Newark, NJ
Schools
NJ High School Senior From Nigeria Accepted To 15 Colleges — Including 7 Ivy Leagues NJ High School Senior From Nigeria Accepted To 15 Colleges — Including 7 Ivy Leagues
NJ High School Senior From Nigeria Accepted To 15 Colleges — Including 7 Ivy Leagues Although the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally shifted the way of life for all school-age students, one North Jersey high school senior says it helped to broaden his horizons and give him the encouragement he needed to apply and get accepted to 15 colleges — including seven Ivy Leagues universities. David Odekunle, a 17-year-old Bloomfield High School senior, received letters of acceptance from the following universities for the fall semester: 1. Princeton University 2. Yale University 3. Brown University 4. Columbia University 5. Dartmouth University 6. Cornell University 7. University …

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by Valerie Musson
Fort Lee, NJ
News
Leonia High School Phys Ed Teacher Charged With Sexually Assaulting Underage Teen Leonia High School Phys Ed Teacher Charged With Sexually Assaulting Underage Teen
Leonia High School Phys Ed Teacher Charged With Sexually Assaulting Underage Teen UPDATE: A Leonia High School physical education teacher was arrested after authorities learned of an "inappropriate sexual relationship" with a student, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Friday. Samantha Krakower, who turned 24 on Wednesday, was charged with second-degree sexual assault by someone with “supervisory or disciplinary power” over a victim 16 to 17 years old, he said. Krakower, a former high school and college softball standout who lives in Palisades Park, also was charged with criminal sexual contact and child endangerment. She remained held in the county lockup Frid…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Elizabeth, NJ
Police & Fire
Union Police: Repeat Bank Robber Arrested After Pursuit Through Snow Storm Union Police: Repeat Bank Robber Arrested After Pursuit Through Snow Storm
Union Police: Repeat Bank Robber Arrested After Pursuit Through Snow Storm A man who police say robbed a pair of Union Township banks was arrested after a foot pursuit during this week's Nor'easter, authorities said. Union Township police responded to a panic alarm from the Morris Avenue TD Bank on Wednesday around 3:50 p.m., the department said in a press release. Once there, employees provided them with a description of the suspect who fled with cash. Officer Sal Valentino responded to the area in the midst of the storm when he saw a man matching the description on North Avenue, police said.  Valentino tried to stop the man, but he ran into the wooded ar…

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by Cecilia Levine
Middletown, NJ
News
COVID-19: Here's Where You Can Get Tested In North Jersey COVID-19: Here's Where You Can Get Tested In North Jersey
Covid-19: Here's Where You Can Get Tested In North Jersey As expected, the number of coronavirus cases has increased with the opening of testing sites across New Jersey. And that number is only going to increase, Gov. Phil Murphy said. "As the testing regime expands, we’re going to see these numbers go up in a big way," he said. "We are getting a clearer and better sense of how far the coronavirus has already spread.” Here's a list of coronavirus testing sites in New Jersey: Officials are urging New Jersey residents to keep these testing sites open to those who need it saying that if you feel okay, stay home and rest.  You'll need state ID…

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by Cecilia Levine
Middletown, NJ
News
COVID-19: Here's Where You Can Get Tested In North Jersey COVID-19: Here's Where You Can Get Tested In North Jersey
Covid-19: Here's Where You Can Get Tested In North Jersey As expected, the number of coronavirus cases has increased with the opening of testing sites across New Jersey. And that number is only going to increase, Gov. Phil Murphy said. "As the testing regime expands, we’re going to see these numbers go up in a big way," he said. "We are getting a clearer and better sense of how far the coronavirus has already spread.” Here's a list of coronavirus testing sites in New Jersey: Officials are urging New Jersey residents to keep these testing sites open to those who need it saying that if you feel okay, stay home and rest.  You'll need state ID…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lakewood, NJ
Obituaries
Shock, Sadness Spread After Point Pleasant HS Grad Maggie Gilbert Dies In Labor, 31 Shock, Sadness Spread After Point Pleasant HS Grad Maggie Gilbert Dies In Labor, 31
Shock, Sadness Spread After Point Pleasant HS Grad Maggie Gilbert Dies In Labor, 31 Point Pleasant High School graduate Maggie Gilbert died on Feb. 13, of complications following of an emergency C-section with her firstborn son. She was 31 years old. More than $28,000 had been raised on a GoFundMe as of Wednesday for her newborn boy Aiden Patrick, and husband, Ryan Gilbert. The Gilberts were just starting their lives together: Married in April 2017, the couple bought a home in Bridgewater to raise their family. "It is unimaginable that the best and worst days of my brother's life occurred just days apart, but we are all truly blown away by the incredible strength he has…

