Evenson's closed in the early 1980s.

VERONA -- Evenson's, a family-owned clothing store at 569 Bloomfield Ave., can be seen in this photo from 1972.

Also visible in the photo is Julie Schill, who sits behind the wheel of the 1964 Chevrolet Nova.

According to myveronanj.com, Bernice and Fred Evenson, who took over management of the store from Fred's parents, relocated the shop from 555 Bloomfield Ave. in 1946.

The store closed in the early 1980s and the site has been home to several businesses up to its present-day tenants, a carpet store and an appliance store.

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 Thursdays on nj.com.

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

 

A pilot program now provides job training and placement for people who are still receiving assistance to buy food.

ELIZABETH -- Leaders from Union and Essex counties on Wednesday hailed the opening of a new program designed to help impoverished people get jobs or training so they can remain qualified for food stamps.

The pilot program uses private donations to fund jobs and job training to people receiving benefits from the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, formerly known as the food stamps program.

Under federal requirements, recipients must have a job or be in a training program to be eligible for the benefit. New Jersey had waived that requirement because of the weak economy, but last year Gov. Chris Christie's administration refused to extend that waiver.

On Wednesday, elected officials gathered at the African-America Cultural Learning Center on Routes 1&9 to kick off the SNAP Employment and Demonstration Project, the result of legislation sponsored by state senators Ray Lesniak (D-Union) and Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex).

"It matches private sector money to federal money - at no costs to the state - in funding job training for SNAP recipients," Lesniak said.

The state Department of Human Services will work with local governments, non-profit agencies, and colleges and universities to provide food stamp recipients with training funded by private foundations with matching federal funds.

Lesniak said 1,500 people in Union County, and 11,000 people statewide, would lose their food stamps unless they get jobs or are in training programs.

Christie ends food stamp waiver

The jobs and training program is funded in part through a $500,000 grant from the Nicholson Foundation of Newark.

"The pilot program is the right thing to do, not only for Union County residents who receive SNAP benefits, but for all of New Jersey's residents who may lack the means to put food on their table," said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen.

The state Department of Human Services selected two non-profit agencies, Blessed Ministries Inc, and YouthBuild Newark, Inc., to run the pilot program, which will assist SNAP recipients in Union, Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties to find work or work-related activities.

Union County College President Margaret McMenamin, who was at the ceremonies, said she was recently notified that 100 SNAP recipients will be seeking the college's training and placement services.

Federals regulations require single, able-bodied adults from age 18 to 49, without dependents to work 20 hour per week or be in a training program to receive food assistance.

MORE UNION COUNTY NEWS

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

See where the schools are located, and how high above the EPA's 'action level' lead levels in the schools are.

View Lead levels found in Newark schools' water in a full screen map

NEWARK -- The 30 Newark public schools tested to have levels of lead in their drinking water  above the federal "action level" are spread throughout the state's largest city. These schools all contain levels above 15 parts per billion, according to state Department of Environmental Protection officials.

"The action level represents the threshold requiring additional testing, monitoring and remediation," the DEP said in a release Wednesday. 

Officials: Lead levels at Newark schools no Flint

City officials said Wednesday that the levels were contained to the school buildings, and did not originate from the city's water source. The lead is likely from pipes and other infrastructure in the aging school buildings, officials said.

School will remain in session while officials conduct additional testing on the schools' water supply. Schools have temporarily turned off their drinking fountains, and are using bottled water for cooking and drinking, officials said.

In a note released Thursday, Mayor Ras Baraka asked all residents to donate two cases of water to Newark schools. Donations can be made at the following locations:

• Boylan Recreation Center, 916 South Orange Avenue, 973.733.8947
• Sharpe James/Kenneth A. Gibson (lronbound) Recreation Center, 226 Rome Street, 973.733.3707
• John F. Kennedy Recreation Center, 211 West Kinney St., 973.733.5483
• Rotunda Recreation Center, 75 Clifton Avenue, 973. 733.3677
• St. Peters Recreation Center, 378 Lyons Avenue, 973.733.8006

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

Grab a basket and check out of of these family-friendly hunts.

While the Easter holiday is rooted in religion, many of its traditions focus on spring, renewal, and international customs.

One of the most beloved activities associated with Easter is searching for hidden, decorated eggs.

There are Easter Egg Hunts scheduled throughout the state from now until Easter Sunday.

Be sure not to miss one by checking out this list. If you know of any other Easter egg hunts, please add them in the comments section.

Atlantic County

Buena Vista Township is hosting the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Michael Debbi Park in Richland on March 19 at noon. Buena Vista children are invited to search for more than 2,000 candy-filled eggs and several special bonus eggs containing special prizes. For more information, visit buenavistanj.com.

The Steel Pier will host an Easter Egg Hunt with Atlantic County Toys for Kids on March 26 at 2 p.m. on the beach near 1000 Boardwalk in Atlantic City. No registration is required. For more information, call 866-386-6659.

Bergen County

SpEGGtacular Egg Hunt at Bergen County Zoo on March 19 at 10 a.m. Bring your own basket to collect eggs while watching the zoo animals participate in their own egg hunt. To pre-register, call 201-262-3771 ext. 110, or email cbaca@co.bergen.nj.us.

The Meadowlands Museum is hosting a unique Easter Egg Hunt on March 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. at 91 Crane Avenue in Rutherford. Participants can hunt for fun facts about American history during this event. For more information, call 201-935-1175.

Burlington County

This year's Moorestown Easter Egg Hunt is being held at Jeff Young Field on March 26 at 9 a.m. The Moorestown Business Association and Lenola Fire Company merged their events to make one egg hunt for children up to 12 years old. More than 500 kids are expected, and prizes will be awarded in each age category. Jeff Young Field is located at the corner of New Albany and Lenola roads in Moorestown. For more information, call 609-937-5557 or email joho20@ymail.com.

The Shawnee and Seneca High School Interact clubs and the Medford Vincetown Rotary Club are hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on March 19 at 11 a.m. at Freedom Park, 17 North Main Street in Medford. Kids from preschool to fourth grade are invited to search for eggs, including magic eggs that include special prizes. For more information, visit mvrotaryclub.org.

