TOWN WATCH
MONTCLAIR – While the Montclair Public Schools resumed normal instruction here Jan. 14, a day after a district-wide shutdown, one of its teachers remains in a Philadelphia jail cell, awaiting extradition.
When Renaissance Middle School teacher Amir Doctry returns here after a psychological exam, said Montclair Police Lt. Terence Turner, he will be charged with making terroristic threats against another employee. It is not clear as of press time whether Doctry will face federal terroristic threat charges across state lines; that may hinge on where he was Jan. 12 when he allegedly made the threats.
MPS Interim Superintendent of Schools Damen Cooper said his district became aware of a potential threat towards Northeast Elementary School late Sunday night. Cooper said he immediately called the township police and, in an abundance of caution, announced that the schools would be closed Jan. 13 at 5 a.m. that Monday.
Montclair police, ECPO and the FBI-Newark field office traced the threat to Doctry. Lt. Turner told a reporter that they found one of Doctry’s video clips that stated that he “would become superintendent” and that “Racist Joe,” – Northeast Principal Dr. Joseph Putrino – “dies tonight.”
Philadelphia police were called to a residence where Doctry was found and arrested him without incident at about 8 a.m. Cooper sent a “threat neutralized” email by 9:30 a.m. – but the schools remained closed for the day.
Doctry, 45, on one hand, had been a 2018-19 award-winning teacher at RMS for a global learning connection curriculum – where Sixth graders met peers from around the world in real time. The former Newark Public Schools teacher, on the other hand, was put on administrative leave for “erratic behavior.”
MPD has meanwhile increased its patrols around the schools as a precaution.
NEWARK – Whether former Newark Public Schools Board President Dawn Haynes can keep her board of education got a boost from a New Jersey Administrative Law Judge’s decision that was made public Jan. 6 – but may not know for sure until Feb. 4.
Administrative Law Judge William J. Courtney dismissed NPS’ petition to remove six-year member Haynes on conflict of interest charges since her daughter had filed a discrimination claim against the district, among related parties. Courtney, in his late December ruling, said that NPS did not prove “irreparable harm” in Akela Haynes’s November suit against the district and administrators of the Institute for Global Studies magnet high school.
“I find no harm to the board as the result of receiving notice of a potential tort claim from the respondent’s daughter,” said Courtney in his ruling.
A. Haynes had filed suit on grounds of racial, religious and gender discrimination and harassment while she was at Global Studies high school from the start of the 2020-21 school year until she transferred out in December 2022. She had to wait until she had turned 18 before filing her tort claim.
There had been several accounts comparable to A. Haynes’ experience from students in a November 2022 meeting with the Newark Board of Education and Superintendent Roger Leon. Two former teachers had filed separate suits.
Leon had signed the petition to remove D. Haynes after the NBOE had, in a split December vote, approved filing the document with the New Jersey Department of Education Board of Ethics Commission.
That petition now lies on Acting Education Commissioner Kenin Dehmer’s Trenton desk. Dehmer has until Feb. 4 – 45 days after Judge Courtney’s ruling – to make a final decision on the district’s petition.
IRVINGTON – Relatives and friends of Saheed Wheeler are making his funeral arrangements here while ECPO detectives are investigating his Jan. 6 death in Newark’s Upper Clinton Hill neighborhood.
Responding Newark Police Division officers told prosecutor’s Homicide and Major Crimes Task Force detectives that they responded to shots fired from the 100 block of Seymour Avenue at about 9:17 p.m. that Monday.
NPD officers found a man felled by multiple gunshot wounds and who was declared dead at the scene. Relatives had identified Wheeler Jan. 9.
Wheeler, 45, had recently moved to Seymour Street. His funeral arrangements have not been announced as of Jan. 14. The investigation continues.
EAST ORANGE – No one should be enduring this winter without heat – but that is what residents of 218 North Walnut St. said they had had to do since Dec. 30.
Four of the two-story, 20 unit garden apartment building’s residents told a television reporter that Monday that they have gone without natural gas heat for a week. Two had complained that the washers and dryers were not working.
They said that they were told by their landlord, Atlantis Industries, of Oldwick, that the heat was shut off to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. The Atlantis general manager assigned to the building, they said, told them that the chimney needed to be cleaned.
One resident said, however, that the chimney cleaning was not done. The general manager, who was seen on the property that Monday, refused to talk with the reporter then or afterward.
Atlantis had bought the .42-acre property for $1.45 million Aug. 17, 2012. Although real estate sources vary, the 20 units were built in the mid-20th Century.
A city spokesperson said that Atlantis is being fined $1,000 daily until the repairs are made. Public Service Electric and Gas, on Dec. 30, had not commented on when natural gas will be restored.
ORANGE – The legacy of a long-time auto body shop is uncertain since its owner Artie Rinaldi, 82, has passed away on Dec. 12.
