Fair 17°
Police & Fire
Former NJ Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Another Student Years Ago: Prosecutors Former NJ Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Another Student Years Ago: Prosecutors
Former NJ Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Another Student Years Ago: Prosecutors A former Wall Township High School teacher was facing more charges after she was accused of sexually assaulting a second student, authorities said. Julie Rizzitello, 36, of Brick Township, was charged with one count of second-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree witness tampering, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release on Wednesday, July 17.  She was previously charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault, third-degree witness tampering, and three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact. Investigators said they found e…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Superintendent Of NJ School District Dies Superintendent Of NJ School District Dies
Superintendent Of NJ School District Dies The Montclair Public School District is mourning the loss of its superintendent. A message posted on the district website said only that the district is mourning the passing of Dr. Jonathan Ponds. Ponds was principal to students at the Parsons Elementary School in North Brunswick from 2012 to 2015 and also served as a superintendent and principal in Moonachie. Ponds also had experience working as a special education teacher, basketball coach, vice principal, and dean of students, his bio on the Montclair Schools website said. The district's director of secondary education Damen Coope…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
$1.13B Mega Millions Ticket Unclaimed More Than Three Months After NJ's Record Jackpot $1.13B Mega Millions Ticket Unclaimed More Than Three Months After NJ's Record Jackpot
$1.13B Mega Millions Ticket Unclaimed More Than Three Months After NJ's Record Jackpot The winner of a Mega Millions ticket purchased in New Jersey hasn't claimed the $1.13 billion prize more than three months after the record-setting jackpot, officials said. The winning ticket was sold at the ShopRite Wine & Spirits on Route 66 in Neptune for the drawing on Tuesday, Mar. 26. The New Jersey Lottery said the prize remained unclaimed in a news release on Monday, July 8.  The jackpot was the largest lottery prize ever in the Garden State. It's also the fifth-largest in Mega Millions history and the ninth-largest ever in the U.S. The winning numbers were …

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by Chris Spiker
News
Dump Truck Driver Cited For Disregarding A Stop Sign In Fatal South Jersey Crash: Prosecutor Dump Truck Driver Cited For Disregarding A Stop Sign In Fatal South Jersey Crash: Prosecutor
Dump Truck Driver Cited For Disregarding A Stop Sign In Fatal South Jersey Crash: Prosecutor The dump truck driver accused of passing through a stop sign in a fatal crash in Cumberland County has been formally cited, authorities said on Tuesday, July 2. Lamaas Arthur, 55, of Port Norris, received citations for disregarding a stop sign and careless driving, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office. The crash was on Thursday, June 20 in Commercial Township. No criminal charges had been filed as of Tuesday.  New Jersey State Police said that Arthur had "numerous motor vehicle violations." Brandy Woolson, 43, of Port Elizabeth, a mother of four, was killed in the …

