Councilman Chalet headed to trial for bribery

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Indicted Bloomfield Councilman Elias Chalet has chosen a jury trial and possibly 10 years of imprisonment instead of accepting a plea deal for a possible four year-sentence. Chalet made his decision public Wednesday, March 1, in Newark Superior Court, before Judge Martin Cronin. Cronin said if convicted by a jury, sentencing would be […]

Guilty plea in cruelty-to-animals hearing

Former Bloomfield Animal Control Officer Vincent Ascolese pleaded guilty to three counts of disorderly conduct in Bloomfield Municipal Court on Thursday, March 9. Ascolese faced multiple NJ Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals charges stemming from his euthanizing an injured fawn on June 29, 2015, by cutting the animal’s throat, and for the […]

BPD earns a certificate of excellencec

BPD earns a certificate of excellencec

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Bloomfield Police Department has been accredited by the NJ State Association of Chief of Police. According to BPD Director Sam DeMaio, the department applied for accreditation two years ago and learned in late October 2016 it had earn accreditation. At the most recent township council meeting, Monday, Feb. 27, Harry Delgato, of the […]

Cruelty to Animals trial starting this week

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — In papers filed March 1, Bloomfield Prosecutor John Cerza urges Municipal Judge John Paparazzo not to dismiss charges against former Animal Control Officer Vincent Ascolese, and let the case proceed to court. Ascolese’s trial is scheduled for today, Thursday, March 9, in Bloomfield Municipal Court, at 9 a.m. Ascolese has been charged by […]

Suburban Essex Chamber of Commerce celebrates 100 years

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A proclamation commemorating the centennial of the Suburban Essex Chamber of Commerce was read at the Bloomfield Township council meeting on Monday, Feb. 27. The reading, by 2nd Ward Councilman Nicholas Joanow, noted that the organization was established as the Bloomfield Board of Trade in April 1898 and incorporated March 27, 1917. Six […]

Local filmmaker has a new short in a film festival

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A Bloomfield resident has had a short film of his accepted for admission to the 15th annual Garden State Film Festival, in Atlantic City. The film is by Brian Parks who wrote, directed and acts in “Narrow and Wide,” a 10-minute short. “I did it with a friend,” Parks said recently. “It is […]

Deer management program culls 89 animals from reservations

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County recently announced that 89 deer and 56 unborn deer were removed from South Mountain Reservation and Hilltop Reservation during the 2017 deer management program. The program, which was held on six days between Jan. 17 and Feb. 14, is geared toward revitalizing the forest ecology by reducing the number […]

DiVincenzo gives State of the County Address

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. presented his 14th annual State of the County Address on Monday, Feb. 27, in the Essex County Hospital Center in Cedar Grove. The multimedia presentation outlined county achievements and improvement projects completed in 2016, highlighted the services and programs offered by Essex County and announced […]

Chalet rejects plea bargain, trial set for May 16

A May 16 trial date has been scheduled for indicted Bloomfield Councilman Elias Chalet. Chalet had been offered a plea bargain of seven years in state prison, with three years of parole ineligibility. He rejected it. Chalet has been indicted for official misconduct, bribery, benefiting unlawfully from a public office, tampering with evidence and hindering […]