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Where the jobs are: The biggest employers in all 21 N.J. counties

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Eleven of the New Jersey's 21 counties said one of their largest employers is a hospital.


Member of 'most violent' Newark street gang headed to prison

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Gang tied to drug dealing, violent crimes around Newark.

NEWARK -- A member of what authorities called the "most violent" street gang in Newark was sentenced Wednesday to more than 26 years in federal prison for his role in crimes that included a murder, armed carjacking and drug distribution.

Malik "Leek" Lowery, 36, of Newark, previously pleaded guilty to the long-running racketeering conspiracy carried out by the South Side Cartel, a Bloods gang set that peddled drugs and operated from apartment buildings known as the "Twin Towers" on Hawthorne Avenue, Acting New Jersey U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced. He also pleaded guilty to carjacking, heroin and crack cocaine distribution offenses.

Lowery admitted his role in the Oct. 20, 2007 murder of a fellow South Side Cartel member on Bragaw Avenue in Newark, according to documents filed in the case. He also confessed to a Jan. 3, 2008 armed carjacking he committed with other gang members and the robbery of a drug dealer on Feb. 3, 2008 along with other offenses.

Feds seeking death penalty for leader of Newark street gang

In addition to Lowery's 315 month federal prison term, he was sentenced to 10 years of supervised release, according to officials.

The South Side Cartel numbered at about 20 members or associates at its peak, including many who are serving prison terms or have been killed in gang-related slayings, according to authorities. The gang centered its activity at the Hawthorne Avenue buildings, where police made repeated gun and drug arrests between 2002 and 2010. Many members had tattoos of the buildings with "SCC" to represent the gang.

According to documents and statements in the case, the South Side Cartel was "generally known among law enforcement and the FBI as the most violent street gang operating in Newark, committing numerous murders, shootings, robberies and other violent acts in furtherance of the enterprise."

The federal trial for the gang's reputed founder, Farad "B.U." Roland, is set to begin in September. He is accused in five murders and other crimes, and prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty.

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

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Vets ride into the wild blue

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SUSSEX -- Veterans living at Spring Hills Somerset and Morristown Assisted Living communities were treated, along with their families, to rides in an open-cockpit airplane at Sussex Airport on Aug. 8, courtesy of the Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation. The veterans rode in a restored Boeing Stearman, an open-cockpit biplane from World War II with pilot Kim Newton at the controls....

sm0820vetrides.jpgKorean War veteran Lawrence Spullick, 84, gives the thumbs-up before his ride in an open cockpit plane at Sussex Airport on Aug. 8. 

SUSSEX -- Veterans living at Spring Hills Somerset and Morristown Assisted Living communities were treated, along with their families, to rides in an open-cockpit airplane at Sussex Airport on Aug. 8, courtesy of the Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation.

The veterans rode in a restored Boeing Stearman, an open-cockpit biplane from World War II with pilot Kim Newton at the controls.

Participants were Angelo Caggeno, 90, U.S. Navy, World War II; Lawrence Spullick, 84, U.S. Army, Korean War; Altherian Howedd, 69, U.S. Army, Vietnam; James Schofeld, 87, U.S. Army, Korean War; Leo Hershowitz, 90, U.S. Navy World War II; and Arthur Hershowitz, 93, U.S. Army Air Corps, World War II. Joan Pollack, 79, and Bernice Liberman, 91, whose spouses served in the military, were also treated to rides.

Ageless Aviation Dreams is a nonprofit organization of pilots and aircraft owners dedicated to honoring seniors who have served in the United States military.

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

Annual Dog Pawrade set

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LIVINGSTON -- Regal Bank's ninth annual Livingston Dog Pawrade will take place in the parking lot of Regal Bank on Mount Pleasant Avenue on Sept. 17 starting at noon. The family-friendly event features prizes in various categories as well as entertainment, with all proceeds benefiting the Livingston Animal Shelter Committee. Prizes will be awarded for largest dog, smallest dog and...

best_517d7f8706b37c86eac0_dog_4.JPG 

LIVINGSTON -- Regal Bank's ninth annual Livingston Dog Pawrade will take place in the parking lot of Regal Bank on Mount Pleasant Avenue on Sept. 17 starting at noon.

