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Dozens nabbed in narcotics sweep in Hudson, Essex counties

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Approximately 150 law enforcement officers conducted the sweep.

More than 30 people were arrested throughout Hudson and Essex counties on Tuesday following an eight-month narcotics investigation, Hudson County Prosecutors Esther Suarez announced today. 

Approximately 150 law enforcement officers from the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office, the Jersey City Police Department, and other local and federal agencies executed a number of search warrants at various locations --  including seven homes, four vehicles and one business -- in Jersey City and East Orange, beginning at 6 a.m. 

Additional search warrants and arrest warrants continued to be executed throughout the day. Officers seized two handguns, hollow point bullets, three vehicles, and various amounts of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and illegal prescription drugs during the operation. 

"This network was responsible for supplying a significant amount of heroin and other narcotics to the Jersey City area," Suarez said in a statement. "Considering the amount of drug use and the drug distribution trade in this area, it's reassuring that this collaborative effort will help to diminish the harm imposed on the residents of Jersey City by this illegal activity."

The HCPO did not disclose the amount of drugs that were confiscated or the estimated value of the narcotics ring. 

The alleged leader of the ring, 38-year-old Jersey City resident Kyleamin Martin, was among the 31 arrested Tuesday. Martin was charged with leading a narcotics trafficking network, multiple counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, as well as distribution of cocaine. He was also charged with conspiracy to possess a firearm and conspiracy to commit official misconduct.

Suarez also thanked the Hudson County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshals Service for assisting in the arrests and execution of the search warrants, and also thanked the Jersey City Medical Center Emergency Medical Services for its assistance during the operation.

In a statement, Jersey City Public Safety Director praised the investigative work of the Jersey City Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit, saying those efforts led to the uncovering of a "network of drugs, guns and violent offenders."

"Their work, and the collaboration with the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office and multiple other county and federal law enforcement agencies, has led to these nearly three dozen arrests and bringing down this illegal and dangerous operation," Shea said. 

When the defendants appeared in Criminal Justice Reform Court this afternoon via video link, the state moved to detain many of them through the course of their prosecution. Detention hearings are scheduled for Tuesday before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale. 

The following individuals were arrested:

  • Kyleamin Martin, 38, of Jersey City, was charged with leading a narcotics trafficking network; multiple counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute marijuana; distribution of cocaine; conspiracy to possess a firearm; and conspiracy to commit official misconduct.
  • Reginald Williams, 27, of Jersey City, was charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to unlawfully possess a firearm; and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault.
  • Javon Williams, 21, of Jersey City, was charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin and conspiracy to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs; distribution of heroin; conspiracy to possess a firearm; two counts of possession of a firearm while committing a CDS offense; possession of a hi-capacity firearm; possession of a defaced firearm; possession of hollow point bullets; and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault.
  • Tarvis Frye, 24, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs; conspiracy to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to commit aggravated assault; and conspiracy to possess a firearm.
  • Jamilla Jones, 32, of Jersey City, was charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to commit official misconduct; official misconduct; and pattern of official misconduct.
  • Steven Kitchens, 47, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin.
  • Darrell Stokes, 61, of East Orange, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin.
  • Arvetta Stokes, 56, of East Orange, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin.
  • Anneka Taylor, 35, of East Orange, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin.
  • Gladyinet Ferrer, 26, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine; and possession of cocaine.
  • Wilfredo Sanabria, 23, of Jersey City, was charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin and conspiracy to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to possess a firearm; and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault.
  • Shamar Bey, 25, of Elizabeth, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose; and certain persons not to possess a firearm.
  • Adelso Ovalle-Delacruz, 20, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin.
  • Manuel Sanabria, 19, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin; and conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs.
  • Tyrone Alexander, 46, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs.
  • Rashonda Harris, 42, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs.
  • Nathan Miller, 28, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin; and conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs.
  • Markise Johnson, 25, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs.
  • Josephine Colclough, 66, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs.
  • Jermaine Mitchell, 35, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin.
  • Donte Badger, 20, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin; and conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs.
  • Destiny Washington, 26, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin.
  • Damon Smith, 40, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs.
  • Caryl Gaston, 38, of East Orange, was charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
  • Ashley Lipowski, 25, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
  • Damon Williams, 22, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs.
  • Freddie Frye Jr., age 48, of jersey city, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin.
  • Celina Colclough, 48 of Willingboro, was charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs.
  • Elijah White, 57, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin.
  • Tyrell Frye, 27, of Jersey City, was charged with possession of marijuana; possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
  • Austin Jeffrey, 25, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin; and conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs.
 
