The intervention of what Police Chief John Dowie called “two very good concerned citizens” aided a police officer in the arrest of a man who had assaulted him on Kearny Ave. last week, authorities said.

According to police, the incident began at 4:30 p.m., Monday, April 29, when Officer Ben Wuelfing was called to a dispute on the 800 block of the avenue. While Wuelfing was interviewing the parties involved, he noticed another individual charging toward him, Dowie said. The man, described as “yelling incoherently,” stopped just short of the cop but then reportedly pushed him in the chest.

When the officer told him he was under arrest, he allegedly began to grapple with the cop, pulled himself out of his shirt, struggled again with Wuelfing–who had radioed for assistance–and the two fell against the plate glass window of a restaurant, cracking it, Dowie said.

Meanwhile, the KPD was receiving “multiple 911 calls” reporting an officer involved in a fight at Kearny Ave. and Van Cortland Place, the chief said. Before the back-up units arrived, Wuelfing managed to take his assailant to the ground, but the man continued to resist, police said. That’s when the two members of the public came to the officer’s aid, holding the suspect in place so Wuelfing could cuff him, Dowie said.

The officer suffered minor lacerations to his face, and his glasses were broken, police said.

Transported to headquarters, the alleged assailant stated that he needed medical attention, was taken to Jersey City Medical Center, treated and released to police custody and returned to lockup.

The suspect, identified as Paul McGinnis, 43, of Kearny, was charged with assault, aggravated assault on a police officer, criminal mischief and resisting arrest.

• Other recent reports from the Kearny police blotter included the following:

April 24

At 7:30 p.m., Officers Wuelfing and Jose Resua, responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle on S. Midland Ave., approached a parked 2000 Nissan occupied by two men and detected a strong odor of marijuana, police said.

The driver reportedly was unable to produce a license, and when the cops ran a driver’s license/warrant inquiry, they found he was wanted on five warrants from four jurisdictions (two from New Brunswick and one each out of East Brunswick, South River and Somerville), police said. Arrested at the scene on those warrants was 21-yearold Stephen Jones of New Brunswick.

Police also reportedly observed and confiscated from the passenger, Joshua Velez, 18, of Somerville, four ziplock bags believed to contain marijuana, and allegedly found on his person four additional bags.

Velez was charged with possession of pot, possession of paraphernalia, possession with intent to distribute and possession within a park zone.

• Just before midnight, a report of another suspicious vehicle brought Sgt. John Becker to Kearny Ave. and Halstead St., where he observed a man leaning out the open driver’s-side door of a black 2010 Dodge.

When the individual spotted the patrol car, police said, he jumped into the passenger seat.

Becker and backup officer Ben Wuelfing approached the car, and when the man was asked to exit the vehicle, he had to grab onto a garbage can for support, police said.

After being administered an Alcotest at HQ , Desi Singletary, 44, of Newark, was charged with DWI and DWI in a school zone.

April 30

Det. Mike Gonzalez was on patrol at Kearny and Wilson Aves. at 11:30 a.m. when he observed a man he knew to be the subject of an outstanding Kearny warrant, police said. After verifying the warrant, he arrested Anthony Chaparra, 25, of Jersey City and took him to HQ.

• Officers Sean Kelly and Giovanni Rodriguez were on patrol at 7:30 p.m. in South Kearny when they saw a 2005 Nissan with Pennsylvania plates run a red light and illegally pass another vehicle on Fish House Road, police said. When they brought the Nissan to a halt and asked for the driver’s credentials, he couldn’t produce them and a check revealed his license was suspended, police said.

The motorist, Michael Pfleger, 38, of North Arlington, was charged with driving while suspended, failure to observe a traffic signal and failure to exhibit legal documents.

• At 9 p.m., members of the Vice Squad reportedly saw a 19-year-old Kearny man urinating in an alley near Beech St. and the Belleville Pike and then enter a parked car.

Approaching that car, the detectives allegedly saw one of the passengers, a 17-yearold from Kearny, preparing a marijuana cigar, which they confiscated.

When the individuals were asked to step out of the vehicle, the 19-year-old, identified as Michael Nee, immediately challenged one of the officers to a fight, said he knew where the officer lived and threatened to come to his house, Chief Dowie reported. Arrested and cuffed, he allegedly swung his shoulder into the same officer, which constitutes assault.

