October 3, 2018 • www.theobserver.com • Vol. CXXXI, No. 21
HIGHLIGHTS EAST NEWARK teachers are still without a contract. See page 4
COVERING: BELLEVILLE • BLOOMFIELD • EAST NEWARK • HARRISON • KEARNY • LYNDHURST • NORTH ARLINGTON • NUTLEY
FIGHTING TO END CANCER By Kevin Canessa kc@theobserver.com
E
MMA QUINTANA REMEMBERS VIVIDLY when she realized she might have breast cancer. It was 1999, and the young mom was on a plane to her native Peru. She had contracted bronchitis — and just wasn’t feeling herself. For whatever reason, she decided on getting a mammogram. And, the results were not what she had hoped. Doctors found, on her breast, microcalcification. She had breast cancer. She opted for aggressive treatment. Her surgery lasted nine hours. And her husband offered 100% support. “I see your soul,” he said of Emma’s decision to have the aggressive surgery. After the surgery, she had seven chemo treatments. And, whether it’s through the grace of God or a number of other reasons, since 2000, she has remained cancer free. But it was that year — nearly two decades ago — that Quintana decided she had to do something positive with her victory over cancer. At the time, her kids were 11, 10 and 8. And while it took some time before it kicked off, from Quintana’s battle was born a support group for women who had or who beat breast cancer — Mujeres Valientes, or, Brave Women. The group was born following a series of discussions with Lisa Feorenzo, the co-owner
Photo by Kevin Canessa
Emma Quintana, a breast-cancer survivor, continues to help the community deal with being afflicted with or a being a survivor of breast cancer.
See EMMA, Page 10
Vote on PILOT delayed after nearly 5 hour meeting at its public hearing, an ordinance that would have granted a PILOT — Payment In Lieu of Taxes — to developer Ed Russo for his property at 60 Passaic Ave. was continued to the next time the Kearny governing body
By Kevin Canessa kc@theobserver.com Despite a marathon meeting of nearly five hours on Sept. 25 that included scores of residents speaking
meets on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m., at Council Chambers, 402 Kearny Ave. A crowd, estimated at about 75, attended the meeting. Council meetings aren’t usually well attended. But with a lot at stake, and with a
#1 LISTING AND SELLING OFFICE IN 2017!
www.Century21Semiao.com 761 Ridge Rd., Lyndhurst, NJ 201-460-8000
531 Kearny Ave., Kearny, NJ 201-991-1300
Semiao & Associates 217 Ferry St., Newark, NJ 973-344-2100
310 Union Ave., Rutherford, NJ 201-939-2224
recent grassroots meeting of local concerned citizens where organizers encouraged folks to get out and be heard, this one was well attended.
See PILOT, Page 18
CENTURY 21 Semiao and Associates - Hudson Count...
http://www.century21semiao.com
SCAN HERE! http://kaywa.me/aBR3I
257 Blvd., Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 201-288-5533
Download the Kaywa QR Code Reader (App Store &Android Market) and scan your code!
BASED ON NJMLS, KEARNY, NORTH ARLINGTON, LYNDHURST, HARRISON, EAST NEWARK
02
THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2018
CHUCK KERR, RETIRED KEARNY By Kevin Canessa kc@theobserver.com
F
or many years, Charles D. Kerr — known by most as Chuck — served the Kearny Fire Department as its chief fire inspector. When there was a fire, chances were you’d see him at the scene, hard at work, looking to determine why a fire happened. In 2011, he was named the Firefighter of the Year at the Kearny FD. He was involved in so many things in the community, it would be difficult to recall them all. But the life that was Kerr’s was cut short — way too short — when the Kearny resident died at home on Sept. 24, 2018. He was just 58. Steven Dyl, the chief of the Kearny FD, took time to reflect on his friend’s life.
Facebook image
This special poster was made several years ago to mark the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The firefighter in the photo is Chuck Kerr who, at the time, was deep in thought at a remembrance ceremony at the World Trade Center (Ground Zero at the time.)
“Chuck was appointed to the KFD on Oct. 6, 1984, and assigned to Station 3
Tour D,” Dyl said. “He rose to the position of Chief Fire Inspector, where he ran the
FREE ESTIMATES FULLY INSURED REFERENCES
Driveways • Lots • Patios Belgian Block • Sidewalks Concrete Curbs • Pavers Retaining Walls • Steps Snow Plowing & More!
