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Wednesday, 26 January 2022

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Vol. CXXXIV, No. 38

ON THE INSIDE District celebrating Kearny HS centennial Feb. 5 & the public is invited to attend. SEE PAGE 15

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ETERNAL HEROES

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79 years after the deaths of the 4 Chaplains, we look back at Kearny’s own Father John Washington.

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REV. JOHN WASHINGTON: By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. & Ron Leir

or many years, St. Stephen’s Church in Kearny has celebrated a special Mass in February dedicated to the parish’s former curate, the Rev. John P. Washington, one of the “Four Chaplains” who gave their lifejackets to others during the sinking of the USAT Dorchester in the North Atlantic on Feb. 3, 1943, by a German U-boat. Together with Father Washington, the other chaplains assigned to the ship were the Rev. George

L. Fox, a Methodist; Rabbi Alexander D. Goode; and the Rev. Clark V. Poling, of the Reformed Church of America. But who was Father Washington? John P. Washington was born July 18, 1908, in the Roseville section of Newark, the first child of Frank and Mary Washington. Six more siblings followed. The family’s home parish was St. Rose of Lima, where young John served as an altar boy and, early on, aspired to the priesthood. After graduating from Seton Hall College in South

Many friends helped Boy Scout Joseph Drefko restore the area near the Four Chaplains monument.

The Kearny couple first met at The Bright Spot on Kearny Avenue. They were married on January 13, 1962 at St. Cecilia’s R.C. Church and had their reception at the LLLC on Davis Avenue. Mr. & Mrs. Savoy have three children: Sharon, Michelle (Ron), and Rob. They have two grandchildren: Kim (Jared) and Kyle (Laura), and a great-grandchild, Emily. They had a small family celebration during the holidays to celebrate this incredible milestone.

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Orange in 1931, Washington entered the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, became a deacon in 1934 and a priest in 1935. He was assigned, initially, to St. Genevieve’s in Elizabeth and then to St. Venantius in Orange before arriving at St. Stephen’s in 1937 as the parish was in the process of relocating from Midland Avenue to Washington Avenue. Ten years ago, St. Stephen’s former parish trustee, the late retired Municipal Court Judge John McLaughlin, told The Observer he was in kindergarten or first grade at the time and he recalled, “Father Washington used to take the altar boys and various classes from school to Bertrand’s Island, an amusement area in Lake Hopatcong. I went. He was pretty good at working with kids.” The late parishioner Paul Shalvoy, another of the altar boys who assisted Father Washington serve Mass at St. Stephen’s, said when the priest was in charge of the local Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), he arranged to transport a St. Stephen’s youth team to Ruppert Stadium in Newark’s Ironbound area to participate in CYO track meets. “I was in St. Stephen’s grammar school at the time and I ran in the relay races,” Shalvoy recalled. “And I remember that Father Washington bought us

hotdogs and sodas and in the late ‘30s, that was a treat. He was a very nice guy.” Revs. Washington and Byrne used to go houseto-house to take the parish census, McLaughlin recalled. At St. Stephen’s, Washington developed a reputation as a “forwardthinking” cleric, the Rev. Joseph Mancini, pastor of St. Stephen’s, said. “He integrated public and parochial school children for social gatherings, for example, which was unheard of for that time.” As the story goes, Mancini said, on Dec. 7, 1941, Washington had taken his mother out to dinner in North Arlington and, on their way back to Kearny, heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was then, Mancini said, that the young priest decided to enlist. He very nearly didn’t make it. According to Shalvoy, Washington wanted to go into the Navy, but was rejected because of flawed sight in his right eye. “Well,” Shalvoy said, “one of our other priests, Father Gordon Byrne, who was home on military leave at the time, suggested trying the Army, instead, because they gave the physical in a darkened room and when you read the eye chart, you could hold the card over the same eye for each reading, so Continued on the next page

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KEARNY’S ETERNAL HERO to a watery grave. Of some 900 men aboard, only 230 survived. As the story goes, the Four Chaplains, who would have survived otherwise, offered their life preservers to others and made the ultimate sacrifice of laying down their lives for friends. In 1944, the Army awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart to the four chaplains, presenting the medals to family members; in 1948, the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp commemorating their selfless actions; and in 1961, Congress authorized a Special Medal for Heroism awarded by President Eisenhower. After the tragedy, clubs

Boy Scout Joseph Drefko works on restoring the Four Chaplains monument at St. Stephen’s Church, Kearny. More photos @ www.theobserver.com.

Continued from previous page that’s what Father Washington did — he covered the same (bad) eye twice” and passed the physical and was appointed an Army chaplain, assigned to the 76th Infantry Division. On Nov. 13, 1942, Washington was sent to Camp Myles Standish in Taunton, Massachusetts, and on the train ride there, St. Stephen’s parishioner Nancy Waller said Washington encountered her husband’s parents who were then en route to Boston for their honeymoon. “They were probably the last parishioners to see Father Washington before he shipped out,” Waller said. It was in New England Washington made his final stop on the road to war: He

went to Military Chaplains School at Harvard where he met Fox, Goode and Poling. In January 1943, all four sailed out of Boston Harbor on the Dorchester, a converted luxury liner, as part of a three-ship Army transport convoy, bound for Greenland. They would never reach their destination. According to Mancini, survivors’ accounts indicate Washington went to bat for Jewish servicemen looking to host Sabbath services Friday night in the ship’s mess hall. Non-Jewish soldiers playing cards there weren’t inclined to move, but Washington reportedly persuaded them to take their game elsewhere. Early on Feb. 3, 1943, a German sub fired three torpedoes into the Dorchester, quickly sending the vessel

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were formed in the parish in Father Washington’s name. They put on performances, fundraisers. One parishioner initiated a campaign to have Father Washington canonized by Rome, but it never happened. And St. Stephens began a practice of celebrating an annual Mass in Father Washington’s memory. A decade ago, Mancini said the idea for a Four Chaplains Monument came about as a byproduct of a conversation he had with Brooklyn artist Fred Moshey, who does reproductions of religious statutes and other items. “At the time, I was thinking See CHAPLAINS, Page 19

PRESS RELEASE

PreK and Kindergarten Registration Kearny School District 172 Midland Avenue Kearny, NJ 07032 The Kearny school district will be accepting ONLINE registration for the following programs for the 2022-23 school year: • Full Day Preschool Age 3 ( Limited seats- available by lottery) Must be Three years of age by October 1st 2022 • Full Day Preschool Age 4 Child must be Four years of age by October 1st 2022 • Full Day Kindergarten Age 5 Child must be Five years of age by October 1st 2022 Current PreK3 students DO NOT have to re-register for PreK4 and current PreK4 students DO NOT have to re-register for Kindergarten. Registration will be completed ONLINE ONLY following the schedule below. You do not need to come to the Board of Education Office.

