HEROES: Elmwood Park Firefighters Find Missing Girl, 11 HEROES: Elmwood Park Firefighters Find Missing Girl, 11
Heroes: Elmwood Park Firefighters Find Missing Girl, 11 FOUND! A search for a missing 11-year-old Elmwood Park girl ended Thursday afternoon when a trio of volunteer firefighters found her safe and sound in a shopping center sandwich shop. Police pinged Janiah Townes's cellphone to the Elmwood Park Shopping Center on Broadway around 3:30 p.m., then "flooded the area with volunteer firefighters and officers," Police Chief Michael Foligno said. A short time later, Firefighters Alexian Cruz, Mohammed Makanast and Scott Karcz found little Janiah at the Blimpie's -- a little over two hours after she was reported missing.  "It was an all-ha…
Fire Destroys Parish House Of Historic Jersey Shore Church Fire Destroys Parish House Of Historic Jersey Shore Church
Fire Destroys Parish House Of Historic Jersey Shore Church A fire destroyed the parish house of a historic Long Branch church, injured one firefighter and displaced five residents Easter Sunday. Flames erupted on the first floor of the Broadway facility -- originally the First Reformed Church of Long Branch --  and spread to the second level, NJ.com reports. The blaze was reported by neighbors around 6:25 p.m., bringing approximately 50 firefighters to the scene. The parsonage was evacuated as firefighters worked to prevent the blaze from spreading to the church next door, which dates back to 1867, the outlet said. Tour 4 operated at a 2nd A…
White Castle Run: Paterson PD Seize 2 Handguns, Driver, Two Passengers White Castle Run: Paterson PD Seize 2 Handguns, Driver, Two Passengers
White Castle Run: Paterson PD Seize 2 Handguns, Driver, Two Passengers Paterson police responding to a call of armed suspects at the White Castle early Saturday nabbed three men and seized a pair of 9mm handguns. Officers carefully approached a gray Acura with tinted windows and a temporary license plate in the parking lot of the Broadway fast-food restaurant shortly after 7:30 a.m., city Public Safety Director Jerry Speziale said. The doors popped open and two of the occupants got out and ran, Speziale said. One of them – identified as Javier Atiliano, 21 – tossed a loaded Smith & Wesson as he ran before he was captured on Broadway, the director said. T…
New Jersey Talent Agent Shirley Grant Who Launched Jonas Brothers, Other Celebs Dies New Jersey Talent Agent Shirley Grant Who Launched Jonas Brothers, Other Celebs Dies
New Jersey Talent Agent Shirley Grant Who Launched Jonas Brothers, Other Celebs Dies Shirley Grant, the talent agent credited for launching The Jonas Brothers, Christina Ricci and other stars, died in her native New Jersey on Dec. 15.  A "golden woman" in the entertainment industry, Grant was a "dedicated and brilliant light for young and emerging artists getting started out in show business for more than 42 years, talent agent and former employee Dave McKeown said on social media. Grant was born in Jersey City and worked as a Teaneck-based personal manager.  Some of her "kids" included Christina Ricci, Allison Smith, JD Roth, Keshia Knight and the Jonas Brothers. She lov…
Mishap At Fair Lawn Auto Dealership Sends Driver To Hospital Mishap At Fair Lawn Auto Dealership Sends Driver To Hospital
Mishap At Fair Lawn Auto Dealership Sends Driver To Hospital A brand-new hatchback sustained serious damage after it crashed in a service garage at a Fair Lawn dealership Wednesday afternoon. A male driver walked to a Hackensack University Medical Center ambulance under his own power following the mishap at the Jack Daniels Kia dealership on Broadway. His injury wasn't considered serious, responders said. The 2020 Kia Rio was driven from the area of the crash and parked in an exterior lot. It wasn't immediately clear whether any other vehicles were damaged.Boyd A. Loving
COVID-19 Claims First Hollywood Celeb: Tom Hanks, Wife Rita Wilson Test Positive COVID-19 Claims First Hollywood Celeb: Tom Hanks, Wife Rita Wilson Test Positive
Covid-19 Claims First Hollywood Celeb: Tom Hanks, Wife Rita Wilson Test Positive Tom Hanks tweeted Wednesday night that both he and his wife, Rita Wilson, tested positive for the coronavirus. The couple, both 63, are in Queensland, Australia filming an Elvis Presley biography in which Hanks portrays Col. Tom Parker, "The King" of rock and roll's infamous manager. "We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches," Hanks's post says. "Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. "To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the Coronavirus, and were found to be positive. "Well, now. What to do next? The Medical…