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by Jon Craig
News
Services Set For Bergenfield High School Principal James 'Jim' Fasano, 59 Services Set For Bergenfield High School Principal James 'Jim' Fasano, 59
Services Set For Bergenfield High School Principal James 'Jim' Fasano, 59 Funeral arrangements have been finalized for James "Jim" Fasano, the longtime principal of Bergenfield High School. Fasano died on Thursday, June 27. He was 59 years old. An official cause of death was not released, however, Bergenfield Superintendent Christopher Tully noted that his passing was sudden. According to the Riewerts Memorial Home, visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 2, at Conlon Hall in Bergenfield. A Funeral Mass will be on Wednesday, July 3 at the St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church at 11 a.m. "Our high school will never be the same without him," Tul…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Bergenfield High School Principal Dies Suddenly Bergenfield High School Principal Dies Suddenly
Bergenfield High School Principal Dies Suddenly The Bergenfield Public School District is mourning the loss of its high school principal, James "Jim" Fasano. "Our high school will never be the same without him," Superintendent Christopher Tully said in a letter dated Thursday, June 27, less than a week after the last day of the school year. Tully did not provide a cause of death but did say that it was sudden. ALSO SEE: Services Set For Bergenfield High School Principal James 'Jim' Fasano, 59 Fasano was a community member for 59 years, having spent 30 of them serving as principal. He was also a teacher, coach, and assistant pr…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Temps Could Feel 105 Degrees This Week, Excessive Heat Watch Issued Across NJ, PA (TIMING) Temps Could Feel 105 Degrees This Week, Excessive Heat Watch Issued Across NJ, PA (TIMING)
Temps Could Feel 105 Degrees This Week, Excessive Heat Watch Issued Across NJ, PA (Timing) A heat advisory and excessive heat watch are both in effect across New Jersey and Pennsylvania ahead of scorching temps expected later this week. Temps are expected to rise into the low 90s Tuesday, June 18 (see heat index maps below) and get increasingly hotter as the week progresses.  National Weather Service By Friday, temps are expected to be at 96, but could feel more like 100 or even 105, the National Weather Service says. Some New Jersey school districts have early dismissals planned. Those are: Bridgewater-Raritan (Tuesday, with 4-hour days already planned for Wednesd…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Jersey City Charter School Teacher Had Sexual Conduct With Student, Prosecutor Says Jersey City Charter School Teacher Had Sexual Conduct With Student, Prosecutor Says
Jersey City Charter School Teacher Had Sexual Conduct With Student, Prosecutor Says A 67-year-old Jersey City charter school teacher was charged with having sexual conduct with a student, authorities said. Steven Gordon was released after being processed following alleged "Inappropriate contact" at the University Academy Charter High School on West Side Avenue in Jersey City during school hours on May 29, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. Gordon was charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, as well as child endangerment, Suarez said in announcing the arrest on Monday, June 17.  He immediately resigned from his job at the 9-12 public charter …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
NJ High School Senior Dies Week Before Graduation: 'Promising Future Cut Short' NJ High School Senior Dies Week Before Graduation: 'Promising Future Cut Short'
NJ High School Senior Dies Week Before Graduation: 'Promising Future Cut Short' Support is on the rise for the mother of a 19-year-old Elizabeth man who recently died. Anthony Cruz passed away on June 11, according to his obituary. A GoFundMe launched for his mother, Sandra Santos, said he was on the brink of graduating from high school and embarking on a new chapter in life. "His achievements and plans for further education had made his mother incredibly proud, but his promising future was tragically cut short," reads the campaign launched by Melanie Martinez. A cause of death was not provided. I still can’t believe that your gone it feels like a bad dream you …

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
UPDATE: 'Inappropriate Comment' Temporarily Halts Distribution Of NJ School Yearbook UPDATE: 'Inappropriate Comment' Temporarily Halts Distribution Of NJ School Yearbook
Update: 'Inappropriate Comment' Temporarily Halts Distribution Of NJ School Yearbook A graduating Ramapo Indian Hills High School student intended "no harm or offense" with an "inappropriate comment" in the senior yearbook, the district's acting chief said Thursday night. According to parents, a graduating senior included an untoward reference to a Jewish Holocaust victim under his portrait photo. In response, Ramapo Indian Hills High School District Acting Supt. Dr. Melissa Quackenbush said officials were halting the distribution of the remaining yearbooks and were talking with the distributor about reprints. "Additionally, we are consulting with the Jewish Federatio…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Business
Storied Disappearing Dumont Donkey Is Hero Mascot At Builder's New Ice Cream Shop Storied Disappearing Dumont Donkey Is Hero Mascot At Builder's New Ice Cream Shop
Storied Disappearing Dumont Donkey Is Hero Mascot At Builder's New Ice Cream Shop It was 2017 and Matt Dagistanli was in the process of building the structure that stands today at 65 W. Madison Avenue in Dumont, when his donkey went missing. He wasn't a real donkey, of course, but a statue that Dagistanli and his former business partner had affectionately called Dumbo. Dagistanli grew quite fond of Dumbo, and wasn't ready to get rid of him at the turn of his career change. "I didn’t want to sell it or throw it away, so I took it home," said Dagistanli, 63, of Rutherford. "My wife said, 'You need to take this away.'" Dagistanli had nowhere to keep Dumbo except for …

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by Cecilia Levine
Events
'Best Spot In America For Small-Town Carnival:' Night Of Family Fun Returns To Paramus 'Best Spot In America For Small-Town Carnival:' Night Of Family Fun Returns To Paramus
'Best Spot In America For Small-Town Carnival:' Night Of Family Fun Returns To Paramus You've likely seen the colorful ferris wheel looming over the crossroads of Route 4 and Route 17, right outside of the one of the highest performing malls in the United States. Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence (L.E.A.D.) founder Nick DeMauro knew what he was doing when he put the carnival there.  "It's the best location in the nation for a small-town carnival," he said. And it's back. The annual L.E.A.D. Fest Carnival is running every Wednesday to Sunday through June 9, at the Westfield Garden State Plaza. Admission is $5, while tickets for rides and games, and food purchas…

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by Cecilia Levine