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These 21 N.J. teachers are competing for Teacher of the Year

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Find out which teacher from your county made the cut.


16-year-old boy charged with killing a man in Newark

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The name of the boy has not been released because of his status as a juvenile

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with the murder of a 58-year-old man in Newark, according to a statement from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. 

Prosecutors say on Aug. 2 around 2 p.m., the teen fatally shot Craig Dorrah near Crane Street in Newark in the city's East ward. 

Prosecutors have not released his name because he is a juvenile. They are reviewing the case to determine if it should be waived to adult court. 

In addition to the minor's murder charge, he also faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

He is currently being held at the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center in Newark.

Taylor Tiamoyo Harris may be reached at tharris@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ladytiamoyoFind NJ.com on Facebook. 

 

Grape Street Crips member who laughed about murdered teen gets long prison term

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Kwasi Mack, a member of Newark's Grape Street Crips known as "Welchs," was among more than 70 members of the Crips arrested as part of a multi-year federal takedown of the violent street gang.

The bullets spewed out in rapid fire in broad daylight at a neighborhood cookout in a Newark public housing complex, as children played nearby.

The gunman was Kwasi Mack, a member of Newark's Grape Street Crips known as "Welchs," who was armed with an automatic assault rifle and was out for blood. His target--a fellow gang-member who had cooperated with authorities in a murder investigation and whose loyalty to the gang was in question.

He had been released from prison just three months before the Columbus Day 2011 shooting.

On Thursday, the 29-year-old high-ranking gang member was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison for a violent crime spree of assaults and murders, including the fatal shooting of a teenager who cried for his mother as Mack--who laughed about it later with another gang member--pulled the trigger.

Mack pleaded guilty in October to eight counts charging him with murder and attempted murder, assaults, and conspiracy to distribute heroin.

He was among more than 70 members of the Crips who were arrested in a multi-year federal takedown that recently ended with the conviction of Corey Hamlet, the leader of the violent street gang that controlled much of the heroin trade in Newark and its nearby suburbs, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Mack admitted to a deadly series of assaults that began as far back as August 2006, when he shot and killed the teenager, a rival gang-member, and shot and paralyzed another young man.

He also pleaded guilty to the October 2011 shooting in Newark at the Kemsco Village housing complex. While nobody died, Mack shot eight people, with at least two of suffering permanent or life-threatening injuries.

Prosecutors said after being charged with attempted murder, he discovered the identity of the only person willing to testify against him and ordered fellow gang-members to kill the witness. While gang-members took steps to carry out Mack's orders, prosecutors said the murder never took place.

Mack admitted as well to a 2013 plot to kidnap and rob a major heroin-trafficker, and ordering the murder of two other gang-members.

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

Judge says she was fired for a drinking problem she didn't have. Now she's suing

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A former Newark judge is suing the city for wrongful termination.

A former Newark municipal judge is suing the city and its officials for wrongful termination, claiming she was falsely accused of drinking on the job and then fired for it. 

Vanessa Williams Powell, who was appointed to the bench in 2002, alleges the city discriminated against her, violated her civil rights, defamed her and inflicted emotional distress, according to a lawsuit filed in Essex County Superior Court in July. 

The case was moved to federal court this month, records show. 

The lawsuit alleges that in early May last year, Judge Victoria Pratt asked Powell if she had been drinking before work because she "smelled a whiff of alcohol." Powell said no, the complaint said. 

A few weeks later, however, Powell, who earned $128,000, was told her services were no longer needed in a letter from Mayor Ras Baraka, the complaint said. 

When Powell tried to find out the reason for her termination, she was told Pratt wrote a letter to Baraka complaining that she was drunk on the job and also previously complained to the mayor that Powell had a drinking problem, the suit said. 

Powell claimed she was not allowed into the City Council's executive session later that month when they were discussing her position, the lawsuit said. The council then voted to confirm Judge Ashlie Gibbons to replace her. 

According to the case, Powell became depressed and began sleeping on her living room floor after she was terminated. She has not been employed since. 

Though she denies the drinking accusations, Powell's suit accuses city officials of discrimination based on her perceived drinking problem; alcoholism is a disability under the state discrimination laws, the case said. 

