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Cranford, NJ

Where Is Central Jersey? Monmouth U. Poll Finds Answers To NJ's Tricky Regional Debate Where Is Central Jersey? Monmouth U. Poll Finds Answers To NJ's Tricky Regional Debate
Where Is Central Jersey? Monmouth U. Poll Finds Answers To NJ's Tricky Regional Debate Monmouth University pollsters have tried to answer a question that has been hard to solve for many in the Garden State: Where is Central Jersey exactly? The Monmouth University Polling Institute released a survey on Tuesday, Apr. 16 that asked New Jerseyans what region they live in and if they believe their region gets a fair share of state resources. The pollsters also asked people to pick their favorite convenience store. According to the poll, 41 percent of New Jerseyans said they live in North Jersey, 34 percent said they're in Central Jersey, and 23 percent said they're from South…
NJ's Theresa 'Tess' Callaghan Dies Year After Cancer Diagnosis, 29 NJ's Theresa 'Tess' Callaghan Dies Year After Cancer Diagnosis, 29
NJ's Theresa 'Tess' Callaghan Dies Year After Cancer Diagnosis, 29 Theresa Callaghan, a 29-year-old Mount Olive native, died on Monday, Feb. 26 after battling brain cancer, according to her obituary. Born in Cranford, Callaghan graduated from Mount Olive High School in 2012, her obituary reads. She graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in nutrition and dietetics and later achieved her master's in nutrition from St. Elizabeth University, according to her obituary. Callaghan was diagnosed with brain cancer in March 2023, according to a fundraiser set up to support her medical bills. As of Thursday, March 7, more than $106,000 had been raised.…
These Bergen County Towns Got The Most Snow These Bergen County Towns Got The Most Snow
These Bergen County Towns Got The Most Snow New Jersey residents are digging out of this week's snow storm — the worst of the season so far. According to the National Weather Service, the storm left 15 inches in the northern-most part of the state, canceling schools across the region. Here are the towns who got the most snow in the Tuesday, Feb. 13 storm, according to the National Weather Service. BERGEN River Vale: 9.8 inches Franklin Lakes: 9.1 Waldwick: 9.0 Bergenfield: 8.1 Mahwah: 8.0 Fair Lawn: 7.0 Lyndhurst: 6.5 HUDSON Harrison: 5.5 East Newark: 5.0 SW Hoboken: 4.8 MORRIS Green Pond/Randolph: 11.5 Denville: 10.2 Kinnelon…
Early Dismissals For These Bergen County Schools Ahead Of Snow Storm Early Dismissals For These Bergen County Schools Ahead Of Snow Storm
Early Dismissals For These Bergen County Schools Ahead Of Snow Storm School districts across New Jersey have begun announcing schedule changes for Friday, Jan. 19, ahead of the second snow storm of the week. Parts of the state could see up to six inches of snow, expected to begin falling between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. Friday, the National Weather Service said. The following districts have early dismissals: Cranford Dumont Franklin Lakes Hackensack Hanover Park Regional HS Lyndhurst Marlboro Maywood Millburn Mountainside North Arlington Oradell Parsippany-Troy Hills Pompton Lakes Rockaway Roselle Park Scotch Plains-Fanwood Totowa Warren Watchung/Watchung Hills R…
Ex-Con Killed In Shootout With Police On Garden State Parkway ID'd Ex-Con Killed In Shootout With Police On Garden State Parkway ID'd
Ex-Con Killed In Shootout With Police On Garden State Parkway ID'd New Jersey's top law officer on Monday identified a gunman who was killed in a shootout with Cranford police following a high-speed pursuit and crash on the Garden State Parkway in Woodbridge. Ex-con Kevin Harlfinger, a 40-year-old ex-con from Perth Amboy, was behind the wheel of a stolen white work van being pursued by Cranford officers when it crashed near Exit 131 shortly before midnight Dec. 28, according to a brief statement released on Monday, Jan. 8, by the office of Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin in Trenton. Harlfinger exchanged shots with the officers, wounding one of them, au…
Popular NJ Brunch Spot 'Toast' Unveils New Location Popular NJ Brunch Spot 'Toast' Unveils New Location
Popular NJ Brunch Spot 'Toast' Unveils New Location A popular and fast-growing brunch spot in New Jersey has opened another new location. Toast officially opened last week in Cranford at The Cranford Hotel on Walnut Street. The menu has something for everyone, including eggs galore, classic breakfast and lunch sandwiches, yogurt and grain bowls, pancakes and waffles, salads, and more. The eatery's flagship store opened in Montclair in May 2007, with the mantra "Peace, Love & Pancakes." Later came Red Bank and Asbury Park (click here for locations). Check out Toast in Cranford at 10 Walnut St. Come hungry.