Camden County

The Barrington Democratic Club is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt at the Barrington Little League Fields on March 26 at 11 a.m. The fields are located at 123 South Moore Avenue in Barrington. For more information, email clubhouse@barringtonbaseball.org.

Millennium Skate World is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on March 27 at 3 p.m. Cost is $5 for admission. Participants are invited to skate for an additional skate rental fee. Millennium Skate World is located at 1900 Carmen Street in Camden. For more information, call 856-757-9460.

Cape May County

The Great Egg Hunt in Ocean City is March 19 at 2:30 p.m. There will be 100,000 eggs to find, and 5,000 of those will have prizes inside. Kids in five age groups should meet between 11th and 14th streets on the beach. Ages 0 to 2, and 3 to 4 meet at 11th Street, 5 and 6 year olds meet at 12th Street, and 7 year olds meet at 13th Street. For more information, call 800-BEACH-NJ.

The Stone Harbor Firehouse is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on March 26 at 175 96th Street in Stone Harbor. The event is free of charge and kicks off at 1 p.m. Visit stoneharborfire.com for more information.

Hannah Doherty, 10, the daughter of Belmar Mayor Matthew Doherty, poses with Hugs the Easter Bunny after the Easter Egg Hunt in Belmar in 2015. (MaryAnn Spoto | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) MaryAnn Soto 

Cumberland County

East Point Lighthouse is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on March 20 at 1 p.m. Children 12 and younger can hunt for eggs, play games, and do crafts. Various 4-H clubs will be on hand with bunnies, rabbits and chicks. The lighthouse is located at 10 Lighthouse Road in Heislerville. For more information, call 856-785-9927.

Millville is holding an Easter Egg Hunt at Union Lake Park on March 19 at 11 a.m. Children from 2 to 12 years old are invited to participate and are encouraged to bring a basket or bag for collecting eggs. For more information, call 856-825-7000 ext. 7394.

Essex County

Roseland Recreation Department is hosting the 17th annual Easter Eggstravaganza on March 19 at 11:30 a.m. at the Harrison Complex in Roseland. The event is open to all Roseland children 8 years old and younger. The hunt will be held on the borough hall's front lawn. Be sure to bring a basket. The complex is located at 19 Harrison Avenue in Roseland. For more information, call 973-403-6822.

Nutley Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt at Reinheimer Park on March 24 at 7:30 p.m Children from Nutley can search for more than 1,500 eggs hidden throughout the park. Children should meet at the park area where the hunt will begin at dusk. Reinheimer Park is located at 268 Hancox Avenue in Nutley. For more information, call 973-284-4966.

Gloucester County

Woolwich Township is hosting its annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 19 at 10 a.m. Egg scrambles will take place every 20 minutes between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. There will also be face painting, games and refreshments. The event is free of charge and will be held at Charles G. Harker School at 1771 Oldmans Creek Road. Visit woolwichtwp.org for more information.

Monroe Township Public Library is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on March 19. At 11:30 a.m., children 3 years old and younger can search for eggs. Then at 1:30 p.m., kids 4 years old and older can go on the hunt. The event is at 713 Marsha Avenue in Williamstown. For more information, visit monroetownshiplibrary.org.

Hudson County

Hoboken Family Alliance will host the Spring Fling Egg Hunt on March 19 at 10 a.m. in Columbus Park. Children are invited to search for eggs that they can turn in for prizes, run a shaky egg race or a bunny hop race, and guess the jelly beans contest to possible win a bike. Columbus Park is located in Clinton between 9th and 10th streets. For more information, visit hobokenfamily.com.

Urban Jungle Play is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt and activities on March 27 at 1140 Maxwell Lane in Hoboken. Children can also participate in painting and cookie decorating activities. Cost is $5. For more information, visit urbanjungleplay.com.

Hunterdon County

Clinton Township children can bring a basket and hunt for eggs with the Easter Bunny at Clinton Township Middle School on March 19 at 10 a.m. The event will also include inflatable bounce toys, face painting, music, games, and a wagon parade. Cost is $5 per family and is appropriate for toddlers through third graders. Clinton Township Middle School is located at 34 Grayrock Road in Clinton.

Schaeffer Farms is hosting Easter Egg Hunts on March 19, 20, 25, and 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kids can look for candy-filled eggs and choose a prize if they find a Golden Egg. Schaeffer Farms is located on 1051 County Route 523 in Flemington. For more information, visit schaeferfarms.com.

Children love to collect baskets full of colorful Easter eggs at hunts throughout the state. (File photo)File photo 

Mercer County

Terhune Orchard is hosting the Bunny Chase event March 26 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will have easter eggs hunts, cookies, wagon and pony rides, food and fun for all ages. Terhune Orchard is located at 330 Cold Soil Road in Princeton. For more information, call 609-924-2310 or email info@terhuneorchards.com.

Oasis Family Farm is hosting Easter Egg Hunts on March 19, 20, 25, and 26 at 3 Circle Drive in Robbinsville. Hunts kick off at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Cost is $7. For more information, visit oasisfamilyfarm.com or call 609-259-7300.

Middlesex County

Middlesex Township is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on March 19 at 10 a.m. in the Township Park at 50 Beagle Club Road. Children from 1 to 10 years old are invited to search for eggs and visit the Easter Bunny. Be sure to bring a basket for egg collecting, and the event takes place rain or shine. For more information, visit middlesextwp.com.

Quaker Steak and Lube in Edison is hosting an Easter egg hunt on March 26 at 10:30 a.m. Quaker Steak and Lube is located at US-1 and Plainfield Avenue in Edison. Call 732-777-9464 for more information.

Monmouth County

Belmar's annual Easter Egg Hunt is March 19 at 11 a.m. on the beach. More than 3,000 eggs will scatter the beach for children ages 1 to 9 to find. Children 1 to 3 years old should meet at the 4th Avenue beach entrance, kids age 4 and 5, and 6 and 7 should meet at the 3rd Avenue beach entrance, and 8 and 9 years olds should meet at the 2nd Avenue beach entrance. For more information, call 732-681-3700.

The Easter at the Pier Easter Egg Hunt is on March 26 at 1 p.m. Join the Easter Bunny and search for Easter eggs at Pier Village, 1 Chelsea Avenue in Long Branch. For more information, call 732-923-0100 or visit piervillage.com.

