Old Bridge, NJ
Sports
Teen Old Bridge Wrestler Suffers Spinal Cord Injury During Match Teen Old Bridge Wrestler Suffers Spinal Cord Injury During Match
Teen Old Bridge Wrestler Suffers Spinal Cord Injury During Match An Old Bridge High School wrestler remains hospitalized after suffering a serious neck injury during a match over the weekend, prompting an outpouring of support from the school’s wrestling community. Junior athlete Adriana Maria, 16, was injured at approximately 12 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, during the final match of the day, when she was taken down and pinned by an opponent, another female wrestler from Perth Amboy, according to Old Bridge wrestling coach John Post.  "It was a very routine move," Post said. "There was nothing malicious or harmful done by Adriana's opponent. It was a sta…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Rutherford, NJ
Business
Route 17 Steakhouse Still Sizzling After 90 Years Route 17 Steakhouse Still Sizzling After 90 Years
Route 17 Steakhouse Still Sizzling After 90 Years Steve’s Sizzling Steaks, a restaurant known for sizzling steaks, deep family roots, and generations of loyal customers, is celebrating a major milestone in North Jersey. The Route 17 restaurant in Carlstadt is marking its 90th anniversary this month. The family-owned restaurant traces its beginnings to New Year’s Day 1936, when Steve and Mary Venturini took over a small tavern known as Connie’s Place, according to the family. Mary ran the establishment while her husband continued working at another bar down the road in Carlstadt. Mary’s daughter, Marie Venturini-Damiani, was just 10 years …

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
South River, NJ
Obituaries
Parlin Stagehand, Avid Poker Player Ren Cain Dies Suddenly, $16K Raised For Young Daughter Parlin Stagehand, Avid Poker Player Ren Cain Dies Suddenly, $16K Raised For Young Daughter
Parlin Stagehand, Avid Poker Player Ren Cain Dies Suddenly, $16K Raised For Young Daughter Support is on the rise for one little girl mourning the loss of her father. Ren Cain, who lived most of his life in Central Jersey, died on Friday, Jan. 17, according to his obituary on the Spezzi Funeral Home website. He was 39 years old.  Ren was born on the Beaufort Naval Base in South Carolina and was a stagehand with IATSE Local 21, his obituary reads. Records show he also primarily lived in Parlin. "In his spare time Ren loved to golf and attend sporting events and concerts," his obituary says. "His greatest joy was spending time with his beloved daughter Evie." Ren w…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
New Brunswick, NJ
Police & Fire
Man Struck, Killed By Train In New Brunswick: NJ Transit Man Struck, Killed By Train In New Brunswick: NJ Transit
Man Struck, Killed By Train In New Brunswick: NJ Transit A man was struck and killed by an NJ Transit train Friday night, Jan. 23 in New Brunswick, authorities said. Northeast Corridor train 3875, which left New York Penn Station at 6:43 p.m., and was due to arrive at the Trenton Transit Center at 8:13 p.m., struck the male trespasser near the New Brunswick station at approximately 7:40 p.m., a spokesperson for NJ Transit said. There were no reported injuries to the crew and the 156 customers on board. The Northeast Corridor remains in service with 60 minute delays in both directions. New Jersey Transit police are leading the investigation.

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Pascack Valley, NJ
Sports
Montvale Native Hired As Miami Dolphins Head Coach Montvale Native Hired As Miami Dolphins Head Coach
Montvale Native Hired As Miami Dolphins Head Coach A man from the Garden State will be patrolling the sidelines for the Miami Dolphins next season. Jeff Hafley, a native of Montvale, has been named the 12th head coach in Miami Dolphins history. Hafley previously was the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. "I believe great things are ahead for the Miami Dolphins with Jeff Hafley leading the way," said Dolphins Chairman and Owner Stephen M. Ross. "Jeff is an accomplished coach with a proven track record as a leader and motivator. He has tenacity and grit, while at the same time establishing trust with his players in order to get …