 

Gang member gets more than 9 years in Newark crack cocaine conspiracy

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Gang controlled drug dealing in areas of Newark, according to authorities.

NEWARK -- A reputed Grape Street Crips gang member was sentenced Wednesday to 112 months in prison and five years of supervised release for trafficking crack cocaine in Newark.

Ernest Valentine, 32, who also goes by "Bop," pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of crack-cocaine in June, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. 

Federal prosecutors said Valentine and his associates operated in areas of Newark where the Grape Street Crips controlled drug trafficking and other illicit activity, including around 6th Avenue and North 5th Street.

Valentine bought the drugs from more senior gang members and used a shared cell phone to take orders for thousands of clips of crack cocaine, according to prosecutors.

The gang used so-called "community guns," which are communal weapons hidden to be shared among criminals, prosecutors said. Agents seized a range of weapons, including a .410-caliber assault rifle, a .45-caliber Thompson semi-automatic carbine, a 7.62-caliber assault rifle and various semi-automatic handguns in the probe.

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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Christie says he'll enact law to expunge records of some drug offenders

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Even after serving time, addicts often face a lifetime of discrimination. Christie wants to change that. Watch video

NEWARK -- Gov. Chris Christie said Wednesday he expects to soon sign into law comprehensive reforms that would allow addicts in recovery who've graduated from New Jersey's drug courts to have their convictions expunged from state records.

Speaking at the Essex Vicinage drug court graduation ceremony of the star of his recent public service campaign, Vanessa Vitolo, the governor said he believed that "between now and the end of June" he would sign "an even broader expungement blll" into law.

Christie has already signed a "ban the box" law that restricts employers from inquiring about an applicant's criminal background during the initial stages of the application process. It was named after the infamous "check here if you have a prior conviction" box on many job applications.

But on Wednesday the governor said that law, which went into effect March 2015,  didn't address the unique stigma faced by recovering addicts who've graduated from drug court.

"Second chances don't matter if you can't get a job," said Christie. "Second chances don't matter if you can't put food on the table or a roof over your head."

"Word!" shouted one man in the auditorium approvingly, leading to applause and other cheers.

To fix that, state Sens. Sandra Cunningham (D-Passaic) and Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) are co-prime sponsors of a bill that will be introduced in the Senate on Thursday, according to Cunningham.

Lesniak said that their bill will include exactly the sort of employment protections the governor is looking for, and will be combined with one of his existing bills (S-54), which provides for state-issued certificates of rehabilitation to drug offenders who've completed mandatory drug rehab.

What Christie said about Sessions' new hard line on drug sentencing

Cunningham's expungement legislation would allow non-violent drug offenders who've successfully completed treatment to place their legal records under seal, away from employers who might use the information to discriminate against them.

"You have to earn that second chance," Christie said Wednesday, "And when you go through drug court and you stay sober, you earn it."

The success of the New Jersey drug court program, started under Gov. Jon Corzine and expanded under Christie, has allowed the governor to close the Midstate Correctional Facility this year, and convert it into a planned drug treatment center.

"Yes, we want to save lives with treatment," said the governor. "But once we save that life, we want to make it a life of purpose in every way that we can."

Christie, who heads the president's commission on opioid addiction, is facing an uphill battle in Washington, where U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently reversed an Obama administration edict to avoid charging low-level, nonviolent drug offenders with crimes with crimes that carried the stiffest sentences. 

