No fine for demolition of 1700s-era house

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The individual who purchased a Bloomfield residence dating back to the early 1700s, and then demolished it without the necessary permits, will not have to pay a fine to the township for his actions, according to an attorney for the home owner. In a recent telephone interview, Charles Auffant, the attorney for Cesar […]

Some voice concerns at reorganizational meeting

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The Bloomfield Township Council held its reorganizational meeting on Monday evening. Without any new or incumbent members being sworn in, there was no pomp — or state and Essex County elected officials on hand with platitudes. But the proceedings did attract a sizable audience due to criticism that 1st Ward Councilman Elias Chalet […]

Artist featured at Women’s Club luncheon

GLEN RIDGE, NJ — Montclair-based, Indian artist Ela Shah was the guest speaker this past Tuesday at the Women’s Club of Glen Ridge. Shah’s work encompasses a whole range of media, which she exhibited for her presentation, through video projections, sculptures, paintings, animation and live-action movies. Shah was born in Bombay and began painting at an […]

Chalet returns to Town Hall amid protesters

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — First Ward Councilman Elias Chalet made a dramatic return to his Town Hall council chamber seat on Monday evening, stunning a group of 40 Bloomfield residents who were grouped in the building’s lobby, protesting against his remaining on the council. Chalet was arrested on Nov. 16 for alleged bribery in official and political […]

Altercation in parking lot after reorganization

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — An alleged altercation between Councilman Joseph Lopez and Daniel Chalet, a nephew of Councilman Elias Chalet, occurred in the Municipal Building parking lot Monday night, Jan. 4, according to a Bloomfield Police Department report. It followed the Bloomfield Council Reorganizational meeting during which Lopez asked for Chalet’s resignation from the council. Lopez had […]

GR library BCCLS gives residents variety

GLEN RIDGE, NJ — Seventy-seven public libraries throughout Essex, Hudson, Bergen and Passaic counties comprise the Bergen County Cooperative Library System. What this permits is the opportunity for a library cardholder from any one of these libraries, usually the person’s hometown library, to select from a collection of more than 5.8 million books, DVDs, CDs — […]

Bloomfield gets environmental award for contested land

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Bloomfield has been named the recipient of the 2015 Governor’s Environmental Award for its land conservation effort of the Third River wetland tract on Lion Gate Drive. The township was cited for its “Third River Urban Park and Floodplain Wetlands Creation Project” which proposes to combine a public park and flood water controls, […]

Bloomfield man charged with murder

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A Bloomfield man has been charged with the strangulation death of a Rahway woman, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office announced Wednesday, Dec. 16. According to authorities, Roberto Grillo, 36, is alleged to have murdered Yolanda Vega, 35, in her Beacon Street home. Rahway police responded to the scene Monday, Dec. 7 and […]

Bloomfield PD gives gifts to local childrenc

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The Bloomfield Police Department held its annual holiday gift-giving event for local children and their families on Monday evening, Dec. 21. But before the sacks of present were distributed — and there were literally sacks — Lt. George Ricci, Youth Aid Division commander, had some advice for his corp of volunteers. These helpers […]

Charges filed in fatal car crash

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Charges have been filed against a Belleville girl, 17, who was the driver in a single-car crash on Aug. 2, which killed Natasha Bellott, a Bloomfield resident returning from an “American Idol” audition at Temple University. The charges were filed in Bucks County Juvenile Court, by the Office of the Bucks County District […]