SHARE

by Sam Barron
Ridgefield Park-Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
News
Returned Husky Desperate To Go Home Greets Everyone With Sweetness At Bergen Animal Shelter Returned Husky Desperate To Go Home Greets Everyone With Sweetness At Bergen Animal Shelter
Returned Husky Desperate To Go Home Greets Everyone With Sweetness At Bergen Animal Shelter Appa, a nearly 2-year-old Husky, is back at the Bergen County Animal Shelter after being adopted last March and returned less than three months later, shelter officials say. Appa was adopted on May 31, 2025, and returned on June 7, 2025, because the adopter’s son could not handle the dog, according to shelter manager Meg Tedeschi (video of Appa below). View this post on Instagram Tedeschi said Appa would do best with an owner who has experience owning dogs as an adult, particularly someone familiar with Huskies. She is good with other dogs, an…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Greenwich, CT
Business
Most Popular Fast-Food Chain Revealed For CT, Beyond Most Popular Fast-Food Chain Revealed For CT, Beyond
Most Popular Fast-Food Chain Revealed For CT, Beyond Craving burgers, fries, or fried chicken? A new study reveals the biggest fast-food chain in every state, and the rankings might surprise you. Tasting Table analyzed the most popular and widespread fast-food brands across the country, highlighting the go-to spots from coast to coast. The research ranks each state’s top chain based on store count and popularity. Here’s how the Northeast shakes out: New York: McDonald's  New Jersey: Dunkin’ Connecticut: Dunkin’ Pennsylvania: McDonald’s Massachusetts: Dunkin’ Maryland: McDonald’s Virginia: Chick-fil-A Accor…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Rutherford, NJ
News
Mikie Sherrill's Inaugural Ball Is Coming To American Dream (Yes, The Mall) Mikie Sherrill's Inaugural Ball Is Coming To American Dream (Yes, The Mall)
Mikie Sherrill's Inaugural Ball Is Coming To American Dream (Yes, The Mall) It's black tie meets food court for Mikie Sherrill. The Gubernatorial Inaugural Ball will be held at the American Dream in East Rutherford on Tuesday, Jan. 20, the New Jersey governor-elect's non-profit issue advocacy organization, Mission to Deliver New Jersey, said. The black-tie event will honor Sherrill as New Jersey’s 57th governor and Dale Caldwell as the state’s 4th lieutenant governor. The ball is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the mall's Rink@Arena, where many major events have been held in the past. "The inauguration marks an exciting moment for the State of New Jersey, ce…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Lower Paxton, PA
Lifestyle
Sauerkraut Ice Cream Returns As Mid-Atlantic's Must-Try New Year's Tradition Sauerkraut Ice Cream Returns As Mid-Atlantic's Must-Try New Year's Tradition
Sauerkraut Ice Cream Returns As Mid-Atlantic's Must-Try New Year's Tradition Sauerkraut ice cream? Yes, you read that right—Urban Churn is once again delighting adventurous taste buds with its famously unique and surprisingly delicious Sauerkraut Ice Cream. This limited-time yearly classic is a bold way to ring in the New Year, blending the tangy zest of sauerkraut with creamy goodness that has become a must-try tradition for many. A New Year’s Tradition With A Twist For Pennsylvanians of German heritage, pork and sauerkraut are New Year’s staples, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune. Urban Churn, a Central Pennsylvania favorite, has elevated this tradition by tr…

SHARE

by Jillian Pikora
Mineola, NY
Politics
From Exile To Elections: These Stories Shook Long Island Politics In 2025 From Exile To Elections: These Stories Shook Long Island Politics In 2025
From Exile To Elections: These Stories Shook Long Island Politics In 2025 From a beloved Long Island celebrity leaving the country to a missing candidate remaining on the ballot, 2025 delivered a string of political moments that were as unsettling as they were unprecedented. The year saw national drama collide with local consequences across Nassau and Suffolk counties, with elections, scandals, court rulings, and resignations reshaping the region’s political landscape.  Here’s a look back at the Long Island–linked stories that dominated headlines, sparked outrage, and defined a turbulent year in local and national politics — for better or worse. Rosi…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Morristown, NJ
News
$50K! Powerball Ticket Sold At Morris County Gas Station Wins Big $50K! Powerball Ticket Sold At Morris County Gas Station Wins Big
$50K! Powerball Ticket Sold At Morris County Gas Station Wins Big A Powerball player in Morris County found the perfect way to cap off 2025. A ticket sold in Morristown matched four numbers and the red Power Ball in the drawing held on Saturday, Dec. 27, winning $50,000. The ticket was sold at Lukoil at 151 Washington St. The winning numbers were 5, 20, 34, 39, 62 and the red Power Ball was 1.

SHARE

by Sam Barron
Elizabeth, NJ
Police & Fire
Elizabeth Teacher One Of 12 Child Predators Nabbed In ''Operation Bad Santa' Sting: Prosecutor Elizabeth Teacher One Of 12 Child Predators Nabbed In ''Operation Bad Santa' Sting: Prosecutor
Elizabeth Teacher One Of 12 Child Predators Nabbed In ''Operation Bad Santa' Sting: Prosecutor A teacher in the Elizabeth Public Schools has been terminated after he was arrested as part of a sting to bust child predators called Operation Bad Santa. Joseph Davicsin, a 46-year-old middle school teacher at Chessie Dentley Roberts Academy School No. 30, was one of 12 people caught up in the sting. Upon learning of his arrest, the district said immediate steps were taken to ensure that Davicsin did not enter any school. Davicsin is no longer employed by the district. Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office Operation Bad Santa was led by the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of t…

SHARE

by Sam Barron