The move was widely panned by addiction and legal experts, who say it will force the Justice Department to spend its resources on incarceration, rather than prevention and investigation of crime.

Claude Brodesser-Akner may be reached at cbrodesser@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClaudeBrodesser. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Missing Bloomfield student back home

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Teen reported missing Monday.

jack.jpgJack Fernandez (Photo: Bloomfield police) 

BLOOMFIELD --

A Bloomfield High School student who went missing has returned home, police said Wednesday night. 

Earlier Wednesday police asked for the public's help to find the 15-year-old who was reported missing.

Jack Fernandez was last seen by his parents around 7:15 a.m. Monday, according to an alert from township police. 

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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Fugitive wanted in Georgia gas station killing arrested in N.J., cops say

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Man shot in the head May 15.

PRIESTER.jpgJoseph Priester (Photo: Essex County jail) 

MAPLEWOOD -- A fugitive wanted for fatally shooting a man in the head at a Georgia gas station was captured in Maplewood, authorities said Wednesday.

Joseph Priester, 36, is accused of murder and other offenses after he allegedly shot Genaro Rojas Martinez, 39, in the head at point blank range outside the Texaco station in Smyrna, Georgia May 15, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. 

Maplewood police on Tuesday learned Priester was at an address on Burnett Avenue in the township and set up surveillance in the area, said department spokesman Detective Sgt. Christopher Black.

As authorities were watching, Priester got in a vehicle and tried to leave a parking lot, Black said in a statement. Police stopped Priester, who was taken into custody without incident.

Records show he was being held at the Essex County jail Wednesday afternoon ahead of extradition to Georgia. 

Smyrna police Deputy Chief Robert Harvey told FOX 5 Atlanta the motive for the killing was unclear and the shooting was captured on store security video.

The Cobb County Sheriff's Office in Georgia confirmed fugitive officers and U.S. Marshals located the accused shooter in New Jersey.

Maplewood and Smyrna authorities did not immediately return messages seeking more information.

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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Cop can be questioned about his shooting of murder suspect, judge says

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Defense attorneys began to cross-examine a police officer who shot the defendant

NEWARK -- As an assistant prosecutor played a recording of police radio traffic in a county courtroom Wednesday, East Orange Police Detective Kemon Lee quickly identified himself calling for backup on May 1, 2015, the night authorities say Andre Higgs gunned down Latrena May on the steps of her East Orange home.

Latrena MayLatrena May. (Facebook)
 

"We got a victim, and a suspect inside the building -- shots fired," his voice crackled from a speaker in front of the jury box.

The officer said he shot Higgs when the man shot May in front of him, after she called out to Lee as his patrol car passed her Tremont Avenue home. 

Higgs, 45, of Watchung, is on trial before Superior Court Judge Ronald D. Wigler on murder and other charges in the death of May, 27, the mother of Higgs' child and a teacher at Pride Academy Charter School.

Higgs survived his injuries, while May died of three gunshot wounds, her death ruled a homicide by an assistant medical examiner. The couple's then 4-year-old daughter was inside the home at the time of May's shooting, but was unharmed, authorities said.

The state Attorney General's Office later determined Lee's use of force was justified, but defense attorney Remi Spencer argued in openings Tuesday that her client was only charged with May's death as a result of Lee's actions -- a theory co-counsel Joseph P. Rem Jr. pursued in his cross examination of Lee in the second day of trial.

Lee testified under direct examination that when he heard May calling "officer, officer" as he passed, he made a U-turn and pulled up in front of the house with his car's overhead emergency lights on.

As he got out of the car and approached, Lee unholstered his department-issued .40-caliber pistol, his finger off the trigger, he said.

Under cross-examination by Rem on Wednesday, Lee told the jury that he did not recall May saying anything as he approached her and Higgs, who were standing on the home's top step.

Rem, pointing out that guidelines from the state Attorney General's Office clearly specify the circumstances under which an officer may unholster their firearm, asked him why he felt the need to approach the couple with his gun out.

