After last month's ouster of Otis Rolley amid accusations of unauthorized spending, the City Council called him in for questioning in closed session Tuesday, with no word on what was discussed

NEWARK — The former head of the city's economic development corporation was at City Hall on Tuesday, summoned for questioning by members of the City Council a month after his unceremonious ouster amid accusations of unauthorized spending.

But if any light was shed on last month's abrupt departure of Otis Rolley as president and CEO of the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation last, it did not escape the council chamber. Before questioning Rolley, the six council members present Tuesday morning went into closed session to discuss what was labeled a personnel matter, clearing the chamber of city staffers, the public and the press.

Rolley emerged from the council chambers about an hour later, when he declined to talk about what he said or what he was asked.

"It was an executive session," said Rolley, a Jersey City native with a master's in planning from MIT, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Baltimore in 2011.

Council members were similarly guarded after the session.

"The CEDC is on the right track and ready to move forward," Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins said outside her office, declining to elaborate.

Councilman John Sharpe James, one of two council members on the CEDC board, declined to comment. The second, Councilman Joe McCallum, did not respond to a request for comment left with his staff. Councilman Augusto Amador, who chaired the meeting in the asense of Council Pesident Mildred Crump, also did not respond.

With the council's approval, Mayor Ras Baraka named Rolley to head the development corporation in August 2014, in the wake of a report highly critical of the quasi-governmental agency, which was previously known as the Brick City Development Corporation.

Rolley retained the support of some council members, and his removal last month angered some of them.

The development corporation had been created in 2007 by Baraka's predecessor, Cory Booker, to loan money to local businesses and finance development projects, backed by city funds. However, the report — commissioned by Baraka — found that, among other problems, many of the corporation's loans were not repaid.

Naming Rolley president, and changing the corporation's name, were part of an effort by the Baraka administration to reform the corporation. And in two undated photographs of Baraka and Rolley together at groundbreaking and ribbon cutting ceremonies that remain posted in a glass case outside Baraka's office, the mayor is mugging for the cameras while his economic development appointee looks on in hysterics.

But the relationship appears to have become less jovial by Feb. 18, when the CEDC board approved an agreement between Rolley and the city that effectively ended his tenure as president and CEO after less than two years.

Negotiations for Rolley's exit came after members of the Baraka administration learned that he had approved $6,125 in bonuses for 26 CEDC employees without consulting the board, that he had failed to hand over financial reports, and that he had been granted a living stipend and severance package without their knowledge.

The CEDC board issued a statement after approving Rolley's departure agreement, describing the parting as amicable. But emails obtained by NJ Advance Media suggest otherwise.

In one message to the 7-member board, Rolley said he returned from a meeting last month to find the locks on his office changed, denying him "the opportunity to vacate my office discretely and with dignity."

Rolley also questioned whether the city, which leases Mulberry Street office space it owns to the CEDC, had the legal ability to change the locks without notice.

In a subsequent email, CEDC Chairwoman Dr. Joyce Harley, said she was outraged by what she called "Gestapo like tactics" by the city.

Harley did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

A Baraka spokesman, Frank Baraff, said he couldn't comment on the events leading up to and following Rolley's departure, nor could he say just what role the mayor had played in it.

As for the recently unemployed Rolley, who lives in Newark with his wife and three children but retains property in Baltimore, he said he was weighing several options. Asked if he was considering running for office in his native New Jersey, he said that was not one of them.

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Pedro Rios is facing decades in prison on federal and state charges in the case

Pedro RiosEssex County Prosecutor's Office 

NEWARK -- A 60-year-old Newark man was sentenced on Friday to 25 years in state prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl, authorities said.

Pedro R. Rios received the sentence from Superior Court Judge Bahir Kamil after pleading guilty on July 22, 2015 to two counts each of kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault, according to a news release from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

The sentencing comes more than six months after Rios received a 30-year prison sentence on federal charges in the case. The state and federal prison sentences will run concurrently, according to Katherine Carter, spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office.

The Cyber Crimes Unit of the prosecutor's office initially identified Rios during an investigation into the distribution of child pornography through file-sharing software, which he was using to obtain images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of prepubescent children, authorities said.

As the investigation unfolded, authorities learned Rios had sexually assaulted a child who was entrusted to his care, according to Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Deborah Freier, who handled the case.

Authorities have said Rios would drive the girl to his tractor-trailer in Union County, take her into the rear of the cab, have sex with her or touch her sexually, and record the encounters. Rios allegedly told the girl he would hurt her family if she told anyone about the ongoing incidents, authorities said.

After Rios found out he was wanted, he fled New Jersey and was ultimately arrested by agents from the U.S. Marshals Service in Santa Ana, California in February 2013 and extradited to New Jersey, authorities said. The FBI assisted in the investigation, authorities said.

"This case highlights the fact that child pornography is not a victimless crime," Freier said in the release. "Those who view and trade child pornography are not just dealing in images. These individuals are actively seeking to watch a child being sexually exploited and abused."

In the federal case, the U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted Rios for distributing and manufacturing child pornography.

Rios pleaded guilty on April 7, 2015 to federal charges of sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. In pleading guilty, Rios admitted to inducing the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct while he took pictures and video, the office said.

Rios was sentenced on Sept. 9 in the federal case to 30 years in prison.

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

Newark Airport passengers self-absorbed, oblivious to Brussels' blast

The midday traffic outside the airport was light, with cabs and passenger cars coming and going, doing the terminal and parking lot loop just like any other day.

At the departure levels, bags were being heaved out of trunks and onto the carts of waiting baggage handlers. The hugs and kisses and goodbyes seemed ordinary, perhaps with for an extra dash of concern.

At the arrival level, the hugs, kisses and hellos had an added ingredient of relief.

Those were the more subtle differences between today and any other day outside Newark Liberty International Airport.

The not-so-subtle difference was the black armored truck parked at the end of Terminal B near the concourse for El Al, the Israeli airline.

