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Saturday, apr 27
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NJ Advance Media
Business
Owner Of Scotch Plains Steakhouse Sold After 14 Years Has Message For Critics
After 14 years and a million meals served, the Grillestone Steakhouse is closing its doors. Frank Peterpaul, who's been running the Scotch Plains restaurant, says it has been sold as his family embarks on a new chapter. Peterpaul went on to thank the customers who became friends, who became family, the valued staff, and noted the sense of belonging and joy that came from being part of the community. And toward the bottom of Peterpaul's goodbye tribute, he left a special message for the critics: "For the detractors, yelpers and self-proclaimed restaurant critics, I would relish the opportu…
Police & Fire
Fire Rips Through Newark's Historic Kastner Mansion — Again
Newark's more than 130-year-old Kastner Mansion has suffered yet another devastating blaze. Videos show flames consuming the vacant Victorian home on Clinton Avenue Saturday morning, Oct. 28. Repost from @newarkisnow • @newarknjblog - It is with great sadness that I announce that the Kastner Mansion has... Posted by Newark Illustrated LLC on Saturday, October 28, 2023 Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé said Saturday's blaze broke out around 7:15. No injuries were reported and the fire was considered under control at 7:32 a.m. Around this time in 2018, a squatter staying in th…
Lifestyle
NJ High School Sweethearts Make Deal On 'Shark Tank,' Fry Bar Expands Across State: Report
A pair of high school sweethearts running a Latin-inspired French fry company struck a deal this week on "Shark Tank." James and Johanna Windon, who met at Morristown High School and are now married with three children, started Buena Papa Fry Bar in Raleigh, N.C., with just $18 in their bank account during the pandemic. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Buena Papa Fry Bar 🍟 (@buenapapafrybar) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Buena Papa Fry Bar 🍟 (@buenapapafrybar) In two…
News
NJ Nursing Home Closes Abruptly Prompting Emergency Evacuation Of 70 Residents: Reports
A New Jersey nursing home closed suddenly on Friday, Sept. 1, and only notified residents' families that morning — leaving them with just hours to relocate, as first reported by Planet Princeton. Families of more than 70 residents of Princeton Care Center had less than a day to find new facilities, due to a sale of the facility that fell through the day prior, a spokesperson for the state's health department tells NJ Advance Media. A resident of the facility on Facebook said PCC patients were "fed and left in their soiled linens until they were moved to the new facilities as far as Morrist…
Police & Fire
Couple Who Dumped, Ran From Feces-Covered Puppy At NJ Home Depot Face Charges
Charges have been filed against a couple who police say dropped a puppy covered in dried feces in a Home Depot parking lot in Central Jersey. Police did not identify the man and woman captured by surveillance footage running away from the lab retriever pup, who followed them into the Route 9 Home Depot store in Old Bridge, after dumping her in the parking lot on Friday evening, May 26. "The dog was wearing a red harness and covered in dry feces," police said. "They were driving a black Ford truck, which was pulling a black Griffin trailer. Later, the dog’s empty crate was found in the par…
Business
Uncle Giuseppe's Marketplace Opens Jersey Shore Location
Uncle Giuseppe's has landed at the Jersey Shore. The popular Italian marketplace is open in the renovated 56,000-square-foot space on Shrewsbury Avenue in Tinton Falls, formerly home to the ACME supermarket that closed in 2019. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Uncle Giuseppe's Marketplace (@unclegiuseppesmarketplace) This is uncle G's third New Jersey location, with two others in Ramsey and Morris Plains. Along with its staple deli, bakery departments, gourmet cheese, meat, seafood and produce departments, this new Uncle G's is…
Police & Fire
Jersey City Officer Fired For Hitting Jogger Hopes To Be Reinstated, Lawyer Says
Supporters are rallying for a Jersey City police officer who they say was unfairly fired for hitting a jogger while responding to an emergency in February 2022. A GoFundMe for officer Edwin Hernandez says he is suffering "extreme punishment" as a result of his termination. Dashcam footage published by Real Garden State captured the Feb. 8, 2022 incident in which a jogger, later identified as Douglas Salom, ran directly in front of Hernandez's Crown Victoria on Jersey Avenue. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Real Garden State (@rea…
News
'Wanna Meet?' Ex-Jersey Shore High School Sportswriter Takes Plea In Underage Sex Luring Case
