suspects were inside, Ambrose said.

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

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

 


N.J. morgue technician accused of stealing cash from body avoids jail

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State fired lab worker over claims he took $1,120 off a car crash victim.

TRENTON -- A morgue technician at the state Medical Examiner's Office who lost his job after authorities accused him of stealing $1,120 off a dead body will avoid jail under an agreement with prosecutors, records show.

Darryl Green, of Piscataway, allegedly stole the cash from a 28-year-old man killed in a Newark car crash before the man's autopsy.

Authorities said at the time the man, identified in court documents provided to NJ Advance Media only as L.P., died following a single-car crash on December 18. Law enforcement and medical examiner staff at the scene noted the large sum of cash in the man's pocket before placing him in a body bag.

But by the time the medical examiner conducted the autopsy, authorities said, the cash was gone. 

Morgue tech accused of stealing cash from body

Green was charged a week later with third-degree theft by unlawful taking, for which he faced up to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice, which handled the case.

He was then fired from his job as a forensic morgue technician at the Northern Regional Medical Examiner's Office in Newark, where his duties included making photographic records of autopsies.

Under a consent order, Green is now barred from public employment in New Jersey.

He did not admit guilt and the case will be suspended for one year and dropped if he complies with unspecified terms of supervision and treatment, according to a copy of the pre-trial intervention agreement obtained by NJ Advance Media through an Open Public Records Act request.

Green could not be reached for comment and his court-appointed attorney did not respond to a message seeking comment. 

Peter Aseltine, a spokesman for the state Attorney General's Office, declined to comment on the agreement. He said no other employees had been implicated in the theft. 

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Newark police looking for 3 men who robbed grocery store

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The three men stole cash from the register at an Oriental Street grocery store, police said

NEWARK -- Newark police are seeking help from the public in identifying three men  suspected of robbing a grocery store at gunpoint in broad daylight on Thursday.

The men walked in to La Mina De Oro Grocery at 51 Oriental St. around 12:40 p.m. and stole  money from the cash register, police Director Anthony Ambrose said.

The first suspect is described as between 18 and 21 years old, weighing about 160 pounds and standing about 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8. He was wearing dark colored plants and a brown short-sleeve shirt with a Marilyn Monroe print on the front, the police director said in a press release.

The second suspect, also between 18 and 21 years old and weighing about 160 pounds, is about 5-foot-6, Ambrose said. He was wearing a white tank top shirt and blue jeans and has dread locks.

The third suspect is described as between 24 and 28 years old. He is about 6-feet tall and has a light-brown complexion. He was wearing a blue short-sleeve shirt with "Nike" on the front, dark jeans, white sneakers and a do-rag on his head. He has a tattoo on his right elbow.

While police are actively searching for these suspects, they are also asking for help from the public in finding them, Ambrose said.

He urged anyone with information about the suspects to call the police department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867).  All anonymous Crime Stopper tips are kept confidential and may result in a reward.

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

The 25 Essex County high schools with the best SAT scores

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SAT scores for last school year were released by the state, see how your school ranks in Essex County.

Woman struck by car at bus stop, police say

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A woman waiting for a bus Saturday morning in Maplewood was struck by a vehicle that rode up onto the sidewalk

MAPLEWOOD -- A woman waiting for a bus Saturday morning in Maplewood was struck by a vehicle that rode up onto the sidewalk, police said.

The 42-year-old victim was waiting at the intersection of Irvington and Union avenues at about 6 a.m.when the Dodge Caliber jumped the curb and hit her, authorities said.

She was transported to University Hospital in Newark with non life-threatening injuries, police said.

It was not immediately known if the driver was charged or ticketed.

Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @allisonpries. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Ex-aide: Newark councilman fired me after I refused to make $10K donation

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Nelson Nieves, a longtime aide to Council Quintana alleges he was retaliated against and ultimately fired after he refused to make an "inappropriate" donation, according a lawsuit.

NEWARK -- City Councilman Luis Quintana is being sued by his former longtime aide who claims he was fired after he refused to make a $10,000 donation to help his ex-boss raise money for a festival. 

Nelson Nieves filed a lawsuit in Essex County Superior Court this month alleging that Quintana's request for a donation was "inappropriate," "unlawful" and a "misappropriation" of money set aside for the Puerto Rican Day Parade, which Nieves oversaw. Nieves said Quintana harmed his reputation and sabotaged the 2016 parade to make him look bad, the complaint says.

"He needs to take these legal measures in order to get justice," Louis Zayas, Nieves' attorney told NJ Advance Media. "This is a pretty disturbing set of circumstances directed at Mr. Nieves for doing nothing other than being a trusted representative of the Puerto Rican Day Parade."

Zayas said Nieves is seeking compensatory damages and his job back. Nieves worked for Quintana from 2005 until he was fired last year but remains president of the Puerto Rican Day Parade -- a volunteer position.

"This is causing him extreme financial stress. He lost his medical benefits. He has no means to support himself," Zayas said.

When reached by phone on Friday, Quintana said he had not yet been served with the lawsuit and could not comment on the allegations until he reviewed them. 

But he added: "My integrity is more important to me than anything in this world. This is about integrity," he said. 

A city spokeswoman said the city does not comment on pending litigation.

Nieves, who has served as president of the parade since 2014, said the trouble stemmed from the appointment of Jacqueline Quiles, who previously oversaw the parade, the complaint said. 

Nieves was a vocal critic of Quiles' 2015 appointment to a deputy mayor position and even boycotted a $5,000 donation by Mayor Ras Baraka to the parade as a point of protest. Quintana publicly defended Nieves' right to express his opinions and protected Nieves against pressure from city officials who allegedly wanted him gone, NJ Advance Media previously reported

But the complaint says Quintana and Quiles eventually became friends and Quiles began seeking Nieves' removal. 

