June 27, 2018 • www.theobserver.com • Vol. CXXXI, No. 7
HIGHLIGHTS The mental health & opioid crisis continues to grow. The Observer takes a look in a multiple-part series beginning this week. Page 6
COVERING: BELLEVILLE • BLOOMFIELD • EAST NEWARK • HARRISON • KEARNY • LYNDHURST • NORTH ARLINGTON • NUTLEY
SENIORS REJOICE!
Photo by Ryan Ribeiro Friday, June 22, was graduation & the final school day for Kearny High School seniors. As is tradition, as school is dismissed, seniors paraded up and down Kearny Avenue to celebrate. See more photos on Page 27.
Kearny asks SCOTUS for Writ on Keegan case By Ron Leir Special to The Observer
I
t may only be a dumping ground for construction debris and certain types of wastes but its possessive owner is as loathe to give it up as if there were gold in them thar hills. In what amounts to a last-ditch effort to hold
onto a 110-acre parcel at Bergen Avenue and Newark-Jersey City Turnpike known as the Keegan landfill, the Town of Kearny is pinning its hopes on the highest court in the land. On June 6, Town Attorney James P. Bruno filed a 66-page petition for a Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court asking the federal justices to review the town’s case.
Adam Feldman, a Columbia University law professor who writes a blog about SCOTUS, said the Court “annually grants approximately 5% of the petitions to hear cases it receives.” Based on that, Feldman figures Kearny’s chances for a hearing were “unlikely.”
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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2018
Kearny Teachers … No Contract … Still Working … Always Caring
O
n behalf of the officers of the Kearny Education Association and all Kearny Staff, we would like to thank the following businesses for their support. We would also like to thank our community, parents, and friends who support us as well. It is our pleasure to work with your children. We take care of your families ... we need the ability to take care of ours!
West Hudson Chiropractic Center Luso Auto Repair Express Gas Two Zero One Salon Domingo’s Bakery Fanny & Marisol Hair & Nail Salon The Greeks Pegasus Sporting Goods Newark Firepit BBQ 300 Belleville Turnpike Pegasus Sporting Goods Harrison Midland Dairy Natas and Bowls Arlington Tax and Bookkeeping The Bagel House Wilson Auto Parts Mr Nino’s 3 Theile Reid Funeral Home New Linden Deli Happy Time Daycare Habethur’s Furniture Liquor Boss K9 Corner Gina’s Hair Salon Roxc Beaute Bone Appetit Rosa Agency Quick Check Super Nails Stella’s Empanadas Red White and Q Kearny Collision Kearny Gold Store Glazed and Confused Cooper’s Block Mid Realty Condon Funeral Home Kearny Wellness Center New Body Collision Arcos Bakery Kearny Wellness Physical Therapy Distano Chiropractic and Rehab
New Image Salon Spanish Pavillion Jersey Driving School Pao Quente D’Avenida Big Stash’s Sub House Arlington Pharmacy Bertha’s Kearny Coffee Shop Spirit Liquors Peter’s Pizzeria Headlinerz Lily House Chinese Restaurant
Paid for by the Kearny Education Association for publication in The Observer
THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2018
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HC corrections officer, a Kearny resident, arrested Prosecutor says he smuggled ‘contraband’ into jail for inmates’ benefit By Kevin Canessa kc@theobserver.com SOUTH KEARNY — A Hudson County Corrections Officer, who is also a resident of Kearny, has been arrested and charged with smuggling contraband into the Hudson County Correctional Facility, Esther Suarez, the Hudson County Prosecutor, said through her spokesman, Raymond Worrall. According to a news release, on Friday, June 15, shortly after 1:45 p.m., Alex Almeida, 40, of Kearny, was arrested by members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Public Integrity/ Internal Affairs Unit, for his involvement in reportedly
smuggling and distributing contraband in the jail. Almeida was arrested at the jail without incident during an undercover operation by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force. Almeida, a nine-year HCCO, has been charged with official misconduct and conspiracy to commit official misconduct. He was processed and released the same day. Almeida is scheduled to make his first appearance on these charges in Central Judicial Processing Court in the Hudson County Administration Building, Jersey City, at 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 26.
PBGC has plenty for kids to do through the summer
T
he Presbyterian Boys & Girls Club, at 663 Kearny Ave/, will be open in July and August on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7-9 p.m. Most members and guests are between the ages 8-15. The summer program offers basketball, dodgeball, Wiffle Ball, kickball, gymnastics, bowling, bumper pool, air hockey, foosball, art and crafts, ping-pong and electronic games. Summer trips have been scheduled to State Fair (June 27), Action Park (July 11), Funplex (July 18), Seaside Heights (July
25), a N.Y. Yankees game (Aug. 1) and an NJ Jackals game (Aug. 8). All trips are chaperoned by Kearny teachers and directors. Nighttime activities a include hot dog eating contest, make your own ice cream sundae, pizza night, Wiffle Ball homerun derby, extreme dodgeball and many others. The club will be supervised this summer by professional staff including Tom Frasier, Paul Viera, Desiree Colon, George Martin and Oscar Escalante. Drop in soon and bring a friend.
Inside this edition ...
Opinion..................................................................................8 Food & Dining Directory....................................................12 Sports & Recreation..........................................................13 Health & Wellness Directory.............................................17 Real Estate..........................................................................18 Real Estate Directory........................................................19 Obituaries...........................................................................21 Classifieds..........................................................................22 Business Directory............................................................24
CRIME NEWS A source who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak about the case told The Observer the suspected contraband included “alcohol and
cigarettes.” Suarez credited the Narcotics Task Force and the Internal Affairs Unit with the arrest. Hudson County Department of Corrections Director Ronald Edwards said: “The leadership of the Hudson County Corrections Department remains dedicated to the
highest professional and ethical standards of the law enforcement profession. We have zero tolerance for any behavior that compromises public and/or officer safety and we will proactively investigate and prosecute any violation of these standards. We will never compromise these core values.”
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