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IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION Opinion.................................................................................................Page 6 Sports..................................................................................................Page 9 Health & Wellness Directory...............................................................Page 10

Obituaries..........................................................................................Page 13 Classifieds ��Pages 16-17 Business Directory........................................................................Page 18

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Wednesday, January 26, 2022

New T.O. would allow for 14 more Harrison cops By Ron Leir For The Observer

s the pace of new development continues to explode in Harrison, bringing increased ratables with it, the town is taking steps to bolster public safety protection for all residents. And, as part of that process, it will restore the rank of uniformed fire chief which was eliminated following the retirement of Thomas Dolaghan and the creation of a part-time civilian fire director in August 2011. Mayor James A. Fife said: “There are more people in town now. The [national] Census shows that between 2010 and 2020, our population increased, from 13,000 to 19,000, which makes us the fastest-growing municipality, percentagewise, in Hudson County.” For that reason, the mayor

said, “we’ve got to have more police [because] there are more places to patrol” and, Fife added, because “we’re close to Newark,” which has unfortunaately experienced a jump in voilent crimes in recent years, according to the FBI Uniform Crime Report. “We’ve been getting slammed,” with some overflow of violent crimes near the Harrison PATH station, he said. There’s also a need for beefing up firefighting capability, according to town Fire Director Harold Stahl. “Our runs [fire vehicle responses] are up dramatically, both for actual fires and for medical calls, since the ambulance service contracted by the town falls under our department and all of our firefighters are EMTcertified,” Stahl said. Calls for Fire Department assistance have risen “steadily as the town’s population has been going

HAPPENING IN HARRISON up,” Stahl said, ranging from people stuck in elevators or a fire on a stove to accidents at development sites, including an incident in October 2018 involving a worker who fell four stories at a Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard residential high-rise under construction. To increase the number of municipal police and fire personnel, the town must amend the “table of organization” (T.O.) set by ordinance for the police and fire departments, respectively. For a number of years, Harrison was locked into strictly enforced personnel limits imposed by the state Division of Local Finance to rein in what the state viewed as the town’s shaky fiscal management, but those

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restraints were lifted in 2016, along with a state monitor who had to approve major expenditures by Harrison. Last week, the town governing body introduced two ordinances that would upgrade the T.O. for each department. One would allow the town to hire up to 44 rank-andfile police officers, up from the current T.O. limit of 30; the other would raise the maximum hires of rank-andfile firefighters, from 20 to 28, and of fire captains, from eight to 12 fire captains. Right now, the Police Department has a full complement of 30 police officers while the Fire Department has 19 firefighters and 12 fire captains. The revised T.O.s would continue to allow one police chief, up to seven lieutenants and seven sergeants and a maximum of four battalion fire chiefs. The fire T.O. ordinance would do away with the rank of deputy fire chief and reinstate the rank of fire chief. Currently, Henry Richard is the only deputy chief and, according to Stahl, “It is my wish that he be the chief of the department.” Town Attorney Paul Zarbetski said: “The town intends to keep both a

civilian director and a uniformed chief.” Stahl would continue to oversee policy decisions for a 45-member department while the chief would concentrate on day-to-day operations. With the additional personnel, the Fire Department would have the capability of running with two ladder trucks and a pumper on all four tours, Zarbetski said. On the police side, Chief David Strumolo said the extra bodies, which will boost the total force to 51, will give him the flexibility to “put all the new hires on the street.” With 15 retirements in the last three years, and a few more anticipated shortly, the department’s average age is now close to 30, he said, down from 50 previously. In the next few years, Strumolo hopes to “beef up a visible anti-crime unit and detective bureau” and, if he can swing it, reinstitute specialized squads. If the ordinances pass a public hearing Feb. 15, Zarbetski said the town plans to put on six new cops this year, five more in 2023 and an additional four in 2024. New firefighter hirings and captain promotions are also anticipated this year.

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Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Opinion & Viewpoints EDITORIAL

Pronti’s words need to be heeded: More need to speak up!

he tragic loss of Baby Giovanna has remained on my mind for days on end. She was 2 months old when she was allegedly killed at the hands of her father at a home on Schuyler Avenue in North Arlington. I won’t repeat this man’s name because just the sight of it is sickening. I’ve tried to get this loss of the brain, but it has been next to impossible. It’s caused me to wonder just what he did to his own daughter inside that house in the weeks leading up to her death. It’s caused me to wonder how the mother sat by, idly, and apparently did nothing to stop whatever it was. It’s caused me to feel anger, sadness, rage. And I suspect I am hardly alone with these feelings that just won’t go away. But then I recall the admonition of North Arlington Mayor Daniel H. Pronti, his words which serve as a stark reminder that it is possible — not definite, nonetheless — that perhaps if someone heard or saw something happening to Giovanna and had spoken up, she could still be with us now. Said Pronti, a retired Montclair police sergeant: “By now, most of our residents should be hearing this very troubling news involving the loss of life of a baby, at the hands of her parents. Our police department has been investigating this horrible series of events for several weeks, which involves a family, who had been renting an apartment along Schuyler Avenue. “Whenever something like this occurs in our tight-knit borough, it impacts everyone, whether they were longtime residents or a family simply renting for a short time in-between their next destination. I implore us all to look out for one another. “Report any and all suspicious activity. If you suspect child abuse, let someone know. You can make these reports by ways of anonymity. You could save a life. “We have been seeing domestic acts of violence far too often across the country. Let’s do our part to help. Remember, we are a community and we are all in this together. Let’s all make a difference. Say a prayer for the soul of that defenseless infant, Baby Giovanna, who lost her life. May God bless us all.” Pronti’s words say all that needs to be said. So we’ll leave it here, only to echo that though it may seem elementary, seeing or hearing something demands we say something. There are no exceptions to this notion. May the beautiful soul of Baby Giovanna rest in God’s eternal embrace, both now and forever. — CANESSA

Dolan: Donate $5 (or more) to (Len Twist)ed Cats to honor Betty White To the Editor: The Star-Ledger article, “What is the #Betty White Challenge?” was informative to those of us who admired this lovely lady. If one would like to honor her due to her love of animals, they suggest sending $5 to a local animal rescue or shelter. I am suggesting, to Kearny

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR and the nearby communities that benefit from Lenny Twist’s T.N.R. program, a donation to his organization. Lenny not only feeds feral cats, but he takes them to be

neutered to cut down their populating. Send $5 (or more) in Betty White’s honor to Twisted Cats, Inc., P.O. Box 258, Kearny, N.J. 07032. This is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Make checks payable to Twisted Cats. Jo-Ann Dolan Kearny

Rose: Don’t prosecute petit crimes? Watch out for more serious offenses To the Editor: The tragedy of Michelle Go being pushed off of a subway platform to her death should remind us that every couple of days we read that someone was either pushed onto the tracks or an attempt was made to throw someone off of the platform. This begs the question, did any of these perpetrators pay their fares to enter the

subway? The derangement it takes to commit such an act leads me to conclude they didn’t. Logic would suggest that we need to reinstate the broken-windows law enforcement policy that might have prevented many of these crimes. When one is allowed to commit even a trivial offense such as evading paying a fare, it leads to the commission of bigger crimes, especially

among the mentally challenged. However, the progressives, who seem to be the tail wagging the dog will have none of that. Their goals of doing away with the police and closing federal prisons is the direct opposite of broken windows, and to attain their goals, they don’t care how many Michelle Gos have to be sacrificed. Armand Rose North Arlington

