Irvington man was sentenced Monday in the 2015 killing.

IRVINGTON -- An Irvington man found guilty of the 2015 strangling death of his girlfriend -- a mother of four who had recently moved to the United States for a better life -- will spend 30 years behind bars.

Sandro Vargas, 46, was sentenced Monday, after he was convicted in September of first-degree murder in the killing of 37-year-old Patricia Hiciano, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert Laurino announced.

Prosecutors have said Vargas and Hiciano got into an argument in a vacant apartment at a building on South 20th Street in Newark when he fatally strangled her.

Hiciano. (Facebook)
 

According to authorities, Hiciano's family reported her missing on March 10, 2015 after she didn't come home from her job as a cashier at the El Merengue restaurant in Newark's Central Ward.

Her partially decomposed body was found a few days later in the vacant apartment, officials have said.

After Hiciano's death, her coworkers told NJ Advance Media she had recently moved to Newark from the Dominican Republic. They described her as a friendly person who did everything for her kids, who ranged in age from 6 to 20 when she was killed.

Vargas's "selfish and cowardly act of extreme domestic violence carried out against Ms. Hiciano left a still grieving family without a mother," said Assistant Prosecutor Eric Plant, who tried the case.

Plant also described Hiciano as a "wonderful mother and a dear friend to all that knew her. We hope that this verdict and sentence will help her children and extended family find some degree of closure in what has surely been a difficult process for them."

Vargas, who has never before been convicted of a felony, must spend all 30 years of his sentence in prison before being eligible for parole, officials said.

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

Officials say the video was up for about two hours on the Bloomfield schools website.

BLOOMFIELD -- A hack of a company popularly used to host school district websites posted a pro-ISIS video on the sites, officials said Monday.

According to an alert sent out by the Bloomfield Public School District, its site, hosted by School Desk, was one of hundreds of sites across the country that fell victim to the hack at about 4 a.m. Monday. 

"For about two hours, our web sites displayed an ISIS-sponsored YouTube video. Around 6 a.m., the hacked page was brought down and by about 7 a.m., full functionality and control were restored," the district wrote in a notice posted on its restored website.

"The FBI and investigative agencies are looking into the matter. At no time was confidential student or staff data compromised. The internal computer and data systems within the district were completely unaffected. Everything that happened occurred at the web host's companies server farms in Atlanta, Georgia and Florida."

According to screen grabs of the hacked sites, overseas pro-ISIS group Team System DZ appears responsible for the hack. Others affected by the hack apparently included school district sites in Georgia and Alabama, among other states.

According to Rob Frierson, the founder of webhost School Desk, the company uses a system called CloudFlare as an intermediary service for protection, and also has its own firewalls. The company blocks all traffic from outside the U.S., meaning this hacker was likely using a VPN service, he said.

"It looked like it was some sort of ISIS recruitment or support video," Frierson said, adding that the FBI was contacted as soon as the hack was detected. A statement released by the company said it has already added additional security measures to its operation, and is investigating how the breach occurred. 

The ISIS video included images of Saddam Hussein and an audible Arabic message, the statement said. According to an NBC report, the video also included an Arabic message that read, "There is no God but God. Mohamad is the profit of God."

Bloomfield is the only district site in New Jersey hosted by School Desk, according to the company's website.

A call to Bloomfield schools was not immediately answered. The state Department of Education did not comment on the hack.

Staff reporters Erin Banco and Adam Clark contributed to this report.

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

MIchael Awotunde allegedly ingested the drug

NEWARK -- A 52-year-old Nigerian man appeared in Newark federal court Monday after he was arrested last week for his role in a heroin-smuggling ring that uses couriers who swallowed the drug, Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey William Fitzpatrick said.

Michael Awotunde, of Lagos, has been charged with conspiracy to import 100 grams or more of heroin into the United States following his arrest Friday at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

The FBI and Homeland Security had been investigating the ring, which operates in New York, New Jersey and elsewhere, authorities said. On Jan. 26, a courier from Lagos, 64-year-old Ramota Okuleye, arrived in Newark and was arrested after swallowing nearly 1,000 grams of heroin provided by a "confidential source," authorities said. Okuleye said she had often smuggled heroin for Awotunde as well, authorities also said.

That same source also allegedly arranged to buy heroin from Awotunde earlier this year.