Lucy Liu Poses With Police Amid Movie Filming In North Jersey Lucy Liu Poses With Police Amid Movie Filming In North Jersey
Lucy Liu Poses With Police Amid Movie Filming In North Jersey Hollywood has apparently come to North Jersey. Movie star Lucy Liu stopped to snap photos with Cranford cops while filming a movie in town. Special thanks to Lucy Liu for stopping to greet Lt. Gene Perrotta and SLEO Walt Berg this month while filming a movie in Cranford. Lucy Liu Posted by Cranford Police Department on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 Police did not say which movie the "Charlie's Angels" star was filming or where, just that they were flattered she stopped by on Sept. 19.
NJ Dancer Wows With Tribute To Mom Battling Cancer On 'AGT' NJ Dancer Wows With Tribute To Mom Battling Cancer On 'AGT'
NJ Dancer Wows With Tribute To Mom Battling Cancer On 'AGT' Donovyn Diaz has all the right moves. The 20-year-old Cranford native, who graduated from Union Catholic High School, stunned the judges on "America's Got Talent" earlier this month by performing a dance routine in honor of his mother, who is battling breast cancer.  "I want her to see me and think I raised a star," Diaz, who has a background in dance and gymnastics, said. Diaz then impressed the crowd with his dance to "How I Say Goodbye" by Dean Lewis, moving some audience members to tears. "I think you're mom is going to be so proud because this was spectacular," judge Sophie Verg…
Linden ShopRite Worker Who Battled Brain Cancer For 17 Years Dies: 'Always Been A Fighter' Linden ShopRite Worker Who Battled Brain Cancer For 17 Years Dies: 'Always Been A Fighter'
Linden ShopRite Worker Who Battled Brain Cancer For 17 Years Dies: 'Always Been A Fighter' Victor Vilela, a 42-year-old Elizabeth native, died on Monday, July 24, after a 17-year battle with brain cancer, according to his obituary. Born in Elizabeth, Vilela was an active member of a brain tumor support group and worked at Elizabeth General Hospital, ShopRite in Linden and Wegmans in Woodbridge, his obituary reads. He is survived by his wife, Meghan, his son, Mauricio, his parents, Maria and Acacio, his sister Sonia as well as other family members, according to his obituary. Following his death, Vilela's tribute wall was filled with remembrances. "Your sense of humor had everyon…
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 …
Popular Diner Opens 4th NJ Location Popular Diner Opens 4th NJ Location
Popular Diner Opens 4th NJ Location A new diner is about to be the "Toast" of Union County. Toast City Diner announced it will be opening its fourth location in the Garden State in downtown Cranford.  The diner is expected to open in fall 2023 at South and Walnut Ave next to the Cranford Hotel and be run by founder Amy Russo and her partner Adam Torine. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Toast City Diner (@toastcitydiner_) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Toast City Diner (@toastcitydiner_) The diner has l…
Car Thief With Bullets Found In Meadowlands Motel: PD Car Thief With Bullets Found In Meadowlands Motel: PD
Car Thief With Bullets Found In Meadowlands Motel: PD A woman driving a car stolen out of Newark was found with several handgun bullets inside of a Secaucus motel Monday morning, April 24, authorities said. A Secaucus officer was patrolling near the Red Roof Inn on the Meadowlands Parkway around 7:35 a.m., when he "randomly" accessed the registration of an unoccupied Kia Forte that was parked, but running in the parking lot, Police Chief Dennis Miller said. The car had been stolen out of Newark in April 2003, and the driver — Doniesha Coar, 27 of Glassboro — was found inside the motel, Miller said. During a search of her jacket, Coa…
Pedestrian Killed By Train In Union County, Delays Reported Pedestrian Killed By Train In Union County, Delays Reported
Pedestrian Killed By Train In Union County, Delays Reported Delays were reported on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line Sunday morning, March 26 due to a pedestrian having been fatally struck. The RVL train 5515, which left Newark Penn Station just before 9:40 a.m., struck the pedestrian around 9:50 a.m. on Galloping Hill Road near the Roselle Park station, NJT officials said.  Service was suspended between Cranford and Newark Penn Station as of 11:40 a.m. Raritan Valley Line rail service remains suspended in both directions between Cranford and Newark Penn Station due to a pedestrian fatality near Roselle Park. Substitute bus service is being pro…
