Attempted Murder Charge, School Purse Thief Caught in Top Essex News

Man Charged with Bloomfield Attempted Murder

A Newark man has been charged with attempted murder after stabbing another man with a knife last month in Bloomfield, police said.

Charles Taylor, 24, is accused of attacking a 30-year-old Bloomfield man Sept. 13 and stabbing him in the neck and shoulder, according to Bloomfield Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Anthony Servedio.

The Bloomfield man's name was not released.

Verona Police Catch School Purse Thief

A New Providence man was arrested following a series of thefts from employees at The Children’s Institute’s Verona campus, police said.

In the most recent incident, police were called to the campus, located at 1 Sunset Ave., after money was stolen from a purse on Oct. 15.

Police reviewed the school’s video security tapes and said Joshua Martinez was involved in the most recent theft.

Columbia Grad Killed, Family Seeks Burial Funds

The family of a 2001 Columbia High School graduate, who was one of two men shot in Newark on Oct. 12, is now seeking community help for a funeral. 

David Eze, who lived in Irvington at the time of his death, was shot in the 500 block of South 14th Street and died in the hospital, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.

Five Men Shot in Newark Monday Night

The Major Crimes Unit of the Newark Police Department is investigating several shootings and a minivan fire that occurred Monday night throughout the city.

Irate Commuters Talk Back to NJ Transit

South Orange and NJ Transit have received an earful of complaints from unhappy commuters after changing the amount of South Orange non-stop trains heading out of the city, though more trains than previously now stop at Mountain Station.  In addition, scheduled departures have been altered, wreaking havoc with some residents' home schedules.

West Caldwell Man Charged In Car Theft

A West Caldwell man was charged Friday with taking part in a car theft earlier in the week, police said.

Michael Capardi, 22, is the third person charged in the Tuesday morning theft of a Volkswagen Passat. Two Newark residents were taken into custody on Tuesday.

Capardi was charged with eluding police and two counts of receiving stolen property, Fairfield Police Deputy Chief Anthony Manna said in a release. Capardi is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail at the Essex County Jail.

Teen Charged with Rape of Woman Monday

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested for the sexual assault of a woman early Monday, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed. 

The 26-year-old victim was accosted at gunpoint by the youth.

Montclair Woman Struck by Car

A 64-year-old Montclair woman received a head injury and was taken to University Hospital after she was struck by a car while crossing Bloomfield Avenue.

Preliminary reports show that the woman, who was not identified, was jaywalking across the street near Cuban Pete's Restaurant around 8:45 p.m. Police said a four-door Lexus SUV travelling in the westbound lane hit her and she was bleeding from the head when an ambulance arrived.

Grand Jury For Accused West Orange Teacher

The case against a West Orange teacher from Montclair charged with a having sexual relationship with one of her students has been referred to a Grand jury, according to the Essex County’s Prosecutor’s Office. 

Erica DePalo, 33, pleaded not guilty in September to charges that she had a sex with a 15-year-old student who attended her honors English class at West Orange High School. 

Car Hits Teenager on Springfield Avenue

A 14-year-old Maplewood boy was hit by a car at the intersection of Springfield Avenue and Tuscan Street, according to Maplewood Police.

The boy was crossing the street at 8 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 19 when he was hit by the car. The driver, a 35-year-old man from Newark, was turning left onto Springfield Avenue from Tuscan Street when he struck the boy.

The teenager was taken to Newark Beth Israel Medical Center to be evaluated for a leg injury.

Mayors Take First Step Toward Flood Control

The Mayors Council signed an inter-local agreement to develop the South Mountain Regional Detention Basin, on Wednesday at Town Hall in Millburn, as the first major step to reduce the Rahway River flooding. 

The dentention basin is a storage project to reduce water elevations during peak storms in the Rahway River Watershed, such as Hurricane Irene. 

Cedar Grove Board, Teachers Reach Agreement

Members of the Cedar Grove Board of Education and the district's teacher's union announced late last week they have reached agreement on a new contract.

Although details of the tentative contract remain unclear, officials came to terms on the deal after negotiating for a year - including part of that time under the direction of a mediator.

“We are presently working out the details to the tentative agreement,” Cedar Grove Superintendent Dr. Gene Polles said, adding the agreement must now be ratified by both parties.

Ridership Grows on Livingston Shuttle

Ridership continues to grow on the Livingston Primetime Shuttle, the non-stop, round trip, express service from the Livingston Mall to the South Orange train station.

Sponsored by the Township of Livingston, the Livingston Primetime Shuttle began operation on Oct. 1. Since its inception, ridership has grown from 203 passengers during the first week, to 255  passengers during the second week, and 287 riders reported during the week ending Oct. 19. 

Menendez, Kyrillos Pledge Support For Israel

Tackling issues from Obamacare to gun control – U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey) and his challenger, state Sen. Joe Kyrillos (R-Dist. 13) squared off in a forum Monday night at Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston.

The competitors took part in an hourlong question-and-answer session sponsored by theCommunity Relations Committee of Greater MetroWest New Jersey.

American Idol Finalist Takes the Millburn Stage

An "American Idol" finalist and actor from "Frasier" take the stage in the Paper Mill Playhouse's holiday production of "The Sound of Music" opening Nov. 23. 

Edward Hibbert, who will play Max Detweiler, appeared on all 11 seasons of "Frasier" as Gil Chesterton. He will be joined by "American Idol" finalist Anthony Fedorov, who will play the character Rolf.

Maplewood's Miller Advances on X Factor

Maplewood Middle School student Beatrice ("Bea") Miller has made her way to the final 16 contestants on The X Factor.

The 13-year-old will perform live on Fox Thursday, Nov. 1 at 8 p.m.

BHS Hall of Famer Recalls Scoring 1,000th Point

Bloomfield High School 1988 graduate Dana Morton cracked the century mark in her senior year and finished her Lady Bengal career with 1,198 points.

But now, the IT specialist at Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey has found even though her life has slowed down, she still has a love for her alma mater.