Wednesday, July 8, 2026 n www.TheObserver.com n Volume CXXXIX, Issue No. 9
UNDER THE COVER
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KPD: Woman who had stolen plates on car also had illicit drugs on her Page 3
ACADEMY COMPLETE
BELLEVILLE n BLOOMFIELD n EAST NEWARK n HARRISON n KEARNY n LYNDHURST n NORTH ARLINGTON n NUTLEY
Nutley’s junior cadets spend week learning ins and outs of being a cop By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
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he Nutley Police Department welcomed more than 60 students in fifth- through eighth-grade to its 13th-annual Junior Police Academy at Spring Garden School. Led by Lt. Michael Padilla, the free week-long program gave participants hands-on experience in police fundamentals, including marching, defensive tactics and crime-scene processing. Students also had the opportunity to work alongside the Nutley Fire Department and EMS Squad, and they took part in a special trip to American Dream Mall. At the graduation ceremony, Public Safety Director Commissioner Alphonse Petracco praised the department, along with Chief Thomas Strumolo, Deputy Chief Gerald Green, Padilla, Sgt. Paul
Carnicella, and the officers who helped make the program possible. He also thanked the Nutley Fire Department, American Dream Mall, and the parents for their support. “I want to thank the Nutley Police Department because they go above and beyond with this program,” Petracco said. “Nutley is a family-oriented town, and we really care about each other. The Junior Police program is an example of this. Take this experience and remember to continue to make Nutley the great town that it’s always been because the future is in your hands. Don’t let this end today. Pay it forward and keep this going on. I want to congratulate all of you and I hope you enjoyed the experience.” Padilla, who founded the program, continues to be impressed with the response of the attendees.
See ACADEMY, Page 14
Area hit hard by 4th of July week storms & temperatures By Kevin A. Canessa Jr.
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kc@theobserver.com
ell, that sure was a Fourth of July week to remember locally. From sweltering heat to numerous power outages, there
were few who were spared the wrath of Mother Nature as the nation celebrated its 250th birthday. Temperature-wise, the mercury climbed to 106º Fahrenheit July 2 at around 4:15 p.m., in Harrison, the Harrison Weather Center’s Founder and Di-
rector Tony Mondaro, who you can see every Tuesday delivering the weather at 1:30 p.m., on The Observer Live, said. That was 1-degree short of the record for that day — 107º F, achieved July 22, 2011. During the actual weekend, the highest temperature was recorded Saturday,
July 4 at 99º F. Mondaro says he was expecting potential flooding from July 5 through July 7. “Hats off to Kearny Mayor Carol
See 4TH, Page 11
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