US Attorney brings charges against 42 defendants in coordinated action

NEWARK, NJ — U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced criminal charges on Oct. 26 against 42 defendants related to racketeering, violence, narcotics distribution and federal firearms offenses. The charges stem from five separate investigations conducted by federal, state and local enforcement partners. “Keeping New Jersey safe and reducing violent crime are core to this office’s […]

South Orange Middle is first school in Essex to attain River-Friendly Certification

South Orange Middle is first school in Essex to attain River-Friendly Certification

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The South Orange–Maplewood School District announced Oct. 27 that South Orange Middle School received River-Friendly Certification through a partnership with Rahway River Watershed Association.  The River-Friendly School Program helps teachers, students and school leaders reduce water pollution while creating new teaching opportunities, enhancing wildlife habitats and establishing a healthier environment for […]

AG announces prison sentences for operators of drug-distribution network in Newark

AG announces prison sentences for operators of drug-distribution network in Newark

TRENTON, NJ — On Oct. 24, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced prison sentences for four men convicted in a narcotics trafficking ring that operated in a neighborhood near I-78 in Newark, where they sold drugs to motorists exiting the highway to make “drive-through” purchases of heroin. The illegal ring was dismantled as a result […]

Essex County honors two Italian Americans as Stars of Essex County

Essex County honors two Italian Americans as Stars of Essex County

NEWARK, NJ — Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. hosted the 2022 Essex County Italian American Heritage Month celebration on Friday, Oct. 21, in the Essex County Martin Luther King Jr. Justice Building in Newark. During the event, DiVincenzo recognized Ralph A. LaRossa, president and CEO of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc., and Kristen […]

Bloomfield erects monument to its fallen officers

Bloomfield erects monument to its fallen officers

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The Bloomfield Division of Public Safety dedicated a memorial on Friday, Oct. 21, for two Bloomfield police officers who died while on active duty, though more than a century apart.  Located in front of police headquarters on Municipal Plaza, the upright monument is inscribed with the names of Detective William Francis Mertz, […]

Maplewood mourns the death of Chief DeVaul

Maplewood mourns the death of Chief DeVaul

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood Police Chief Jimmy DeVaul, 53, died Oct. 21 at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest in Allentown, Pa. DeVaul will be remembered in Maplewood as a stabilizing force who became chief of the police department following an upheaval, a man who worked to improve the department’s culture and relationship with the community. DeVaul, […]

Generations clash in new Nutley Little Theatre show

Generations clash in new Nutley Little Theatre show

NUTLEY, NJ — “What makes great literature?” and “What makes great literature endure?” are two different questions, both of which will be addressed in Nutley Little Theatre’s upcoming production of “Third,” by Pulitzer Prize winner Wendy Wasserstein.  In “Third,” college professor Laurie Jameson encounters an unusual student in her class on “King Lear,” which leads […]