Photo courtesy Kearny public schools
Yvonne Cali

By Ron Leir
Observer Correspondent

KEARNY –

Last fall, Franklin Elementary School – where Yvonne Cali serves as principal – implemented the Positive Behavior Support in Schools program designed to recognize good behavior by students.

Now Cali may be wondering if the same principle can be extended toward her employers – members of the Kearny Board of Education – who are sometimes disinclined to play nicely with each other.

An example of that contentiousness was served up at the April 15 board meeting when Superintendent of Schools Frank Ferraro recommended that the board promote Cali to the vacant position of assistant superintendent of schools.

Read more »

By Ron Leir
Observer Correspondent

BELLEVILLE –

In a split vote, the Belleville governing body has picked the Riefolo Construction Co. to redevelop the old School 1 property for residential use.

On April 23, the mayor and Township Council selected Riefolo over its rival bidder, Group D Capital Partners I, which had pitched a “retail, commercial and/or professional” use for the site.

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NAFD

NORTH ARLINGTON –

North Arlington’s Volunteer Fire Department will be the beneficiary of new air packs, thanks largely to the snagging of a federal Assistance to Firefighters grant, provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Mayor Peter Massa said the borough has been awarded a $305,000 grant thanks to the efforts of Rep. Bill Pascrell (D- 9th District).

That grant will be matched by a $15,000 contribution by the borough, Massa said.

Councilman Peter Norcia credited Volunteer Fire Chief Mark Zidiak with drafting the application for funding to replace self-contained breathing apparatus worn by the volunteers.

Although the existing packs – which have a lifespan of about 15 years – aren’t due for replacement until 2018, many can now be replaced at an earlier time, officials explained.

Borough spokesman Thom Ammirato said that although it’s likely that the government would be updating the specifications for the oxygen packs in the near future, North Arlington will get a “longer lead time” before switching over to the newest models.

Ammirato said the borough would be acquiring 40 of the new Scott Air-Packs, refurbishing 13 of the old ones, and trading in 13 others.

A man who contacted the KPD because he wanted to report a theft turned out to be wanted himself, police said. But at least he was (partially) honest about it.

On Saturday, April 20, Officer Vanessa Sevillano responded to a Belleville Pike location at noon to take a theft report from a 30-yearold Irvington resident, Moustapha Kamara. Apparently, some money that was left in his brother’s truck had been stolen while the vehicle was parked in an industrial area near the Wittpen Bridge.

In the course of the officer’s interviewing Kamara, he was good enough to tell Sevillano that his driver’s license was suspended because he had not gone to court, Police Chief John Dowie said.

Sevillano then confirmed that Kamara had apparently forgotten to go to court in Irvington, East Orange and Newark and that there was also an outstanding no-bail criminal warrant against him from the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Dowie said.

Kamara was placed under arrest, taken to headquarters for booking and turned over to Essex County authorities.

Other recent reports from the Kearny blotter included, but were not limited to, the following:

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Dr. Brian Regal

By Karen Zautyk
Observer Correspondent

KEARNY –

Damn historians. They take the fun out of everything.

You have a cherished (semi)belief that you have held since childhood, and then one day some historian comes along with his Ph.D. and his documented research and his facts vs. fiction, and it all goes POOF!

It happened to me last week at the Kearny Public Library, where Dr. Brian Regal, Assistant Professor of the History of Science, Department of History at Kean University, gave an (I must admit) informative and entertaining lecture on the Jersey Devil, the Garden State’s own native monster.

Observer readers might remember that a couple of years ago, I interviewed the creature (the Devil, not Regal), who was annoyed that too many hockey fans were unaware that the Jersey Devils team was named for him and not for Satan.

The Jersey Devil was kind enough to drive all the way up to Kearny from his lifelong home in the Pine Barrens (yes, he can fly, but it’s more fun to drive when you’ve got a Lamborghini). The oddest thing was that when we went for a stroll along Kearny Ave., no one blinked — despite his having the head of a horse (or a goat, depending on your perspective), a kangaroo-like body, the wings of a bat, and the requisite devil horns, forked tail and cloven hooves. People must have thought he was just my latest blind date.

