National Eyeglass, Contacts Retailer Accused Of Discriminating Against Pregnant NJ Employee National Eyeglass, Contacts Retailer Accused Of Discriminating Against Pregnant NJ Employee
National Eyeglass, Contacts Retailer Accused Of Discriminating Against Pregnant NJ Employee A discount vision retailer with stores throughout New Jersey discriminated against a now-former employee by switching her to part time and not providing a suitable place to pump breast milk after she had a baby, a state civil rights complaint alleges. Jalaia Hill says in a state civil rights complaint that her health coverage was eliminated by the sudden position switch from full to part time when she returned from maternity leave to the America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses store in Burlington. America’s Best also “failed to reasonably accommodate her request for a place to express brea…
Julie Baran, 63, Operated Successful Family Business In Green Brook Township Julie Baran, 63, Operated Successful Family Business In Green Brook Township
Julie Baran, 63, Operated Successful Family Business In Green Brook Township Julie Baran, who lived in Green Brook Township for more than two decades, died at her home surrounded by her family on Sunday. She was 63 years old Baran and her husband, Ziggy, operated Warrenville Plumbing & Heating for many years, according to her obituary. Their two sons and a daughter-in-law continue to run the successful family business on Warrenville Road in Green Brook.  Born in Pyrzyce, Poland, Baran and her family moved to the United States in  in 1967. She lived in Irvington until she met her husband. They moved to Queens and later Brooklyn, NY. Baran had man…
Ulta Beauty To Close 19 Stores Ulta Beauty To Close 19 Stores
Ulta Beauty To Close 19 Stores Ulta Beauty announced plans to close 19 stores this year. Shops slated to get the ax have not been announced, but the beauty supplies chain has shops across New Jersey that could be impacted. Ulta Beauty top officials blamed COVID-19’s economic disruption as the reason for the cuts. Even while it closes some stores, Ulta Beauty has plans to open 30 more. Efforts will be made to transfer employees from closed shops to new or already existing ones, the company said in a press release. In New Jersey, Ulta has stores in Edgewater, Clifton, Maywood, Garfield, Cedar Knolls, Wayne, Montvale, L…
Tuesday Morning Retailer Struck By Coronavirus Closing 7 NJ Stores Tuesday Morning Retailer Struck By Coronavirus Closing 7 NJ Stores
Tuesday Morning Retailer Struck By Coronavirus Closing 7 NJ Stores Home goods retailer Tuesday Morning is the latest national outlet to seek bankruptcy protection, company officials said. Tuesday Morning's closing is a result of the "immense strain of the COVID-19 pandemic," the Dallas-based retail chain said in a statement.  At least seven Tuesday Morning stores in New Jersey will close as a result of the bankruptcy. The discount home retailer has 11 stores in the Garden State, Tuesday Morning Corp., founded in 1974, said it expects to close about 230 of its 687 stores nationwide. New Jersey stores that will remain closed are in East Hanover, Middl…
KNOW ANYTHING? 2 Injured In Somerset County House Fire KNOW ANYTHING? 2 Injured In Somerset County House Fire
Know Anything? 2 Injured In Somerset County House Fire Authorities in Somerset County are investigating a fire in North Plainfield that displaced and injured two residents -- one of who is critical but stable, police said. North Plainfield Fire Department and North Plainfield Police responded to a report of a residential fire on Grove Street shortly after 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 12, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said in a joint release. Two men were injured in the three-alarm blaze and were taken to an undisclosed trauma center where one remains in critical condition, authorities said. Fire crews from Somerset (North Plainfield,…
These NJ ShopRite Stores Imposing Customer Limit Amid Coronavirus Spread These NJ ShopRite Stores Imposing Customer Limit Amid Coronavirus Spread
These NJ ShopRite Stores Imposing Customer Limit Amid Coronavirus Spread More than two dozen New Jersey ShopRite stores have implemented customer limits in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus. The maximum number of customers will be roughly 30 percent of the store’s regular maximum occupancy, ShopRite said in a statement. A security guard will be stationed at entrances and exits to track the number of customers coming in and out. Only one entrance per store will remain open. The guard will allow customers into the building, counting them along the way. Once the store is at capacity, ShopRite will ask customers to form a line outside. The following…
