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Verona, NJ

Best Public High Schools In Essex County Revealed In New Rankings Best Public High Schools In Essex County Revealed In New Rankings
Best Public High Schools In Essex County Revealed In New Rankings Essex County is rife with top-rated schools. US News & World Report released its list of best high schools in the nation this week — and many of them are in Essex County. ALSO SEE: Best High Schools: New Jersey Well-Represented In New National Rankings The rankings were determined by performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare students for college. Glen Ridge High School came in at No. 11 in all of New Jersey, and No. 1 for Essex County. According to US News & World Report, here are the top-rated schools in the county: No. 10: James Caldwell …
Serial NJ Church Vandal Takes It One Step Further: Arson, Cops Say Serial NJ Church Vandal Takes It One Step Further: Arson, Cops Say
Serial NJ Church Vandal Takes It One Step Further: Arson, Cops Say A 42-year-old Verona man with a history of vandalizing a Catholic church in Verona was charged with intentionally setting a fire there  on Thursday, April 4, authorities said. At 3:33 a.m., Verona police responded to Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church on Lakeside Avenue and observed a heavy smoke condition, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II and Verona Police Chief Christopher Kiernan said. Firefighters were called to the scene and quickly extinguished the blaze, authorities said. An investigation determined the fire was started deliberately and arrested…
'Iconic' North Jersey Restaurant Closing After 60 Years 'Iconic' North Jersey Restaurant Closing After 60 Years
'Iconic' North Jersey Restaurant Closing After 60 Years A popular Italian restaurant in North Jersey is closing after 60 years in business. The last day of business for Miele's Restaurant, located at 125 Bloomfield Ave., in Verona, will be on Sunday, Dec. 24, owner Steve Amadeo announced on Facebook. Posted by Steve Amadeo on Thursday, December 21, 2023 Miele's was founded by Tom and Rose Miele in 1954 before turning over the restaurant to Joann Amadeo, who began working there as a waitress in 1967. Steve Amadeo, Joann's son, has been running the place alongside his wife Leonor, but announced his retirement last week.  At the…
Lyndhurst Man Wanted On Warrants Charged With Trashing Relative's Home, Fighting Police Lyndhurst Man Wanted On Warrants Charged With Trashing Relative's Home, Fighting Police
Lyndhurst Man Wanted On Warrants Charged With Trashing Relative's Home, Fighting Police A Lyndhurst man wanted for trashing a relative's home ran from police, then fought with them before being subdued, authorities said. Officers responding to a call from a Stuyvesant Avenue home learned that Faiz Mohammad, 27, had become irate and vandalized the place, causing $1,300 worth of damage before fleeing, Detective Lt. Vincent Auteri said. Police were looking out for Mohammad when he returned, prompting the relative to hide in a bathroom and call police, Auteri said. He fled again but was spotted soon after by Officer Matthew Dudek on 5th Avenue, the lieutenant said. Dudek ended u…
ELDER ABUSE: Financial Advisor Swiped $75K, Neglected 90-Year-Old Woman In His Care: NJ AG ELDER ABUSE: Financial Advisor Swiped $75K, Neglected 90-Year-Old Woman In His Care: NJ AG
Elder Abuse: Financial Advisor Swiped $75K, Neglected 90-Year-Old Woman In His Care: NJ AG A financial advisor from Verona abused his authority over a 90-year-old client's finances, stealing $75,000 while neglecting her care and well-being and letting her bills pile up, state authorities charged. John Boston, 47, tried to hide his hiring to manage the woman's affairs and assets, they said. He never told his employer and ignored a federal Financial Industry Regulatory Authority requirement to register the victim as a client, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a joint announcement with Interim Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Al Garcia. After obtaining durable fin…
'Distressing': Chess Club Teacher Sexually Assaulted North Jersey Student, Authorities Say 'Distressing': Chess Club Teacher Sexually Assaulted North Jersey Student, Authorities Say