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Kearny man, 27, charged in Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol building By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com

ou know how they often warn kids that even if you delete something off the Internet, it’s never really gone for good? Such is the case for a West Hudson man the feds say willingly admitted to them he had live streamed the Jan. 6, 2021, riots on Capitol Hill, on his social media pages, only to delete the videos. The thing is, at least two, perhaps more, viewers had saved those videos and those viewers’ information led the FBI to this man. And now, that Kearny resident has been arrested and charged in connection with the riots, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced. Juliano Gross, 27, of Kearny, was taken into custody Jan. 18, the FBI said. According to Henry A. Mackey, FBI special agent in charge: On Jan. 7, 2021, a tipster submitted information online and anonymously to the FBI that a person using the screenname @julianospiano on TikTok steamed live videos of himself “unlawfully entering the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021.” The tipster also noted the videos had since been deleted. Nearly two weeks after, the same tipster provided the FBI with screenshots of a man, later determined to be Gross, inside the Capitol wearing a red baseball-style cap with a scarf. The same tipster later submitted images of Facebook and YouTube pages that were determined to belong to Gross. On Jan. 8, 2021, a second tipster told the FBI she, too, had seen the aforementioned TikTok videos of the same man inside the Capitol and provided authorities with screenshots of them. Neither of the two tipsters

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reportedly knew Gross personally. On Jan. 28, 2021, Mackey says he traveled from Washington, D.C., to Kearny, where he interviewed Gross, in person, for the first time. Gross, Mackey said, admitted he’d left Jersey for D.C. on Jan. 5, with his mother, and planned to live stream the riots “to raise money,” though he didn’t say for what. At first, he attended a rally for former President Donald J. Trump Sr., near the White House, and he then walked over to the Capital area to “film the events” of the day. He reportedly admitted to entering what turns out to be the Capitol Rotunda. Gross also reportedly told Mackey he raised about $200 from his TikTok video, but that the social media giant company later denied him the cash and banned his account. Weeks later, on Feb. 11, 2021, Gross and other law-enforcement agents spoke with Gross’s mother, who was only identified as “AR.” After the rally, Mackey says AR told him she didn’t move over to the Capitol with her son, but instead remained behind to warm up in their car. She says her son told her, “people started going crazy there.” Beyond that, Mackey says he later found the deleted TikTok videos, and in them, Gross reportedly shouted, “We are in the Capitol building! Power See RIOT, Page 18

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Wednesday, January 26, 2022

KPD: Car crash leads to drunken-driving arrest By Capt. Timothy Wagner Kearny Police Department

n Jan. 14 at 5:16 p.m., Officer Kevin Carvalho was dispatched to a car crash on Hickory Street where he learned a black Jaguar had rear-ended a grey Honda Civic. No injuries were reported from the crash. While speaking with Vanesa E. Guaman, 39, of Kearny, the driver of the Jaguar, Officer Carvalho observed signs of her impairment by alcohol. After further investigation and an Alcotest, Officer

Carvalho charged Guaman with DWI. She was later released to a responsible person. On Jan. 15 at 9:06 p.m., several officers were dispatched to a private home on a report of domestic violence incident in which a man was breaking up the house with a baseball bat. Officers learned a husband and wife had had a disagreement over his drinking of alcohol. This allegedly led to the 32-year-old husband destroying several items in the apartment with a wooden bat

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POLICE BEAT and then assaulting his wife with his hands. When the wife’s father intervened to try to pull the husband off of her, the husband allegedly struck the father in the face and broke the father’s necklace. Officers arrested the husband on two counts of criminal mischief, two counts of simple assault and weapon possession offenses. The defendant was later remanded to the county jail.

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On Monday, Jan. 17 at 7:15 p.m., Officer Matthew Knighton was on patrol near 996 Belleville Tpk. and observed a grey Honda CR-V driving eastbound in the oncoming lane of traffic. The driver of the Honda then performed a U-turn and pulled to the side of the road. Officer Knighton approached the driver to investigate her aberrant driving behavior. Zena K. Aluboudi, 22, of Newark, reported she was having trouble turning her steering wheel, which caused her to drive into the wrong lane. Unfortunately for Aluboudi, it was revealed she had an arrest warrant out for her for a prior trafficequipment violation charge. Officer Knighton took her into custody for the warrant, which had been issued in December by the Plainsboro Township Court. Plainsboro officials later scheduled a new court date for Aluboudi and she was released on her own recognizance. On Jan. 18 at 5:04 p.m., Officers John Donovan and Danny Maganinho and Sgt. Jay Ward were dispatched to a residential apartment for a report of domestic violence. The officers spoke to a cohabitating couple whom frequently find themselves in similar situations. The female, 50, was noticeably intoxicated and greeted officers by telling them she was COVID-19 positive. She alleged she had been asleep in bed when her gentleman friend wrapped his arms around her head causing her to bite him. The man, 48, said he had been lying in his bed when his lady friend came

in drunk and began hitting him. He reportedly put up his guard and blocked several punches before also being scratched and pinched on the arm. He also reported the woman tried to bite him. Officers observed that the man had arm injuries corroborating his account of the foray. They arrested the woman on a simple assault charge. She was later booked into the Hudson County Jail. On Jan. 19, at 3:45 a.m., officers of the Nutley Police Department dropped off Anthony L. Morales, 34, of Lodi, at KPD headquarters. Morales was wanted on a Kearny arrest warrant for a prior DWI/refusal-to-submitbreath-samples charge. The warrant carried $1,000 bail. Officer Josh Lopez processed Morales’s arrest. Morales was later released when an acquaintance posted his bail. On Nov. 25, 2021, at 2:54 a.m., Officers Bismark Karikari and Lawrence Latka, Sgt. Angelo Palagano and Lt. Jack Corbett Jr., responded to a report of a vehicle fire near Passaic and Johnston avenues. East Newark Officer Trama arrived on scene first and found an abandoned silver Ford Explorer on fire, several utility poles broken and a local power outage. Officers later spoke to a 22-year-old Wayne man who had driven to the East Newark Police Department to report the crash. The man reported he had earlier been driving his own car near Kearny and Quincy avenues when the silver Explorer came speeding up next to his car and he See KPD, Page 15

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

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Sports & Recreation

Kearny Rangers U-16 beat Akadema Prospects, 8-7, to win championship

espite seeing its 7-run lead whittled down by the end, the Kearny Rangers 16s still held off Akadema Prospects for an 8-7 victory Sunday, Jan. 24. Akadema Prospects scored 7 runs in the failed comeback on a single by Stocker in the sixth, a groundout by Luchinsky in the sixth, an error in the sixth, a single by Bower in the seventh and a single by Luchinsky in the seventh. Kearny Rangers 16s earned the victory despite allowing the Akadema Prospects to score four runs in the sixth inning. Akadema Prospects batters contributing to the big inning, including Stocker, Luchinsky and Trapasso all knocking in runs in the inning. Kearny Rangers 16s put up five runs

in the fifth inning. Bryan Diaz, Dylan Gnecco, Tim Schwerzler, Jaiden Malave and Joe Rocco each had RBIs in the frame.

Jonathan Hernandez earned the victory on the mound for the Rangers. The righthander surrendered seven runs on five hits over six and

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two-thirds innings, striking out two. Billy McChesney threw one-third of an inning in relief out of the bullpen, recording the last out to earn the save.