Rinaldi was the youngest of four siblings when he bought the former Earl Scheib and Mallon Pontiac auto body shop at 43-47 Central Ave. in 1978 and renamed it Du-Rite. The garage used to be a Durr or Forest Ford dealership going back to the 1940s before it became a Schieb franchise in 1961.
Du-Rite has outlasted its Orange-East Orange block neighbors. The Suburban Diner, Hollywood Theater and Doop’s on the Harrison Street corner are long gone. A Maaco auto body franchise across the avenues has also come and gone from the Rinaldi-run business.
Arthur Joseph Rinaldi, as portrayed by the Codey Funeral Home obituary, called Du-Rite “The Shop,” where it became “a gathering place for everyone — friends, family, customers and many in the Orange community. Brothers Anthony, and Sal and sister Marie also stopped by on occasion.
When “Local Talk” visited Du-Rite Jan. 14 for more biographical detail, however, only four cats were present in the former showroom lobby. No other activity was seen, no lights were on, and its phone number was not accepting calls.
Artie Rinaldi died in the presence of his wife of 63 years Nancy, daughters Maria and Catherine and grandchildren Nicholas and Gabriella. His visitation was held Jan. 3 at Codey’s Caldwell parlor, followed by a Jan. 4 Funeral Maas here at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. Condolences may be left at CodeyFuneralHome.com.
WEST ORANGE – Joe Krakoviak was more than sworn back onto the Township Council dais here Jan. 6. The man who had adhered to his self-imposed term limit in 2020 was selected by his peers later that Monday night as its 2025 Council President.
Krakoviak, who was on the council 2010-20 and was its president for a year, declined councilman-at-large re-election in 2020. He did make a run for mayor in 2023 but lost in a four-way race of then-current or former council members to Councilwoman Susan McCartney.
Krakoviak was first sworn in along with incumbent Michele Casalino and freshman Joyce Rudin for their 2025-27 council terms. A majority of township voters Nov. 5 chose Rudin, Krakoviak and Casalino over an on- ballot field of six.
Councilwoman Tammy Williams was denied re-election Nov. 5. Then-Council President Rev. H. William “Bill” Rutherford was reduced to a write-in campaign after a judge’s ruling barred his filing extra petitions past the deadline.
Krakoviak had earlier founded West Orange Grassroots, a watchdog group focused on reducing municipal spending while increasing accountability. The career communications consultant also revived the Friends of the West Orange Library prior to that institution moving next to the Essex Green Shopping Center last year.
SOUTH ORANGE – A federal judge in Newark has dismissed a parents’ wrongful death by neglect lawsuit against Seton Hall University on Jan. 7 – although the said plaintiffs have 30 days to file an amended suit.
U.S. New Jersey District Judge Susan D, Wigerton, in her ruling, dismissed The Estate of Kristin McCartney vs. SHU without prejudice on three grounds, starting with the late Kristin McCartney’s parents and attorney having filed suit past a posted deadline.
Parents Donna Dockery and Sean McCartney and their lawyer had filed their suit against the university May 24, 2024 – about 3.5 years after their Nov. 12, 2021 notice of gross negligence claim against the school.
The parents and lawyer claimed that the respondents – SHU – were dragging their feet in providing discovery material. Wigerton, in her ruling, said that she could not discount the long filing time.
The judge also dismissed the suit in that the plaintiffs had failed to show that the school had acted in bad faith in the handling of Kristin McCartney’s isolation for COVID and Sept. 20, 2021 death. McCartney, an SHU School of Diplomacy and International Relations sophomore and another student were put in an isolated dorm room; while the other student was released on Sept. 19, McCartney was found unresponsive and face down – and declared dead – the next day.
Wigerton has given the plaintiffs 30 days to file an amended suit. Failing to make the amendment will prompt the judge to dismiss with prejudice.
MAPLEWOOD – Hair cutting and styling continues at Anthony Garrubbo Salon here in Jefferson Village even though his namesake, Anthony Garrubbo, 82, had died on Dec. 30.
Garrubbo and a business partner bought 174 Maplewood Ave. from Hair World in 1974 and named their business after themselves. “Andre and Anthony for Hair” fully became “Anthony Garubo Hair Salon” in 2005, presumably after Andre’s departure.
Anthony Garrubbo meanwhile raised Janine, Ashley, Rebecca and the late Christin Paig with his wife of 63 years, Renee. The William A. Bradley and Son Funeral Home-Chatham posted obituary has him portrayed as a curious and humorous nurturer and mentor of clients, family, customers and friends.
Grandchildren Ella, Reid Anthony, Samantha and Zachary are also among his survivors. Garrubbo’s Funeral Mass was held at Madison’s St. Vincent the Martyr Church Jan 7. His body was then committed to St. Gertrude Cemetery in the Colonia section of Woodbridge.
Condolences may be left at 174 Maplewood Ave.’s check in desk by Garrubbo’s portrait and death notice.
