Girl Ejected From Minivan On Garden State Parkway, Driver ID'd Girl Ejected From Minivan On Garden State Parkway, Driver ID'd
Girl Ejected From Minivan On Garden State Parkway, Driver ID'd A 14-year-old girl was ejected from a minivan on the Garden State Parkway this weekend, authorities said. Melande Alexis-Joseph, 51, of Maplewood was heading south in a Toyota Sienna when the van struck a guardrail on the right, ejecting the girl around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 in Kenilworth, New Jersey Sate Police Trooper Charles Marchan said. Alexis-Joseph struck a concrete overpass and a nearby guardrail, then crossed the highway to the left and hit a median barrier, police said. The girl was seriously injured. It was not clear if the driver was injured. No further details were relea…
Owner Of Pizzeria Ranked Best In NJ Skipped College Graduation To Fly To Italy Owner Of Pizzeria Ranked Best In NJ Skipped College Graduation To Fly To Italy
Owner Of Pizzeria Ranked Best In NJ Skipped College Graduation To Fly To Italy A popular eatery open for about a decade has the best pizza in New Jersey, according to a new ranking from 24/7 Wall St. Razza Pizza Artigianale in Jersey City was ranked the best pizzeria in the Garden State. The rankings were created based on a variety of ratings, reviews, and lists. "Razza opened in 2012, but its reputation exploded in 2017 after New York Times restaurant critic Pete Wells wrote provocatively that this New Jersey pizzeria served the best pizza in New York City," 24/7 Wall St writes.  "The pies are a little larger than standard Neapolitan pizzas, but they …
Thieves Crash Stolen BMW Into Home After Pursuit Through Essex, Union Counties: Police Thieves Crash Stolen BMW Into Home After Pursuit Through Essex, Union Counties: Police
Thieves Crash Stolen BMW Into Home After Pursuit Through Essex, Union Counties: Police A trio from Irvington crashed a stolen BMW into a Maplewood home after a police pursuit through several towns, authorities said. Union police were called to a car burglary on Portland Road around 11:30 a.m. Monday, July 18.  The suspect vehicle, a white BMW X5 stolen out of New York City the  day before, was spotted on Springfield Avenue near Millburn Avenue in Millburn a short time later. When the officers attempted to stop the BMW, the driver sped off and initiated a pursuit. The pursuit continued for a short while until the BMW crashed in the 700 block of Prospect Street in Ma…
$17.3M Lottery Ticket Winner Sold At New Jersey 7-Eleven On 7/11 $17.3M Lottery Ticket Winner Sold At New Jersey 7-Eleven On 7/11
$17.3M Lottery Ticket Winner Sold At New Jersey 7-Eleven On 7/11 The New Jersey Lottery has made yet another multi-millionaire. The winning Pick-6 ticket good for $17.3 million was sold at a North Jersey 7-Eleven on Monday, July 11 (7/11). The ticket was sold at the 7-Eleven at 490 Valley St., in Maplewood and claims the annuity jackpot. The lucky retailer will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. The winning numbers for the Monday, July 11, drawing were: 06, 07, 12, 14, 34 and 45. The jackpot will reset to $2 million for the next drawing that will be held on Thursday, July 14. Pick-6 was updated in April 2022 to offer better o…
Here's When NJ's Legal Weed Sales Begin Here's When NJ's Legal Weed Sales Begin
Here's When NJ's Legal Weed Sales Begin New Jersey has set a date for the legalization of marijuana sales, state officials announced Thursday, April 14. Starting on Thursday, April 21, "adults ages 21 and up will be able to legally purchase cannabis and cannabis products without a medical card," Gov. Phil Murphy said. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission announced that it will grant licenses to seven alternative treatment centers (ATCs) to begin weed sales, which will include 13 retail dispensaries. The specific locations of the sales are being withheld by state officials until the ATCs confirm their opening dates, a ne…
Dad Killed In Morris County Crash Was Family's 'Biggest Champion' Dad Killed In Morris County Crash Was Family's 'Biggest Champion'
Dad Killed In Morris County Crash Was Family's 'Biggest Champion' A 52-year-old man killed in a three-car crash last month in Morris County is being remembered as his family's "biggest champion." Michael Pacchia, Jr., of Chatham, was a father of four and husband to his wife of 23 years, Cathie, according to his obituary. Pacchia was behind the wheel of a Jeep Wrangler going south on Shunpike Road in Chatham Township when he was struck by a Nissan Rogue heading west near the intersection of Lafayette Avenue around 11:30 a.m., on March 28, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said. Pacchia's Jeep then hit a box truck that was parked on the oppos…
