Man, 53, attacked at his home early Wednesday, according to prosecutor.

MAPLEWOOD -- A 53-year-old man died from injuries he suffered when he was attacked in his Maplewood home early Wednesday, authorities said. 

Wesley Reason was assaulted in his Broadview Avenue residence, near Marie Place, around 2:30 a.m. and pronounced dead about 40 minutes later, according to Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and township Police Chief Robert Cimino.

A preliminary investigation found Reason died of blunt force trauma, Murray and Cimino said in a statement.

Detectives did not immediately make any arrests in the killing, a prosecutor's office spokeswoman said.

Authorities have not said if Reason was targeted or what led police to discover the attack.

Maplewood police referred questions to county investigators.

The death marked the fourth homicide victim in Maplewood this year after the suburban Essex County community did not log a single slaying last year.

In January, three people were found shot to death at a Maplewood apartment complex. Two men were indicted on murder charges in the homicides. 

Editor's Note: Authorities initially provided an incorrect age for Reason. This report has been updated with the correct information. 

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

Winners were announced during the awards ceremony at Paper Mill Playhouse Tuesday night

MILLBURN -- Since 1996, the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre have launched the careers of many locals, including Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway, Tony Award winner Nikki M. James ("The Book of Mormon") and Shanice Williams, star of NBC's The Wiz Live!, among others.

The playhouse's 2017 awards ceremony took place at the Tony-award winning theater in Millburn Tuesday night and featured presenters from Broadway and beyond. 

Eastern Regional High School in Voorhees Township took home the coveted prize of Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical for their production of "Les Miserables: School Edition." Gay Bowman and Dr. Gregg Molotsky, also from Eastern Regional High School, won Outstanding Actor in a leading Role and Outstanding Direction respectively. The award for Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role went to Khailah Johnson, who played Deloris van Cartier in "Sister Act," at Franklin High School in Franklin Township (Somerset). See a complete list of winners below.

The Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards is a statewide competition among nearly 100 New Jersey high school musicals from public, private and parochial high schools. The program was created more than 20 years ago to foster the development of more high school musicals and to reward accomplishments in the productions of high school musical theater.

According to their website, Paper Mill Playhouse awards four $1,000 cash awards for exceptional individual students who want to continue with theater in college and take their careers to the next level. A fifth cash scholarship is given in memory of former Rising Star Nominee Douglas Michael Krueger.

Students who receive final nominations in the lead and supporting actor categories receive a scholarship to Paper Mill Playhouse's Competitive Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory, a professional training program that gives nominees an opportunity to take advanced singing, acting and dancing classes as well as perform on the Paper Mill stage at their concert, "New Voices of 2017: Everyone Loves an Underdog!" on July 28 and 29.

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Overall Production

Eastern Regional High School

LES MISERABLES: SCHOOL EDITION

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role

Khailah Johnson as "Deloris van Cartier"

Franklin High School

SISTER ACT

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role

Gary Bowman as "Jean Valjean"

Eastern Regional High School

LES MISERABLES: SCHOOL EDITION

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role

Alana Kopelove as "Little Sally"

Gloucester County Institute of Technology

URINETOWN

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role

Will Higgins as "Nathan Detroit"

Montclair Kimberley Academy

GUYS AND DOLLS

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role

Shane Daneyko as "Chef Louis"

West Essex Regional High School

DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Featured Ensemble Member

Rachel Maselek as "Little Becky Two Shoes"

Gloucester County Institute of Technology

URINETOWN

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Featured Ensemble Group

The Rebel Poor

Gloucester County Institute of Technology

URINETOWN

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Chorus

Academy of the Holy Angels

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Direction

Dr. Gregg Molotsky

Eastern Regional High School

LES MISERABLES: SCHOOL EDITION

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Choreography / Musical Staging

