10 Most Read July Verona-Cedar Grove Patch Stories

Dark Knight Shooting Hero Grew Up In Verona

One of the heroes of the Dark Knight mass shooting, a 24-year-old man who threw himself on top of his girlfriend when the shooting began, lived in Verona until he was 13.

Alex Teves lived in Verona until 11 years ago when his father got a job transfer to the Phoenix area .

News of his bravery and sacrifice emerged over the weekend as more information about those who died was released following the Aurora, Colo. theater shooting.

Twelve people were killed and 59 injured in the incident.

Mane Place II Owner Sergio Sanzari Dies

Sergio Sanzari, the owner of The Mane Place II Salon in Verona for the last 25 years, died on Sunday, July 15 at age 47.

Friends and family described Sanzari as always having a real connection with his customers. He enjoyed chatting while cutting hair and especially enjoyed making people laugh.

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

The fathers are accused of leaving their charges while they lit fires and drank alcohol in another cabin during a five-hour party.

Cedar Grove Man Sentenced for Child Porn

A 48-year-old Cedar Grove man was sentenced to 152 months in prison on pornography charges in federal court in Newark, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced Tuesday.

Curt Scholz pleaded guilty earlier before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patty Schwartz to one count of possession of child pornography showing prepubescent children being sexually abused, Fishman said.

Cedar Grove Woman Has Jewelry Taken

An 84-year-old woman apparently had her jewelry taken on Thursday afternoon and police are seeking the public's help in identifying two men.

The woman said she was home on a small cul-de-sac on the north end of the township at 4:15 p.m. when two men pulled up in a grey pickup truck asking if they could do work on her driveway.

When the woman said she didn’t need any work, one of the men walked alongside her and asked if she needed work in her backyard. 

The woman later discovered jewelry boxes in her bedroom were out of place and jewelry was missing and called police. Police believe the second man went into the woman’s home and stole the jewelry while the first man distracted the woman. 

Burglars, Curiosity Seekers Trespass at Hospital

Every so often, Cedar Grove police get calls concerning suspicious cars parked at the old Essex County Hospital Center on Fairview Avenue.

In the most recent incident on Sunday, June 24, Cedar Grove police arrested 36-year-old Jeffrey S. Devoe of Orange after stopping to investigate a car parked on Skytop Road. He was arrested and turned over to the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, where he was charged with burglary, trespassing and possession of burglary tools.

According to the Essex County Sheriff Department, this is the secondburglary this year at the old hospital, with three similar incidents occurring in 2011. The thieves are targeting copper piping and other scrap metals left in the old buildings. 

Verona's Newest Salon Opens Its Doors

When Salon Alchemy held its grand-opening ribbon-cutting ceremony recently, it marked the beginning of a business transformation.

Salon owner Angela Sarracino, who has been doing bridal hair and makeup for nine years, said she likes the idea of constant change.

She has been setting up her new business at 514 Bloomfield Ave. since June and decided it was time to combine her skills and expand her business.

Revamped Verona Inn Maintains Traditions

The reinvented Verona Inn has been through quite a few changes in its 65 years in business.

When the popular restaurant opened its doors in June 1947 on Bloomfield Avenue near the Annin Flag Company, it remained there for 62 years before moving to its new home at 642 Bloomfield Ave. in the center of town.

The contemporary yet comfortable restaurant and upscale bar manages to maintain a warm, pub feel, striking the perfect balance between old and new, family-friendly and free agent.

Reopened just a few months ago, the restaurant is “packing them in,” according to owner John MacEvoy.

Montclair Man Ticketed in Verona Crash

Police issued a ticket for careless driving to a 60-year-old Montclair man, who crashed his car into a light pole on Tuesday night.

The one-car accident on Bloomfield Avenue happened shortly after 6 p.m. near the Annin Flag Company.

Verona police say Sanford Brown was driving a Volvo station wagon east on Bloomfield Avenue when he lost control of the car and veered into a light pole.

Thieves Hit Unlocked Cedar Grove Cars

Cedar Grove police investigated a string of thefts from parked, unlocked cars in the township on June 25.

Residents on Westview Court, Old Quarry Road, Cedar Street and Highpoint all reported their cars being entered and the contents of the cars rummaged through during the overnight hours.

Items reported stolen from the cars included a portable GPS, gift cards and loose change, police said.