Also, he emitted his famous “blood-curdling scream” only once, when he returned to his car and found a parking ticket on it. I don’t know if he appealed it, but he had a case. You can’t feed coins into a parking meter if you’ve got hooves for hands.

I had first read about the Jersey Devil in a weekly newspaper called The Ironbound Crier when I was 5 or 6. The story made quite an impression. If I were walking though the playground at night, I would scrutinize the tree branches and even the jungle gym to see if the monster might be perched there. pleased about that, and cursed the unborn babe. When she gave birth, the child was normal, but it immediately morphed into the being described above.

Portrait of a N.J. governor in drag that really isn’t him at all

Supposedly, it killed the midwife (I don’t believe that) and then flew either up the chimney or out the window and into the Barrens, which it has terrorized ever since. Or as Dr. Regal described it, “where it has spent the next 300 years basically being annoying.”

When I was doing some pre-lecture research, I gathered some Jersey Devil info I had not come across before. According to Wikipedia (more about that later):

“The earliest legends date back to Native American folklore. The Lenni Lenape tribes called the area around Pine Barrens ‘Popuessing,’ meaning ‘place of the dragon.’ Swedish explorers later named it ‘Drake Kill,’ ‘drake’ being a Swedish word for dragon, and ‘kil’ meaning channel or arm of the sea (river, stream, etc.).”

Aha, I thought. The legend is even older than I had been told.

Last Wednesday evening, I settled into my chair at the library, ready to learn more, and the first thing Regal tells the audience is:

“There is no such thing as the Jersey Devil, and everything you think you know about the Jersey Devil is wrong.”

Muttered grumblings from the back row, where some apparent true believers are seated.

The traditional story, or so I thought, dated to the 1700s, when a Pine Barrens dweller named Mother Leeds found herself pregnant for the 13th time, was not too pleased about that, and cursed the unborn babe. When she gave birth, the child was normal, but it immediately morphed into the being described above.

Supposedly, it killed the midwife (I don’t believe that) and then flew either up the chimney or out the window and into the Barrens, which it has terrorized ever since. Or as Dr. Regal described it, “where it has spent the next 300 years basically being annoying.”

When I was doing some pre-lecture research, I gathered some Jersey Devil info I had not come across before. According to Wikipedia (more about that later):

“The earliest legends date back to Native American folklore. The Lenni Lenape tribes called the area around Pine Barrens ‘Popuessing,’ meaning ‘place of the dragon.’ Swedish explorers later named it ‘Drake Kill,’ ‘drake’ being a Swedish word for dragon, and ‘kil’ meaning channel or arm of the sea (river, stream, etc.).”

Regal then recounted the history of the Pine Barrens, where settlement began in 1620, many of the pioneers being members of the Society of Friends (a.k.a. Quakers).

Classic image of Jersey Devil, from 1909 Philadelphia Evening Bulletin

At the time, the area that would become New Jersey was divided into two provinces, East Jersey and West Jersey. These were unified into one British colony in 1702 under its first governor, Lord Cornbury, who, Regal said, became “one of the most vilified governors ever, which is a pretty hard thing to do considering modern experience.”

In Regal’s judgment, Cornbury was actually “not that a bad guy,” but was a victim of propaganda. A famous portrait of Cornbury, ostensibly in drag, is not of him at all, Regal said. (Another fun ‘fact’ crushed under the weight of research.) But now enters the Leeds family.

Daniel Leeds was a surveyor who owned land at Leeds Point near Little Egg Harbor and who was predeceased by several wives, none of them, however, known as “Mother Leeds.”

Leeds was an aide to the hated Cornbury and managed to become hated in his own right — by publishing an almanac.

In those days, almanacs were full of astrological and occult-like data, which did not sit well with the Quakers, even though Leeds was a Quaker, too. They bought up all the copies of the first Leeds Almanac and burned them.

Leeds, undeterred, published a second edition, a book the Quakers termed “evil.” Leeds became known as “Satan’s harbinger.” The Quakers started printing pamphlets citing all his flaws, and by the early 1700s, he is at war with them (at least in print).

Almanacs, Regal noted, were “the Google of the times” and very popular, and in 1714, Daniel Leeds turned his over to his son Titan, who designed a new masthead.

