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Monday, jun 24
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Cranford, NJ
Police & Fire
Dad, Motorcyclist Killed In Crash On NJ Turnpike: State Police
A 37-year-old Monmouth County motorcyclist was killed in a crash on the New Jersey Turnpike in Newark on Saturday June 8, authorities said. At 2:31 a.m. Ryan Schamlz, a Keyport resident, was opearting a Harley Davidson south on the ramp of the Turnpike by Interchange 14 when he crashed into an international truck hauling a utility trailer that was stopped on the access road at the intersection, Jeffrey Lebron, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police said. Schmalz suffered fatal injuries, Lebron said. The crash remains under investigation, Lebron said. I have no words right no…
Police & Fire
Late-Night Drunken Assault Near Meadowlands Sends One Man To Hospital, Other To Jail
A drunken man was hospitalized and another jailed for assaulting him at a private industrial garage in Rutherford, authorities said. The 40-year-old victim from Cranford approached an East Rutherford police officer who was fueling his patrol vehicle at the Rutherford DPW garage on Highland Cross -- just off northbound Route 17 near the Meadowlands -- around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, June 8, Police Chief John Russo said. He was bleeding from a head wound, the chief said. "It was determined he was assaulted by an acquaintance at a private industrial garage where both were at that eveni…
Police & Fire
Construction Worker Killed In Trench Accident ID'd As Former Rutgers Wrestler, 29
The construction worker killed in a Kenilworth trench accident earlier this month has been identified as a 29-year-old former Rutgers University athlete. Corey Greg Stasenko, of Cranford, was killed on Monday, May 6, during a project on Monroe Street, Daily Voice has learned. Police at the time, without identifying the worker, said he was trying to install a storm drain in the back of a business using an excavator when he became trapped around 9 a.m. First responders attempted life saving measures but he was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Man, this really is heartbreak…
News
'Crazy Left Wingers Who Hate America:' NJ Bakery Receives Bizarre Anti-Pride Letter
A New Jersey bakery has received an influx of sweet support after receiving a bitter anti-Pride letter in the mail. Sweet n' Fancy Emporium on South Avenue East in Cranford a letter in the mail earlier this month, signed by the Citizens of Cranford. "As a concerned citizen that was about to shop at your site… I noticed the rainbow flag hanging in your window," the typed letter reads "I have notified all of my girlfriends who in turn have decided to boycott your store. It is not that we despise the flag… it is just we do not want to be associated with crazy left wingers who hate America." O…
News
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…
Obituaries
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.…
Schools
Early Dismissals For These Somerset County Districts 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…
Police & Fire
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…
Police & Fire
Dump Truck Driver Killed In Head-On Crash With Another Dump Truck In Central Jersey: Police
A 46-year-old dump truck driver from Passaic County was killed in a head-on collision with another dump truck in Central Jersey, authorities said. The crash occurred at 9:42 a.m. Friday, Sept. 22. on Port Reading Avenue near Lee Street, Woodbridge police said. The dump trucks were traveling in opposite directions, police said. One truck traveling eastbound crossed over the double yellow line resulting in a collision with the other truck. A driver from Woodland Park was found unconscious in the driver's seat. CPR was initiated and the driver was transported to Robert Wood …
Lifestyle
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.
Lifestyle
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…
Obituaries
NJ Mom, 'Brilliant Mind' Amy Saccone Dies After 2-Year Cancer Battle
Amy Saccone, a 43-year-old Cranford resident, died on Sunday, June 18 after a two-year battle with colon cancer, according to her obituary. Amy grew up in Matawan and attended Georgian Court University in Lakewood, having double majored in biology and chemistry, her obituary says. She worked in technical sales and product management and was an account executive for Catalent, according to her obituary. There are absolutely NO words to express the brokenness felt💔 I am not even going to try. If you know me, you know the... Posted by Susan Buccellato on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 A fundrais…
Police & Fire
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 …
Business
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…
Police & Fire
Coach, Special Ed Teacher Filmed Sex Acts With Child: Prosecutor
A former wrestling coach and special education teacher has admitted to having sexual contact with a child, authorities said. John.Denuto, 46, of Spotswood pleaded guilty to child endangerment and other offenses on Friday, April 14, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone. Denuto, a former special education teacher at the Sayreville Middle School and former wrestling coach at numerous other schools and organizations who exploited his position as both a teacher and a wrestling coach to meet and abuse his victims was initially arrested on February 15, …
Police & Fire
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…
Police & Fire
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…
Obituaries
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…
Business
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…
Police & Fire
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.
Police & Fire
$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…
Police & Fire
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…
Police & Fire
Multiple Crashes Reported On Garden State Parkway
Rain was contributing to the number of crashes in Central and South Jersey during the evening rush on Thursday, Oct. 13, authorities said. There were multiple crashes on the Garden State Parkway. According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, there were parkway crashes in Cranford, Sayreville, Little Egg Harbor, Ocean Township and Wall Township. CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES
News
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…
Police & Fire
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.
News
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…
News
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 …
News
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…
News
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…
Obituaries
Cranford Mom Magdalena Janucik Dies, 43
A Cranford mother died unexpectedly at home on Aug. 28. She was 43. Born in Bialystok, Poland, Magdalena Z. Janucik came to the United States in 2004 and lived in Linden, NJ before settling in Cranford four years ago, her obituary says. She was remembered as a "caring, hardworking woman who loved her only daughter so much," according to a GoFundMe in her name. Over $7,700 had been raised on the fundraiser as of Wednesday afternoon. The funds collected are intended to go into a savings account for her daughter Nicole to use as financial needs arise or when she turns 18, organizer Ula Ula wr…
News
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…
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