Developer Files Appeal, Newark Suspects Nabbed in Top Essex News

Development Company Releases Heller Appeal

New Jersey Developer Cary Heller has filed an appeal after his 2011 lawsuit against Bloomfield over the redevelopment of Bloomfield Center was rejected in May, Colgan said. The original lawsuit had stalled the township development for more than a year. The case now heads to the New Jersey Court of Appeals.

Suspects in Three Newark Murders Arrested

Suspects in three different Newark murders were captured Tuesday, including two suspects in murders occurring within the last few weeks.

Feds: Man Tried to Bring Razors onto Airliner

A New Brunswick man was arrested Monday in Newark for allegedly attempting to board an international flight at Newark Liberty International Airport with razor blades hidden in his carry-on luggage.

Health Officials Determine Heat Killed Birds

Millburn's Heath Department has determined a large number of dead birds in town last week were not the result of the deadly West Nile virus, but were probably caused by the recent heat wave. 

"It's not the dead birds residents should worry about," animal control officer Joe Bielski said. "Residents should be concerned with stagnant water where mosquitoes tend to breed."

Wire Fraud, Money Laundering Terms for Pair

Abiatu Umah, 53, and Emmanuel Awa, 51, both of South Orange, N.J., were sentenced on Wednesday to prison, after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. The two men participated in a a scam that used phony identification documents to set up various checking accounts to launder and steal more than $1 million.

GOP Replaces Candidate on November Ballot

November's Livingston township council election will feature a new GOP candidate as Allan Feid Jr. will replace Raymond Leibman on the GOP ticket.

The Livingston Republican Organization announced late Thursday night that Feid, a 53-year-old plumbing contractor, will team with Charles Granata as the party looks to seek the majority on Livingston's town council. 

Armed Robbery on Pleasant Valley Way

A Pleasant Valley Way gas station attendant reported he was robbed of several hundred dollars at gunpoint on Wednesday evening, West Orange police said Thursday. 

At 8:28 p.m., a white man brandishing a handgun ordered the Exxon gas station attendant at 972 Pleasant Valley Way to "hand over what he had on him."

Parents Launch Petition Against Chaperones

Verona parents who are angry about a group of fathers who supposedly got drunk at a school camping trip have taken their issue to the Internet.

After demanding the Verona School Board take action, parents have launched an online petition trying to get the fathers banned from future school trips.

As of early Friday afternoon, the petition had 23 signatures.

West Orange Development Project Scaled Back

High-end penthouses and condominiums in the original plan for the redevelopment of the Edison Battery Building in West Orange have been nixed by the developers.

The penthouses were supposed to added onto the existing building. Instead of the condominiums, the redeveloper is suggesting trees be planted to partially hide the 45-foot tall, 30-feet long garage.

The plans were discussed by the West Orange Planning Board on Wednesday.

Bus 77 Riders Express Concern With Service

On Monday, West Orange and Livingston residents attended a meeting at Livingston’s Town Hall to discuss their concerns with the “77 bus” that runs from West Orange to New York City.

Almost 200 commuters signed an online petition expressing concerns with Community Coach bus including the attitude of drivers and the condition of the buses. The petition was delivered to John Nguyen, a general manager at Community Coach, who also attended the meeting so that he could address the frustrated riders.

Teens Raise Money for Girl With Cancer

On Wednesday afternoon, students from the Caldwells got together to hold a three-hour car wash for Juliana, a 5-year-old West Caldwell girl who is battling a rare form of cancer.