Christoper Roberts, who is representing Powell, declined to comment. A city spokesman and the attorney representing Pratt declined to comment. The attorneys representing the city, the council and other officials did not return requests for comment. 

Powell is seeking damages and her job back. 

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

 

Divisional realignments shake up boys soccer: Breaking down all 15 conferences

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See how the new divisional realignment cycle could alter the boys soccer landscape this season.

Sikh community condemns 'brutal attack' of worker found dead in deli

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The 55-year-old employee was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 55-year-old grocery store employee was killed Thursday morning in East Orange, authorities said. 

Tarlok Singh, who worked at the Park Deli & Grocery on North Park Street, was pronounced dead at the deli on Thursday morning, according to a statement released from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. 

He was killed at about 7:30 a.m., authorities said.

Singh's death was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner, the statement said.

Authorities did not say how Singh was killed. A spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, Katherine Carter, said, "We are not releasing that information at this time." 

A cousin, Karnail Singh, told ABC7 that Tarlok Singh was stabbed in the chest.

Residents told the news station that Singh was a well-liked member of the community who was kind to everyone. 

This Sikh community took to social media to condemn the alleged attack against Singh, which is reportedly the third violent attack against a Sikh in three weeks. 

Two men were attacked in separate incidents in California. In one of the incidents, a 50-year-old man was assaulted as his assailants yelled, "go back to your country" and spray painted a white supremacist symbol on his truck.

"We share our deepest condolences to Mr. Singh's family, friends and local community and we will provide updates when they become available," The Sikh Coalition wrote on Facebook

The Sikh Coalition reported earlier this year that Sikhs living in the United States experience an average of one hate crime per week. The group said anywhere from 200,000 to 500,000 Sikhs are living in the country. 

One of the most recent publicized discrimination incidents against a Sikh in New Jersey came in July when the state's attorney general, Gurbir Grewal, was the target of racist remarks by two NJ101.5 hosts. 

Authorities in Essex County have not stated a motive in the killing of Singh. 

Authorities asked anyone with information to contact the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Motorist finds woman's body on Irvington Street

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The woman has not yet been identified

A motorist discovered a woman's body on an Irvington street Friday morning, the Essex County Prosecutors Office said

Investigators found she'd been shot several times. 

The woman, who police had yet to publicly identify as of Friday evening, was found on Krotik Place at approximately 8:55 a.m. The street parallels the Garden State Parkway between Chancellor Avenue and Mill Road.

The investigation into the woman's killing is active and ongoing, the prosecutor's office said Friday evening.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the prosecutor's office's Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

Taylor Tiamoyo Harris may be reached at tharris@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ladytiamoyoFind NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Toms River man shot to death in Newark

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Terrell Malone, 28, was shot at 11:45 p.m. near Pankhurst street in Newark.

A Toms River man is dead after being shot in Newark Thursday night, authorities say.

The investigation into Terrell Malone's death is ongoing and is being conducted by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, the agency said in a press release. 

Malone, 28, was shot at 11:45 p.m. near Pankhurst street in Newark and taken to University Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to authorities.

As of Saturday morning, authorities did not release any additional details about the shooting. 

Anyone with information can contact the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force tips line at 1877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-743.

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

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Should police dash cams be secret? Here's what you may not have seen if they were

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Here's a look at police dashboard camera videos in light of the latest state Supreme Court ruling on Monday.

N.J. home makeover: $55K and lots of DIY work to renovate a Bloomfield duplex

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N.J. home makeover is a regular feature on NJ.com that showcases designer, contractor and DIY renovations, large and small.

N.J. home makeover is a regular feature on NJ.com that showcases designer, contractor and DIY renovations, large and small. To submit your renovation for consideration, email home@starledger.com with your full name, email address, phone number and town/city. Attach "before" and "after" photos of what you renovated.


When Tito Gonzalez and Wendy Cruz began working on what would be their half of a 1942 Colonial-style duplex, it was about a week before their April 2005 wedding day.

They had just closed on the Bloomfield house, and they were cleaning it room by room. Their plan was to live with the house as it was for a few years until life slowed down a bit and they had saved up for home improvements. They were both working full time, and Wendy was traveling to Manhattan for her master's degree program.

