Democratic incumbents Timothy Eustace and Joseph Lagana won re-election Tuesday over Republicans Anthony Cappola Mark DiPisa, according to the Associated Press

TRENTON -- In a race upended by a controversial book written a decade ago by one of the Republican challengers, Democrats are holding onto their state Assembly seats in north Jersey's 38th District.

Democratic incumbents Timothy Eustace and Joseph Lagana won re-election Tuesday over Republicans Anthony Cappola Mark DiPisa, according to the Associated Press.

The district -- which includes parts of Bergen and Passaic counties -- was expected to be one of the few places Republicans had a strong chance of picking up seats in the Democratic-controlled Assembly.

MORE: Full N.J. Assembly election results

But early last month, it was revealed that Cappola wrote a 2003 book filled with racial and ethnic slurs.

Cappola initially dropped out of the race, and the Republican Party waged a legal fight to replace him on the ballot.

But the GOP ended its battle because of the cost, and Cappola re-started his campaign to clear his name. 

This will be Eustace's third term and Lagana's second.

MORE: Complete election results from across N.J. 

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Police have released surveillance photos of a man who they say tried to rob one passenger at gunpoint last month on a New Jersey Transit bus headed from Passaic to Clifton.

CLIFTON -- Police have released surveillance photos of a man who they say tried to rob one passenger at gunpoint -- and injured another -- last month on a New Jersey Transit bus headed from Passaic to Clifton.

On Oct. 11, a man pulled a gun on a fellow passenger on a Clifton-bound bus and a struggle ensued when the passenger refused to turn over his valuables, Clifton police Detective Sgt. Robert Bracken said.

During the struggle, the gun inadvertently struck the face of a 15-year-old boy who was seated nearby, Bracken said. The teen sustained a facial injury in the scuffle, he said.

The man then ran off the bus and fled onto Main Avenue, Bracken said.

The gun was not fired during the incident.

Democrats retained three freeholder seats in Tuesday's election, continuing one-party control of the board.

Residents headed to the polls Tuesday for county-wide, local and school elections. (Photo: Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media) 

PASSAIC COUNTY -- Democrats retained three freeholder seats in Tuesday's election, continuing one-party control of the board.

According to unofficial election results from the county clerk, incumbents Hector C. Lora, of Passaic, and John W. Bartlett, of Wayne, along with Sandi Lazzara, of Woodland Park, were ahead of the Republican challengers by more than 2,000 votes.

Democrats have held all seven freeholder seats since 2013 and controlled a majority since 1998. 

PLUS: Complete N.J. election coverage

Republicans Joseph S. Cupoli, of Clifton, Sami Merhi, of Totowa, and and Joan Walsh, of Wayne, criticized Democrats over county government spending and tax increases. Democrats, however, have said the costs were required to fund quality government services.

The Passaic County Democrat Organization held a wide advantage over Republicans, netting more than $460,000, according to a campaign finance report filed in October. The Passaic County Regular Republican Organization had about $1,800, a July report stated. 

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook

 

One of the three winners in the city school board election must pass a criminal background check before taking office, the Paterson Press reported.

PATERSON -- One of the three winners in the city school board election must pass a criminal background check before taking office, the Paterson Press reported.

Kevin Michael Henry received 2,614 votes Tuesday in the election for the Paterson Board of Education according to an unofficial tally, good enough to win one of three seats.

But court records show Henry was convicted of theft by deception and forgery in 1991 and sentenced to four years in prison.

State law requires school board members and school employees to pass criminal background checks. Theft is a disqualifying offense if it's a third-degree crime.

It's not clear whether Henry's arrest was a third-degree offense, the Press reported.

Henry, 61, is a deacon at Everlasting Life Foundation Ministry and runs Another Chance Mentor Project, a re-entry program for convicts.

He won despite skipping every candidate forum, the Paterson Times reported. Henry notably got into a shouting match with Gov. Chris Christie during a town hall meeting at St. Luke's Church in 2013, yelling, "Fix the public schools!"

The Department of Education began requiring background checks for Board of Education trustees in 2012. Seventeen people were disqualified from their positions that year.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A Passaic resident was beaten and robbed Wednesday night, police said.

