'Incredible Talent:' Spirited NJ Performer Eric Ubl Dies, 34 'Incredible Talent:' Spirited NJ Performer Eric Ubl Dies, 34
'Incredible Talent:' Spirited NJ Performer Eric Ubl Dies, 34 Tributes are pouring in for Kean University graduate and passionate New Jersey musician Eric James Ubl, who died at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton on Tuesday, June 13 at the age of 34. A lifelong performer at heart, Eric grew up in Edison, his obituary says. He learned to play several instruments — piano, cello, acoustic and bass guitar, drums, and various brass — but could just as easily captivate audiences with the unique quality of his voice. He  performed with groups including Pandora’s Promise, Midnight Mosaic, and Exit 10. Eric started taking music lessons when he …
Colombian Nationals Nabbed After NJ Home Break-In Nets Jewelry, Furs, Cash, More Colombian Nationals Nabbed After NJ Home Break-In Nets Jewelry, Furs, Cash, More
Colombian Nationals Nabbed After NJ Home Break-In Nets Jewelry, Furs, Cash, More Three Colombian nationals remain in federal custody and a fourth has already been deported after the government said they stole jewelry, a Rolex, an antique rifle, furs and cash in a home burglary in Union County. The quartet also took a stamp collection, luxury bags and more after breaking into the Cranford home shortly before 5 p.m. last Nov. 30, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. They then loaded the valuables into a red Honda Accord that they'd driven there, an FBI complaint on file in U.S. District Court in Newark says. Sellinger, who put the total value of the loss at more than …
Distraction Burglars Fool Montvale Resident, 87, But Joke's On Them, Chief Says Distraction Burglars Fool Montvale Resident, 87, But Joke's On Them, Chief Says
Distraction Burglars Fool Montvale Resident, 87, But Joke's On Them, Chief Says An 87-year-old Montvale homeowner was kept distracted by a burglar whose partner slipped in and swiped a lock box from the victim's home. The joke was on them, however: There weren't any valuables in it, authorities said. Dino Pizzo, 47, was arrested at his Edison home on Saturday, April 29, after Montvale Police Detective Sgt. Andrew Fedick identified him as the stealthy intruder, Police Chief Douglas McDowell said. Pizzo's partner went to the victim's home on a dead-end street on the east side of town shortly after 1:30 p.m. Thursday with a story about doing tree work and a question abou…
Boonton Police Captain Stole Personnel, IA Files From HQ, Stashed Them At Shore, In Edison: AG Boonton Police Captain Stole Personnel, IA Files From HQ, Stashed Them At Shore, In Edison: AG
Boonton Police Captain Stole Personnel, IA Files From HQ, Stashed Them At Shore, In Edison: AG A town of Boonton police veteran who claimed he’d been harassed because of his role as a union negotiator was captured on surveillance video stealing his own internal affairs records along with computer drives containing department data, state authorities charged. Capt. Stephen Jones, 42, of Toms River, was his department’s officer-in-charge when he removed at least five computer towers, “three of which contained police information, including files on internal affairs matters,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said on Wednesday, March 8. Jones also stole his own personnel and …
World Record Broken By NJ Man Who Dined At 18 Michelin-Starred Restaurants World Record Broken By NJ Man Who Dined At 18 Michelin-Starred Restaurants
World Record Broken By NJ Man Who Dined At 18 Michelin-Starred Restaurants A Garden State man who dined at a dozen and a half Michelin-starred restaurants in New York City has done it — he’s officially broken a Guinness World Record. Oh, did we mention that he did it in less than 24 hours? Yeah, that’s kind of a major detail. “My goal was to make every single meal a memorable one because I only had limited time left to eat there,” Edison native and current Morristown resident Eric Finkelstein, 34, told NJ.com. Finkelstein, a healthcare IT worker and obviously a major foodie, mapped out his meticulous itinerary on Oct. 26, 2022, to include Le Pavillon in Midt…
TAPPIN' IT: Manager Admits Embezzling $4.5M From NJ Brain Injury Fund For Sex With Gal Pals TAPPIN' IT: Manager Admits Embezzling $4.5M From NJ Brain Injury Fund For Sex With Gal Pals
Tappin' IT: Manager Admits Embezzling $4.5M From NJ Brain Injury Fund For Sex With Gal Pals The now-former manager of a fund for traumatic brain injury patients in New Jersey admitted diverting more than $4.5 million in public money to women he was having sex with, authorities said. Harry Pizutelli, 64, of Edison, pleaded guilty by videoconference to conspiring to commit health care fraud before a federal judge in Trenton, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced on Wednesday, Jan. 4. One of the women who benefitted from the scheme, Maritza Flores, 45, of Toms River, pleaded guilty to the same charge, as well as to tax evasion, Sellinger said. In exchange, Pizutelli had amorou…
Paul McCartney Stops Into NJ Cafe Paul McCartney Stops Into NJ Cafe
Paul McCartney Stops Into NJ Cafe A longtime Paul McCartney fan and New Jersey cafe owner got to meet his musical idol when he stopped in with his wife Nancy Shevell last week. Chris Chutnik, owner of Blue Cafe in Basking Ridge, said "Sir Paul McCartney" stopped in on Friday, Dec. 16. "I grew up on his music," Chutnik said. "It was an amazing experience to shake his hand and talk to the legend. Super nice man." Shevell is a New Jersey native, having grown up in Edison.
