With the Oct. 31 deadline quickly approaching, the mayors of North Arlington, Belleville and Lyndhurst are urging residents, particularly senior citizens, to apply for New Jersey’s three major property-tax relief programs: ANCHOR, Senior Freeze and the new Stay NJ. Together, these programs can provide thousands of dollars in relief to eligible homeowners and renters, helping older residents and those with disabilities remain in their homes despite rising costs. ANCHOR (Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters) provides direct property tax relief to homeowners and renters based on income and residency.

The Belleville Historical Society recently presented Belleville American Legion Post 105 with an American flag which was flown above Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor Sept. 14, the anniversary of the Battle of Fort McHenry which was the inspiration for the writing of the “Star Spangled Banner”during the War of 1812. Most are unaware the British invaded America 29 years after the American Revolution in an unsuccessful attempt to regain the colonies. The Belleville Historical Society made its annual trip to have flags flown above the fort by the National Park Service, which the society presents to veteran and patriotic organizations and individuals. While in Baltimore, the society paid their respects and set a flag at the grave of the fort’s heroic commander, Lt. Colonel George Armistead.

The Lyndhurst Office of Emergency Management continues to upgrade its emergency communication infrastructure and is urging residents to enhance their own preparedness. These new enhancements include technical upgrades to the local AM emergency broadcast station, WPUV-838 on 1700 AM, which now features Spanish-language messages, a digital recorder for rapid updates and a weather alert radio that automatically broadcasts live National Weather Service alerts. A comprehensive Emergency Preparedness Guidebook is available for download on the Township's website. Residents are also reminded to download the free Lyndhurst OEM mobile application at the…

Woman’s Club’s EMD hosting ‘Winter Warmth’ project The Arligton Woman’s Club EMD sponsors a “Winter Warmth” project to provide winter accessories to those in need. Here’s how you come in. Please purchase a new hat, scarf or pair of gloves (or any combination thereof). Place each item in a Ziploc bag. On a Post-it note, indicate whether the items is for a man, woman or child and put the note inside the bag. Drop off donations at the Kearny Public Library of the Kearny Health Department from Nov. 3 to Nov.

Two new police recruits are heading to the police academy after the Kearny mayor and Town Council approved their hirings at the meeting of the governing body Oct. 21. Cristina Phang-Bastidas, 24, of Kearny is the first recruit. She was born in Peru where she attended school until eventually moving to Kearny with her family. She graduated Kearny High School and then obtained a bachelor’s degree from Montclair State in justice studies (a major that focuses on criminology). Official note she has an “impressive GPA and academic history.” Phang-Bastidas currently works as a teacher’s aide and speaks English, Spanish and partial Italian and Portuguese.

Anthony Marino It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Anthony Marino, 71, of Kearny, who died peacefully on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston. Born on April 12, 1954, in Newark, Anthony was a man known for his quick wit, generous spirit and unwavering dedication to his family. He made Kearny his home in 1962, where he built a life filled with love, laughter and cherished memories. Anthony is survived by his beloved daughters, Jessica and Jenna; his son-in-law, Steven; his loving sister, Domenica Preuster and her husband, Robert; and his adored grandchildren, Elias and Malakai.

In recent years, the Hudson County Tournament has proven to be successful in helping Harrison prepare for the upcoming state tournament. While certainly valuable, it was an experience that usually ended in the semifinals for the Blue Tide. This year’s county tournament has brought so much more to the Blue Tide. For the first time since 2021, Harrison is heading to the Hudson County final as the third-seeded Blue Tide defeated second-seeded Union City, 3-2, on Saturday. It is Harrison’s fifth trip to the final since the tournament started in 2009.

With a large senior class, a large part of which has started for three or four seasons, Belleville head coach Brain Antab knew this was the year for this veteran group to do something special if it could maintain a sharp focus every week. Friday night saw the Bucs do just that when it went to Kearny and defeated the Kardinals, 40-21, to clinch the Super Football Conference Ivy White Division title. It is the first division title in more than 15 years for Belleville, which improved to 7-0 on the season.