A Passaic man was robbed in Clifton, Nov. 4, 2015, police say. (Justin Zaremba | NJ Advance Media) 

CLIFTON -- A Passaic resident was beaten and robbed Wednesday night, police said.

A man approached the 37-year-old Passaic resident at 11:40 p.m. on Highland Avenue near Parker Avenue, Clifton Police Sgt. Robert Bracken said.

The man struck the Passaic resident multiple times and took his property, Bracken said. Police did not disclose what was taken.

The Passaic man was injured but declined treatment, Bracken said. The suspect fled on foot.

Police described the suspect as heavy set, white or Hispanic and in his 20s or 30s.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Maria Santana of Passaic suffered permanent back and knee injuries after falling on black ice outside her place of employment in Rutherford, according to her attorney

A jury awarded $2.2 million to Maria Santana of Passaic, her attorney said. (File photo). 

PATERSON -- A jury has awarded a Passaic woman $2.25 million after she slipped and fell on black ice in her employer's parking lot, suffering permanent knee and back injuries, according to her attorney.

Maria Santana, then 52 and working as a mail sorter, was heading into her place of employment at DHL in Rutherford when she fell on Feb. 3, 2011, said her attorney, Todd Drayton.

During the fall, Santana tore the medial meniscus in her left knee, which required arthroscopic surgery to repair, and suffered bulging discs in her spine, Drayton said.

She also suffered bilateral lumbar radiculopathies, which involves radiating pain and numbness that she still feels going from her lower back down her legs to her feet, Drayton said.

Santana filed a lawsuit against the property owner, AMB Property Corp., and the company responsible for removing snow and ice from the property, Greg Tanzer Sprinklers and Outdoor Design, Drayton said.

RELATED: Jury awards man $3 million for injuries in auto crash

During an eight-day trial in Superior Court in Passaic County, expert witnesses testified that the prognosis was "poor" that Santana would ever return to her "pre-accident level of functioning," Drayton said.

Drayton said he argued that Santana's damaged discs would quickly deteriorate and "she could look forward to a future marked by painful arthritis and by diminished functioning in both her left knee and lower back." 

Given her age, Santana will likely need a total knee replacement in the future, Drayton said.

Attorney Michael Palma, who represented the defendants, was not immediately available for comment on Thursday.

Palma contended during the trial that the defendants were not negligent in their ice removal duties and any injuries suffered by Santana in the fall were minor, according to Drayton.

Palma took the position that another fall a year later resulting in an injury to Santana's left knee was the real reason for her injuries, Drayton said.

The jury returned its verdict after just an hour of deliberation on Oct. 28, according to Drayton. It apportioned 70 percent of the fault to the property owner and 30 percent to the snow and ice removal company,  the attorney said.

Ben Horowitz may be reached at bhorowitz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @HorowitzBen. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

 

With nearly every Catholic hospital excluded from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey's new line of discounted health plans, the state's bishops have asked the insurance giant's CEO to expand the network to include "the vulnerable populations we serve."

TRENTON -- With nearly every Catholic hospital excluded from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey's new line of discounted health plans, the state's bishops have asked the insurance giant's CEO to expand the network to include "the vulnerable populations we serve."

In a letter sent to Horizon President and CEO Robert Marino Oct. 28 and obtained by NJ Advance Media, the 10 Catholic bishops said they had long considered the Newark-based company "a partner in delivering health services even to the vulnerable populations we serve."

"With the rollout of the Horizon Omnia Alliance that partnership seems to be a memory," the letter said.

RELATED: Horizon N.J.'s new insurance plan: What we know so far

This is the second time a Catholic organization has criticized Horizon's OMNIA Alliance, a partnership with 22 hospitals that have agreed to accept smaller reimbursements but would be financially rewarded for quality and keeping people healthy. Another 14 hospitals Horizon designated as "Tier one" facilities also agreed to accept lower reimbursement in exchange for higher patient volume. 

In September, Sister Patricia Codey, president of the Catholic HealthCare Partnership representing Catholic hospitals, accused Horizon of deliberately excluding Catholic hospitals from participating in a new plan that will discourage customers from using their facilities. 