Jensyn Modero

Mount Saint Dominic Academy

42ND STREET

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Music Direction

James Mosser and Laura Muller

Union High School

CINDERELLA

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Orchestra

Union High School

CINDERELLA

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Scenic Achievement

Jason M. Stewart

Ridge High School

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Lighting Achievement

Christopher Annas-Lee

Union High School

CINDERELLA

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Costuming Achievement

Katherine Winter

Summit High School

HOW TO SUCCEED

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Outstanding Hair and Make-up Achievement

Catherine O'Brien

Mount Saint Dominic Academy

42ND STREET

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Educational Impact Award

Fair Lawn High School

BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award "Theatre for Everyone" Inclusion & Access Award

Morristown High School

LEGALLY BLONDE

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Student Achievement Award

Aliza Howard and T'Erah Johnson, Cheer Coaching/Choreography

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS

BRING IT ON

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Student Achievement Award

Desaree Vaughn, Film Editor/Cinematographer

BCIT Medford

SINGIN' IN THE RAIN

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Student Achievement Award

Front of House Crew

Christian Brothers Academy

THE MUSIC MAN

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Student Achievement Award

Coriyanna Osborne Willis, Stage Management

Cicely L. Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts

SISTER ACT

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Student Achievement Award

Jordan Bernstein and Isabella Machuca, Sound Design/Q-Lab Operator

Morris County School of Technology

BIG FISH

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Student Achievement Award

Stage Management Team

Morris County School of Technology

BIG FISH

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Student Achievement Award

Costume Team

Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan

TARZAN

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Student Achievement Award

Drew Fournier, Rehearsal Pianist

Secaucus High School

SHREK

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Student Achievement Award

Robert Scott, Lighting Head

Summit High School

HOW TO SUCCEED

2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Student Achievement Award

Devyn Tibbals, Stage Manager

Westfield High School

CARRIE

The Investors Foundation Rising Star Awards Scholarship

Owen McKenna

Ridge High School

Janet Sovey Scholarship for the Rising Star Awards

Jordan Auriemma

River Dell Regional High School

The Jane Grey Burgio Memorial Scholarship for the Rising Star Awards

Moyo Odulaja

Cicely L. Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts

The Douglas Michael Krueger Scholarship for the Rising Star Awards

Sean McManus

Summit High School

The Paper Mill Playhouse Technical Theatre Scholarship

John Hartmann

David Brearley High School

It's the biggest meet of the year in N.J.

Gov. Chris Christie said his vote for Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno as the GOP nominee will have no impact on the election. Watch video

Gov. Chris Christie lauds President Donald Trump for selecting his former attorney, Christopher Wray, to head the FBI. (Tom Haydon | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

LIVINGSTON -- Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday praised President Donald Trump for nominating attorney Christopher Wray -- the lawyer who represented the governor during the Bridgegate scandal -- for head of the FBI.

"Christopher Wray is the gold standard, and the president deserves extraordinary credit of going through a deliberative process and picking not a politician but a law enforcement professional," Christie said.

He said that when the Bridgegate scandal broke, he depended on Wray.

"When I was at the absolute lowest point in my professional life, he (Wray) is who I called," Christie said.

"When I had to retain legal counsel during a very, very troubling, confusing, difficult time for me, I made one phone call, and that was to Chris Wray. I can't give a better recommendation than that," Christie said.

He said Trump "made an outstanding choice. I commend him for it."

Speaking after an appearance at St. Barnabas Medical Center, Christie also responded to questions about Tuesday's primary election in which Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno won the GOP nomination and Phil Murphy, the former Wall Street banker and former ambassador to Germany, won the Democratic Party nomination.

Christie voted for Guadagno, but on Wednesday said he will have little impact on the election.

"My vote had an impact of one, mine. I don't pretend that it had an impact of anything more than that. I don't believe that people care about endorsements generally," Christie said.

He said the two nominees will be judged on their campaigns.

"I'm old news," Christie said. He recalled that the popular Gov. Tom Kean endorsed GOP nominee Jim Courter in 1989. "Jim Courter lost by 540,000 votes to Jim Florio."

Christie was at the medical center to mark the increased efforts to track prescriptions of opioids and pain killers given to people in the fight against drug addition. He has made the battle against drug abuse a hallmark of his final year in office.