Nee was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, making terroristic threats, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. He was also issued a town summons for urinating in public. The 17-year-old was charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

May 1

At 1:45 p.m., Officers Sean Kelly and John Fabula were called to a “keep the peace” situation on the 400 block of Kearny Ave., where they encountered a “highly agitated” 19-year-old female allegedly threatening to assault another female. When they tried to calm her and take her away from her intended target, she began screaming and a crowd started to gather, police said.

Fabula asked the target to move from the scene, which she did. When the wouldbe combatant, identified as Cristine Hernandez of Kearny, refused to calm down and was told she was under arrest, she refused to put her hands behind her back and attempted to flee, police said.

Officer Damon Pein assisted Kelly in cuffing her and taking her to a patrol car.

Meanwhile, a second woman started running toward the cops — apparently, in the chief’s words, coming to the aid “of a damsel in distress.” Fabula reportedly recognized her as someone who was wanted on a Kearny warrant. Arrested on that warrant was Daisy Mosquera, 46, of Kearny.

Hernandez was charged with disorderly conduct.

— Karen Zautyk

Two men are under arrest in connection with a violent assault on a man in Nutley on April 27.

Police said they responded to a Franklin Ave. location, at 1:55 a.m., on a report of a medical call. There, they said they found a man with a bloodied face, spitting up blood, claiming to be missing a tooth, and unsure what had happened. He was taken to the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey for treatment.

However, witnesses told police they saw the man being punched repeatedly by two men who fled on foot. After getting descriptions of the alleged assailants, police said they found men matching those descriptions in the area.

Police charged the suspects, Steven Scharton, 31, of Nutley, and Dennis Harvey, 25, of Lyndhurst, with aggravated assault.

While enroute to headquarters, police said Scharton shouted profanities and racial epithets at the officers, persistently kicked the rear driver’s side window of the patrol car and, ignoring commands to stop, managed to kick out the rear window, causing it to shatter. For that, he was additionally charged with criminal mischief.

After Scharton was cuffed, police said they noticed blood on both of his hands, along with blood droplets on his boots and shirt.

Scharton was taken to Essex County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail with a 10% cash option, pending a court appearance. Harvey was released after posting bail, also pending a court date.

Here are other incidents logged for the past week in the Nutley Police blotter:

May 2

At 4:16 p.m., police responded to a Washington Ave. location on a call of a man down, possibly having a seizure. Police said they found Matthew McMahon, 26, of Clifton, lying on his side shaking and inhaling a blue can of Dust Destroyer Compressed gas duster. Police said McMahon was also carrying a bag of seven additional cans of the same item. Nutley Volunteer Emergency & Rescue Squad checked him out but he refused further medical aid. McMahon was issued summonses charging him with inhaling fumes of toxic chemicals to cause intoxification and possession of drug paraphernalia.

May 1

Two apparent scams were reported by township residents. One resident reported getting a call from someone claiming to have money from the government for the resident but then asking for checking account information so the money could be deposited. Police said upon trying to redial the number shown on caller ID, it was no longer in service. Another resident told police someone called them saying that their son was in an accident and needed several thousand dollars wired to an account to cover the cost of surgery. But police said their son was uninjured. When an attempt was made to reach the number, it was no longer a valid number, police said.

• A Franklin Ave. business owner called police at 1:59 p.m. to report an incident of shoplifting. But police said the item was returned by a juvenile suspect who was asked not to return. April 29 At 9:06 a.m., police received a report of a broken window in the unlocked fenced-in part of the parking lot of Radcliffe School. Police said they found no objects in the area but speculated that a lacrosse ball may have shattered the window. No one entered the school, they said.

April 28

A Burnett Place resident called police at 6:14 a.m. to report that the side door to their home had been damaged some time ago. Police said they noticed that the molding around the window in the door appeared to have been pulled away from the glass and they spotted two pry marks high on the door casement.

• Two incidents involving suspected criminal mischief were reported by two different residents. The first was logged at 8:51 a.m. when a Rhoda Ave. resident told police someone had thrown eggs at their vehicle during the night. Then, at 9:18 a.m., a Bayard St. resident told police that when they went outside to get their paper, they noticed egg all over the house.

• At 4:02 a.m., a Glenview Road resident reported a burglary to an auto. Police said the resident told them they heard what sounded like a car idling outside and, looking out the window, saw a tall, black man wearing a white-hooded sweatshirt, inside their vehicle. The resident told police the man then exited, enered a small, black-colored vehicle with a loud exhaust, and drove west on Glenview toward Bromley Place. Police said nothing was taken from the vehicle.