'Distressing': Chess Club Teacher Sexually Assaulted North Jersey Student, Authorities Say Matthew Swajkowski, a 36-year-old Verona resident and teacher, was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a student, prosecutors said. Swajkowski oversaw the chess club at Verona High School and the victim was a member of the club, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II said. Police began investigating Swajkowski in July  and determined he engaged in sexual conduct with the minor and also gave them alcohol, Stephens said. Swajkowski was arrested on Friday, Sept. 22, Stephens said. Prosecutors did not say how old the victim is, but noted  "while the ag…
Verona Car Wash Employee In Intensive Care After Out-Of-Control Sedan Knocks Him 50 Feet Verona Car Wash Employee In Intensive Care After Out-Of-Control Sedan Knocks Him 50 Feet
Verona Car Wash Employee In Intensive Care After Out-Of-Control Sedan Knocks Him 50 Feet A Verona car wash employee was in intensive care after an out-of-control sedan driven by a 75-year-old man sent him flying, authorities said. The elderly Bayville resident's Cadillac left the roadway and hit the unidentified 41-year-old worker who was on the job in the driveway of Quality Car Wash on Bloomfield Avenue on March 26, Police Chief Christopher Kiernan said. The impact knocked the victim 50 or so feet, the chief said. The Caddy also whacked an SUV and another sedan before slamming into a utility pole, he said.  The worker and two vehicles were struck before the sedan slamme…
Mastermind Of 84 Brazen Burglaries In Nine NJ Counties, Rockland Gets Plea-Bargained 14 Years Mastermind Of 84 Brazen Burglaries In Nine NJ Counties, Rockland Gets Plea-Bargained 14 Years
Mastermind Of 84 Brazen Burglaries In Nine NJ Counties, Rockland Gets Plea-Bargained 14 Years UPDATE: A Teaneck ex-con was sentenced to 14 years in state prison for leading a band of brazen burglars who authorities said committed no fewer than 84 broad-daylight home break-ins throughout New Jersey and Rockland County. Keith Perry, 39, took a deal from prosecutors rather than risk the consequences of a trial, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said on Tuesday, March 14. Perry was among several people arrested in April 2021 for dozens of burglaries committed over the previous six months in nine New Jersey counties — Morris, Bergen, Essex, Somerset, Hunterdon, Union, Passai…
'You Look Like Joe Manganiello,' NJ Coffee Shop Owner Tells Joe Manganiello 'You Look Like Joe Manganiello,' NJ Coffee Shop Owner Tells Joe Manganiello
'You Look Like Joe Manganiello,' NJ Coffee Shop Owner Tells Joe Manganiello Danielle Kermizian was getting ready to teach a workout class in the gym connected to her Verona coffee shop, The Compound Coffee Co., when a guy who looked just like Joe Manganiello walked in last Friday, Jan. 27. He was at least 6-foot-5 and very handsome. He was also holding a Chihuahua, the same breed as the dog Manganiello shares with his wife, Sofia Vergara. "You look just like that guy, Joe Manganiello," a flustered Kermizian said. Her manager agreed: "Yeah, you look just like him." Kermizian left to teach her class and told the ladies that they just had to see the dapper man who w…
GOTCHA! Hardcore Ex-Con Trio Robbed 80-Year-Old Shopper In Route 46 Costco Lot: Prosecutor GOTCHA! Hardcore Ex-Con Trio Robbed 80-Year-Old Shopper In Route 46 Costco Lot: Prosecutor
Gotcha! Hardcore Ex-Con Trio Robbed 80-Year-Old Shopper In Route 46 Costco Lot: Prosecutor UPDATE: Authorities charged three hardcore criminals from Newark with robbing a defenseless 80-year-old shopper in the parking lot of a Costco off Route 46 in Teterboro. Ex-cons Alex Carroll, 35, David Fate, 38, and Tariq Kyam, 57, all have extensive, violent criminal histories, records show. Kyam and Fate were both charged with committing two robberies in 2009, one of which left a Verona gas station attendant shot dead. Kyam served nearly nine years behind bars after Fate testified against him. How much time Fate served in exchange for his testimony couldn't immediately be determined. Th…
Celebration Of Life For Beloved North Jersey Educator Will Be Livestreamed Celebration Of Life For Beloved North Jersey Educator Will Be Livestreamed