The family-friendly event features prizes in various categories as well as entertainment, with all proceeds benefiting the Livingston Animal Shelter Committee.

Prizes will be awarded for largest dog, smallest dog and best doggie costume. All well-socialized dogs are welcome to attend. Parade pre-registration is $10 for the first dog and $1 more for each additional dog in a family. Registration is $15 on the day of the event.

Regal Bank is located at 570 W. Mt. Pleasant Ave. in Livingston. For more information and to register, call 973-577-7160 or 973-577-7161.

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

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

Rutgers revision to rules for campus protests; what it means

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The university says the policy now clarifies the rules for protests.

NEW BRUNSWICK--When Rutgers students return to campus in the coming weeks, they'll face a revised policy regarding demonstrations that sets to curtail disruptive activity caused by protestors, including property damage or blocking traffic.   

The change essentially says university officials can intervene immediately if demonstrators disrupt normal campus activity or if disruptive protestors don't disband when asked. 

The policy, which was first adopted in 1974, was tweaked in April and university officials say the changes were implemented to more clearly spell out the rules. 

"The policy changes adopted by the Board of Governors in April further clarify what constitutes a disruption so that students, faculty and others understand the rights and responsibilities that come with participating in such activities," said university Spokeswoman Karen Smith.

Smith said the changes updated a  forty-year-old policy and "were made as part of a periodic policy review."

But some university employees have raised concerns about the policy change. David Hughes, former president of the Rutgers AAUP-AFT faculty union and an anthropology professor, spoke against the change at a Board of Governors meeting in the spring.

"Do they want to turn our campus into a place where people are scared to express themselves?" Hughes said. "This is curtailing freedom of speech and expression of students."

Hughes, now the vice president of the union, said he was concerned that the policy change would give the university more authority to limit protests overall.

Rutgers President Robert Barchi refuted that contention at the meeting earlier this year. 

Ed Barocas, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, said he thought the policy change offered more clarity on what counts as a disruptive protest.

"The Rutgers policy does appropriately focus on conduct rather than content of a protest," he said. "It seems like Rutgers focused on actions that could cause safety issues, like obstructing traffic."

Protests were common on Rutgers campuses -- and many others across the country -- during the 2016 presidential campaign and after the election of President Trump. Many of those protests have continued since Trump took office.

Changes in the Rutgers policy include:  

  • The new policy adds a definition of disruption;
  • It gives specific examples of what constitutes disruption;
  • And it eliminates the requirement that university officials have to give so-called disrupters a time frame before they call the police. Now, as soon as officials notify protestors that they're in violation of the rule, they can call the police.

The Rutgers rule addresses issues that have come up at recent campus protests, including interference with a scheduled speaker, obstruction of traffic and  property damage. Those incidents would now be labled as disruptive under the revised policy.

Payton Guion may be reached at PGuion@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaytonGuion. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Cops want to talk to 2 women about killing of Maplewood grandmother

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A 62-year-old woman was shot to death after she dropped off her son, family members and authorities said.

NEWARK -- Authorities on Thursday asked for the public's help to identify two women seen on surveillance footage apparently carrying the pocketbook of a Maplewood grandmother who was shot to death in Newark after she dropped off her son at work five months ago.

Deborah Burton, 62, was shot around 1:45 p.m. March 13 on 3rd Street, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. Investigators recovered Burton's 2002 4-door gray Chevy Cruz approximately a half-mile from the murder scene the following day.

Two women seen in the photos released Thursday, "were captured on video surveillance and are believed to be carrying the victim's Coach pocketbook," acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino and Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a statement. Investigators also released a photo of the purse.

Synthetic leather biotech firm gets $32M in tax credits to move to N.J.

The security footage was taken from the "general area where [Burton's] car was recovered" on North 7th Street, according to prosecutor's office spokeswoman Katherine Carter. A timestamp on the images stated they were captured a day after the shooting. 

The women were considered "persons of interest" and authorities have not said they are directly linked to Burton's killing.

"At this time, we are seeking to locate them and continue the investigation," Carter said.

Family members previously told NJ Advance Media they believed Burton was the victim of a carjacking.