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

Victim struck, robbed on city street, according to police.

NEWARK -- A Newark man was arrested in a robbery and assault that sent a 49-year-old victim to the hospital, authorities said Wednesday.

Arthur Turner (Photo: Dept. of Public Safety) 

Arthur Turner, also 49, was charged with aggravated assault, robbery and weapons offenses after the May 20 attack in the city's East Ward, according to city Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose. 

The victim was struck with an object and robbed near Brunswick and Murray streets, according to officials. Police responded around 2 p.m. to University Hospital, where the victim was treated for injuries. 

Detectives identified Turner as a suspect and were looking for an unspecified number of additional assailants, Ambrose said in a statement.

The public safety director urged anyone with information to call Newark'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). Authorities said all anonymous tips would be kept confidential and could lead to a reward.

Boy, 15, unhurt in assault, according to authorities.

MAPLEWOOD -- A 61-year-old man is accused of assaulting a 15-year-old boy with machete in Maplewood after he mistakenly believed the teen stole his money, police said Wednesday.

Russell Mohammed, of South Orange, was charged with aggravated assault and weapons offenses, according to Detective Sgt. Christopher Black. 

Officers were initially dispatched to a report of a man with a machete Friday around 7 p.m. near Valley Street and Hixon Place, Black said. The boy told police the alleged assailant said "Give me the money. Where is the money."

Mohammed allegedly hit the juvenile on his back with the sleeved machete and struck the teen's bicycle with the weapon, according to the sergeant, who said there were no injuries. Police arrested Mohammed on Valley Street.

Police said Mohammed had his money stolen just before the attack in South Orange and first believed the 15-year-old boy was the thief.

"The juvenile is not believed to have been involved in the theft from Mr. Mohammed," police said in a statement.

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

Father was apparently fatally beaten early Wednesday.

MAPLEWOOD -- The 19-year-old son of a Maplewood man who was apparently beaten to death at the township home they shared has been arrested in the early Wednesday killing, prosecutors said.

Alexander Taylor Reason (Photo: ECPO) 

Alexander Taylor Reason was charged with murder in the slaying of his father, Wesley Reason, according to Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Maplewood Police Chief Robert Cimino.

Police responded to the Broadview Avenue residence around 2:30 a.m. for a report of an assault, prosecutors said in a statement. Authorities found Wesley Reason, 53, unresponsive and suffering from "apparent blunt force injuries." 

He was declared dead about 30 minutes later, according to Essex County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly, of the homicide unit. An autopsy was planned to determine to the exact cause of death.

Alexander Taylor Reason was also charged with weapons offenses. He allegedly used an unspecified object to inflict the fatal wounds to his father.

The father and son lived together along with other family members, according to authorities and public records.

Prosecutors did not comment on a possible motive for the slaying and township police referred questions to county investigators.

Wesley Reason previously worked as a substitute teacher for South Orange-Maplewood school district in 2009, according to a district spokeswoman. He was also employed as a quality control manager for The Vitamin Shoppe, a North Bergen-based chain.

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Wesley Reason and send our heartfelt condolences to his family during this very difficult time," the company said.

Investigators and emergency crews were gone from the Reason home Wednesday afternoon. The scene, near Marie Place, is a residential area not far from a commercial section of Springfield Avenue.

The 19-year-old Reason was being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark ahead of a detention hearing.

The killing brought the number of people murdered in Maplewood this year to four. The suburban Essex County town did not report a single killing last year, records show. Prosecutor's Office detectives have made arrests in all of the town's slayings this year, including a January triple shooting at an apartment complex.

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

The arrests are part of an operation begun in April

NEWARK-- A total of 39 people were arrested for narcotics and other offenses during a recent three-day period as a citywide narcotics operation begun in April continues, Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said.

From May 31 through June 2, police also recovered three guns, 131 decks of heroin, 305 vials of cocaine and eight bags of marijuana. That includes 104 decks of heroin and a loaded handgun found at Irvine Turner Boulevard and West Kinney Street following a tip received June 2.

