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COVID-19: NJ Patient Shares Symptoms, Story Of Fighting 4 Stressful Days For Test COVID-19: NJ Patient Shares Symptoms, Story Of Fighting 4 Stressful Days For Test
Covid-19: NJ Patient Shares Symptoms, Story Of Fighting 4 Stressful Days For Test A Union County man who spent four days trying to get tested for coronavirus is sharing his story -- from the symptoms to his thoughts the moment the results came back positive. The Westfield man came down with what felt like the flu on March 10: Fatigue, chills, and some aches, he said in a Facebook post shared by Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle. The next day was worse: Dizziness, more chills, slight cough and runny nose. He went to the doctor wearing a mask, and was told by the receptionist that wasn't necessary.  "My doctor gave me a flu test, which, obviously, was negative," he wro…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
COVID-19: North Jersey Municipalities Report First Cases, Others Brace For Shutdowns COVID-19: North Jersey Municipalities Report First Cases, Others Brace For Shutdowns
Covid-19: North Jersey Municipalities Report First Cases, Others Brace For Shutdowns While some North Jersey municipalities and counties are bracing for a shutdown, others are reporting their very first coronavirus cases. BERGEN Teaneck was the first in the state to urge residents to self-quarantine Saturday night, after learning that cases more than doubled overnight from 8 to 18.  As of Sunday, Bergen County had 29 positive test results of the 98 in the entire state -- including two fatalities. All Bergen County schools were closed indefinitely, and county officials warned residents they might be self-quarantined the way Teaneck was. A 54-year-old woman was th…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
TRIBUTE: Jersey City Woodworker Joseph Curado Leaves 'Sexy Wood' As Legacy Across NJ TRIBUTE: Jersey City Woodworker Joseph Curado Leaves 'Sexy Wood' As Legacy Across NJ
Tribute: Jersey City Woodworker Joseph Curado Leaves 'Sexy Wood' As Legacy Across NJ Walk into a restaurant or bar in Jersey City and Hoboken and there will likely be a little piece of Joseph Curado inside. The beloved woodworker's legacy lives on through his "sexy wood" pieces he made special for dozens of locales and households in the area. Curado of Fairfield died died on Jan. 28 at 42 years old. Known in the region for not only his skill but his vibrance and charisma, Curado opened Tribeca Grain in Jersey City a decade ago using scraps from his family's New York City restaurant. Tribute after tribute came pouring in on social media, each one remembering Curado -- aff…

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
10 Most Popular Pizzerias In Union County 10 Most Popular Pizzerias In Union County
10 Most Popular Pizzerias In Union County Craving a slice of crispy, cheesy pizza loaded with toppings? Here are 10 places you can try today in Union County. The spots you see on this list were top-rated on several user-generated review sites, featured in local publications and recommended by Daily Voice readers. Some are longtime favorites while others have only recently opened their doors. All of these pizzerias, however, are dishing up pies we think you'll love. Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza, Elizabeth: Founder Lou Santillo was delivering bread on a horse and buggy in 1918. By 1944, he had a full-fledged pizzeria. It's been arou…

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
Best Brunch Spots In Union County, According To Yelp Best Brunch Spots In Union County, According To Yelp
Best Brunch Spots In Union County, According To Yelp Stacks of pancakes or endless mimosas, these Union County brunch spots have something for everyone. Here are some of the highest-rated brunch spots in the area, according to Yelp. Scroll down for full list. 5. Westfield Station Cafe: This family-owned eatery is located across from the Westfield Train Station and serves up hearty, traditional breakfasts along with popular Mediterranean dishes. Pair eggs and bacon with hummus and pita, or a bagel and lox with baba ganoush. The combinations are endless. 339 South Ave., Westfield. Start your breakfast like a true Italian at Farinolio in W…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Arrest Made In Hit-Run That Seriously Injured Westfield Woman Arrest Made In Hit-Run That Seriously Injured Westfield Woman
Arrest Made In Hit-Run That Seriously Injured Westfield Woman A Belmar man has been arrested for allegedly leaving the scene after he struck a Westfield woman with his vehicle earlier this year, crushing her lower body and causing other serious injuries, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.  Michael J. Spivak, 30, was charged with aggravated assault, endangering an injured victim, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assault by auto in connection with the June 1 incident.  Carly Friedman was walking with a group around 1:30 a.m. in Belmar when authorities say Spivak struck her and a friend at E Street near 15th Avenue.…