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Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Belleville celebrates Dr. King’s legacy & life with special flagraising ceremony

ayor Michael Melham led a ceremony at Town Hall last week to commemorate the birthday and honor the enduring legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Councilmen Vinny Cozzarelli and Thomas Graziano and Township Manager Anthony Iacono also participated as a special flag bearing Dr. King’s image was raised. Guest speakers the Rev. Dwayne McCain of the Little Zion Church and Darryl Jeffries, president of the Maplewood/Oranges chapter of the NAACP, spoke about Dr. King’s eternal message of hope and vision

of service to our neighbors. “It’s become a tradition to share some of Dr. King’s most beloved quotes on his birthday,” Melham said. “The one that I shared in honor of his birthday this year is as true today as it was when he said the words 55 years ago.” “We must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives, and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” — CANESSA

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Wednesday, January 26, 2022

The Observer | www.theobserver.com

W.H.A.T. Co. names Miller new president

he West Hudson Arts & Theater Company has announced founding President Jerry Ficeto will assume the newly created role of Founding President Emeritus for the West Hudson-based community theater effective immediately and BrandLeigh Miller will assume the organization’s presidency. In his new role, Ficeto will continue to work with the creative and technical teams, actively participate in outreach to the community and as serve in an advisory capacity to the W.H.A.T.’s Executive Board. The vacated role of Vice President will be named at a later date. Both Cecilia Lindenfelser and Linda Kraus D’Isa will remain in the respective roles of Executive Board Treasurer and Secretary. For the last 10 years under Ficeto’s direction, the W.H.A.T. says its mission has been to bring live theater to the West Hudson community

FIECTO

MILLER

“If W.H.A.T. never existed, our community would certainly survive, but I believe it would be a far greyer place, and our absence would surely be felt. W.H.A.T. has certainly already made a difference in the lives of so many in our community,” Ficeto said. “I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead W.H.A.T. into the next decade,” Miller said of her

through quality productions and theatrical education that enhances the community. Founded by Ficeto in 2010 with a small group of arts-minded citizens, business people and educators, W.H.A.T. has grown into an active organization in West Hudson, boasting dozens of theatrical performances and collaborations, community events and arts education programs.

appointment. “W.H.A.T. has filled a much-needed role in this community over the last 10 years, so when asked by Jerry — who has become a mentor and true friend — if I would be interested in carrying on his vision, my answer was an enthusiastic ‘yes.’” That goal will be to evolve the community theater’s identity, broaden its footprint in all the communities in West Hudson and expand and innovate within both programming and the W.H.A.T. arts education program.” Said Ficeto of Miller: “We believe Brandi has the vision and the talent to deliver our theater company to its next phase as we work toward expanding our footprint in the West Hudson community, be increasingly innovative and inclusive with our programming, and enhance our already successful Education Department. W.H.A.T. couldn’t be in better hands.” — CANESSA FULL RANGE OF FOOT CARE:

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Wednesday, January 26, 2022

AT COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES Several local scholars named to Lehigh Dean’s List Numerous local students at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, attained Dean’s List for the spring 2021 semester, including: Areesha Ahmed and Bridget Hall, of Nutley; Casey Dolan and Lauren Dougherty, of Bloomfield; and Sofia Ruiz, of Belleville. Dean’s List status is granted to students who earned a scholastic average of 3.6 or better while carrying at least 12 hours of regularly graded courses. Lyndhurst’s Kayla Friend on East Stroudsburg’s Dean’s List A total of 1,222 students, including Kayla Friend, of Lyndhurst, a communication sciences & disorders major, have been named to the Dean's List at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) for the fall 2021 semester. Students eligible for the Dean’s List are those who have attained a 3.5 quality-point average or better and are enrolled full-time. The letter grade “B” earns 3 quality points per credit, and the grade “A” earns 4 quality points per credit.

Nutley’s Melanie Bumpus gets all As at U. of Alabama Melanie Bumpus, of Nutley, was named to the University of Alabama’s Presidents List for fall semester 2021. A total of 11,979 students enrolled during the fall 2021 term at Alabama made the Dean's List with academic records of 3.5 or above (on a 4.0 scale), or the president's list with academic records of 4.0 (all As). Nutley’s Shane Sullivan on Emerson’s Dean’s List Shane Sullivan, of Nutley, is among students named to Emerson College’s Dean’s List for the fall 2021 semester. The requirement to make Dean’s List at the Boston school is a grade point average of 3.7 or higher for a semester. Sullivan is majoring in media arts production and is a junior. Nutley’s James Daidone on Missouri State’s Dean’s List James Daidone, of Nutley, made the Dean’s List at Missouri State University and was among more than 5,000 students named to the fall 2021 list. For undergraduate students, criteria include enrollment in at least 12

credit hours during the semester and at least a 3.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale). Belleville’s Cherylann Nicosia on Springfield College Dean’s List Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts, has named Cherylann Nicosia, of Belleville, to the Dean's List for the 2021 fall semester. Nicosia is a psychology major. The criteria for selection to the Dean's List: students must have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded coursework for the term, exclusive of "P" grades. The student must not have any incompletes or missing grades in the designated term. The student must have a minimum semester grade average of 3.5 for the term. Brandon Ramirez of Belleville on Castleton University Dean’s List Brandon Ramirez, of Belleville, was recently named to the Castleton University, Vermont, Dean’s List for the fall semester of 2021. To qualify for this academic honor, students must maintain full-time status and a semester grade point average of 3.5.

Numerous locals make U. of Delaware’s Dean’s List The following area students have been named to the University of Delaware Dean’s List for the fall 2021 semester: Emily Hewett, of Nutley; Austin Parmenter, of Belleville; Charles Ward, of Bloomfield; James Lennox of Bloomfield; Colette Mir, of Kearny; Katherine Contini, of Nutley; Faith Bartell, of Nutley; Mackenzie Kelly, of Lyndhurst; Emily Ostrowski, of Nutley; Alexandra Shapiro, of Lyndhurst; and Anamaria Mendes, of North Arlington. To make the list, a student must be enrolled full-time and earn a GPA of 3.5 or above (on a 4.0 scale) for the semester. Kearny’s Isabella Patino on Dean’s List at Connecticut College Isabella Patino, a senior at Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut, has been named to the Dean’s List for the 2021 fall semester, achieving Dean’s High Honors. Patino is a mathematics major.