Nieves was asked to organize a festival on the same day as the parade sponsored by four politicians -- including Quintana -- who would raise $5,000 each, the suit said. 

But Quintana failed to come up with the money and asked Nieves "to help me out with this" and donate $10,000, court documents say. When Nieves refused, he claims he was retaliated against and ultimately fired last December. 

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

 

Police seek intruder who struggled with woman in home burglary

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Attacker stole $20 early Friday, police say.

BELLEVILLE -- Police are seeking the public's help to find an intruder who struggled with a woman in a burglary Friday in Belleville.

bellevilleburg.jpgPolice released a sketch of the intruder May 19, 2017 (Sketch: NJSP) 

The woman woke up and found the masked burglar in her home on the 100 block of Eugene Place around 3:45 a.m., according to a police news release.

The intruder pulled her into another room, police said. During the confrontation, the woman's child woke up and ran to alert his grandfather who was upstairs.

Police said the burglar was scared off and fled toward Honiss Street. He entered the home through a side door and left using a basement window after taking about $20 from the woman's purse.

The intruder was described as a Hispanic man in his early 20s, 5-foot-9, 150 pounds, wearing a dark colored fedora, thin mask covering his eyes, neon green and black t-shirt with black basketball shorts.

Anyone with information was urged to call Belleville police at 973-450-3361.

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

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Stabbing leaves 1 dead in Newark

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Man attacked late Friday.

NEWARK -- A 26-year-old man died hours after he was stabbed outside a store at a strip mall in Newark's Central Ward late Friday, authorities said.

Kendall Anthony, of Orange, was pronounced dead around 6:40 a.m. Saturday, according to Essex County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Katherine Carter.

The stabbing occurred outside a Clinton Avenue business, near Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard. 

There were no arrests as of Saturday night, the spokeswoman added. It was not immediately clear if authorities have determined a possible motive for the attack. 

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

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

 

Families of N.J.'s missing are 'not going to give up hope'

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The New Jersey State Police sponsored a first-of-its-kind event for the families of missing persons in the state.

NEW BRUNSWICK -- Maureen Himebaugh still clings to the last birthday gift her red-headed son left wrapped before he disappeared from her Cape May home more than 25 years ago: a troll doll. She lives in the same house and has the same phone number -- in case he ever returns. 

Wilfredo Gonzalez, 62, remembers the last time he heard his sister's voice more than three years ago when she called him for his birthday and sang to him. She went missing in Miami, Fla. a day later.

Heidi McCallum dabbed away tears when she talked about how how many lives her daughter Meg touched before she went missing in Long Branch in March 2015

"She was my best friend," McCallum, of Montvale, said. "I just need to know what happened to her."

Stories like these poured from the walls of Rutgers University Saturday as families of New Jersey's missing persons gathered for the state's first-ever "Missing in New Jersey" event. Organized by New Jersey State Police, the event brought together about 30 families with missing persons cases connecting them with law enforcement resources, DNA testing, and other families in similar situations.

"We're trying to provide a sense of hope for the families ... they've suffered in silence," said State Police Sgt. Joel Trella, who borrowed the idea for the event from Michigan. 

"This is nothing more, nothing less than law enforcement believing that there's a way they can help," state Attorney General Christopher Porrino told NJ Advance Media. "And them outreaching their hands and pulling together a group like this of all the different disciplines to help people find their missing loved ones."

State police said about 14,000 - 16,000 missing persons cases are reported every year in New Jersey. While a majority of those are solved, authorities said there are more than 1,100 long-term missing persons cases (someone missing for more than 30 days) and 300 cases of unidentified human remains in the state. 

"I used to speak to her almost every week," Gonzalez, of Jersey City said of his missing sister, Noemi Gonzalez, as he held back tears. "It's very difficult not to speak to her anymore." 

Gonzales, who wore a large pin with his sister's name and photo, said he's doing everything he can to find answers. He and his two sisters-in-law had the insides of their mouths swabbed for a DNA sample at a table set up by the Attorney General's Office and State Police. 

"I feel bad for everybody," Gonzalez said, tears building up in his eyes. "Before you see it in the paper and it's like OK somebody is missing. Now that you have somebody from your family it's like wow."

The four-hour event attracted local, state and federal law enforcement officials, who vowed to work together to solve these cases. 

"We are committed to getting you answers," State Police Colonel Rick Fuentes told the crowd. "We're applying science in ways we didn't have 20 years ago ... we're going to do as much as we can for you."

"This is all about closure, getting to closure for some of the families," Fuentes told NJ Advance Media. "There's a support element that's going to build beyond this meeting that we're holding, where people will share wisdom, they'll have someone to talk to, they're finding similarities among their stories, we're simply providing the environment for that."

Some family members who found their loved ones comforted those who were still searching. Abby Potash, of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, said she lost her son for eight months in 1997-98 when a family member kidnapped him from Hamburg. 

"You feel totally out of control," Potash, who now lives in Virginia said. "You feel helpless."

Himebaugh, who lost her 11 and a half year old son when a fire broke out in her area, told other families to always keep their loved one's picture in the public eye in case anyone could help like the case of Jaycee Lee Dugard, a kidnapped girl found 18 years later.

"The pain, the pain never goes away but it does get easier," Himebaugh, 65, said. Her son will turn 37 on May 23. "I'm not going to give up hope," she said kissing the troll doll her son gave her. 

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

Man wanted after planned Xbox sale becomes gunpoint robbery

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Couple robbed late Friday, police say.

NEWARK -- Two people were robbed at gunpoint after they met a man who they believed wanted to buy a video game system in Newark, authorities said Saturday.

RobertBerrian .jpgRobert Berrian (Photo: Dept. of Public Safety) 

Detectives identified Robert Berrian, 22, of Newark, as a suspect in the late Friday holdup, according to city Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.

A man and woman went to Martin Luther King Boulevard, near Spruce Street, around 9:30 p.m. to meet a purported buyer for an Xbox console, Ambrose said in a statement. The buyer instead robbed the couple at gunpoint and stole the video game system.