But on that April day, the bathroom had so much built-up grime that Wendy was compelled to stand in the bathtub with her shoes on as she tried to clean the surrounding shower walls.

Her future husband was perplexed by this cleaning method. She showed him how the strong detergent she was using changed color in reaction to the dirt but did little to remove it.

"Even when wiped, the tiles in the shower looked the same," she said.

When his wife-to-be resolved that she would "just take a shower while wearing my flip flops," Tito Gonzalez knew it was time for action.

"He took it upon himself to fix this room for me with the help of his cousin," Wendy Gonzalez recalls. "When we returned from our honeymoon and moved in, the tile and fixtures had been replaced."

It was the first of many do-it-yourself projects, often taken on as a couple with the help of family and friends, some of whom have construction experience. Tito, a master automotive technician, also is creative and naturally handy, his wife said.

"We went into this house fully knowing and accepting that there was a lot of work that needed to take place in order to turn it into our home," says Wendy, a certified interior and lighting designer who owns the Livingston home decor shop Modern Ornament, which doubles as her design studio.

In the 1,100 square feet of their two-bedroom, one bathroom house, a storage attic is the only area that has not been updated. In the 13 years they've lived there, they've painted and paneled walls and ceilings, installed a living room floor, replaced kitchen cabinetry, and put in new sinks and faucets. They ripped up old carpeting to reveal their home's wooden floors and turned a side porch into a designer pantry with Ikea cabinets, glass backsplash tiles and wooden counters.

Initially, they thought their first home together would be a condominium, but what attracted them to the Bloomfield house was getting their own backyard.

"That is not something you are going to get with a condo," Wendy said.

Their extensive renovations have also involved the backyard, where they replaced wood on an aging deck.

With a masters in lighting design, Wendy has been able to apply her training at home and in her store.

"A single fixture cannot always provide adequate lighting," she notes. "For most rooms in our home, I opted for a main decorative pendant or a ceiling-mounted light, and then I provided more layers of light through additional ceiling or wall-mounted light fixtures and table lamps. It's the combination of multiple light sources that evokes an added feeling of comfort and coziness."

She has used costly glass or stainless steel tiles as borders or insets. In this impactful strategy that has helped stretch their home improvement dollars, basic white tiles were made more interesting by alternating rows of different sizes or setting them at angles.

"Our focus with material selection has always been simplicity and quality," Wendy said.

They have renovated without moving walls, making mostly cosmetic changes and replacing fixtures, "taking advantage of the bones of the house and breathing in new life through materials."

Taking on one room or project at a time, they have lived in their house while working on it. This helps Wendy Gonzalez empathize with clients who might need to endure what she calls the overwhelming experience of living though a renovation.

"You are really working through a mess for a little while," she says. "It's just having to organize things constantly and clean things constantly. You can't really have people over. Things take longer than you planned."

While all this can "test your patience," she notes: "As long as you have taken the time to explore your options and make informed decisions, it's well worth it for years to come."

What they renovated

A 1942 Bloomfield duplex

Who did the work?

"We did a lot of the finish upgrades ourselves," says Wendy Gonzalez. "Our exterior painting, including the metal siding, wood deck and wood fence were done by Onpoint Painting, based in Belleville." They also hired electrical contractors and tile installers for some of the some.

How long it took

"It's always been a work in progress," Wendy Gonzalez says, estimating that they've been working on the house since they moved there.

What they spent

About $55,000 to date. As a professional interior designer, Wendy Gonzalez was able to buy materials used in their home at discounted industry rates.

Where they splurged

On backsplash and accent tiles, including the unique glass tiles used in their expanded pantry. Also on the exotic angelim wood flooring in their living room.

How they saved

By doing much of the work themselves, using basic tiles and accenting them with more expensive tiles, and splurging on designer hardware instead of high-end cabinetry.  

What they did themselves

"Refinishing surfaces and upgrading materials became something we did together," Wendy says. "Our weekend-ish projects now make up our stories about every element of our house." They shopped for the interlocking panels and installed the kitchen's wood accent wall over the holidays. "The stairs in the basement were painted less than 12 hours before we expected company, and we weren't sure if they'd dry in time."

What they like most

"Seeing our house as a whole and welcoming people to it," Wendy says. "But my greatest pride and joy lies in the fact that my husband feels very much at home in it, and that it's both something that reflects our style and that we know we worked on together."