It featured the Leeds family crest, which incorporated three dragonlike creatures known as wyvern. They had the head of a horse, batlike wings, and hooves for feet. (Sound familiar?)

Meanwhile, along comes Benjamin Franklin with his own Poor Richard’s Almanac, and to boost sales, begins to attack his rival Titan Leeds in print.

He had used astrological data to predict Titan’s death in 1733, so when Titan starts calling Franklin a fraud, Franklin responds that, since Titan should have died already, the person attacking him must be a ghost. Or a devil risen from the grave.

To Franklin, Regal said, the whole thing was funny, but Titan took it seriously and was livid.

In any case, now both Titan and dad Daniel Leeds have been labeled “devils.” Toss in the pre-Revolutionary fervor that had begun, and accusations that the Leeds family was pro-British (as well as being “sorcerers”), and the notion of a Leeds Devil begins floating around.

The first references to the Jersey Devil, though, don’t appear until the end of the 19th century. Then, in 1905, a Philadelphia publicist started spreading rumors of the Jersey Devil, and in 1909, Trenton papers reported horselike footprints in the snow near Leeds Point.

Posses were sent out to hunt the Jersey Devil, a futile quest. But the story just continued to grow.

Even now, you can go on Jersey Devil Hunts in the Pine Barrens.

Regal dismisses the idea that the Jersey Devil legend is, at it is often described, “folklore.” “It is nothing like that,” he said. “There is no story that has been handed down (from the 1700s, the time of the supposed birth). It all came from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.”

In the Q&A session, some in the audience obviously remained skeptical, and one or two stalked out after Regal dismissed the reality of Sasquatch.

He has done research into cryptozoology, but, he states, “As a historian, I have no choice but to go with the evidence.”

For a professional historian, collecting evidence goes far beyond the amateur historian’s gleaning information from the Internet.

“Stay away from Wikipedia,” Regal warned. “Wikipedia is evil.”

Regal has impressive credentials. He is the author of five books, the first of which, “Henry Fairfield Osborn: Race and the Search for the Origins of Man” was nominated for the 2003 History of Science Society Pfizer Award and won the Bela Kornitzer Award.

He has lectured and presented papers at Columbia, Princeton and Oxford.

His recent work on cryptozoology and the study of monsters led to his newest book, “Searching for Sasquatch,” and he has also published articles on sea serpents, werewolves and Bigfoot.

At the library lecture, noting that there is no plausible evolutionary evidence for certain creatures, he commented, “There have been no werewolf fossils found, no Bigfoot fossils.”

I raised my hand. “But, could it be that no werewolf fossils have ever been found because they all transformed back into their human forms before death?”

Regal just shook his head.

But I think I made a good point.

Anyway, armed with the real story of the Jersey Devil, and the knowledge there never was a Mother Leeds and a monstrous birth and a curse, I headed off to meet up with a friend. I had been rather discouraged, but my companion cheered me up. And so did the ride in the Lamborghini.

April 26

A township school bus driver notified police at 9:17 a.m. that someone had smashed in one of the driver’s side windows of their assigned bus, sometime during the night while the bus was parked in the Cortlandt St. parking lot. At 6:59 a.m., police responded to a Walnut St. location on a report of a burglary to an auto. The owner told police that someone had entered two of their unlocked vehicles, a Cadillac and GMC, and ransacked the interior. Police said no damage was done to the vehicles and nothing was apparently taken.

While on patrol, at 1:34 a.m., police said they saw a patron leaving a Franklin Ave. eatery and urinate. Police said the 20-year-old patron, who was not identified, was charged with under-age consumption of alcohol and improper behavior in public.

April 25

A New St. resident called police, at 1:49 p.m., to report that an unknown man, in his 20s, wearing shorts and carrying a backpack, was walking around their home. Police searched the area but found no one matching that description. Police said they found no signs of an attempted forced entry to the house.

April 24

Police responded to a Bloomfield Ave. residence, at 6:04 p.m., on a report of criminal mischief. The homeowner told police that, upon returning home, they found graffiti in black spray paint on their garage door and two dents.

