Last week, I noted my deep affection for animals (except monkeys; monkeys creep me out; they are too much like people) – for birds and fish and even insects (except roaches and waterbugs; they are too much like . . . ). If I had the money, I would buy a small farm and bring [...]

To the Publisher: I’ve always respected Karen Zautyk and her excellent reporting. I still do, but my enthusiasm is somewhat jaded after reading her scathing attack against Governor Christie. All the anti-Christie people call him a bully. He is at times bombastic and crude, but I believe he sincerely wants to help our state. He [...]

Federal wildlife officials are hunting the sicko who shot a pilot whale that beached itself and died on the sands north of Asbury Park last month. The whale had suffered a slow, agonizing death from starvation after the bullet wound left it with an infected jaw and it was unable to eat. Experts said it [...]

To the Publisher: As a member of the Harrison Lions club I have been collecting money during our annual White Cane weekend since 1993. I have seen many changes with membership and the economy. I am amazed at the generosity of local citizens as well as those who come through Harrison each day using the [...]

  On Friday night, the AP reported: “New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is reconsidering his decision to stay out of the race for the White House in 2012 and is expected to make a decision soon, according to several people close to the governor with knowledge of his thinking.” “Soon” could have been after press [...]

To the Publisher: Never forget 9/11/2001. Never forget Bush at that instant: seven minutes of dumbfounded silence. Never forget the next-day words of Bush, “Go shopping,” and EPA director Whitman, “The air is safe.” Never forget “Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.,” the 8/6/2001 memo of actionable intelligence that Bush didn’t act on, allowing [...]

If Monday were not production day at The Observer, I might have just turned around and gone home. Something was trying to keep me from getting to the office. First, the Belleville Pike bridge decided to close to cars just as I approached it from the west. (Why, by the way, is it ever closed?  [...]

To the Publisher: Sept. 11 reminds all firefighters of the loss of 343 members of the brotherhood of firefighting. A small example of the family of the fire department brotherhood is shown in just the small town of Belleville. They are brothers: James, Charles and Thomas Murphy; George and Mike Sebarra, Ralph and Carman Castalano, [...]

  A story in the print edition of  last week’s Observer about a proposal to  create a redevelopment agency in North Arlington inadvertently misstated the positions of the political parties.  The Democrats are opposed to the plan; the Republicans support it.   CORRECTION The photo, as submitted by the Nutley-Belleville Columbus Day Parade Committee, that [...]

A decade after 9/11, some 6,000 human remains, representing more than 1,100 World Trade Center victims, are stored at the New York City medical examiner’s office. Despite all efforts, despite advanced DNA testing, they are still unidentified. Of this I was aware. But what I did not know, until I learned of a protest last [...]