• At 12:19 a.m., police were approached by an Alexander Ave. resident who reported seeing occupants of a mid- to late-1990s SUV, possibly a Ford Explorer, parked in front of their home and throw darkcolored eggs at their vehicle.

• At 12:14 a.m., police received a call from Roosevelt Ave. residents inside their home who reported hearing a loud crashing sound – possibly fireworks – followed by a vehicle speeding away from in front of their home. Although the residents told police they didn’t see anyone when they went outside to check. But, that evening, the residents told police they noticed that the outer pane to a second-floor window over the garage was broken and that a window frame was damaged.

April 27

A Craig Place resident called police at 10:01 a.m. to report a suspected fraud. The resident told police that several transactions were made using their Groupon account which they didn’t authorize. The company was asked to investigate the charges and the resident canceled the account and credit card, police said.

• At 12:41 a.m., police went to an Entwistle Ave. location on a report of an attempted theft of a motor vehicle. The owner told police their car ignition was damaged. Police said it appeared that someone used a screwdriver to access the ignition. Nothing was believed to be missing.

—Ron Leir

Belleville

The Belleville Middle School Fine and Performing Arts Department is proud to announce its upcoming Spring Concert series. On May 15 the 7th and 8th grade choirs will perform selections of “Living on a Prayer,” “Man in the Mirror” and highlights from “Les Miserables.” The band, orchestra, and jazz band will take the stage on May 22. The performance will include selections from “Beauty and the Beast”, “Sing, Sing, Sing” and “Joyful, Joyful”. Both free concerts will be held in the BMS auditorium at 7 p.m. S

ave Monday, May 20, for Clara Maass Medical Center Foundation’s annual golf invitational. Held at the prestigious Montclair Golf Club, this event includes the opportunity to play on the course’s greens, brunch, cocktails, dinner and a silent auction. Proceeds from the Golf Invitational benefit the programs and services of Clara Maass Medical Center. To register, or for more information, visit www.claramaassfoundation.org or contact the foundation at 973-450-2277.

Bloomfield

Neighbors Helping Neighbors Career Transition Support and Networking group will continue to meet at the Bloomfield Public Library, 90 Broad St., on Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. The meetings are free and are open to all.

The Neighbors group offers support for people who are actively looking for work and want new insight into their job search. Attendees include the unemployed, those who have been laid off or are re-entering the job market, as well as recent grads, retirees, and those seeking a new career. The group meetings offer a comfortable and casual environment for diverse job seekers to share their experiences, trade tips and advice, network, and offer each other support.

Harrison

Harrison American Legion will have an open house for viewing its collection of memorabilia assembled in connection with its 75th anniversary. Viewing dates are: May 15, from noon to 3 p.m. for school children; onMay 16 from 3 to 6 p.m. for the general public and senior citizens; and May 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. for the general public, Post Auxiliary and American Legion members. For more information, call Ed Marshman at 201-998-0662.

Kearny

The Arlington Woman’s Club annual spring luncheon will be held on May 14 at 12:30 p.m. at the Roma Restaurant in North Arlington. Dorothy Meissner, who is coordinating the luncheon, can be reached at 201-997-5165 for further details. For further information about the club, contact Moira Crowell at 201-997-2781.

Kearny Community Garden is hosting its first annual Plant and Seed Exchange on Saturday, May 11, from noon to 4 p.m., at 487 Passaic Ave. All are welcome.

Divide your favorite plants, put them in labeled pots, come down and trade for new ones. You can also bring a packet of seeds to share with others. Or simply bring yourself down to look around, ask questions and satisfy your curiosity.

This is a fun, free event for the whole family. Free advice, free plants and seeds, free face painting for the kids. Rain date is the following Saturday.

At the Kearny Public Library Main library, 318 Kearny Ave., Preschool Play/Story Times for ages 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 will continue on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to noon, and also on Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Baby Steps play/story time with music and bubbles for infants up to 35 months will continue on Wednesdays at the library from 10:30 to 11:15.

At the Branch library, 759 Kearny Ave., Preschool Play/ Story Times will continue on Thursdays at the library from 10:15 to 11 a.m.

Children ages 5 and older are invited to art class with Mrs. Mills at the library from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 23. The library will provide the materials for celebrating 20 years of The Magic Tree House book series. Registration is not required, but space is limited.