April 22

A Cottage Place resident called police at 4:33 p.m. to report a burglary. The owner told police that, upon returning home, they noticed that the downstairs and upstairs bedrooms had been ransacked and that $1,000 and ring valued at $400 were missing. Police said they found no signs of forced entry.

At 7:49 a.m., a Beech St. resident reported a burglary to their work van. The owner told police someone had broke into their vehicle overnight and removed tools valued at $4,000 from it. Police said the lock on the van’s sliding door had been damaged.

At 6:34 a.m., police received a report of a burglary to an auto on Chadwick Drive. The owner told police they’d parked their PSE&G work truck on the street and left it locked during the weekend. Returning to the vehicle on Monday, the owner said he noticed that the van’s side and back doors were open and some of their tools missing. Those tools were valued at more than $1,000. Police said none of the locks were damaged.

April 20

A Florence St. homeowner called police at 10:39 a.m. to report that someone had broken off the left side mirror from their vehicle while the vehicle was parked in their driveway, causing $500 in damages.

– Ron Leir

Belleville

The MetroEast Region of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) will hold its 8th annual Spring Diversity luncheon on Tuesday, May 21, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Nanina’s in the Park, 540 Mill St., Belleville. The annual event’s ongoing theme is “Embracing Diversity and Empowering Women.”

The keynote speaker will be U.S. Army Reserve Col. (Ret.) Janice Karpinski, author of “One Woman’s Army,” which explores some of the practices, policies, and ways of thinking that foster a diverse workplace.

The program will also include a point/counterpoint session focusing on women’s behavior in today’s workplace from both male and female perspectives and a mini business expo, lunch, empowerment bag drawing, and door prizes.

The registration fee is $55 for NJAWBO members and $65 for non-members who register in advance or $75 at the door. Register online at www.whoscoming.com/njawbo- region2/Diversity2013.html For more information, call Sonia Arroyo at 201-681-6032.

Save 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 beautiful 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, please visit www.claramaassfoundation.org or contact the foundation at 973-450-2277.

Bloomfield

The Bloomfield Recycling Committee and the Department of Public Works and Park Maintenance will host the first annual community shredding event on Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the municipal parking lot located next to the Post Office.

Residents can bring all their personal documents to be shredded and recycled at no cost. This event will last for four hours or until the truck is full to capacity.

The paper-shredding day is an opportunity for residents to reduce identity theft and to help support responsible paper recycling.

The Recycling Committee provide educational materials on recycling.

The next shredding event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19. For more information, call 973-680-4127.

East Newark

East Newark/Kearny Health Department will offer a free rabies clinic for dogs and cats on Wednesday, May 8, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the East Newark Fire House, Sherman Avenue, East Newark.

Dogs must be leashed, cats should be transported in a car carrier, and be handled by a responsible person.

For more information, call the Kearny Health Department at 201-997-0600 or by email: WPettigrew@ KearnyNJ.org.

Harrison

A parish-sponsored bus ride to Atlantic City will be held on May 5 at 10 a.m. from Holy Cross Church, Harrison. For more information, call 973- 481-2434.

Holy Cross Church announces last call for an eightday cruise Thursday, Aug. 22-29 from New York City, and an Atlantic City bus trip to Taj Mahal on May 5.

Call Joan for more information at 973-481-2434.

Kearny

Dr. Harry Harcsztark, of The Smile and Implant Center, 837 Kearny Ave., will host a Dentistry From The Heart (DFTH) event – providing a free day of dental care to people in Kearny and surrounding communities on Friday, May 3.

For more information, please visit www.dentistryfromtheheart.org.

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. There will be a snack bar selling 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.

Thistle FC United U 15 girls will hold open tryouts for the 2013-2014 season on May 6 and 13, at 8 p.m., at Harvey Field, 280 Schuyler Ave., Kearny. The team will be training in the fall and compete in high level tournaments. During the winter, the team will train and compete indoors and in the spring will play in an elite league and participate in high-level tournaments.

Players must be born on or after Aug. 1, 1998. For more information, contact Coach Pepe Rodriguez at peprodriguez13@gmail.com.

St. Stephen’s Seniors will meet on Tuesday, May 7 at 1 p.m.

The spring party will be held on Tuesday, May 21, at noon for paid up members.