The officer responded that because Higgs was almost a foot taller than May, the two were standing extremely close together and she had called for a police officer, he felt he needed to display his firearm to "establish and maintain control in a potentially dangerous situation."

Rem's cross examination of Lee drew numerous objections from Edwab, several of which resulted in sidebar conversations between the attorneys and the judge.

Defense  in trial for teacher's killing

After Wigler excused the jury for the day, the assistant prosecutor told the judge that while he did not want to continue to lodge objections to Rem's cross examination of Lee, the questioning seemed to indicate Higgs' attorneys were pursuing a self-defense argument the judge had not previously authorized.

"That's our issue," he said. "If they're saying he fired his weapon because the officer fired his weapon, then they're saying self-defense."

Wigler pointed out that the state Attorney General's Office had already determined Lee's shooting of Higgs was "completely justified." 

"Well, they didn't speak to my client, obviously," Rem said.

The attorney argued that he and Spencer aren't pursuing a self-defense argument, but rather challenging the narrative that Higgs purposefully shot May in front of a police officer, a theory Rem said "flies in the face of common sense."

By probing the officer's recollections of when and why he shot Higgs, he argued, he was examining Lee's credibility in an attempt to show jurors a reasonable doubt exists as to Higgs' guilt.

"That's all I have to show," Rem said.

The judge ultimately said he will allow the defense to continue to pursue that line of questioning. While Higgs' attorneys may cross-examine Lee as to his role in their client's shooting, Wigler on Tuesday barred them raising the subject of previous shootings he was involved in as a police officer.

The jury is not sitting Thursday, and the trial is expected to resume at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

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

Vintage photos of Medal of Honor recipients from N.J.

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"Uncommon valor was a common virtue." -- Adm. Chester Nimitz

The Congressional Medal of Honor, according to cmohs.org, "is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States."

This week, we pay tribute to Medal of Honor recipients who hail from New Jersey. Although our collection only covers World War I through the Vietnam War, we have included one Medal of Honor recipient who was recognized for actions during the Civil War.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

I couldn't help but realize while putting this gallery together that the nation's highest award for bravery was awarded to some very gallant individuals indeed, but they represent only a fraction of the servicemen and servicewomen from the Garden State who performed heroic acts.

Every man and woman who put on a uniform sacrificed for their country. Admiral Chester Nimitz's quote inscribed on the United States Marine Corps War Memorial was delivered following the Battle of Iwo Jima but is applicable to all who've served:

"Uncommon valor was a common virtue."

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

Teen's 34-inch bluefish lands him N.J. surf fishing title

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Lacey High School took the inaugural high school title at the 26th Annual Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament.

ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK -- Nutley teen Kyle Brendel caught the biggest fish at the 26th Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament Sunday.

The 16-year-old beat about 600 anglers with his 34-inch bluefish. He won two rod and reels, a tackle box, sunglasses and a plaque, and will have his name engraved on the Governor's Cup, which is permanently on display at Island Beach State Park.

Two Hamilton residents, Jaden Stimon and Shane Stimon, won the children's category, and James Henderson, of Langhorne, Pa., and Jackie Scarpelli, of Toms River, took the adult men's and women's titles.

Lacey High School's Toad Masters team won the first ever high school category at the annual tournament.

The tournament sponsored by the state Department of Environmental Protection's Fish & Wildlife and Parks & Forestry divisions, as well as the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, the Jersey Coast Anglers Association and the NJ Beach Buggy Association.

gsft17winner.jpgKyle Brendel poses with the Governor's Cup. (NJ DEP photo) 

The winners, with length of catch, all bluefish:

Child Male

First Place: Jaden Stimon, Hamilton - 25 6/8 inches

Second Place: Shane Stimon, Hamilton - 22 6/8 inches

Teen Male

First Place: Kyle Brendel, Nutley, - 34 inches

Second Place: Kyle Brown, Old Bridge - 30 4/8 inches

Third Place: Thomas Heffelfinger, Toms River - 30 inches

Adult Male

First Place: James Henderson, Langhorne, Pa. - 31 2/8 inches

Second Place: Robert Shoremount, Oxford - 30 6/8 inches

Third Place: Gary Grimm, Chester - 30 4/8 inches

Adult Female

First Place: Jackie Scarpelli, Toms River - 26 inches

Second Place: Dawn Howachyn, Forked River - 23 inches

High School Team

First Place: Lacey High School - Toad Masters - 22 6/8 inches

Second Place: Manasquan High School #1 - 22 4/8 inches

Third Place: Toms River South High School - 22 inches

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Technology High School 2017 prom (PHOTOS)

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JERSEY CITY - Newark's Technology High School held its 2017 prom on May 24th at the Liberty House. The evening started with a red carpet walk and toast send off at the high school and then students went to the Liberty House where they danced to the music played by DJ Musicaunion. Be sure to check out our complete prom coverage at nj.com/prom. SHARE YOUR...

JERSEY CITY - Newark's Technology High School held its 2017 prom on May 24th at the Liberty House. The evening started with a red carpet walk and toast send off at the high school and then students went to the Liberty House where they danced to the music played by DJ Musicaunion.

Be sure to check out our complete prom coverage at nj.com/prom.

SHARE YOUR PROM PHOTOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @njdotcom and on Instagram @njdotcom. Then tag your photos #njprom. We'll retweet and repost the best pics! 

Malcolm X Shabazz High School 2017 prom (PHOTOS)

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Malcolm X Shabazz High School celebrated its prom Wednesday night at the Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park.

WOODLAND PARK -- Themed "A Night on the Nile," more than 100 Malcolm X Shabazz High School students celebrated their prom Wednesday night at the Westmount Country Club.

Check back at nj.com/essex for other local high school prom coverage from schools in Essex County. And be sure to check out our complete prom coverage at nj.com/prom.

SHARE YOUR PROM PHOTOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Let's see your prom photos. Post your pictures on Twitter and Instragram with #njprom. We'll retweet and repost our favorites on Twitter @njdotcom and Instagram @njdotcompix.

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

Billing error causes power shut off at popular Newark eatery

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The casual eatery in Newark's Military Park was shut down for a few hours on Wednesday after the city forgot to keep the lights on, the owner said.

NEWARK -- A mix-up over an unpaid electric bill forced a popular Newark burger eatery in the newly revitalized Military Park to shut its doors Wednesday after the restaurant's power was unexpectedly cut. 

"When something is out of your control and something like this happens, it's a tough situation," Chris Siversen, executive chef and partner of BURG said. "It's definitely crippling."

The standalone restaurant near the New Jersey Performing Arts Center is the only commercial business nestled in the park. While Siversen pays rent on the property to the nonprofit board that manages the park - the electric bill for the entire park is paid by the city. 

"The lights were off, the carousel stopped running, the free wifi stopped working," said Siversen, 48. "We can't be fighting our own people, they're supposed to help make us successful, not shut us down for the day."

PSEG said electrical services were cut in the morning due to a "miscommunication." PSEG spokeswoman Brooke Houston said the park's service payments were transferred from the nonprofit board, the Military Park Partnership, to the city last year. 

"The name and address on that account should have been changed in December. It was not," she said. "As a result, bills and subsequent collections notices were sent to the wrong address."

Houston said PSEG turned the power back on in the afternoon after realizing the mistake and would work with the city to fix it.

Dan Biederman, president of Biederman Redevelopment Ventures, which runs the park along with the Military Park Partnership, attributed the issue to a "clerical error" and said the electrical services were put under the partnership's name instead of the city's.

"As the account had not been fully switched to the city, someone at the city failed to continue processing payments," Biederman said in a statement.

He said park management worked with city officials to quickly resolve the problem and power was restored by 1:30 p.m. after being shut off at 11:20 a.m.