If convicted, Awotunde faces up to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine.

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

Joseph "Staxx" Faustin was apprehended in Bloomfield recently

TRENTON -- A Newark man charged with shooting two people in Trenton last month will remain in jail pending trial.

Joseph "Staxx" Faustin, 30, is accused of shooting into a crowd and injuring two people - people who were not the intended target, Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Michelle Gasparian said in court Monday.

Joseph Faustin 

Faustin was identified by one of the victims, and surveillance footage places Faustin in the area of the shooting, just before the shooting occurred, she said. 

Gasparian also referenced several Facebook postings where an account that appears to be connected to Faustin contained the message, "I'm not going to have mercy on them next time," and "Let the boys know I won't miss next time," the day after the shooting.

Defense attorney Nicole Carlo said her client denies being at the scene of the shooting, and has been threatened by other people in the area when visiting his mother in the city. 

He also has no previous criminal record.

"Other than murder you can't get more serious than shooting at people and hitting them," Mercer County Superior Court Judge Ronald Susswein said. 

The judge ruled Faustin be detained for the protection of the community.

Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Find NJ.com on Facebook 

Linda O. Jumah under-reported more than $121K in income earned in 2015

NEWARK -- A woman admitted in court Monday that she failed to pay taxes on tens of thousands of dollars in income generated by her political consulting and fundraising business, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Linda O. Jumah, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and was released on a $75,000 unsecured bond.

Jumah, while owner of Newark-based Elite Strategies, failed to report more than $121,000 earned in 2015, resulting in a tax loss of nearly $40,000.

She faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when she's sentenced in February.

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

Morning temperatures could drop into the 20s in some parts of New Jersey by this weekend, forecasters say.

Say goodbye to the comfortable short-sleeve weather, and get ready to add some layers to your outdoor attire. A blast of Arctic air is heading to New Jersey and other parts of the East coast this week, from Boston down to Raleigh, N.C.

Just off the heels of another warm September-like day on Monday, with afternoon temperatures rising into the upper 60s to low 70s, the mercury will be dropping into the upper 30s to low 40s across most of the Garden State on Tuesday morning, forecasters said.

If cold air remains in place Tuesday night when light rain showers move through, some parts of New Jersey could see their first snowflakes of the season. Places with the best shot at some snow flurries -- or rain mixed with snow -- are those in the higher elevations of Bergen, Essex, Passaic and Sussex counties, the National Weather Service said. However, little or no accumulation is expected.

Carefully watching the potential for some snow on back edge of Tue PM disturbance in the higher elevations of NW NJ and SE NY! #njwx #nywx pic.twitter.com/eVEQN39DPx

-- NY Metro Weather (@nymetrowx) November 6, 2017

For the rest of this work week, daytime highs will be stuck in the 50s across most of the state, but the biggest chill will come on Friday and Saturday, when a wave of frigid air dips down from Canada.

"It's gonna struggle to get to 40 degrees from I-80 on northward," said Sean Rowland, a meteorologist at WeatherWorks, a forecasting company based in Warren County. 

Rowland called it "a two-day shot of cold air," noting temperatures will gradually begin to moderate on Sunday after a frigid Friday and Saturday. 

Here's how the forecast from the National Weather Service is shaping up for specific regions of New Jersey:  

• In the Morristown area, the low could drop to 36 degrees Tuesday morning. Highs are forecast in the upper 40s to low 50s the rest of this week, and morning lows in the upper 30s. On Saturday, the morning low could get as cold as 27 degrees and the afternoon high might not go above 45 degrees.
• In the Newark area, the low could drop to 42 degrees Tuesday morning. Highs are forecast to remain in the low 50s the next few days, possibly not getting above 49 degrees on Friday. On Saturday, the morning low could get as cold as 28 and the afternoon high might not get past 44.
• In the Trenton area, the low could drop to 43 degrees Tuesday morning. Highs are expected to stay in the low to mid-50s the rest of this week, and morning lows around 40 degrees. On Saturday, the morning low could get as cold as 30 and the afternoon high might not get above 47.
• In the Atlantic City area, the low could drop to 44 degrees Tuesday morning. Highs are expected to remain in the low to mid-50s the rest of this week, and morning lows in the low 40s. On Saturday, the morning low could get as cold as 28 and the afternoon high might get stuck at 47.