Upcoming trips include A.C. on May 22, Sight and Sound -June 12, Jefferson House – July 1, and Hunterdon Hills -August 13.

For A. C. call Peg at 998- 9443, Joan at 998-3578 and condolences Vicki at 991-8345. For further club information call Tom at 998-8258.

St. Cecilia’s Church, 114 Chestnut St., Kearny, is having a flea market on Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Furniture, small appliances, household items, toys, DVD’s and many more items will be on sale. For more information, call 201-991-1116. Vendors are welcome. All proceeds benefit St. Cecilia’s Parish. Donations are accepted.

The Kearny Rotary Club meets every Wednesday afternoon at 12:15 at La Fiamma Restaurant, 440 Harrison Ave., in Harrison. Business leaders from Harrison are invited to attend to learn about the work that Rotary International accomplishes around the world and in local communities. For more information about the Kearny Rotary Club or to attend a meeting, call Joe D’Arco at 201-955- 7400 or Jose Fernandez at 201-991-1040.

Presbyterian Boys-Girls Club, 663 Kearny Ave., will hold its annual spring dance on Friday, May 3, from 7 to 10 p.m. Guests are restricted to teenagers only. The dance will be supervised by Thomas Fraser, former Lincoln School guidance counselor and members of the Board of Directors.

Join the Senior Citizens of Kearny to meet new friends. Due are $5 per year. This entitles members to five free parties, including a fish and chips dinner. Meetings take place every Thursday at the Henrietta Benstead Senior Center, 60 Columbia Ave., Kearny. Doors open at 9 a.m. for a continental breakfast and socializing. The business meeting begins at 11:30 a.m. followed by bingo at noon. Several speakers will be brought in during the year. For club information, call Carol 201-991-9369.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 7, Hudson County, meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Irish American Association, 95 Kearny Ave., Kearny. New members encouraged to attend.

Kearny High School PTA will conduct a clothing drive on Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m. to noon, at the Elm and King Sts. entrance. Items being collected include pocket books, shoes, belts, curtains, blankets, stuffed animals and any clothing.

The West Hudson Detachment of the Marine Corps League invites all former and active duty Marines and FMF Corpsmen to attend an open house, which will be held every Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. at 286 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. Guests are welcome.

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 can’t afford it due to unemployment, disability or any other financial difficulty. Just stop by or call for more information 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, 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 at 201-424-2659.

The Food Pantry at the Lyndhurst Health Department hours are as follows: Monday through Thursday, 1 to 3:30 p.m. The Food Pantry is available to Lyndhurst residents who can show proof of hardship and proof of residence.

Lyndhurst Health Department, 601 Riverside Ave., will host a stroke, aneurysm, osteoporosis and vascular disease screening provided by Life Line Screening on Wednesday, May 8. The price varies with each screening. Pre-registration is required. Appointments can be made with Life Line at 1-800-324- 1851 or receive a special $10 discount by signing up at www.lifelinescreening.com/ community-partners.

Children in grades 1 to 4 can surprise Mom on Mother’s Day by creating a special craft just for her at Lyndhurst Public Library, 355 Valley Brook Ave., on Monday, May 6, at 3:30 to 4 p.m., for this craft.

Registration will be held May 1 to June 14 for the library’s summer reading program, open to grades pre-k to 6. This year’s theme is “Dig into Reading” and activities may include programs on dinosaurs or construction vehicles, animals that live underground or Ancient Egypt, caves, rocks, and more. For more information, call the library at 201-804-2478.

The Lyndhurst Library will host “Life at an Edwardian Manor-Inspired by Downton 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. Please call the library at 201-804-2478, ext. 7 or email romeo@bccls.org to register.

The Township of Lyndhurst will host Lyndhurst Day, on Saturday, May 11. Admission is free. Events start at 9 a.m. with a 7th and 8th grade track meet at Lyndhurst High School track, “Kids On The Move” event for younger children (bouncy house, face painting, etc.), Swim-a- Thon at the community pool benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and a 5K Run/Fitness Walk benefiting Tomorrow’s Children Fund, beginning at Town Hall Park.