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Wednesday, Januarty 26, 2022

Obituaries Michele Navickas Michele Navickas, 53, of North Arlington, died Jan. 6, 2022. Michele leaves behind a loving husband Abdellatif Baghdad, daughter Victoria Goncalves and three grandchildren Lucas Carr, Sienna Lynch and Kali Lynch. Michele was born and raised in Kearny by her mother Carol Navickas, deceased in 2013. Michele was predeceased by her aunts Gladys Bolger and Maureen Frank. Michele loved spending time with her grandchildren and her pet dog Fiona. Michele was employed for several years at Cappelluti’s Deli in Kearny. Memorial services will be private. Paul J. Kwiecien Paul J. Kwiecien died peacefully Saturday morning, Jan. 15, 2022 at his brother’s home surrounded by his family. He was 64. Born in Newark, Paul was raised in Harrison and had lived in Fair Lawn for the last 25 years. Paul earned his associate degree from Bergen Community College. He had worked as a truck parts salesman with P&A Autoparts of Hackensack for the last 11 years. Previously, he had worked in sales with Power Battery Co. of Paterson for 29 years. Paul had a strong passion for music. He enjoyed playing the guitar with family and friends and was an avid Beatles fan. Paul had an infectious personality. He deejayed at numerous events and parties over the years and was the resident DJ at Mt. Fuji. He was known to many as DJ Paul. Over the years Paul had emceed many conventions and autograph shows. He was a devoted New York Jets and Yankees fan. He enjoyed the Jersey Shore, golf and fluke

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fishing with his brother Mike. As a longtime friend of Bill W, Paul was a mentor and gave of himself to benefit others. He was a participant in the Matt Talbot Retreat Movement. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his grandson, Hudson. He was always very proud to be called Grandpa Paul. His love for his family and friends will always be remembered. Preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Ann Marie Kwiecien, Paul is survived by his life partner, Mary Ellen Dolan; his step children, Leah Aknay and Todd Aknay; a step-grandson, Hudson; his sister, Donna Murphy and her husband Kevin; his brother, Michael Kwiecien and his wife JoAnn; and his nieces and nephews, Meghan Murphy, Brian Murphy and wife, Emily, Joseph Kwiecien and Nicole Kakuta and husband Hiroaki. Relatives and friends are invited to call Sunday, Jan. 30, 2 to 6 p.m., at S.J. Priola Parsippany Funeral Service, 60 North Beverwyck Road, Lake Hiawatha (973-335-4700). The funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, Jan. 31, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Peter the Apostle R.C. Church, Parsippany. In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for memorial gifts to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www. stjude.org. Richard T. Barton Richard T. Barton, 84, died peacefully at his home in Kearny on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. The funeral will be from the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, on Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 9 a.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Cecilia Church, Kearny, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family at the funeral home on Tuesday, Jan. 25 from 4 to 8

p.m. Born in Newark, Mr. Barton was raised in Harrison before moving to Kearny in 1958. Richard was a gas serviceman for PSE&G. in Newark for 36 years before retiring in 1997. He was a past president of the former IBEW Local No. 2060 in Newark. He was a member of the Schuyler Tuna Fishing Club of Kearny and a member of the Ironbound Irish American Association in Newark. Richard was a 64 year member of the Third Degree of the Knights of Columbus Our Lady of Grace Council No. 402 in Harrison and a Fourth Degree member of the Monsignor G.H. Doane Assembly No. 0643 also in Harrison. In 1995, Richard received an commendation from Pope John Paul II and the United States Secret Service Agency as he was part of the team from PSE&G in Newark assisting with security during the Pope’s visit to New Jersey. Mr. Barton is survived by four children, Michelle Witiuk (John), Janice Morrison (Dennis), Richard C. Barton (Margaret) and Marybeth Iorio (Charles). He was the grandfather of Patrick (Brittney), Kyle, Casey, Jacqueline, Jessica, Richard W. and Sarah and the great-grandfather of Nolan and Colin. He was the brother of Nancy Tomosieski, Gerard Barton (Carol) And Mary Rice (Peter) and brother-in-law of Yvette Barton. He was predeceased by his wife, Janice E. Barton (nee McDonald) on Oct. 26, 2021, one daughter, Marianne Barton (six weeks of age), his parents, T. Harold and Annie (nee Graham) Barton, one brother John Barton and one brother-in-law John Tomosieski In memory of a man who most enjoyed time with his family, in lieu of flowers, please treat yourself and those you love in honor of him. Leta K. Confessore Leta K. Confessore (nee Henderson) died Jan. 2, 2022. She was 86. Visiting was at the Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home, Kearny. Graveside services

were in Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington. Leta was born in Fort Monroe, Virginia, to Hadley Henderson and Eliza Irving Henderson. As an infant, she lived on Long Island, New York, before settling in Harrison. Years later, while working at the Sun Chemical Corporation, she met her future husband, and love of her life, Ralph Confessore. He came to apply for a position as a chemist, he did not get the job, but the chemistry between them led to a long and happy

All obituaries must be submitted by email by 10 a.m., Mondays, to obituaries@ theobserver.com. Payment is due at submission. marriage of 59 years. Leta’s talents were many. She was a gourmet cook and a skilled baker, whose meatballs, cheesecakes and chocolate chip cookies were second to none. She was only a phone call away for a great recipe. Her gifted flare for writing was unleashed as she took classes at the Gotham Writers’ Workshop in New York City, and soon studied with a private writing coach. She nurtured animals, esSee OBITS, Page 14

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OBITS

Continued from Page 13

pecially cats, her entire life. Hadley, named for her father, led her through her transition, never leaving her side. Leta enjoyed being active with the Kearny School Board. She was past president of the Garfield School PTA, Kearny Band Parents and was active with the Champion Marching Unit at Kearny High School. She joined AA in 1983 and was a proud member of the Matt Talbot Retreat movement. She enjoyed the experience of travel to France, Italy, Greece, Scotland, Ireland, England, Aruba and Hawaii, just to name a few. Each trip enriched her life. Leta was pre-deceased by

her husband, Ralph Confessore. She leaves behind her daughters, Lisa ConfessoreMcGuire, Aleta and her husband Darrell Austin and Ruth Confessore; grandchildren Alexa Fantacone and her husband Jeffrey, Grant McGuire, Melanie McGuire and her fiancé Jay Roberto, Bobby McGuire, Spencer Austin; and her great-granddaughter Emilia Rue Fantacone. She gave her love and spent many joyous hours getting to know each one. A special note of thanks to the dedicated care-givers, especially Dorothy. In her memory and because of her love of animals, kindly consider a donation to Kearny’s trap, neuter and return non0profit, the Twisted Cats Inc., P.O. Box 298, Kearny, N.J. 07032.

Barbara N. Hoffman Barbara N. Hoffman, (nee Zeoli), 73, died Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, at her home in Kearny. Born in Belleville, Barbara was raised in Harrison before moving to Kearny over 60 years ago. She is survived by one daughter, Dawn Nisbet and her husband, James. Barbara was predeceased by her husband, Richard A. Hoffman, on April 26, 2021. A private graveside service took place in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Bloomfield on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.thielereid.com. Millicent DiMichele Millicent DiMichele died at home Jan. 20, 2022. She was 102. Millicent lived in North

Arlington and Newark before moving to Kearny 69 years ago. She and her late husband Amedeo owned and ran their family deli, Dave’s Deli, in Kearny. Graveside funeral service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 25, in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. Wife of the late Amedeo “Dave” DiMichele, she was the mother of Dave J. DiMichele (his wife Michele) and grandmother of Dave DiMichele, jr. (his wife Natalee) and Anthony DiMichele (his wife Joanna). Also surviving are her great-grandchildren Isabella, Julianna and Adrianna. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to St. Lucy Church in Newark. Fred P. Delli Santi Fred P. Delli Santi, of Millsboro, Delaware, formerly of

Wednesday, January 26, 2022 East Newark, died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. He was 85. The funeral will be conducted from the Mulligan Funeral Home 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison, on Thursday, Jan. 27, at 9:45 a.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Anthony’s Church, East Newark. His entombment will follow in Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum, North Arlington. Friends and relatives may visit on Wednesday, Jan. 26, from 4 to 8 p.m. If you would like to send a condolence message to his family, or to read his complete obituary, please visit www. mulliganfh.com. For those desiring, a contribution may be made to St. Anthony’s Church, 409 N. Second St., East Newark, N.J. 07029 or in care of the funeral home in loving memory of Fred.