The prosecutor's office would not confirm if the killing was related to a carjacking or a robbery.

The Essex County Sheriff's Office Crime Stoppers program previously announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

The murder left Burton's family members reeling with grief and searching for answers about who killed the mother of four and grandmother of two.

"That was one of the sweetest, kindest women. Loving, very intelligent, very beautiful," said Burton's ex-husband, Imam Shakur Abdul Rahim, 63.

Family members described Burton as a woman who loved to cook, crochet, knit and watch old films. She moved to Maplewood from Newark in the 1980s.

"She sacrificed for her children, she made sure everybody was OK," Burton's 22-year-old son, who asked that his name be withheld for safety reason, said in a March interview. "My mother, she was the sweet type."

Anyone with information about the killing is asked to call the prosecutor's office tip line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

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

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

 

N.J. man who ran youth sports video company indicted on child sex charges

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AG says Essex County man is a "serial sexual predator." Watch video

TRENTON -- An Essex County man described by the state's attorney general as a "serial sexual predator" was indicted Thursday on charges he repeatedly sexually abused a 14-year-old boy.

Ethan Chandler, 43, was arrested and released twice last year after allegedly arranging a sexual encounter with an undercover investigator posing as a child.

The accusations against Chandler, who ran a youth sports video production company called Primetime Sports, LLC, so concerned law enforcement authorities that they convened a press conference in December, saying they believed he may have more victims and encouraging anyone with information to come forward.

AG: Accused N.J. child predator may have more victims

A state grand jury indicted him on charges of luring, sexual assault of a minor and criminal sexual contact. Chandler pleaded not guilty to the charges in January. 

ethan_chandler.jpgEthan Chandler, 42, of Belleville. 

Authorities said the assault and sexual contact charges related to his encounters with the 14-year-old, which were uncovered after investigators charged him with luring and seized his electronic devices following the sting. 

Investigators now claim Chandler met the teen boy online, bringing him to his apartment and sexually abusing him "on at least three occasions."

"People often refer to the internet and social media as a virtual environment, but the crimes that are committed and initiated there are all too real," Elie Honig, director of the state Division of Criminal Justice, said in a statement following the indictment. 

Neither Chandler, who is out on bail, or his attorney could be reached for comment Thursday. An arraignment has not yet been scheduled.

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

Man who killed roommate in wheelchair likely won't leave prison alive: Judge

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Edwin Andujar, 53, of Belleville, was sentenced to 45 years in prison Thursday in the stabbing death of his roommate, Thomas Parent.

NEWARK -- A Belleville man convicted of fatally stabbing his roommate who used a wheelchair was sentenced Thursday to 45 years in prison.

Edwin AndujarEdwin Andujar. (Essex County Prosecutor's Office)
 

Though prosecutors asked for a life sentence, Superior Court Judge Michael Ravin said 53-year-old Edwin Andujar, convicted of killing his 59-year-old roommate, Thomas Parent, will likely not live through his time in prison.

Andujar, who has heart problems stemming from two strokes, must serve 38 years in prison before he will be eligible for parole. 

After an 11-day trial, an Essex County jury found Andujar guilty of first-degree murder and weapons offenses in the Aug. 7, 2014, stabbing of Parent. 

Andujar -- who was unemployed and living in Parent's apartment rent-free -- stabbed Parent 12 times after he told Andujar he had to move out, said Assistant Prosecutor Michele Miller, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Meredith Mona. Parent was stabbed with a kitchen knife in his groin, stomach and back as he sat defenseless in his wheelchair, Miller argued at trial.

"He got paid for his goodness and kindness by being stabbed," Miller said Thursday.

Before he was sentenced, Andujar said he was "really, really sorry about what happened to Thomas Parent because he was my friend."

"Unfortunately, things happen and this happened," Andujar said through an interpreter.

Andujar's attorney, Elayna Thompson, argued that Andujar had shown remorse for the victim and asked the judge to impose the minimum sentence of 30 years in prison.

Andujar, a former corrections officer in Puerto Rico who has three children, claimed self-defense during the trial, saying Parent attacked him first. The judge, however, said Andujar was unharmed in the incident while Parent showed self-defense wounds, such as cuts on his hands and arms.

