October 31, 2018 • www.theobserver.com • Vol. CXXXI, No. 25
COVERING: BELLEVILLE • BLOOMFIELD • EAST NEWARK • HARRISON • KEARNY • LYNDHURST • NORTH ARLINGTON • NUTLEY
AN AMAZING ‘TWIST’ OF FATE Prepare to read a true story Hollywood might reject were it a script By Karen Zautyk kzautyk@theobserver.com
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Michelle Lynn Kelly, at left in both photos, searched high and low for her biological father — for years. Little did she know she really didn’t have far to search. At one point, he lived just a few short blocks away. Now, the California resident is celebrating an amazing discovery. She’s found her dad and couldn’t be happier.
HEN MICHELLE LYNN KELLY WAS growing up in Kearny, she began trying to solve a mystery — one that would take decades to unravel. “Kelly” is Michelle’s marriage name; kids who went to school with her here will remember her as Michelle Maass. No relation to Clara — but it turns out she is related to someone whose name many locals will recognize, and that is the heart of this amazing story. Michelle, who will celebrate her 34th birthday Nov. 13, began her quest at age 11, and it ended just a few weeks ago. She was born in Kearny to a then-single mom, Tracey Ann Maass, who, when Michelle was in her early teens, married Michelle’s stepfather, Robert Bredamus. Both were loving parents. However, Michelle recalled, “When I was 11, I figured out I did not know who my birth father was.” And her mother “never told a single soul,” including the inquisitive child. “So I kept it (her search for an
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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018
AVOID ELECTRICAL FIRES: By Ron Leir Special to The Observer
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ITH THE WINTER holiday season nipping at your toes, you buy a space heater to keep the home
warm. But the nearest outlet is too far away from your bed to make a difference. You can run an extension cord from the outlet, under your bedroom carpet, to the heater, right? Absolutely wrong. If you’ve got the wrong type of extension cord or a heater without an automatic shut-off option, you could be setting yourself up for a potentially disastrous fire. With October being Fire Prevention Month, the Kearny Fire Department is urging residents and businesses to check out their electrical fixtures to make sure they’re all in proper working order. And electrical-related fires can happen at any time of year. A painful reminder of that occurred July 13 when a fire in a 3-story Union City dwelling on 25th Street that
Photo courtesy of Juan Barroso Jr.
Here’s the aftermath of a fire in Kearny that involved an overloaded surge protector. The results are not pretty.
forensics experts traced to an “electrical failure of a power strip” killed five children and injured two adults. Experts concluded that “sparks ejected from the power strip may
have ignited combustible materials in the vicinity,” trapping the victims. In Kearny, during 2017 there were 49 incidents of fire, mostly at residential properties, believed to have been
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“electrical-based,” including one in the Fourth Ward resulting in a fatality, according to Juan Barroso, the KFD’s chief fire inspector. “This year,” Barroso said, “we’ve already had 50, with two months still to go.” One common cause of electrical fires, according to Barroso and Fire Chief Steven Dyl, is “overloading circuits” powering gadgets such as mobile phones, chargers, tablets, remotes, X-Boxes and the like. The U.S. Fire Administration, a division of FEMA, advises residents to follow these tips when using electrical appliances: • Always plug major appliances, like refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers, directly into a wall outlet. Plug only one major appliance (coffeemaker, space heater, microwave, etc.) directly into a wall outlet at a time. • Never use an extension cord with a major appliance — it can easily overheat and start a fire. Use extension cords only temporarily. Have an electrician install additional wall
Continued on the next page
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THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018
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DON’T OVERLOAD OUTLETS Continued from previous page outlets where needed. (Because Kearny has lots of old housing stock, a number of homes are equipped with a limited number of outlets and sometimes, only one per floor, Dyl noted.) • Always plug small appliances directly into a wall outlet and unplug them when not in use. • Keep lamps, light fixtures and light bulbs away from anything that can burn. • Use light bulbs that match the recommended wattage on a lamp or fixture. • Check electrical cords on appliances often. Replace cracked, damaged or loose electrical cords. (Dyl and Barroso recommend UL (Underwriters Laboratories)-Listed cords retailing from $10 to $50.) Do not try to repair them. Avoid putting cords under a carpet or rug where they can be damaged or pinched. Do not overload power strips. Use power strips with internal overload protection. Never force a 3-prong cord into a 2-slot outlet.
Photo courtesy of Juan Barroso Jr.
This is an example of how not to use an extension cord. Notice the damage resulting from a fire that was likely triggered by the connections.
electrical fires that occur annually, about half involve lighting equipment or home electrical wiring (such as holiday ornament displays), resulting in 420 civilian deaths, 1,370 civilian injuries and $1.4 billion in property damage. Most deaths from home electrical fires peak between midnight and 6 a.m. and these types of fires peak between December and March. To help educate residents about fire safety, the KFD’s Fire Prevention Bureau periodically does informal talks at public events such as the department’s annual Open House, Christmas Tree Lighting and National Night Out, visits local schools to interact and give basic tips to youngsters and offers presentations to civic groups.
An improper electrical connection can cause “arching” — a technical term for sparking behind an outlet — which can lead to a heat surge and, ultimately, a fire that can, over time, climb vertically inside a wall and into a ceiling, attic or roof. According to the USFA, of the 45,000-plus home
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Directed by Robert Strauch Book by Tom Jones • Music by Harvey Schmidt • Lyrics by Tom Jon Based on Les Romanesques by Edmond Rostand
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Music, Laughter. . . Magic and Moonlight!
A charming love story, magical illusions and memorable music will bring the W.H.A.T. 2013-14 season to a close with a production of the world’s longestrunning Tony-award winning musical, The Fantasticks. This time-proven audience pleaser featuring such timeless songs as “Try to Remember” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain,” is sure to have audiences humming along whether
Tickets $18 for adults/$15 for seniors and students by Brian D. Taylor • Directed by Nicole Floyd To purchase tickets visit www.whatco.org or call 201-467-8624. West Hudson Arts & Theater Compa ny
Free Parking in W.H.A.T. Theater • 131 Midland Avenue • Kearny, NJ Rear of Theater
Arlington, NJ. Limited tickets also available at the door 30 minutes before curtain. West Hudson Arts & Theater Compa ny
“Produced with special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Sevices, Inc., Englewood Colorado”
HIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FUNDS FROM THE NEW JERSEY STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS/DEPARTMENT OF STATE, A PARTNER AGENCY OF THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, ADMINISTERED BY THE HUDSON COUNTY OFFICE OF CULTURAL @ HERITAGE AFFAIRS, THOMAS A. DEGISE, COUNTY EXECUTIVE, AND THE BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS. West Hudson Arts & Theater Compa ny
Purchase tickets online at www.whatco.org,
West Hudson Arts & Theatre
w w w . w h a t c o . o r g
201.467.8624, or at the door P.O by Boxphone 231, Kearny, NJ 07032
West Hudson Arts & Theater Company, A registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Fri, Nov. 2 • 7:30 p.m. Sat, Nov. 3 • 4 p.m. Fri, Nov. 9 • 7:30 p.m. Sat, Nov. 10 • 1 & 4 p.m.
West Hudson Arts & Theater Compa ny
All Tickets $8 W.H.A.T. Theater Now in residence at
First Lutheran Church 65 Oakwood Avenue, Kearny NJ Doors open 30 minutes before each performance. Cash and checks only for tickets purchased at the door. All audience members must have a ticket. No strollers allowed in the theater.