The terror attacks in Brussels brought out some of the heavy artillery at the airport today. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey wouldn't say how much because "we don't like to give away our manpower numbers," said Steve Coleman, a Port Authority spokesman.

"We have our special operations division patrolling," he said, adding that some "are seen, and some are not seen.

"They'll be in the terminals and by the baggage checks and some other areas," he said.

At the El Al check-in counter, two Port Authority officers stood in full assault gear; black helmets, bulletproof flak jackets and carrying tactical shotguns. They augmented the uniformed force of regular PA cops on patrol.

Around the terminal, members of the federal Customs and Border Protection officers, too, were outfitted in bulletproof vests and traveled in teams of three around the check-in points.

And yet, despite heightened security by authorities, there seem to be no heightened anxiety or awareness among passengers.

MORE: Recent Mark Di Ionno columns

Take this bizarre scene of obliviousness. With CNN on the big screen in the passenger lounge showing footage from carnage in Brussels, most travelers were buried in their devices. Heads down in iPads, fingers clicking away on iPhones, plugs in their ears. As the TV blasted the screams of women and the cries of children from the Maelbeek subway blast, passengers were engrossed in their private cellphone conversations. Some were laughing. The word "Brussels" or "bombing" wasn't heard. The place wasn't as grim as you would expect it to be on the day ISIS killed 30 innocent people.  

At the duty-free shop, Anaissa Hernandez said she didn't hear anyone talking about Brussels. She began work at 5 a.m. and didn't even know about the terror attacks until afternoon.

"No one said a word," she said. "This is the first I heard of it."

Jani Tuomaala and his girlfriend, Tiina Anttila, were traveling from Miami home to Finland via Oslo and Helsinki.

"We have to take four flights today," Tuomaala said. "But we're not worried. We feel safe in the north (of Europe)."

Anttila put it in plain terms.

"In Middle Europe, it's more dangerous. They have more immigrants," she said. "We don't have as many, so we don't have that anger and violence."

Marc Provisor and his travel companion, Eve Harow, were returning to Israel from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference where Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, John Kasich and Hillary Clinton spoke this week.

Provisor said he felt safe because he was flying on El Al.

"I'm not worried about traveling because we (Israelis) are better at situational awareness," said Provisor, a security specialist born in Philadelphia but an Israeli citizen now living in Shiloh. "The airline itself is more attuned to danger. We live in that world."

That world, of course, is the constant threat of terrorism and the constant need for vigilance.

"In American and European airports, people come and go as they please," he said. "In Israel, the first ring of defense is at the airport entrance, and there are more rings as you get closer (to terminals). We have more eyeball-to-eyeball contact."

In America, we have eyeball-to-iPad contact. Despite the terror attacks of 9/11 and the Boston Marathon bombing, there doesn't seem to be sense of urgent defense here.

"We are in World War III," said Harow, who is from Los Angeles but is an Israeli radio commentator and tour guide. "I was just speaking through Canada and the United States, and I was telling people they need to wake up.

"The Paris attacks were filled with symbolism. They hit a concert hall, a restaurant and a sports venue, all the places Westerners go to gather and relax. It's really frightening. It's real and it's frightening."

Both Provisor and Harow have adult children in the Israeli Army, another fact of life American have the luxury of ignoring. America's defense is not a national responsibility; it's on a volunteer basis.

"Nothing is theoretical to us," Harow said. "We all have skin in the game."

And sure enough, Provisor's assessment of El Al rang true, be it Newark or Tel Aviv.

As I walked through the terminal with my notepad and cellphone out, I was approached by a pleasant, smallish man in a blue suit.

"May I assist you, sir?" he asked.

"I'm a newspaperman," I said.

"Please come, then."

He took me to another man in a blue suit, also pleasant and normal-looking, who explained they were security. It's then that I realized all those men and women in blue suits at El Al weren't just checking in passengers. They were eyeballing everybody, just like Provisor said. 

"As you know, it's a free country," said the second man in the blue suit, now flanked by two other men in blue suits. "I only ask that you don't take pictures of employees or try to interview them."

Now "eyeballed" I was permitted to roam, freedom intact.

Mark Di Ionno may be reached at mdiionno@starledger.com. Follow The Star-Ledger on Twitter @StarLedger and find us on Facebook.

A 69-year-old man was found dead in a Livingston home

LIVINGSTON -- The Essex County Prosecutor's Office is investigating after a 69-year-old man was found dead inside a Carteret Road home around 7 p.m. Tuesday night, First Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly confirmed. 

The cause of death was not known Tuesday night but an autopsy is planned. The death has been deemed suspicious, Fennelly said. 

The dead man's name was not released. 

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

Federica Heiman's artisanal chocolates are made in small batches, with fine European chocolate.

THE TYPEFACE in the logo for Dolce Federica, a chocolate company in Montclair, features an exaggeration of the letter "F."

It was the idea of the daughter of the owner, who was 10 at the time. The exaggeration reminded her of the Ferrari logo, a company at which her mother once worked.

DOLCE FEDERICA

(310) 883-5966 
dolcefederica.com

If you compare the logos, you probably won't see the connection. A young girl has a different perspective on the world.

But it can't hurt to aspire to create a brand as luxurious as Ferrari.

Nor does it hurt to value the opinion of family and friends.

Federica Heiman, in fact, banks on it. The chocolates she sells have been vetted by a group of her Montclair friends, a lucky bunch of guinea pigs who are asked to review and evaluate her creations before she puts them up for sale.

One of their favorites -- and a top-seller for the company -- is the Take Out Bark, which is a very thin bark, a combination of dark chocolate and fleur de sel or nuts. Heiman's artisanal chocolates are made in small batches, with fine European chocolate, and she favors Mediterranean flavors, such as aged balsamic vinegar, olive oil, red wine, basil, espresso and lemons.

She begins with chocolate made by Callebaut, a Belgian company. "We must learn to acknowledge champions," she says. "Even when they aren't Italian."

Her company is relatively new and she does not have a storefront, but already her business has generated considerable buzz, thanks to pop-up events and appearances, including her presence at the Montclair Food & Wine Festival in January. (Chocolates are available for purchase through the website.) Heiman also teaches the occasional chocolate class and has earned fans at the Adult School of Montclair.