With temperatures dropping below 32 degrees, any parts of New Jersey that have not yet had a hard freeze will likely get one by this weekend, bringing an end to their growing season, forecasters from AccuWeather said.  

AccuWeather offers some good advice to homeowners in advance of the cold snap: "Property owners who have not done so already should drain garden hoses and fountains and bring bird baths in for the season. Outdoor plumbing in unheated areas should be winterized as temperatures will plummet well below freezing." 

Coastal flood advisories

A coastal flood advisory is in effect for coastal areas of Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, because astronomical tides are running slightly higher than normal.

The National Weather Service said minor flooding could occur during the morning high tide cycle. High tide along the Atlantic Ocean occurs between 9:15 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., and high tide on the back bays and along Raritan Bay occurs a bit later than the ocean high tide.

A coastal flood advisory is also active in Atlantic and Cape May counties, as well as in southeastern Burlington, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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

A Newark resident who challenged a parking ticket for street sweeping finds out that the street is not listed in the city ordinance to be cleaned.

Sylvia Joseph wouldn't let it go, even when Newark sent her a letter to dismiss a $45 parking ticket.

Joseph, a city resident, knew a mistake had been made by the Newark Parking Authority on Sept. 20. She said there weren't any "no parking" signs posted for street-sweeping that day, when she parked her car on North 13^th Street between Fourth and Park avenues.

What she didn't know then is that the ticket shouldn't have been written in the first place. The street, according to the city clerk's office, is not listed to be cleaned in the city's municipal street-sweeping ordinances, which the parking authority uses as a guide to write tickets.

"Wow,'' Joseph said. "Looks like I opened a can of worms."

Here's how one lady's persistence has led to an outcome that can lead to consistent street-cleaning.

Joseph, 60, is a 26-year breast cancer survivor who doesn't give up easily. While she has the patience to drive a school bus for 35 years, Joseph was upset to see the ticket on her windshield when she returned from her route in Jersey City. This wasn't just a case of signage missing from the pole. There weren't any poles.

Confused by the ticket, Joseph went to the city's Division of Traffic and Signals on the same day and explained the absence of signage.

MORE: Recent Barry Carter columns  

Benjamin Ramos, chief of Traffic Signals Maintenance and Operations, confirmed Joseph's complaint after an inspection was done the same day. He wrote a letter for Joseph to take to Municipal Court, recommending the ticket be dismissed. The court did so when she returned with the letter on Oct. 18.

Still, Joseph wasn't satisfied. She had asked the court during her initial appearance on Sept. 27 how are people to know that they should not park on that street if there isn't any signage. The answer, like getting the ticket, didn't make sense: She said she was told by the court that the city didn't have to post the street sign to be in violation of it.

That explanation didn't sound right to Ramos, either, because he said federal law requires signs to be installed. West Ward Councilman Joseph McCallum thought it was odd, too, so he checked with City Clerk Ken Louis, who said people are indeed liable for tickets even if the sign is not posted.

Based on that information, McCallum told Joseph that she would unfortunately have to pay the ticket.

Most people would just pay the $45 ticket and keep it moving. Not Joseph. "When you say something to me, I want to see it," she said.

Afterward, she received the letter from Traffic and Signal, and had a conversation with me after the ticket was finally dismissed. Joseph, however, still wanted to see something in writing that said the city doesn't have to post the street sign.

Louis couldn't find anything in municipal ordinances when I asked him about it last week.

Without such a law on the books, Louis discovered that the street where Joseph received the ticket was not listed under the street sweeping ordinance to be cleaned.

"She was parked there legally,'' Louis said.

Only two sections of North 13^th Street, from Davenport to Third Avenue and from Third Avenue to Springdale Avenue, are listed to be cleaned. That means she shouldn't have been written a ticket.

Anthony Mack, executive director of the parking authority, said his agency has a 99 percent accuracy rate issuing tickets. He's glad Joseph's ticket was dismissed, since it was written in error.

"The parking authority can only enforce pursuant to an ordinance,'' Mack said. Moving forward, he said, the agency won't write tickets on that street until the city includes it in the street sweeping ordinance.

MORE CARTER: Newark residents excel in life changing job program 

The city's Office of Communication checked with the Sanitation Department, and its manager, Kim Greene, to see if that street is cleaned. He told the Office of Communication that every street in the city is cleaned.