Anyone with information about Berrian was urged to call 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). Police said all anonymous tips would be kept confidential and could lead to a reward.

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

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

Shakur Stevenson dominates his first Madison Square Garden fight

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Stevenson wins a TKO just two and a half minutes into his East Coast debut as a pro.

NEW YORK -- He wanted to put on a show for his hometown fans, and after registering a technical knockout in just two and a half minutes, they certainly got what they came to see.

Still: Shakur Stevenson was not satisfied. "Can I go out and see my people?" the 19-year-old from Newark asked after he was done talking to reporters, and then he made sure his second entrance into Madison Square Garden was every bit as good as his first.

He hugged friends and strangers and all eight of his siblings, posed for a few dozen selfies, and made such a commotion ringside that the ushers had to escort him and his entourage away from the ring. The HBO cameras were about to go live, after all, with undefeated champ Terence Crawford ready to fight.

Crawford was the main event, but it was clear the way the crowd responded when Stevenson entered the building that plenty had come for the undercard. The 19-year-old from Newark had not fought near his home city in more than two years, and he made sure his return home was memorable. 

"It was amazing," Stevenson said after stopping Carlos Suarez in the first round. "I came out and saw some faces I already knew, people from my hometown, and it was an amazing feeling. 

"I've been saying all week I was looking forward to getting the knockout, and now I've got that knockout on my record."

Stevenson made sure he brought his city into the ring, with "NEWARK" emblazoned on his headband and the back of his shorts. He knew his opponent was going to be looking to derail his professional career with one punch, but the Olympic silver medalist was too good to give him an opportunity.

13 things to know about Shakur

He dominated from the opening bell, landing at least 15 good punches before an off-balance Suarez fell to the canvas trying to connect with a wild punch. The referee had seen enough and stopped the fight. 

"I knew his game plan was to get in and get a lucky punch," Stevenson said, "and I wasn't going to give it to him." 

For Stevenson, this was the first opportunity to fight in front of his home fans in more than two years. His debut came last month in California, and while his promoters at Top Rank Boxing considered putting this card in Newark at the Prudential Center, they had bigger plans.

They decided that they want his first New Jersey fight to come when he's ready to be the headliner on a card. That could come in a year or 18 months, but for now, Top Rank sees no reason to rush what they expect will be a long and successful career. 

"It's an amazing feeling that people from my city and from my state are following me and want to see me fight," Stevenson said this week. "I just want to perform for them. I want to put the city on my back and the state on my back and give it all I've got." 

Stevenson won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics, narrowly losing in the gold-medal bout to Cuban boxer Robeisy Ramirez. He sobbed uncontrollably after the loss, but weeks later was honored with a parade through downtown Newark that helped put his accomplishment into perspective.

Many of those same fans took the train to MSG on Saturday night to see him in action. The show didn't last long, but that was fine with everyone in his corner.

"I've got to represent the Brick City," Stevenson said. "A lot of people from my city don't get to do the stuff I'm getting to do, so I've got to keep representing the kids who are looking up to me, because I know they're watching." 

Steve Politi may be reached at spoliti@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevePoliti. Find NJ.com on Facebook

Was this $16.7M park key to a critical political endorsement for Christie?

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Inside the plan that led to a $9 million Port Authority grant for a park in Essex County, and the allegations of a political deal that cemented the agreement. Watch video

NEWARK-- Every day, thousands of drivers pay staggering tolls -- as much as $15 for cars and more than $100 for large trucks -- to cross the George Washington Bridge.

It all provides a huge payday for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which brings in more than $5 billion a year in tolls, fares, landing fees, parking and other charges from its tunnels, bridges, shipping terminals and airports.

In turn, billions of dollars are funneled into building a transportation system for the 21st century.

And millions of it, curiously, went to help build a small park in the state's largest city.

Riverfront Park in Newark is tucked into a forgotten slice of land along the Passaic River. It is a place where people can picnic and play soccer, relax and work out far from the congested roadways that helped fund the oasis. 

The park owes its birth to the strange bedfellows of New Jersey politics and public money. Its neatly-landscaped 12 green acres was seemingly willed into existence by a Republican governor who wanted to be president and a Democratic powerbroker who unexpectedly supported him for re-election.

No one has ever challenged the park's ultimate cost or its benefit to the community that surrounds it. But how it got over the finish line is a lesson involving millions in public funding, handed out behind the scenes, in what a former Port Authority insider at the center of the recent Bridgegate scandal called nothing less than a deliberate effort to nail down a critical endorsement for the governor.

Put another way: If you want to know how things really get done in New Jersey, let us tell you the story of Riverfront Park.

"We've had governors reward people for generations," said Brigid Harrison, a professor of political science at Montclair State University. "What is particularly disgusting is when you see the diversion of funds from their intended use to pet projects of political bosses."

A lesson in bipartisanship

Bounded by the Passaic River to the north, Riverfront Park stretches from Brill Street to Oxford Street in Newark's Ironbound neighborhood. Built atop a former industrial site, it has soccer and baseball fields with synthetic turf surfaces, tennis and basketball courts, walking paths, and two playgrounds.

ga0412passaicRiverfront Park, connected to county's Riverbank Park in Newark's Ironbound neighborhood, was developed with the help of $9 million in funding from the Port Authority. (Frances Micklow | Star-Ledger file photo)

Public records show millions in funding from the Port Authority and the state were steered to the project.

The Port Authority paid the largest share with grants that grew to $9 million from $4 million, as property prices soared.

The Port's money came from a program used largely for conservation efforts and preserving wildlife habitats.

Nearly $3.9 million in separate New Jersey Green Acres grants were directed by Trenton to the project to help cover development costs.

The county's Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund, a fund created exclusively for parks through a voter referendum, was tapped for another $3 million. And $850,000 grant was contributed by the company that operates the Essex County resource recovery plant.

