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NJ Soccer Player Henry Meacock Dies Suddenly During Spring Break NJ Soccer Player Henry Meacock Dies Suddenly During Spring Break
NJ Soccer Player Henry Meacock Dies Suddenly During Spring Break New Jersey native and soccer player Henry Meacock died suddenly while on college spring break at Ohio State University, according to multiple news reports. The Westfield native was majoring in finance at OSU, according to his LinkedIn page. OSU released a statement mourning his death to the Columbus Dispatch. Meacock's sister, Ellie, penned a tribute to him on Instagram, which was later made private. "My baby brother, I can’t believe it,” she writes. “Words cannot describe how much I miss you. It hurts to breathe without you. You are an extremely special soul that will live on forever. Th…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
These NJ Schools Are Closed, Delayed Due To Snow Tuesday, Feb. 28 These NJ Schools Are Closed, Delayed Due To Snow Tuesday, Feb. 28
These NJ Schools Are Closed, Delayed Due To Snow Tuesday, Feb. 28 The first winter storm of the season is causing a change in plans for New Jersey schools on Tuesday, Feb. 28. Some districts have delayed openings while others are closed completely. Here's a list of which school are closed or delayed for Tuesday, Feb. 28. Check your school/district's website for details. Bedminster: 10: 50 a.m. start Bellville: Delayed Bergen County Tech: Closed Bergenfield: 2-hour delay Bernards: 2-hour delay Bloomfield: Delay Bloomingdale: Closed Bogota: Delayed Butler: Closed Cliffside Park: 10 a.m. start Clifton: Delayed Closter: Delayed Cresskill: Delayed Demarest: …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Fentanyl-Fueled NJ Soccer Star Gnawed Man's Ear Off Thinking He Was Robot: DA Fentanyl-Fueled NJ Soccer Star Gnawed Man's Ear Off Thinking He Was Robot: DA
Fentanyl-Fueled NJ Soccer Star Gnawed Man's Ear Off Thinking He Was Robot: DA A 25-year-old New Jersey native and former soccer star apparently high on fentanyl was arrested in Oregon after authorities said he bit and chewed off the ear of a 78-year-old man because he thought he was a robot trying to kill him. Koryn Daniel Kraemer, of Westfield, is facing a second-degree assault charge for the 2 a.m. incident Jan. 3 on the Cleveland TriMet MAX platform area off Northeast 8th Street in Gresham, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt said. Kraemer allegedly approached the man at the platform and physically attacked him, biting and chewing off his ear and …

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Union County Dad Of 3, Lab Tech Jared Vassallo Dies, 33 Union County Dad Of 3, Lab Tech Jared Vassallo Dies, 33
Union County Dad Of 3, Lab Tech Jared Vassallo Dies, 33 Dedicated Union County dad of three and lab technician Jared Vassallo died on Sunday, Dec. 11 aged 33. Born in Livingston, Jared grew up in Westfield before moving to Newport, Rhode Island, and returning to Kenilworth, his obituary says. Jared graduated from the Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains in 2007 and earned his plumbing certification at the Community College of Rhode Island. He was employed as a plumber for several years and most recently worked as a lab technician and phlebotomist at Toplab in Millburn, according to his memorial. Jared was a former parishioner at churche…

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by Valerie Musson
News
Here's Where NJ Powerball Tickets Totaling $3 Million Were Sold Here's Where NJ Powerball Tickets Totaling $3 Million Were Sold
Here's Where NJ Powerball Tickets Totaling $3 Million Were Sold A pair of winning Powerball tickets from the Wednesday, Oct. 19 drawing were sold in New Jersey. Both tickets matched five of the five white balls drawn winning the  second-tier prize of $1 million. One of those tickets was purchased with the Power Play multiplier, doubling the prize to $2 million.  Click here to see where the three $50,000 Powerball winners were sold. The tickets good for a total of $3 million were sold at the following locations: Union County ($2 million) Krauszer’s Food Store, 727 Central Ave., Westfield; and, Middlesex County ($1 million) Sunny Mart Food St…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Creepy Letters Sent To NJ Homeowners Inspired New Netflix Series 'The Watcher' Creepy Letters Sent To NJ Homeowners Inspired New Netflix Series 'The Watcher'
Creepy Letters Sent To NJ Homeowners Inspired New Netflix Series 'The Watcher' A series of creepy letters sent to New Jersey homeowners were the inspiration behind Netflix's latest thriller, "The Watcher." Derek and Maria Broaddus' story gained traction in a 2018 article detailing the events that unfolded as soon as they began renovation work on their newly-purchased house at 657 Boulevard in Westfield. Derek went over one day in June 2014 to do some renovations. He checked the mail and found the first letter, it read: "Dearest new neighbor at 657 Boulevard, Allow me to welcome you to the neighborhood. 657 Boulevard has been the subject of my family for decades now…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
These Are The Best School Districts In NJ, Website Says These Are The Best School Districts In NJ, Website Says
These Are The Best School Districts In NJ, Website Says Three New Jersey school districts have been ranked among the 50 best in America. Millburn came in at No. 29, Northern Valley Regional is ranked No. 33 and Princeton came in at No. 43 on Niche.com's latest rankings. Those three districts topped the list for 2023 Best School Districts in New Jersey, released Tuesday, Sept. 27. Here are the top 20 best districts in the state, according to Niche (scroll for a link to the complete list): Millburn Pubic Schools Northern Valley Regional HS District Princeton Public Schools West Windsor-Polainsboro Regional Schools Ridgewood Public Schools Tenafl…