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by Jon Craig
Elizabeth, NJ
Obituaries
Elizabeth Native Philip Deckert Dies, 34 Elizabeth Native Philip Deckert Dies, 34
Elizabeth Native Philip Deckert Dies, 34 Elizabeth native Philip Deckert died Jan. 10, in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He was 34 years old. Philip was a graduate of Kean University (Class of 2010) with a degree in criminal justice. He moved to Florida in 2014, and worked as a valet for the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, his obituary says. He enjoyed both playing and watching basketball, along with other sports, and played for the St. Hedwig Hawks in 1994-95 -- when they won the Elizabeth City Championship. Philip is survived by his mother, Mary Ann Socha Deckert; father, Henry Deckert; sister, Veronica A. Deckert; along with friends, collea…

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by Cecilia Levine
Elizabeth, NJ
News
Wine Dating Back To 1700s Found In Union Wine Dating Back To 1700s Found In Union
Wine Dating Back To 1700s Found In Union Bottles of centuries-old wine were recently found at a Colonial-era home in Union that also houses the Liberty Hall Museum, museum officials said. The home -- built in 1772 by the state’s first governor, William Livingston -- is affiliated with Kean University. During a recent renovation, 25 bottles of Madeira wine dating from 1796 were discovered in the wine cellar. Also found were dozens of demijohns -- a type of large, bulbous container -- dating from the 1820s. It is considered one of the largest collections of 18th-century Madeira wine in the United States, the museum said. The discov…

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by Paul Milo
Elizabeth, NJ
Neighbors
ER Nurse From Union County Needs Help In Cancer Fight ER Nurse From Union County Needs Help In Cancer Fight
ER Nurse From Union County Needs Help In Cancer Fight As an emergency room nurse for the last 13 years, Jennifer Noone has helped countless people in medical distress. Now, she finds herself in need of help. Noone, a Clark resident who attended Roselle Catholic High School and Kean University, was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in February. A rare form of cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma affects only about 1 in 100,000 Americans. The experienced nurse contracted a sinus infection in January and knew something was wrong when it wasn’t clearing up. A visit to the doctor confirmed that she was very sick and had to begin an aggressive co…

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by Paul Milo
Elizabeth, NJ
Schools
Actor Jeff Daniels Will Be Featured Speaker At Kean Commencement Actor Jeff Daniels Will Be Featured Speaker At Kean Commencement
Actor Jeff Daniels Will Be Featured Speaker At Kean Commencement Two prominent entertainers will give the key speeches at Kean University's undergraduate and graduate school commencements later this month.  Actor and musician Jeff Daniels will speak during the undergraduate commencement ceremony, which will be held May 23 at the Prudential Center in Newark. About 2,800 students will be awarded their diplomas.  Daniels, winner of three Tony Awards and an Emmy, is currently starring in To Kill A Mockingbird on Broadway. He has also starred in films including Terms of Endearment, Dumb and Dumber and Good Night and Good Luck, as well as HBO's "The …

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by Paul Milo
Ridgewood, NJ
Obituaries
Justin Cigolini Of Ridgewood Dies, 31 Justin Cigolini Of Ridgewood Dies, 31
Justin Cigolini Of Ridgewood Dies, 31 Justin Joseph Cigolini of Ridgewood died suddenly on April 16. He was 31 years old. Justin was a 2006 graduate of Ridgewood high School. He went on to attend Kean University and St. Peter's college, and was a member of Carpenters Union Local 255, his obituary says.  He was predeceased by his father, Walter Cigolini. Justin is survived by his mother, Lucille Cigolini (nee Caterella); brother Paul Cigolini and his fiancé Kaitlyn; and sister Christina Cigolini. Visitation is Tuesday, April 23 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Feeney Funeral Home on Franklin Avenue. Donations in Justin's memory c…

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by Cecilia Levine
Fort Lee, NJ
Police & Fire
HERO: Courageous Port Authority PD Recruit Who Returned To Training With Cancer Laid To Rest HERO: Courageous Port Authority PD Recruit Who Returned To Training With Cancer Laid To Rest
Hero: Courageous Port Authority PD Recruit Who Returned To Training With Cancer Laid To Rest Port Authority police turned out in force Wednesday, joined by other members of the law enforcement community, to lay to rest a courageous PAPD recruit who valiantly returned to training while fighting cancer -- only to have it take his life. Michael Joseph Kelly, 31, was originally a member of the 115th Port Authority Police Academy Recruit Training Class in 2017 but had to withdraw after having emergency colon surgery, colleagues said. He nonetheless “displayed incredible courage, strength and determination battling his illness and returned as a member of the 117th Recruit Training Class”…

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by Jerry DeMarco