Morris County

Butler Township Recreation is hosting the Eggstravaganza and Egg Hunt on March 19 at Stonybrook Park -- 11 Valley Road in Kinnelon -- at 10 a.m. Toddlers will hunt in a separate area. DJ Steve will play the "Bunny Hop" and there will be face painting, snacks and dancing. For more information, call 973-838-7903

The annual Riverdale Easter Egg Hunt is March 26 at 11 a.m. at the Riverdale Community Center, 57 Loy Avenue. The event is open to all Riverdale children between 2 and 5 years old. Kdis are encouraged to bring a basket and collect as many eggs as they can. For more information, call 973-835-4060.

Ocean County

Jenkinson's Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach is hosting its annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 20 at 1 p.m. Children ages 0 to 4 should meet in front of Jenkinson's Aquarium, 5 and 6, and 7 and 8 year olds should meet in front of Frank's Fun Center, and kids from 9 to 10 years old should meet in front of Jenkinson's Amusement Park. Jenkinson's is located at 300 Ocean Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach, For more information, call 732-892-0600 or visit jenkinsons.com.

Seaside Heights is holding an Easter Egg Hunt on the beach on March 20 at 1 p.m. Approximately 15,000 plastic eggs filled with prizes from boardwalk merchants will cover the beach. Children should report to different locations depending on age. Kids 0 to 2 years old report to Hancock Avenue, 3 to 4 years old report to Blaine Avenue, 5 to 6 years old to Sumner Avenue, 7 to 8 years old to Hamilton Avenue, 9 and 10 year olds to Lincoln Avenue and children with special needs should report to Kearney Avenue. For more information, visit seaside-heightsnj.org.

More than 2,800 people participated in the Easter egg hunt hosted by Hoboken Grace Community Church in March 2015. (Richard J. McCormack | For The Jersey Journal) Richard J. McCormack 

Passaic County

Wayne Parks and Recreation's annual Easter Egg Hunt will be on March 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the Wayne Valley Junior Varsity Field and Football Field on Valley Road. For more information, visit waynetownship.com.

LIttle Falls Recreation Center is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on March 26 at 10 a.m. In addition to the egg hunt, kids can run an obstacle course, play games and see the Easter Bunny. Register by calling the center at 973-256-3884. The center is located at 160 Paterson Avenue in Little Falls. Visit lfnj.com for more information.

Salem County

The Salem County Sportsmans Club is hosting its annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 26 at 1 p.m. Children should bring baskets to hold the eggs they collect. The Sportsmans Club is located at 273 US-40 in Carneys Point. For more information, call 856-299-5588.

Pittsgrove Township is hosting the 22nd annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 19 at Green Branch Park beginning at 1 p.m. The event is open to kids from 2 to 10 years old. Green Branch Park is located at 299 Upper Neck Road in Pittsgrove. For more information, visit pittsgrovetownship.com.

Somerset County

The Montgomery Evangelical Free Church is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on March 26 at 10 a.m. at Griggstown Road in Belle Mead. Children 9 and younger are invited to search for treat-filled eggs, play games, have their faces painted and make a craft. For more information, call 908-874-4634.

Hillsborough Rotary Club is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt at The Landing Restaurant for children 8 years old and younger on March 26 at 10 a.m. Kids should bring a basket for collecting eggs. Each egg contains a treat. Hot dogs and hot chocolate will be available after the egg hunt. The Landing Restaurant is located at 311 Amwell Road in Hillsborough. For more information, call 732-522-6178.

Sussex County

The Hopatcong Recreation Commission is hosting its annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 20 at noon at Modick Park. Children from 0 to 10 can participate. Meet the Easter Bunny and have free cookies and juice at this year's event. For more information, call 973-770-1200.

The Lakeland Emergency Squad is hosting the annual Easter Egg Hunt for Byram, Andover Borough and Township children on March 26 at 10 a.m. at Wild West City, 50 Lackawanna Drive in Stanhope. Children ages 0 to 10 can hunt eggs, win prizes and visit the Easter Bunny. For more information, call 973-347-2500.

Union County

Elizabeth Mayor Bollwage and the department of recreation are hosting the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Carteret Park on March 19 at noon. Children should bring a basket for collecting, and can enjoy free candy and prizes following the hunt. Carteret Park is located near the corner of Elmora Avenue and Vine Street. For more information, call 908-820-4222 or visit elizabethnj.org.

Liberty Hall Museum is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on March 26 at noon. Children can search for plastic Easter Eggs filled with prizes throughout the museum grounds. Reservations are required. Tickets are $10 and admits one child and one adult. Additional tickets are $5. The museum is located at 1003 Morris Avenue in Union. For tickets, visit apps.vendini.com.

The field of Easter eggs on the beach in Belmar in 2015. (MaryAnn Spoto | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)MaryAnn Soto 

Warren County

The Lopatcong Township Easter Egg Hunt is March 19 at 10 a.m. at the Lopatcong Pavilion. Lopatcong children from toddlers to 9 year olds are invited to search for eggs at the pavilion located at 9 Wildew Avenue in Phillipsburg. For more information, call 908-859-3355 ext. 224.

Breakpoint Church in Hackettstown is hosting a community Egg Hunt at Legion Field on March 20 at 1 p.m. Festivities such as games, crafts, a petting zoo, pony rides and visits with the Easter Bunny begin at 1 p.m. and the egg hunt begins at 2 p.m. Legion Field is located at 322 Willow Grove Street in Hackettstown. For more information, call 908-399-5785.

Therapy dog visits are part of community life assistant Karen Gyetvay's animal therapy program.

Green Hill resident Shirlean Russo plays catch with Lady, a therapy dog, during a recent visit to the senior living community.Courtesy of Green Hill 

WEST ORANGE -- Residents of Green Hill Senior Living in West Orange receive weekly visits from therapy dogs.

And, on Feb. 26, they welcomed a somewhat famous four-legged guest.

Along with the dogs that regularly visit as part of community life assistant Karen Gyetvay's animal therapy program, Daniel the Miracle Beagle and his owner, Joe Dwyer, dropped by the facility.