Growing up, Robert Dasler Jr. got to see several talented high school players in action before getting to Lyndhurst High School. Of those players, one stood out above the rest, Enrique Mutsoli. “That was the best kid I had ever seen play in my life, especially at the high school level,”  said Dasler Jr., who was in eighth grade when Mutsoli scored an incredible 39 goals as a senior and now plays at Florida International University. “Robbie always looked up to Enrique and it was always his goal to be like him,” said Robert Dasler Sr., who has been an assistant at Lyndhurst the past five years, coaching both his son and Mutsoli.

A Kearny patrolman’s instincts led to the arrest of a suspicious man in South Kearny near a piece of property that has seen a recent uptick in burglaries, Det. Sgt. Mike Gontarczuk said. According to Gontarczuk: On Sunday, Oct. 19, at 11 p.m., Officer Khonsura Allen was patrolling South Kearny near the PSEG plant that has recently been subjected to a number of burglaries. There, he says he observed a suspicious hooded man walking on the construction zone portion of the PSEG plant where there is no sidewalk. As Officer Allen neared him, the man began to run and jumped over a concrete median.

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Internal Affairs Unit has arrested four individuals — including a Hudson County correctional police officer —following a narcotics investigation at the Hudson County Correctional Facility, Acting Hudson County Prosecutor Wayne Mello said. Marquis Santiago, 33, a correctional police officer and Francisco Salcedo, 44, of Jersey City, and an inmate at the HCCF, are charged with three counts of distributing (K2) and conspiracy to distribute (K2). A second inmate, Israel Rosado, 38, of Newark, is charged with one count of possession (K2). Santiago was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Jersey City Tuesday, Oct.

Several streets in Kearny will be closed beginning Monday, Oct. 20, as they’re milled and paved. Elm Street between Seeley Avenue and Garofalo Place will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 20 and 21. Chestnut Street between Bergen and Wilson avenues will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 22. And, Garfield Avenue, east of Schuyler Avenue, will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 22. The work is part of Kearny’s ongoing road-improvement program.

An investigation into two forced-entry residential burglaries in Kearny and an attempted burglary in Union culminated in the arrest of two armed suspects following a multi-agency pursuit that ended in Newark, Det. Sgt. Michal Gontarczuk, public-information officer of the Kearny Police Department, said. According to Gontarczuk:  In the early-morning hours of Oct. 17, 2025, burglars are alleged to have forced their way into two occupied Kearny homes. From one of these residences, a 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG was stolen. This same stolen vehicle was later used during an attempted residential burglary in Union.

Residents of Lyndhurst may safely and anonymously drop off their unused prescription drugs at police headquarters, 367 Valley Brook Ave., Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. This event is part of a nationwide effort to combat the opioid crisis and ensure medications do not fall into the wrong hands "This is one of the easiest and most important steps a resident can take to keep their family safe,” Police Chief Richard L. Jarvis Jr.

Franklin School in Kearny celebrated a major achievement after being named the top-performing school in the Red Bulls on the Move fitness challenge, led by the New York Red Bulls soccer team of the MLS. Throughout the month-long initiative, Franklin’s fifth-graders collectively logged more than 6.8 million steps, earning the school a $5,000 award to enhance their physical education and wellness programs. The opportunity to enter the challenge was initially brought to district administrations from the Red Bulls organization. Denise Pais Sotelo, district supervisor of Physical Education and Health, shared the challenge with the Physical Education department and Franklin Elementary's team eagerly took on the challenge with its fifth-graders.

It’s nearly time for the Kearny Doggie Halloween PAWrade and Festival Saturday, Oct. 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Arlington Depot Park. Costume-clad pooches, their families and dog lovers of all ages should head over to the park (off Midland Avenue, between Elm and Forest streets) for all the fun, sponsored by the Kearny Urban Enterprise Zone, K-9 Corner/Bone Appetit Spa and Dog Barkery and the Kearny Dog Walker. The Doggie Halloween Costume contest headlines the festival. Sign up is only in person at the park the day of the event from 11 a.m.

What police found after they were alerted to possible unsafe living conditions in a Lyndhurst home turned out to be worse than one could imagine, as two people were found to be living in uninhabitable conditions, with children and pets that appear to have been suffering from neglect, Capt. Paul Haggerty, the Lyndhurst Police Department’s public-information officer said. At around 11 p.m., Oct. 12, 2025, Lyndhurst police were sent to a residence on a request for welfare check by a family member who was concerned about the living conditions of the home.