She brings to the business a diverse global perspective on chocolate. She was born in Italy and spent her childhood there. But she's also lived in Germany and took her first class in chocolate-making in Israel. Other classes were taken in France and England.

One thing is certain, throughout Europe and in Israel: "Chocolates were amazing."

In America, not so much. Despite a growing number of artisanal chocolatiers and a greater understanding of chocolate itself, America still -- to a large degree, and especially outside New York City and San Francisco -- is willing to settle for less.

As adults, we owe it to ourselves to pay attention to the chocolate we consume, says Heiman. Read the label. And know this: If sugar is the first ingredient, "it cannot be a good, fine-quality chocolate."

As adults, Heiman also believes we owe it to ourselves to remain curious. She still uses the summer to explore Italy.

And to visit the chocolatiers in France.

MORE FROM INSIDE JERSEY MAGAZINE

Steps to replace old and crowded airport terminals at Newark and LaGuardia could be taken Thursday by the Port Authority after a month's delay. Watch video

Two major projects to replace aging terminals at Newark Liberty and LaGuardia Airports could be cleared for take-off on Thursday, after Port Authority commissioners put off acting on them last month.

The proposed new $2.3 billion Terminal A in Newark and the $4 billion Terminal B at LaGuardia would replace buildings that opened decades ago and are maxed out by the increasing numbers of passengers using them.

What does $2.3 billion buy travelers at Newark? Newark Liberty Airport's Terminal A would be replaced with a proposed one million square foot building with 33 gates and a 3,000-space parking garage. The project also requires replacing two bridges and building runways and roadway infrastructure.

Why is it being replaced? The existing Terminal A opened in 1973 and Port Authority officials said it is old and crowded. It doesn't meet the standards for a modern airport and needs major work to stay in a state of good repair. Replacing Terminal A has been in the works since 2004.  

What else is driving it?  More passengers. The Port Authority set records in 2015 for handling 124 million passengers at the three major metropolitan airports. Last year, Newark Liberty set a record for handling 25.7 million domestic passengers and 37.5 million total passengers.

The Port Authority is responding to that growth with an $8 billion airport capital program. A 2011 study recommended expanding all three metro area airports to meet passenger demand.

How are they paying for it?  Some of the cost will fall on airport users. Replacing Terminal A will be financed by the Port Authority, but the agency is applying to the Federal Aviation Administration for approval to charge passengers $196.3 million in facilities fees to recoup some of the money.

We don't want your bus terminal, NJ pols say

What's next? The Port Authority's Board of Commissioners is scheduled to vote on Thursday to authorize spending $2.3 billion for Terminal A's replacement and to immediately spend $196.3 million for preliminary work. That includes $67 million to build two new bridges, move utilities and re-grade the site. Another $128 million will be spent for design, engineering, project management and oversight.

What's happening at LaGuardia? Terminal B dates to 1964 and has similar issues to Newark's Terminal A -- too many passengers in an old building that isn't equipped to handle them. Last year, LaGuardia also set a record, handling 28.4 million total passengers. Port Authority forecasts predict that will grow to 34 million by 2030.

What will it be replaced with?  The concept calls for a new $4.01 billion Terminal B building with new aircraft ramp and  apron  areas, a new West  Garage, new roads and airfield modifications. Port Authority operations would be moved out of the terminal and into a existing building. The project includes construction of a new "Central Hall" arrivals and departures building, which was recommended by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's Airport Master Plan Committee  

How will it be paid for? Terminal B will take a different path to finance a replacement,  using a public-private partnership with the LaGuardia Gateway Partners LLC to design, build, operate and maintain a new $3.93 billion structure.

Under the agreement, the Port Authority is putting up $2.217 billion of the financing and stands to get back $1.425 billion. Officials expect to recover $1 billion from travelers through passenger facility charges that have either been approved or applied for with the Federal Aviation Administration. A base rent of $15 million annually would be paid to the Port Authority, in addition to revenue sharing.    

The mayor will deliver opening remarks prior to the showing of "The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution"

NEWARK - Mayor Ras Baraka will host a screening of a new documentary detailing the rise of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s and beyond Wednesday night.

According to a press release, the mayor will deliver opening remarks prior to the showing of "The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution" at the Cityplex 12 cinema on Springfield Avenue at 6 p.m.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion to examine both the influence and legacy of the movement in Newark and across the country.

According to the documentary's official website, filmmaker Stanley Johnson interviews Black Panther members and supporters, FBI informants, journalist and white detractors to uncover the party's "significance to the broader American culture, its cultural and political awakening for black people, and the painful lessons wrought when a movement derails."

North Jersey and South Jersey have their intense sports rivalries. They even argue over what to call big lunch sandwiches.

North Jersey and South Jersey have their intense sports rivalries. They even argue over whether big lunch sandwiches should be called subs or hoagies. 

There's also a big divide between the two turfs when it comes to snowfall accumulations.

In most years, by far, North Jersey dominates South Jersey in the snow department, because of its colder temperatures and higher terrain. But once in a while, Old Man Winter throws a curveball and the South emerges on top.

That's what has happened this month. As of Wednesday, with only eight days remaining and no snowstorms brewing on the forecast maps, South Jersey has had more than four times as much snow than North Jersey in March.

Okay, we're not talking about huge numbers here, since big snowstorms made it a habit to steer clear of the Garden State most of the winter. But it's still worthy of bragging rights when small towns like Paulsboro and Stone Harbor get more snow than big cities like Newark and Jersey City. And more snow than people living up in Schooley's Mountain. 

South Jersey has averaged 3.7 inches of snow this month, almost an inch above normal, and North Jersey has averaged only 0.8 inches, more than 5 inches below normal, according to statistics compiled by New Jersey State Climatologist David Robinson at Rutgers University. (By the way, Central Jersey has had just 1.6 inches -- also lower than South Jersey.)  