At the 2011 groundbreaking for the $16.7 million recreation facility, Gov. Chris Christie--a Republican already thinking about a presidential run--posed with a ceremonial shovel and said Washington politicians "could learn a thing or two" about bipartisanship from New Jersey.

He spoke warmly of his relationship with Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo and other Democratic officials, which he called crucial to getting the long-planned project off the ground.

DiVincenzo embraced the governor as "a good friend" who understood the social and economic benefits the park would bring to Essex County. "With his guidance and leadership, the Port Authority and NJ Green Acres were brought to the table and provided the support to acquire and develop the property," DiVincenzo said.

Two years later, the Essex County Democrat surprisingly broke with his own party and endorsed Christie for a second term as governor.

In an interview earlier this year for this story, DiVincenzo said there was no connection between the grants and his support of the governor.

"I just went there and made the ask. Just like I do for everything else," he said. "That's my job as county exec. To try and go out there and get the funds so the county taxpayers don't have to pay for it."

The governor's office said there was no expectation of anything in return.

"The Riverfront Park was a worthwhile project in the Port district that both the PANYNJ and the governor's office advocated for to provide additional recreational opportunities for the children of Newark," said Christie spokesman Brian Murray in a statement. "It had absolutely nothing to do with any political endorsement."

But David Wildstein, a political appointee to the Port Authority and the prosecution's key witness during the Bridgegate scandal, testified during the trial it had everything to do with the endorsement.

"The purpose was to build on the relationship with the Essex County executive," Wildstein said.

The former Republican political operative spent eight days on the stand testifying against Bill Baroni, the former deputy executive director of the Port Authority, and Bridget Anne Kelly, a one-time deputy chief of staff to the governor. Baroni and Kelly both were convicted of conspiracy and fraud in the high-profile corruption case that brought new levels of scrutiny on the Port Authority.

Wildstein said he and Baroni advocated for the Essex County funding for DiVincenzo.

"For what purpose?" persisted assistant U.S. attorney Lee Cortes Jr.

"For the purpose of securing his endorsement in the future," Wildstein replied.

Under cross-examination, Wildstein recalled that Kevin O'Dowd, the governor's chief of staff "screamed at Baroni for not getting Joe DiVincenzo the money fast enough."

A park on the Passaic

The park was a dream of Nancy Zak, a community organizer who coordinated the effort some 20 years ago that saved a century-old Newark park nearby that had been threatened with demolition by the proposed construction of a minor league baseball stadium.

"We were so starved for recreation space," she said, recalling that when kids would come out to go to soccer practice, everybody had to drive to another town to find a field where they could play. 

At the same time, she said people in the community had been isolated from the Passaic River for decades. "There were kids growing up who didn't even know there was a river there because the view was cut off. Instead of seeing the river, the view was of stacked cargo containers," she said.

Beating the Sunday HeatA young girl enjoys the water at the spray ground at Riverfront Park in Newark. (Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

After the proposed site for the stadium was relocated downtown, the existing park got a new lease on life.

But initial plans during the fight over where to place the stadium involved redeveloping an industrial parcel just a few thousand feet to the east. That led the Ironbound Community Corp. to start lobbying for a second park as well, the property that ultimately became Riverfront.

"It was time to think more expansively. How do we get more?" remembered Joseph Della Fave, executive director of the organization.

The property for the park that would become Riverfront had no trees, grass or fields. There was a tank farm and other industrial buildings at the edge of the river and ground contamination would need to be addressed through environmental abatement measures. The Ironbound Community Corp. was awarded an initial Green Acres grant to get the project started.

They then called to DiVincenzo to make it happen. He called the governor's office.

A public piggy bank

DiVincenzo had gotten money out of the Port Authority in the past, through his connections in Trenton. In 2003, after the new baseball stadium was built, he said he went to then-Gov. James E. McGreevey to get the Port Authority to help fund construction of a 365-space parking garage next to the stadium and near NJ Transit's Broad Street Station.

When the new park was put on the table, the county executive said he made a similar call to Gov. Jon Corzine.

Nearly 11 percent of the votes in the 2005 election that went to Corzine came out of Essex County, due in no small part to DiVincenzo's political organization. "I went down there and showed them the plans. I told them exactly what we wanted to do. They okayed it," DiVincenzo said.

The use of public funding to reward those in power has long been a staple of old-school politics in New Jersey. For years, the Legislature annually doled out millions in so-called "Christmas tree" grants--so named because they showed up like surprise holiday gifts under the tree.

Before the politically-controlled giveaway was abruptly ended with the election of Corzine, legislators in both parties would use state money to fund pet projects from Little League ball fields to community museums, through last-minute budget appropriations that were made without public disclosure or debate.

During the heyday of Atlantic City's casino boom, millions of dollars from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority was diverted by Trenton to favored undertakings far afield from the Boardwalk, including among other things, a $1.3 million grant that helped build the Yogi Berra Museum in Little Falls.

Harrison, who studies New Jersey politics, said the Christie administration has a history of using state resources -- including the state's independent authorities, the Economic Development Authority and general state revenues--for political gain.

She pointed to the channeling of $6 million in federal recovery dollars after Hurricane Sandy by Christie's administration to a senior citizen project in Belleville conceived years before the storm struck. Two weeks later, the town's Democratic mayor endorsed the governor for re-election.

"You have people without money to repair their homes, but Belleville gets money for a senior citizen complex when it wasn't even touched by the storm?" she asked. "They didn't even bother putting on a facade. It was a joke."

The Port Authority had also long been a funding source, serving like a piggy bank for projects far and wide that had little, if anything, with the agency's mission.

"For years and years the Port Authority was known as the hotbed of patronage," said Harrison. "It's where governors would stick someone's Uncle Sal as some political favor. It was perceived as bloated, sometimes ineffectual and lots of infighting."