"I commend the arresting detectives and officers for their continued diligence in removing illegal guns and drugs from our streets," Ambrose said. "We also thank the public for their ongoing partnership in assisting us in identifying individuals who jeopardize the safety and quality of life in our neighborhoods."

Since the operation was launched April 21, there have been a total of 271 arrests. A total of 23 firearms, 2,275 decks of heroin, 1,393 bags and vials of cocaine, 503 plastic bags of marijuana and 136 pills have been taken off the streets.

The drugs have an estimated street value of $44,000, in addition to more than $17,000 in suspected drug proceeds that was seized by police.

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

Victim not immediately identified.

NEWARK -- A pedestrian was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver Wednesday in Newark's Central Ward, authorities said.

The person was hit shortly after 4 p.m. on Rose Street, according to Essex County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly. The victim, a male, has not yet been publicly identified.

The county prosecutor's Major Crimes Task Force was investigating, according to Fennelly.

A section of Rose Street, near Woodland Cemetery, was blocked by Newark police late Wednesday afternoon. A bicycle was down on the street and cordoned off by police tape, but it was not yet clear if the rider had been struck. 

More information was not immediately available.

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

New Jersey now shares information on opioid prescriptions with other states to prevent people crossing state lines for drugs.

Gov. Chris Christie announced that five more states are sharing information about opioid prescriptions in a network intended to stop people from making multiple drug purchases across state lines. (Tom Haydon | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) 

LIVINGSTON -- Five more states have joined a drug prescription monitoring program enabling  doctors and law enforcement agencies to track drug use in the battle opioid abuse, Gov. Chris Christie announced Wednesday.

"I'm pleased to announce that five more states are joining this proven, lifesaving network and are now actively data sharing information with us," Christie said in a statement delivered at St. Barnabas Medical Center.

The states being added to the network are Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and West Virginia.

They join seven other states already in the program, including New York, Connecticut, Delaware, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Virginia and Minnesota.

Three years ago, when the New Jersey Prescription Monitoring Program was started, the state began sharing with Connecticut and Delaware.

"This database is used to identify and successfully prosecute healthcare professionals associated with pill mills that dispense narcotics without a legitimate medical purpose," Christie said. 

Over 35,000 pharmacists, physicians and others who prescribe controlled dangerous substances are registered in the network, the Governor said.

He said that in 2016, the interstate network fielded over a million requests for data about prescription.

The program requires in-state pharmacies, and those outside the state who are authorized to dispense here to submit information weekly about who has received painkillers and other drugs that are deemed controlled dangerous substances, as well as human growth hormone, according to the state officials.

Christie, who is focusing his last year as governor on drug abuse, was appointed by President Donald Trump as chair of the White House Commission on opioid abuse. The goal, Christie said, is to have all 50 states linked in the network to share prescription information.

"First and foremost for patient protection," the Governor said. The effort, he said also will allow law enforcement to identify providers who are profiting from people who are addicted to the drugs. 

Last February Christie signed a law limiting initial prescriptions for pain-killing opioids to five days. The law permits doctors to extend a prescription for an additional five days when needed.

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

Everything you need to know about the state semifinals.

WEDNESDAY ESSENTIALS
• State semis schedule/scoreboard
• Sectional final results and links 
• Previews and predictions for all 12 state semifinals
• State tournament stat leaders from every section in N.J. baseball 
• Who are the 2017 NJ.com Player of the Year finalists? 
• Top 31 performances from Friday's sectional finals
• NJ.com Top 20: Swashbuckling back to No. 1 
• Statement wins & upsets through Friday's finals 
• 2017 State tournament brackets 

UPDATE: St. Mary (Ruth.) vs. Newark Academy state semi has a field at last

WEDNESDAY'S FEATURED GAMES
SOUTH JERSEY, NON-PUBLIC A FINAL
St. Augustine 4, Bishop Eustace 3
• Vanderslice, Billings key title repeat
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