Grace United Methodist Church, 380 Kearny Ave., Kearny, will serve a pork dinner in its Fellowship Hall on Friday, May 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. Dinner includes roast pork and all the trimmings. Takeout orders will be available. Cost for adults is $10 and $5 for children under 12. For more information, call the church office at 201-991-1132.

Trinity Episcopal Church, 575 Kearny Ave., Kearny, will hold a flea market on Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Both new and used items as well as crafts will be available for sale. A snack bar will offer breakfast and lunch foods. Tables are still available at a cost of $15 each or two for $25. For more information, call the church office at 201-991-5894.

Lyndhurst

The Humane Society of Bergen County, 221-223 Stuyvesant Ave., Lyndhurst, has a supply of dog food both canned and dry available to anyone who, due to unemployment, disability or any other financial difficulty, cannot afford to feed your dog. Just stop by or call 201-896-9300. Hours are: Monday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Lyndhurst Elks are running a bus trip to the Sands in Bethlehem, Pa. on May 19. Cost is $30 per person; participants get $20 back in slots and $5 for food. A bus will leave the Lyndhurst Elks, 247 Park Ave., at 9 a.m. and return at 6 p.m. For tickets, call Julie 201- 424-2659.

Lyndhurst Public Library, 355 Valley Brook Ave., invites the community to join in a continuous program “Connecting With Your Inner Self,” geared for those ages 50 and older. Participants will be invited to talk about topics such as fears, aging, changing obstacles into opportunities, dealing with problems optimistically and appreciating where you are in life. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, May 16, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. For more information, call the library at 201-804- 2478, ext. 7.

The Lyndhurst Library will host “Life at an Edwardian Manor-Inspired by Downtown Abbey” presented by Food Historian Judith Krall-Russo on Saturday, May 11, from 11 a.m. to noon. The critically acclaimed TV series, “Downton Abbey,” has renewed popular interest in the Edwardian era, when King Edward VII reigned in the United Kingdom.

Though you don’t have to be a “Downton Abbey” fan to enjoy this program, devoted fans may take more notice of certain details in the show after attending. Space is limited. Call the library at 201-804-2478, ext. 7 or email romeo@bccls.org to register.

The Woman’s Club of Lyndhurst is sponsoring a trip to Mt. Airy Casino and shopping at the Commons on Monday, June 3. The bus will leave the New Jersey Transit Lot at 8:30 a.m. and return at 7 p.m. Cost of the trip is $30. Anyone interested call Janet Ritigliano at 201-935-1208.

Drawing Flowers with a Splash (of Color) will be held on Thursday, May 9, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Meadowlands Environment Center, Two De- Korte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst. Adults of all experience levels will be introduced to drawing flowers, beginning with basic shapes. Basic art supplies will be provided for the session, or bring your own if you wish. Cost is $15/person; $10/MEC members. For more information, call 201-460-8300 or visit www.njmeadowlands.gov/ec.

The Birdsong Project Trio, a program for all ages, will be held at the Environment Center on Saturday, May 11, from 8 to 9 p.m. In the summer of 2008, Diane Moser spent five weeks at the Mac- Dowell Colony for artists in New Hampshire, listening to birds to create compositions based on the songs of robins, sparrows and chickadees, and the natural soundscape. Also featured is a reworking of “A Hermit Thrush at Eve” by composer Amy Beach. The concert will be preceded at 7:30 p.m. by a talk with Moser on “Deep Listening and Acoustic Ecology.” Admission is $15/person; $10/seniors; $8/MEC members. For more information, call 201-460-8300 or www.njmeadowlands.gov/ec.

The N.J. Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society will host the 5th annual Mother’s Day Walk on Sunday, May 12, at 10 a.m. The free two-hour event begins at the Ridgefield Nature Center in Ridgefield and features a walk around the 5.4-acre center (once the home of the Great Bear Bottled Water Co.), and a visit to Skeetkill Creek Marsh in Ridgefield, with a stop to see Monk Parakeets on the way. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute weather updates. You will have to sign a standard liability release for this event. To R.S.V.P., contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@ aol.com or 201-230- 4983.

Due to electrical work, De- Korte Park in Lyndhurst will be closed from Friday morning, May 10, to approximately 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 11 — even to World Series of Birding participants. The park will reopen in time for the 8 p.m. Birdsong Project Trio concert at the Meadowlands Environment Center.

In addition, Valley Brook Avenue also will be closed near DeKorte Park on Saturday, May 11, until approximately 4 p.m. For more information, call 201-460-1700.