Christie, she said, "changed how the Port Authority and its vast resources were used to curry political favor."

With testimony from the Bridgegate trial and legislative hearings in the wake of the scandal, she said "it became clear that (the agency) became almost like a "private slush fund" used to reward to political allies.

"Part of the governor's job is to dole out these resources. But look at where the money goes," she said, questioning how much of it went to things for which it was never intended. "They've reshaped how funding mechanisms work."

The $600 million 'regional bank'

The Port Authority has always been a political behemoth. A $7.4 billion agency with intense regional rivalries created through a bi-state compact nearly 100 years ago, the authority controls everything from the the Hudson River tunnels, to all three New York metropolitan area airports, as well as the shipping terminals serving the region.

Run by a commission appointed by the governors of New York and New Jersey, there are constant political pulls from both sides of the river, with each side having its favored projects and causes.

Author and historian Jameson W. Doig, a professor emeritus at Princeton University who chronicled the history of the Port Authority in "Empire on the Hudson," said more than 40 years ago when the agency was flush with cash, then-executive director Peter Goldmark thought the Port Authority's mission could be advanced by allocating some funds to economic-development projects.  

"The two governors weighed in, a regional bank was created, and modest amounts of money went to help build the Newark Law Center building and other non-transportation projects," he said.

The funding mechanism, though, always came with an asterisk attached.

According to a November 2016 bond statement issued by the Port Authority, "legislation authorizing the establishment of a Bank for Regional Development has not been enacted into law in either state." That never stopped the funding.

An examination of grants approved under the regional bank program shows several projects that have little to do with Port Authority's core mission: to move people and goods, provide access to the nation and the world, and promote the region's economic development.

The Liberty Science Center got money. So did the New Jersey Historical Society. In New York, the agency gave millions to Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Museum of Modern Art, the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and the New York Botanical Garden, records show.

The little-known regional bank fund, with $600 million available to be split between the states, could be used by the governors for nominally economic development projects or local transportation projects, Doig said.

And that was where the Port Authority found the money for the Essex County park on the Passaic.

'That guy's off the deep end...'

Wildstein, while on the stand during the Bridgegate trial, made it clear his job was to help marshal Port Authority resources to bolster support among Democrats for Christie's 2013 re-election. 

He spoke about the giveaway of surplus Port Authority vehicles and other equipment. There were special tours of Ground Zero and gifts of American flags flown over the hallowed ground of 9/11. And there was money. Lots of money -- millions in grants.

"Were any of those expenditures motivated by seeking to help Gov. Christie's re-election?" he was asked under oath.

"I would say so, yes," Wildstein replied.

DiVincenzo denied Wildstein's assertions.

"That's absolutely not true. Absolutely not true. Absolutely not true," he repeated again and again. "You know Wildstein is a nut. That guy's off the deep end."

David WildsteinDavid Wildstein, who testified that the Port Authority funding for the Essex County park was intended to secure an endorsement for the governor. (Julio Cortez | AP file photo)

Wildstein also testified that the governor himself had to sign off on the park deal, which came from a Port Authority "bank fund"--a pot of money New York and New Jersey's governors split and spent at their pleasure.

"So the more than a million dollars of Port Authority money that was given to Essex County ... was authorized by the governor?" he was asked by Baroni's attorney.

"Yes," Wildstein said. "Bank funds require the governor's authorization."

Baroni's attorney, Michael Baldassare, declined comment.

DiVincenzo said Christie never asked for his endorsement. "Why did I endorse?" he asked. "Because I knew he was going to win."

O'Dowd, now senior executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Cooper University Health Care in Camden, said he could not respond to questions about Wildstein's allegations.

"Unfortunately, due to the ongoing legal and appellate proceedings associated with that case, I cannot comment on this matter," he said in an email.

Christie's spokesman flatly rejected Wildstein's assertions as well.

"David Wildstein is a convicted liar who testified falsely and repeatedly speculated about conversations he was never even a part of," Murray said. "This is just another example of David Wildstein lying to try to make people believe he was 'in the know.' He is nothing but a felon and admitted liar."

An incumbent with stuff to offer...

Others during the trial, though, said the governor's 2013 re-election team was courting them for endorsements with giveaways and grant money.

Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, for example, said the Port Authority donated $5,000 to his borough's fire department and helped underwrite the cost of several shuttle buses to take commuters to the Hudson River ferry at Edgewater after indicating he might be supportive of the governor.

Chris Christie apologizes to Fort Lee mayor for GWB scandalFort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, whose borough received grants and other assistance from the Port Authority, until he decided he could not endorse Christie for re-election. (Andrew Mills | Star-Ledger file photo)

Sokolich later fell out of favor after stepping back from a public endorsement, which led to the September 2013 scheme orchestrated by Wildstein, Baroni and Kelly to shut down several local access toll lanes at the George Washington Bridge.

There were gifts to other communities as well, in support of elected officials who Wildstein claimed could be helpful to Christie. He literally called it the Port Authority's "goody bag" of favors.

"It ranged from outright financial contributions to used cars and surplus equipment, to jobs, patronage positions," Wildstein said during his Bridgegate testimony.

Records in fact show millions in Port Authority funding was earmarked for a litany of public works projects in New Jersey, in places where Democrats cast their lots with the Republican governor.

The long-stalled, $256 million project to build a new PATH station in Harrison was given go-ahead by the Port Authority in April 2012. Nine months later, the Democratic mayor of Harrison and all eight of his council members endorsed Christie, making them the first elected Democrats to publicly embrace the Republican governor for re-election.

The late Mayor Raymond McDonough, who died in 2014, insisted at the time there was no deal for his endorsement. "I happen to like the guy," he explained.

The Port Authority, at the behest of the governor, also gave Union City $2.9 million for roadway improvements on approach roadways to the Lincoln Tunnel, marking the first time the city received such aid. A request for the funds was made in a letter from Christie in June 2012 to David Samson, the now disgraced former chairman of the authority who pleaded guilty to bribery in a shakedown of United Airlines.

