November 14, 2018 • www.theobserver.com • Vol. CXXXI, No. 27
HIGHLIGHTS GOP sweeps in NA, Eckel holds off 11th-hour write-in challenge
See Page 3
COVERING: BELLEVILLE • BLOOMFIELD • EAST NEWARK • HARRISON • KEARNY • LYNDHURST • NORTH ARLINGTON • NUTLEY
VETERANS HONORED 100th anniversary of end of ‘The Great War’ marked in ceremonies here and around the globe By Karen Zautyk kzautyk@theobserver.com
A
T 11 A.M. ON NOV. 11, 1918 — THE 11TH HOUR of the 11th day of the 11th month — the guns on the Western Front of The Great War finally fell silent. Exactly at 11 a.m. Between 5 a.m. (or 5:45 or 6), when the Armistice ending the war was signed, and 11 a.m., when it officially went into effect, the slaughter that defined the four-year conflict continued. We tried to find a definitive number of last-day casualties, but, as it appears with almost everything involving that war, not much is conclusive. (Which explains the Armistice-signing times above.) But we can tell you this: The last American soldier to be slain was Sgt. Henry Gunther, 23, of Baltimore, who was killed by Ger-
See VETERANS, Page 26 Len Twist, of Kearny, is dressed as soldiers would have been dressed in World War I at Kearny’s Veterans Day celebration on Nov. 11.
Photo by Barbara B. Goldberg
KHS basketball coach charged with sex crimes against minor after he allegedly inappropriately touched a 17-year-old Kearny High School student on more than one occasion, according to a complaint and summons filed by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. Robert G. McDonnell, 59, of Kearny, was charged with endangering the
By Kevin Canessa kc@theobserver.com
T
HE NOW-FORMER KEARNY High School head boys’ varsity basketball coach has been charged with sexually-based crimes,
welfare of a child by “knowingly engaging in sexual conduct that would impair or debauch the morals of a child under 18”
and “criminal-sexual conduct” (of a girl who was 17 at the time) according to the complaint filed by Det. Michelle V. Lenczuk, of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. According to the complaint, on July
#1 LISTING AND SELLING OFFICE IN 2017!
www.Century21Semiao.com 761 Ridge Rd., Lyndhurst, NJ 201-460-8000
Semiao & Associates 531 Kearny Ave., Kearny, NJ 201-991-1300
217 Ferry St., Newark, NJ 973-344-2100
See COACH, Page 25
McDonnell 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, NOVEMBER 14, 2018
KHS custodian charged with stalking student Reports: He also befriended girl on Facebook, followed her on Kearny Ave. A Kearny High School custodian has been arrested and charged with stalking a 16-year-old high school girl over the course of two academic years, the Kearny Police Department has announced. The custodian, 43-yearold Toby Targett, of North Arlington, was charged on Nov. 2 with stalking, a fourth-
degree crime. According to the KPD: The criminal complaint, filed by Det. Marc McCaffrey, indicated that the substance of the charge was that Targett allegedly knowingly engaged in a course of conduct directed at the girl which caused her to fear for her safety, specifically by sitting at her lunch table on
numerous occasions, being in her first-period class on numerous occasions, approaching her in the hallway in-between classes and requesting her as a friend on Facebook along with driving by and beeping at her while she was on Kearny Avenue for lunch. The alleged behavior took place this and last school
G i v i n g b a c k t o o u r c o m m u n i t y. Walk Ins always Welcome • Appointments recommended
Targett year, according to the complaint.
20% OFF
STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
for new
customers w i th th i s a d
ASK ABOUT REFERALLS & XMAS MERCH FOR NEW CUSTOMERS
742-B kearny ave, kearny • open 7 days from 9-6
201.998.0893
@ acuttingbreed
YOUR COMPLETE TRIM-A-TREE & DECOR HEADQUARTERS
25 % OFF ALL ARTIFICIAL TREES & 3D OUTDOOR DECOR
FIND YOUR DECORATING STYLE
LARGEST SELECTION OF LIGHTS & ORNAMENTS IN NEW JERSEY Artificial Trees from 4½’–12’ Indoor & Outdoor Decorations Stockings Collectibles Nativity Scenes Tabletop Decor Gifts & More!
20 OFF %
SELECT LIFE-SIZE FIGURES
HOLIDAY EARLY BIRD SPECIAL - SAVE UP TO 35%!
10OFF
Shop before Thanksgiving and use the 10% coupon below to receive an additional 10% discount on all holiday sale items like artificial trees, 3D outdoor and select life-size figures. After Thanksgiving the 10% coupon is valid on regularly priced merchandise through 12/24/18.
%
SCHUYLER SCHOOL
GARFIELD SCHOOL
PREK: Joel Rios, Zachary McCarthy. Kindergarten: Joel Soriano, Aryanna Lora and Lily Catrambone. GRADE 1: Luca Englese, Jelani Fong Yee Curtis and Gavin Araujo. GRADE 2: Ysabella Soto, Katelyn Alvarado and Dominick Zdichocki. GRADE 3: Olivia Santana, Philip Dudek and Kiara Perez. GRADE 4: Ammar Khalifa, Angel Castillo and Victoria Lach. GRADE 5: Adrianna Soriano, Janissa Funes, Ashlee Cerezo and Daniela Mantilla. GRADE 6: Victoria Lopes, Alani Kyratzis, Kaylene Ronquillo and Carolina Nocelotl.