Dwyer, who also brought along another rescue, Shelby the pit bull, gave a home to Daniel after he survived a euthanasia procedure. Dwyer told residents Daniel's story and gave him the chance to socialize with the seniors in attendance.

Green Hill Senior Living is located at 103 Pleasant Valley Way.

To submit news for the Senior Spotlight column, please call 973-836-4922 or email essex@starledger.com.

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

 

New weather records were broken Thursday as the summer-like temperatures continued in early March. Watch video

Lots of weather records are falling like dominoes as the mercury keeps on rising across the Garden State, thanks to a wave of warm air that has swept in from the South.

High temperature readings of 80 to 83 degrees were recorded at dozens of weather stations Thursday afternoon, primarily from Somerset and Middlesex counties in central New Jersey all the way down to Gloucester and Atlantic counties in the south. 

Temperatures this warm are far more typical in June than they are in early March, when the high normally hovers around 48 to 50 degrees.

For the second straight day, daily temperature records were broken at most of the monitoring stations operated by the National Weather Service and the New Jersey Weather & Climate Network at Rutgers University.

Among them were these:

* Atlantic City, which hit 81 degrees in the mid-afternoon, breaking its old March 10 record of 76 degrees, set in 2000, said Jim Bunker, observing program coordinator at the National Weather Service's regional office in Mount Holly.

* Newark, which had an unofficial high of 79 degrees, three degrees higher than its previous record high of 76 degrees, set in 2002.

* New Brunswick, which hit 81 degrees in the early afternoon, topping its old record of 75 degrees, set in 2002.

* Trenton, which reached 81 degrees in the mid-afternoon, breaking its old record of 76 degrees, set in 2006.

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

New Jersey politicians called for federal intervention into the situation.

NEWARK -- The Environmental Protection Agency will be assisting the state in its continuing probe into elevated levels of lead found in the drinking water at 30 Newark public school buildings, an EPA spokesman confirmed Thursday.

"The New Jersey (Department of Environmental Protection) has requested EPA's assistance," spokesman John Martin said Thursday.

The lead levels reported in Newark school buildings triggered a need for follow-up testing, Martin said.

"Because the primary business of schools is education and not operating and maintaining a public water system, EPA and the states work together to ensure that schools are collecting samples at the right locations and are looking at practices or equipment that could be causing increases in lead, such as old water fountains in the school," Martin said.

MAP: Which schools have elevated lead levels?

Local officials have said that testing indicates that there is not an elevated level of lead in the city's water supply. Instead, they said, the problem is originating in the school district's aging infrastructure.

The DEP will be using EPA's guidelines to address the issue, and the EPA will help carry them out on an as needed basis, Martin said.

After a DEP announcement about the inflated levels Wednesday, a flurry of state leaders called on the federal government to intervene.

Sen. Robert Menendez Wednesday afternoon released a statement saying that he is consulting with federal agencies in an effort to combat the lead levels, which have forced Newark schools to truck in water bottles for drinking and cooking.

"We need to commit ourselves - at the federal, state, and local levels - to addressing infrastructure issues in our communities that have gone unaddressed and underfunded for many years," Menendez said in the statement.

Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. pointed to the ongoing lead water crisis in Flint, Mich. In January, President Barack Obama declared a federal state of emergency in Flint, authorizing federal assistance in dealing with the elevated lead levels in the city's drinking water.

"I traveled to Flint, Michigan last week to raise awareness of that city's water crisis," Payne said in a statement. "The last thing I want to see is a repeat of that crisis in my home city."

At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, city officials said the matter in Newark is "urgent," but that they do not believe the contamination poses serious health risks.

Mayor Ras Baraka said the levels of lead found in Newark schools' water were not comparable to those found in Flint.

"That is absolutely not the case," he said.

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

Officials from across Essex County gathered at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark Thursday to welcome a new class of officers to the Newark Police Department.

NEWARK -- Officials from across Essex County gathered at the New Hope Baptist Church Thursday to welcome a new class of officers to the Newark Police Department.

The 36 new officers represent the latest in what Mayor Ras Baraka has promised will be a series of additions aimed at bolstering the department's ranks. Thirty-four Newark Fire Department trainees were also honored at the ceremony. 

Joined by Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose, Newark Police Chief Anthony Campos and other local officials at the graduation ceremony, Baraka struck a somewhat solemn tone in his remarks, telling the assembled officers of the difficulties they'll soon face as members of the city's police department.

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/03/officials_say_contaminated_water_at_newark_schools.html

"What you have to do is a hard job, and in many cases you'll be unappreciated for the work you do," Baraka said in a speech from the pulpit. "But we expect that the training that you've had will hold you during these difficult times."

The class began as a group of 50 in September. Following six months of police training at Essex County College, 36 remained to officially join the city police department Thursday. 

In addition to keeping the city safe, the new class will also be counted on to "become change agents" and continue the process of repairing the city's relationship with those communities in the wake of the a damning U.S. Justice Department review of the city's police force, Ambrose said. 

To that end, all 36 will be assigned to foot patrols in the most troubled corners of the city, Ambrose added. The officers will receive an additional four weeks of training in strategies including conflict deescalation.

"You will join with individuals who are committed to making Newark safer," Ambrose said. "Enforcing the laws are only part of the job. You are guardians of the community, and a warrior when needed."

Mayor Baraka said the training is reflective of his administration's emphasis on collaborating with residents to reduce crime.

"We believe that 21st century public safety in Newark works to heal the wounds of the past and institute a new philosophy which treats the community like members of our own families," he said.

Released in July 2014, the Justice Department report found widespread abuse of citizens' civil rights and disproportionate targeting of African-Americans.

The agency is currently in the process of choosing a monitor that will oversee a range of reforms to its disciplinary system, training and other procedures -- making Newark the 13th city in the country to operate with a federal watchdog.

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A second suspect in the crash remains at large, police say.

(file photo) 

NEWARK -- Police have arrested a 36-year-old man in connection with a Thursday car crash that left several injured, officials said. 

According to police, Juan Hernandez Jr. was one of two men occupying a vehicle that allegedly struck a NJ Transit bus and several other vehicles early Thursday morning, said Newark Police Department spokesman Capt. Derek Glenn in a released statement.

Multiple motorists and bus passengers reportedly injured in the crash were transported to local hospitals for treatment, Glenn said.

