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29°
Thursday, dec 26
Tag:
Iraq
Obituaries
Col. Kenneth Yeasky, Decorated Army Veteran From NJ, Dies Suddenly (
Tribute
)
Col. Kenneth John Yeasky, of Belvidere, passed away unexpectedly on March 3, 2024, his family writes in his obituary on the MacFadden Funeral Home website. He was 60 years old. Ken was born on July 3, 1963 to Mary Ann “Tommie” Tomczyk and the late Edwin Yeasky. He grew up in Carteret and graduated from Green Brook High School (Somerset County). Ken had a distinguished 38-year military career at multiple levels in different branches. He graduated from Kean University with a bachelor's in industrial engineering, and had graduated from numerous other military schools. "He wanted to be…
Obituaries
Bergen County Native, U.S. Army Officer Alyson Garino Dies, 30 (
Tribute
)
Alyson Garino, a Bergen County native and highly-respected First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, died on Dec. 2, 2023. She was 30 years old. A graduate of Immaculate Heart Academy, Alyson went on to attend Penn State University, State College, and graduated with honors in 2015, according to her obituary on the Becker Funeral Home website. A Schreyer Scholar, she majored in English and minored in Military Studies. A distinguished military graduate of the ROTC Nittany Lion Battalion, she received the highly respected American Veterans of WWII award. Alyson served with distinction as a First Lieu…
Police & Fire
Heartbreaking Video Of Iraqi Shiite Hostage, Princeton Student Elizabeth Tsurkov Surfaces
A newly posted video suggests that a Princeton University doctoral student kidnapped in Iraq last March is alive. Elizabeth Tsurkov, a citizen of both Russia and Israel, was abducted while doing work for the Ivy League school, according to a July statement from Benjamin Netanyahu's office. The Iran Observer posted the unauthenticated video clip on X on Monday, Nov. 13 claiming Tsurkov is an operative with Mossad — the national intelligence agency of Israel. "I worked for the Mossad and CIA," a translation of the video reads. Israeli Elizabeth Tsurkov, kidnapped in Iraq 7 months ago, …
Neighbors
Paterson Rallies Around Firefighter Severely Injured In Motorcycle Crash
Jonathan Roman is lucky to be alive. The Paterson firefighter, a veteran who served in Iraq, was on his way to work when he was involved in a motorcycle crash in Sept. 2022. Roman lost a significant amount of blood and has faced numerous surgical procedures. Roman's wife, who was two months pregnant and raising their one-year-old daughter at the time of the crash, has been unable to work while she cares for her family. A fundraiser has been set up to assist with Roman and his family with medical bills and for a wheelchair accessible vehicle. As of Thursday, July 6, $10,670 has been r…
Police & Fire
Princeton Doctoral Student Held Hostage In Iraq, Israeli Officials Say
A Princeton doctoral student missing for several months is being held hostage in Iraq, Israeli officials said. Elizabeth Tsurkov, a citizen of both Russia and Israel, was abducted in March while doing work for the Ivy League school, according to a statement from Benjamin Netanyahu's office. The 36-year-old was abducted by members of the Shiite group Kataeb Hezbollah, a radical Iran-backed militia group, Netanyahu's office said. Tsurkov had just walked out of a cafe in Iraqi capital Baghdad when she was abducted, the New York Times says citing the researcher's family. Also a fellow at Wa…
Police & Fire
NJ Firefighter Brian Letrent Dies Suddenly, 34
The Bayville Fire Department is mourning the loss of one of their own. Brian Letrent died suddenly of a medical condition on Wednesday, June 21, according to his obituary. He was 34 years old. A Toms River native, Brian was raised in Bayville and was a 2007 graduate of Central Regional High School. He enlisted in the US Army right after graduation and was deployed to Iraq for six months. From Mayor Carmen Amato. Our heartfelt condolences are with Brian Letrent and his family during this difficult time.... Posted by Berkeley Township on Thursday, June 22, 2023 Brian worked as a mechan…
Politics
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop Runs For NJ Governor
Steven Fulop is officially throwing his hat in the ring. The Jersey City mayor announced on Tuesday, April 11 that he will be seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2025. Gov. Phil Murphy is term limited and cannot seek re-election. "My career has always been guided by a strong desire to take on difficult challenges and find solutions that help improve peoples’ lives," Fulop said in a press release. "I’ve never backed down from a fight before, and I’m ready to work hard for all the people of our great state to deliver the results New Jersey deserves." Following the Sept. …
News
Hero
: Tow Truck Driver Comes To Rescue Of Driver Whose Ragtop Rolled Into Rutherford Weeds
Paul Carmeci was barely a mile from work at Nick’s Towing Service when he saw a cloud of dirt and debris kick up as he rounded the bend from westbound Route 3 onto northbound Route 17. It was just after 4:30 a.m. and there weren’t many other drivers out on the road in Rutherford. Carmeci, of North Bergen, pulled to the shoulder, donned his safety vest and headed 60 yards or so into the meadows off the highway. There he found a 2001 Mazda MX-5 convertible that rolled off the ramp and landed on its roof. A passing trucker had pulled over and called 911. Carmeci took the phone from him, …
News