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by Paul Milo
News
Priest Who Taught At St. Peter's In JC Accused Of Abuse In Westfield: Report Priest Who Taught At St. Peter's In JC Accused Of Abuse In Westfield: Report
Priest Who Taught At St. Peter's In JC Accused Of Abuse In Westfield: Report  A priest who died decades ago has been accused of sexually abusing a boy while serving in a Westfield parish, TAPintoWestfield reported.  A lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Newark filed Sunday claims the Rev. John Flanagan abused the boy -- who is now 75 and living in Canada -- over the course of a decade while serving at Holy Trinity church in the 1950s and '60s. The church is also a defendant in the suit.  The lawsuit was filed following passage of a state law creating a two-year window during which plaintiffs can sue regardless of when the abuse is alleged to have taken…

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by Paul Milo
News
Expert Says State Trooper Was Texting Before Westfield Teen Fatally Hit: Report Expert Says State Trooper Was Texting Before Westfield Teen Fatally Hit: Report
Expert Says State Trooper Was Texting Before Westfield Teen Fatally Hit: Report An expert hired by the family of a 14-year-old Westfield girl who was killed when a state trooper hit her with his patrol car says he was texting moments before striking her and did not have his eyes on the road, TAPintoWestfield reported Wednesday.  The family of Terry DiFalco is suing Trooper Alexander Gelfand, who was driving on Central Avenue the evening of March 4, 2017, when he hit the girl, who was taking part in a scavenger hunt. Gelfand, of Cranford, was not criminally charged.  An attorney for the DiFalco family stated in court documents that the text from Gelfand was ti…

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by Paul Milo
News
Med School Student Center Named For Westfield's Dr. Derrick Nelson Med School Student Center Named For Westfield's Dr. Derrick Nelson
Med School Student Center Named For Westfield's Dr. Derrick Nelson The late principal of Westfield High School widely praised for his service in the military and for his dedication to the students in his charge has received another honor, a Roseland law firm announced Thursday.  Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, which is located at Seton Hall University in South Orange, has named its student life center for Derrick Nelson, who died in April after he fell into a coma following a bone-marrow transplant procedure. The facility will now be known as the Dr. Derrick Nelson Student Life Services Center, according to a release from Mazie Slater Katz &…

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by Paul Milo
Police & Fire
Delaware Man Accused Of Bringing Gun To Westfield Grade School Indicted Delaware Man Accused Of Bringing Gun To Westfield Grade School Indicted
Delaware Man Accused Of Bringing Gun To Westfield Grade School Indicted The Delaware man who was arrested in June when authorities said he was found with a handgun, hollow-point bullets and other weaponry in the parking lot of a Westfield grade school has been indicted by a grand jury, the Union County Prosecutor's Office said.  Thomas J. Wilkie, 46, of Bear, has been charged with possession of a weapon on or near the grounds of an educational institution, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and other offenses.  Police in Delaware's New Castle County called Westfield police and alerted them June 13 that Wilkie was headed to Tamaques Element…

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by Paul Milo
Obituaries
Thomas Bliss, 14, Of Kenilworth, Avid Denver Broncos Fan Thomas Bliss, 14, Of Kenilworth, Avid Denver Broncos Fan
Thomas Bliss, 14, Of Kenilworth, Avid Denver Broncos Fan Thomas Robert Bliss of Kenilworth died at University Medical Center in Newark Tuesday. He was 14 years old.  Born in Perth Amboy, he lived with his family in Roselle Park before they moved to Kenilworth in 2012.  He attended David Brearly Middle School in Kenilworth and was a student at Magnet High School in Scotch Plains. He loved playing video games and was a fan of the Denver Broncos football team.  Thomas was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Patricia and William Knapp. Surviving are his parents, Thomas and Kathleen;  sister Kayla Bliss; paternal grandparent…

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by Paul Milo
Business
Couple Opens Westfield Mediterranean Restaurant Couple Opens Westfield Mediterranean Restaurant
Couple Opens Westfield Mediterranean Restaurant The married owners of an Indian restaurant in Westfield are opening a Mediterranean eatery right down the street. Kanika Bakshi and Simran Bakshi are opening La'Vash on Quimby Street, where their other restaurant Spice Bazaar was before it moved to Elm Street. The restaurant will open at the end of October. The owners will be giving 100 free meals to customers on a first-come, first-serve basis. Lavash, 114 Quimbly St., Westfield

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by Cecilia Levine