Mia Torres, Gael Barahona Beltran, Isabella Oliveira, Emily Gomez, Laura Rettschlag, Dakota Murphy, Karim Palacio, Isabella Mangal, Evan Cooper, Julia Fontes Santos, Dayanara Terrones, Charli Valente, Tarso Chavez, Alexander Pereyra, Leah Alves, Stacy Tepi, Logan Crispin, Gabrielle Velloso Barbosa, Aurora Latona, Aaron Ocana, Luanna DeSouza, Landen Madalena, David Velloso Barbosa, Jonathan Dapena, Alexander Pineiro and Iaob Jimenez Fajardo.
Inside this edition ... Opinion...........................................................................6 Around Town.................................................................9 Food & Dining Directory............................................10 Sports & Recreation...................................................13 Health & Wellness Directory.....................................16 Real Estate...................................................................18 Real Estate Directory.................................................20 Obituaries....................................................................21
YOUR ENTIRE IN-STORE
CHRISTMAS PURCHASE*
Classifieds.............................................................22-24 Business Directory.....................................................24
*COUPON EXPIRES 12.24.18
Coupon excludes Dept. 56 and farm products and may not be combined with any other offer or discount. KONOV18
The KPD says during the first week of October, KHS School Resource Officer Jack Grimm received a report from the school’s administrators that alleged Targett’s conduct toward the girl “over the last few months.” Targett was issued a summons and was released on his own recognizance, pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Jersey City. It is not immediately known when Targett will make his first appearance. — Kevin Canessa
241 Main Street, Belleville
973.450.1070
StateFairSeasons.com
THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018
03
GOP sweeps in NA, Eckel turns aside 11th-hour write-in challenge in Kearny Races in Harrison and East Newark were uncontested By Kevin Canessa & Ron Leir The Observer
R
EPUBLICANS IN North Arlington cruised to victory on Election Day, Nov. 6, sweeping the race for mayor and for the Borough Council. In Kearny, a last-minute write-in campaign for a council seat in the town’s Third Ward proved futile. It was statusquo in Harrison. And across the Passaic in Belleville and Bloomfield, races were rather quiet.
North Arlington In the race for mayor here, Daniel Pronti, a sitting GOP councilman and 11th-hour replacement for Joseph Bianchi, the mayor and candidate for the same office who died suddenly last month, handily beat three opponents — Mark Yampaglia, the Democratic nominee; Al Granell, a Democrat who ran as an independent; and Lillian Saldanha, also an independent candidate. Pronti unofficially got 2,646 votes; Yampaglia garnered 2,015 votes; Saldanha won 313 votes; and Granell finished with 127. At a rally following the tally of votes, Pronti addressed an energetic crowd of volunteers and supporters at the local GOP’s headquarters. His speech was broadcast on Facebook Live. The mayor-elect took time to remember his predecessor
and to thank all who made it possible for him to win an election with just a few days to campaign. “We ran a campaign to pay a tribute to a man (the-late Mayor Joseph Bianchi) we all ran with in the past who left us,” Pronti said. “Joe suffered from cancer for a while, and Joe met his untimely death. It’s a shame — and we’re all sad. We took it upon ourselves to make it our mission to push his legacy forward. And that’s what we’re going to plan on doing, from today. That’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to push everything forward. “Everybody heard about the renaissance. We have the North Arlington renaissance going forward now — and we’re going to keep pushing it. “ … the tribute you guys are paying me right now — it means so much to me I swear to God.” Pronti pledged to continue to do as much as he can for the residents as mayor as he has as a councilman. He also said he was tired of seeing elected representatives being elected representatives when they were at meetings and before a crowd, only to disappear and be unavailable in between meetings. “They were a councilman at the meeting and then at the next meeting, they picked up where they left off,” he said. “And I always said if I had the opportunity to do that, I would council the entire
Ken Davie “Your Family’s Lawyer” • Matrimonial & Municipal Courts • Home and Business Sales • Wills and Estates •Labor and Criminal Law
Experience • Compassion • Results
CIFELLi & DAVIE
334 Harrison Ave. • Harrison, NJ (973) 482-1180 or (800) 303-7716 Fax (973) 482-0223 kdavieesq@gmail.com
month because that’s what you’re supposed to do — we’re here for everybody. So that’s what I intended to do, that’s what I’ve been doing since 2013 and that’s what I’m gonna continue to do.
“I’m gonna be your mayor — and that’s a big thing for me. And I appreciate it.” Pronti went on to thank his family and supporters, whom he also called “my family.”
UPS Shipping Mailbox Services Digital Printing Copying Services Office Supplies
Kearny Mounting a last-minute, write-in campaign, independent candidate Larry Handlin convinced 79 Kearny
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
See ELECTION, Page 25
Packing Supplies Notary Services Freight Services
START PREPARING YOUR
HOLIDAY GIFTS EARLY!
Moving Supplies Packing Materials
Located inside Arlington Pharmacy
434 Kearny Ave • Kearny, NJ • 201.997.6938
A New Opportunity in New Jersey:
Tuition-Free College Education Register Now – Classes Begin Jan. 14 What is it? A tuition-free community college experience at 13 institutions – including Bergen! When does it take place? Spring 2019 Requirements? • Household Income of $45,000 or Less, as Reported to IRS • Enrolled in Six or More Credits in Spring 2019 • Live in Bergen County • Completed Bergen Application, FAFSA, State Aid/Alternative Aid Applications
Important dates? • Dec. 1 – Complete FAFSA to Ensure Processing • Jan. 14, 2019 – Spring Semester Begins For more information: Call – 201-879-FREE (3733) Click – free.bergen.edu Email – tuitionfree@bergen.edu Visit – 400 Paramus Road, Paramus; 1280 Wall Street West, Lyndhurst; 355 Main Street, Hackensack The Community College Opportunity Grant is administrated through the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.