South Jersey's March domination over its neighbors up north has happened before -- at least 20 times since detailed weather stats started being kept in the Garden State back in 1895. 

In addition, statistics show there have been three years in which South Jersey ended up with more snow than North Jersey not only during one month, but during the entire snow season, which runs from October through April.

• During the 2009-2010 season, South Jersey had 66.5 inches of snow, while North Jersey had 51.8.
• During the 1986-1987 season, South Jersey had 39.5 inches, and North Jersey had 37.6.
• During the 1978-1979 season, South Jersey had 39.1 inches, while North Jersey had 36.5.

'Snowmageddon' and other factors

One person who isn't surprised by the sporadic South Jersey domination is Robinson, the guy who maintains all the stats and knows New Jersey's climate trends and quirks perhaps better than anyone in the state.  

With 121 years of snow stats on the books, 20 snowy Marches for South Jersey is not a huge number, Robinson said. "This means that one out of six Marches has more southern snow, or put the other way, five of six have more northern snow."

And having three full winters with more snow accounts for less than 3 percent of all the winters on record.

Sometimes, it's the luck of the draw that determines which parts of the state will end up with the most snow, Robinson said, noting that the storm track during most of this past winter favored the central and southern areas of New Jersey.

"It isn't as if it has been colder in the south than up north --  it hasn't," the state climatologist said. "Rather the cold, snow-producing storms have not deposited much up north, particularly in the normally snowier northwest corner of New Jersey."

When analyzing an entire season of snow stats, Robinson noted, "sometimes it only takes one storm to deliver the bulk of the winter's snow. And if that storm hits the south and misses the north, even with more minor to modest events perhaps impacting the north more than the south at other times during the season, the south might still win."

That's what happened in 1979, Robinson said, with a huge February President's Day storm that buried cities from Washington, D.C., to South Jersey with heavy snow. February 2010 was another active snow period, Robinson noted, with several major storms hitting the DC to Philadelphia corridor, including one so big it was nicknamed "Snowmaggedon" by The Washington Post. 

Clobbered with 20-plus inches of snow from that one storm alone, South Jersey ended up with substantially more snow than North Jersey that year.

And, when it comes to bragging rights, South Jersey holds one impressive record that hasn't been beaten in more than a century. The biggest single snowstorm accumulation on record in New Jersey is 34 inches -- which fell in February 1899 in the resort city of Cape May.

That record is a very tough one to beat. Sorry, North Jersey.

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

Raheem Cleveland, 36, formerly of Newark, is serving a 55-year state prison sentence

Raheem ClevelandNew Jersey Department of Corrections 

NEWARK -- A state appellate panel on Wednesday upheld the conviction of a man serving a 55-year prison sentence for a 2011 gang-related shooting that left one man dead and another woman seriously injured.

Raheem Cleveland, 36, formerly of Newark, was convicted by a jury in 2013 of murder, attempted murder and weapons charges for shooting Marquise Robinson and his fiancee, Amina Nobles, on July 5, 2011 on the front porch of Robinson's mother's house in Newark, according to the appellate decision.

Robinson was shot five times and died from his injuries, the decision states. Nobles was shot once and survived. Authorities have said Cleveland and Robinson were members of the Grape Street Crips, and that the killing was gang-related.

Cleveland will be eligible for parole in April 2058.

Nobles initially identified Cleveland as the shooter in two statements to the police - first in a statement at the hospital and later in a video-taped statement - but she later recanted her identification, the decision states.

At Cleveland's trial, Nobles testified that another man shot her and Robinson, and she claimed officers coerced her into identifying Cleveland as the assailant during her video-recorded statement, the decision states. Nobles also testified she did not speak with any detectives at the hospital, the decision states.

But then-Superior Court Judge Joseph C. Cassini, III allowed prosecutors to present testimony about Nobles's prior statements, the decision states.

As part of his appeal, Cleveland claimed Cassini shouldn't have permitted those statements to be used at the trial, but the appellate judges rejected his argument.

In Nobles's video-recorded statement, the panel found "no signs of police pressure or intimidation."

"She unequivocally identified the shooter as 'Raheem,' whom she had known 'for a couple years,' as the person who 'shot us,'" the decision states. "She wrote his name on the back of the photograph, signed and dated it, and was 'positive' about her identification and that her statement was 'the truth.'"

The panel also said Cassini properly admitted testimony about Nobles's first statement at the hospital to rebut her claim of being coerced by the police during the video-taped statement, the decision states.

"Further, the record reveals that the trial judge's jury instructions were clear that the jury should carefully evaluate Amina's prior statements before convicting defendant solely based on her recanted out-of-court statements," according to the decision.

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

School officials announced Tuesday lead testing opportunities being offered by the district, and by multiple community organizations.

NEWARK -- Parents looking to have their children tested for elevated levels of lead in their blood will have more than 90 opportunities to do so over the next several weeks.

In light of recent revelations that 30 Newark school buildings have elevated levels of lead in their drinking water, the district announced Tuesday the testing locations, open on a voluntary basis to the about 17,000 students who attend the affected schools.

Look-up: How much lead has been found in each Newark school?

Students must be accompanied by parents to be tested.

NPS has two more school-sponsored testing sites open this week:

• Wednesday March 23 - Education presentation from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., and screenings from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the new Speedway Academies at 701 South Orange Avenue
• Thursday March 24 - Education presentation from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., and screenings from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the First Avenue Elementary School at 214 First Avenue.

Several community organizations are also offering blood screenings. Check the list below, and call the listed numbers for more information about attending the screenings.

School officials recommend parents discuss the issue with their children's primary care physicians.

