Wednesday, May 13, 2026 n www.TheObserver.com n Volume CXXXIX, Issue No. 1 w
UNDER THE COVER Hudson County Executive Craig Guy honors senior citizens from Kearny & Harrison Page 3
BELLEVILLE n BLOOMFIELD n EAST NEWARK n HARRISON n KEARNY n LYNDHURST n NORTH ARLINGTON n NUTLEY
Gov. visits Belleville fire scene with Melham; damages will be in the multi-millions By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
G
ov. Mikie Sherrill visited Belleville Thursday, May 7, to survey the damage wrought by the 14-alarm fire that reduced a city block to rubble and ash. What she found was a community banded together in the face of what one of the largest fires in recent memory. The governor was joined my Mayor Michael A. Melham, members of the Township Council and many others who were a part of fighting the awful blaze. A somber mood and the acrid odor of smoldering debris filled the air as Sherrill comforted Belleville’s first responders who were still weary from battling the blaze and she spoke to heartbroken entrepreneurs who watched their businesses go up in flames. Stepping over puddles left behind by fire hoses, Melham led Sherrill on a brief tour of this industrial section-turnedburnt-out block. As she looked at the charred
husk of the building at 357 Cortland Ave. — the last structure standing, and barely at that — Melham told her of the heroic efforts of the 70-member Belleville Fire Department and other township first responders who reacted quickly to save lives and property. They were joined by firefighters and first responders from 50 municipalities. On the east side of the building, the brick exterior had crumbled in several sections, revealing a tangle of twisted metal and dangling wiring. Sherrill seemed to struggle to find the right words to describe the devastation. “It’s just … I mean .. you just look at it — it’s a horrible, horrible fire that took place,” she said. “To see that nobody was hurt and to have the men and women who were working around the clock to make sure that happened, it just shows you once again, which I keep point-
See SHERRILL, Page 11
MEMORIAL DAY 2026 GMC Canyon Elevation
Photos by Michael A. Melham & Sherrill’s office
A look at Cortlandt Street May 7, 2026, as crews had begun demolishing buildings. At the time, the smoke was still exceptionally strong and challenging to breathe in. INSETS: Sherrill joins Melham for a tour around Cortlandt Street.
WE REMEMBER, WE HONOR 2026 GMC Sierra Elevation 3VL
4WD Crew Cab
4WD, Crew Cab, Short Bed
Lease for:
Lease for:
$394/36
$519/36
325 Orient Way Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
Lease Loyalty customers Lease for: $419/36mos
www.FranksGMC.com
Stock#11118, vin# TG177452, MSRP $56,490, 4 Cyl. turbomax, auto trans., 4WD, Lease Price includes $5476 down with $5995 due at signing. Total payments Stock # 11094, Vin T1215614, MSRP $48,640. 2.7L Turbo, Automatic. Convenience Pkg, . LEASE Price incl. $5601 $18,684, residual $37,283. Lease includes 10,000 mi./yr. and $.25/mi afterwards. down with $5995 due at signing. Total payments $14,184, residual $33,562. Lease is thru GM Financial to qualified Lease price includes $1750 Factory rebate / Lease Loyalty customer get additional buyers. 10,000 mi/year with $.25/mi. thereafter. Dealer doc fee included. $3250: requires a Buick/GMC lease in the household. Dealer doc fee included. $695 acquisition fee WAIVED. Lease is thru GM Financial to qualified buyers. Price includes all costs to be paid by consumer except licensing costs, registration fees and taxes. Expires 6/1/26
201-939-7708 hablamos espanol