SOUTH JERSEY, NON-PUBLIC B FINAL
Gloucester Catholic 9, St. Rose 4
• Look back at live updates
• Game story
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

GROUP 1 SEMIFINAL
Middlesex 3, Audubon 2
• Look back at live updates
• Game story
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

NORTH JERSEY, NON-PUBLIC B FINAL
Newark Academy 6, St. Mary (Ruth.) 4
• Look back at live updates
• NJSIAA finds a field for North N-P B final
• Game story
• Box score

GROUP 2 SEMIFINAL
Manasquan 2, Gov. Livingston 1
• Look back at live updates
• Game story
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

GROUP 3 SEMIFINAL
Allentown 7, Highland 4
• Look back at live updates
• Game story
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

GROUP 4 SEMIFINAL
Hunterdon Central 5, Southern 2
• Look back at live updates
• Game story
• Box score

TUESDAY'S FEATURED GAMES

NORTH JERSEY, NON-PUBLIC A FINAL
At Lyndhurst
Delbarton 6, Pope John 4
• Five runs in 2nd hold up
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

GROUP 3 SEMIFINAL
Cranford 3, Pascack Valley 2
At William Paterson University
• Cougars back where they belong
• WATCH: Oblachinski hits for Cranford
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

FEATURED: Who are the 67 N.J. alums playing in NCAA Baseball Tournament?

GROUP 4 SEMIFINAL
Millburn 8, Ridgewood 2
At Rutgers University
• Kologlu cools down Maroons
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

GROUP 1 SEMIFINAL
Emerson Boro 8, Glen Ridge 3
At Kean University
• 2-0 deficit nothing for EB
•  Photo gallery
• Live updates
• Box score

GROUP 2 SEMIFINAL
Whippany Park 3, Pascack Hills 0
At Belleville
• Clarke tosses gem
• Box score

FULL STATEWIDE SCHEDULE/SCOREBOARD

# denotes tournament game. 

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

North Jersey, Non-Public A

North Jersey, Non-Public B

South Jersey, Non-Public A

South Jersey, Non-Public B

Pictures of popular people passing through the Garden State.

When I was growing up, a "famous person" was anyone who could be seen on television or in the movies or heard on the radio. And, a select few made it to the screen or airwaves.

Funny thing is, I'm wracking my brains and can't recall meeting anyone as a child who would qualify as "famous."

I guess I led a sheltered life.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

Today, with hundreds of television channels, blogs, livestreams, one's chances of achieving some degree of fame is greatly improved.

In this gallery, we look back to when fame wasn't quite so easy to achieve.

And here are some other galleries like this you might like:

Vintage photos of famous folks seen in N.J.

Vintage photos of celebrities when they were young in N.J.

Vintage photos of celebrities seen in N.J.

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

Who shined on Tuesday and Wednesday?

Store robbed May 18.

NEWARK -- Authorities on Wednesday asked for the public's help to find three Newark men accused in the armed robbery of a store in the city's North Ward.

Tykym McKenzie, 19, Kasib Jones and Kyree Bogan, both 22, are wanted for the May 18 holdup at La Mina De Oro Grocery on Oriental Street, according to police. The three allegedly robbed the store around 12:40 p.m. and fled with money from the cash register.

"While police are actively searching for these suspects, we seek the public's assistance in quickly locating and removing them from our streets. This investigation is active and ongoing," city Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a statement.

Ambrose urged anyone with information to contact Newark's 24-hour tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). Police said 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

Republican John Chrin grew up in the Lehigh Valley but now lives in Short Hills

A 54-year-old New Jersey investment advisor will run for congress in his native Pennsylvania, according to a report. 

Republican John R. Chrin lives in the Short Hills section of Millburn, but will establish residency in the Keystone State's 17th Congressional District well in advance of the November 2018 election, according to StandardSpeaker.com.

If he wins the nomination, John R. Chrin, 54, a Short Hills, New Jersey, resident who grew up in Lehigh County,... https://t.co/2JJDyh6u2A

-- Conservatives (@bethtwspGOP) June 1, 2017

A congressman must live in the state he represents when he is elected, according to the U.S. Constitution.