A former high school sportswriter from Ocean County admitted on Wednesday that he trafficked child porn off his cellphone and repeatedly pressed a minor to send him sexually explicit images, authorities said. Kevin Van Pelt, 33, of Lakehurst, was originally arrested in May 2019 after Gloucester County prosecutor's detectives and police in Woolwich Township said they found that he'd sought a meeting with a 14-year-old girl for sex through Snapchat and Instagram. Van Pelt, who worked part-time for NJ Advance Media – the parent company of NJ.com and the Star-Ledger – told the girl he’d been a …
Business
Restaurant Named Among America's Hottest Fast-Casual Startups To Open Another NJ Location
A restaurant named among America's hottest fast-casual startups appears to be planning a third New Jersey location. Cornbread Farm to Table, or simply with locations in Newark and Maplewood, has its sights set on Montclair, its Instagram bio reads. The restaurant has another location in Brooklyn, NY. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cornbread (@cornbreadsoul) According to NJ Advance Media, Cornbread will open in the space at 372 Bloomfield Ave. in Montclair sometime in the summer. Reps for the restaurant did not immediately retur…
News
Another Marijuana Dispensary Was Just Approved In Jersey City
The Jersey City Planning Board has approved the application for another marijuana dispensary, Daily Voice has learned. The application for Kushmart at 1521 Kennedy Boulevard had been carried by the Board from its Feb. 7 meeting over concerns it was too close to another applicant, 420 Cannabis Place Corp., as reported by the Hudson County View. Kushmart gained approval from the majority of the Board on Tuesday, Feb. 21, city officials confirmed with Daily Voice. Kushmart appears to be a Washington-based dispensary that opened in 2014. Its website says it is "consistently ranked a top r…
Politics
Two NJ Elected Officials Killed Week Apart
Just one week after the shooting death of a 30-year-old Sayreville councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, another elected official died the same way. Russell Heller, 51, a Republican councilman in Milford, was gunned down at work — a PSE&G parking lot — in Somerset on Wednesday, Feb. 8, authorities in Somerset County said. The suspect, former PSE&G employee Gary T. Curtis, 58, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound just more than an hour later, authorities said. An admired senior distribution supervisor, Heller had more than 11 years of service with PSE&G, the company said. …
Business
Discount Grocer Opens Third NJ Location
A popular discount grocery chain has opened a third location in New Jersey. Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, run by franchise operators Tracy and Kent Encarnacion, opened on Feb. 2 at 3057 Route 35 in Hazlet. It's the chain's third grocery store to open in New Jersey, joining Bargain Markets in Delran and Hamilton, and replacing ALDI market. The California-based supermarket chain offers shoppers deals on brand-name groceries, including fresh produce, meat, deli and dairy products, NJ Advance Media reports. The store carries a variety of natural and organic products, health and bea…
Police & Fire
Missing Mom Found Dead In Shallow Grave In Kearny: Prosecutor
UPDATE: Arrests In Luz Hernandez Case: One Suspect Captured In Miami, 2nd Remains At Large A 33-year-old Jersey City woman reported missing Monday, Feb. 6 has been found dead, authorities said. Luz Hernandez's body was found in "what appeared to be a shallow grave" in the area of Central Avenue and Third Street in Kearny, around 4:55 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. Hernandez, a mom of three, was reported missing after she failed to show up for work as a Kindergarten teacher at the BelovED Charter School, NJ Advance Media reports. A welfare check by JCPD…
Schools
Bayonne Teacher Groped Colleague: Police
A Bayonne High School faculty member and former varsity football coach was arrested on accusations he groped a 51-year-old colleague, authorities said. Ricardo Rodriguez became the center of an investigation when the female victim told police he went to hug after she unlocked a door for him, and he grabbed her chest and buttocks without consent around 8 a.m. at the high school on Jan. 9, Bayonne Police Capt. Eric Amato said. Rodriguez, a history teacher, was arrested at 9:4 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, and charged with criminal sexual contact, police said. He has purportedly been placed on admi…
Business
Popular Jersey Shore Restaurant Avon Pavilion Will Stay Open After All
Popular Jersey Shore restaurant Avon Pavilion was set to close after 33 years, but will remain open under new ownership. Bareli's By the Sea owners Liam and Carmen Maloney bought the Ocean Avenue restaurant and are expected to reopen in Spring 2023, NJ Advance Media reports. The Maloneys made the announcement on Instagram, too, where longtime patrons celebrated the news. Avon Pavilion overcame every obstacle in its way. The Avon-by-the-Sea stayed strong after the deaths of its founders in 2011: Mamma and Pappa Fishman. Three years later, the beachfront restaurant was rebuilt after Hurri…
Schools
Rutgers Frat Pledge Suffers Broken Skull, Brain Injury In Hazing Incident: Lawsuit