5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About NJ Grammy Award Winner SZA 5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About NJ Grammy Award Winner SZA
5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About NJ Grammy Award Winner SZA North Jersey native SZA won her first Grammy Award Sunday, April 4. The artist, whose real name is Solána Rowe, won the award alongside Doja Cat for their song "Kiss Me More" for best pop duo/group performance. The song was on Doja's 2021 album "Planet Her" and topped the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 3. Here are five things you may not have known about the Maplewood native: Her dad was an executive producer at CNN. She grew up Muslim and wore a hijab, but stopped after 9/11 due to bullying. She's a college dropout and attended three different schools.  Her first album, See.SZA.Run, was self…
North Jersey High School Mourns Death Of Student North Jersey High School Mourns Death Of Student
North Jersey High School Mourns Death Of Student The Columbia High School community is mourning the loss of a student who died on Tuesday, March 29. Initial and unconfirmed reports indicate that the death was a suicide. The district released a statement confirming the student's death that reads in part: Out of respect for the family, currently, we are unable to share additional details of the student’s death. However, we understand that this loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions not only for our students, but also for members of our staff and parent community. Counseling will be made available to those who nee…
Essex County Fugitive Wanted In Recent Assault: Police Essex County Fugitive Wanted In Recent Assault: Police
Essex County Fugitive Wanted In Recent Assault: Police Police in Essex County are seeking a 67-year-old man accused of firing a handgun and assaulting a victim inside of an apartment last week, they said. Cranford Butler, of Irvington, had gotten into an argument with the victim at a home on Jacoby Street in Maplewood the morning of Feb. 16, when he apparently fired a .380 caliber handgun, Maplewood Police Chief Jim DeVaul said. Police responding to the scene found the victim with a cut, but no gunshot wound or life-threatening injuries, and the incident was determined to be domestic in nature, the chief said. Butler and the victim knew each …
Seven Youths Nabbed In Series Of Clifton Car Thefts, Multi-County Pursuit, Crash Seven Youths Nabbed In Series Of Clifton Car Thefts, Multi-County Pursuit, Crash
Seven Youths Nabbed In Series Of Clifton Car Thefts, Multi-County Pursuit, Crash A Clifton police officer dove into a moving car after the teenager who stole it bailed out during one in a series of incidents involving out-of-town car thieves -- one of whom is only 14. Six of them were captured following a pursuit and crash involving another stolen vehicle and a Clifton police car later that day, Lt. Robert Bracken said. Officers interrupted the theft of a 2017 Mazda on Chittendon Road around 3 a.m. Monday, Bracken said. The thief hopped out of the car while it was still moving, forcing an officer to dive in to keep it from damaging nearby property, he said. The teen a…
Victim Killed In Garden State Parkway Crash Was Popular Dog Groomer Victim Killed In Garden State Parkway Crash Was Popular Dog Groomer
Victim Killed In Garden State Parkway Crash Was Popular Dog Groomer Loved ones are remembering a 51-year-old woman who was killed on the Garden State Parkway in Middlesex County earlier this month. Melissa M. Craden of Scotch Plains was traveling northbound on the Parkway in Woodbridge at 3:10 p.m. Nov. 6 when her 2009 Jeep Liberty sideswiped another vehicle near milepost 131.9, a New Jersey State Police spokesman said. Craden’s Jeep flipped and she was ejected, Sgt. Alejandro Goez said.  The driver of the other vehicle, a 2000 Chevrolet Impala, suffered minor injuries, Goez said. Craden was well-known as the owner of Grooming by Melissa, a…
NJ Teacher Accused Of Ripping Hijab Off Student Was Trying To Fix Her Hood, Attorney Says NJ Teacher Accused Of Ripping Hijab Off Student Was Trying To Fix Her Hood, Attorney Says
NJ Teacher Accused Of Ripping Hijab Off Student Was Trying To Fix Her Hood, Attorney Says A New Jersey teacher accused by a former Olympian of pulling a 7-year-old student's hijab off was just trying to fix her hood, her attorney told Daily Voice. "This is not a story about a teacher who forcibly removed a student’s hijab," said Samantha Harris, the attorney representing Tamar Herman, a teacher in the Maplewood South Orange school district.  "This is a story about social media, misinformation, and what happens when people publicize rumors without any knowledge of or regard for the truth." The story began getting media attention after former Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad took …