Drummer Turned American Dream Mall Executive Chef Competing On 'Chopped' This Week Drummer Turned American Dream Mall Executive Chef Competing On 'Chopped' This Week
Drummer Turned American Dream Mall Executive Chef Competing On 'Chopped' This Week John Thomas doesn't have any stories about cooking with his nonna. He doesn't have a degree from any fancy culinary school, and his childhood dream was never to become a professional cook. And yet, the 35-year-old Clifton dad landed himself a pretty sweet gig as the executive chef of Gameroom Eats at the American Dream Mall. This week, he'll be going up against some of the best chefs in the region on Food Network's "Chopped" cooking competition, for a chance to win $10,000. Thomas' episode, called "Celtuce Setbacks," airs Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. John Tashiro "Cooking was never my fi…
Prostitution Bust At Motels, Massage Parlors Nets 18 Arrests, $22K: Passaic Sheriff Prostitution Bust At Motels, Massage Parlors Nets 18 Arrests, $22K: Passaic Sheriff
Prostitution Bust At Motels, Massage Parlors Nets 18 Arrests, $22K: Passaic Sheriff Eighteen people were arrested and more than $22,000 was seized in a widespread prostitution bust across Passaic County, authorities said. Acting on citizen complains, multiple divisions of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office conducted a quality of life operation on July 23 and 24, Acting Sheriff Gary Giardina said. The detail targeted massage parlors and hotels across Passaic County, and found that the establishments were collecting illegal profits through prostitution related activities, Giardina said. The total number seized was $22,206. During the detail, detectives working i…
Two Arrested After Driving With Stolen License Plate: Secaucus PD Two Arrested After Driving With Stolen License Plate: Secaucus PD
Two Arrested After Driving With Stolen License Plate: Secaucus PD Two Paterson residents were arrested on Wednesday, July 24, after police spotted them driving a car with a stolen license plate in Secaucus, authorities said. At 9:33 p.m., officers located the vehicle in the area of Meadowlands Parkway and 10th Street, Secaucus police said. A traffic stop was initiated and police arrested Erykah Harmon, 26, and charged her with receiving stolen property, police said. Harmon also had an outstanding warrant out of Newark, police said. Christopher Stamp, 34, was also arrested and charged with hindering apprehension for providing officers with false informatio…
Emily Madden, Former Valedictorian, North Jersey Nurse, Dies At 27 Emily Madden, Former Valedictorian, North Jersey Nurse, Dies At 27
Emily Madden, Former Valedictorian, North Jersey Nurse, Dies At 27 Emily Madden, a nurse and Clifton resident, died on Sunday, July 21, according to her obituary on the Ferguson Funeral Home website. She was 27 years old. Madden was the valedictorian of Wallkill Valley Regional High School's Class of 2015 before attending college and becoming a registered nurse, right before the COVID-19 pandemic, her obituary says.  "She was an incredible young woman with so much promise," David Carr, the superintendent for Wallkill Valley Regional High School said. "We are so sad to hear of her passing and our thoughts and prayers are with her family. She work…
Truck Driver Killed In Route 3 Explosion ID'd, 29 NJ Transit Passengers Escape Injury Truck Driver Killed In Route 3 Explosion ID'd, 29 NJ Transit Passengers Escape Injury
Truck Driver Killed In Route 3 Explosion ID'd, 29 NJ Transit Passengers Escape Injury Authorities have identified the truck driver killed in the crash and explosion earlier this week on Route 3 in Clifton. Luis Santiago, 55, of Linden, was operating the commercial truck that clipped an NJ Transit bus carrying 29 passengers in the eastbound lanes Monday morning, July 22, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Clifton Police Chief Thomas Rinaldi said. Santiago's truck then crashed into a barrier near Valley Road and Grove Street, causing the vehicle to erupt in flames. Santiago's body was found after firefighters put out the blaze.  There were no …
Route 3 Crash With Explosions Kills Tractor-Trailer Driver In Clifton (UPDATE) Route 3 Crash With Explosions Kills Tractor-Trailer Driver In Clifton (UPDATE)
Route 3 Crash With Explosions Kills Tractor-Trailer Driver In Clifton (Update) A Linden man was killed when his tractor-trailer crashed and exploded in Clifton, authorities said. The truck crashed into a barrier and caught fire on Route 3 West near Valley Road and Grove Street at around 9:07 a.m. on Monday, July 22, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes said in a news release. The 55-year-old man's body was found after Clifton firefighters put out the flames. Absolutely wild scene where Route 46 turns into Route 3 in New Jersey.Great job by Clifton police and fire department to act quick and swiftly getting the cars out of the way@NJTRANSIT @njdo…