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/03/newark_recruit_class_of_police_mayor_baraka_gradua.html

Hernandez now faces charges of driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident and other related offenses.

Hernandez was taken into custody after Newark police officers spotted the vehicle speeding near the intersection of Bloomfield and Summer Avenue at approximately 7:30 a.m., Glenn said.

As police initiated a traffic stop, Hernandez and another male exited the vehicle and attempted to flee the scene, Glenn said. Hernandez was apprehended, while the second suspect, whose name has not been released, remains at large, Glenn said.

A search for the second suspect is ongoing, officials said.

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

It's about time you scored a perfect seven.

Do you remember the top local stories of the past week? Take the quiz below based on some of the most popular stories on NJ.com. Once you've finished the seven questions, share your score in comments to see how you stack up with other NJ.com users.

There's a fresh NJ.com news quiz every Thursday evening.

John Shabe can be reached via jshabe@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter and find NJ.com on Facebook.

Newark's public school history is an invaluable collection that needs a home to display its fascinating story.

Newark's public school history needs a permanent home, one with stature reflective of its fascinating story.

State Street School - the oldest standing school in the city- appeared to be such a place.

The two-story building is already part of a historical corridor, where State and Broad streets intersect near Route 280. It's next door to the House of Prayer, a charming 1844 Episcopal church located behind the Plume House, Newark's second oldest building, constructed in the 18th century.

Marion Bolden, the district's guardian of school history, saw no other spot than State Street School as a museum for future generations to gaze at items such as vintage movie projectors, board minutes written in German, maps of Newark schools from the 1800s or a picture of Ed Koch, the late New York mayor, from when he was a student at South Side High School.

MORE: Recent Barry Carter columns   

But her vision took a hit last month when the School Advisory Board voted on a plan to transfer 12 of the district's properties to the Newark Housing Authority.

The State Street School, which closed in 2012, is on that list. Built in 1845, the school for "colored girls,'' is listed on state and national registers of historic places. James Baxter was its first African-American principal. 

State Street, regrettably, wasn't the only bad news for Bolden. Warren Street School, which serves as the temporary home of the city's public school history, is on the list, too.

"They're wearing me out,'' said Bolden. "We were that close to getting State Street."   

The frustrating part for Bolden is that Superintendent Christopher Cerf knew she wanted the building to display the district's history.

Not for nothing, she is a former superintendent and the go-to person for the Newark Public Schools Historic Preservation Committee.

Bolden doesn't get it and neither do I. Still waiting for an answer from the district's Central Office.

It's not certain what will happen, but the NHA is going to determine if the 12 buildings can be sold or used for housing.

When the district turned over the properties to the housing authority, Cerf had said any of the buildings could be pulled back from a sale, if the NHA doesn't find a good fit. And since the State Street School is registered as a historic place, state officials said any sales, leases or transfer of deeds require a review by the New Jersey Historic Sites Council.

MORE CARTER: Working to revive Newark's Woodland Cemetery

"It's incumbent upon the (School Advisory) Board and the community to make sure that this issue is still addressed, even though the district no longer has those  buildings,'' said Antoinette Baskerville-Richardson, chairwoman of the board.

Vice chairman Marques-Aquil Lewis said he had no idea anyone was interested in the building and questioned why Bolden and the preservation committee had not reached out to the advisory board.

Well, now the board can expect to see her or someone from her team.

It's tough preserving history in this town.

Bolden learned that in 2008, the year she retired, when school history was literally being thrown out. Some of it happened when administrators - not realizing the value of certain items - cleaned out school buildings at the end of the year. Other times, it happened when the district sold its buildings to charter schools.

Bolden and other history enthusiasts started the preservation committee to stop the reckless practice. They convinced the School Advisory Board to adopt a policy on what administrators should hang on to when discarding property.

It was a good move because Elizbeth Del Tufo, president of the Newark Preservation Landmarks Committee, said Bolden's effort to reclaim the district's history has been nothing short of heroic.

She has school desks and benches, yearbooks and class rings. There are documents of teacher's salaries, old telephones, building plans, book purchases and more. Preservationists say her archival treasure dwarfs information at the Newark Public Library and the New Jersey Historical Society.

"There is really no collection or anything like it anywhere,'' said Gail Malmgreen, director of the Newark Archives Project. "It's something that absolutely should be preserved.''

The district allowed Bolden to use Warren Street School to temporarily store the archives in 2010-2011. It was vast, taking up four rooms. High school and college students did research routinely until Bolden was kept out of the building in 2014 under then-Superintendent Cami Anderson. 

When she was allowed back into the school in 2015, Bolden inspected the rooms and determined that some photographs and yearbooks were missing.

"This is very frustrating,'' she said. "I can't get people to appreciate our history.''

Think about that and this: The district's history is invaluable and precious. 

It needs a home.

Bolden wants everyone to believe that, too.

Barry Carter: (973) 836-4925 or bcarter@starledger.com or nj.com/carter or follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL

Krisla Rezireksyon Kris is accused of starving her 8-year-old daughter to death in 2011 Watch video

NEWARK — Inside an Irvington apartment in 2011, authorities say 8-year-old Christiana Glenn and her two younger siblings were beaten, starved and did not receive medical attention for their injuries, ultimately leading to Christiana's death.

In assessing blame Thursday during closing statements at the murder trial of their mother, Krisla Rezireksyon Kris, on charges of killing Christiana and abusing the other children, the defense and the state relied on different sets of photos.

Defense attorney Aarin Williams displayed photos of Rezireksyon Kris's former roommate, Myriam Janvier, and the women's former pastor, Emanyel Rezireksyon Kris, and she claimed they were ultimately responsible for the mistreatment of the children.

Williams said the pastor placed Janvier in the family's home. Janvier started hitting the children and the pastor influenced the women to follow a strict diet with the children and use natural remedies to treat their injuries. The pastor "manipulated" Rezireksyon Kris and took advantage of her vulnerable nature, and she mistakenly followed his lead, Williams said.

"This was not a murder," Williams told the jury. "It was a mistake."

But Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Dawn Simonetti emphasized photos of the children and said Rezireksyon Kris was responsible for their "systematic abuse."