Parent had recently come from rehabilitation and was dependent on a wheelchair at the time of the stabbing, prosecutors said. Thompson, however, argued that prosecutors contradicted their story from trial Thursday, saying they first claimed Parent was standing when he was stabbed and fell into his wheelchair.

Three of Parent's sons and his ex-wife traveled from Georgia to be in the Newark courtroom Thursday. They described him as a kind-hearted working man.

Speaking on behalf of Parent's 41 cousins, Tammie Horsfield said the death of Parent, who had four sons and six grandchildren, has devastated her close-knit family.

"Tommy will never get to see his grandchildren grow," Horsfield, a cousin who grew up with Parent in Clifton, told the judge. She asked Ravin to impose a sentence "as close as possible to the sentence he gave Tommy."

His ex-wife, Sandy Finamore, said she and Parent met when she was 15 and married several years later. When the former nurse heard of the stabbing, she and their oldest son Billy drove through bad weather to the hospital, where Parent remained on life support for five days, she said.

Finamore held Parent's hand and asked him to watch over their boys as he was taken off life support, she said.  

Calling Andujar a monster, Finamore said Andujar has shown no remorse for killing Parent, who let him stay in his apartment for years.  

"How did he repay Tom? By taking his life," Finamore said. "He should be locked away in prison for the rest of his miserable life."

Luke Nozicka can be reached at lnozicka@njadvancemedia.com or on Twitter @lukenozicka.

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Fire chief nabs 4-foot boa constrictor (VIDEO)

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Resident alerted firefighters after seeing snake in a driveway.

EAST ORANGE -- The East Orange fire chief helped capture a 4-foot snake that turned up in a resident's driveway this week.

Fire crews at House 5-Engine 5 got a knock on the station door Tuesday afternoon from the resident, who spotted the snake at a South Clinton Avenue home. Firefighters radioed for assistance from animal control officials and tried to contain the reptile.

eastorangesnake2.jpgA large snake was found in East Orange (Submitted photo) 

With a resume that includes 21 years as manager of the Hillside Animal Hospital, Fire Chief Andre Williams heard the call and knew his "extensive experience" with snakes would be useful at the scene.

"Upon my arrival, neighbors were gathered and eagerly pointed me in the direction of the snake, which by now was in the backyard," the chief said.

Williams identified the snake as an approximately 4-foot long red-tailed boa constrictor. The chief said he first asked onlookers for a pillowcase to contain the snake, but city animal control officers soon arrived with a cage and hook.

"I safely removed the snake and placed it in the cage for transport to the animal control facility," Williams added.

"My prior experience in my other profession was valuable...for the citizens of the City of East Orange," the chief said. "East Orange's Department of Public Safety is dedicated to the people we serve no matter the situation, and often beyond our scope of normal duties to ensure the safety of our community."

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Lawrence Hajna said permits are not required to keep boas. Officials did not immediately say if the snake's owner was located.

The snakes can grow to between six and 12 feet long, according to Reptiles Magazine. They are often found in Northern, Central and South America.

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

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N.J. solar eclipse 2017: Map, path and cloud forecast for your backyard viewing

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The solar eclipse on Monday, Aug. 21 (8/21/2017) will be affected by the weather and cloud cover. There are several eclipse maps, where the path produces the best viewing results. This map shows the projected cloud cover for the eclipse.

Click on a location on the map for more information when it's time to view the 2017 solar eclipse. This searchable solar eclipse viewing map was last updated at 6 a.m., Aug. 18.

Though residents won't get the complete solar eclipse experience that others around the country do, New Jersey is forecast to have one of the most unobstructed views of the moon-obstructed sun Monday afternoon. 

The Great American Eclipse is just three days away and, right now, skies are forecast to be mainly clear across the Garden State. New Jersey is expected to be nestled between storm systems to the east, south and west that could hinder eclipse viewing for many along the path of totality. 

In New Jersey, the eclipse will begin at 1:22 p.m., reach is maximum obscuration (about 75 percent of the sun will be covered) at 2:45 p.m. and come to an end around 4 p.m. Nationally, the eclipse will be visible  from about 10:15 a.m. to about 4 p.m., depending on your location.