Celebration Of Life For Beloved North Jersey Educator Will Be Livestreamed A celebration of life for career North Jersey educator Michael Carlucci will be live-streamed later this week to what's expected to be an enormous audience. The beloved 57-year-old father of three from Verona had been swimming with his wife, Jeanene, and others on Saturday when he apparently was caught in a rip current generated by Hurricane Earl. His body was recovered after a 45-minute search. Carlucci’s funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. this Friday, Sept. 16, at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit (36 Gould Street, Verona), where he was an active parishioner. MAP: Episcopal …
'Sweet, Selfless, Always Smiling': Beloved North Jersey Educator Michael Carlucci, 57 'Sweet, Selfless, Always Smiling': Beloved North Jersey Educator Michael Carlucci, 57
'Sweet, Selfless, Always Smiling': Beloved North Jersey Educator Michael Carlucci, 57 A celebration of life for career North Jersey educator Michael Carlucci will be live-streamed later this week to what's expected to be an enormous audience. The beloved 57-year-old father of three from Verona had been swimming with his wife, Jeanene, and others on Saturday when he apparently was caught in a rip current generated by Hurricane Earl. His body was recovered after a 45-minute search. Carlucci’s funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. this Friday, Sept. 16 at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit (36 Gould Street, Verona), where he was an active parishioner. MAP: Episcopal C…
Paid Actors Wanted For Short Film In North Jersey Paid Actors Wanted For Short Film In North Jersey
Paid Actors Wanted For Short Film In North Jersey Are you the parental type? A casting call is currently underway for paid lead and supporting roles in a short film about new parents that will be filmed in northern New Jersey.  "The Begetters," by Clifton Robinson is about a young couple who "endure the task of being first-time parents," according to the casting synopsis. The filming will be in Verona with rehearsals starting Aug. 22 and shooting on Sept. 12-13.  The production by DescrEye LLC is seeking actors and performers to portray the following: Leo: Lead, Male, 25-35; a charming and loving husband who is …
North Jersey Car Burglars Caught In The Act Had Loaded Magazine, Handgun: Police North Jersey Car Burglars Caught In The Act Had Loaded Magazine, Handgun: Police
North Jersey Car Burglars Caught In The Act Had Loaded Magazine, Handgun: Police A pair of car burglars caught mid-act by officers were found with a loaded magazine and handgun, police in Essex County said. Charles Pugsley, 23, of Newark, and Daniel Gomez, 26, of the Bronx, were standing next to an open car door outside of a Verona house around 5 a.m. Thursday, June 30 when the officers pulled up, Verona police said. A search of the suspect vehicle turned up a loaded handgun under the driver's seat, and a magazine that contained 30 rounds of ammunition inside one of Pugsley's bags, officers said. The homeowner's security camera showed the pair taking proceeds in plain …
Car Slams Through Medical Center In North Jersey (PHOTOS) Car Slams Through Medical Center In North Jersey (PHOTOS)
Car Slams Through Medical Center In North Jersey (Photos) A car slammed through the side of a brick medical center early Wednesday, May 4 in Essex County. The driver of the Toyota wagon was taken to a local hospital with unknown injuries after the crash at 50 Pompton Avenue in Verona around 7 a.m., police said. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at First Care Medical due to the damage to the building. The accident remains under investigation and anyone with any additional information can contact Officer Ruff at (973) 239-5000. Posted by Verona Police Department on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 Posted by Verona Police Department on Wednesd…
NJ Motorcyclist Killed In FL Crash Was Not Wearing Helmet: Report NJ Motorcyclist Killed In FL Crash Was Not Wearing Helmet: Report
NJ Motorcyclist Killed In FL Crash Was Not Wearing Helmet: Report A 52-year-old motorcyclist from North Jersey died in a Florida crash Monday, April 4, NJ Advance Media says citing a crash report. The unidentified Verona man veered off of a roadway in Vineyards and struck a curb, before the motorcycle overturned on the median, the outlet said citing the Florida Highway Patrol. The motorcyclist was hospitalized and subsequently pronounced dead. The crash report shows he was not wearing a helmet, NJ Advance Media reports. Click here for more from NJ.com.