Longtime Cranford Resident Jane Heyburn Dies, 60 Longtime Cranford Resident Jane Heyburn Dies, 60
Longtime Cranford Resident Jane Heyburn Dies, 60 Longtime Cranford resident Jane Heyburn died on March 18, surrounded by her family at home, her obituary says. She was 60 years old. A 1980 graduate of Cranford High School, Jane went on to earn her degree in business management from the University of Phoenix, prior to a 38-year career in the pharmaceutical industry, according to her obituary. Jane was being remembered as an avid gardener who loved to dance and spend time at the Jersey Shore. She is survived by her husband, Don; daughters Alexandra and Jessica; sisters Elizabeth Curry and Laureen Eldridge; and a host of nieces, nephews and…
Young North Jersey Entrepreneur Has Message For The Non-Believers Young North Jersey Entrepreneur Has Message For The Non-Believers
Young North Jersey Entrepreneur Has Message For The Non-Believers One of North Jersey's newest business owners is also one of the area's youngest. At just 19 years old, Kamily Flores opened Craft Protein Bar in Cranford last November. And she's got a message for the non-believers:  "Don't underestimate us." The Elizabeth resident grew up watching her parents run a cafe of their own and knew quickly, she wanted to the same. "I grew up around entrepreneurial spirit," said Flores, a business marketing major at Union County College. "We like to work for ourselves." Flores felt her age worked to her advantage. "I'm young, I have nothing to lose," she told…
Driver Fatally Shoots Himself On Garden State Parkway: State Police Driver Fatally Shoots Himself On Garden State Parkway: State Police
Driver Fatally Shoots Himself On Garden State Parkway: State Police A driver fatally shot himself in a vehicle on the Garden State Parkway overnight, authorities said. State troopers patrolling the highway found a vehicle on the right shoulder at milepost 139 in Cranford around 3:30 a.m., New Jersey State Police Trooper Charles Marchan said. Upon approaching the vehicle, troopers saw a deceased man with one self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head, Marchan said. The incident remains under investigation and there was no additional information available.
$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…
PLOT TWIST: Attendant Helped Plan Gas Station Robbery Off Garden State Parkway, Feds Charge PLOT TWIST: Attendant Helped Plan Gas Station Robbery Off Garden State Parkway, Feds Charge
Plot Twist: Attendant Helped Plan Gas Station Robbery Off Garden State Parkway, Feds Charge Federal authorities charged a gas station attendant with planning the robbery of a newly-opened QuickChek where he worked just off the Garden State Parkway. An indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Newark accuses Tyrone Crutchfield-Davis, 27, of Linden of plotting the Dec. 15, 2019 holdup on North Avenue at Exit 137 in Cranford with three associates. Authorities had previously identified the other three men -- Wiggins Cadet, 24, and Khalil Brown, 23, of Roselle, and Zyquan McCray, 23, of Linden. It turns out Crutchfield-Davis -- a former standout high school quarterback with a cri…
PA Man, 27, Seriously Hurt In Fiery Garden State Parkway Crash PA Man, 27, Seriously Hurt In Fiery Garden State Parkway Crash
PA Man, 27, Seriously Hurt In Fiery Garden State Parkway Crash A 27-year-old driver from Allentown, PA was seriously hurt in an early-morning crash on the Garden State Parkway Sunday, June 26, authorities said. Mafer Fermin Pena was rear-ended by an Acura near mile post 137.9 on the northbound side of the highway in Cranford around 4:45 a.m., New Jersey State Police Trooper Brandi Slota said. The Mazda traveled off the roadway to the right and struck a tree, and the Acura subsequently caught fire. Pena was hospitalized with serious injuries. The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Driver Hospitalized After Italian Food Delivery Truck Destroys Traffic Light In Paramus Driver Hospitalized After Italian Food Delivery Truck Destroys Traffic Light In Paramus