Democratic Mayor Brian Stack subsequently threw his support to the governor.

In an email to Wildstein long before the Bridgegate scandal came to light, Bill Stepien, the governor's former campaign director and now a member of the Trump White House, talked about the giveaways. "It's good to be an incumbent with stuff to offer, ain't it?" he said.

A little publicized program

The stuff to offer to Essex County came out of a $60 million pot of money split between New York and New Jersey called the Hudson-Raritan Estuary Resources Program, intended to preserve open space throughout the Port District. The money was intended for the acquisition of property identified as suitable for conservation, ecological enhancement, public access or environmental mitigation.

The program was not well publicized. In fact, at a Port Authority board meeting on the Essex grant, then Chairman David Samson acknowledged there had been little focus on it.

"It doesn't get enough attention, just like so many of the environmental initiatives and open space initiatives that the Port Authority funds and actively pursues," he said.

Groups and agencies in both states had won Port Authority funding through the program for a variety of projects, including salt marsh restoration in the Meadowlands, wetlands conservation in Staten Island and the preservation of a woodlands tract along the Waakaack Creek in Holmdel.

DiVincenzo said he had no idea the estuary program even existed, but went to Corzine and spoke with the Port Authority. "When I asked them for money, I had the community come out and explain why it was important to them," he said.

Port Authority Estuary Resources Projects

Interactive graphic: click on locations for project information

In July 2009, the Port Authority agreed to provide Essex County with $4 million for land acquisition. But the price tag shot up after the county went to condemn the property, and the agency agreed to increase its award to $7 million. In a memorandum, a stipulation was added that "any additional funding would be provided either directly or indirectly through the county."

However, a few months later before the county received any of the money, DiVincenzo said he feared the project and its funding were about to go south. Christie defeated Corzine, while the estimated cost of the real estate continued to climb.

The county executive said he was not sure Christie would honor the grant. He had worked for Corzine and Essex went big for the incumbent. "He could have froze it. He could have said 'No, we're not going to continue with it,'" he said of Christie.


Looking to mend fences, DiVincenzo met with the governor-elect the day after his 2009 election win. "We said 'You won (and) we want to work with you,'" he said of the meeting. "I said we had to build a relationship with him."

By March 2010, the county executive was asking Baroni, who Christie installed as the highest-ranking New Jersey executive at the Port Authority, for funds. The county was promised another $2 million.

$$EX0415ECPARK 04 BROWNDiVincenzo with Bill Baroni, the former deputy director of the Port Authority, and then-Newark Mayor Cory Booker at an event announcing Riverfront Park in 2010. (Jennifer Brown | Star-Ledger file photo)

Later that spring, the county announced its plans for Riverfront Park in a ceremony at the site, then a gravel-covered property.

"I bring greetings. I bring congratulations. I bring $7 million," announced Baroni at the event, before the price of the park ballooned yet again, to $9 million.

A year later, the governor arrived for a groundbreaking ceremony, telling reporters his relationship with DiVincenzo and other Democrats was crucial to getting the project off the ground. "Most elected officials from the other party wouldn't do what he did," DiVincenzo said at the ribbon cutting.

Field of dreams

On a recent morning, Jillian Kimber, 26, of Newark, was alone on Riverfront Park's pristine field, the thud of her blue cleats forcefully sending a black-and-orange soccer ball into an open net.

jillian3.jpgJillian Kimber on the soccer field of Essex County's Riverfront Park in Newark. (Ted Sherman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

"Sometimes it's hard to get time here," she said during a break. "There are a lot of people and teams out here. It's a great field."

Zak said the park draws thousands of people, with a riverfront revival program drawing more than 15,000 attendees last summer.

"It's like a link to the past," she said, talking of the embrace of the Passaic. "That's why Newark was founded. The river."

The county has built a walkway connecting Riverfront and Riverbank parks, and DiVincenzo wants to extend it to downtown. He has plans for a boathouse. He reiterates once again that all he did was look to build a relationship with the governor, who supported the county for four years.

"This was good work," DiVincenzo said of the park. "We didn't put any county dollars in. This was the right thing."

Meanwhile, Port Authority has quietly killed the regional bank program that funded it. Agency chairman John Degnan, who replaced Samson as head of the agency, said he remained troubled over where some of the money went under the program over the past 15 years.

"The Port Authority needs to act as a good public citizen. On the other hand, I couldn't see a nexus between transportation and some of the things it went to," he said.

Degnan did not challenge the Essex County grant. "It seems to me it fit within the estuary programs goals," he remarked.

However, he suggested that the money that went to ballet companies, theaters and science museums, and on several occasions, used to satisfy a local municipality's needs, was emblematic of the way the program ran.

A special panel recommended that the agency eliminate the regional bank and estuary program, and that the Port Authority return to its core mission of transportation infrastructure.

"Neither of those programs, it seems to me, was consistent with that mission," concluded Degnan.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Booker to Newark leaders: We have a national infrastructure crisis

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Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) spoke at Rutgers-Newark Saturday about the crisis of infrastructure facing Newark, the state and the country.

NEWARK -- U.S. Sen. Cory Booker didn't sugarcoat it. 

The country, he said, is facing an infrastructure crisis -- one that threatens a "traffic Armageddon" for the thousands of commuters who cross the Hudson River every day into the Garden State. 

"We have a crisis, we have a problem. We cannot wait in our local region," Booker said during Leadership Newark's policy summit at Rutgers-Newark Saturday. "No company would allow their physical plant to deteriorate the way we do, undermining their efficiency and productivity."

Recalling his days as Mayor of the city of Newark, Booker said he understood first hand the city's -- and state's -- crumbling infrastructure and the need to create jobs to brace for the future. 