NOR'EASTER: New Jersey Towns With The Least & Most Snow NOR'EASTER: New Jersey Towns With The Least & Most Snow
NOR'Easter: New Jersey Towns With The Least & Most Snow New Jerseyans on Saturday afternoon began digging out of the second snowstorm this month. Some had a only few inches to shovel away -- others, feet. Here's a look at snow totals (in inches) from across the state, according to the National Weather Service. Wayne: 3.3 Asbury: 3.5 Verona/Montclair: 4 Hewitt: 5.1 Chatham: 6.3 Bergenfield: 6.9 Wood-Ridge: 7.2 North Brunswick: 8.3 Elizabeth: 8.5 Evesham: 10 inches Hammonton: 10 inches Cape May Harbor: 13 Holmdel: 14 Jackson: 14.1 Eatontown: 14.2 Avalon: 15 inches Little Egg Harbor: 18 inches Linwood: 19 inches Bayville: 21 Expect cold and blus…
Pagans Shoot At Hells Angel On NJ Turnpike After Baseball Bat Bar Brawl, Feds Charge Pagans Shoot At Hells Angel On NJ Turnpike After Baseball Bat Bar Brawl, Feds Charge
Pagans Shoot At Hells Angel On NJ Turnpike After Baseball Bat Bar Brawl, Feds Charge Two high-ranking members of the Pagans who were beaten with baseball bats in a barroom brawl sought revenge by shooting at one of the Hells Angels on the New Jersey Turnpike, federal authorities charged. Larry "Savage" Ortiz, 31, of Elizabeth, and Junius "Jayo" Aquino, aka 38, of Vauxhall, were in a Verona bar when they were attacked on Oct. 21, 2020, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. A week later, the pair shot at an associate of the rival biker gang "in retaliation for the Verona assault," an indictment returned by a grand jury in Newark charges. The indictment retur…
Attention Centers On Accused Mastermind Of 84 Brazen Burglaries In Nine NJ Counties, Rockland Attention Centers On Accused Mastermind Of 84 Brazen Burglaries In Nine NJ Counties, Rockland
Attention Centers On Accused Mastermind Of 84 Brazen Burglaries In Nine NJ Counties, Rockland A Teaneck ex-con accused of leading a band of brazen burglars who committed no fewer than 84 broad-daylight break-ins throughout New Jersey and Rockland County could find two of them testifying against him if he goes to trial. Porsche Brown, 29, of Lodi, and Kay Brown, 23, of Paterson (no relation) took guilty pleas rather than take their chances with a jury. The likelihood that either or both could testify against him in exchange for leniency at sentencing could determine the course that Keith Perry, 38, takes in his defense. A grand jury this week indicted Perry on a host of charges, inc…
8th Tornado Across NJ, PA Confirmed In Lehigh County 8th Tornado Across NJ, PA Confirmed In Lehigh County
8th Tornado Across NJ, PA Confirmed In Lehigh County The National Weather Service has confirmed a tornado touched down in Lehigh County during Thursday's storm -- making that the eighth across New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. The EF0 twister touched down in Slatington and had winds up to 85 mph (click here for photos). It touched down on the grounds of Northern Lehigh High School, snapping and uprooting several trees. A wooden dugout on the baseball field lost its roof and some anchored metal bleaches were tossed, the NWS said. The twister continued its path straight west to east from the high school to the airport, where a plane ha…
Tornado Touched Down In North Jersey, NWS Confirms Tornado Touched Down In North Jersey, NWS Confirms
Tornado Touched Down In North Jersey, NWS Confirms A tornado touched down in North Jersey during Thursday's storm, the National Weather Service has confirmed. The EF-0 twister had maximum winds of 65 mph, was 50 yards wide and touched down just before 6 p.m. in Essex County. We can confirm an EF-0 tornado briefly touched down in Essex County, NJ yesterday evening. Maximum winds were 65 mph and it was on the ground for less than a half mile. Several trees and large limbs were knocked down, with one home left severely damaged. #NJwx #tornado pic.twitter.com/SZ7ilLUTPt — NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) July 30, 2021 The tornado was on the…