2 New Shake Shacks Open In NJ 2 New Shake Shacks Open In NJ
2 New Shake Shacks Open In NJ Hope you're hungry! Two new Shake Shacks have opened their doors in New Jersey.  A new Shake Shack opened on Wednesday, Nov. 30 on the third level of Newport Centre’s dining pavilion in Jersey City, the mall said in a Facebook post: Have you heard the news?! 🍔@Shakeshack at Newport Centre is officially open! $1 from every burger and sandwich purchased... Posted by Newport Centre on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 Meanwhile, the burger chain opened another new restaurant on Saturday, Nov. 26 at the Menlo Park Mall in Edison. The opening was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting by Edison Counci…
WINNERS: 3 NJ Powerball Players Take Home $1M WINNERS: 3 NJ Powerball Players Take Home $1M
Winners: 3 NJ Powerball Players Take Home $1M Three lucky New Jersey Lottery tickets matched five of the five white balls drawn winning the $1 million second-tier Powerball prize drawn on Tuesday, Nov. 8. One California Lottery player won the world record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot. The cash value is $997.6 million. The million-dollar tickets were sold at the following locations: Camden County: News Nook, 17 S Centre St., Merchantville; Mercer County: 7-Eleven #27890, 222 Dutch Neck Road, Hightstown; and, Middlesex County: Atlantis Fresh Market #37, 421 US Highway 1 South, Edison. The winning numbers for the latest drawing were:…
$1M, Sixteen $50K Powerball Tickets Sold Across NJ As Jackpot Rolls To  $1.9B $1M, Sixteen $50K Powerball Tickets Sold Across NJ As Jackpot Rolls To  $1.9B
$1M, Sixteen $50K Powerball Tickets Sold Across NJ As Jackpot Rolls To $1.9B A $1 million Powerball ticket and a slew of third-tier winning tickets were sold across New Jersey, as the jackpot rolls to yet another record-high. The numbers from the Saturday, Nov. 5 drawing  were: 28, 45, 53, 56 and 69. The Red Power Ball number was 20. The Power Play was 3X. The $1 million ticket was sold at Quick Stop, 940 Inman Ave. in Edison. The $150,000 ticket was sold at Township Stationary on Pascack Road in Washington Township. The $50,000 tickets were sold at the following locations: Atlantic County: New International Supermarket, 4101 Ventnor Ave., Atlan…
$1.4M Paid To Suspended NJ Officers Awaiting Trial For No-Show Extra Duty Jobs: Report $1.4M Paid To Suspended NJ Officers Awaiting Trial For No-Show Extra Duty Jobs: Report
$1.4M Paid To Suspended NJ Officers Awaiting Trial For No-Show Extra Duty Jobs: Report Four suspended police officers from Edison were paid $1.4 million during the two years they awaited trial for billing the town for no-show "extra duty" assignments, NJ Advance Media reports. The officers have been on paid suspension ever since, but were put on unpaid leave earlier this month when new indictments were announced against Sgt. Ioannis (John) Mpletsakis, 43, of Edison Township, Patrolman James Panagoulakos, 36, of Jackson Township, Patrolman Gregory Makras, 38, of Cranford and Sgt. Brian Rossmeyer, 45, of Bridgewater, according to the outlet and Middlesex County Pr…
4 NJ Police Officers Indicted For Bilking Town For No-Show 'Extra Duty' Assignments: Prosecutor 4 NJ Police Officers Indicted For Bilking Town For No-Show 'Extra Duty' Assignments: Prosecutor
4 NJ Police Officers Indicted For Bilking Town For No-Show 'Extra Duty' Assignments: Prosecutor Four suspended police officers from Central Jersey bilked their town for no-show "extra duty" assignments, authorities said. The Edison Police officers were charged with racketeering, bribery, theft, money laundering and witness tampering, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Thomas Bryan of the Edison Police Department said on Friday, Oct. 14. They did not say how much taxpayer money was stolen by the former officers. Sergeant Ioannis (John) Mpletsakis, 43, of Edison Township, Patrolman James Panagoulakos, 36, of Jackson Township, Patrolman Gregory&nbs…