NJ Native, St. John's Student Dies Suddenly In Queens NJ Native, St. John's Student Dies Suddenly In Queens
NJ Native, St. John's Student Dies Suddenly In Queens Family and friends are mourning the loss of Giovani Amores, an 18-year-old New Jersey native remembered for his kindness, confidence, and joy. Amores passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, Oct. 16, in Queens, NY, according to his obituary posted on the Fanwood Memorial Funeral Home website. A cause of death was not immediately clear. Born in Hoboken, Giovani grew up in Jersey City and graduated from St. Joseph’s High School earlier this year. In August, he began his freshman year at St. John’s University, where he was “filled with excitement and ambition for the future,” his obituary said. …
Classmates Escort Autistic Teen To School After Bullying Attack As NY Mom Urges Reform Classmates Escort Autistic Teen To School After Bullying Attack As NY Mom Urges Reform
Classmates Escort Autistic Teen To School After Bullying Attack As NY Mom Urges Reform When bullies tried to break Tyler RocheTilden, his Long Island classmates had his back. Days after a vicious attack left the 15-year-old terrified to leave home, student athletes from Massapequa High School showed up at his door Tuesday, Sept. 30 – walking him to his homeroom class and proving he wasn’t alone. The heartwarming display came after an incident in Massapequa Park days earlier that left Tyler — who is on the autism spectrum and lives with severe anxiety — shaken and afraid to go outside, his mom Gina Moscato recounted on Facebook. In a series of posts that she shared with neigh…
Rita's Celebrates 'Abbott Elementary' With New Treat, Special Deal Rita's Celebrates 'Abbott Elementary' With New Treat, Special Deal
Rita's Celebrates 'Abbott Elementary' With New Treat, Special Deal Two Philadelphia icons are celebrating teachers with a new frozen treat and a special deal for everyone. Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard has launched a new limited-time flavor called Faculty Favorite Mango Ice. The treat is available now at participating Rita's locations nationwide and can be ordered in signature creations like a Mango Gelati layered with vanilla frozen custard or a Mango Ice Blender. The new flavor celebrates the fifth season of the Emmy Award-winning show "Abbott Elementary," which premieres at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The hit ABC sitcom follows a group of …
Popular Brewery Suddenly Shuts Down All Locations Amid Bankruptcy Report Popular Brewery Suddenly Shuts Down All Locations Amid Bankruptcy Report
Popular Brewery Suddenly Shuts Down All Locations Amid Bankruptcy Report Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has abruptly closed all of its remaining locations just two weeks after shuttering three others, the company announced Thursday, Sept. 25. The closure impacts the remaining New Jersey location in Maple Shade, 10 locations in Pennsylvania, two in South Carolina, two in Delaware and one in Georgia. “After many wonderful years serving our communities, all Iron Hill locations have closed. It has been our pleasure to serve you, and we are deeply grateful for your support, friendship, and loyalty over the years," the company said in a statement. “We sincere…
13-Year-Old Killed In NJ E-Bike Crash: Mayor 13-Year-Old Killed In NJ E-Bike Crash: Mayor
13-Year-Old Killed In NJ E-Bike Crash: Mayor A 13-year-old student was killed after his electric bicycle collided with a commercial vehicle in New Jersey on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 24, officials said. Scotch Plains Mayor Josh Losardo said the crash happened at approximately 2:12 p.m. at the intersection of Mountain and Mountainview avenues. “Our Police and Fire Departments responded immediately, and the juvenile was transported to University Hospital in Newark. Despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the 13-year-old student was pronounced dead,” Losardo said in a statement. “This heartbreaking loss is felt across our entire…
NJ Dad Dies In Crash, $150K Raised For Widow, Children NJ Dad Dies In Crash, $150K Raised For Widow, Children
NJ Dad Dies In Crash, $150K Raised For Widow, Children Brian Benson, of Scotch Plains, died in a car crash on Wednesday, Sept. 17, according to his obituary from Memorial Funeral Home. He was 46 years old.  Born in New York and raised in Mountain Lakes, Brian was a Rutgers graduate who built a two-decade career in medical device sales with Bausch and Lomb, Johnson & Johnson, and most recently RxSight, his obituary says.  “Brian was a valued member of the RxSight team, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in medical device sales and a deep commitment to his work,” a GoFundMe created by colleague Heather Spiri reads. Brian was de…