The Full Throttle Tour came to Harrison and went “Burnin’ It Down!” Country music superstar and reigning Academy of Country Music Artist of the Decade Jason Aldean brought his headline tour to Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison Friday night, Oct. 10, to a rowdy crowd who were ready for a night of Aldean’s hits and country music staples. Openers Lauren Gottshall, Chase McDaniel and the quickly rising Warren Zeiders, who has recently begun his own headline tour, got the crowd going early while the rest of the attendees in their cowboy boots, Wrangler jeans and flannels continued to file into the stadium, preparing for a night of action.

John Gallagher Jr. John Gallagher Jr., 88, affectionately known as The Shark, died peacefully in his sleep on Oct. 5, 2025, at his home in Bluffton, South Carolina. He leaves behind his beloved daughter Patty and her husband Mark Sandford, and the apple of his eye, his granddaughter Kelsey. John was a devout Catholic and a faithful parishioner of Holy Cross Church in Harrison.  He served in the US Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1958. John worked for the Harrison Police Department for 25 years, retiring with the rank of lieutenant. 

After losing nearly the entire roster from last year’s state sectional title team, Lyndhurst girls volleyball coach Steve Vahalla knew this season was going to be one marked with several teachable moments. In a fall full of learning and developing, this past week proved to be especially beneficial for a young Golden Bears team that starts five sophomores as they got their first taste of tournament play. This past Thursday, Lyndhurst, seeded 19th, dropped a 3-0 decision to 14th-seeded Paramus Catholic in the first round of the Bergen County Tournament. The loss dropped Lyndhurst into the Bergen County Invitational, where on Saturday, the Bears out-lasted Leonia in five sets to advance to the quarterfinals.

It's no surprise to see local soccer teams perform well in the Hudson County Tournament that started last week. But while quarterfinal victories are nothing new for the Harrison boys or the boys and girls at Kearny, there is one unfamiliar entrant in this upcoming Saturday’s semifinals. For the first time since 2016, Harrison’s girls team is in the semifinals as the Blue Tide, seeded third, blanked sixth-seeded Secaucus in the quarterfinals on Saturday morning. Thalia Sosa had a hat trick for Harrison, continuing a torrid nine-day stretch in which the junior striker scored 10 goals in four games.

Miguel Betancourt had never played organized football before when he was approached by Kearny head coach John Policano about playing. It turned out, Policano didn’t have to give much of a recruiting pitch to Betancourt, then a freshman. “I really wanted to play football my freshman year, but I couldn’t because I was new to the registration process,” said Betancourt. “I’ve always wanted to play, but I never got the chance to. When sophomore year came around, I signed up and tried it out.” Roughly 18 months later, it's a decision that has paid off in a big way both for Betancourt and the Kardinals.

A woman was stabbed following a dispute at the Marshalls store on Passaic Avenue in Kearny on Oct. 11, but her injuries appear to be superficial, Det. Sgt. Michal Gontarczuk, the KPD’s public-information officer, said. According to Gontarczuk: Sgt. Kelly along with Officers Mauricio, Sosa, Cazares and Sondej, responded to the store  on reports of a stabbing. In the parking lot, police came across a woman in bloody clothing, who was suffering from multiple puncture wounds to the torso. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital and the wounds were determined to be non-life threatening.

With the impending storm forecasted for this weekend and the governor’s declaration of a state of emergency, Kearny scarecrows will not be in place and judging will now open the evening of Oct. 15 (in lieu of Oct. 12) for Kearny’s first ever Scarecrow Stroll. Once installed, visitors will be able to enjoy 60+ scarecrows of all shapes, sizes and characters that have been created and will be placed along Kearny and Midland avenues as part of the event sponsored by the Kearny Urban Enterprise Zone. The public may view and vote on these unique creations starting  Oct.

Lyndhurst police officers experienced 72 hours of consistent motor-vehicle related theft incidents recently and it all led to several key arrests. According to Capt. Paul Haggerty, the LPD’s public-information officer:  On Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, at approximately 3:30 p.m., all Lyndhurst patrol units were notified of a fixed ALPR alert received for a stolen vehicle out of Newark that had entered the jurisdiction via the DeJessa Bridge from Nutley. The vehicle, a 2022 Mazda bearing a New Jersey registration, was captured in the right turn lane on Kingsland Avenue eastbound at the intersection of Riverside Avenue.