While eclipse viewing (with proper eye protection, of course) is expected to be good statewide, celestial revelers can see a slightly more complete eclipse in the southern part of the state. 

At its height, the eclipse will obscure about 71 percent of the sun in High Point in Sussex County and about 77 percent in Cape May. 

If you're traveling farther afield for the eclipse, use the map above to see how the forecast for the big day evolves. 

 

Hillside Little League tries to make a comeback with church at the plate | Carter

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Hillside church goes to bat so kids can play ball.

Before it folded two years ago, the Hillside Little League was a big deal. It used to kick off the season with a parade from the township's community center, down Liberty Avenue and ending at a grand ballfield on Gurd Avenue that might as well have been a big league stadium to the kids.

There was a warning track, baselines, an announcer's box with someone calling the game. At the base of the outfield wall, panels bore the names of businesses in town, which sponsored teams and paid for the uniforms that players wore during the parade as they stuffed their mouths with Big League Chew bubble gum.

Police cars and fire engines followed behind them. Residents looked on from their windows; others filled the sidewalks.

"It was family-oriented,'' said Barbara Pellettiere, who was a Little League volunteer for 20 years. "You made friends. Kids grew up with one another. You never had to look for people to help. You had a lot of volunteers."

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Baseball brought the community together until the township's pastime took a back seat to soccer, bringing an end to a league that started in 1954. The explanations differ as to why: Kids were no longer interested in the game; the league couldn't raise funds to continue; parent participation fell off.

That could all change next year, however, if the township can muster enough support for balls and strikes to be called out once again. But first, Mayor Angela Garretson asked for help from First Baptist Church of Hillside, an active congregation that routinely takes on restoration projects as gifts to the township.

"They demonstrate that nothing is impossible,'' Garretson said. "They don't focus on what you can't do. They focus on, we're going to find a way and we're going to help mobilize people in this community to find a way together.''

Over the past few years, the church has helped renovate the recreation center and a space inside the Hillside Senior Citizen Center. Financially, it picks a business a month, spending up to $3,500.

"This is what we do,'' said Pastor Christopher Michael Jones.

He didn't know about the field on Gurd Avenue until he paid a visit last month,  after Garretson asked if the church could take on the ballfield that had fallen into disrepair.

Grass and weeds had grown 3 feet high, covering the dugouts and batting cage. Inside the concession stand, it was like a museum. There was a batting rack, trophies, batting helmets and pictures. One of the photographs was of Yankee legend Phil Rizzuto, who was a Hillside resident, who also financially supported the league.

"As a church, we said we were not willing to let this go,'' Jones said.

When people in the community heard that First Baptist had begun to clean up the field in July, they came out to help, offering the kind of  support they supplied during the league's heyday. Neighbors brought water. The high school football team was there. Students home from college helped out.

The township's Department of Public Works cut the grass. It took three passes on a riding mower to get it down to a manageable level. Union County government measured the field so it can stripe the baselines and lay down new clay for the infield.

Jones said contractors have reached out to help with the dugouts and fencing. His church sent a proposal to the New York Yankees Foundation, hoping it will contribute toward the lighting and possibly adopt the field. They're still waiting for a reply.

The place brings back fond memories for residents who volunteered and hope the league comes back.

It was a time when everyone pitched in to make the league successful, sharing their talents at the field. Electricians did work when needed; carpenters, too.

Pellettiere, a secretary in the recreation department, said her husband, Joseph, was the vice president of the league and in charge of maintaining the grounds. And, boy, was he dedicated, staying as late as 11 p.m. to cut the grass.

Meanwhile, she worked the concession stand, hung up flyers about the parade, and was head of the Mothers Softball League. There were two teams -- a red and blue -- and they played on Sundays from 1986 to 1999.

Nancy Jakubczyk, of Hillside, played first base and left field. Everybody batted, playing three innings, she said.  Deborah Foster, a township resident, wanted to keep playing through her pregnancy. The league, she said, was jittery about that, and she had to stop.

"We didn't run fast and we didn't hit the ball far, but we had a lot of fun,'' said Mary Dawkins, the director of the senior center, who played for four years.