Fight stress by volunteering in your community (StatePoint) New research suggests that Americans are volunteering to give back to

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and environmental justice efforts. “Volunteering can be as simple as picking up plastic at the beach or as involved as restoring a wetland. Every action makes a difference.” Interested volunteers may want to consider taking their efforts a step further by joining The KEEN Corps, the brand’s loyalty program and platform for helping others, which rewards participants for doing good deeds. Since its U.S. launch in September 2021, KEEN Corps has grown to over 18,000 members and counting. As of November 2021, over 10,000 volunteer hours have been logged by Corps members. Through the program, the more you volunteer, donate and shop, the more lives you affect, and the more points you earn. Plus, KEEN Corps volunteers receive limited edition gear, member pricing, and special access to all things KEEN. To learn more or to become a member, visit keenfootwear. com/keen-corps. “Our recent data confirms that many of us are exhausted and looking for ways to relieve stress and feel in control in these unpredictable times,” says Burbank. “Volunteering in our communities has the dual benefit of giving back and leaving us feeling more fulfilled, empowered and happy.”

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

The Observer | www.theobserver.com

District celebrating Kearny HS 100th anniversary on February 5

he Kearny Board of Education is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the construction and dedication of Kearny High School at its current location. The building’s original cornerstone notes the school’s construction began in 1921. A visit to the front entrance lobby provides access to the original dedication plaque which notes the building’s dedication in 1922. The first high school in Kearny, PS No. 4, was built on Kearny Avenue in 1894 and was renamed the Clara Barton School when the new high school opened in its current location. The school’s stadium was completed in 1925, and the bricks from the original high school were used in building the walls surrounding the stadium. In 1940, an addition costing $400,000 was added and in 1974, another addition was completed at a cost of $5 million. This addition, now referred to as the South Building, provided new music and art classrooms, a new gymnasium, locker rooms, classrooms and garage parking. The school is divided by a plaza that connects the North and South buildings. In 2017, through funding by the FAA and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the board and contractors completed a $44 million addition and renovation to the high school, bringing the campus into the 21st century. A new HVAC system, WiFi, upgraded lighting and intercom system, along with the addition of 19 new classrooms that include a state of the art culinary facility, broadcast studio, dance studio and expanded cafeteria were added. The public is invited to join the district in celebrating 100 years of educating Kearny students on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Student performances and exhibits will highlight Saturday’s celebration. — CANESSA

KPD

Continued from Page 8 exchanged unpleasantries with its driver. A short distance away, the two drivers encountered each other again, leading to an argument, in which the Wayne man used his phone to record the Explorer driver threatening to kill him. The two allegedly had a brief physical altercation which ended with both drivers getting back into their vehicles. However, the Explorer driver allegedly then chased the Wayne man’s vehicle around town at high speeds until the Explorer eventually crashed into the utility poles on Passaic Avenue and its driver fled on foot. At 2:56 a.m. on the night of the crash, Officer Janitza Aquino was dispatched to a Kearny Avenue apartment for a report of a

vehicle theft. The officer was unable to locate the complainant until 3:13 a.m., when Simon S. Madramootoo, 30, of Kearny, opened the door. Madramootoo reported his father-in-law had asked him to check a low tire on his Ford Explorer and move it into the driveway at which time he was allegedly confronted by the Wayne man and an accomplice who assaulted him and carjacked the Explorer. Det. Jonathan Dowie took over the investigation. The detective secured several sources of digital and physical evidence which refuted Madramootoo’s version of events. On Jan. 19, 2022, Madramootoo turned himself in at police headquarters. Det. Dowie charged Madramootoo with terroristic threats, insurance fraud, false reports to law enforcement and driving with a suspended license. He was remanded to the Hudson County Jail.

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Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Observer Classifieds

The Obsever is not responsible for typographical errors. Error credits will not be granted. Minimal changes for multiple-week ads are $10 per instance. Refunds are not granted under any circumstances. Help-wanted ad deadline is 2 p.m., Monday, and all ads must be sent by email to classified@theobserver.com. All other classifieds are due by 3 p.m. Monday. All classifieds are pre-paid — no billing. Call 201-991-1600 to place an ad. The Observer cannot accept legal advertising.

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IMMEDIATE OPENINGS Stable and SAFE work environment and a chance to grow with a solid company •SKILLED CLIMBER & EXPERIENCED GROUND GUY •DRIVER West Milford or North Jersey area Experience & Transportation and a valid driver’s license a must Call 973-728-0842 31W12

GENERAL LABOR L& R Manufacturing at 57 John Hay Avenue and 577 Elm Street in Kearny is looking for individuals to help in our facility. Light assembly work and assisting wherever is needed. We offer 2 weeks paid vacation after 1 year, company contributed 401K plan, company paid life insurance plan, healthcare and a great working environment. MUST speak English. Please ﬁll out application at 57 John Hay Ave or 577 Elm Street, Kearny or call Irene at 201-991-5330 x212 for more information. 38W03

Lyndhurst entry level manufacturing position. $15 /40 hours, use of power tools & must lift cement bags Contact: Denotoemployment@ gmail.com 36W03

LOCAL DAYCARE LOOKING FOR FULL/PART TIME TEACHER AIDE. CALL 201-997-3569 FOR MORE INFORMATION 38W03

Collection System Supervisor Kearny Municipal Utilities Authority, Hudson County KMUA is seeking a Collection System Supervisor for the Authorities ﬁve pump stations, approximately 9 miles of gravity sewer, and 3 miles of force mains. Will report directly, and function under the supervision of the Executive Director. Assists with & perform daily operation, control, process changes, maintenance, repairs, inspections, reports, and recordkeeping. Ability to troubleshoot and identify operational failures. Oversees, trains, and works with the operational staff on operations, maintenance, collections systems, and other KMUA functions including jetting, vacuum cleaning, CCTV inspection, street sweeping, salting, and snow plowing. Assists with preparing work schedules and equipment maintenance protocols, coverage for emergency call outs, and personnel issues. Required to be on-call for emergencies 24 hours per day including weekends/holidays. Intermediate computer skills are required (MS Ofﬁce). Requires at least 4 years’ experience in pump station & collections operations and maintenance with 1 year of lead experience. High School diploma, NJDEP C-1 license, NJ state driver’s license, and NJ CDL Class B w/Tanker required. A full job description and employment application can be found at https://www.kearnynj.org/kmua-links-notices/ under Employment Opportunities. Salary range is requested. Resumes should be forwarded to jquinones@kmua.org with cc to gpaster@pasteresq.com no later than February 14, 2022. 36W03

LOOKING FOR A SALES EXECUTIVE TO JOIN OUR TEAM Responsibilities include servicing existing accounts, calling inactive accounts, generating new business and growing territories & building new leads. Background check. Send resumes with a cover letter of introduction to jobs@theobserver.com

