TOWN WATCH
SOUTH ORANGE – Funeral arrangements, as of Dec. 18, have not been posted for award-winning actor and longtime village resident Andre Braugher. Braugher, 61, according to his publicist’s Dec. 12 announcement, died at home from a brief illness – later found to be lung cancer – the day before.
Braugher may be best known for portraying Baltimore police detective Frank Pembleton in the NBC “Homicide: Life in the Street” 1993-98 television series and 2000 movie and NYPD Capt. Ray Holt in the 2013-2021 “Brooklyn Nine Nine” comedy series. He was also known to perform locally, including “Tell Them I’m Still Young,” in SOPAC in 2019.
Those are two of over 100 on-screen, on-stage and voiceover performances that yielded the Juilliard-trained Braugher 22 NAACP Image Award nominations plus 11 Emmy and two Golden Globe nods and/or awards.
Born in Chicago July 1, 1962, Braugher first came to Julliard in NYC with a degree from Stanford University in hand. He and actress wife Ami Brabson, who married in 1991, moved to South Orange in 2000 to raise sons Michael, Isaiah and John Wesley. He was known to be PTA president in their sons’ schools.
“If she (Ami) wants to live here, then I want to live here,” said Braugher in 2002. “We have friends who moved here and raved about the town. So she scouted it out and was thrilled about it.”
Mother Sally Braugher and brother Charles Jennings are also among his survivors.
NEWARK – A full officer’s Funeral Mass was held for Firefighter Rafael Arcangel Padilla here at St. Lucy’s Roman Catholic Church, followed by his burial at Bloomfield’s Glenfield Cemetery, Dec. 15.
Newark officials – including Mayor Ras Baraka, Public Safety Director Fritz Frage and Newark Firefighters Union President Michael Giunta – announced Padilla’s Dec. 5 passing in a local hospital the following morning. One preliminary report had Padilla, 46, having a heart attack after his last shift at Engine 27 on Elm Street over the Dec. 1-3 weekend.
Padilla, who was born here April 17, 1977, had spent his last 10 years as a firefighter at Engine 27 – and his first five at Truck 8 at Chestnut Street – both in The Ironbound. He joined “Newark’s Bravest” on April 7, 2008.
“Ralph” was also a Sergeant in the US Army National Guard for 25 years. He was also among the Barringer High School graduating Class of 1995.
Wife Maria Adela Padilla, children Giovanni Lopez. Rafael Arcangel Padilla and Eric Anibal Padilla, brothers Dania and Eric Padilla and mother Daniella Padilla are among his survivors. Father Rafael Padilla predeceased him.
A GoFundMe.com page has been established to help with Padilla’s funeral expenses.
IRVINGTON – A township man, convicted of robbing and stripping a fried chicken restaurant customer Jan.19, 2022, is to be sentenced by Superior Court Judge John Gizzo Jan. 19, 2023.
A jury informed Gizzo Nov. 22 that they had found Ricotosa Dolisca, 35, guilty of first-degree armed robbery and second-degree conspiracy. The jury – after a two-day trial and two hours’ deliberations, also convicted Gary Rhymes, 37, of East Orange, of the same charges.
Dolisca and Rhymes were accused of pointing a gun at a Kennedy Fried Chicken customer and taking his wallet, cell phone and clothes. The ECPO conviction announcement did not say which Kennedy Chicken – Springfield Avenue or Lyons Avenue – was the crime scene.
“Fortunately, the weapon wasn’t fired and there were no lasting physical injuries in this case,” said ECPO Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Dellera Nov. 22. “This verdict wouldn’t have been possible but for a brave victim who was willing to come to court and face the individuals who did this to him.”
Dolisca had also been charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, possession thereof for an unlawful purpose, possession of a large-capacity magazine and possession of stolen property.
EAST ORANGE – Tenants of 75 Prospect St. will be sending their rent payments to a court-appointed receiver – and not the property manager or landlord – as of this month. The receiver will use the rent to get repairs made to the 95-year-old landmark building.
A Superior Court-Newark Chancery Division judge had ruled on Dec. 14 that the receiver be immediately appointed – much to the petitioning 75 Prospect Street Tenant Association’s pleasure. They and their representatives, the Rutgers Law School Housing Justice and Tenant Solidarity Clinic, had filed papers to the court Nov. 22.
The tenants said that owners Basya and Mordechai Weiss of the Weiss Property Group and property manager Prospect Castle LLC have not made repairs to the Brick Church building that goes as far back as before a previous owner sold the building to the Weisses.
The Rutgers Law School clinic and the 75PSTA brought copies of over 1,000 code violation tickets from the City of East Orange to the court and the Federal National Mortgage Association, also known as “Fannie Mae.” The violations include inoperable elevators, water damage, drafty windows, and mold growth.
The deterioration had grown to where Fannie Mae had filed for foreclosure in Superior Court Nov. 7. Some tenants believe that the neglect is deliberate so that the owners can get them to leave so they can subdivide the apartments.