The kids were tickled watching their mothers; the dads would be the cheerleaders and some were coaches for Little League games that were played mostly on fields at grammar schools, Rutgers Avenue Park, Conant Park and a field on Central Avenue.

The Gurd Avenue field, however, was special. It was the granddaddy ballpark of Hillside Little League, where everyone wanted to play on opening day.

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Richard Thacker, an aide to the mayor, said that as a kid he could hardly sleep the night before, knowing he was going to be on that field.

"That was our Yankee Stadium,'' said Thacker, who played center field in the 1980s. "This was our TV moment. You got hyped.''

Louis Panarese, the township's former police chief who played in the 1960s, said he used to look at the schedule as a kid so he would be ready at second base.

"It was the premiere field,'' Panarese said. "It was phenomenal.''

The bleachers were filled, the line was long for hot dogs, ice cream, pretzels and soda. On "tag day," the teams knocked on doors to raise money for the league.

Boyd Beattie, a longtime resident, said his mother, Helen, used to be the scorekeeper at the Gurd Avenue field. Panarese said his dad was umpire;  Jakubczyk, an assistant coach, did drills with teams.

The challenge now is to again get people interested. Hillside kids have had to go to other communities to play baseball. Garretson said 30 residents have expressed a desire to participate after the town sent out forms to see who would like to be involved.

Not bad; it's a start.

"We have to figure out a way to bring it back,'' Garretson said. "It created character and culture for so many generations of children.''

By next spring, let's hope the list of volunteers grows and Hillside again gets to hear two familiar sounds: the crack of the bat and an umpire shouting, "Play ball!''

Barry Carter: (973) 836-4925 or bcarter@starledger.com or

nj.com/carter or follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL

Chihuahua mix awaits adoption

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WEST CALDWELL -- Peaches is a 6-year-old Chihuahua mix in the care of Orphaned Pets. Volunteers describe her as "a very affectionate dog who loves to cuddle." Peaches needs a home without small children, but she would do well in a home that has another dog; she is crate-trained, housetrained, microchipped, spayed and up-to-date on shots. For more information on...

ex0820pet.jpgPeaches 

WEST CALDWELL -- Peaches is a 6-year-old Chihuahua mix in the care of Orphaned Pets.

Volunteers describe her as "a very affectionate dog who loves to cuddle."

Peaches needs a home without small children, but she would do well in a home that has another dog; she is crate-trained, housetrained, microchipped, spayed and up-to-date on shots.

For more information on Peaches, call 973-882-8363 or email smattbutler814@aol.com. Information is also available by going to orphanedpetsinc.com. Orphaned Pets is an all-volunteer fostering group serving the Essex County area for 25 years.

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

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

How much should landlords be allowed to raise rents? Advocates want voters to decide

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Newark residents may vote in November on whether the city should change its rent control rules and make it harder for landlords to raise rents

NEWARK -- A coalition of housing advocates and renters have banded together to brace against a wave of development they say risks pricing out lower-income residents. 

NEWARK -- The Homes for All Coalition collected enough signatures for a referendum that would let voters decide whether to further limit how much landlords can raise rents on rent-controlled vacant units. 

"This development is for the citizens of Newark, we live here for years and years in the good times and bad times and all of sudden Newark looks more appetizing to the outside world," said Anthony Diaz. "I want to stay here and I would love some of these fancy buildings. I'm not against development but we need to realize that development needs to be for our citizens."

Newark tightened its rent control rules in 2014. In March, the City Council lowered the amount a landlord must invest in rehabilitating a vacant unit in order to raise rent by 20 percent. At the time, South Ward Councilman John Sharpe James, who co-sponsored the city's original rent control measure, said the changes would encourage landlords to maintain buildings but continue to protect tenants against slumlords.

"Those changes that we submitted were undoing basically how the council made (rent control) weaker," said Drew Curtis, director of community development and environmental justice with the Ironbound Community Corporation, a group that advocates for tenant rights.

But Andy Cohen, who works for a property management company, called the measure "anti-jobs" and "anti-investment" during Tuesday's municipal council meeting. "We need to encourage (people) to invest in Newark."

He said tenants also benefit when landlords invest in their buildings. "The existing law is a one time 20 percent increase if the apartment becomes vacant. That's a nice balance, it doesn't raise rents too much," Cohen said. 

