Girl Hides From Robber, Bicyclist Hit in Essex News

Girl Hid in Closet as Robber Ransacked Home

A quick-thinking 15-year-old girl hid inside her linen closet in her Nutley home while a man entered intending to rob the house.

Nutley Police confirmed that the girl was able to phone her mother in New York City shortly before she fled into the closet upon hearing the intruder.

“She told her mother she heard the intruder coming up the stairs and ended the call,” said Nutley Police Det. Montaneri said.

SUV Strikes Bicyclist on Millburn Avenue

A Maplewood resident was struck, riding his bicycle to work on Millburn Avenue, around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, by a black SUV that left the scene, police said.

John Cain, 30, said he was heading toward downtown Millburn when the SUV made a right-hand turn on Wyoming Avenue without a turn signal.

Cain said he managed to jump off his bicycle after it was hit, avoiding any injuries. 

He said, after the accident, he exchanged words with the driver before the SUV drove off.

Exxon Strong Armed Robbery Victim in Hospital

A gas station attendant is in the hospital Monday after he was apparently struck in the head during a robbery at the Exxon gas station in Caldwell.

The  at 226 Bloomfield Ave. was robbed at approximately 4 p.m., according to police.

Three Verona Church Statues Damaged

A man using a hammer damaged religious statues of the Virgin Mary, Jesus, and St. John Sunday on the grounds of Our Lady of the Lake Church in Verona.

The man ran with the hammer from the church grounds screaming anti-religious slurs after being discovered by a neighborhood woman, according to Verona Police Capt. Mitchell Stern.

Montclair BOE Appoints New Superintendent

Montclair's Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution appointing Dr. Penny MacCormack as superintendent of schools at Monday's meeting.

Irvington Teen Held in Maplewood Robberies

A 16-year-old was arrested and charged with robbery and resisting arrest in two separate incidents that occurred in the same Maplewood neighborhood on a weekday afternoon, according to the Maplewood Police. 

Livingston Reports 12 Car Thefts In Five Days

Livingston police are advising residents to lock their cars after theives stole 12 cars in five days over the last week in the township.

Thieves made off with GPS units and laptops as well as ransacking the cars.

Children Help Mother's Fight Against Cancer

The family of Beverly Marcogliese is hosting a benefit Love Bev Walk at Verona Park to help their mother who is suffering from a rare and late-stage form of esophageal cancer.

When Marcogliese of North Caldwell saw her doctor in June, she was suffering from acid reflux and heartburn along with having trouble breathing.
The 52-year-old mother was put through a battery of tests by her doctor and when the diagnosis came back, she found out she was actually suffering from a rare and late-stage form of esophageal cancer.

Marcogliese immediately began an aggressive treatment protocol.

Beehive Causes a Buzz in Maplewood

A township resident told the Maplewood Township Committee her neighbor’s beehive was ruining her family’s summer. 

“We can’t use our backyard anymore because our neighbor has a beehive in his front yard,” said Marci White, who lives on Wyoming Avenue. The hive is around the corner on New England Road. 

According to Health Director Robert Roe, the township is aware of the hive and is monitoring it.  “There is no town ordinance that prohibits raising bees,” said Roe. 

West Caldwell Figure Skater Wins National Gold

A 9-year-old from West Caldwell brought home a gold medal from the USA Roller Sports Figure Skating National Championships held in Lincoln, Nebraska last month.

Gillian Muldoon won first place in the Elementary C Combined Figures & Loops event.