What they'd have done differently

"Honestly, I wouldn't change a thing," Wendy says. "Except maybe painting indoors in 90-plus-degree weather before we had central air conditioning."

Kimberly L. Jackson may be reached at home@starledger.com. Find NJ.com Entertainment on Facebook.

Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the highest property tax rates

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These 30 towns may not have the highest average property taxes, but they do have the highest property tax rates in New Jersey.

N.J. pets in need: August 20, 2018

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Consider adopting a pet from a shelter or rescue.

Petfinder, the for-profit internet company that operates the largest online pet adoption website serving all of North America, put this list together of common adoption myths in the hope that more people will adopt dogs and cats from shelters and rescues.

"I don't know what I'm getting."

There is likely more information available on adoptable animals than pets for purchase in pet stores. Many of the pets from rescue groups are in foster care, living with their fosterer 24/7; information on their personality and habits is typically vast. Even shelters have a very good idea about how the dogs and cats in their care behave with people and other animals.

"I can't find what I want at a shelter."

Not only are their breed-specific rescue groups, but some rescues and shelters maintain waiting lists for specific breeds. There are even means on Petfinder.com to be notified when certain breeds are posted for adoption.

"I can get a pet for free from a friend or acquaintance; why pay an adoption fee?"

The 'free pet' from a source other than a shelter or rescue group isn't necessarily free. Adoption fees usually cover a number of services and treatments including spay/neuter and veterinary checkups. Covering these costs on your own would call for spending the following estimated amounts:

* Spay/neuter: $150-$300

* Distemper vaccination: $20-$30, twice

* Rabies vaccination: $15-$25

* Heartworm test: $15-$35

* Flea/tick treatment: $50-$200

* Microchip: $25-$50

"Pets are in shelters because they don't make good pets."

Here are the main reasons animals end up in shelters or with rescue groups:

* Owners have to move, pets not allowed

* Allergies

* Owner having personal problems

* Too many, no room for littermates

* Owner can no longer afford a pet

* Owner's health does not allow for pet care

While no one can say that every pet adopted from a shelter or rescue will work out perfectly, it's important to remember that misinformation about these homeless animals often keeps them from finding loving homes.

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

Newark shakes up city's top jobs in push for a comeback

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Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has shaken up some top positions in his cabinet and finally named a new czar to oversee affordable housing.

Commanding his second term in office, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has shaken up some top positions in his cabinet and finally named a new czar to oversee affordable housing.  

Newark employee Al-Tariq Shabazz will become the manager of the office of affordability and sustainable housing, city officials confirmed. Shabazz currently works as a fiscal officer in economic and housing development but his new role will focus on helping residents seeking low- and moderate-income housing and overseeing developers' affordable housing requirements

The city's inclusionary zoning regulation requires housing developers that request tax breaks or zoning variances from the city to set aside 20 percent of their units as affordable, or else contribute into an affordable housing fund. 

Newark is a finalist city in Amazon's quest for a second headquarters. Investment is also returning to Newark with large residential towers -- including one by NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal -- under construction.  

John Palmieri, the former executive director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Agency, who was hired at the beginning of the year as the Deputy Mayor for Economic Growth, Transportation and Infrastructure, will now serve two roles and additionally serve as the Deputy Mayor of Economic and Housing Development. 

Palmieri was appointed to the additional position last week and confirmed by the City Council. His salary for both roles is $175,000.

Carmelo Garcia, who previously served as the acting Deputy Mayor of Economic and Housing Development, will assume a new position as Chief of Development, earning $110,000. 

Garcia also works as the executive director of the Irvington Housing Authority. 

"Garcia's new role will allow him to deliver on the city's largest and most impactful developments," Baraka said in a statement. "Both leaders are critical to the city's revitalization and will ensure continuity in our growth and our commitment to remain inclusive and equitable."

Last month, Baraka welcomed a longtime Orange official as the city's new business administrator. 

Eric Pennington, a former Orange city attorney and chief municipal judge, was named as the new business administrator in July, replacing Jack Kelly who is retiring.

Kelly, who was appointed in 2015, previously served as Orange's chief financial officer. Kelly has been retained by the city as a consultant making $65 an hour until the budget is adopted, according to spokesman Frank Baraff. 