A Health, Safety, and Life Expo will begin at Town Hall Park, Delafield and Court Aves., at 11 a.m. with over 100 informational booths, health screenings and much more. The Police Department will present a SWAT team demonstration. There will also be appearances by Anthony Lagruth, maestro of the Garden State Philharmonic and Kevin Rooney, winner of TV’s “Chopped”!

There will be giveaways, food and entertainment, including Soul Xpress and the Jersey Four (a tribute to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons). For various registration forms and more information on all of these events, visit www.lyndhurstnj.org.

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 should call Janet Ritigliano at 201-935-1208.

The Meadowlands Environment Center, Two DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst, will host “Tim Stewart’s Bees,” a program for all ages on Saturday, May 4, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tim Stewart started working with bees at age 11 – join him now at the grand old age of 18 and learn about these prolific pollinators and healthy honey makers. Tim founded Stewart’s Apiaries in Vineland, in 2006. He will bring bees – don’t worry, they won’t sting! – and demonstrate bee behavior. Admission is $5/person; $4/MEC members. For information, call 201-460-8300 or visit www.njmeadowlands. gov/ec.

The First-Sunday-of-the Month Walk with the NJMC and Bergen County Audubon Society will be held on May 5 at 10 a.m.

This free two-hour nature walk starts at the entrance to Losen Slote Creek Park in Little Ferry. Check meadowblog. net for last-minute weather updates. You will have to sign a standard liability release for this event that is good for NJMC/BCAS events throughout the year. To R.S.V.P., contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-636-4022.

Drawing Flowers with a Splash (of Color), a program for adults, will be held at the Environment Center on Thursday, May 9, from 2 to 5 p.m. Adults of all experience levels will be introduced to drawing flowers, beginning with basic shapes. Bring your own flowers or study ours. The Environment Center will provide the basic art supplies for the session, or bring your own if you wish. Admission: $15/person; $10/MEC members. For information, call 201-460-8300 or visit www. njmeadowlands.gov/ec.

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

The Senior Harmony Club of North Arlington has scheduled a trip to the Taj Mahal Casino on Tuesday, May 7. Cost of the trip is $25. Call Florence at 201-991-3173.

North Arlington Public Library, 210 Ridge Rd., will have Storytime at 11 a.m. for ages 2 to 5 on Wednesday, May 1, 8, 15, and 22. No Storytime will be held on May 29. Saturday Stories with Laurie, will be held May 4 and 18 at 11 a.m. for ages 3 to 6.

The library is hosting YA Movie Day on Friday May 3, at 3 p.m. for grades 6 and up. A Mother’s Day Craft will be held at the library on Monday May 7, at 6:30 p.m. for grades K-5 sponsored by the North Arlington Woman’s Club.

Fit 4 Kids will be held on May 9 at the library at 5:30 p.m. for ages 2 to 7.

Muscle Man Mike and Soccer Sue will host a program for children to learn the importance of health and fitness on their level.

If you crochet or knit and would enjoy gathering with a group of like-minded crafters, join a monthly Sit and Stitch at the library.

Due to increasing popularity there will be two meetings a month. The next gatherings are: Thursday, May 2 and Tuesday, May 21 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

For additional information, send an email to: stitching@mail2donna.com

Registration for the North Arlington’s summer recreation program has begun and will continue to through May 24.

Registration will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Youth Center, 1 Legion Pl. (behind Borough Hall, next to the firehouse). Space in the program is limited.

The recreation program runs from June 24 through Aug. 16 for children ages 4 to 10. For more information about the program, call 201-997- 7709.

American Legion Alexander Stover Post 37, 222 River Rd., North Arlington, will meet on May 6 at 8 p.m. All veterans are invited to attend. For more information, call 201-214-8253.

Nutley

The Nutley Golden Age Club announces its annual trip to Wildwood June 3 to 6. The trip includes four days, three nights lodging, three breakfasts, lunch, two fullcourse dinners, tour of the Renault Wintery, dolphin watch sightseeing cruise and more. Cost is $375 per person double occupancy, including transportation, lodging, luggage handling, taxes and gratuities. Call Jo Ann Andriola at 973-418-5015 for reservations. Deposits will be accepted no later than May 20.