The tenants can and will remain at 75 Prospect until the Fannie Mae suit against Weiss completes its foreclosure course. The receiver will also remain in place until then.
ORANGE – “Allen Barnhardt was not a perfect man,” said Bishop Reginald T. Jackson at the former firefighter’s Celebration of Life here at St. Matthew AME Church, “but he was a GOOD man.”
Bishop Jackson, formerly St. Matthew’s pastor, was presiding over Barnhardt’s celebration on June 25, prior to his burial at Orange’s part of Rosedale cemetery. The former Orange Fire Director and East Orange Fire Department member had a Wake and Night of Tribute here June 24.
Barnhardt, 73, who had retired to Adams Run SC, had a Memorial Service and Musical Tribute July 9 at Ebenezer AME Church in nearby Charleston. He died there on June 18.
Allen Edward Barnhardt, Jr. was born Jan. 15, 1950 and was raised in East Orange. The East Orange High School Class of 1968 graduate went on to study food science and technology at San Diego Mesa College.
Barnhardt’s next place of study, however, was at Emmetsburg, Md.’s National Fire Academy. He subsequently joined the EOFD until his retirement – which allowed him to be appointed as OFD’s Fire Director. The one-time 192 Oakwood Ave. resident here moved to Adams Run for deep sea fishing, gardening and for pursuing his family’s ties to Accra, Ghana.
Wife Sandra Singleton-Barnhardt, children Kyle and Javia, four grandchildren and brother Bernie Cobbs are among his survivors. Lowcountry Voices, of which Sandra is a member, sang at the Ebenezer July 9 service. The East Orange City Council issued a proclamation in his honor at their July 10 meeting.
WEST ORANGE – Authorities have not released the name of the man killed in a Dec. 15 Pleasantdale house fire here – but are continuing their investigation. It is the second fatal fire in the township after one on Dec. 12 in the Tory Corner section.
Their preliminary findings for the Dec. 15 fire at 2 Kinzel Place is that “the fire appeared to have started in the basement.” The fire had spread to the entire building, “compromising firefighter access.”
The first WOFD units were called to 2 Kinzel Lane House, “a large wood frame private building,” Mutual aid was promptly called; WOPD and Orange Fire Engine 2 were among those who responded.
An investigation to a Dec. 12 fire at 30 Park Drive South, which killed another man, also continues.
Responding firefighters who responded to that blaze encountered heavy flames and smoke at 10:30 a.m. but managed to remove “an elderly man.” That man was taken to RWJBarnabas Health Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center – where he was declared dead there at 11:36 a.m.
MAPLEWOOD – Acting South Orange-Maplewood Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kevin Gilbert and Board of Education President Kaitlin Wittleder issued a joint open letter Dec. 15 in response to antisemitic graffiti found the day before in a Columbia High School restroom.
Members of the Maplewood Police Department, said a spokesman, were told of the said graffiti at 1:10 p.m. Dec. 14. Apparently, the person who found the markings in a boys room stall told the CHS Main Office – who in turn called MPD.
MPD detectives have not said what the message or slur was but that they are actively investigating the incident.
Gilbert and Wittleder said they condemn antisemitism and “reject any speech or action that incites violence, threatens safety, harasses, intimidates or bullies anyone. As a District and a Board, we are fully committed to fighting racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, anti-Asian hatred and hatred of any kind.”
The Maplewood Township Committee has meanwhile issued a statement condemning the vandalism. It is the first since Cong. Bris Avrohom’s front lawn “I Stand With Israel” signs were painted over with a Palestinian flag and “Free Gaza.”
BLOOMFIELD – A Newark woman – who had posted bail from Newark’s Essex County Correctional Facility by Dec. 1 and had been part of a 2017 Newark robbery with a Belleville man – still has to return to municipal court here to answer to theft charges in the Halcyon Park area going back to Nov. 6.
The Bloomfield Police Department, responding to a porch package theft in Halcyon Park Nov. 27, set up an undercover stakeout Dec. 3-4. They witnessed a woman stealing a package from a porch and made a neighborhood computer check on the suspect.
The check found video recordings of a woman who had shoplifted from the nearby Stop & Shop, near the Belleville-Silver Lake border, on Nov. 6, 9 and 10 – and identified her as Genesis Bonano, 26. Bonano was arrested and charged for theft and shoplifting Dec. 6.
Bonano most likely was not living at the North Newark address Nov. 4-Dec. 7 where her daughter’s father was at New Year’s Eve 2016. Newark police had listed her as an Elizabeth resident when they accused her of arranging a Belleville man and three other men to rob him before his place in Newark Dec. 31, 2016.
Adner Oquendo, 21, and Bonano were charged Jan. 5, 2017 with carjacking, robbery and conspiracy.
Bonano was remanded to the county jail Dec. 6, 2023 until she had posted bail.
MONTCLAIR – The wide regard for the late retired Montclair Public Safety Director Thomas J. Russo, 86, who had died here Dec. 7, was evident by his Noon Dec. 12 funeral procession from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church to Immaculate Conception Cemetery from Pine Street and west along Bloomfield Avenue.