If so, residents there say it's few and far between.

Kenneth Davoren, a resident for eight years, said he rarely sees a street sweeper. Maybe once a month.

"You never know when they're going to come,'' he said.

His neighbor, Martin Quinones, a resident since May, hasn't seen one yet.

"They never clean here,'' he said.

Both men agree on one thing: The street does need cleaning. Illegal dumpers leave garbage and debris at the end of their block closer to Park Avenue.

Like Joseph, they were surprised to know the street is not listed to be cleaned when they've seen cars get ticketed and towed.

Davoren hasn't been towed, but he has been ticketed in the last three weeks. Hopefully, he'll get his ticket dismissed, too.

And the absence of signs there? The city installed "no parking" signage on the street last Friday.

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

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

The wounded robber was arrested, but a second man involved in the robbery attempt escaped, authorities said

NEWARK -- An off-duty Newark police officer shot and wounded a robber during an exchange of gunfire early Tuesday when two men attempted a hold-up on a city street, authorities said.

The duo tried to rob the officer around 12:30 a.m. in the 100 block of Wainwright Street, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

When the off-duty officer identified himself as a cop, one of the robbers opened fire, authorities said.

The officer returned fire and wounded one of the men, who was eventually caught on Leslie Street, authorities said. The wounded robber, whose identity has not been released, was taken to University Hospital and his condition was not immediately available.

The second robber fled and remains at large, authorities said.

The off-duty officer was not injured.

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office is conducting the investigation.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Who was at their best in the sectional semifinals? NJ Advance Media takes a look.

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Which underdogs have risen to the occasion in the boys soccer state tournament?

Find out which teams have left a stamp on the state tournament so far.

Robbers tried to hold-up off-duty police officer early Tuesday, according to authorities.

NEWARK -- A 19-year-old man faces robbery and weapons charges after he was shot by an off-duty Newark police officer in an exchange of gunfire in the city early Tuesday, officials said.

Justin McGriff and at least one other suspect tried to rob the off-duty officer around 12:30 a.m. in the 100 block of Wainwright Street, according to authorities.

"When he identified himself as a police officer, one of the suspects fired a weapon," acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino said in a statement. "The off-duty Newark police officer returned fire, shooting one of the suspects."

Police arrested McGriff, who was wounded, a short distance from the robbery scene on Leslie Street, according to the prosecutor. He was taken to University Hospital, where his condition was not immediately available.

Prosecutors also charged McGriff with conspiracy. He has not been accused of shooting at the officer.

At least one other suspect fled the scene, authorities said. The Newark officer was not wounded in the attack.

James Stewart Jr., president of the Newark Fraternal Order of Police, said the officer was a 27-year veteran of the city's force.

"He acted heroically in a life and death situation and I tip my cap to him on a job well done," Stewart added. "We are looking forward to the apprehension of the two suspects on the run, we know who we're looking for, their time as free men is quickly dwindling."

McGriff, of Orange, was previously charged with a March 15 armed robbery in Newark's West Ward, where he allegedly stole a man's cell phone, cash and other items at gunpoint, according to authorities and records.

He was held at the Essex County jail for four days after that arrest, according to county corrections department records. The status of that case was not immediately clear.

The shooting marked the second incident in the past two weeks where officials said an off-duty law enforcement officer shot at men who tried to rob him in Newark.

On Oct. 29, an off-duty Jersey City police officer fatally shot two men who allegedly tried to rob the cop at gunpoint in the city's Central Ward. Investigators said one of the men tried to shoot the officer, but the gun jammed.

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

Here are the unofficial results of the county and local races in Essex County.

Results will be added as soon as they are available. Refresh often throughout the night to get the latest results.

ESSEX COUNTY -- Residents went to the polls Tuesday to vote not only for the next governor and state Legislature, but also for county officials, town mayors, council members and school board members.

Check the unofficial local election results below. You can find results for governor here and statewide ballot and Legislature results here. 

Find all of our election coverage here.

Winners are listed in bold type.