The eventual outcome will be cost-conscious people will avoid the 36 remaining "Tier 2" hospitals, which received a derogatory-sounding designation for reasons Horizon has refused to adequately explain, according to OMNIA's critics.

With 3.8 million customers, Horizon wields considerable buying power, and the excluded hospitals -- many of them Catholic, located in cities or serve a sizable number of uninsured and Medicaid clients -- say they fear they will lose a substantial amount of revenue.    

"We are disappointed in the lack of transparency in the process Horizon utilized to exclude all Catholic hospitals except one (St. Joseph's Healthcare System) from Tier 1 designation," according to the bishops'  letter. 

"We are disappointed because the Horizon plan will 'steer' patients to preferred Tier 1 hospitals at the expense of Catholic and other hospitals. The end result of the Horizon decisions could be the closure of Catholic hospitals with disastrous impact on the people of our State, especially those who are most vulnerable," the letter said.

"Mr. Marino, we look forward to working with you personally to repair our broken partnership -- a partnership that for decades has been critically important for the people of New Jersey," the letter said.

Horizon's spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. 

But in previous interviews and public remarks, Horizon executives said they invited the 22 hospitals to join OMNIA because they had the lowest readmission rates and the best scores on patient safety and quality measures.

They offered a range of inpatient, outpatient and post-acute care services, and had already begun using a "value-based" payment model that rewards preventive care. They also had to score high on patient satisfaction surveys. Horizon also favored the largest hospitals and systems, including those that serve a sizable number of Horizon members.

Tier 1 hospitals were chosen to fill out the geographic needs of customers across the state, Horizon officials said. 

Customers who buy an OMNIA coverage will pay about 15 percent less than they would using another Horizon plan, which take effective in January. But most other Horizon plans will remain, the company has said. Those plans include the same hospitals that are included in the network today.

The exclusion of most Catholic hospitals is a coincidence, Minal Patel, Horizon's senior vice president and chief strategy officer, said after Codey criticized the company two months ago. 

"We did not take into account religious affiliation or tax status. . .We looked at who will be in the best position to avoid wasted medical spending, such as unnecessary tests," Patel said. The data used to evaluate the hospitals "is publicly available. The outcomes were the outcomes. There was no desire one way or another to include or exclude" Catholic hospitals, he said.

State lawmakers have also criticized Horizon for OMNIA's design and have asked the state Attorney General's Office and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether the plans violate any laws.

The letter from the Catholic Conference is signed by John J. Myers, Archbishop for the Archdiocese of Newark; Bernard A. Hebda Co-adjutor Archbishop for the Archdiocese of Newark; Bishop David M. O'Connell for the Trenton diocese; Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan for the Camden diocese; Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski for the Metuchen Diocese; Bishop Kurt Burnette of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic; Bishop Yousif B. Habash, Our Lady of Deliverance Syriac Catholic Diocese; Bishop John W. Flesey Auxiliary Bishop for the Newark Archdiocese; Auxiliary Bishop Manuel A. Cruz of Newark; and Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli, Diocese of Paterson.    

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

 

A string of apparently unrelated shootings in the city within less than six hours left four people wounded late Thursday through early Friday, police said.

Four people were shot in Paterson late Thursday into early Friday, police said. (File photo) 

PATERSON -- A string of apparently unrelated shootings in the city within less than six hours left four people wounded late Thursday through early Friday, police said.

The outbreak of violence also included two carjackings and at least one armed robbery, but authorities did not immediately release details on those incidents.

In the first shooting at Jefferson Street near North Main Street, a 25-year-old city man was shot in the hand around 10 p.m. Thursday, police said. He told officers he was walking in the area, heard several shots and was hit.

On Auburn Street, near Hamilton Avenue, a 43-year-old city man was wounded in the upper arm by shots fired from a passing vehicle around 12:30 a.m. Friday, according to police. Officers were alerted to that scene by the city's gunshot detection system, ShotSpotter.

ALSO: Police make arrest one day after Paterson shooting

Fifteen minutes later at Belmont Avenue and North 8 Street, officers rushed to reports of gunfire, but did not locate anyone injured at the scene, authorities said. The victim, an 18-year-old city man, soon arrived at Saint Joseph's Regional Medical Center with a gunshot wound to his ankle.