Nutley Public Library, 93 Booth Dr., announces conversational ESL is held every Wednesday at 10 a.m. No registration is required.

Wednesday Afternoon Knitters meet at the library every week at 1 p.m. Share your love of knitting and crocheting with both beginning and experienced knitters. Bring your own supplies.

Teen video game tournaments are held at the library every Wednesday and Thursday at 3 p.m.

The library will host Adult Scrabble Night on Thursday, May 2 at 7 p.m. Prizes are awarded for 1st and 2nd place scores. No registration is required.

“Skyfall” will be shown as part of the library’s First Friday Films program on May 3 at 2p.m. A new film is shown the first Friday of each month. Please check the library’s event calendar for names of films.

The library’s Manga Anime Club meets on Fridays at 3 p.m. Saturday Story Time will be held at the library on May 4, 18, 25 at 10 a.m. No registration is required.

Patrons are invited to play Bridge at the library on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. No registration required.

What does it take to raise a healthy teenager in today’s world? All parents are invited to come to an educational workshop and interactive discussion at John H. Walker Middle School, 325 Franklin Ave., Nutley, on May 2, at 7 p.m. Topics covered will include: bullying, substance abuse, mental health issues, peer and parental relationships, self-harm behaviors and more.

Photo courtesy Lyndhurst PD
Donald Tuohy

At least he showed remorse. Police have charged a Lyndhurst man for allegedly robbing a local bar at gunpoint. The man apologized for his actions before racing away, police said.

Police said they responded to a 9-1-1 call on Saturday, April 20, at 6:18 p.m. on a report of a robbery that had just happened at the Locker Room Bar on Stuyvesant Ave.

Officers arriving there were told by the 26-year-old female bartender that a man had just committed an armed robbery of the bar, taking more than $100.

There were no patrons in the bar at the time, police said.

Police said the bartender told them that the man walked up to the bar, brandished a handgun and demanded cash from the register. The bartender told police that the man, after taking the money, apologized for his deed and left on foot.

Police said the bartender wasn’t hurt and no shots were fired. Police said Det. Ronald Guirland and Det. Sgt. John Kerner, who investigated the crime, managed to identify the suspect after canvassing the neighborhood and reviewing surveillance footage from security cameras both inside the bar and from neighboring businesses.

Tuohy was arrested Wednesday, April 24, at 6:15 p.m. at his Lyndhurst home and charged with armed robbery, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and aggravated assault.

Neither the handgun nor the cash were recovered, police said.

Tuohy was ordered held at Bergen County Jail, Hackensack, in lieu of $250,000 bail, with no 10% cash option permitted.

Here are other incidents logged by Lyndhurst Police during the past week:

April 20

A resident of the 600 block of Eighth St. reported the theft of a lawn mower from their garage. The resident told police the garage was locked but the lock may have been faulty. The incident was logged at 7:37 p.m.

At 11:20 a.m., police responded to the 200 block of Lake Ave. where a resident told them that someone had tampered with the ignition of their 2006 Chrysler sedan and that the cylinder lock on the driver door had been damaged.

Someone apparently entered a shed in the rear yard of a resident’s home in the 300 block of Page Ave., the resident told police at 9:30 a.m. The resident said he found the door to the unlocked shed open that morning. The resident wasn’t sure if anything was missing.

Police responded to the 100 block of Valley Brook Ave. near Lyndhurst Ave. at 7:14 a.m. on a report of a theft a 2000 Chrysler minivan. Police said the car was taken sometime between April 15 and 19.

April 19

At 10:36 p.m., police responded to a parking lot at 9 Polito Ave. on a report of someone driving erratically around the lot. After locating the vehicle, police ended up arresting the driver, Andrew Rivers, 19, of Lyndhurst, on charges of possession of suspected marijuana and possession of drugs inside a motor vehicle. Rivers was released on a summons.

Police were called to the 100 block of Fern Ave., at 9:40 p.m., on a report of damage to a motor vehicle. Police said the owner reported seeing a man trying to pry back the roof of their 1998 BMW convertible. Then, the owner told police, that man and two others jumped into a dark-colored 4-door sedan and drove away. Police said the three men were described as Latino, between 20 and 25.

– Ron Leir