Speed Bump Kills North Jersey Sanitation Worker Riding On Truck, Police Say Speed Bump Kills North Jersey Sanitation Worker Riding On Truck, Police Say
Speed Bump Kills North Jersey Sanitation Worker Riding On Truck, Police Say A 74-year-old sanitation worker died after the truck he was riding on hit a speed bump and he fell off earlier this month in Scotch Plains, police announced. Ismael Oliva was riding on the rear platform of the truck when he fell off and hit is head on the 300 block of Henry Street around 9:30 a.m. Sept. 2, local police said. Good Samaritans had rushed outside to help the Plainfield sanitation worker when paramedics arrive. Oliva was rushed to Overlook Medical Center in Summit, where he was pronounced dead, police said. The crash remains under investigation.
Report: NJ Therapist Sued For Overcharging Central Jersey Schools Faces Criminal Trial Report: NJ Therapist Sued For Overcharging Central Jersey Schools Faces Criminal Trial
Report: NJ Therapist Sued For Overcharging Central Jersey Schools Faces Criminal Trial A New Jersey occupational therapist who faces a criminal trial for theft from Edison Township Public Schools is now accused of overcharging another school district in Middlesex County. Rebecca Dean, 42, of Somerset County was sued on April 26 by the East Brunswick School District, which alleges they overpaid her Union County business $200,000 for services they never received, according to NJ Advance Media. Edison, in its complaint, alleged that Dean billed its school district $75,000 for pediatric therapy she never provided, as reported here.  The East Brunswick suit, filed in Superio…
NJ Man, 21, Dies After Falling From Overpass Onto Garden State Parkway, Struck By SUV NJ Man, 21, Dies After Falling From Overpass Onto Garden State Parkway, Struck By SUV
NJ Man, 21, Dies After Falling From Overpass Onto Garden State Parkway, Struck By SUV A 21-year-old Union County man died when he fell from an overpass onto the Garden State Parkway and was struck by a car Thursday, authorities said. Joshua Goldberg, of Scotch Plains, was walking on the Oak Tree Road overpass in Woodbridge when he fell over, landing on the roadway near milepost 132.1 around 5:25 p.m., New Jersey State Police told NJ.com. Goldberg landed on a southbound SUV, the 45-year-old driver of which was able to pull over and remain at the scene,  NJSP Trooper Charles Marchan said. The SUV driver, of Parlin, suffered minor injuries while Goldberg died at the scene…
NJ Man Repays Officer For Lift Home By Hitting Him In Head With Hammer: Report NJ Man Repays Officer For Lift Home By Hitting Him In Head With Hammer: Report
NJ Man Repays Officer For Lift Home By Hitting Him In Head With Hammer: Report A 23-year-old North Jersey man who got a lift home from a police officer repaid him by hitting him in the head with a hammer, authorities said. Officers responded to a Plainfield Avenue business in Scotch Plains last Friday around 8 p.m., where Tyler J. Geissel was found acting unruly, NJ.com says citing local authorities. Geissel became combative after officers drove him to his Shawnee Path home, police said. There, Geissel grabbed a hammer and struck an officer on the left side of the head, authorities said. A pair of officers rushed over to help their colleague and arrest Geissel, the o…
Maria Midrano Of Clark, 47, Remembered As Devoted Mom, Loving Wife Maria Midrano Of Clark, 47, Remembered As Devoted Mom, Loving Wife
Maria Midrano Of Clark, 47, Remembered As Devoted Mom, Loving Wife Maria Midrano of Clark died on Feb. 16, 2021, surrounded by her family. She was 47 years old. Born in Plainfield and raised in Scotch Plains, Maria graduated from Seton Hall University with her Bachelor's in psychology, her obituary says. Her obituary remembers her as a devoted mom who enjoyed baking for her family, and was loved by all. Maria is survived by her husband, Ken Midrano; son Michael and Brandon; parents Pasquale and Concetta (Stramaglia) Agnone; her brothers and sister, Steve Agnone, Enzo Agone and Linda Piesco; along with a host of nieces, nephews and dear friends. Serv…
Two News Anchors From NJ Leaving NY1 As Part Of Gender Discrimination Suit Settlement Two News Anchors From NJ Leaving NY1 As Part Of Gender Discrimination Suit Settlement
Two News Anchors From NJ Leaving NY1 As Part Of Gender Discrimination Suit Settlement Two New Jersey news anchors are among five leaving NY1 after settling a gender discrimination suit alleging they were forced off the air and replaced by younger and less experienced hosts. Roma Torre of Montclair, Kristen Shaugnessy of Scotch Plains, along with Amanda Farinacci, Vivian Lee and Jeanine Ramirez filed the lawsuit against the station in June 2019. “After engaging in a lengthy dialogue with NY1, we believe it is in everyone’s interest — ours, NY1’s and our viewers’ — that this litigation be resolved, and we have mutually agreed to part ways,” the women said in a statement issue…
GOOD GRIEF: Only One Charlie Brown Steakhouse Remains In NJ GOOD GRIEF: Only One Charlie Brown Steakhouse Remains In NJ
Good Grief: Only One Charlie Brown Steakhouse Remains In NJ 2020 has been a miserable year for Charlie Brown restaurants in New Jersey. Spurred by the coronavirus pandemic, 13 Charlie Brown Fresh Grills have closed statewide this year. Only one restaurant remains, in Union County. Charlie Brown’s, a casual steakhouse chain that at one time enjoyed dozens of eateries across New Jersey and the East Coast, is now down to just one spot in Scotch Plains. At the start of 2020, there were 14 Charlie Brown’s restaurants in the Garden State. After Charlie Brown closed its Lakewood spot, the last one left is at 2376 North Ave. in Scotch Plains.  A company…
21 NJ Schools Named Among Best In America 21 NJ Schools Named Among Best In America
21 NJ Schools Named Among Best In America A study released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report names 21 New Jersey high schools among the nation’s best. 