• Rutgers Community Health Center, 973-732-6040 - March 23, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 173 Pennington Street; March 24 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 4 Hawthorne Lane South; March 25 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 449 Broad Street
• St. James Inc, 973-789-8111 - March 23-25, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., 228 Lafayette Street
• Jewish Renaissance - March 23-25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Malcolm X Shabazz High School, 80 Johnson Street, 973-679-7709; George Washington Carver Elementary School, 333 Clinton Place, 973-679-7709; Quitman Street Community School, 21 Quitman Street, 973-679-7709 (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.); Thirteenth Avenue Elementary School, 359 13th Avenue, 973-521-5268; Barringer High School, 90 Parker Street, 973-679-7709; Central High School, 246 18th Avenue, 973-679-7709; Park Elementary School, 120 Manchester Place, 973-521-5300)
• Mary Eliza Mahoney Health Center, 973-733-7613 - March 23-25, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 110 William Street, Room 111 
• Saint Michaels Medical Center, 973-877-5500 - 24 hours a day, 7 day a week, 111 Central Avenue
• University Hospital/Rutgers, New Jersey Cancer Center Pediatric Clinic, 973-972-9000 - March 28-April 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 205 South Orange Avenue, B Level
• Newark Community Health Centers, 800-994-6242 (741 Broadway, 751 Broadway, 101 Ludlow Street, 155 Jefferson Street - March 23-25, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; March 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• Children's Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel, 973-926-7300 - March 23-25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pediatric Health Center, Lyons Avenue, 1st Floor

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

Attorney Patrick Toscano claims Montclair is in violation of a court order to reinstate Officer Joselito Nebiar

NEWARK -- The attorney for a former Montclair police officer is calling on a Superior Court judge to fine the township $1,000 per day until it complies with a court order directing municipal officials to reinstate the cop with back pay.

In a motion filed on Wednesday with Judge Vicki A. Citrino, attorney Patrick Toscano claimed Montclair has refused to abide by the judge's March 14 order to reinstate Officer Joselito Nebiar after he was fired in connection with an alleged domestic dispute.

Toscano is asking Citrino to order the municipality to immediately reinstate Nebiar with back pay and to fine the township $9,000 for the nine days between when the order was issued and when Toscano filed his motion.

The attorney also is requesting Montclair be fined $1,000 for every additional day that the township refuses to comply with the court order, and that the municipality be ordered to pay the legal fees he's incurred since the court order was issued.

"It is obvious that defendant Montclair's purposeful contumacious conduct will not cease until immediate and continuing daily sanctions be assessed against the municipality," Toscano wrote in a certification filed on Wednesday with Citrino.

Toscano told NJ Advance Media that the township's actions in ignoring the court order were "both reprehensible and illegal."

"Whoever is making the inerudite and inexpiable decision there in Montclair to do so should be called to the carpet by the residents of that Municipality," Toscano said in a statement.

Joseph Hannon, an attorney who is representing Montclair in the matter, on Wednesday declined to comment.

The judge issued her court order as part of a lawsuit Nebiar filed against the township last year. Nebiar was suspended without pay in June 2013 and ultimately terminated in December 2014.

In addition to Nebiar's immediate reinstatement, Citrino ordered township officials to provide back pay starting from the date of his suspension. Toscano has said the officer is owed about $270,000 in back pay.

The legal battle stems from an alleged domestic dispute between Nebiar and a woman on June 5, 2013 that led to aggravated assault and weapons charges against Nebiar, according to a March 7 opinion issued by Citrino.

The woman recanted her statements on June 6 and Nebiar was placed on unpaid suspension on June 7, the opinion states. On Sept. 27, 2013, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office notified Montclair that the grand jury decided to not indict Nebiar in connection with the incident, the opinion states.

In January 2014, then-Montclair Police Chief David Sabagh filed disciplinary charges against Nebiar in connection with the alleged domestic dispute, the decision states. After a disciplinary hearing later that year, the hearing officer in December 2014 recommended Nebiar's termination after finding him guilty of the charge of "incompetency or inefficiency," the opinion states.

But in her opinion, Citrino said she found "not a scintilla of evidence" to support the township's disciplinary charges against Nebiar.

The judge also ruled that, following the grand jury's determination, the township violated Nebiar's rights in terms of when disciplinary charges must be filed and hearings must be held.

"The actions of the Township of Montclair were patently skewed against Officer Nebiar," Citrino wrote in her opinion.

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

City officials have suspended three civilian Newark Police Department dispatchers in total after department officers found they were not answering incoming calls.

(file photo) 

NEWARK -- City officials have suspended three civilian Newark Police Department dispatchers without pay after department compliance officers found they were not answering incoming calls, officials confirmed Wednesday.

The suspensions were ordered after the compliance officers determined that calls assigned to those dispatchers were allegedly not being answered despite the absence of other calls in their respective queues, said Acting Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.

At least one of the dispatchers was allegedly caught sleeping while on duty, Ambrose confirmed. The names of the suspended officers have not been released.

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/02/state_police_to_aid_newark_as_part_of_crime_preven.html

The suspension comes amid efforts by city officials to improve police department services, including officer response times and pickup at the department's call center, both of which have been the subject of long-running complaints by city residents.

In February, Ambrose announced details of those efforts, which included a planned review of the city's police and fire department communications divisions.

In the weeks since, several officials were transferred into the communications department to help field calls for service, Ambrose said. Officials have also re-instituted a goal-based system requiring police communications officers to handle calls within a certain amount of time, he said.

Details of the goals system were not immediately made available. Speaking at a public meeting of the city police force's top officers on Wednesday, Ambrose and other officials said that that goals are being met.

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

Donald Higgs, 46, of Irvington, was found guilty on Monday of carjacking and robbery charges

Donald HiggsEssex County Prosecutor's Office 

NEWARK -- An Irvington man is facing up to 30 years in state prison after his conviction this week on carjacking and robbery charges, authorities said.

Donald Higgs, 46, was convicted by a jury on Monday in connection with a May 11, 2014 carjacking in Irvington, according to a news release from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. Jurors deliberated for two days before reaching the verdict, the release states.

Prosecutors also alleged Higgs brandished a gun during the incident, but he was acquitted of two weapons offenses, authorities said.

When Superior Court Judge Martin Cronin sentences him on May 16, Higgs faces between 10 and 30 years in prison, according to Essex County Assistant Prosecutor William Neafsey, who tried the case.

