By Karen Zautyk Observer Correspondent KEARNY – In February 2008, the Town of Kearny, described by one elected official as being “on the cutting edge” of the issue, prohibited smoking — or the carrying of any lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe “or other similar device” — within the boundaries of 11 municipally owned playgrounds. That [...]
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Kearny crime hits 10-year low
March 20th, 2013 
admin By Karen Zautyk Observer Correspondent KEARNY – The numbers are in, and the news is more than good. The Town of Kearny’s Uniform Crime Report Index for 2012 shows an 18% decrease in crimes compared with 2011. That represents a 10-year low. This, despite a Police Department operating with a significantly reduced force.
A ‘field’ day for North Arlington school board
March 20th, 2013 admin By Ron Leir Observer Correspondent NORTH ARLINGTON – Opposition by the Democratic majority and Mayor Peter Massa notwithstanding, North Arlington voters on March 12 approved a referendum authorizing the Board of Education (BOE) to borrow up to $3.38 million for a revamped high school Foley Field athletic complex. Paying off the debt figures to cost [...]
Ex-mayor, 82, tosses hat in Lyndhurst ring
March 20th, 2013 admin By Ron Leir Observer Correspondent LYNDHURST – Eight years after riding off into the political sunset, former Lyndhurst Mayor James Guida has resurfaced. Guida, previously voted in five times to the Township Board of Commissioners, will be looking to do it again as a surprise entry on the ballot in this year’s municipal election [...]
K-9 cop goes to the dogs
March 20th, 2013 admin A Belleville man who was a 12-year veteran of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office was convicted of official misconduct last week following a jury trial in Newark. His offense? Stealing $70 in cash from a crime scene. The defendant, George Ruiz, 46, had also been employed by the Essex County Department of Corrections for [...]
Thoughts and Views
March 20th, 2013 admin Pontiff can help shape discourse of world So there’s a new head man sitting in the Vatican. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, of Argentina, has been elected to the papacy. Pope Francis is the first pontiff from the Western Hemisphere to be selected to run the Catholic Church in the centuries that the Church has been [...]
CORRECTIONS!
March 20th, 2013 admin • Last week’s story on Family Food Distributors in Kearny contained a photo that misidentified one of the visitors to the facility. The person mistakenly listed as Deborah Smith should have been identified as Elizabeth J. Mackay, senior policy advisor for the New Jersey Business Action Center. (Deborah Smarth also attended as a representative of [...]
We’ve Got Mail
March 20th, 2013 admin Let’s get to that garden! To the Editor: We are happy to hear about the Machs starting the community gardening project. As featured in an article (Feb. 27) by Ron Leir, it was written that “…the team would look to the town to finance acquisition of garden supplies …” We believe that yes, citizens can [...]
Golden moments on silver screen
March 20th, 2013 admin By Karen Zautyk Observer Correspondent HARRISON – Last Thursday evening, Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey played host to an extraordinary film festival, held at its N.J. operations campus on Supor Blvd. The Harrison site was actually one of eight venues in Essex, Bergen, Union, Somerset and Hudson counties to [...]
Locked out & locked up
March 20th, 2013 admin KEARNY – Shortly before 2 p.m. on Monday, March 11, Police Officer John Fabula, on patrol on Passaic Ave., noticed an oddly-dressed man standing next to a car in a parking lot near Bergen Ave. Despite the relatively balmy weather, the individual was bundled up in a hooded sweatshirt and a baseball cap, and had [...]