Nearly 18,000 schools around the country were ranked based on measurements in categories including college readiness (30 percent), math and reading proficiency (20 percent), math and reading performance (20 percent), underserved student performance (10 percent), college curriculum breadth (10 percent) and graduation rate (10 percent). New Jersey’s top school for 2020 is the Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies, which ranked No. 33 nati…
ADOPT: Chihuahua Puppies Rescued From Illegal Mill Still Need Homes ADOPT: Chihuahua Puppies Rescued From Illegal Mill Still Need Homes
Adopt: Chihuahua Puppies Rescued From Illegal Mill Still Need Homes Several small dogs rescued from an illegal Scotch Plains puppy mill are in need of homes, Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge says. While dogs in a family of Pomperanians whose future adopters are waiting anxiously pending medical clearance, several Chihuahua puppies still need families, the Oakland-based rescue says. The gentle and shy puppies need a home prepared to give them care where they will feel safe and loved, RBARI said on Facebook. Adoption applications for the dogs, named after "The Office" cast, can be found here. Some of the dogs were named after "The Office" cast.RBARI
130 Animals Seized In Illegal Union County Puppy Mill 130 Animals Seized In Illegal Union County Puppy Mill
130 Animals Seized In Illegal Union County Puppy Mill More than 130 animals were seized from an illegal puppy mill run from a Scotch Plains home that authorities said was in deplorable condition. Authorities charged Dominick Ciabattari, 60, with 10 criminal offenses and four disorderly violations -- and said they expect to add more -- after recovering two dozen cats, 71 Chihuahuas, 18 Golden Retrievers, 17 Pomeranians and 3 Pekingese dogs, officials said. They ranged from newborn to fully-grown, Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Scotch Plains Police Chief Ted Conley said in a joint announcement Wednesday. "The preliminary i…
Ex-Hoboken Publishing Company Exec From Union County Busted By FBI Admits Embezzling $48M Ex-Hoboken Publishing Company Exec From Union County Busted By FBI Admits Embezzling $48M
Ex-Hoboken Publishing Company Exec From Union County Busted By FBI Admits Embezzling $48M Caught by the FBI, a former Hoboken publication company executive who lives in Scotch Plains struck a plea deal with the government, admitting in federal court in Newark that he embezzled $48 million. In exchange for consideration at his sentencing, Nestor Charriez, 60, pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court to defrauding Harrison Scott Publications by embezzling the money for his personal use. Harrison Scott produces newsletters about real estate, hedge funds, commercial mortgages and other business-related topics. Charriez worked as a controller for the company for several yea…
Scotch Plains Student Reportedly Posted Image Of Himself In Blackface Scotch Plains Student Reportedly Posted Image Of Himself In Blackface
Scotch Plains Student Reportedly Posted Image Of Himself In Blackface The superintendent of the Scotch Plains - Fanwood school district sent a letter to parents Monday to quell concerns about an alleged threat believed to have been made online by a student.  The high school student, according to multiple published reports, appeared in the social media post wearing blackface and standing before a Confederate flag, although an investigation never turned up evidence of an actual threat, Dr. Joan Mast said in her letter.  "On November 10th it came to the attention of the Scotch Plains Police Department that a controversial photo had been posted on socia…