Though Short Hills is his primary residence, Shrin owns a small home in Fountain Hill, Pa.. Fountain Hill is part of Pennsylvania's 15th District.

The 17th District covers the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre areas.

A former managing director at JPMorgan Chase in New York City, Chrin grew up in the Lehigh Valley. He graduated from Easton Area High School and Lehigh University before obtaining a master's degree from Columbia University.

Chrin and his wife Maria are partners in Circle Wealth Management in Summit.

The seat in the U.S. House of Representatives is held by Matt Cartwright.

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

Police responded Thursday morning.

NEWARK -- A gun was found outside the Luis Munoz school in Newark Thursday morning, authorities said.

The firearm was found in bushes, according to Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose. The children were inside when the gun was found.

Newark police have an officer assigned to the Broadway school, according to the public safety director. It was not immediately clear if the gun was loaded or who found the weapon.

Spokespeople for the Newark Public Schools did not immediately return messages.

There were no reports of any injuries.

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

Caldwell is considering a controversial ordinance that would ban stores from selling bred dogs.

CALDWELL -- After a statewide attempt to ban the sale of puppy mill dogs at New Jersey pet shops failed earlier this year, an Essex County borough is attempting to pass a municipal ordinance that would do just that.

The Caldwell borough council is considering a law aimed at prohibiting any pet stores opening in town from selling puppy mill dogs, Council President John Cascarano confirmed in a phone interview Thursday. The stores could, he said, act as conduits for local animal shelters, helping facilitate adoptions of rescued animals, and even possibly housing rescue pets in their stores.

Though the council tabled the resolution this week so it could be rewritten to fix what Cascarano called "technical" issues, "I anticipate it will be passed," he said.

According to a TapInto.net news report, the ordinance has been controversial, with animal rights activists saying similar measures have been passed in more than 100 municipalities across the state, and protect animals from mistreatment.

Several pet shop owners, however, reportedly argued the measure is too restrictive, and disallows businesses from selling pets from responsible breeders.

The issue garnered statewide attention last year after several Just Pups stores were shut down in the wake of animal cruelty allegations. The issue has caused a heated back-and-forth across New Jersey. Last month, Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a measure passed by the state legislature aimed at banning puppy mill dog sales at Garden State pet stores, saying that it contained unconstitutional measures, and was too burdensome on the state. He said he would consider passing a revised version of the bill.

Cascarano, a Republican, said the move in Caldwell "isn't by any means anti-business, it is...anti-animal cruelty."

There are currently no pet stores in Caldwell.

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

Mayors representing towns on the Morris & Essex lines said they came away "disappointed" from a meeting with NJ Transit officials about plans to divert those trains to Hoboken

Mayors representing towns on the Morris & Essex lines said they came away "disappointed" from a meeting with NJ Transit officials about plans to divert those trains to Hoboken when Amtrak starts track work in Penn Station New York next month.

"We made a strong push on sharing the burden and equity (across all rail lines)," Maplewood Mayor Victor De Luca said after Wednesday afternoon meeting. "They are pretty locked into the diversion of all the M&E trains to Hoboken."

De Luca and municipal officials from  South Orange, East Orange, Orange, Summit, Chatham, Livingston, Westfield and other towns were joined at the meeting by Assemblyman John McKeon, D-Morris-Essex, and State Senator Thomas Kean, R-Union.

NJ Transit plans to divert M&E trains to Hoboken between July 10 and Sept. 1, when Amtrak is scheduled to shut down at least three track for major work in the wake of track conditions found after derailments in March and April.

Transit officials defended the plan, saying it spares 75 percent of commuters from disruption and said M&E fares will be reduced.

The mayors said they understand that the M&E line "naturally goes to Hoboken," which was its end point before MidTown Direct service to New York was started more than 20 years ago.