Clifton's Michael Rodriguez Dies At 24 With Unborn Daughter On The Way: Campaign Clifton's Michael Rodriguez Dies At 24 With Unborn Daughter On The Way: Campaign
Clifton's Michael Rodriguez Dies At 24 With Unborn Daughter On The Way: Campaign Michael Rodriguez of Clifton died on Thursday, July 11. He was 24 years old. According to his obituary published on the Legacy website, Michael, affectionately known as Mikey, is being remembered for his "kind heart, radiant smile, and boundless curiosity," along with his "humor and the joy he brought to those around him." A GoFundMe launched for Michael's family had raised more than $13,800 as of Saturday, July 20. The campaign was launched by his cousin, Ashley Hernandez, who says he had a baby girl on the way. "As we come to terms with this tragedy, we aim to honor Michael’s legacy…
Man With Gunshot Wound To Head Found Dead In Car On Clifton Street: Prosecutor Man With Gunshot Wound To Head Found Dead In Car On Clifton Street: Prosecutor
Man With Gunshot Wound To Head Found Dead In Car On Clifton Street: Prosecutor A man with a gunshot wound to his head was found dead in a vehicle just after midnight in Clifton, authorities said. Officers responding to reports of shots fired found the man dead inside of a Honda HRV on Lakeview and Merselis avenues just before 12:20 a.m. Saturday, July 20, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Clifton Police Chief Thomas Rinaldi said. The investigation remains active and ongoing. More information was expected to be released. The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line …
Wanted Paterson Woman, 21, Sends Two Arresting Clifton Officers To Hospital, Police say Wanted Paterson Woman, 21, Sends Two Arresting Clifton Officers To Hospital, Police say
Wanted Paterson Woman, 21, Sends Two Arresting Clifton Officers To Hospital, Police say A 21-year-old Paterson woman was arrested and hit with multiple charges after she assaulted three arresting officers in Clifton, and bit one, on Monday, July 8, authorities said. At 11 p.m., police saw a suspicious vehicle and a passenger, Fadwa Alchamas, who was also the owner of the vehicle, parked on Circle Avenue, Clifton Police Lt. Robert Anderson said. Alchamas gave officers a fake name, but they confirmed her true identity — and that she was wanted out of Somerset County, Anderson said. Alchamas was arrested and taken to police headquarters for processing, where Anderson said Alcham…
Illegal Botox, Lip Injections: NJ Spa Owner Fined $10K, Banned From Biz, AG Says Illegal Botox, Lip Injections: NJ Spa Owner Fined $10K, Banned From Biz, AG Says
Illegal Botox, Lip Injections: NJ Spa Owner Fined $10K, Banned From Biz, AG Says The owner of a Passaic County skincare spa has agreed to pay a $10,000 fine and accepted a 10-year ban in operating a similar business in New Jersey following allegations he provided invasive aesthetic treatments that she was not licensed to perform, officials said. Prompted by a tip from the public, an investigation found that Rasha Abdul N. Basuf, the former owner of the now-defunct Skyn Spa on Lakeview Avenue Clifton, unlawfully provided cosmetic services without the requisite professional licenses, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs sa…
Two Men Impersonated Cops In Gunpoint Robbery At Hudson County Hotel, Police Say Two Men Impersonated Cops In Gunpoint Robbery At Hudson County Hotel, Police Say
Two Men Impersonated Cops In Gunpoint Robbery At Hudson County Hotel, Police Say Two Newark residents were recently arrested and charged with robbing people at gunpoint at the Meadowlands Plaza Hotel in Secaucus in February, authorities said. At 4:22 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8, Christopher Herrera, 30 and Rikelvin DeLeon Diaz, 33, forced their way into the victims hotel room while claiming to be police officers, Secaucus police said. But they weren't real cops, they were fake cops. One of the men pulled out a handgun and threatened to pistol whip one of the victims before both men fled from the scene. Herrera was arrested at his job in Clifton on Thursday, June 27. DeLeon…
Longtime Saddle Brook UPS Employee Frank Chiavetta Of Wayne Dies, 58: 'We Lost A Great Legend' Longtime Saddle Brook UPS Employee Frank Chiavetta Of Wayne Dies, 58: 'We Lost A Great Legend'
Longtime Saddle Brook UPS Employee Frank Chiavetta Of Wayne Dies, 58: 'We Lost A Great Legend' Lifelong Passaic County resident Frank Chiavetta died on June 17, 2024, at 58 years old with his family by his side, according to his obituary on the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home website. A Clifton native, Frank spent 40 years working UPS, having started with truck-loading and retiring as a customer counter representative in Saddle Brook, in 2023, according to his obituary. He lived in Wayne with his wife of 31 years, Anna Marie Chiavetta. News of the veteran driver's death was shared to Union Local 177's Facebook page, where former colleagues remembered him as a "great dude" with…