Russo’s last ride was escorted by 26 police motorcycles and followed by 36 cars – some of whom were from local police departments. Montclair, Newark, East Orange, Orange, West Orange, Caldwell, West Caldwell, Millburn, Montclair State University, Essex County College and NJTransit police were represented as well as the Essex County Sheriff’s Office.
Six fire engine crews – including one each from Orange and Bloomfield – saluted in full dress while Russo’s procession passed the Montclair Fire Headquarters.
Russo, who was born here April 8, 1937, was an honorably discharged U.S. Navy sailor in 1958 when he joined MPD in 1960. He rose through the ranks to become Chief of Police in 1993 and, after his 2001 retirement, Montclair’s civilian Public Safety Director. The Fourth Ward boy wrote his autobiography, “Street Kid to Top Cop” in 2005.
Russo – a football, basketball and baseball MHS Class of 1955 graduate – was a lifelong Montclarion with some notable exceptions. Besides his 1955-59 USN tour of duty on the USS Dash, he was a graduate of the FBI Academy, of Quantico, Va. and Enforcement Executive Development Association and Secret Service Dignitary Protection Program – both of Washington, D.C. He also attained a now-MSU B.S. degree in certified public management while a police officer.
Wife Imelda, daughters Dawn Donohue and Diane Mautone and six grandchildren are among his survivors. sister Nina Ofsak (who was married to the late Essex County Deputy Police Chief Charles Ofsak) and daughter Donna Russo predeceased him.
GLEN RIDGE – The Glen Ridge Board of Education will announce the results of their respective Nov. 30 – Jan. 3 “Help Wanted” ad and Nov. 30 – Dec. 18 online resident survey for its next school superintendent at their Jan. 4 reorganization meeting.
Glen Ridge Public Schools Superintendent of Schools Dirk Phillips, after eight years at the helm, told Board President Elizabeth Ginsburg Nov. 7 that he will be retiring June 30. He will be leaving with four years left on his 2022-27 contract.
Phillips will be ending a relationship with GRPS since his hiring as a Glen Ridge High School mathematics teacher – which was what he was instructing at East Orange Campus High School – in the 1990s. He also took on being the GRHS Ridgers’ wrestling coach. He was soon recognized as teacher and coach of the year and was promoted as Mathematics Department Chairman.
Phillips was later promoted to Ridgewood Avenue Upper Elementary School Principal and, on Jan. 1, 2010, GRHS Principal. He was appointed schools super Aug. 30, 2015, overseeing the repurchase and remodeling of the central (elementary) School and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ohio native, father of three and husband of a teacher, had been recognized by the Essex County Association of School Administrators Sept. 1 as its 2023 superintendent of the year. The frequent GRHS sports spectator is Essex County School Administrators President and a member of the Glen Ridge Association of Special Educators and the Glen Ridge Rotary.
BELLEVILLE – ECPO’s Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force detectives are looking for the man who shot a resident and one of his sons in broad daylight here Dec. 16.
Witnesses told county and Belleville Police detectives and a television reporter that Frances Medina, 37, was in front of an apartment complex along the 100 block of Mill Street when a black Chevrolet Equinox pulled up at about 2 p.m. Saturday.
A passenger got out of the SUV, fired 10 to 13 gunshots at Medina and his sons, got back in and fled. A neighboring witness said she carried the two boys to her place while Medina cried, “My sons, my sons; be careful my sons!”
The six-year-old boy, who was hit in one of his legs, was taken to RWJBarnabas Health Clara Maass Medical Center. He was listed in stable condition Saturday night with the non-life-threatening injury.
Medina was taken by responding police and ambulance crew to Clara Maass. He was pronounced dead at 3:17 p.m.
An all points bulletin helped Paterson Police find the suspected SUV on their 10 block of Jasper Street, in the Great Falls section, that Saturday night.
Medina’s obituary has not been posted as of 9 a.m. Dec. 18.
NUTLEY – The Nutley Board of Education is accepting resumes through the Holidays from those who want to succeed the resigned Kenneth Reilly.
Reilly announced his stepping down from the panel he once presided over during their Dec. 11 board meeting. He leaves with a full year left to his term.
Reilly, who has 12 years service with NBOE, did not say he is resigning. There are observers who say they had a sense of deja vu from this.
The former Nutley American Red Cross director had first resigned in 2012 before running again in 2017. He had later attempted to run for a seat on the Nutley Board of Commissioners in 2021.
It is not known as of press time whether Brenda Sherman has expressed interest. Sherman had been appointed to fill Steve Rogers’ school board seat in 2012. Rogers successfully ran for Commissioner; Sherman was elected to two terms before she herself resigned in 2018.
The school board could consider appointing Stephen Gilberti, who finished fourth in a Nov. 8 race for three seats. Whoever is selected would have the option to run for election next year for a term that starts in January 2025.
