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Police & Fire
Four Firefighters Injured After Blaze Damages Historic Church Four Firefighters Injured After Blaze Damages Historic Church
Four Firefighters Injured After Blaze Damages Historic Church Grace Presbyterian Church, a 99-year-old Montclair institution, suffered extensive damage after a three-alarm fire tore the building on Tuesday morning, August 15. Montclair firefighters rushed to Grove Street and Tuxedo Road at 8 a.m. and found the fire reaching from the basement to the roofline at the back of the church, Deputy Chief Robert Duncan said. The roof collapsed about a half hour after the blaze started, according to witnesses on scene. It took multiple hoselines and master streams to bring the fire under control at 11 a.m., Duncan said. Four firefighters suffered minor injurie…

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by Jerry DeMarco and Sam Barron
Police & Fire
$15,000 Worth Of Items Snatched While Homeowner Away: Montclair PD $15,000 Worth Of Items Snatched While Homeowner Away: Montclair PD
$15,000 Worth Of Items Snatched While Homeowner Away: Montclair PD A man who returned to Montclair after two weeks out of state was in for a rude awakening, authorities said. On Monday, July 10, a man reported to police that when he returned to his home on Park Street, he discovered his home had been burglarized, with $15,000 worth of items taken, officers said.  The burglar entered the home by force through a basement bathroom window, police said. The burglar then proceeded to rummage through the home, and took jewelry, purses and gold coins, police said.

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by Sam Barron
Events
'Gioia Mia': North Jersey Restaurant Honors Late Grandmother 'Gioia Mia': North Jersey Restaurant Honors Late Grandmother
'Gioia Mia': North Jersey Restaurant Honors Late Grandmother It's out with Fascino and in with Gioia Mia.  Gioia Mia, which translates to "My Joy" has taken over the spot formerly held by Fascino, at 331 Bloomfield Ave. in Montclair. The restaurant is now run by Mary Cumella, who was general manager of Fascino, with Logan Ramirez, who was chef de cusine at Fascino, serving as an executive chef. Cumella said she had planned to open Gioia Mia at another location but plans fell through. She initially ran Gioia Mia as a pop-up concept at Fascino's and received "incredible" feedback. "The guests loved it," Cumella said. "They said it was the best meal t…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
3 Brick City Brims Get 100 Years Combined For Murdering Informant, Bystander, Rival Gangster 3 Brick City Brims Get 100 Years Combined For Murdering Informant, Bystander, Rival Gangster
3 Brick City Brims Get 100 Years Combined For Murdering Informant, Bystander, Rival Gangster A trio of ruthless Essex County gang members who admitted gunning down a government informant after killing an innocent bystander they mistook for the snitch were sentenced to nearly 100 years combined in federal prison. There’s no parole in the federal prison system, which means the East Orange trio will all have to serve out their plea-bargained sentences: Thomas Zimmerman, 28, was sentenced to 37 years; Tyquan Daniels, 27, got 35 years; Ali Hill, 30, was sentenced to 25 years. That means Daniels and Zimmerman will both be pushing 65 when either tastes freedom again. Hill would be approa…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Obituaries
North Jersey Dad Chris Lau Dies, 39 North Jersey Dad Chris Lau Dies, 39
North Jersey Dad Chris Lau Dies, 39 Chris Lau, a 39-year-old Glen Ridge resident, died unexpectedly on Friday, June 16, according to his obituary. Lau was a graduate of Rutgers and worked in advertising sales, his obituary reads.  He is survived by his wife Danielle, his children, Joseph and Matthew and his parents, Craig and Cindy, according to his obituary. It is with a heavy heart that I go on to write this post. I met Chris Lau nearly 21 years ago when fate brought us... Posted by Frank Petronella on Monday, June 19, 2023 A funeral was held at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Montclair on Wednesday, J…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Ex-NJ Lawyer Convicted Of Killing GF Dies In Jail On Father's Day Ex-NJ Lawyer Convicted Of Killing GF Dies In Jail On Father's Day
Ex-NJ Lawyer Convicted Of Killing GF Dies In Jail On Father's Day James Ray III, the Montclair lawyer convicted of killing Angela Blesdoe, the mother of his 6-year-old daughter, died in jail just days before he was due for sentencing, Daily Voice has learned. Ray, 60, was found unconscious in his cell at the Essex County Jail on Father's Day around 6 p.m., the New York Times says citing James Troisi, the vice president of the union that represents the jail’s supervisors.  "We have confirmed that James Ray that has died, though the cause and manner are not known," said Robert Florida, spokesman for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. "An a…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
It’s Over: Burglars Who Stole $1M In World Series Rings, More From Berra Museum Busted By Feds It’s Over: Burglars Who Stole $1M In World Series Rings, More From Berra Museum Busted By Feds
It’s Over: Burglars Who Stole $1M In World Series Rings, More From Berra Museum Busted By Feds The local cops suspected it was an inside job, but federal authorities on Thursday said otherwise. It seems the burglars who broke into the Yogi Berra Museum at Montclair State University nearly a decade ago and stole several of his World Series rings, two of his MVP plaques and the glove the Yankee legend used to catch Don Larsen’s perfect game were actually part of a multi-state ring. Eight people in all were charged with a series of heists of priceless artwork and one-of-a-kind sports memorabilia from museums and cultural centers in several states and Washington, D.C. from 1999 through …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Four Teenagers Arrested After Overturning Stolen Vehicle: Summit Police Four Teenagers Arrested After Overturning Stolen Vehicle: Summit Police
Four Teenagers Arrested After Overturning Stolen Vehicle: Summit Police An overturned vehicle led to the apprehension of four 16-year-olds  from Essex County for stealing a car on Wednesday, June 14, Summit Police said. At 4:11 p.m., Summit Police began to follow a 2019 Audi A5 that was reported stolen in Montclair. The vehicle was traveling east on the Route 24 south service road near Hobart Ave when it sped onto Route 24 East, officers said. The vehicle sideswiped six cars before overturning near the 9A Broad Street exit, police said. The four suspects exited the vehicle and fled east on the highway shoulder into a PSE&G maintenance yard on 48 Middle…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
HIGHWAY ROBBERIES: Masked Trio Terrorizes NJ Gas Station Attendants In Three Counties HIGHWAY ROBBERIES: Masked Trio Terrorizes NJ Gas Station Attendants In Three Counties
Highway Robberies: Masked Trio Terrorizes NJ Gas Station Attendants In Three Counties A trio of armed robbers terrorized gas station attendants in several North Jersey towns overnight Tuesday, taking cash and valuables at gunpoint, authorities confirmed. Information was still coming in as this story was being written. At this point, however, the same three masked bandits are believed responsible for armed robberies in Montclair, at an Exxon station on Route 46 in Elmwood Park and at an Exxon/Tiger Mart on 21st Avenue in Paterson before dawn June 13. They were also tied to a failed holdup at a Wawa in Garfield. Authorities believe the three black suspects dressed all in blac…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Neighbors
Inspiring Coach Sees Community Support After Shooting Inspiring Coach Sees Community Support After Shooting
Inspiring Coach Sees Community Support After Shooting The Montclair community wants to help Coach Butter. Khalid Branch a.ka. Coach Butter was shot in the foot over Mother's Day weekend. A fundraiser has been set up to assist him while he recovers. As of Friday, June 9, almost $4,500 has been raised. "Can't we give him a boost and ease his burden while he's out of commission?" Ashley Few, who organized the fundraiser, said. "I can't think of a more deserving person." Coach Butter, who has special needs and earned his associates degree from Essex County College, works at the Geyer YMCA, where he is known for having the kindest and gentlest sou…