"Newark has always stood upon a prize in terms of its infrastructure but that infrastructure is in a serious state of decay. From our water infrastructure to our PATH trains to NJ Transit," he said.

Families of missing 'not going to give up hope'

Booker said he helped bring companies like Audible and Prudential to Newark by selling the city's infrastructure hub -- and investing in it will only further draw growth to the city.

"All the things people are seeing in Newark right now they have been fought for 20 plus years. There's a fortitude here that still sources my soul," he said.

He urged the roomful of future leaders to use their activism and creativity to forge a path toward innovation.

"It's not a matter of can we, it's a matter of do we have a collective will as a society to invest in the things that are important," he said. 

Leadership Newark is a nonprofit that develops future leaders. Its executive director Celia King said Saturday's event was the group's third policy summit. 

"We always focus on an issue that's critical and germane to what's happening in the community," she said. "Now they'll get to see a trickle down effect, what happens nationally." 

Citing examples of more efficient ports in other countries and the priority they place on innovation, Booker said he was working to put together a vision for the country in terms of innovation, growth and technology.

"We don't invest in the things that are going to help us to create jobs, grow our economy and win on a global scale," he said. "When we want to do something, we come up with the money to do it."

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

Five must-see shows in N.J. this week

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On offer: two classic rock musicians in concert, drama via Shakespeare and Peter Pan, and the funniest man alive at NJPAC.

Four decades of touring is quite the feat

For more than 40 years, Little Feat has been tearing up stages around the world. The band brings its genre-crossing repertoire to Bergen Performing Arts Center on May 24. The iconic rock band was backed by the Tower of Power horn section on its landmark 1978 live album "Waiting for Columbus." Now Little Feat is backed by special guest the Midnight Ramble Horns, a group put together by the late Levon Helm.

Tickets: $39-$99, available online at bergenpac.org. Bergen PAC, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood. 201-227-1030.

Little Steven presents another rock and roll night 

Little Steven's Underground Garage at the Basie is a series of public and private concerts to support the theater's expansion, and it is curated by Maureen and Steven Van Zandt, who sit on the organization's board. Its latest offering is Little Steven himself with the Disciples of Soul, taking the stage at the Count Basie Theatre May 27, It's the first time Little Steven has played on his hometown stage, and fans will hear songs from Van Zandt's "Soulfire," his first solo effort in 20 years. 

$39-$150, including VIP tickets with a meet and greet with Van Zandt, available online at countbasietheatre.org. Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank. 732-842-9000. 

Mel Brooks' 'Young Frankenstein' with Mel Brooks 

Watching Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein" is always a guaranteed laugh. Watching the 1974 comedy and then listening to Brooks himself talk promises to be mind-blowing. This afternoon event at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on May 21, "Mel Brooks - Live on Stage!" seems like a can't-miss.

Tickets: $49-$99, available online at njpac.org. NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark. 800-GO-NJPAC.

'Peter and the Star Catcher' reveals Pan's secret

See a side of Neverland you never knew as Eagle Theatre presents "Peter and the Star Catcher," billed as  "A Grown Up's Prequel to Peter Pan" through June 11. This Tony Award-winning play answers the question, "Why did a boy named Peter never grow up?" A dozen performers portray more than 100 characters. 

$30-$40, available online at theeagletheatre.com. Eagle Theatre, 208 Vine St., Hammonton, NJ 609-704-5012. 

Shakespeare as it applies today

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey describes its presentation of the Bard's "The Merchant of Venice" this way: A money-obsessed, patriarchal, dysfunctional society where wealth bestows power; one in which women cannot determine their own fate, and one marked by religious and racial prejudice. Sound familiar? With that in mind, come see the show that runs at Madison's F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre through June 5.

Tickets: $29-$69, available online at shakespearenj.org. The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave., Madison. 973-408-5600. 

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.

Turning abandoned Newark communities 'beautiful'

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A group of volunteers cleaned up a stretch of Mt. Prospect Avenue on Saturday that is often littered with trash.

NEWARK -- A sea of volunteers in bright yellow shirts descended on a section of Mt. Prospect Avenue on Saturday to bring relief to a street plagued with abandoned homes and trash piles. 

By 7 a.m., volunteers were picking up garbage along the streets and sidewalks, filling more than 60 bags of trash by the end of the day, organizers said.

"We care about our community, not letting the community feel that they are isolated," said Maria Hernandez, a member of the Homeowners and Merchants Association of North Newark, which organized the cleaning along with City Council members Anibal Ramos, Luis Quintana and Mayor Ras Baraka's office. 

"We try to target communities that are in crisis," Hernandez said. 

Along Mt. Prospect Avenue between Park Avenue and Bloomfield Avenue, at least nine homes were abandoned with boarded up windows and sections of the homes falling apart. Residents said two homes had sewage problems that stunk up the neighborhood and drug addicts often slept inside the homes, leaving trash and empty bottles all over the property and sidewalk. 

"This is perfect," said homeowner John Gutierrez as he watched the volunteers, who had finished sweeping and started a block party with food and music. "I want this every weekend," he said, adding that he has to clean the abandoned property next door every day, and even locked the front door to prevent people from sleeping inside. 

"I think it's good," added resident Dominic Perez, who lives on the block. He said the street can get pretty dirty but it was a nice gesture from the community. His two daughters smiled as they showed off their face paint by one of the volunteers -- a butterfly and some blue flowers. 

The event was as much about cleaning as it was about engaging the community, organizers said. Saturday included free food for the residents with music and dancing. Representatives from the fire department, women's services and other community organizations also set up tables to bring residents information.

Gutierrez said he hoped the block clean up would bring more attention from the city to address the issue of abandoned properties in the area. He said the house next door has been abandoned for eight years and he was growing tired of having to clean it. 

"I don't understand why the city doesn't do more," he said. 

The street cleaning is the second of three clean-ups scheduled this year. Those interested in volunteering for future events can contact Detective Joseph Bernal at (973) 336-0821.