Holding up the pictures before the jury, Simonetti noted the children's emaciated bodies, their broken bones, and Christiana's charred leg that Rezireksyon Kris covered with gasoline and cornmeal to treat the girl's broken femur.

"It was not the pastor's hand that lashed these children. There is no evidence in this case that he did," said Simonetti, later adding Rezireksyon Kris was not less culpable because Janvier moved into the home.

"She consciously choose to contribute and to do these things with her own hand to her children," Simonetti said. "She was their mother."

The jury is expected to begin deliberations on Tuesday after receiving legal instructions from Superior Court Judge Michael L. Ravin.

The long-running case began on May 22, 2011, when Christiana was found dead in the family's Chancellor Avenue apartment. A medical examiner has determined the girl died from severe malnutrition and an untreated broken femur.

Her siblings — then-7-year-old Christina and then-6-year-old Solomon — were starved and sustained fractures that went untreated, authorities said. The three children also were tied to a radiator, authorities said. When they could no longer walk, the children were dragged, authorities said.

Rezireksyon Kris, 34, is facing murder, child endangerment and related charges. Janvier, 28, also has been charged in the case and she is expected to be tried separately at a later date. The pastor has not been charged.

At the center of Rezireksyon Kris's trial has been the issue of her state of mind at the time of the alleged offenses. In order for her to be convicted of murder, prosecutors must prove she acted knowingly.

The defense has claimed that based on an examination of her by Joel Morgan, a clinical neuropsychologist, she suffered from "diminished capacity," meaning she had a mental defect that prevented her forming a knowing mental state.

After conducting tests of Rezireksyon Kris, Morgan said he determined she had mental disorders and that, given her overall IQ score of 67, she suffered from "mild mental retardation." Morgan said she had a mental defect that "impairs her capacity to form normal, appropriate judgments."

Rezireksyon Kris's attorneys have argued her mental conditions made her more susceptible to the pastor's influence as a member of his Christian ministry. Williams told the jury on Thursday that Morgan said people with conditions like Rezireksyon Kris's are vulnerable.

"They're easily manipulated," Williams said. "They're easily controlled. They have poor judgment."

Saying Rezireksyon Kris did not have a "culpable mind," Williams also stressed how Rezireksyon Kris called 911 after finding that Christiana was not breathing, ultimately leading authorities to the apartment.

"A murderer does not call 911," Williams said. "When you want medical assistance, that's when you call 911."

But Simonetti pointed to the same 911 call as part of her argument that Rezireksyon Kris acted knowingly and repeatedly lied to the police.

Simonetti argued Rezireksyon Kris lied in her video-taped statement to the police when she claimed she had told the 911 dispatcher to "hurry up." Simonetti played the 911 call for the jury and indicated that Rezireksyon Kris did not say those words.

Simonetti noted how Rezireksyon Kris lied to the police at the apartment when she said her two younger children were at a friend's house in Elizabeth. The children were soon found in another room at the apartment.

According to Simonetti, Rezireksyon Kris's claim in her statement that Christiana broke her femur by falling in the bathroom two days before her death was a lie, because medical experts have indicated the fracture was more than two days old.

"Deception, lies and cover-up," Simonetti said.

Simonetti also turned to those photos of the children to challenge the defense's argument about Rezireksyon Kris's mental state and the claim that she couldn't appreciate that she was causing serious bodily injuries to the children.

Holding up one picture of Christiana's body, Simonetti asked the jurors: "She couldn't appreciate that this child was extremely malnourished?"

"They could not walk anymore," Simonetti said. "She couldn't appreciate that they couldn't walk?"

Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Pooka and her brother Harvey are described as "sweet and playful."

Pooka 

BLOOMFIELD -- Pooka is an 8-month-old domestic shorthair cat in the care of A Purrfect World Rescue.

She was rescued with her brother, Harvey; both have been described as "sweet and playful."

Pooka and Harvey can be adopted together or separately; both are FIV/FeLV negative, spayed/neutered and up-to-date on shots.

For more information Pooka or Harvey, call Kristina at 201-965-9586, email info@apurrfectworld.org or go to apurrfectworld.org. A Purrfect World is a nonprofit group in Bloomfield that places stray and abandoned cats in permanent homes and is currently caring for 100 cats.

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 The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

 

Each of New Jersey's 21 counties is governed by a board of chosen freeholders. The number of freeholders in each county varies as do salaries.

Some residents remain uneasy about how long high levels of lead have been contaminating the water at 30 schools.

NEWARK -- Officials continue to formulate a plan to ensure water at nearly half of Newark's schools will once again be safe to drink, but the road to and from just how the city arrived at this point and how it will return to normal remains a matter of debate.

One day after revealing that dangerously high traces of lead had been found in water at 30 schools, the city's state-controlled school district said it had no timetable for when the supplies might be remediated, and was focusing a majority of its efforts on supplying clean alternatives to students and staff.

In addition to gathering and delivering bottled water to the affected schools, officials said they were teaming with the state Department of Environmental Protection to take additional samples from water at every district building, review past testing data and ensure that students and their families had adequate access to blood testing.

"Ensuring the health and well-being of our students in the immediate days and weeks has been, and will continue to be the primary driver in our decision to bring drinking water into 30 schools," it said in a statement. "This will continue to be our number one priority in the days ahead."

Feds pitching in: EPA, DEP addressing lead levels at Newark schools

Officials have stressed that the traces of lead found in the schools do not compare to those in crisis-stricken Flint, Mich., and said it appears the contamination likely came from piping or solder in the aging buildings rather than the city-wide water system.

The assurances, however, have failed to erase anxieties from some residents that young children may have unknowingly been ingesting the chemicals for weeks or even months.

"I am appalled, I am almost to the point of being agitated and angry at everybody trying to downplay this," said Rev. Ronald Slaughter during a Thursday night forum for city school board candidates at his parish, Newark's Saint James AME Church. "We have to ask, how long has that lead been there?"

The answer to the reverend's question is murky at best.

Superintendent of Schools Christopher Cerf and other city leaders have acknowledged that the state of infrastructure in the cash-strapped district -- including several schools well into their second century -- creates a heightened risk for contaminated water.

In an August 2014 memo obtained by NJ Advance Media, then-superintendent Cami Anderson told school leaders that lead reduction filters would be placed on all water fountains and faucets used for food preparation at schools built prior to 2006.