A 19-year-old Theta Chi pledge at Rutgers University is suing the school, the fraternity, its grand chapter, and more than a dozen fraternity brothers after falling down a flight of stairs in an alleged drunken hazing incident, leaving him seriously injured. Armand Runte, of Somers Point, was forced to drink "life-threatening" amounts of booze before tumbling down a flight of stairs at the Mine Street frat house in New Brunswick during "Big Brother Night" last month, according to a newly-filed lawsuit detailed by NJ Advance Media. The incident allegedly wasn't reported until hours later,&nb…
News
Drag Show Sparks Outrage Among Parents, Teachers Of NJ High School
Parents and teachers of a New Jersey high school expressed frustration over administration's handling of a student drag show in October. The event at Hunterdon Central Regional High School was held on Oct. 27, leaving teachers outraged over the loss of instructional time. Parents additionally expressed concern at a recent board meeting, according to footage shared by Libs of TikTok on Twitter: “Instead of our students being engaged in academic time, they were applying makeup and changing into their drag costumes,” says one parent. “This was a loss of over 30 minutes of instructional time fo…
News
Federal Inspection Finds More Issues At NJ Veteran's Home, Murphy Deploys Army To Help
An army of specialists were deployed by the Murphy administration to help combat health issues that riddle a New Jersey veteran's home. The "Mission Critical Team" members were deployed to the Menlo Park Veterans Memorial Home to "improve quality of care through mentoring, coaching, and sharing of operational and clinical best practices," the Murphy administration said in a release. The home is apparently "not in substantial compliance" and funding may be withheld for new admissions by the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services unless gaps in infection control and resident care …
Police & Fire
Dad, Son Charged In Stabbing Over Over GF Comment At TikTok Famous NJ Motel: Report
A father and son have been charged in a stabbing a North Bergen motel that's been going viral on TikTok, NJ Advance Media reports. Joel Garcia, 48, and Joevannie Garcia, 18, were charged with aggravated assault and weapons offenses following the incident Sunday, Nov. 20, at the Lincoln Tunnel Motel on Tonnelle Avenue, the outlet said citing police. Both lived at the hotel along with the 35-year-old victim, who was also arrested. The argument began when the victim made a comment about a girlfriend, the outlet said quoting North Bergen police. The motel has gained attention on TikTok, thanks…
Schools
Montclair Principal Removed Over Controversial Video Reinstated, Lawyer Says
A state arbitrator has ruled that a Montclair middle school principal fired over a Zoom video he played for teachers can return to his job, his lawyer tells various news outlets. Joseph Putrino, the former Renaissance at Rand principal, was put on administrative leave in 2020 when he apparently played a YouTube skit of a comedian yelling about remote learning. Montclair Superintendent Jonathan Ponds called the video "completely inappropriate and unacceptable." According to Montclair Local, another similar case was handled differently and so Putrino's was found "unjust," his lawyer Robert M.…
Sports
Star-Studded Camden HS Basketball Team In Recruit Scandal: Report
Camden High School's basketball team is accused of recruiting non-city residents to play on its star-studded team, NJ Advance Media reports. The team could be stripped of its 2022 state title and banned from post-season play in 2023, if they're found guilty of any wrongdoing, the outlet said, quoting an anonymous source. The team is led by the nation's No. 1 college recruit, D.J. Wagner, who also would suffer consequences Camden is set to appear at a Dec. 5 hearing before the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Controversies Committee, NJ.com said. The commit…
News
NJ Business Owner With 'Strong Family Ties' Let Out Before Trial After Deadly DWI Crash: Report
The co-owner of a New Jersey business and suspected drunken driver in a deadly crash has been released from Salem County Correctional Facility pending trial, NJ Advance Media reports. Amy Buchanan, 56, of Gloucester Township, was killed in a DWI crash involving a pickup truck driven by Patrick M. Dunn, 42, of Harrisonville, in Elk Township on Tuesday, Nov. 1, the outlet said. Dunn was arrested for “the suspicion of driving while intoxicated,” the outlet said, quoting the criminal complaint. Dunn was charged with reckless vehicular homicide and strict liability vehicular homicide. Nancy Ken…
News
Raritan Valley Community Freaked Out By Increasing Amount Of Monstrous Warehouses
Warehouses have begun popping up in one Somerset County community — and some residents have had their fill. A group of concerned citizens who live in a 55+ community of about 2,000 residents in Franklin Township held a rally on Thursday, Nov. 10 in protest of the monstrous developments. Organized by the Citizens Warehouse Action Group at Canal Walk, the rally was held with support from Franklin Township Councilman Ed Potosnak and Councilwoman Shepa Uddin. A Change.org petition had more than 1,200 signatures of the 1,500 needed as of the day of the rally. "Franklin Township (FT) is ov…