Among the department directors reappointed to their positions:

  • Andrea Hall Adebowale, director of water and sewer
  • Mark J. Wade, director of health and wellness
  • Danielle A. Smith, director of finance
  • Patrick Council, director of recreation, cultural affairs and senior Services
  • Khalif Thomas, director of public works
  • Philip Scott, director of engineering
  • Kenyatta K. Stewart, acting corporation counsel
  • Anthony Ambrose, public safety director

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

 

He took out his revenge on her through a vulgar campaign of online harassment

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The Essex County Prosecutor's Office say he took revenge by spreading vulgar and false statements about her on various websites.

Shellonda Anderson is on the mend emotionally and rediscovering happiness that disappeared during a dark period in her life when she was involved with a Brooklyn man.

Things like hanging with family and friends. Anderson, 30, of Newark, was into meditation and yoga and she jogged for exercise."When I was with him there were a lot of things that I loved to do that I was just not doing any more,'' Anderson said.

She says Gerald Decelian, 30 of Brooklyn, N.Y., gradually took that away over two years after they began dating in 2015.

With his computer expertise in Search Engine Optimization, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said, Decelian subjected Anderson to a vulgar campaign of harassment on the internet after he violated a 2017 restraining order.

decelianImage-10.png 

He can't do that anymore now without paying a hefty penalty after pleading guilty on June 29 to domestic violence cyber-harassment. He received a sentence of 18 months of probation on Friday in state Superior Court in Newark.

Decelian told state Superior Court Judge Martin Cronin that he was sorry for what he did. In addition to probation, Cronin explained to Decelian that he is prohibited from having contact with Anderson.

"You're in control of this,'' Cronin said.

If he violates the terms of his probation, Cronin said, Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Jason Goldberg would be back in court asking for jail time.

Then it was Anderson's turn. She said she has met many women in similar situations who have given up because they didn't think justice was possible. And, no one should have had to endure what she has been through, she said.

Cyberbullying is causing teens serious emotional harm

Last summer, when you Googled her name, explicit photos and false disparaging comments about her appeared. In a one-week period, Goldberg said, Decelian placed Anderson's name on a number of websites where people can post disparaging comments about former partners. And, he did this after the restraining order.

Decelian, who owns a digital marketing company, says he didn't commit the crime, even though he admitted under oath during the plea hearing in June that he posted derogatory information about Anderson, knowing it was false.

"I took the plea because I didn't want to go to trial,'' Decelian said after his sentencing on Friday. "I did not do what I pleaded to.''

Then, how did the images and comments get there?

"I don't know,'' he said. "I do have expertise, but that doesn't mean I did it.''

The prosecutor's office, however, says differently. Decelian caused irreparable harm and what he did was an act of vengeance, Assistant Prosecutor Michael Burke said in court on Friday.

"When he felt someone wronged him, he used his talents to destroy a young lady's reputation and future; all simply because his feelings were hurt,'' Burke said. "When you Google her, Harvard educated brilliant young gifted mind that overcame substantial odds to succeed does not come up; rather it is made up of filth that the defendant concocted to get revenge.'' 

Anderson said she knew she had to leave the relationship before filing the restraining order. She said Decelian hacked her email and social media accounts. He took over her Facebook page, wiped out her followers on Instagram, and erased the music mixes from Sound Cloud she created as a DJ.

Decelian denies this, too.

"Cyber harassment is one type of way that an abusive partner, or someone who is committing harm, can use to establish coercive control over a survivor,'' said Deanna Dyer, managing attorney for the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence.

Among young people nationwide, Dyer said the misuse of technology is alarming.

Ask Alexa

Fifty percent of them, who are ages 14 to 24, have experienced some form of abusive digital behavior, said Dyer, using statistics from the Safety Net project of the National Network To End Domestic Violence.

"Domestic violence doesn't occur in single isolated events,'' Dyer said. "It's a pattern of abusive behavior intended to have control over a survivor.''

These days, Anderson's life is in a better place.

She sought and continues to seek counseling from the Essex County Family Justice Center, a Newark organization that provides services to victims of domestic violence.