Penn State Grad, 30, Killed In Fiery Crash On Garden State Parkway Penn State Grad, 30, Killed In Fiery Crash On Garden State Parkway
Penn State Grad, 30, Killed In Fiery Crash On Garden State Parkway A 30-year-old West Orange man died in a crash on the Garden State Parkway earlier this week. Craig Waldron was heading north when his GMC SUV ran off the roadway to the left, went down an embankment and struck several trees in Bloomfield Tuesday morning, New Jersey State Police Trooper Charles Marchan said. The vehicle went up in flames near milepost 153.7 around 11:15 a.m., and Waldron was pronounced dead. According to his obituary, Waldron -- who went by CJ -- graduated from West Orange High School in 209 and earned his bachelor's degree from Penn State University. He had been working i…
Newark Projects Dealer Caught With Gun Gets 5 Years In Fed Pen Newark Projects Dealer Caught With Gun Gets 5 Years In Fed Pen
Newark Projects Dealer Caught With Gun Gets 5 Years In Fed Pen A Newark drug dealer caught with a gun was sentenced to five years in federal prison, authorities said. Ricky Terrell, 24, was one of several dealers targeted for running an open-air drug market – slinging heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and more -- at the Stephen Crane Village public housing complex near the Belleville border, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said. Several law enforcement agencies teamed up to smash the operation, making undercover buys and intercepting phone calls and text messages, among other tactics, she said. On Feb. 25, 2020, they raided Terrell’s home and found hero…
Unauthorized Party Exposes Verona Firefighters To COVID-19 With Several Quarantining Unauthorized Party Exposes Verona Firefighters To COVID-19 With Several Quarantining
Unauthorized Party Exposes Verona Firefighters To Covid-19 With Several Quarantining Several Verona firefighters were quarantining after being exposed to COVID-19 during an unauthorized holiday gathering at a local firehouse, officials said. Fire Station No. 2 on Bloomfield Avenue subsequently closed and is forced to rely on mutual aid from neighboring towns and Fire Station No. 1 because of the event, Township Manager Matthew Cavallo said. It was not clear when the party happened or how many firefighters were exposed. "The holiday gathering was not authorized by the Township and actions have been taken to ensure similar incidents will not happen in the future," Cavallo sa…
NEW RANKINGS: These New Jersey Towns Named Among Safest In State NEW RANKINGS: These New Jersey Towns Named Among Safest In State
NEW Rankings: These New Jersey Towns Named Among Safest In State A new report from AdvisorSmith ranked the crime rates of hundreds of municipalities across New Jersey to determine the safest small, midsize and large cities. The study — which analyzed a total of 37 large cities, 200 midsize cities and 247 small cities — used data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Dataset to calculate and compare crime levels, putting more weight on serious and violent crimes like murder, rape and assault. The analysis found the safest small, midsize and large cities to be Matawan, Warren Township and Middletown, respectively. The average crime score for the large ci…
COVID-19: Unconfirmed Case Linked To Large Essex High School Party COVID-19: Unconfirmed Case Linked To Large Essex High School Party
Covid-19: Unconfirmed Case Linked To Large Essex High School Party Extracurriculars and athletics have been cancelled in one Essex County district after an unconfirmed COVID-19 case linked to large gathering was reported to district officials. A party without proper social distancing or face masks is what Verona Superintendent Rui Dionisio said prompted Monday's two-week cancellation of clubs and athletics. "This is an allegation the Verona Public School District takes very seriously," Dionisio said.  "The Verona Public School District does not have verified details at this time as to the students who were at the gathering or who may or may not have …