EMPLOYMENT/ HELP WANTED

Call Mid-Realty today for information how you can become a real estate agent! You have an opportunity to enjoy an independent full or part time career in real estate in just a few short weeks. For almost 60 years Mid-Realty Inc, has been a successful real estate company serving New Jersey. Whether looking for a new career or curious as to how our office supports our agents, call today for a confidential interview to find out more about us. (201)991-5719 Email midrealty@gmail.com 38W09

Orthopedist’s practice in Kearny looking for full-time, temporary secretary between (6-8) months (M-F) 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Must be professional, responsible, friendly and motivated. Duties include, but are not limited to answering telephones, scheduling appointments, registration of patients, handling of medical records, faxing, etc. Spanish speaking a plus, BUT not mandatory. Please fax letter of interest with resume to (201) 998-9201 to Attn: Keith, Ofﬁce Mgr. Must show documented proof of full vaccination for COVID-19. Salary discussed upon contacting selected, qualiﬁed applicants. 38W03

Receptionist/ofﬁce assistant And Warehouse Workers needed Apply in person: 260 Schuyler Ave Kearny, NJ 07032 No soliciting calls or emails

33W06

Now Hiring! Cooks, FULL & PART TIME call 201-744-6709 36W03

Restaurant in North Arlington looking for a Full Time Chef/Cook with experience. Portuguese or Spanish speaking a plus. Salary based on experience. Call (908)499-8637 to set up interview 37W03

EMPLOYMENT/ HELP WANTED

THE OBSERVER is not responsible for typographical errors. Credit for errors will not be granted after the next week’s publication. $10 for minimal changes. No refunds once ad is taken and C.C charged. ALL CLASSIFIED ADS MUST BE PRE-PAID Deadline for Classiﬁeds Employment /Business Monday 12:00 PM All others Monday by 3:00 PM. E-mail Ads to classiﬁed@theobserver.com

SERVICES OFFERED

36W03

Help wanted for Busy Deli Full Time- Part Time Days and Evenings Apply in Person D&F Deli 396 Davis Ave, Kearny

EMPLOYMENT/ HELP WANTED

Ofﬁce furniture installers needed No experience necessary Please contact us at (201)803-5468 38W03

BENMAR PAYROLL AND ACCOUNTING Full PAYROLL Service • Tax Preparation & Compliance • Full Bookkeeping and Collections • Business Formation and Sales Tax • PAYROLL for Construction • Workers Comp Audit –State Audits Email: mmartes@benmarservices.com call 973-979-7957- Free Consultation Certiﬁed Public Accountant Firm 35W06

Caregiver services provided Monday- Friday 6 to 8 hours daily. Please call 973-391-3951 38W01

Certiﬁed aide seeks position to take care of the elderly. 5-7 days, Nights also. Live in/out. Excellent references. 201-407-1903 or 973-763-1438 38W03

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PUBLIC NOTICE

print & on the web!

Take notice that in accordance with N.J.S.A.39:4-56.6, application has been made to the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission, Trenton, New Jersey, to receive title papers authorizing the sale of a 2012 Freightliner Columbia 120, VIN 1FVXA7CG6CDBL5453, and a 2012 Freightliner Columbia 120, VIN 1FVXA7CG1CDBL5456. Objections, if any, should be immediately made in writing to the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission, Special Title Unit, P.O. Box. 017, Trenton, New Jersey, 08666-0017.

Call (201) 991-1600

38W03

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

The Observer | www.theobserver.com

Observer Classifieds

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

BELLEVILLE

KEARNY

N.ARLINGTON

BELLEVILLE 2ND Fl, Newly renovated. 2 BR Apt. HT/HW Included. 1 months security. No Pets/ Smoking. AVL.Now. Call Maria (973) 759-7077

KEARNY Arlington Section. 1 BR, H/W Floors. Walking distance to schools & Supermarket, all public transportation and NY bus. Avl. Now (201) 657-2119. 36W03

38W03

HARRISON HARRISON Newly renovated, spacious open concept Studio apt, in Harrison. 10 min walk to Path, no pets no smoking. $ 1,100 + 1.5 security. Utilities included, move in ready Feb.15 or sooner. Call (862)588-6381 36W03

HARRISON 1st floor apt. 3 BR, Modern Kitchen, central AC, Intercom, Basement storage, Hardwood + tile flooors, 10 min walk to Train station. No Pets. 1 1/2 months security. Available March 1st (973)432-3938 38W03

HARRISON 2nd floor. Newly renovated. 3 BR. 1 Bath. LR. EIK. CA/Heat. Coin operated laundry in basement. $1900 + 1.5 months security. Utilities separate. No Smoking. No Parking. Available February 1st (551)358-9353 38W03

KEARNY KEARNY 241 Kearny Avenue at Bergen Avenue 3rd floor Beautiful Sunlit Apartment: 2 BR, LR, DR, Eat-in Kitchen, Large Walk-in Closet, Hardwood Floors New Paint, Light Fixtures, and Appliances. $2,400/month. Heat & Hot Water Included. One month security. 609-6804806 38W03 KEARNY 5 modern rooms in the manor section. $1,800/mth plus 1.5 mth security (201)2806665 38W03

KEARNY Brand new 4 BR’s. $1950 + 1.5 months security. Utilities separate. Access to Yard. No Smoking/Pets. Available Now (201)772-9965 38W03

KEARNY Beautiful 1BR, Office, LR, EIK, walk-in closet/Pantry. $1,750 1.5 security. Heat/HW incl. no pets/smoking. Single/ couple preferred quiet home. 551-655-2492 37W03

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

Vinyl LP’s. 70’s/80’s Rock. Most LP’s in mint condition. Hundreds to choose from...No Garbage... Call Jim (973)6503627 37W03

NORTH ARLINGTON Studio apartment with Kitchen $1,200 + 1 months securtiy. Heat/HW supplied. Single or couple preferred. 1st floor in garden apartment complex. Laundry on site. Parking available. Close to trans and shopping. No Pets. Call between 10am-7pm only. Couple or single preferred (201)997-2341

38W03

LYNDHURST

LYNDHURST Newly Renovated. 1 BR, LR, Kitchen ,Granite tops, Dishwasher. stainless steel appliances. W/D. Central heating/AC. $1,450 + 1 month security. Close to NJ/NY Transportation. Avl. February 1st (973) 234-3323 36W03

THE OBSERVER is not responsible for typographical errors. Credit for errors will not be granted after the next week’s publication. $10 for minimal changes. No refunds once ad is taken and C.C charged. ALL A CLASSIFIED ADS MUST BE PRE-PAID Deadline for Classifieds Employment /Business Monday 12:00 PM All others Monday by 3:00 PM. E-mail Ads to classified@theobserver. com

N.NEWARK NORTH NEWARK 3rd floor. 2 bedroom, LR, Kitchen. Close to transportation. Utilities included. No Pets. Available Now. Call between Noon(973)202-5103 LYNDHURST Brand New 7pm 2 BR’s, single bath, LR, DR, 36W03 Large EIK, All rooms are spacious. Stainless Steel Appliances, W/D on prem- NORTH NEWARK Forest ises. $2500 + 1.5 months Hills area. 4 Bedrooms 2 security. Utilities separate. floors. Newly Renovated. No Pets/Smoking.Plenty No Pets/Smoking. Availof parking. Avl. February able Feb 1st. Section 8 1st (201)600-1211 36W03 OK. (973)752-6877 38W03