$22K Raised For Seton Hall Freshman Grieving Mother's Loss $22K Raised For Seton Hall Freshman Grieving Mother's Loss
$22K Raised For Seton Hall Freshman Grieving Mother's Loss Shock and sadness spread following the Monday, Sept. 1 death of Amy Spring (Graves) Reyes, a Passaic County mother and educator. She was 51 years old. A devoted mother, her greatest joy was her son, Evan Reyes, whom she supported, encouraged, and cheered on every step of the way, according to her obituary on the Vander Plaat Funeral Home website. She was also engaged to Andrew “Drew” Taylor, with whom she shared love, laughter, and plans for the future. Born in Oceanside, CA, and raised in Oakdale, Long Island, Amy earned her degree in anthropology from Miami University of Ohio before joini…
NJ Grandmother, 39, Dies After Sudden Brain Aneurysm, Loved Ones Say NJ Grandmother, 39, Dies After Sudden Brain Aneurysm, Loved Ones Say
NJ Grandmother, 39, Dies After Sudden Brain Aneurysm, Loved Ones Say A New Jersey mother and grandmother died Monday, Sept. 8, after 17 days in the hospital following a sudden brain aneurysm, her loved ones said. She was 39 years old. A native of Brazil, Poliana Pires Coelho lived in Newark's Ironbound section and was a devoted single mother to daughters Ana Luisa, 21, Ana Beatriz, 9, and Ana Liz, 3, according to a GoFundMe launched by Richard Arruda in the wake of her death.  She was also a grandmother to Matthew, 11 months, and Luca, 3. Her children will now be raised by her parents, Eder and Iraides, the campaign says. Poliana was known for her work…
River Edge Family Turns Heartbreak Into Hope With Paramus Concert For Late Son River Edge Family Turns Heartbreak Into Hope With Paramus Concert For Late Son
River Edge Family Turns Heartbreak Into Hope With Paramus Concert For Late Son For years, the Marri family lived in a constant state of worry: watching for signs, trying every possible way to pull their son and brother, Buster, back from the grip of addiction.  Rehab. Family meetings. Drug testing. Love. Kindness. Anything to stop what they feared was coming. On Nov. 2, 2021, the call came: Buster wasn’t breathing. In that instant, the endless tension and daily battles vanished, replaced by a silence they never wanted.  The stress was gone, but so was Buster. He was 24 years old, fearless, full of life, and deeply loved. And in the aftermath, his family ma…
NJ Ranked Among Five Happiest States In Nation, New Study Finds: Here's Why NJ Ranked Among Five Happiest States In Nation, New Study Finds: Here's Why
NJ Ranked Among Five Happiest States In Nation, New Study Finds: Here's Why The Northeast is home to some of the happiest people in the country, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2025 list of Happiest States in America on Monday, Sept. 8. The study compared all 50 states across 30 metrics of happiness, including depression and suicide rates, work hours, income growth, unemployment, family stability, volunteer rates, and safety. The personal finance website also measured how many adults feel active and productive, as well as factors like sleep, leisure time, and community support. "In addition to pursuing your passions, having a good work-l…
Flames Rip Through Clifton Home — Family Escapes With Nothing But Their Lives Flames Rip Through Clifton Home — Family Escapes With Nothing But Their Lives
Flames Rip Through Clifton Home — Family Escapes With Nothing But Their Lives A Clifton family is starting over after a fire destroyed their home and belongings Saturday, Sept. 6, authorities said. At approximately 8:53 p.m., Officer Eddie Maldonado III was on patrol on DeMott Avenue when he saw flames and heavy smoke coming from the front windows of a home, Clifton Police Lt. Robert Anderson said. A good Samaritan neighbor and the officer alerted the family of the fire and made sure everyone got out safely, Anderson said. The Clifton Fire Department responded, and several officers assisted with traffic and crowd control. No injuries were reported, Anderson said. Th…
Read The Heartbreaking Joint Obit For NJ Man, Wife Of 54 Years Killed In Crash Read The Heartbreaking Joint Obit For NJ Man, Wife Of 54 Years Killed In Crash
Read The Heartbreaking Joint Obit For NJ Man, Wife Of 54 Years Killed In Crash Walter “Butch” Jakubowski and his wife, Margaret, built a love that lasted more than half a century. They shared laughter, raised a family, and welcomed friends into their Long Island home — always together. On Saturday, Aug. 23, the Ronkonkoma couple left this world the same way they lived in it: side by side. Suffolk County Police said the couple was driving through their town around 11:20 a.m. when their Subaru Forester crossed into the eastbound lane of Peconic Street, left the roadway, and struck a tree. Walter, 83, was behind the wheel. Margaret, 75, was in the passenger seat. Bo…