"The jury took its time to weigh all the evidence, including the fact that the victim identified the defendant the same night, a person matching Higgs' description and clothing was captured on surveillance video exiting the vehicle and his fingerprint was discovered in the stolen car," Neafsey said in the release.

At the time of the incident, the 22-year-old victim and his three brothers were working as D.J.'s at an event in the Sacred Heart Church at 537 Grove Street in Irvington, Neafsey said.

The victim went outside to his brother's Cadillac in the church parking lot to charge his cell phone, Neafsey said. As he was sitting in the car, Higgs carjacked the vehicle, Neafsey said.

OnStar traced the vehicle to the area in front of a sports bar at 390 North 5th Street in Newark, and police took the victim there to identify the car, Neafsey said. While waiting at the scene for a tow truck, the victim saw Higgs walking down the street and identified him to police as the assailant, Neafsey said.

Higgs was previously convicted of a 1995 carjacking and received a 20-year prison sentence, authorities said.

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

Police say Douglas Castellano was killed by a 31-year-old man renting a room in his home.

(file photo)

NEWARK -- Authorities have charged a 31-year-old Livingston man with killing his 69-year-old landlord.

Douglas Castellano was found dead inside his Carteret Road home Tuesday at approximately 7 p.m., announced Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Livingston Police Chief Craig M. Handschuch. 

A subsequent autopsy of Catellano's remains found he had been killed by blunt force trauma, said Essex County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Katherine Carter.

Harry Christianson, Jr., 31, a boarder living in the house with Castellano, has been charged in the killing Carter said. Christianson now face charges of homicide, hindering, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

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

Citing an ongoing investigation by the prosecutor's office Homicide Task Force, the department declined to release additional details of the killing and charges, including the type of weapon allegedly found in  Christianson's possession, Carter said.

The motive for the killing remains under investigation, Carter said.

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

The proposals follow a call by New Jersey lawmakers for immediate testing in all schools. Watch video

Two New Jersey congressmen want federal funding to be used to test schools' drinking water after elevated lead levels were detected in water at the state's largest district.

U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell Jr. and Donald M. Payne, Jr. introduced separate legislation Wednesday that would provide support for water testing in schools across the country. 

"All Americans, and especially kids in our schools and childcare facilities, deserve access to clean water," Pascrell Jr. said. "Our job is to make it easier for the facilities to conduct needed testing by providing funding sources."

Pascrell's proposal, a companion to a bill being authored by New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, would create a $100 million grant program for schools and childcare centers that want to test their water. 

How much lead was found in Newark schools?

Payne's plan calls for updating federal law to require that states that receive certain funding for water programs help school districts and charter schools test for lead in their water. Schools that participate would be required to test their water either annually or bi-annually depending on how old the building is. 

"As a parent, I want to know that my children are drinking lead-free water, and I want other families to know that about their own children, too," Payne said. 

Elevated levels of lead were found recently in the drinking water at 30 buildings in Newark Public Schools, forcing those schools to use alternate water sources.

Gov. Chris Christie and city officials have urged caution. The lead levels were "nowhere near crisis or dangerous levels," Christie said.

But environmentalists said the tests in Newark's schools should serve as a "wake-up call" to a growing public health issue, and the contaminated water has heightened concerns about the safety of drinking water in schools. 

The calls for federal funding come as state lawmakers are also pushing for school water testing. A bill proposed by high-ranking state senators would provide $3 million to fund tests in New Jersey schools. 

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A Fairfield firefighter was suspended following his arrest Monday.

Joseph Bell (Fairfield police)  

FAIRFIELD -- A man accused of calling in false reports of boaters in distress on the Passaic River has been suspended from the township's volunteer fire department, Chief Tim Connolly said Wednesday.

Joseph Bell, 32, of Fairfield, was arrested Monday on two counts of false public alarm in connection with two incidents, in October and again earlier this month, in which someone called the U.S. Coast Guard and said boaters were in need of emergency assistance. In both cases, no victims were found following searches by air and water involving several agencies, including local police, State Police as well as first-responders from surrounding communities.

Fairfield man made hoax distress calls, cops say

Bell has served with the department for 12 years, Connolly said, although his involvement with the nearly 50-member squad tapered off during the last two years. Bell failed to stay current on some required training and was therefore disqualified from assisting on various duties.

Bell, who was suspended from the department following his arrest, took part in "five to 10 percent" of its activities in recent years, Connolly said.

"All I can say is that Joe was an absentee member for two years, possibly more," said Connolly.

Connolly, who said he and fellow firefighters are awaiting the outcome of the charges, also expressed hope that Bell's arrest would not reflect badly on the department.

"They're a great bunch of guys. It should have no bearing on the active members who serve in the town," Connolly said.  

Attempts to reach an attorney for Bell Wednesday were unsuccessful.

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

Three New Jersey woman grace the cover of the April "O, The Oprah Magazine," bravely talking about their weight-loss challenges to the publication's 2.4 million readers

How would you like to have 2.4 million people looking over your shoulder when you step on the bathroom scale every morning?

That's what three North Jersey women have signed up for - not that they knew it at the time.

All three agreed to let a magazine chronicle their attempts to lose weight. What some of them did not know was the magazine was "O The Oprah Magazine," and they would be the cover story.

With Oprah Winfrey herself standing at their side. It's the first time the superstar has shared a cover with her readers.

Jen Pastiglione-Brody, of Ramsey, was at her very first Weight Watchers meeting - with her husband - when the leader mentioned a magazine was interested in talking with women who were just starting their bid to lose weight.

"My husband bumped me and said, 'Hey, you should do this,'" said Pastiglione-Brody, 35. The couple had just started a six-month break from several rounds of emotionally grueling in-vitro fertilization attempts, during which she'd gained a lot of weight. Their doctor had indicated weight loss might help in their quest to become parents.

"My husband said, '"Put your story out there. There's a million people out there going through what we're going through. They're struggling too, and maybe we'll hear from people,'" she recalled.

Not all of the women she met at the two-day photo shoot were Weight Watchers clients - which surprised her, since she knew Winfrey had recently become a major investor in the company.