BLOOMFIELD – One of Mayor Jenny Mundell and the Township Council’s key reappointments turned some heads at their Jan. 6 reorganization meeting.
The council voted Mundell’s resolution to rehire Michael J. Parlavecchio as Township Attorney, after a nine-month absence, for Calendar Year 2025 on a maximum $195,000 salary. Parlavecchio doubles as Chief Counsel to the Essex County Board of Commissioners.
The Basking Ridge lawyer is no stranger to the Municipal Building office. He was first appointed Feb. 1, 2016 by a previous mayor and board but resigned Feb. 28 on what Mayor Michael Venezia said were on “procedural grounds.” The council, in a 4-2-1 split vote, reappointed him on March 7.
Parlavecchio was reappointed in 2019 until Gamble dismissed him early last year. Gamble, who was an interim mayor this time last year, was defeated by Mundell in June’s primary. A “Bloomfield Chronicle” report, however, said that the Millburn resident and Seton Hall Law School resident had contributed to then-Councilwoman Mundell’s successful mayoral campaign.
The council removed “Acting” from Anthony DeZenzo’s Township Administrator title after being here four years. The title change came after a 4-1-1 council vote. Thomas Icolari was appointed OEM Coordinator for a three-year term.
Adult Library Reopens
The Bloomfield Public Library’s main 1967 building reopened to the public Jan. 10 after being closed for repairs since Dec. 16. What BPL calls the Children’s Library next door, the former 1927 Jarvie Memorial Library, offered temporary and limited adult services Dec. 16-Jan. 10. What repairs were made and at what cost were not available as of press time.
BELLEVILLE — A township man now awaits how long he will be in the Morris County Jail since his Jan. 6 guilty plea in the May 31 collision that killed an 18 year old Mount Olive college student.
Gerald J. Veneziano, 41, accepted a plea bargain with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office to second-degree death by auto and DWI before Superior Court-Morriston Judge Tobert Hanna that Monday. MCPO attorneys then recommended a six-year prison sentence for Veneziano – which amounts to at least five years and a month in prison under the 86 percent No Early Release Act.
Veneziano, before Judge Hanna, said that he has no recollection of the 10:30 p.m., May 31 collision, where his northbound 2021 Chevrolet Silverado struck Jacob Davis and his 2019 Mazda 3 on Howard Boulevard in Roxbury. Both vehicles erupted in flames.
Veneziano was taken to Morristown Medical Center for his serious injuries. Davis, 18, of Mt. Olive’s Flanders section and a student at Boston’s Northwestern University, was declared dead at the scene.
Although Veneziano said he does not recall the crash, he had pleaded guilty based on the discovery evidence given. That includes data from his Silverado pickup truck going up to 93 mph in a 50 mph zone and his recorded above .10 percent blood alcohol level.
Exactly how long Veneziano will be imprisoned will be up to Judge Hanna and his sentencing next month. Once released, Veneziano, as a first time DWI convict is subject to between six and 12 months’ loss of his driving license, an interlock device installed on his next car, between 12 and 48 hours in a state Intoxicated Drivers Resource Center and pay Davis’s family $8,961.23 restitution to Davis’s family.
Court records found that Veneziano also has a Flanders address.
NUTLEY – There have been near- and long-term changes to the Nutley Board of Education and its school district made by township leaders here Jan. 6-7.
The reorganized NBOE on Jan. 6 selected Salvatore Ferraro and Thomas D’Elia as the body’s board president and vice president for 2025. The Township Committee, on Jan. 7, approved buying 777-89 Bloomfield Ave. for conversion to Pre-Kindergarten classrooms and new NBOE offices on or by Sept. 1.
Ferraro and D’Elia were unanimously selected by the just-reorganized board that Monday night. Voters elected Ferraro in 2020 and also re-elected him in 2023. D’Elia, who was elected in 2022, is in his first term.
Incumbents Nicholas Scotti and Daniel Fraginals plus newcomer Stephen Gilberti were sworn onto the board as the night’s first order of business. Scotti, Fraginals and Gilberti were the top three candidates elected by a majority of participating Nutley voters Nov. 5 from a ballot field of four.
Ferraro was present at the Township Commissioners’ Tuesday night meeting where they approved buying 777-89 Bloomfield Ave. for Nutley Public Schools. The agreement with the outgoing owner, Nicols Park Condominium, will have the latter renovate the building into 10 Pre-K classrooms and, on the top floor, NPS BOE offices. Once the renovations are done, the three-story building with a single story studio will be turned over to NPS.
The move aims to consolidate the district’s Pre-K classrooms in September 2025 and free up John Walker Middle School space to amass NPS Sixth Graders for the 2026-27 school year. The action is being done on the “One Nutley” township-district shared service pact that had made in 2022. The Township Commission had hired a consulting architect to study 777 and 800 Bloomfield Ave. and 243 and 407 Kingsland St. Nov. 4, 2021.