LANDSCAPING & DESIGN

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HOME IMPROVEMENT

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BUSINESS FOR SALE

Beauty salon all renovated 4 chairs. 2 facial rooms, great location kearny,NJ 50k (price for sale fast) since I am moving to other state. Call (917)530-4020 37W03

PAINTING & DECORATING

36W03

KEARNY 1 BR. Apt. Bldg. Arlington Sect. Newly Renovated. Laundry on Premises. HT/HW included. Near Transportation. No pets. $1200 + 1.5 months security. (201) 998-4972 Available Now

ITEM FOR SALE

NUTLEY

NUTLEY 1 bedroom – 640 Franklin Avenue – Walking distance to shopping, public transportation to NYC, heat and hot water included $1,500.00 per month and 1 ½ month security – No Pets – If interested, please call (973)699-3146 37W03

ROOM FOR RENT

Kevin’s Affordable Painting * Plastering * Sheetrocking * Carpentry and more. Our service and prices will be the best. Our customers come first. Very neat and clean. Don’t miss out! Senior Discount. Fully insured (201) 565-6393 33W06

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

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ROOFING/SIDING

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PLUMBING & HEATING

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JOSEPH V. FERRIERO Plumbing & Heating Kitchen and bath remodeling. Carpentry. Hot Water Heaters. Fully Ins. Lic# 165

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CLEANING SERVICES

(201)637-1775 38W06

CHAMPION CLEANING I use my own supplies. Good rates and great references! Call Susan at (973)743-2039

SNOW REMOVAL HARRISON

HARRISON 1 room for rent. $500 + 1 month security, everything included cable & internet. (973) 525- 3860 38W03

FENIELLO CONTRACTING LLC.

RESIDENTIAL Snow Removal Call Will McGuire (201)955-2520 37W03

35W04

Roofing & Siding Free Estimates 201-780-7419 qualitygroupnj.com

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PAYLESS ROOFING

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The Observer | www.theobserver.com

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

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Photo by Contributed photo

A screenshot of Gross’s Caption commences here. own Try your best to keep the caption to three lines, but TikTok video, reportedly shot it is OK to expand it longer if the photo requires it. Sometimes, it helps to tell a in Washington, D.C., led story better when it’s a bitthe longer. FBI to determine his identity.

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Continued from Page 7 back to America! We are in the Capitol building! The Capitol has been overthrown.” In another video, Mackey says he could distinctly hear Gross shout from the floor of the U.S. Senate Chamber, “Open the door” twice. In another Senate-Chamber video, Gross could be seen screaming, “Our Capitol! Our Capitol! We take back our country today!” Later, whilst on the Senate floor, Mackey says Gross could be heard saying he was ready to leave because “the National guard has been mobilized.” Mackey also says Gross could be seen in other videos on the West Terrace of the Senate chambers, on in-house CCTV of the Rotunda, walking through the Rotunda, walking

in the East Corridor toward Senate Chambers and then entering the Senate gallery. Based on this and much more evidence, Mackey says he charged Gross with knowingly entering a restricted building — a building where the U.S. Secret Service protects the president and other officials — without lawful authority with the intent to disrupt the orderly carrying out of government business, and with using loud and abusive language on the Capitol grounds with the intent to disrupt Congress, disorderly conduct and defiant trespassing. A warrant for Gross’s arrest was issued Jan. 11, 2022 and he was taken into federal custody Jan. 18. It is not immediately clear whether Gross was remanded to a federal facility or released, either on his own recognizance or bail. Attempts to contact Gross for comment were unsuccessful.

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Wednesday, January 26, 2022

CHAPLAINS

Continued from Page 3 of establishing a (religious) gift shop here at the parish,” Mancini said, “and I was giving Fred a tour of the church and I showed him the granite tablet there honoring Father Washington.” Moshey happened to mention his visit to St. Stephen’s and the connection to the Four Chaplains to a Canadian sculptor colleague Timothy P. Schmalz who expressed his desire to memorialize the quartet with a 12-foot-tall, 2,000 pound bronze monument. And, as the number of World War II-era veterans continues to come to an end, Mancini said the monument serves “to keep the story of the Four Chaplains going” and to reinforce the message of the chaplains’ “bravery, courage and sacrifice, which kids today especially need to hear.” “Today,” Mancini said, “there’s a lot of emphasis on ‘I’ – we have the I-Pod, I-Pad, I-Max – there’s no sense of ‘you’ or ‘us.’ We read about multi-million dollar sports celebrity heroes. But we need genuine heroes who embody truth. And I know of no better example than this excerpt from the Gospel of St. John: ‘Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends.’” Beautifying the monument Now, nearly a decade after the monument made its debut, the parish is set to re-dedicate it Sunday, Feb. 6, after the noon Mass (the annual Father Washington Mass) after Kearny Boy Scout Joe Drefko refurbished it as his Eagle Scout project. The community is invited to attend the Mass. Drefko, a St. Stephen’s parishioner, says he noticed the monument was starting to deteriorate, so it was a relatively easy decision for him to refurbish it as his project. “When I began to think about my Eagle Project, the Four Chaplains Monument on the front lawn of St. Stephen’s Church came to mind,” Drefko said. “I decid-

The Observer | www.theobserver.com ed to come up with a plan to refurbish the monument because it was not in good condition and I felt the need to do something to change that out of respect for the four chaplains. “There was damage to the statue itself from weather and time, cracks in the base and overgrown shrubs. There wasn’t a place for people to sit and think about the sacrifice the four chaplains made. The monument, which was installed in the place it stands now back in 2013, depicts an important piece of our church history and I really wanted to make it beautiful again and make improvements to the area. Drefko says he and his cohorts spent nearly 420 hours working on the monument and it resulted in something new and exciting for visitors. “My plan included restoring the statue, repairing the base and removing the overgrown hedges and shrubs in the area. I laid a brick path leading up to the monument, planted new shrubs, placed a plaque with the story of the four chaplains on the base and installed a bench.” In all, Drefko says he knows how important teamwork is after an undertaking like this. “I’m very grateful to the many parishioners, Scouts and friends who helped with the work and supported my Eagle project” he said. “I could not have done it without them.” Editor’s note: If you’d like to learn more about the Four Chaplains, there’s a tremendous documentary from 2004 called “Sacrifice at Sea: Heroic Story of the Four Chaplains and The SS Dorchester.” You may view it on Amazon Prime Video for $1.99 as a rental or $4.99 as a purchase. It’s ironically 43 minutes in length and is an absolute treasure trove. Though no one from St. Stephen’s appears in the documentary, the parish is thanked in its closing credits. This story originally appeared in The Observer in 2012 and has been updated.

The Four Chaplains monument, at St. Stephen’s Church, Kearny, deteriorated quite a bit over the last nine years, so Boy Scout Joseph Drefko’s Eagle Scout project was to restore it to how it looked originally — and he more than succeeded at that. (See what it looked like before he started the restoration at www.theobserver.com.) The parish plans to re-dedicate the monument Sunday, Feb. 5, following the noon Mass, weather permitting, and the public is invited to attend the Mass & re-dedication.

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Wednesday, January 26, 2022

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