Board of Chosen Freeholders, At-Large

Four will serve three-year terms 

Brendan W. Gill (D)

Patricia Sebold (D) 

Rufus I. Johnson (D)

Lebby C. Jones (D)

Frank Contella (R)

Blanca Lopez (R)

John J. Piserchia (R)

Che J. Colter (R) 

Board of Chosen Freeholders, District 1

One will serve a three-year term

Robert Mercado (D)

Karina L. Garces (R) 

Board of Chosen Freeholders, District 2

One will serve a three-year term

Wayne Richardson (D)

Douglas H. Freeman (R) 

Board of Chosen Freeholders, District 3

One will serve a three-year term

Britnee N. Timberlake (D) 

Board of Chosen Freeholders, District 4

One will serve a three-year term

Leonard M. Luciano (D)

Adam Kraemer (R) 

Board of Chosen Freeholders, District 5

One will serve a three-year term

Carlos M. Pomares (D) 

Board of Education

Two will serve three-year terms

Michael Sheldon

Gynise Gott

Raymond Kuebler

Patricia A. Dolan

Erika V. Jacho

Olga Setteducato 

Public Question (see the question here)

Yes

No

Township Council, 1st Ward

One will serve a three-year term

Jenny Mundell (D) 

David G. Tucker, Sr. (R) 

Township Council, 2nd Ward

One will serve a three-year term

Nicholas Joanow (D) 

Ciro A. Spina III (R) 

Township Council, 3rd Ward

One will serve a three-year term

Sarah Cruz (D) 

Pedro Taveras, Jr. (R) 

Board of Education

Three will serve three-year terms

Michael Heller 

Emily M. Smith 

Ellen Rogers 

Jessica Salinas 

Thomas Heaney  

Borough Council

Two will serve three-year terms

Jonathan Lace (D) 

Henderson Cole (D) 

John Cascarano (R) 

Kristian Brown (R) 

Caldwell/ West Caldwell School Board 

One will serve a three-year term

John King 

Ronald F. Goltsch, Jr. 

Board of Education

One will serve a three-year term

Christine Dye 

Mayor

One will serve a four-year term

Theodore R. Green (D) 

City Council, 1st Ward

One will serve a four-year term

Christopher James (D) 

City Council, 2nd Ward

One will serve a four-year term

Romal Bullock (D)  

City Council, 3rd Ward

One will serve four-year terms

Bergson Leneus (D) 

Mayme V. Robinson (Yes We Can) 

City Council, 4th Ward

One will serve four-year terms

Tyshammie L. Cooper (D) 

City Council, 5th Ward

One will serve four-year terms

Alicia Holman (D) 

Mayor

One will serve a four-year term

Edward A. Davis (R) 

Borough Council 

Two will serve four-year terms

John A. King (R) 

Bernard J. D'Avella (R) 

Board of Education 

One will serve a three-year term

Bethany Buccino 

Township Council

Two will serve three-year terms 

John LaForgia (R) 

Thomas J. Morgan (R) 

Board of Education 

Two will serve three-year terms

Brian Joseph Egan 

Andrea Jandoli 

West Essex Regional Board of Education

Two will serve three-year terms

Cynthia Egan 

Anthony Rubinich 

Borough Council

Two will serve three-year terms

Dan Murphy (Civic Conference Committee) 

Arthur D. Dawson (I) 

Deborah Mans (Civic Conference Committee) 

Board of Education 

Three will serve three-year terms

Alison Lang 

Paul Romano 

Tracey St. Auburn 

Board of Education

One will serve a three-year term 

Charles Buddy August 

James H. Calderon 

Township Committee

Two will serve three-year terms

Victor De Luca (D) 

Dean Dafis (D) 

Michael Summersgill (R) 

Board of Education 

Three will serve three-year terms

Elizabeth A. Baker 

Donna Smith 

Avery Julien 

Anthony Mazzocchi 

Lucas Calhoun 

Robin J. Baker 

Felisha George 

Shannon Cuttle 

Sheila Shidnia 

Township Committee

Two will serve three-year terms

Jacqueline Benjamin Lieberber (D) 

Cheryl H. Burstein (D) 

Robert Tillotson (R) 

Michael Birnberg (R) 

Board of Education 

Three will serve three-year terms

Alex Zaltsman 

Oyin Owolabi 

Jane Greenwald 

Louie Shen 

Kate Foss Rifkin 

Borough Council

Two will serve three-year terms

Cynthia Santomauro (R) 

John F. Chiaia (R) 