Driver Hospitalized After Italian Food Delivery Truck Destroys Traffic Light In Paramus The driver of a refrigerated truck was hospitalized following a morning crash that uprooted a traffic light in Paramus. The victim was driving for Anacapri Foods in Cranford, which supplies pizzerias and restaurants, when he apparently suffered a medical episode on South Farview Avenue shortly before 9:30 a.m., responders at the scene said. The extent of his injuries couldn’t immediately be determined. Farview Avenue was closed in both directions near Paramus Fire Company 4 while Belfi’s Towing and a local electrical company worked to remove the traffic light. The crash severely dama…
Convicted NJ Child Porn Trafficker Gets 20+ Years In Fed Pen, No Parole, For Enticing Minors Convicted NJ Child Porn Trafficker Gets 20+ Years In Fed Pen, No Parole, For Enticing Minors
Convicted NJ Child Porn Trafficker Gets 20+ Years In Fed Pen, No Parole, For Enticing Minors A convicted child porn trafficker from Union County must spend no fewer than 20 years in federal prison for doing it again while soliciting two children to "engage in sexually explicit conduct online," authorities said. Christopher Gardiner, 39, of Cranford, must serve out just about all of the plea-bargained 20 years and eight months that he was sentenced to on Tuesday, Feb. 8, because there's no parole in the federal prison system. Gardiner, who'd been convicted of similar charges in Union County in 2007, conducted an "ongoing sexually graphic conversation on a web-based social media appl…
Support Surges For Beloved North Jersey Fireman Suffering From Heart Failure Support Surges For Beloved North Jersey Fireman Suffering From Heart Failure
Support Surges For Beloved North Jersey Fireman Suffering From Heart Failure Support is skyrocketing for a beloved North Jersey firefighter at risk of losing his family home after suffering from critical and ongoing heart problems. After accomplishing his lifelong dream and being sworn in as a firefighter in Cranford in 2013, Robert Hurewitz’s aspirations devastatingly came to a halt when he started suffering from heart palpitations in July 2021, according to a GoFundMe launched for his family’s expenses. “All he has ever wanted was to be a fireman,” reads the fundraiser. “It is rare to live your dream but he got to do that every day.” Hurewitz was diagnosed with …
How Much Snow Did You Get? These Are Totals By Town In New Jersey How Much Snow Did You Get? These Are Totals By Town In New Jersey
How Much Snow Did You Get? These Are Totals By Town In New Jersey New Jerseyans on Friday woke up to several inches of snow on the ground in the first major storm for some and second for others this week. Most of the state got somewhere between four and six inches, according to the National Weather Service. Areas in Sussex County got the last amount of snow, average between 1.8 and 3 inches. The most amount of snow seems to have landed in parts of Bergen and Gloucester counties: 6 to 7.3 inches. Here are the averages across New Jersey from north to south, according to the National Weather Service's legend: Newton: 3 inches Lake Hopatcong: 3.6 Jefferson…
NJ Man Gets Nearly 6 Years In Fed Pen For Downloading Hundreds Of Child Porn Images NJ Man Gets Nearly 6 Years In Fed Pen For Downloading Hundreds Of Child Porn Images
NJ Man Gets Nearly 6 Years In Fed Pen For Downloading Hundreds Of Child Porn Images A Union County man is headed to federal prison for nearly six years for downloading more than 600 images of child sexual abuse. Joseph Hinksmon, 42, of Cranford, will have to serve just about all of the 70-month plea-bargained sentence because there's no parole in the federal prison system. Hinksmon was arrested by the FBI after downloading the videos and photos during a two-week period in July 2019, authorities said. Rather than go to trial, the former NJIT academic scholar took a deal from the government, pleading guilty via videoconference with a U.S. District Court judge in Newark in e…
1 Dead, 2 Rescued In Union County House Fire 1 Dead, 2 Rescued In Union County House Fire
1 Dead, 2 Rescued In Union County House Fire A woman died and two other victims were rescued in a Tuesday morning house fire in Cranford, developing reports say. The blaze blew through the roof of the Beach Street home near Tulip Street, bringing multiple fire companies to the scene. The fire reached three alarms as of 9:30 a.m. Photo by ABC7. This is a developing story. Check back for more.