Feds: Undercover Buys, Wire Snare Members Of Crew That Slung Smack, Crack In Newark Projects Feds: Undercover Buys, Wire Snare Members Of Crew That Slung Smack, Crack In Newark Projects
Feds: Undercover Buys, Wire Snare Members Of Crew That Slung Smack, Crack In Newark Projects Federal agents arrested three accused members of a crew that the government said has controlled the heroin and crack market in a labyrinthine complex of affordable housing and senior apartments in Newark. ATF agents working with U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito’s office and other local, state and federal law enforcers zeroed in on the privately-owned Pilgrim Baptist Village housing complex. Commonly known as “Pilgrim Village,” the project consists of 46 buildings, each with four units, with interior stairwells leading from each apartment to a common hallway that connects multiple buildings, …
Celebrity Chef Floyd Cardoz Of Verona Dies Of Coronavirus, 59 Celebrity Chef Floyd Cardoz Of Verona Dies Of Coronavirus, 59
Celebrity Chef Floyd Cardoz Of Verona Dies Of Coronavirus, 59 Acclaimed Indian chef and Verona resident Floyd Cardoz died from COVID-19 at the age of 59, reports say. Cardoz, known for his roles at Indian fine dining restaurants Tabla and Bombay Bread Bar in Manhattan, came back from India via Frankfurt on March 8 “feeling feverish,” he said in an Instagram post. He admitted himself to a hospital in New York thinking he had the flu, said Lou Palma, Cardoz’s close friend. Cardoz -- who appeared on Season 2 of David Chang's "Ugly Delicious" -- died from complications of the virus at Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center in Glen Ridge. …
Prosecutor: Verona Man Had More Than 1,000 Photos Of Children Being Sexually Abused Prosecutor: Verona Man Had More Than 1,000 Photos Of Children Being Sexually Abused
Prosecutor: Verona Man Had More Than 1,000 Photos Of Children Being Sexually Abused A 76-year-old Verona man was found with more than 1,000 items depicting the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, said authorities who charged him. Paul J. Bonelli was arrested following an investigation into a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, and Verona Police Chief Christopher Kiernan said. Devices and digital storage media were recovered from Bonelli's home on a search warrant executed by several law enforcement agencies, Stephens and Kiernan said. Bonelli was identified during an investigation…
No Pets Inside, No Injuries Reported In Fire At Animal Hospital In Fairfield No Pets Inside, No Injuries Reported In Fire At Animal Hospital In Fairfield
No Pets Inside, No Injuries Reported In Fire At Animal Hospital In Fairfield No pets were in the Animal Hospital of Fairifeld when a destructive fire broke out Saturday night, responders said. Staff made it out before the three-alarm blaze tore through the Fairfield Road building, which isn't a boarding facility. The fire broke out shortly after 9 p.m. and immediately went to two alarms, the Fairfield Volunteer Fire Department said. Flames blew through the roof as firefighters conducted a "surround and drown," the department said. The scene was cleared at 11:50 p.m. Colleagues from Cedar Grove, Lincoln Park, Bloomfield, North Caldwell, West Caldwell, Pine Brook a…
White Couple That Used Livingston Fertility Clinic Has Part-Asian Baby White Couple That Used Livingston Fertility Clinic Has Part-Asian Baby
White Couple That Used Livingston Fertility Clinic Has Part-Asian Baby A judge has ordered a fertility clinic based at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston to hand over donor lists after a Verona couple gave birth to a child outside their race, according to published reports.  In a lawsuit, the Verona couple, who are now divorced, says the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science impregnated the woman with the sperm of another man and not her husband's.  The baby has a genetic disorder seen in people of Southeast Asian descent. Neither the man or the woman, who are white, carry the gene for the condition. Genetic testing further revealed …