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by Cecilia Levine
Real Estate
Shuttered Lord & Taylor Store Could Become Bustling Downtown For This North Jersey Town Shuttered Lord & Taylor Store Could Become Bustling Downtown For This North Jersey Town
Shuttered Lord & Taylor Store Could Become Bustling Downtown For This North Jersey Town The shuttered Lord & Taylor store in one North Jersey township is in the process of being transformed into a vibrant and bustling downtown area. The department store's owner, HBC, along with Streetworks Development, presented their plan for the 730,000-square-foot space and municipal lots known as "One Westfield Place" at the Westfield council meeting Tuesday, Sept. 20. Mayor Shelley Brindle said the project could be historic, and is the culmination of more than three years of collaboration and community input. Brindle noted an increased urgency to revitalize the downtown afte…

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
Israeli Street Food Joint Expands With 2nd North Jersey Location Israeli Street Food Joint Expands With 2nd North Jersey Location
Israeli Street Food Joint Expands With 2nd North Jersey Location A local chef is giving North Jersey a taste of Israeli street food with the expansion of his restaurant, Chutzpah Kitchen. Sagi Ohayon, who was born and raised in Israel, opened his flagship location in Maplewood in 2020. He held a soft opening for the Westfield location this month. Five minutes until our soft opening! We want to say thank you for everyone who has helped. We are super excited to be... Posted by Chutzpah Kitchen on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 Chutzpah is a Yiddish word that translates to audacity or boldness. The chutzpah of the flavors will transport patrons to the st…

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
Popular North Jersey Froyo Shop Closing Due To 'Someone Else's Actions' Popular North Jersey Froyo Shop Closing Due To 'Someone Else's Actions'
Popular North Jersey Froyo Shop Closing Due To 'Someone Else's Actions' A popular frozen yogurt shop that weathered many a storm is closing after a decade of business in North Jersey. Bohemian Raspberry on South Avenue E. in Westfield made the announcement on June 22 in a Facebook post, saying the landlord has plans for our building that do not include them. The last day of business will be Aug. 1. "We persevered through a pandemic but have no recourse for someone else’s actions," the post reads. "The shop opened days before Hurricane Sandy bore down on NJ, leaving the community decimated. As luck would have it, our opening day flags and electric service…

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
Meet The Local Dad Expanding Popular North Jersey Salad Chain Meet The Local Dad Expanding Popular North Jersey Salad Chain
Meet The Local Dad Expanding Popular North Jersey Salad Chain A North Jersey dad is pitching in to help expand a popular salad chain. Sloan Zuckerman, who lives in Tenafly with his family, is opening The Salad House in Englewood.  The chain has stores in Millburn, Morristown, Westfield, Montclair, Livingston, Ridgewood and Sparta. The Englewood store at 31 E. Palisade Ave. is already open. Founded in 2011 and franchising since 2017, Salad House is a health-conscious fast casual restaurant brand that serves up fresh, made-to-order customizable salad creations.  In addition to its various salad menu items, Salad House also offers grain bowls, sandwic…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Plainfield Man, 23, Indicted In Armed Sexual Assaults: Prosecutor Plainfield Man, 23, Indicted In Armed Sexual Assaults: Prosecutor
Plainfield Man, 23, Indicted In Armed Sexual Assaults: Prosecutor A 23-year-old man from Plainfield has been indicted in connection with two armed sexual assaults, authorities said. A Union County grand jury returned a seventeen-count indictment against Terence Rhue charged in two violent sexual assaults which occurred in both Plainfield and Westfield in October 2021, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel said. Rhue is charged with three counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, two counts of second-degree sexual assault, three counts of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, two counts of third-degree posses…

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by Jon Craig