The City Council can approve the ordinance during its Sept. 5 meeting. If it does not pass, residents will decide at the polls in the November elections. 

Among the key changes to rent control:

  • A landlord who spends 12 months worth of rent to rehabilitate a rent-controlled vacant apartment can raise the rent by no more than 10 percent. Current rules allow landlords who spend eight months worth of rent to increase rent by 20 percent. 
  • To seek any rent increase, a landlord must be free of all violations of state and local health safety codes. 
  • Any appeals of Rent Control Board decisions are directed back to the City Council instead of to Superior Court.

The proposed ordinance says that an "emergency" of rental housing space exists within the city because of deteriorating housing stock, insufficient affordable housing construction, and "the fact that a substantial portion of current Newark residents rely on fixed or stagnating incomes."

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

Super Conference summer tour: An inside look at some of N.J.'s top football teams

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Are you ready for 2017?

The North Jersey Super Football Conference is not only the biggest league in the country, it's also one of the toughest. 

With six nationally ranked non-public programs in the United Division and dozens of the state's top public schools, each of the conference's 112 teams are gearing up for big seasons in 2017. 


RELATED: 25 must-see scrimmages this summer


Before the season kicks off, we're checking in with some of the conference's top teams. Our coverage will include pictures, previews and plenty of analysis. 

Below is the list of schools we've seen or schools that are set to host NJ.com over the next two weeks. Make sure you bookmark this page and check back daily for the latest updates. 

PARAMUS CATHOLIC 
A new start' might be the difference for PSU commit Dorian Hardy
Henry Pearson hopes to make a name for himself in 2017
Shelton Applewhite has early edge in QB competition
PC wins twice despite O-line struggles at Long Branch quad 
•  Practice photo gallery
• 
Scrimmage photo gallery

POPE JOHN
Pope John looking to 'finish' its transition into state powerhouse
'Best RB combo in the state?' Look out for Neal and Jones 
•  Photo gallery

MONTCLAIR 
Championship mentality remains despite low numbers
•  Photo gallery

ST. PETER'S PREP 
Dominant D or high-powered O? SPP expects to win on both sides
Is Maasai Maynor ready to fill QB role, live up to SPP legacy?
•  Photo gallery 

ST. JOSEPH (MONT.) 
Eyeing a repeat at No. 1, SJR hopes to reload behind proven vets
Why Pitt commits Nick Patti & Matt Alaimo are a dominant duo

 Despite new group, Nick Russo hopes to carry on O-line success 
•  Photo gallery

Still to come
• Bergen Catholic

• DePaul
• Don Bosco Prep
• Irvington

Also to come ....
• Timber Creek

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

Man blasting music and yelling in street throws beer at Union City cop

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A 53-year-old Newark man who was reportedly intoxicated yelling and blasting music in the street later threw bear at an officer responding to a 911 call and tried to run way.

JERSEY CITY -- A 53-year-old Newark man who appeared intoxicated was arrested after throwing beer at a police officer in Union City, authorities said. 

Following Monday's incident in Union City, Eugene Lapo, of 16th Street, was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, obstructing a government function and purposely causing public alarm, the criminal complaint says.

A police officer said he found Lapo drinking a beer and blasting music and asked him to lower the music and dump the beer, but he started yelling in the middle of the street. The officer repeated the command several times before Lapo threw beer on the officer's legs and ran away, the complaint says.

When the officer caught up to Lapo he resisted being handcuffed and pushed the officers, according to the complaint, which adds that Lapo appeared to be intoxicated.

Lapo made his first appearance on the charges Tuesday in Criminal Justice Reform Court in Jersey City via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny.

At the hearing, the state moved to detain him through the course of his prosecution and a detention hearing is scheduled for tomorrow before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale.

Lapo was in prison from Jan. 22, 2016 to Feb. 7 of this year for violating the terms of a sentence, state corrections records indicate. 


Cop shoots knife-wielding man after woman found stabbed in Bloomfield, official says

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Man and woman taken to area hospital.

BLOOMFIELD -- A Bloomfield police officer shot a knife-wielding man who lunged at an officer Friday morning at a township home, a law enforcement official said.