"MPP is working with the city to identify the source of the error, and is confident this issue will not happen again," Biederman said. 

A spokeswoman for the city did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

BURG opened its doors about a year and a half ago, boasting of an outdoor beer garden and specialty burgers.

Siversen is the acclaimed chef behind Maritime Parc in Jersey City and was drawn to Newark as development boomed and new construction was on the horizon. 

Siversen said Wednesday's closure caused him to miss the lunch rush and lose potential revenue. "That really hurt us today," he said.

Despite the frustration, Siversen said he was committed to working with the city. He said BURG would remain open year-round this year. Llast year it closed for the winter.

"We love what we're doing here, we believe we have a really good future with the city," he added.

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

The NJ.com softball Top 20 for May 25: A new No. 1 just before finals

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For the first time in weeks, there's a new No. 1.

A red banner Memorial Day in Montclair | Di Ionno

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St. James bell tower repaired and to be rededicated

When the woman was a girl, how many years ago she'd rather not say, she remembered being in a car on Valley Road in the village area of Upper Montclair.

Her mother pulled over to run an errand and, as people felt safe to do in those days, left the children in the car.

The girl then looked up and saw a stone bell tower, Medieval in its design, its parapet reaching 75-feet towards the heavens like a stone-and-mortar crown into the sky. It was an inspiring, romantic vision.

"She told me how beautiful she thought it was," said Rev. Melissa Hall, the pastor of The Episcopal Church of St. James, home of the tower. "She always remembered that moment."

This Sunday morning at 11:15, after the church's 10:15 service, the Montclair landmark will be rededicated after a nearly $1 million structural repair and exterior facelift.

In the crowd will be the woman who has not only loved the tower since she was a girl, but loved it enough to anonymously donate about 80 percent of the cost of its renovation.

She kicked off the campaign last year with a $400,000 donation, and then pledged a four-to-one match for every dollar the congregation raised.

When the story of the church's project appeared in this column last summer, Hall figured reconstruction would take about five years.

With the anonymous donor's matching grant, the work was completed by spring.

"It goes without saying we couldn't have done it without her," Hall said. "No way. Certainly not this fast."

The tower was built in 1919 after the World War I armistice, as an addition to the existing church, in the same Gothic style. The names of the seven men from Montclair who went off to war and never returned were inscribed on seven of the tower's 13 bells. Some died in combat. Others died of illnesses far from home. Either way, they were lost to their community forever.

In that respect, the tower is not just a memorial edifice, it is a literal pillar of the community. Because along with the names of the dead, the names of 90 men and one woman from Montclair who fought in Europe are also inscribed on the memorial tablet. The plaque is at the base of the tower, which is also the entrance to the church.

The tower was built as thanks for their return, and its bells have chimed through the downtown area of Upper Montclair on the quarter-hour, as reliable as the march of time, ever since.

But despite the incessant presence of the bells, Hall felt the tower's meaning had slipped from the public consciousness when she took over as pastor of St. James four years ago.

While moving into her office, she found a weathered banner with 98 stars - 91 in blue and seven in gold. It was a relic from the days when the tower's meaning was more prevalent in the congregation. She wanted to restore the spirit of the tower, as well as the structure.

"I believe we have an obligation to remember these people," she said. "If not, war becomes an abstraction. We become too detached from it. And if war becomes an abstraction, peace becomes an abstraction, too."

Each Memorial Day since Hall took over, the church has made the ceremony less abstract and more personal.

Seven plaster stanchions hold framed biographies of the men who died in World War I. They are placed on the entrance walkway to the church, connected by red fabric. At the foot of each stanchion is a pair of military boots. From the top of the tower, a red drape is unfurled to the base as a reminder to the community of the landmark's significance. 

Sometimes, the overwhelming numbers of dead obliterate the loss of individuals. There were 11 million military deaths in World War I and seven million civilian deaths.

America's losses were fractional -- 116,516 military deaths - but each represents a family's profound loss, one that only grows with time. When a young person dies, a branch of the family tree comes crashing down. 