"It's an entire process of unhazing yourself,'' Anderson said. "Your head is in the clouds. You can't see clearly even though you know what's on the other side.''

Anderson has crossed that bridge toward recovery.

She wants to return to her passion in maternal health as a birth advocate who works with expecting parents.

"I'm just taking my time to rebuild those things and comeback into my own self and finding my self-love."

She's regaining her independence and has taken up domestic violence advocacy with the justice center. Should others find themselves in that situation, Anderson said they can't blame themselves as to why this happened.

"Know this is something that someone else did to you,'' she said.

As she moves forward, the prosecutor's office has given Anderson a letter to have the websites remove her name.

In the meantime, she'll continue to meditate, practice yoga and, when she goes for long runs, put as much distance between herself and this ordeal.

This past May was a good month for that. She completed her first half marathon.

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'We need some love in the hood.' Teacher's slaying brings Naughty by Nature rapper home.

Barry Carter may be reached at bcarter@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

No suspects 4 years after bodega owner was killed in community 'he gave back to'

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Jose Rivas' family will remember him this week with a vigil outside the store. Watch video

Perched on the corner of Shepard Avenue and Osbourne Terrace in Newark, Yesi Supermarket appears to be a typical corner store in Newark's Weequahic neighborhood.

Customers come in, whether it be for a lottery ticket or a bag of potato chips, and walk in like they're stepping into their own home, greeting employees by name.

"You come in here upset and you leave with a smile. Jose (Rivas) was a big part of that," said Frayni Nunez, Rivas' cousin who works at the store.  

IMG_3659.JPGJose Rivas  

Four years ago, Rivas, the beloved 26-year-old owner and manager of the supermarket, was abducted and shot near his store, and died on the way to the hospital. His family will remember him this week with a vigil outside the store.

For Nunez, and the rest of Rivas' family who continue to work in the store, the anniversary of his death is especially painful because no one has been charged with his death. According to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, no suspects have been identified. 

A $5,000 reward, the standard for such cases, is still being offered by the Newark Police Department for anyone with information about Rivas' death. 

"We haven't a rumor, nothing," Rivas' cousin, Margarita Rivas said. "He was killed in the community he loved, that he gave back to." 

On Aug. 22, 2014, the day of his murder, Jose Rivas arrived at his store around 7 a.m. to open it, as he did every morning, his family said. As he got out of his yellow Hummer across from the building, a silver truck pulled up and a few men got out and grabbed Rivas, a witness told police.

Police say Jose Rivas was shot, and then dumped onto the street about two blocks from the store.

A good Samaritan found him and called police, but Jose Rivas died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital police said. 

"He wasn't a street dude. Didn't cause trouble or anything. He had no enemies," Nunez said. "If you were short and needed food for your family he would say 'OK, pay what you can' or 'come back later.' Why would you do something to a person like that?"

Cameras at the bodega didn't capture images of Jose Rivas' abductors or the vehicle involved in the crime, which marked Newark's 58th killing at the time. 

At the crime scene, police found a blood-stained shirt, a shoe and a set of keys in the middle of the street. That may not be enough to solve the crime. Despite advances in forensic analysis, and the growing use of video security cameras, more than four in 10 murders in New Jersey go unsolved, according to an NJ Advance Media examination of a decade's worth of statewide crime reports.

As of Aug. 16, Newark has reached its 44th homicide. One of the most recent killings occurred just a mile from Yesi Supermarket.

Even the city's new federally funded camera program, which placed over 100 cameras in Newark recently, still would not have helped, as none are placed in the city's South Ward, according to Newark police. 

Expo preview

Jose Rivas immigrated to Newark from the Dominican Republic with his family when he was 8. The family established roots in the city and bought and managed a number of supermarkets and liquor stores there. 

After Jose Rivas graduated from Barringer High School, he saved enough money to buy his own supermarket and get into the family business, his cousins said.

Though he's gone, his family has vowed to never forget their beloved "Flaco" -- Spanish for skinny. In addition to regularly bringing flowers to his grave and send a prayer up every night they hold a vigil every year.

The vigil is held every year on the day of vigil every year outside the supermarket.

This year it'll be on Wednesday.