The Polish American Citizens Club, 730 New Jersey Ave., Lyndhurst, will sponsor a trip to Nashville, Tenn., (seven days, six nights; six breakfasts and four dinners). The bus will leave on July 28 at 8 a.m. and return Aug. 3.

Cost is $625 with a $75 deposit at signing; final payment is due May 21. For more information, call Alice at 201-935-3830.

North Arlington

North Arlington Elks Lodge #1992, 129 Ridge Rd., will host a Mother’s Day breakfast on May 12, from 8 a.m. to noon. Breakfast will include eggs or pancakes, bacon or sausage, home fries, toast, fresh fruit, coffee, tea or juice. For more information, call Cheryl Clune at 201-923-3268.

Nutley

The local theatre troupe, ‘cherryblossomplayers:LLC’, seeks 10-16 females and 12-20 males (age range: 14 to 70) for their 2013 summer musical production of Frank Loesser’s “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”

Auditions will take place May 8 and 10 in the meetings rooms of Vincent United Methodist Church, 100 Vincent Pl., in Nutley (behind Nutley football field). Possible callbacks are scheduled for May 11. Email <cherryblossomplayers@gmail.com> or call 201-563-1746 for confirmation of your preferred date/ time of appointment and vocal specifics. Appointments are available between 7 to 10 p.m. (Wednesday) and 6:30 to 10 p.m. (Friday). Open call or walk-in auditions are not recommended. Performances are planned for mid-August

From l.: Carol Hughes, Jan R. Kwapniewski President Coccia Realty, Louise Bloomer, Michael Amoroso, Randy Wine, Beatrice Goldberg, Carol Hanson, Zoraida Alonso, Erin Petrosino, Billy Pena, and Amelia Pena. Not pictured are: Bobby Ristovski and Gerardo Coppola.

The New Jersey Association of Realtors (NJAR) has recognized 11 Coccia Realty agents as inductees in its Circle of Excellence Award for the year 2012 for Coccia Realty’s local offices of Rutherford, Lyndhurst and Kearny.

The recipients for the Bronze Level were: Zoraida Alonso, Louise Bloomer, Gerardo Coppola, Beatrice Goldberg, Carol Hanson, Carol Hughes, Jan Kwapniewski, Billy Pena, Erin Petrosino and Bobby Ristovski.

Amelia Pena was honored at the Silver Level.

The awards are given to agents who have made a substantial amount of sales. Bronze Level recipients had a minimum of $3,000,000 in sales volume and 15 units closed; Silver recipients needed a minimum of $7,500,000 in sales volume and 20 units closed. All recipients have made significant contributions to the real estate industry; all are consistent “top producers” at Coccia Realty and are highly skilled negotiators and realtors, all with many years of sales experience.

“I am very proud of our agents achievements,” said Jan R. Kwapniewski, Coccia’s President, “Coccia Realty had more Circle of Excellence winners than any other local agency. These agents worked very hard to achieve client and customer satisfaction – they do an exemplary job in listing and selling homes.”

Kwapniewski also added; “Coccia Realty’s systems and marketing have outperformed the competition time after time. It is a winning combination for sellers and buyers when utilizing Coccia’s services.”

All award winners are full time realtors at Coccia Realty. They are members in good standing with the RealSource Board of Realtors, the New Jersey Association of Realtors, and National Association of Realtors as well as active members of the New Jersey Multiple Listing Service and some are members of the Garden State MLS system.

Coccia Realty was established in 1961 and it currently has over 100 associates and staff with 5 locations in Bergen, Hudson and Morris counties.

Photo by Karen Zautyk
Msgr. Francis R. Seymour.

By Karen Zautyk
Observer Correspondent

KEARNY –

Next month, the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark, will be the setting for a Mass of Thanksgiving in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the ordination of the Rev. Msgr. Francis R. Seymour, KHS (which in this case, despite this story’s dateline, does not stand for Kearny High School, but rather, Knight of the Holy Sepulchre).

Msgr. Seymour, who has been in residence at St. Cecilia’s in Kearny since 1988, was invested into the Knights of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre in 2010 at a ceremony in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York.

It is just one of many honors bestowed on him during his five decades in the priesthood, a religious career that has seen him serve at as pastor or administrator of 31 parishes in the Archdiocese of Newark and in various other archdiocesan posts, working with countless fellow members of the clergy.

In fact, if all those who are invited attend, there could be no fewer than 1,000 priests at the cathedral for the Sunday, June 9, commemoration. And the monsignor is on a firstname basis with all of them. Read more »