NY Jets Brought Montclair Boy Joy Before He Died: 'They Already Won In My Eyes' NY Jets Brought Montclair Boy Joy Before He Died: 'They Already Won In My Eyes'
NY Jets Brought Montclair Boy Joy Before He Died: 'They Already Won In My Eyes' In 11 months, Braylon Hodgson’s body crumbled. Mentally, he was the same 13-year-old boy: Happiest holding a lacrosse stick and surrounded by his friends.  Physically, he couldn’t move. Braylon’s body was stiff. He needed a walker to get around and was losing the ability to talk. His parents, Kasey and Ryan, felt helpless, and wished they could do something for his pain. But Braylon only apologized to them. “I’m sorry,” he’d say.  Sorry that they had to see him in pain. Sorry that they couldn't do anything about it. The Montclair middle schooler had no choice but to get used to the pai…
'Rolling Stone' Co-Founder Jann Wenner Booted From North Jersey Literary Festival 'Rolling Stone' Co-Founder Jann Wenner Booted From North Jersey Literary Festival
'Rolling Stone' Co-Founder Jann Wenner Booted From North Jersey Literary Festival The fallout continues for Jann Wenner, the founder of Rolling Stone magazine, following controversial comments he made in a New York Times interview. Wenner has been removed from the Montclair Literary Festival, where he was scheduled to discuss his new book "The Masters: Conversations with Dylan, Lennon, Jagger, Townshend, Garcia, Bono and Springsteen," on Thursday, Sept. 28 at Unitarian Universalist Congregation, the festival confirmed. In promoting his book, Wenner, when asked by the Times why his book only featured white musicians, said women and Black musicians were not as articul…
Sushi Restaurant Closes After 35 Years In NJ Sushi Restaurant Closes After 35 Years In NJ
Sushi Restaurant Closes After 35 Years In NJ A New Jersey sushi restaurant has closed its doors after 35 years. Daikichi, which has been a staple in Montclair for decades, served its last meal on Saturday, Sept. 16. “This was an incredibly difficult decision to make and while we are sad to say goodbye to this era, our family is ready to move on to its next chapter,” the Kaneda family, who owned the restaurant, said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by daikichi (@daikichimontclair) “Thank you for your support, thank you for the wonderful memories together, thank you for allowi…
NJ Pizzerias Named Best For Regional Style Are Nowhere Near NYC NJ Pizzerias Named Best For Regional Style Are Nowhere Near NYC
NJ Pizzerias Named Best For Regional Style Are Nowhere Near NYC They might be deep in New Jersey, but they've sure got New York state of mind. Six pizzerias, most in the central part of the Garden State, have been crowned by the Washington Post as having the best New York-style pizza. The eateries earned recognition as part of a new national database by the Post that categorizes the best restaurants in each state specializing in Chicago, Detroit, Neapolitan, New York, Roman, Sicilian, and Tavern-style pizza. According to the rankings, the pizzerias that are pros at serving up NY-style pies are: Roma Pizza, Ocean City Rome Pizza, Dunellen Scotto’s Pi…
NJ Nursing Home Closes Abruptly Prompting Emergency Evacuation Of 70 Residents: Reports NJ Nursing Home Closes Abruptly Prompting Emergency Evacuation Of 70 Residents: Reports
NJ Nursing Home Closes Abruptly Prompting Emergency Evacuation Of 70 Residents: Reports A New Jersey nursing home closed suddenly on Friday, Sept. 1, and only notified residents' families that morning — leaving them with just hours to relocate, as first reported by Planet Princeton. Families of more than 70 residents of Princeton Care Center had less than a day to find new facilities, due to a sale of the facility that fell through the day prior, a spokesperson for the state's health department tells NJ Advance Media. A resident of the facility on Facebook said PCC patients were "fed and left in their soiled linens until they were moved to the new facilities as far as Morrist…
Aaron Rodgers Cheers On Fellow NJ Resident Tommy Paul At US Open Aaron Rodgers Cheers On Fellow NJ Resident Tommy Paul At US Open
Aaron Rodgers Cheers On Fellow NJ Resident Tommy Paul At US Open The US Open is the place to be for New Jersey residents on Sunday, Sept. 3. Aaron Rodgers, who famously moved to Montclair earlier this year, was among the celebs at this year's US Open, presumably cheering on Voorhees native, Tommy Paul. Paul, 26, advanced to the fourth round of the Open for the first time in his career, after beating Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Friday, Sept. 1. He lost in the fourth set, making 20-year-old Ben Shelton the youngest American quarter-finalist since Andy Roddick in 2002. There was no shortage of star power in the stands for Paul's match. Rodgers i…
Aaron Rodgers Clams Up When Talking Furnishing New North Jersey Home Aaron Rodgers Clams Up When Talking Furnishing New North Jersey Home
Aaron Rodgers Clams Up When Talking Furnishing New North Jersey Home What does a single man do with an 8-bedroom house? Aaron Rodgers isn't telling. The new New York Jets quarterback sat down with WFAN’s Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti on Tuesday, August 15 to talk all things Gang Green and the topic of his new Essex County spread came up. Earlier this month, it was revealed Rodgers purchased a $9.5 million 10,001 square foot mansion in Montclair, which features eight bedrooms, 9.5 bathrooms. "Is your house totally furnished?" Esiason asked. "It's furnished, yea," Rodgers said. Giannotti was curious whether Rodgers furnished all eight of his bedro…
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…
'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…
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…
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…
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…