Lawsuit Filed In Essex County Deems Huffman Koos' Refund Policies Illegal Lawsuit Filed In Essex County Deems Huffman Koos' Refund Policies Illegal
Lawsuit Filed In Essex County Deems Huffman Koos' Refund Policies Illegal Furniture chain Huffman Koos enforced a return and refund policy that violates the Consumer Fraud Act, says a lawsuit filed recently in Essex County. The class-action lawsuit states that HK’s contracts refuse refunds and returns once the merchandise has been delivered or picked up, NJ.com reports. “Such a policy is contrary to New Jersey regulations, which require a furniture seller to offer a full and prompt refund when furniture is delivered in a damaged condition,” said Joseph A. Osefchen of DeNittis Osefchen Prince, P.C., which filed the suit last Thursday. These policies are considere…
Dozens Have Been Charged In Carjacking, Car Theft Investigations Dozens Have Been Charged In Carjacking, Car Theft Investigations
Dozens Have Been Charged In Carjacking, Car Theft Investigations Authorities have placed dozens of people behind bars in disrupting a pipeline that delivered luxury vehicles from North and Central Jersey to customers in West Africa via ports in Newark, Elizabeth and Staten Island, the Attorney General's office said Monday .  Panel Dalce was sentenced Friday, becoming the last person put behind bars as a result of a pair of investigations, dubbed "Operation Jacked" and "Operation 17 Corridor" aimed at carjackers and car thieves operating in Somerset, Bergen, Essex and a number of other counties.  More than 50 people have been arrested and charge…
Man Lied About Getting Carjacked, Caused False Alarm: Berkeley Heights PD Man Lied About Getting Carjacked, Caused False Alarm: Berkeley Heights PD
Man Lied About Getting Carjacked, Caused False Alarm: Berkeley Heights PD A man who set off an intense search for a carjacker in Berkeley Heights Tuesday faces charges of lying to police, the department said in a statement.  When police responded to a vehicle crash at 900 Mountain Ave., William Richards of Bayville told them his vehicle had been carjacked earlier in Newark and driven to Berkeley Heights, where the carjacker crashed, the department said. Richards also told police the man had a gun and had fled into nearby woods.  Berkeley police, Union County Sheriff's K-9 officers, A State Police helicopter as well as officers from New Providence, Watch…
Westfield's Rialto Movie Theater Abruptly Closes Westfield's Rialto Movie Theater Abruptly Closes
Westfield's Rialto Movie Theater Abruptly Closes The Rialto movie theater in Westfield closed Friday, catching everyone from members of the public to its employees to the town's mayor by surprise.  So abrupt was the closing that a message posted on the marquee Friday listed a phone number where people could call for refunds.  "Like all of you, I’m devastated to learn about the sudden closing of the Rialto Theater, which has been a treasure of our downtown for many decades," Mayor Shelley Brindle said in a Facebook post.  Brindle, who said town officials were in talks with the theater when it suddenly shut its doors, also s…
BMWs Collide On Rainy Route 17 In Hasbrouck Heights BMWs Collide On Rainy Route 17 In Hasbrouck Heights
BMWs Collide On Rainy Route 17 In Hasbrouck Heights A Lyndhurst driver told Hasbrouck Heights police that his brakes locked, sending his BMW into another on Route 17 during Thursday night's rainstorm. Neither he nor the other driver -- also 25, from Watchung -- was seriously injured in the crash on the northbound highway near Ottawa Lane just after midnight, Lt. Michael Colaneri said. The Lyndhurst driver was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, Colaneri said. The northbound lanes were temporarily closed for the wreckage cleanup and police investigation, the lieutenant said. Both vehicles were towed, he said. The state Department…
Jessica Yorkovich, 26, Fanwood Native Who Loved Travel And Animals Jessica Yorkovich, 26, Fanwood Native Who Loved Travel And Animals
Jessica Yorkovich, 26, Fanwood Native Who Loved Travel And Animals Jessica Yorkovich, a longtime resident of Fanwood, died Friday at Hackensack University Medical Center. She was 26. Born in Plainfield and raised in Fanwood, as a child she was diagnosed with Diamond-Blackfan anemia, a rare blood disorder. She had a bone-marrow transplant in October.  After graduating from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, she earned a degree in architecture from Marywood University in Scranton, Pa. An excellent student, her furniture design was ranked among the top 10 in her 2017 graduating class and was on display at the school. She also enjoyed the two semesters sh…