10% OFF WWW.JAGPAVINGNJ.COM NJ License #13VH01119300
Any Job over $2,500 Coupon must be presented at time of estimate. 10/15/18
Bureau of Combustibles, until his retirement on July 1, 2012 after over 27 years of service. “Chuck returned to serve the Town of Kearny as a Public Safety Telecommunicator
in August 2013 until his untimely death. ‘Charles D’ was well known throughout the town for his community involvement. He was also well known in the fire service and for his constant training and his love for the fire service in general. “Our condolences are with the Kerr family of during their time of need. ‘Charles D,’ you will be sorely missed and loved by all those you touched. Rest in peace.” And in a brief 58 years on earth, did he ever touch the lives of countless people. But you would never know it, because while he did so much to help others, he never sought the spotlight. He never wanted recognition. All he ever seemed to want was to do good things — to help people who were in need. Many years ago, when this newspaper was involved with the Kentucky Care project,
Continued on the next page
SCHUYLER AUTOMOTIVE COMPLETE AUTO REPAIRS
DOMESTIC & FOREIGN CAR SPECIALIST AUTO ELECTRIC & ELECTRONICS Reasonable Rates • Reliable Service
485 Schuyler Ave • Kearny, NJ
201-998-5500
Inside this edition ... Opinion............................................................................................6 Around Town..................................................................................9 Food & Dining Directory..............................................................10 Sports & Recreation.....................................................................11 Health & Wellness Directory.......................................................15 Real Estate....................................................................................16 Real Estate Directory...................................................................17
Call Today at:
201.991.0067
432 Ridge Road, North Arlington NJ • www.RipostaLaw.com
Obituaries......................................................................................19 Classifieds..............................................................................20-21 Business Directory......................................................................22
THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2018
03
FIRE INSPECTOR, DIES AT 58 to this very day. While I hadn’t seen Chuck for nearly a decade, in late June, I just happened to bump into him at KFD Headquarters whilst working on a story about 4th of July fireworks. In Chief Dyl’s office, in he came — and he picked up as if not a day had passed since last we spoke. On June 29, I sent him and email to thank him for all
he taught me about the fire service. And, I sent photos I’d taken of him over the years. On July 2, I got a reply. “Thanks Kevin, I appreciate your kind words,” he wrote. “It’s easy to work with someone who knows about and cares about the integrity of their work, which was the case with you. Keep up the good work. Chuck.” Little did he know he was
truly describing himself, something he’d never do knowingly. Whether it was as Chief Inspector or as a dispatcher or a volunteer, all he ever did was good work. He only did it with integrity and care. Our town, our fire department, our community, our world, will never be the same again without Charles D. Kerr.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Sullivan
Kerr with his ‘grandkids’ at the beach several years ago.
Continued from previous page Kerr, who was a master at packing away moving trucks, offered his services to help pack the tractor-trailers that would travel from Kearny to Kentucky filled to capacity with donations of furniture, clothing, toiletries and the like for the less fortunate of Appalachian country. “He was so good at what he did,” The Observer’s Lisa Feorenzo recalled of Kerr. “He knew just what to do to make those trucks immaculately packed and safe for the long trip to Kentucky. He did it all, but never expected anything in return. He was that kind of person. So helpful. So willing to be there for the sake of the needy. Never did he want anything in return. Never did he seek the spotlight.” Just how well-loved was Kerr? When the Kearny FD announced Kerr’s untimely death on its Facebook page, nearly 200 people paused to offer lasting tributes to him. One of them came from Eileen Eckel, the Third Ward councilwoman who, for many years, has been the council’s fire committee chairwoman. “(Chuck was) a wonderful human being and the quintessential firefighter,” Eckel said. “His dedication and love for his profession and his community will always be remembered.” Jennifer Sullivan was “like a daughter to Chuck,” though not by blood. Her children, Brinley and Dwyer, were equally his grandchildren.
“Chuck was like a father to me and grandfather to my children,” she said. “There was no doubt in my mind that he loved us with all his heart. We will forever be blessed for having him share in our lives. He wasn’t a hero known by the world, but he was a hero to us.” As a journalist, I got to work along-side Chuck many times in the late 2000s. Vividly recall his saving a pup from an apartment over a fire at the Sip and Dunk coffee shop on Kearny Avenue. He was always an active participant with confined-space training. But of it all, one thing stuck out more than anything else. Whenever I’d write fire recaps, I’d often include in the stories when police officers rescued residents from buildings before the fire department arrived on scene. Following one of the stories, Chuck came up to our old Kearny Avenue office and asked to see me. I could tell from the get-go — he wasn’t happy. “Of course the PD made the rescues, they’re always going to be on scene before we are,” he said. “Why don’t you recognize my guys for actually putting the fire out? They put their lives at risk.” By no means was Kerr making light of the PD rescues. He had the utmost respect for the police and the work they do. He was simply noting the obvious that I often overlooked. If we were going to highlight the work of the PD — highlight the work of the FD all the same. It stuck with me
Valid Now Through October. Cannot be combined.
Exp. 10/15/18
Open and High Field MRI at the same site, Day and Night
THERADIOLOGYCENTER 736 Page Ave. • Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 • (201) 729-1234
OPEN MRI •HIGH FIELD MRI • CT SCAN • ULTRASOUND • DOPPLER STUDIES ECHOCARDIOGRAM • DIGITAL X-RAY • DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY • BONE DENSITY SCAN Se Habla Espanol
(201) 729-1234
Mowimy po Polsku
PROVEN and ADVANCED
Trusted by our community since 1992 Important Features • All Insurances Accepted • Day, Evening & Weekend Hours • Ample Parking
• ACR Certified in All Modalities • Board Certified Specialists • Over 1/2 Million Patients Seen
www.trcmd.com