5 Dead in Newark Fire, Tanning Ban Top Essex News

Five Dead In Newark Fire

Two children were among five people who died early Friday morning in a three-alarm blaze in Newark's Vailsburg section, officials confirmed.

A 3-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy, as well as man, male teenager and unidentified person, were killed in a fast-moving fire that spread across several residences on Brookdale Avenue in the city's West Ward, according to Fire Director Fateen Ziyad. The bodies were found on the third story of the 33-35 Brookdale Ave., a six-family home with two apartments on each of its three floors.

Fire officials confirmed to Patch there was a fifth death, discovered on the third floor of 33-35 Brookdale Ave., shortly after 2 p.m.

Assemblyman Pushes for Tanning Restrictions

Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, whose district represents Nutley, is pushing for tanning bed restrictions in the state Legislature after a local mother became infamous for allegedly letting her five-year-old daughter tan

Caputo, who said a law is already enacted to make the use of tanning beds illegal for those 14 and younger, said his measure would ban or restrict children ages 16 to 18 from using tanning salon beds.

Nutley mother Patricia Krentcil was accused of putting her then 5-year-old daughter into a tanning booth, but she has pleaded not guilty to child endangerment, and the case is under review by a grand jury.

Just days after reaching a settlement with the Archdiocese of Newark, some of the men  as youngsters assembled outside on Sunday to talk about the case.

Earlier this week, the Star Ledger reported the archdiocese “quietly reached a six-figure settlement with six alleged victims last month” and Laferrera was stripped of his collar and sent into retirement. No mention was made as to whether he will keep his pension.

"He is no longer administering," archdiocese spokesman James Goodness said. "He is out of the ministry."

Suspended Cavanna Reportedly Seeks New Job 

Months before the West Orange Board of Education , Cavanna was seeking another superintendent job in New York. 

Cavanna was named as one of the finalists for the superintendent position in the Greenburgh Central 7 School District in New York on April 26, 2012, according to the Greenburgh Daily Voice.

“This is the job that I have been preparing for,” Cavanna said, according to the same artice in the Greenburgh Daily Voice. Cavanna added that he intended to stay superintendent for “10, 12, 15, years – whatever it takes to get the job done.” 

Flotation Devices Banned From Pool

While the West Caldwell Council did try to work out a compromise, the council's final decision is a ban on all flotation devices at the, regardless if the devices are "dime store" swimmies or U.S. Coast Guard-approved life vests.

Councilman Joseph Cecere, a member of the Pool Utility Committee, said, "We discussed it with our Joint Insurance Fund (JIF). Their written recommendation from their safety experts was no flotation devices." 

Animal Shelter Gets Air Conditioning Units

The Humane Society of the United States has donated money for two air conditioning units to ease conditions for hundreds of dogs and cats at the Montclair Township Animal Shelter.

The shelter has an antiquated air conditioning system that does not work at full capacity, making it uncomfortable and possibly dangerous for the pets being housed at the shelter.

Astronaut Brings Science, Space to Newark

For the next few days, 52 innovative students will learn about the universe at the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp, an intensive program  centered around around science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

The camp, held for the sixth year at New Jersey Institute of Technology, was created 16 years ago by retired NASA astronaut Bernard Harris, who became the first African American to walk in space in 1995. The camp is the only in New Jersey and one of 20 in the nation held this summer, an expansion made possible by a partnership between Harris' foundation and ExxonMobil in recent years.

Car Crashes into South Pierson Street Garage

A driver who lost control of his car while exiting the parking lot of the  on Wednesday afternoon, crashed into the garage of a house across the street. 

According to Lt. John Tutunjian, the driver experienced a mechanical problem with his car as he drove out of the parking lot, causing him to accelerate into a garage at 71 S. Pierson St. 

“The garage was severely damaged,” said Tutunjian. 

New Montclair Tax Bills Frustrate Taxpayers

Montclair officials are blaming last year's reassessment — designed to make taxes more equitable — for homeowner frustration at third-quarter tax bills during Tuesday night's council meeting

Township Manager Marc Dashield said as a result of the reassessment, the average property value went down 20.8 percent. Taxpayers whose property values went down at or close to the 20.8 percent average would have seen little or no change in their portion of the total tax burden. Those whose property values went down more than 20.8 percent would have seen their portion of the tax burden decline, while taxpayers whose property values decreased less than the average would have seen their portion of the burden rise.

Man Killed by Bus was Montclair Student

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office has identified the man who was killed by a NJ Transit Bus in the vicinity of Broad Street and Bay Avenue by a NJ Transit bus Thursday as Deshon L. Johnson, a 22-year-old Essex County College student living in Montclair. 

Though authorities have not yet released information on the young man’s death, some witnesses at the scene say the accident may have occurred because Johnson was chasing the bus as it was making a turn.

Bloomfield Man Charged in Medicaid Fraud

Lazaro Ospina of Bloomfield was one 48 people charged with the unlawful diversion and trafficking of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of prescription drugs and sentenced to five years in prison, the FBI announced this week.

The massive fraud scheme involved selling “second-hand” drugs -- prescription drugs that had previously been dispensed to Medicaid recipients – to unwitting buyers in a national underground market. 

Gas Station Robbed at Gunpoint

A man wearing a mask robbed a gas station at gunpoint Sunday night, according to .

The armed robbery took place around 9:30 p.m. at the  at the intersection of Bloomfield Avenue and Clinton Road.

The robber got away with an undermined amount of cash, West Caldwell Police Captain Gerard Paris said Tuesday.

Short Hills Resident Approved as Federal Judge

The U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Short Hills resident Kevin McNulty, 57, for a seat on the U.S. District Court in the District of New Jersey by a 91-3.

President Barack Obama nominated McNulty in December of 2011.

Teacher's Supporters Plead Case Before Board

faces the Board of Education on Wednesday, for a . Cohen hopes to retain his job; he was not rehired for a fourth year.

News Cohen had not been rehired spread quickly among students and parents, leading to  and appearances before the board of education.