The women were given professional hair and make-up preparation as well as color-coordinated outfits for the shoot, Jawbone fitness trackers, and a 10-month gym membership.

A magazine cover shoot was nothing new for South Orange resident Michelle Trotter, who has been a professional model for years with the Wilhelmina agency. She heard about it from a colleague from her modeling days, who said, 'I'm sure you don't have any weight issues,'" Trotter said. "She was so wrong."

Carolyn ("Cookie") Minick-Mason, of South Orange, is among the women shown on the cover of April's "O" magazine.O - The Oprah Magazine 

Trotter had long been a size 8 - thin for her 5-foot-11 frame. But she had a baby last fall at the age of 44, and that, combined with the passage of time, meant she'd gained several dress sizes. (In the world of modeling, any size larger than an 8 is considered "plus.")

"I thought, 'Well, if I do this, I have to get this weight off," she said. "It's not easy, being 45 and trying to get the weight off."

Before the scheduled shoot, she convinced her friend, Carolyn "Cookie" Minick-Mason, also of South Orange, to participate as well.

For Minick-Mason, an employment attorney who is now home full-time with her children, the challenge was to find time for healthy lifestyle habits when she had a sick parent in South Carolina, two children, including one with a chronic health condition, and a love for charitable activities to which she has trouble saying "No."

"I joke that I need a "Committee of No" to help me tell people I can't do things," she said. "That's hard for me. If you ask me if I want to go to the gym or tackle this phone call about a new tech initiative, I'll take the phone call."

She's gradually realizing that every time she says "yes" to a charitable organization, the inevitable result is she's saying "no" to something else: Time at the gym, or time to get a decent night's sleep.

The women selected by the magazine attended a two-day photo shoot, and on the second day, Winfrey joined them in a surprise appearance.

"I started crying like a baby," said Trotter. "I love her. I've followed her for years. I like her spirit. She uplifts women. She tries to make people lighter in their spirit."

Minick-Mason said Winfrey sensed the two of them were kindred spirits. When she told the television star about a failed diet that saw her starve herself only to gain all the weight back, she said Winfrey remarked, "Cookie, we like to eat, right? So we don't need to be on a plan where we can't eat."

"I felt like I was not alone on this journey, that I had someone who understood my struggle," Minick-Mason said. "I know from her battles with weight that I mirror her. I am Oprah."

Less enjoyable were the individual photo shoots of each woman dressed in a black leotard and standing against a gray background - no scarf or jewelry or killer stilettos to draw the eye away from one's "problem areas."

And underneath the photograph, the stark numbers of height and weight.

"It was horrible! I would never put that on, even in my home!," said Minick-Mason. "But people told me, 'You look  beautiful anyway, and we're so proud of you.' That, I didn't expect."

"You are literally putting it all out there," said Pastiglione-Brody. "I'm in a leotard. My weight's out there. But everyone's being so great about it." Colleagues at Nyack Medical Center, where she's a nurse practitioner who manages its Trauma Unit, have been cheering her on, as have friends and family.

All three women report the response has been nothing but positive so far. Pastiglione-Brody is posting updates on her weight loss progress on her Instagram page, at ww_jensjourney.

Minick-Mason got so many new Friend requests on her Facebook page from friends of friends that she's decided to start a blog so they can all support each other. She has been touched by the number of women who identify with her weight struggle.

She cites one in particular, a Facebook message that stated, "I've been looking at you and I've been sitting here crying, realizing it was me."

Kathleen O'Brien may be reached at kobrien@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @OBrienLedger. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

It has certainly warmed up this week in New Jersey, but it's nothing like the big warm spell we experienced earlier this month. Watch video

Unlike the big warmup we saw two weeks ago, when March temperature records were being shattered in droves, this week's warm spell has brought short-sleeve weather back to New Jersey, but it hasn't threatened any records.  

Wednesday turned out to be a beautiful spring day, with temperatures running about 15 to 20 degrees above normal as far north as Newark and as far south as Atlantic City. 

The mercury in Newark reached 72, and in Atlantic City it hit 71-- far above normal but not in record territory, as seen in the chart below. 

Thursday's temperatures in northern and western sections of New Jersey will be noticeably cooler than central and southern counties because of a cold front moving down from New England, according to Jim Connolly, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's regional office in New York.

Highs in northern and western counties of the Garden State are expected to go no higher than the upper 50s to low 60s, which is still above normal for late March, Connolly noted. 

Southern and central sections of New Jersey will see the mercury reach the upper 60s to low 70s, but onshore winds will likely keep temperature readings in coastal areas of Monmouth and Ocean in the 50s, according to forecasters from the weather service's regional office in Mount Holly.

A cold front from the Great Lakes region will be drifting east toward New Jersey Thursday night, setting the stage for rain showers -- and the possibility of some isolated thunderstorms -- after midnight and during the morning on Friday, forecasters said.

Nice full moon Wednesday night

Since one of our commenters mentioned how nice the full moon looked last night (Wednesday), I'm sharing some great shots that were posted on Facebook and Twitter. Although the moon will be near-full Thursday night, the skies around New Jersey are expected to be partly to mostly cloudy, so that might block the view.

If anyone has any nice shots of last night's full moon, please feel free to share them in the comments below.

I would say it's a #full moon #jerseyshore over the bay! @myWeatherNJ @Wx_Max @DaveCurren pic.twitter.com/2DpYrSuArA

-- Peggy Friend (@Pjfriend) March 24, 2016

Moonlit reflections tonight at twilight in #NYC. #fullmoon #moon #NewYorkCity pic.twitter.com/fU4DNxQJi1

-- Inga Sarda-Sorensen (@isardasorensen) March 24, 2016

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

Six Flags reopens, monsters do battle at Starland, and one of A.C.'s oldest traditions headline this weekend in the Garden State.