"We want them to be proud of where they live," Hernandez said. "How do we move Newark forward? We make Newark beautiful." 

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


Patrons flee as 2 men rob bartender at gunpoint (VIDEO)

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Police are asking for the public's help in locating two suspects caught on video. Watch video

NEWARK -- City police are asking for the public's help in identifying two men caught on video robbing a bar at gunpoint early Thursday morning.

Surveillance video released Saturday by the Newark Department of Public Safety shows the men entering the busy Paraiso Bar, at 453 Orange Street, and demanding money from the cash register as one of them points a gun at an employee.

Officers responded to the reported robbery around 1:10 a.m. Thursday, according to a statement from Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose. Police said one of the men was between 30 to 40 years old and wearing a red shirt.

A description wasn't available for the second suspect, police said.

While police said are actively searching for the men as part of the ongoing investigation, they have asked anyone with information about the suspects to call 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).

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

 

What do teachers make in each Essex County district? (Ranked)

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The average teacher salary for the school districts in Essex County, ranked from lowest to highest.

2017 Essex County T&F Championships: Storylines, results and top performers

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East Orange boys and Montclair girls picked up the team titles.

A magical end to the season: 'Mary Poppins' is coming to Paper Mill

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The family favorite features choreography by a recent Tony Award nominee and a title actor who's not afraid of a challenge.

It's the most famous nonsensical word of all time: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Difficult to spell, challenging to say -- and Elena Shaddow has to say it forwards and backwards and sing it when she begins her run as the title character in "Mary Poppins" at Paper Mill Playhouse May 24.

"I've been rehearsing that one," said Shaddow, who also adopts a British accent while pronouncing the 14-syllable word. "It's pretty wonderful and strange, but you can say that's sort of the theme of the whole show."

The story of the British governess whose unusual ways transform the lives of Jane and Michael Banks began as a book, was adapted into the classic Julie Andrews' 1964 movie and hit London's West End and Broadway in the early 2000s.

Disney's "Mary Poppins Returns," set for a December 2018 release, will take the tale to the next level as Mary is reunited with Jane and Michael, now grown up and again needing some magic in the lives. The film stars Emily Blunt as Mary, Lin-Manuel Miranda as her friend Jack and sees the return of Dick Van Dyke as Mr. Dawes Jr.

Paper Mill Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee said ending the playhouse's season with the timeless tale was a way of spreading a bit of magic and joy before the brief summer break.

"We're all having such fun putting this together," he said. "The more we have doing the show, the  more fun the audience will have watching it."

Hoebee said he was working with "a dream cast" and a talented crew that includes choreographer Denis Jones, nominated for a 2017 Tony Award for his work on "Holiday Inn, The New Irving Berlin Musical." Mary Poppins will fly in this production, which means bringing in a company to ensure she and her umbrella stay within the theater. An "illusion designer" to make the magic seem, well, more magical.

"Good magic doesn't happy easily," Hoebee said. "We like to bring our audiences a unique and special production that can only be seen at our theater."

This is Shaddow's fourth Paper Mill show. She's long been a fan of the Andrews and this role means she'll have achieved a trifecta: She's played Maria in "The Sound of Music" and Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady." 

"I loved her phrasing. I love the way she sings. I love that she isn't afraid to use her voice, that she's not a precious soprano," she said. "There's something about the way she infuses character and emotion in her singing voice so her character comes through. That's always stuck out to me as something extraordinary."

The upcoming show, too, will be extraordinary, Shaddow said, as it seems magical even without the special effects in place.

"Everything that happens to the kids opens their eyes to a new way of existing.  I think that's a message, that if you open your mind to something, you can be in a completely different situation," she said. "This brings the magic to a whole new generation of kids who have never seen it before and to adults who want to see it again."

Mary Poppins

Paper Mill Playhouse

22 Brookside Dr., Millburn

Tickets: $44-143, available at papermill.org. May 24-June 25. 

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.

Caldwell University's 75th graduating class is biggest ever

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A total of 482 male and female graduate and undergraduate students received degrees from the university, the most since its founding in 1939 as Caldwell Women's College

CALDWELL -- Caldwell University's largest-ever graduating class wore caps and gowns made of recycled plastic, while being reminded of the value of diversity and hard data on Sunday, during the school's 75th commencement ceremony.

"Embrace the diversity of everyone you meet, and take care to notice what makes them special," Shyam Sharma, the undergraduate commencement speaker, told fellow members of the Class of '17.

Sharma, a business administration major from Lodi, was one of 482 male and female undergraduate and graduate students to receive degrees, a record number for the university, which was founded by the Sisters of St. Dominic in 1939 as Caldwell College for Woman.

Caldwell University now offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees for men and women in 25 undergraduate and 30 graduate programs, on a 70-acre campus in the west Essex suburb for which it's named.

Undergraduate and graduate students gathered in the university's George Newman Center gym wore caps and gowns made entirely of fabric derived from recycled plastic bottles, the university said. The manufacturer, Greenweaver, says an average of 23 bottles are used to make each graduation outfit.

The graduate student commencement speaker was Matthew J. Block, director of human resources for Summit public schools, who received his doctorate in educational leadership. Block said the skills acquired through higher education were critical in today's era of fake news and alternative facts.

"We have been given the tools to be a positive force where there is negativity, and to provide clarity where there is ambiguity," Block told fellow graduates.

An honorary doctorate was awarded to Olive Woodye, director of a Catholic primary school in Belize, the Central American nation where Caldwell students, faculty and staff have served on volunteer mission trips.

"I accept it in the name of all the children I taught during the 44 years of my teaching career and, of course, the class of 2017, without whom this would not have been possible," Woodye said.

University President Nancy Blattner said the commencement was, "a day of celebration for the faculty, staff and administration of Caldwell as we send forth our 75th class of graduates to make a positive impact upon our world."

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

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