NJSP: Driver, 70, Killed In Labor Day Weekend Crash On Garden State Parkway NJSP: Driver, 70, Killed In Labor Day Weekend Crash On Garden State Parkway
Njsp: Driver, 70, Killed In Labor Day Weekend Crash On Garden State Parkway UPDATE: A 70-year-old driver from Middlesex County was killed in a Labor Day weekend crash on the Garden State Parkway, authorities confirmed. The mid-2000 model Ford 500 sedan driven by Rick Attanasio, ran off the road in the southbound lanes at the Exit 137 ramp in Cranford and hit a metal traffic post before slamming into a tree at noon Saturday, New Jersey State Police Sgt. Philip Curry said. A medical chopper landed on the Parkway but was dismissed after Cranford firefighters extricated Attanasio. State Police were investigating the cause, Curry said. The crash occurred around no…
UPDATE: Labor Day Weekend Crash Closes Southbound Garden State Parkway UPDATE: Labor Day Weekend Crash Closes Southbound Garden State Parkway
Update: Labor Day Weekend Crash Closes Southbound Garden State Parkway A 70-year-old driver from Middlesex County was killed in a Labor Day weekend crash on the Garden State Parkway, responders said. The mid-2000 model Ford 500 sedan driven by Rick Attanasio, ran off the road in the southbound lanes at the Exit 137 ramp in Cranford and hit a metal traffic post before slamming into a tree at noon Saturday, New Jersey State Police Sgt. Philip Curry said. A medical chopper landed on the Parkway but was dismissed after Cranford firefighters extricated Attanasio. State Police were investigating the cause, Curry said ****** ALSO SEE: One passenger was killed…
Roselle Man Points Loaded 'Ghost Gun' At Driver In Cranford Road Rage Incident, Police Say Roselle Man Points Loaded 'Ghost Gun' At Driver In Cranford Road Rage Incident, Police Say
Roselle Man Points Loaded 'Ghost Gun' At Driver In Cranford Road Rage Incident, Police Say A 37-year-old Roselle man was in police custody after pointing a loaded, illegal firearm at another driver in a road rage incident Thursday evening, authorities in Cranford said. Alexander Truzzolino, of Roselle, was stopped in white Ford van at Springfield Avenue and Lafayette Place, where a confrontation ensued around 8:05 p.m., Cranford police said. There, Truzzolino flashed a firearm at the other driver, authorities said. Sergeants D’Ambola and Stiansen immediately found the suspect vehicle and coordinated with other patrol units to conduct a felony motor vehicle stop in the area of Mu…
TONIGHT: 3 New Jersey Natives Compete For Love On 'The Bachelorette' TONIGHT: 3 New Jersey Natives Compete For Love On 'The Bachelorette'
Tonight: 3 New Jersey Natives Compete For Love On 'The Bachelorette' Three New Jersey natives will be competing on the upcoming season of "The Bachelorette" airing on ABC Monday, June 7. This season's lead is 30-year-old Katie Thurston, a bank marketing manager from Washington who appeared on Matt James' season of "The Bachelor." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Katie Thurston (@thekatiethurston) The New Jersey natives competing on this season include: Cranford native Jeff Caravello, 31: The former Cranford track and field coach lives in Brooklyn and works as a sales specialist at Integra LifeS…
PD: Man Jumps In Rahway River After Leading Union County Chase In Stolen Car PD: Man Jumps In Rahway River After Leading Union County Chase In Stolen Car
PD: Man Jumps In Rahway River After Leading Union County Chase In Stolen Car A Newark man who led officers on a pursuit in a stolen vehicle and then tried running on foot through a Union County park was found hiding in the Rahway River, authorities said. A Kenilworth officer was conducting a radar detail near Boulevard and Wilshire Drive when he spotted a 2005 Ford Econoline van speeding around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, local police said. The officer attempted to stop the van, but the driver -- later identified as Edgardo Serranoingles, 37 -- suddenly turned north through a number of backstreets in an apparent attempt to elude police, authorities said. Serranoin…