But a store banner with Jose's face and name placed above the door so that you can't miss it every time you leave Yesi Supermarket  is everyone's daily reminder of who Jose R. "Flaco" Rivas was and that he will never be forgotten.

Taylor Tiamoyo Harris may be reached at tharris@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ladytiamoyo.

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N.J. fines 29 unlicensed moving companies in undercover sting

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Investigators pretended to be residents moving out of an upscale North Jersey neighborhood

More than two dozen unlicensed New Jersey moving companies were fined after being caught in an undercover sting operation this spring, state officials announced Monday.

Termed "Operation Mother's Attic," the 29 moving companies were nabbed over the course of four days in April, the state attorney general's office said. 

Investigators from the Division of Consumer Affairs' Office of Consumer Protection posed as customers hiring a company to move them out of a luxury home in Montville.

When the movers arrived they were greeted by investigators and each handed a notice of violation and a $2,500 fine.

Inside a state crackdown on unlicensed movers in N.J.

"An unlicensed moving company can be a homeowner's worst nightmare," state Attorney General Grewal said in a statement. "They've been known to hold truckloads of property hostage until the customer pays an extortionate fee. And these unlicensed movers often don't carry adequate insurance, creating the risk that homeowners will be left high and dry if their property is seriously damaged during the move. That's why we regulate the industry - and why we crack down on rogue operators."

Each of the companies was contacted after advertising online. 

Licenses movers are required to have cargo liability insurance, workers' compensation insurance as well as bodily injury and property damage insurance. There are about 320 licensed movers in New Jersey. 

The moving companies issued notices of violations and fined are: 

  • 1/2 Price Movers (Staten Island, New York)
  • Alpha Moving Services (Highland Lakes)
  • Affordable & Assertive Moving & Storage (Pompton Lakes)
  • Avelar Trucking (Landing)
  • Bin It NJ (North Bergen)
  • Centurion Movers (Willow Grove, Pennsylvania)
  • Consider It Done (Toms River)
  • Cruz Movers (Cinnaminson)
  • Enterprise Vane Lines (Congers, New York)
  • GDK Logistics (Fairfield)
  • H&D Transportation (Clifton)
  • Helping Hands Moving (Newark)
  • I.D. Noble Movers (Hackensack)
  • Imperial Moving & Storage, also know as Lions Den Enterprises and Insignia Moving (Manhattan, New York)
  • J&L Moving (Hillside)
  • Lite Moving (Franklin Square, New York)
  • Moving Good (Little Ferry)
  • Moving Hero (Rahway)
  • Old Country Van Lines (East Newark)
  • Princeton Movers/Great Eastern Movers (Brooklyn, New York)
  • Rent a Helping Hand (Pennington)
  • Mundanzas (Dover)
  • Roadway Moving (Elizabeth)
  • Round City Moving (Garfield)
  • Rosie's Master Movers (Cherry Hill)
  • TB Moving (Brooklyn, New York)
  • We Move You (Maywood)

Police also handed out 29 motor vehicle violations and made three arrests over the four-days (two for outstanding warrants, one for marijuana possession). 

The companies cited can get their penalties reduced by half if they apply for a license within 30 days of getting the notice of violation, authorities said.

State Police, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Morris County Sheriff's Office and Montville police assisted.

Similar stings have been carried out in 20162014 and 2012. 

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

 

This county went from near 'junk bond' status to the highest rating. Investors, take note

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The ratings measure credit worthiness which signals to bond holders how likely a county or municipality is to pay back its bonds with interest.

Analysts at Moody's Investors Service have, for the first time, upgraded Essex County to the highest bond rating, citing its stable tax base and healthy budget practices. 

Essex is the seventh county in the state with a Aaa rating, county officials said. The ratings measure creditworthiness which signals to bond holders how likely a county or municipality is to pay back its bonds with interest.

Like a credit score when people take out mortgages or loans, a higher bond rating means less risk in the ability to pay back debt.  

"For our residents, having a Aaa rating makes living in Essex County more attractive and will enhance property values," County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said in a statement.

"The higher bond rating displays the trust and confidence that Wall Street has in Essex County's finances and will help us get better interest rates and attract more prospective investors when we issue bonds." 

DiVincenzo said the county will issue bonds next month to expand West Caldwell School of Technology and renovate Essex County College. 