Township Public Safety Director Samuel DeMaio said police responded to a report of a domestic incident at a Greenbrook drive address, where they found a woman stabbed. 

The armed suspect went to attack an officer and was shot, DeMaio said. Both the man and woman were taken to an area hospital.

One police officer was taken to the hospital after complaining of chest pains, officials said. No other officers were injured. 

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office was investigating. 

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

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Stormy weather, flash flooding could make mess of Friday evening commute

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Torrential downpours could drop several inches of rain over a short time span, forecasters say.

Drivers in New Jersey could face a rough evening commute on Friday, with a series of thunderstorms expected to roll through the region and dump heavy rain on the already-saturated ground.

One batch of storms moved through the state Friday morning, prompting flood advisories to be posted in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties, as well as in New York City. 

Heavy rain showers also battered parts of central and southern New Jersey, and one batch was drenching eastern sections of Ocean and Atlantic counties at about 9:30 a.m.

The latest showers are expected to move offshore, setting up a relatively quiet period for a few hours. However, another round of heavy rain is expected Friday afternoon, followed by another one Friday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

While most areas of the Garden State will likely get an inch of rain, some isolated areas could be drenched with as much as 3 to 6 inches of rain, said Mitchell Gaines, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's regional forecast office in Mount Holly.

"There's so much moisture in the air and they're slow-moving (storms), so they can drop a lot of rain real quick," Gaines said. 

Any areas that get substantial rain in a short time span are prone to flash flooding, which is why 12 counties across the state are under a flash flood watch from 2 p.m. through midnight. Those counties are Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Salem, Somerset, Sussex and Warren.

Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties are under a flood advisory, which expires are 10:30 a.m.

The weather service said residents should also be aware of rapidly rising streams and creeks in areas that get hit with heavy downpours.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Glimpse of History: A merry time on opening day

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EAST ORANGE -- From left, Christopher Tabourne, Mrs. James Clark and her daughter, Melissa, and Stacey D'Easmo, all residents of East Orange, take their turn on the merry-go-round on opening day at Lincoln E. Rowley Park in East Orange in 1965. MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey If you would like to share a photo that provides a glimpse of...

EAST ORANGE -- From left, Christopher Tabourne, Mrs. James Clark and her daughter, Melissa, and Stacey D'Easmo, all residents of East Orange, take their turn on the merry-go-round on opening day at Lincoln E. Rowley Park in East Orange in 1965.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

If you would like to share a photo that provides a glimpse of history in your community, please call 973-836-4922 or send an email to essex@starledger.com. And, check out more glimpses of history in our online galleries on nj.com.

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

$5K worth of Xanax, heroin seized from 'mobile drug store,' sheriff says

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Two men face drug distribution-related charges.

NEWARK -- Essex County Sheriff's detectives seized about $5,000 worth of heroin along with Xanax, and arrested several people after they stopped a "mobile drug store" peddling narcotics from a car in Newark's South Ward, officials said Friday.

The arrests came after investigators responded to complaints of "open-air" drug activity near Frelinghuysen Avenue and Noble Street, according to Sheriff Armando Fontoura. Officers spotted 27-year-old Charles Finney park in the area with a passenger, Rafael Liriano, 24.

Another car arrived and the passenger, Sonia Avellanet, 41 of Elizabeth, approached the two men, the sheriff said. Detectives saw Finney handoff an orange pill bottle to Liriano, who traded it with Avellanet for cash.

Sheriff's detectives pulled over the car Avellanet was in and she admitted to having a Xanax tablet, according to the sheriff. The driver was released.

Detectives arrested Finney and Liriano, both of Newark, authorities said. A prescription bottle holding 41 Xanax tablets was in view on the front passenger armrest.

Authorities said they also recovered a plastic bag containing 346 packets of heroin stamped with "warrior" in clear view on the center console.

In a statement, Fontoura called the car "a mobile drug store."  Finney and Liriano were charged with drug distribution-related offenses. Avellanet was charged with drug possession.

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

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You've never seen photos of N.J. quite like this ... and you took them

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NJ Advance Media asked its readers to submit photos that celebrate New Jersey in honor of World Photo Day

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