Business
High-Tech Go-Kart Track Brings New Life To Shuttered South Jersey Kmart Store
A former Central Jersey Kmart store is in the process of being transformed into a larger-than-life go-kart track. The building at 328 S. White Horse Pike in the Berlin Shopping Center of Berlin will soon boast 32 electric go-karts, arcades, a ninja course and rock climbing. "This new FEC is bound to breathe life back into this shopping center and the local community," said vendor DFX on Facebook. According to NJ Advance Media, company is leasing about two-thirds of the 92.000-square-foot Kmart building, which closed in 2014. DFX is also providing video systems, lighting and audio, the out…
News
$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…
News
NJ Town's Historians Desperate To Save Cherished Funeral Home Featured In 'The Sopranos'
A historic funeral home dubbed Belleville's "town jewel" is facing demolition. Built in 1887, the Cozzarelli Memorial Home is one of the town's last surviving historical structures, and was featured in "The Sopranos," as Tony mourned his mom's loss. The Washington Avenue building could be designated an "Area in Need of Redevelopment," as a resolution approved during a council meeting last month will allow the Planning Board determine that, NJ Advance Media reports. Michael Perrone, the president of Belleville's historical society, says the town is looking to demolish the building to m…
Police & Fire
DUI Charges Dropped For Defiant NJ Gym Owner: Reports
Drunk driving charges against Ian Smith, a former gym owner known for defying state COVID orders, have been dismissed, the New Jersey Globe reports. The charges had dashed Smith's chances of winning a Republican Party primary for the 3rd congressional seat. However, for the next nine months, a municipal court judge ordered Smith to have a breath alcohol ignition interlock device placed on his vehicle, his defense lawyer told NJ Advance Media. The former owner of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, Smith pleaded guilty to refusing a breathalyzer and careless driving, according to news reports. Th…
Business
Italian Restaurant Frequented By Celebs Brings Cocktail Lounge, Pizzeria To NJ Train Station
An Italian restaurant frequented by celebrities is bringing an upscale pizzeria to a local New Jersey train station, as first reported by NJ Advance Media. Owned by Michael Vitiello, Ristorante MV will be opening Pizzeria Tâton by MV at the Bernardsville Train Station, the outlet said. The concept was recently approved by municipal officials. Ristorante MV has seen many celebrities since opening in March 2021, among them (scroll for full list and photos): View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ristorante MV (@ristorantemv) …
News
President Biden To Attend Fundraiser At Gov. Murphy's NJ Mansion
President Joe Biden is expected to visit New Jersey ahead of the midterm elections, according to various news reports. Biden will be in the Garden State on Thursday, Oct. 6, to attending a fundraiser at Gov. Phil Murphy's Middletown mansion, according to Bloomberg and NJ Advance Media. Proceeds will benefit the Democratic National Committee’s Grassroots Victory Fund. Biden will also attend an event at IBM’s New York campus in Poughkeepsie, NY that day, and is expected to discuss job creation in the region, according to multiple reports. The president is expected to attend another fund…
Lifestyle
North Jersey Couple Helping Relatives Forced From Ukraine Featured On Home Renovation Show
A North Jersey couple helping relatives flee the war in Ukraine had help making the welcome an extra warm one from George Oliphant, of the NBC renovation show "George to the Rescue." A Montclair real-estate professional, Oksana Shevchuk-Shah came to Oliphant through his wife, Zoe, who also works in real estate, NJ Advance Media reports. When 46-year-old George Oliphant — also of Montclair — heard Oksana and her husband Milind Shah were getting ready to take in Ukrainian relatives forced out of their home by the war, he knew he had to help, he told the outlet. With just three weeks before …
Police & Fire
Dad Hospitalized In H2oi Golf Cart Crash With BMW
A collision involving a golf cart during the weekend's H2oi meetup in Wildwood left one person seriously hurt, according to news reports and relatives. Erhan Bayram was reportedly in an intensive care unit in Atlantic City after being struck by a speeding BMW on Rio Grande Avenue on Saturday, Sept. 24, according to various news reports and relatives. Mayor Pete Byron confirmed the incident with NJ Advance Media. A GoFundMe page for the family had raised more than $2,800 as of Monday, Sept. 26. Videos of the golf cart crash show a car in the far right lane taking off and swiping an…
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