Essex County bond ratingFund balance numbers for Essex County as compiled by Moody's Investors Service.
 

With a population of 808,000, Essex County has an $89 billion tax base, according to Moody's, yet a clear wealth gap exists. 

There are small, wealthy communities like Essex Fells and Montclair among the county's 22 municipalities, which, on average are 18 miles from New York City. 

But 17 percent of the county's residents live under the poverty level, Moody's said. The unemployment rate of 4.7 percent is slightly above the state's 3.7 percent unemployment rate. 

The county's urban municipalities comprise about 50 percent of the population and 22 percent of the tax base. 

Moody's recently revised Newark's outlook from negative to positive for the first time in eight years, though it still has a low credit rating.

The county's tax base has grown the last four years, after years of decline, Moody's said. 

"We inherited a $64 million budget deficit and Moody's was on the verge of downgrading our bond rating to junk bond status," said DiVincenzo, who has led the county for 16 years. 

The county's outlook remains stable and its finances are expected to stay strong, according to Moody's report. 

On average, county taxes have increased 1.65 percent, officials said. This year county taxes will increase 0.75 percent. 

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

'Double Dare Live' is heading to N.J. Are you ready to take the Physical Challenge?

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The Nickelodeon children's game show, which ran from 1986 to 1993, was famous for its messy obstacle course and was recently given a series revival. Now, Marc Summers, its original host, is coming to New Jersey for a live show as part of a 14-city tour this fall. Watch video

On your mark, get set ... go!

For many children in the late '80s and early '90s, an afternoon of Nickelodeon programming meant watching helmeted contestants in kneepads dive headlong into a human-sized ice cream sundae, wiggle inside a giant mouth or plunge their arms into the enormous nostril of a huge nose prop in desperate search of a small red flag.

And if they were ever called upon, it was certain that they, too, would be ready to take the Physical Challenge, a hectic obstacle course that left contestants covered in "slime," chocolate syrup and goop of mysterious origin. 

The game show was "Double Dare" and its host was the effervescent Marc Summers, who guided children, and, starting in 1990, entire families (for "Family Double Dare") through the harrowing course.   

The beloved Nickelodeon '80s game show, famous for its frantic, zany Physical Challenge, ran from 1986 to 1993 but was recently revived on the cable network.

Now, Summers, the original host, is headed on the road as "Double Dare Live" embarks on a 14-city tour this fall, including one stop in Newark on Nov. 15. 

The show will include slime soaks, booger busting and pie plastering. And yes, you can enter to become a contestant, at long last fulfilling those childhood dreams of victoriously retrieving red flags from various piles of goop.

Summers is an executive producer of the series revival and also appears on the new show, which premiered in June and is hosted by Liza Koshy. It's just the latest Nickelodeon revival. Another Nickelodeon game show from the '90s, "Legends of the Hidden Temple," returned as a TV movie in 2016.

Ticket holders can register to be a contestant at the Newark show starting in October. 

"Double Dare Live" will be at NJPAC's Prudential Hall on Nov. 15. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 24. Tickets $39.50 to $79.50; njpac.org

.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.

 

 

Girls soccer preview: 50 can't-miss girls soccer scrimmages in August

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Check out the games to keep an eye on at the tail end of the summer.

Novelty hand grenades found in checked luggage at Newark airport

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The realistic-looking grenades are hollowed out so they can be used as a bottle openers

The realistic-looking hand grenades a woman placed in her checked bag at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday turned out to be novelty bottle opener. 

The passenger was allowed to board her flight, but the piece of luggage didn't make it on the plane in time due to the delay at the screening area, Transportation Security Administration officials said. 

The woman apparently ignored a warning notice that accompanied the replica grenades that instructed travelers not to bring them into airports, TSA officials said.

WATCH: Boy challenges TSA officer to dance-off at Newark airport

Replicas like the hand grenade can look real to screeners using X-ray machines to scan luggage, TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein.

"The delay in determining that these were not an actual threat, but instead were novelty bottle openers was such that the luggage did not make it onto the plane and was turned over to the airline to handle," Farbstein said.

The bottoms of the fake hand grenades are hollowed out so they can be used as bottle openers. 

Neither the identity of the woman nor the airline was revealed by the TSA.

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

 

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