SIX FLAGS: GREAT ADVENTURE RE-OPENS

The 2016 season at Six Flags: Great Adventure kicked off Wednesday. The period from March 23-April 3 is dubbed "Spring Break," as the park will be open every day. Attractions such as Nitro, Kingda Ka, Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom, El Diablo, and SkyScreamer will be open, as will Safari Off Road Adventure. If you're looking to get on line for its latest coaster, the 4D free spin roller coaster known as The Joker, you're going to have to wait until Memorial Day as the ride is still under construction. If you plan on going on Saturday March 26, you can take part in the special Easter Egg Hunt event before the park opens up. $44.99-$69.99 Open every day until April 3, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. 1 Six Flags Blvd, Jackson, 732-928-2000.

BIG HITS THROWBACK FEST AT THE ROCK

Throwback hip-hop and R&B shows seem to be all the rage these days. On Saturday, the Prudential Center will host the Big Hits Throwback Fest, sponsored by New York dance music station 103.5 KTU. The festival will feature performances by Rob Base, Rockell, Robin S, Kevin Lyttle, C&C Music Factory, Naughty by Nature, Lisa Lisa, Stevie B, Bobby Brown, Ja Rule, Shaggy, and headliners TLC. So in essence, you're going to hear from everyone who had a super radio-friendly hit from the early '90s through the early '00s. $55-$115. Saturday, 7 p.m. 25 Lafayette Street, Newark, 973-757-6600. 

Saturday, March 26 at 8:00 PMBig Hits Throwback FestPrudential CenterSEE FULL EVENT DETAILSnj.com

KAIJU BIG BATTEL AT STARLAND BALLROOM

This is one of the most insane live shows you will ever attend. Kaiju Big Battel is essentially a Japanese monster movie taking place inside of a pro wrestling ring. However of humans doing battle, it's monsters going one-on-one in the squared circle. Yes, monsters such as D.W. Cyclotopuss, Gambling Bug, Dr. Cube, Claw, Dai Hatch Hatch, and more going at it in the ring and sometimes inside the confines of a steel cage. The experience of Kaiju Big Battel is absolutely surreal, but also enjoyable for the 21+ crowd because this is, at its heart, a goofy stage show. $20-$25. Saturday, 9:15 p.m. 570 Jernee Mill Road, Sayreville, (732) 238-5500.

Prior to Kaiju, Pro Wrestling Syndicate will be holding an women's wrestling show dubbed "PWS Bombshells" and will feature veteran women's wrestlers like NXT alum Leva Bates (Blue Pants) and Deonna Purrazzo, and current TNA stars Mia Yim and Marti Belle. $20-$25. Saturday, 9:15 p.m. 570 Jernee Mill Road, Sayreville, (732) 238-5500.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS EASTER EGG HUNT

The Seaside Heights Palm Sunday Easter Egg Hunt is one of the finest family traditions in Ocean County. Last week's inclement weather forced town officials to reschedule the event to this Saturday March 26. The event will begin at 1 p.m., and children ages 1-10 will try their best to find the 15,000 Easter eggs buried under the sand on the Seaside Heights beach. Inside the eggs are prizes such as tickets for free food, rides and games, and some lucky kids who find the "golden egg" can score a free beach badge to Seaside Heights for this summer. The hunt is divided into age brackets, so there will be no issue of little ones bumping into bigger kids. There is also an area special needs children as well. Free. Saturday, 1:00 p.m., Seaside Heights Beachfront (Hancock Avenue-Lincoln Avenue).

THE 140TH ANNUAL ATLANTIC CITY EASTER PROMENADE

"In your Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it/You'll be the grandest lady
in the Easter Parade." You can live these lyrics from Irving Berlin's classic "Easter Parade"  at the 140th Annual Atlantic City Easter Promenade. Men, women and children will don their finest Easter duds, and parade down the A.C. boardwalk. Those chosen as best dressed can receive prizes from Tropicana, Carmine's, James Candy and Old Farmer's Almanac General Store. Atlantic City Mayor Donald A. Guardian and 2015 Miss New Jersey Lindsay Giannini will be some of the celebrity judges. If there is rain on Easter Sunday, the promenade will be moved indoors to The Quarter at The Tropicana. Free. Sunday, 3 p.m. Atlantic City Boardwalk, Atlantic City, 888-228-4748.

MARGARET CHO AT THE STRESS FACTORY

Grammy- and Emmy-nominated actress and comedian Margaret Cho will take up a three-night, five-show weekend residency at The Stress Factory in New Brunswick. The audacious and insightful comedienne, known for her frank views on politics, race and sexuality, will perform Thursday through Saturday at the famed comedy club. The shows are part of Cho's "There's No I in Team but There's a Cho in Psycho" Tour. $35. Thursday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday (second show) 9:45 p.m. 90 Church Street, New Brunswick, 732-545-4242.

Thursday, March 24 at 7:30 PMMargaret ChoStress Factory Comedy ClubSEE FULL EVENT DETAILSnj.com

MOUSETRAP AT THE MCCARTER THEATER

The classic Agatha Christie whodunnit "The Mousetrap" will conclude its 2016 run at Princeton's McCarter Theatre this weekend. The play, known for its twist ending, has been running in London since 1952, and in 2012, it notched its 25,000th performance. The McCarter's production of "The Mousetrap" will feature a special dinner theater-style show and a post-show discussion on March 24. $25-$89.50 Thursday (7:30 p.m.), Friday (8 p.m.), Saturday (3 p.m., 8 p.m.) and Sunday (2 p.m.) 91 University Place, Princeton. 609-258-ARTS (2787).

Thursday, March 24 at 7:30 PM"The Mousetrap"McCarter Theatre CenterSEE FULL EVENT DETAILSnj.com

Bill Bodkin can be reached at bodkinwrites@gmail.com. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.

Writing on the back of the original photo reads only "Mr. William Halsey, captain?"

LIVINGSTON -- This undated photo of schoolchildren was taken in Livingston by Nathaniel Rubel as part of the Artist and Writers Project during the Great Depression.

Writing on the back of the original photo reads only "Mr. William Halsey, captain?"

A close look at the picture shows that while everyone is posed outside the building or in the first-floor windows, one person is 'crashing' the shot from a second-story window.

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.