"Those little biographies humanize them," Hall said. "They make them real. We can never forget these are real men and women, not just numbers in history books."

And for the record, they are:

Army Capt. George Stanley Butcher, killed in battle in France.

Marine Cpl. Richard W. P. Rose, a Princeton graduate, killed in battle in France.

Marine Aviation Lt. Chapin C. Barr, killed in an air battle in France and the posthumous recipient of the Navy Cross.

Army Lt. Maurice P. Niven, killed in France two weeks before the Armistice.

Louis Frank Pfingstag, Howard Martin Cook Jr. and Edward Roehr - died of illnesses while serving.

Niven was 30. Cook was 18. The rest were in their early 20s.

"People should stop and think about these kids, and all the kids, who died in war and the holes it left in their families," Hall said. "And maybe someday we'll stop sending them."

And for that reason, she doesn't call the tower a war memorial. Instead, she hopes it's a peace memorial.

Mark Di Ionno may be reached at mdiionno@starledger.com. Follow The Star-Ledger on Twitter @StarLedger and find us on Facebook.

Booker to Bloomfield College grads: Find ways to 'help, serve, and love'

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Bloomfield College graduated its largest class ever on May 19.

BLOOMFIELD -- To celebrate the commencement of Bloomfield College's largest class ever, Sen. Cory Booker told the school's 333 graduates to use what they learned to make a difference in daily life.

"Find ways in ordinary moments to be there to help, serve, and love other people," said Booker, who served as commencement speaker and received an honorary degree.

"More than that big speech you might give, more than that big fight you might take on, more than our race, and more than our religion, it is our actions, what we do day in and day out, that define the truth of who we are."

Grad pops question during NJIT ceremony

The Class of 2017, the liberal arts school's 144th, was congratulated at the May 19 ceremony by a long list of speakers that included WABC 7 News anchor Lori Stokes, and Melissa Nobles, a dean at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"I am so honored to receive an honorary degree from Bloomfield College because of what this institution stands for," said Stokes. Bloomfield is often cited as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse colleges in the nation.

"This college stays true to its mission and commitment to see to it that graduates are in a position to have social and economic mobility."

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

Fab frosh: Ranking the Top 50 freshmen in N.J. baseball

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There is talent galore in the underclass ranks across New Jersey. NJ.com ranked the Top 50 freshmen in the state.


Which N.J. boys lacrosse programs have the most state titles?

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Which program is the best of the best in terms of winning titles?

Video showing persons of interest in fatal shooting released by prosecutor

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A 20-year-old city man was killed on a city street in a broad daylight in on a Saturday afternoon two years ago. Watch video

ELIZABETH -- Union County authorities Wednesday issued a plea for the public's help to identify two persons of interest wanted for questioning in the investigation of a broad daylight fatal shooting almost exactly two years ago.

Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park released video clips of a male and female taken from a surveillance footage recorded shortly before the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Earlquan Moore on May 23, 2015.

Police responding to reports of shots fired found Moore on the ground outside a residence on the 200 block of 3rd Street, where he had been shot about 3:15 p.m., Park said.

Moore was taken to Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth where he was pronounced dead a short time later, the prosecutor said.

The video clips show a white four-door Nissan Altima that authorities believe was used by somebody involved in the shooting.

Two people can be seen walking near the passenger's side of the Nissan, which is from model years 2013 to 2015.

A male appears to have long black dreadlocks and is wearing a white tee-shirt and dark pants with a belt. A female is also shown and appears to be wearing a white tank top and dark pants.

Several people were in the neighborhood when the shooting occurred, with at least five witnesses reporting they heard two shots ring out, NJ Advance Media reported the day after the shooting.

The prosecutor's office Homicide Task Force, which is investigating the case along with the Elizabeth police, is urging anybody with information about the death of Moore to call task force Sgt. Jose Vendas at (908) 358-3048 or Detective Sofia Santos at (908) 577-4256.