"We got our issues out. They understood our concerns. ... We made the case they need to remember real lives will be affected," said De Luca, who was a regular NJ Transit commuter until retiring a year ago. "I think they are struggling with this, but people in our communities will be disrupted."

NJ Transit officials told the mayors that NY Waterway ferries will run every 15 minutes between West 39th Street and Hoboken, De Luca said. Bus service will be offered between the Port Authority bus terminal and train stations at Newark Broad Street, Newark Penn Station, Hoboken and South Orange, he said.

"We asked about (bus service from) other towns, that is not part of their plan," he said. "We're looking to do some other bus service through NJ Transit."

While PATH will honor NJ Transit rail tickets in Hoboken, 33^rd Street, New York and at the World Trade Center, the mayor asked for cross honoring at all New York PATH stations, De Luca said. Officials told them that is a logistical issue that would have to be worked out with PATH, he said.

NJ Transit plans to have customer service representatives at M&E station later this month to answer commuter questions and advise them about travel option, De Luca said.

"On June 19, NJ Transit starts selling (July) monthly passes, so people have to make decisions," he said.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

In its inaugural year, the Maplewood-South Orange Book Festival features an impressive line-up of best-selling authors and illustrators.

The inaugural Maplewood-South Orange Book Festival kicks off tonight with best-selling author Mary Roach's keynote address and continues Saturday with 20 panels and conversations featuring more than 80 authors representing multiple literary genres.

On the agenda: YA writer Barry Lyga and "Bad Kitty" author and illustrator Nick Bruel; "New York Times" best-selling fiction writers Christina Baker Kline and Jean Hanff Korelitz and non-fiction authors Derek Thompson and Ada Calhoun.  Javaka Steptoe, the 2017 Caldecott Medal winner, will give the closing address on Saturday.

Robert Lasner, the festival's founder and executive director, said the event will showcase the area's literary talent.

"The support from the community was overwhelming," Lasner said, noting that most of the authors live in New Jersey, about a quarter of them are local to Maplewood and South Orange. A few are from New York City. 

One of the festival's goals, he said, was to show that "great literature and books is not just a city thing. The towns of Maplewood and South Orange can stand on their own as literary and cultural destinations." 

Saturday's event line-up reflects the area's diversity and current issues and include "Survival in the New World: The Immigrant Experience in Young Adult Fiction;" a "Uniquely Female" panel featuring successful women writers; and a panel on race and gentrification. All will be held at either The Woodland or the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, both in Maplewood. Roach's keynote address will be at the South Orange Performing Arts Center.

Roach has been called "America's funniest science writer." Her best-selling books include "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers" and "Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex." Her most recent work is  "Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War."

"Any time a large number of people are gathered for the purpose of talking about or thinking about or buying books, it's exciting to me," Roach said in an interview with NJ Advance Media. "The written language feels a little precarious in the world."

The Maplewood-South Orange Book Festival

June 10

Burgdorff Cultural Center, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood

The Woodland, 60 Woodland Road, Maplewood

All events are free.

Keynote address by best-selling author Mary Roach

Tickets: $45-78, available online at www.sopacnow.org. June 9, SOPAC, One SOPAC Way, South Orange. 973-313-2787.

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.

The woman driving a car that hit her stayed on the scene of the strike, authorities said.

MONTCLAIR -- A 73-year-old woman was hit and killed by a car while crossing the street Wednesday night, police announced Thursday.

According to authorities, the Montclair woman was crossing Grove Street at the intersection of Chester Road at 9:14 p.m. when a Ford Focus driving on Grove Street hit her. The woman was transported to Mountainside Hospital, officials said.

Essex County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly identified the woman as Mary DeFilippis. 

No charges have been filed against the car's driver, a 60-year-old woman from Bloomfield, who stayed on the scene of the strike, authorities said.

The incident is still under investigation, police said.

It marks the third pedestrian strike death in Essex County in the past week. A pedestrian was killed in a hit and run in Newark Wednesday, authorities said. And, a senior class president at a Newark high school was struck and killed on a city highway last Thursday after returning home from his senior prom. 

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