Wednesday, June 10, 2026 n www.TheObserver.com n Volume CXXXIX, Issue No. 5 w
SENIOR PICNIC POSTPONED Because of predicted inclement weather, Kearny’s annual senior citizen picnic has been postponed to Wednesday, June 17.
BELLEVILLE n BLOOMFIELD n EAST NEWARK n HARRISON n KEARNY n LYNDHURST n NORTH ARLINGTON n NUTLEY
••• ••• ••• Also be sure to see our soccer advertising supplement on page 5
North Arlington has summer of fun in the making By Kevin A. Canessa Jr.
I
kc@theobserver.com
f you’re looking for summer fun, North Arlington has you covered — and then some. Mayor Daniel H. Pronti and the Borough Council have announced a full slate of community events running through September, giving residents of all ages plenty of reasons to get outside, connect with neighbors and celebrate their community. “This summer, North Arlington is once again the place to be,” Pronti said. “We’ve put together something for everyone — from live concerts in the park to familysafety events to the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July, as we mark our nation’s 250th anniversary. This is what small-town community is all about, and I can’t wait to see
everyone out there.” Mark your calendars: Saturdays, June 13 & 27, July 11 & 25, Aug. 8 & 22 — Oldies in the Park Head to Daniel Morris Park on River Road from 9:30 a.m. to noon for the Oldies in the Park series — a perfect way to toe-tap through your Saturday morning. The series features Tom Catucci, a North Arlington native, and his entertainer friends. Saturday, June 20 — Paper Shredding Day Safely dispose of sensitive documents at the Borough Hall parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The program is free and open as an exclusive service to North Arlington residents. Saturday, July 4 — Declaration of Independence Reading Join neighbors on the Borough Hall lawn at noon for the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence —
a North Arlington tradition. Weekdays, July 6 through Aug. 14 — Youth Summer Program Registration remains open
for the 2026 Youth Summer Program. The six-week program begins the week of July 6 at Allan Park, 93-96 Schuyler Ave., and is open to
By Brad Mcmayer
I Photo by Lisa Feorenzo
See SUMMER, Page 14
Harrison native records song for upcoming Cup
Law Enforcement Torch Run heads south
The annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics made its way down Ridge Road from Lyndhurst to Harrison. Members of the Kearny Police Department and students from Lincoln Middle School took part, including Sgt. Mike Andrews, Det. Anthony Oliveira, Officer Mina Ekladious & Sgt. Mat Lopez
children entering grades K–4. Hours are Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Special to The Observer
n 1994, the United States hosted a tournament that would change the trajectory of soccer in America forever. It was a moment that declared to the world: Soccer isn’t coming to America — it’s already here. Thirty-two years later, the FIFA World Cup is returning to the USA, bringing that same electric energy to a
new generation. For many, this is a full-circle moment. Among the young stars captured in the iconic adidas commercials that defined the 1994 era was a 17-year-old Brad Macmayer. A standout soccer talent from the playgrounds and streets of Harrison, Macmayer honed his skills as a student-athlete at Harrison
See SONG, Page 4