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by Sam Barron
News
Montclair Suffers Cyber Attack: Mayor Montclair Suffers Cyber Attack: Mayor
Montclair Suffers Cyber Attack: Mayor Montclair Township was recently hit with a cyber attack, Mayor Sean Spiller announced in a YouTube video on Tuesday, June 6. In response, Spiller said the township has retained third party specialists to investigate and contact the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security, the FBI and state law enforcement.  Our township IT Department recently experienced a cyber incident. As soon as we learned of the incident, we promptly... Posted by Sean M. Spiller on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 "It appears that the criminal group that has attacked multiple other municipalities in similar fashion is respons…

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by Sam Barron
Business
Neapolitan Native Brings Taste Of Italian Street Food To NJ At New Restaurant Lo Sfizio Neapolitan Native Brings Taste Of Italian Street Food To NJ At New Restaurant Lo Sfizio
Neapolitan Native Brings Taste Of Italian Street Food To NJ At New Restaurant Lo Sfizio To Josephina Spinosa, food and family have always gone hand-in-hand. Now, she's bringing a taste of her family's favorite foods to Parsippany at Lo Sfizio Italian Street Food. Spinosa lives in Montclair with her husband, Sergio Capdevielle, and their 1-year-old, Leonardo.  The couple launched Lo Sfizio in April with the ultimate goal (or rather, a much-welcomed favor) of bringing a taste of classic Italian cuisine to the area. Josephina Spinosa and her husband Sergio Capdevielle.Special to Daily Voice Spinosa was raised in Naples until she was eight and loved learning about Neapolita…

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by Valerie Musson