In the same missive, custodians were ordered to allow the water sources to run for at least two minutes prior to each school day to flush out any contaminants, and principals were asked to have all students and faculty to run fountains for at least 30 seconds before drinking water.

Valerie Wilson, the school district's business administrator, said Wednesday that the filters were still in use on fountains around the city, but district officials declined to answer whether flushing and other preventative measures were still being practiced.

Water samples from all schools undergo testing annually, according to school officials, but results from prior years have not been made public. A reporter who asked for testing data returned in 2015 was told to file a formal records request.

Sen. Ron Rice (D-Essex), who has been pushing state legislation to help prevent lead hazards, said he was satisfied with how both city and district officials responded after learning about the contamination. He submitted, however, that questions remained about how lead-laden water had so suddenly made its way into nearly half the city's schools.

"It could be coincidental, though 30 is quite a number to pop up all at once," he said. "The DEP is going to take a look at this stuff. We'll see what the outcome of that is, and then we'll see what questions we need to be raised."

Water fountains at all affected schools have been shut off, and students and staff are relying on donated bottled water for both cooking and drinking. It remains unclear how long it might take for taps to be cleared for use, or how the perpetually cash-poor district will fund the necessary repairs.

Other schools continue to operate as normal, though East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador said he planned to call on the state to ease any concerns about students at those schools as soon as possible.

"The state needs to send a letter to this city indicating or showing the status of each school in terms of the lead condition," he said.

Many city officials, however, said they believed the city was doing its best to tackle a problem that was inevitable given what many view as blatant neglect of its school properties.

"We've spent a lot of money in the school systems and it seems most of the money goes to teachers salaries," said At-Large Councilman Carlos Gonzalez.

"We are not putting, I believe, adequate funds in the infrastructure. I am surprised we don't have more problems with the water, being contaminated not by the system, but by the schools themselves. They're so old."

Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Judge Michael L. Ravin denied a motion for a new trial by Rodolfo Godinez, one of the six men convicted in the case Watch video

NEWARK -- In an effort to overturn the conviction of Rodolfo Godinez, his co-defendant, Melvin Jovel, testified last month that he was solely responsible for the 2007 execution-style killings of three friends in a Newark schoolyard.

Jovel claimed Godinez and four other co-defendants were wrongfully convicted in the case. Jovel said he "forced" them to commit certain acts - such as attacking one victim with a machete - and he also said they pleaded with him to stop.

But Superior Court Judge Michael L. Ravin didn't buy Jovel's claims.

After finding Jovel's testimony was "not credible," Ravin denied Godinez's motion for a new trial in the Aug. 4, 2007, shooting deaths of Terrance Aeriel, Iofemi Hightower and Dashon Harvey in the schoolyard behind the Mount Vernon School. Terrance's sister, Natasha Aeriel, was also shot in the head, but survived.

"The Court does not find it reasonable that Mr. Jovel was forcing all of his co-defendants to commit acts, such as chopping off a victim's head with a machete, while at the same time all of the co-defendants were pleading for the victims not to be harmed," according to the judge's March 1 written decision.

The alleged ringleader of the group, Godinez, 32, formerly of Newark, was the first of the six defendants to be convicted in the case. Godinez was convicted of murder and related charges at his trial in May 2010 and then sentenced in July 2010 to 245 years in prison.

Three co-defendants, Jose Carranza, Alexander Alfaro and Gerardo Gomez, were later convicted at separate jury trials. Jovel and another co-defendant, Shahid Baskerville, each pleaded guilty.

Collectively, the six defendants received more than 1,000 years in prison. According to prosecutors, the six men had ties to a Central American gang known as MS-13, and the murders were gang-related.

During Godinez's trial, Will T. Jordan, an inmate at the Essex County jail, testified that Godinez told him he had ordered the killings. Prosecutors also presented jurors with Godinez's statement to the police, in which he discussed his position in the gang and how the incident unfolded.

Jovel - who did not testify at Godinez's trial - pleaded guilty in September 2010 and admitted shooting all four of the victims. When Jovel was sentenced in November 2010 to 245 years in prison, he said Godinez had nothing to do with the crimes.

Jovel, 26, formerly of Elizabeth, reiterated that assertion at a Feb. 8 hearing for Godinez's motion for a new trial.

Godinez's attorney, Susan Gyss, relied on Jovel's claims in arguing for Godinez's conviction to be overturned.

Since Jovel's statements were made after Godinez was convicted, Gyss said they represent newly discovered evidence that entitles Godinez to a new trial. The motion for a new trial relied in part on Jovel's remarks during his sentencing hearing.

Godinez has admitted he was present at the time of the incident, but Gyss said during the hearing that if Jovel had testified at Godinez's trial, his testimony "could have raised some doubt as to the actual involvement of Mr. Godinez."

But in his decision, Ravin rejected Gyss's assertion that Jovel's testimony could have changed the outcome of Godinez's trial.

"Having heard Mr. Jovel testify at the evidentiary hearing and having found that his testimony was not credible, the Court finds that a reasonable jury would not have discarded the overwhelming evidence of Petitioner's guilt, particularly the statement of Defendant and of Mr. Jordan, and found that Petitioner was not guilty," the decision states.

Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Parents in Montclair have started a petition to get their kids more time to play outdoors.

MONTCLAIR -- How long should New Jersey kids be playing outside during the school day? A group of parents in Montclair says at least 40 minutes, and they are petitioning their local school board to make it happen.

The group, known online as "Montclair Parents for Recess," started a petition on change.org demanding the school board and administration consider mandating a minimum of 40 minutes of unstructured recess per day for Kindergarten through fifth grade students.

Parents in Montclair say recess should be 40 minutes long. File photo. (Lauren Casselberry | For The Jersey Journal)
 

The petition argues that the 23 minutes students currently get for recess is insufficient, and requests that the district loosen its policies governing when students have "indoor recess" instead of heading outside.

"It is not reasonable to call indoor recess simply because there is light rain, snow on the ground, or that temperatures have dropped below 35 degrees," the petition reads. Instead, the petition suggests calling for indoor recess only when temperatures drop below 22 degrees.

Organizers of the petition could not immediately be reached for comment.