W. Orange Middle School Student's 'Lesbians' Shirt Draws Punishment, Praise W. Orange Middle School Student's 'Lesbians' Shirt Draws Punishment, Praise
W. Orange Middle School Student's 'Lesbians' Shirt Draws Punishment, Praise An eighth-grader from West Orange caused a stir when she wore a shirt proclaiming "We're All Lesbians" to class at Liberty Middle School -- but the school district is now praising the girl's gesture for prompting a healthy dialogue about tolerance.  Justice Cillo-Smith, who identifies as lesbian, was told by a guidance counselor that the shirt violates school district policy prohibiting clothing containing sexual innuendo or inappropriate language, her mother, Gwen Wu, wrote on Facebook.  Wu added that the school's principal said officials were trying to prevent the girl from becoming a tar…
Verona Native Cast In Spielberg's 'West Side Story' Remake Verona Native Cast In Spielberg's 'West Side Story' Remake
Verona Native Cast In Spielberg's 'West Side Story' Remake An Essex County woman has joined the sprawling ensemble cast for "West Side Story," Steven Spielberg's remake of the 1961 musical.  Adriana Pierce will join part of the chorus for the Jets, one of two warring New York street gangs in the film, an adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.  Pierce, who studied at the American School of Ballet and performed with the Miami City Ballet for seven seasons, was most recently in Carousel on Broadway, MyVerona.com reports.  Other cast members include David Alvarez as Bernardo, head of the rival street gang the Sharks, and Dear Eva…
SHE SAID YES: Watch Oakland Police Officer's Onstage 'Pretty Woman' Proposal SHE SAID YES: Watch Oakland Police Officer's Onstage 'Pretty Woman' Proposal
SHE Said YES: Watch Oakland Police Officer's Onstage 'Pretty Woman' Proposal Oakland Police Officer Gary Fiore landed himself a pretty woman -- one that he surprised with an onstage wedding proposal. Belinda Hoffmann thought she and her now-fiance were called to the stage after Tuesday's performance of "Pretty Woman" as part of a lottery-like game that Broadway's Nederlander Theater occasionally plays, Theater Mania reports. But then star Andy Karl (Edward) asked Fiore if he had anything he'd like to say as far as winning. "I'd like to ask her if she would marry me," he responded, pulling a ring from his pants pocket and dropping to a knee. Hof…
Bergen County's Philip Bosco, Tony Award-Winning Actor, Dead At 88 Bergen County's Philip Bosco, Tony Award-Winning Actor, Dead At 88
Bergen County's Philip Bosco, Tony Award-Winning Actor, Dead At 88 Tony Award-winning actor Philip Bosco died Monday night at his home in Haworth. He was 88 years old. His daughter Celia Bosco said the cause was complications of dementia, multiple news outlets report. The Jersey City native was a Broadway veteran, also well-known from films such as The Savages and Working Girl. He won his Tony Award in 1989 for his performance as the general manager of a Cleveland opera company in the Ken Ludwig farce Lend Me a Tenor. Bosco was also nominated for his performances in “The Rape of the Belt,” ''Heartbreak House," ''You Never Can Tell" and “Moon Over Buf…
North Jersey Native Stars In New Christmas Movie North Jersey Native Stars In New Christmas Movie
North Jersey Native Stars In New Christmas Movie Bergen County native Kirrilee Berger is starring in a new Christmas movie. The 19-year-old, who hails from Teaneck, will play Stephanie in "I'll Be Next Door for Christmas," in theaters Dec. 4. Berger is also the voice of Poppy in a brand-new Nick Jr. animated series, "Butterbeans Cafe. The teen will star alongside MADtv's Nicole Sullivan -- who she's admired for as long as she can remember. "When I was a little girl I saw Nicole Sullivan on MADtv," Berger said on Instagram.  "I looked at my parents and told them that’s what I wanted to do one day. Fast Foward 12 years later and her…
WATCH: Paralyzed Ridgewood Actress Stars On Comedy Central WATCH: Paralyzed Ridgewood Actress Stars On Comedy Central
Watch: Paralyzed Ridgewood Actress Stars On Comedy Central Ali Stroker of Ridgewood appeared on Comedy Central's "Drunk History" Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 10 p.m. Based on the popular web series, "Drunk History" is the liquored-up narration of our nation's history.  Stroker, 30 -- who was paralyzed in a car accident when she was 2 -- will be portraying disability rights activist Judy Huemann. The show's all-star cast includes includes Jack Black, Lisa Bonet, Connie Britton, Michael Cera, Bill Hader, Kevin Nealon, Bob Odenkirk and Winona Ryder. Figures such as Teddy Roosevelt, Patty Hearst, Billy the Kid, Al Capone, and Lewis and Cla…