Widow Who Fell Victim To $39K Romance Scam 'Forgot How Good It Felt To Be Loved'
After losing her life savings to an internet romance scam, one Pennsylvania senior is speaking out to protect others from falling victim. Kate Kleinert of Glenolden had been widowed for 12 years and had stopped looking for love when she received a Facebook friend request in August 2020, she wrote to a US Senate committee last year. The man said he was a doctor named Tony Richard, and quickly struck up a friendship with Kate based on mutual interests, she said. "We started talking on the phone through an app he had me download," Kate told Senators. "He told me he was …
News
'Invincible' Harrison Firefighter Who Served In US Marines, Law Enforcement Dies
Vincent Doffont spent much of his life serving and protecting his country as a U.S. Marine and, later, his community in Hudson County as a sheriff's officer, police officer and firefighter. Doffont, 37, died suddenly this weekend, leaving those who knew him in shock and profound grief. "He was one of the hardest men I have ever met," wrote friend Blake Upton. "I always thought of him as invincible." Doffont, indeed, seemed indestructible as a football running back, defensive back and placekicked for the St. Mary's High School Gaels from 1999 through 2002. He was praised for his "speed, s…
News
Jersey Shore HS Teacher, Iraq War Vet Documenting Breast Cancer Battle On Instagram
A New Jersey high school teacher and Gulf War veteran who is battling breast cancer is taking to social media to spread hope. Sandy Jessop, of Wall, served alongside her now-husband, Christian Jessop, during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004, then deployed again to Iraq in 2008. The couple share three children together and are both high school teachers. About one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, Sandy -- a teacher at Freehold Regional High School -- was diagnosed with breast cancer. "It was confirmed I have breast cancer on Saturday," she wrote in an Instagram post. "I expect a long hard r…
News
Last US Solider To Leave Afghanistan Is Pennsylvania Native
A distinguished US Army major general who graduated from Harvard University, was deployed 18 times and worked in the Pentagon is the last US solder to leave Afghanistan after a 20-year occupation. Oh yeah, Maj. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue hails from Franklin County, PA. The last American soldier to leave Afghanistan: Maj. Gen. Chris Donahue, commanding general of the @82ndABNDiv, @18airbornecorps boards an @usairforce C-17 on August 30th, 2021, ending the U.S. mission in Kabul. pic.twitter.com/j5fPx4iv6a — Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) August 30, 2021 The commanding general…
News
Watch
: Soldier Surprises Son With Early Homecoming During Garfield Middle School Assembly
Christmas came early for a 12-year-old Garfield middle schooler. Marvin Monroig Jr. was on stage leading his sixth grade class in a holiday sing-a-long last Friday when he felt someone's arm wrap around his shoulder. At first, he just kept singing. But when he looked over, he saw his father, 31-year-old U.S. Army soldier and Garfield police officer Marvin Monroig Sr. Completely shocked, Marvin Jr. hadn't seen his dad since he left for Somalia 10 months ago, and wasn't expecting him until sometime after Christmas. Monroig planned the surprise with help from his girlfriend Jennifer Lopez-R…
Lifestyle
Fire Damages Iconic Newark Deli Weeks After 'Sopranos' Prequel Filming
UPDATE: The deli's ownership announced later in the day on Tuesday, July 2 that it will reopen for carryout and delivery orders on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. The dining room will remain closed temporarily. Hobby's Delicatessen & Restaurant, a staple in downtown Newark for generations, is closed indefinitely following a fire at the business Monday afternoon, the eatery said. A firefighter suffered non-life-threatening injuries battling the blaze at the Branford Place eatery, which was reportedly brought under control in about a half hour. None of the dozens of staff and customers were hur…
Police & Fire
Ex-Fort Lee Alt-Rocker Dimed Out By Mom Gets 8 Years For Supporting ISIS
FORT LEE, N.J. -- A 24-year-old former alt-rock singer from Fort Lee who was turned in by his mother for conspiring to support foreign terrorism in Iraq was sentenced to eight years in federal prison. Federal agents seized Samuel Rahamin Topaz at his home in June 2015 and quickly followed with the arrests of three co-conspirators who they said planned to travel to Syria to join the foreign terrorist organization. All three took deals from the government in exchange for leniency.Nader Saadeh, a Jordanian national who previously lived in Rutherford, got 10 years in federal prison on Monday. …
Police & Fire
Fit Cops: Garfield Officer Has Marine Corps Mentality
GARFIELD, N.J. -- Garfield Police Officer Kevin Otero keeps his uniform crisp, his shoes shiny and his head held high. At 260 pounds of solid muscle, the 34-year-old officer isn't one to mess with. He knows it. "When you’re physically fit and your uniform is form-fitted you look squared away," the officer said. "That alone will give you command presence." It's compliance during a routine motor vehicle stop. It's submission when breaking up a fight. It's unconditional respect -- something Otero learned in 2006, when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and began traini…
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