So far, the petition has been signed by 287 people. Its goal is to reach 500.

A spokeswoman for Montclair Superintendent Roland Bolandi said he "is aware" of the parents' movement, and is planning to discuss recess policies with the Board of Education at a meeting in May.

Board President Jessica deKoninck said she, too, was aware of the movement. "We will discuss (the recess petition) at our May 2 board meeting," she said.

Last year, New Jersey lawmakers passed a bill mandating 20 minutes of recess each day for elementary school students. Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the bill in January.

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

An Essex County Sheriff's officer, Dinis Oliveira pleaded guilty to a criminal coercion charge

Dinis Oliveira (Photo courtesy Essex County Correctional Facility)Essex County Correctional Facility 

NEWARK -- An Essex County Sheriff's officer has pleaded guilty to using his badge last year to coerce a prostitute into providing him with sexual favors, authorities said.

Dinis Oliveira, 32, of Newark, pleaded guilty on March 4 in Hudson County to a third-degree criminal coercion charge in connection with the Feb. 26, 2015 incident in Newark, court records show.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, Oliveira is expected to be sentenced to probation and he must give up his job and forfeit his pension, according to Katherine Carter, spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

His sentencing is scheduled for April 22 before Superior Court Judge Paul M. DePascale.

Oliveira had been charged with sexual assault, official misconduct and criminal coercion. The case was transferred to Hudson County, because of Oliveira's position with the Essex County Sheriff's Department.

Oliveira, who joined the department in June 2014, has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of his case.

Law enforcement sources have said Oliveira contacted the Newark woman by phone after seeing an advertisement posted on Backpage.com, and arranged a meeting with her.

During their encounter, Oliveira allegedly used both his badge and a handgun to intimidate the woman, and they then engaged in both oral and vaginal sex, according to a criminal complaint filed in Essex County Superior Court.

Two days later, the woman reported the alleged assault to authorities.

The woman also presented authorities with a condom she claimed Oliveira used during the assault, and she was taken to Newark Beth Israel Medical Center to be examined, sources previously said. At the hospital, the woman spotted Oliveira, who was there assisting a family member, and she alerted police.

Oliveira turned himself into the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and briefly remained in custody before posting $200,000 bail.

Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A total of 13 candidates are vying for 3 spots on the board in next month's election

NEWARK - With the prospect of local control now clearly on the horizon, candidates for the city's school advisory board are taking aim at what they believe to be two decades of failed state oversight.

The 11 candidates present at an NAACP-sponsored forum at Saint James AME Church Thursday took aim at everything from the school district's persistent budget woes - including a deficit measured at upwards of $65 million this school year - to the recent revelation that nearly half of the city's schools have water tainted with dangerous levels of lead.

"Why don't we call (Superintendent of Schools Chris) Cerf and the governor and ask them where the $75 million is? Why do we have to take it up? We don't owe anything," said candidate Octavio "Tave" Padilla, a member of the "Newark Unity" slate backed by Mayor Ras Baraka, North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos and prominent charter school groups.

"If it goes south, then it's our fault. They're the ones who did it, not us."

"That's not our debt. The state did it for the last 20 years," said Jimmie White, a local activist and after-school program director.

Questions remain as officials work to solve water crisis in Newark schools

Stakes for the April 19 election are higher than in many past years, as officials around their city pin their hopes to a deal between Baraka and Gov. Chris Christie to return governance over the district to local officials.

Should the deal hold up, candidates who win a three-year term next month would presumably remain on the board as it sheds its "advisory" status and assumes true control over the district's finances and other operations.

Incumbents Ariagna Perello, Rashon Hasan and Khalil Sabu Rashidi are all not seeking reelection, meaning the board will have three new faces after voters head to the polls. The field of candidates varies widely, including current and former teachers, parents and a well-known minister and anti-violence activist.

On Thursday, they largely steered clear of the city's well-worn debate over the role of charter and public schools, though many expressed support for a three-year moratorium on charter growth.

Instead, they focused on what they characterized as a lack of significant progress in the city's education system over the last two decades.

Many expressed support for restoring attendance counselor and truancy officer positions to the district that were eliminated in 2013, after a recent study that found nearly half of the city's high school students are chronically absent.

"Eliminating attendance counselors was illegal, and should not have been done," said Leah Owens, a labor organizer and former Newark teacher.

The candidates also threw nearly unanimous support for a new "community schools" initiative launched by Baraka and Superintendent of Schools Chris Cerf, which they expressed hope might address many of the issues Newark students and parents face both in and out of the classroom.

"When we work together, that's when we see change," said Sheila Montague, a veteran Newark teacher and Essex County College professor.

Jody Pittman, a parent and school reform advocate, said she would wait to see results before making a judgment on the program, but said it was clear some change was needed in the city's approach to education.

"Our community is sick and it's broken," said Jody Pittman. "People at the top decided that we were not qualified or quantified, because we were broken, to make decisions about our children."

The full list of candidates is:

- Jason Dotson 

- Thomas Ellis 

- Carole A. Graves       

- Ivan L. Holmes

- Sheila Montague

- Tamara Moore

- Leah Owens

- Tave Padilla

- Jody Pittman

- Juan Silva

- George Tillman

- Deborah Kim Thompson-Gaddy

- Jimmie White

Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

New Jersey-born dog trainer, Hans Klose, and his wife, Mariya, stole the show Thursday afternoon. Watch video

NEWARK -- New Jersey-born dog trainer, Hans Klose, and his wife, Mariya, stole the show Thursday afternoon with a short demonstration of the many tricks they will perform as part of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

The demo was part of a celebration of the elephants of Ringling Bros. Earlier this year, the circus announced it would retire the use of elephants. To commemorate their service, four Asian elephants were fed a "brunch" of apples, bananas, carrots, bread, and watermelons as school children from Gray Charter School, Lafayette Street Elementary School, and Newark Educators' Community Charter School asked questions about elephants. (Apparently, you can tell the difference between an Asian elephant and an African elephant by their ears.)

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus presents Legends will run at Prudential center until Sunday, March 13. Click here for tickets and more info.

 

Alex Remnick may be reached at aremnick@njadvancemedia.com or on Twitter @AlexRemnick. Find NJ.com on Facebook.