The Union County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case. Tips can be given anonymously by phone by calling (908) 654-TIPS (8477), or by sending a text message and texting "UCTIP" and a message to 274637 (CRIMES), authorities

Tips can also be sent on online at www.uctip.org.

Residents in the Elizabeth port section of the city where the shooting occurred decried the violence in the neighborhood in the months prior to the killing of Moore.

Tom Haydon may be reached at thaydon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_HaydonSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Barringer Academy of S.T.E.A.M. 2017 prom (PHOTOS)

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Barringer Academy of S.T.E.A.M. celebrated its prom Wednesday night at the Royal Manor in Garfield.

NEWARK -- Students at Barringer Academy of S.T.E.A.M. celebrated their prom on Wednesday evening at The Royal Manor in Garfield.

Check back at nj.com/essex for other local high school prom coverage from schools in Essex County. And be sure to check out our complete prom coverage at nj.com/prom.

SHARE YOUR PROM PHOTOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Let's see your prom photos. Post your pictures on Twitter and Instragram with #njprom. We'll retweet and repost our favorites on Twitter @njdotcom and Instagram @njdotcompix.

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

Yogi Berra's first Montclair home on the market for $3.2M (PHOTOS)

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The famed Yankee catcher and manager and his wife Carmen lived in the home for more than 15 years while raising their three sons

The classic Montclair Tudor where beloved Yankees legend Yogi Berra and his wife Carmen raised their three sons has hit the market for $3.2 million, according to its Trulia listing. 

The Berras moved to the home on Wayside Place in the late 1950s. Their sons grown, they downsized in 1974 to a Highland Avenue Colonial, selling the Wayside Place home to real estate developer John Cali, the co-founder of Mack-Cali, and his wife Rose.

The Berras lived on Highland Avenue until moving into an assisted living facility in West Caldwell in 2012. Carmen died in 2014; he died a year later. The Highland Avenue home sold in 2014 for $988,888 -- a tribute to the Yankee's jersey number.

The 6,800-square-foot Wayside Place home, built in 1930, still features many original details, including the wood floors, family room built-ins, leaded glass windows and slate roof, but there have been updates, including an ultramodern bathroom and dressing room. The home also features a dining room with a cathedral ceiling, a gallery, a library, a billiards room, five bedrooms and five full bathrooms.

The 1.4-acre property includes bluestone terraces, a pool, outdoor fireplace, gazebo and bocce court. Property taxes are $56,018 a year, according to state records. It's currently the third most expensive home on the market in Montclair. 

Cali died in 2014. His wife Rose, who became close friends with the Berras, has the home on the market through Halstead.

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

Voters' pick: 2 of the prettiest rooms at 1 N.J. mansion (PHOTOS)

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Mansions in May continues through Wednesday

MORRIS TOWNSHIP -- Each year thousands tour a hand-picked mansion that's been all gussied up by the state's hottest designers as part of the annual Mansion in May Designer Showcase fundraiser.

This year, the 20,000-square-foot Alnwick Hall-The Abbey stone mansion in Morris Township was selected and more than 45 design firms renovated 41 interior rooms and 17 landscapes around the mansion. 

After taking the tour, more than 15,000 visitors voted on what they thought was the best designed room inside and out. The winners of the 2017 Tulip Award:

-- For inside: Curren Design Associates of Denville and Plumberry Designs of Florham Park, for renovating an office space into a pied-a-terre one-room apartment. They call their French-inspired design, "Left Bank Loft."

-- For outside: M.ERBS Fine Gardens of Denville won for its garden, "Meany Northumberland Parterre." 

Proceeds of Mansions in May will benefit the new Center for Nursing Innovation and Research at Morristown Medical Center.

The Designers Showhouse and Gardens 2017 tour is open every day, including Memorial Day, through Wednesday. Tours are from 10 a.m. -5 p.m. with the last tour at 3 p.m. Tickets are $50.

Ed Murray may be reached at emurray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Ed on Twitter at @EdMurrayphoto. Find NJ.COM on Facebook.

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