Richard J. Verde (I) 

Board of Education

Two will serve three-year terms

Jordan Shumofsky 

Mary Mokris 

Board of Education

Three will serve three-year terms 

Lisa Danchak Martin 

Frederick Scalera 

Salvatore Ferraro 

Karen O'Malley 

Kenneth J. Reilly

Public Question (see more info here)

Yes 

No

Borough Council

Two will serve three-year terms

Christopher Bardi (D) 

Roger Freda (D) 

Michele Tolli (R) 

Mark Vidovich (R) 

West Essex Regional Board of Education 

One will serve a three-year term

Dawn Smith 

Board of Education 

Two will serve three-year terms

Allison Scaraggi 

Laura Saverese 

Board of Education

One will serve a three-year term

Connor McCann 

Lisa Freschi 

Township Council

Two will serve three-year terms

Michael Docteroff (R) 

Kathy L. Canale (R) 

Board of Education

One will serve a three-year term

Ken Alper 

Christopher A. Diaz 

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

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

U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. said the incident in Bloomfield should be met with federal legislation upping cybersecurity in schools.

BLOOMFIELD -- A pro-ISIS group's hack this week of school district websites across the country - including one in New Jersey - may prompt a new federal law addressing online security.

U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, Jr., D-10th Dist., issued a statement Tuesday night addressing the hack, which placed a video containing images of Saddam Hussein and Arabic writing on the Bloomfield Public Schools website for about two hours early Monday.

"The hacking attacks on the Bloomfield Public School District's websites highlight the vulnerability of the technology we rely on every day," Payne said.

"Internet and technological infrastructure are integral to our school systems. Cyberattacks against school systems have the potential to disrupt school operations and compromise student information. In light of this attack against schools in my district, I am working on federal legislation to address cybersecurity threats to schools."

The statement did not detail specifics of the proposed legislation.

In a statement released Monday, Bloomfield school officials said student information was not compromised in the hack. Calls to the superintendent's office Tuesday were not answered.

The pro-ISIS group hacked School Desk, a company that hosts school district websites across the country. About 800 sites hosted by the company were affected.

The overseas pro-ISIS group Team System DZ appears responsible for the hack.

In a statement Monday, School Desk said it is working with various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, to investigate what happened. The company also said it has already added additional layers of security to its school websites.

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

The state tournament kept the upsets coming this week and altered the rankings.

Natalie Colledge, owner of two Montclair restaurants, will compete against three other chefs in a "pie challenge."

One of the state's most renowned bakers will showcase her talents on the popular Food Network show "Chopped" later this week.

Natalie Colledge, the owner of two New Jersey restaurants -- Plum on Park and Plum Bakery, both in Montclair -- will compete against three other guests in a "pie challenge," making a pie with whatever ingredients are provided on the hit show on Thursday, Nov. 9., at 9 p.m., according to NorthJersey.com.

A post shared by Plum Bakery 100% Gluten Free (@plumbakerygf) on Nov 2, 2017 at 8:57am PDT

Colledge, who taped the episode in April, told NorthJersey.com she was not allowed to say how she fared in the competition, but told the website, "It was extremely mentally stressful, and physically. What they show on television, there is no smokescreen in what you see on television actually does happen.

"It's tough. You really have to be organized, you have to get your game on," Colledge said.

According to NorthJersey.com, Colledge got on the show after the public relations team for her restaurants saw her do a cooking demonstration and encouraged her to fill out an online application in March.

The show was then filmed in New York City a month later.

So, how memorable was the experience on one of the Food Network's most popular shows?

"I don't even remember what I made," Colledge told Montclair Local.

But with two restaurants to run, life and cooking will go on for the Essex County restaurateur.

Colledge was basically born into the bakery business. She is the third generation of the family that owns Styertowne Bakery in Clifton, and she later independently opened Plum on Park in 2010, a full-scale restaurant in a streetcar, and then Plum Bakery, a gluten-free bakery, in 2015.

In a 2016 restaurant review of Plum on Park, an NJ Advance Media reviewer described the spot as "a neighborhood restaurant with flair."

Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jatmonavageNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook

Who was at their best in the sectional semifinals? NJ Advance Media takes a look.

What low seeds have the best chances at making deep runs in the state playoffs? NJ.com takes a look.