The victim told police he was in the intersection when he saw two masked men fire at him from across the street, police added. He tried to run, but was shot.

Shortly before 4 a.m. Friday, a 48-year-old cab driver was shot in an attempted robbery at Main Street and 20th Avenue, police said.

The assailant walked up to the driver's side of the taxi, asked about the fare before pulling a handgun on the cabbie, according to police.

"As the driver attempted to pull away, the suspect fired, striking the victim in the leg through the window," police said in a statement. 

All of the shooting victims were listed in stable condition, police said Friday morning.

Anyone with information was asked to call the Paterson Police Ceasefire Unit at 973-321-1342 or submit information anonymously at patersonpd.com.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

A city man was apprehended early Friday morning after police say he fled a traffic stop and led officers in a chase throughout Passaic.

Peter Surita, 27, of Passaic, has been charged with eluding, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property, several drug charges and 16 motor vehicle violations, Passaic Detective Andrew White said.File photo 

PASSAIC -- A city man was apprehended early Friday morning after police say he fled a traffic stop and led officers in a chase throughout Passaic.

Peter Surita, 27, of Passaic, has been charged with eluding, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property, several drug charges and 16 motor vehicle violations, Passaic Detective Andrew White said.

At about 3:17 a.m., Officer Ralph Merced saw a black Cadillac with tinted windows traveling north on Hamilton Avenue, which prompted him to run a license plate check, White said. The check revealed the license plates had been stolen from an Infiniti, he said.

Merced then tried to pull the vehicle over when it fled the stop and traveled through numerous city streets, White said. The officer lost the vehicle in the area of Myrtle Avenue and Harrison Street but another officer found the vehicle abandoned in the area of Tulip Street, he said.

PLUS: Woman accused of attempted murder while free on bail

As police patrolled the area, they found a man walking rapidly on Sherman Street near Myrtle Avenue, White said. The man, he said, had dirt all over his shirt and pants and appeared to be sweating profusely.

Police identified the man as the driver of the vehicle, but as the officer exited his vehicle the man took off and began running through backyards and jumping over fences in the area of the Chestnut Street Housing complex, White said.

The man, who was later identified as Surita, was found hiding in the bushes alongside a house on Chestnut Street, he said.

Surita had 32 packets of suspected heroin on his person when police arrested him, White said. Officers also located 290 packets of suspected heroin during a search of the Cadillac, he said. Both the packets of suspected heroin found on Surita and in the vehicle were stamped with the same brand name, "Hall Pass," he said.

No one was injured during the course of the pursuit, he said.

Surita was in the city jail Friday morning awaiting transport to Passaic County jail, White said. Bail has not yet been set.

 

New York DEC official said there's no scenario in which they would allow a state facility to take in the injured walking bear. Watch video

JEFFERSON -- "Pedals," the injured walking bear, has just had another hurdle thrown in his path -- even if New Jersey wildlife officials allowed him to be relocated to a wildlife center in New York, the Empire State environmental agency says it, too, would stand in the way of the move.

Benning DeLaMater, a public information officer with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, said there's no scenario in which the agency would allow the Orphaned Wildlife Center in Otisville, N.Y. to take in the bear.

According to DeLaMater, a wildlife facility is only allowed one special permit to take in a bear with special needs and the Orphaned Wildlife Center already has one such permit. He did not cite or provide to NJ Advance Media any regulations limiting the number of special needs bears a wildlife facility can house, but he has said he would provide a more detailed response next week.

DeLaMater said the facility is in good standing and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation has never received any complaints or issued any tickets to it for violations. Nonetheless, he said his agency will not allow "Pedals" to take up residence there even if New Jersey grants permission.

More than 280,000 people have signed a Care2 petition as of Friday demanding New Jersey Fish and Wildlife officials allow the relocation of the injured bear to the Orphaned Wildlife Center, a wildlife sanctuary that has offered to take in the bear and rehabilitate him.

The bear has been seen walking upright through Oak Ridge neighbors on his hind legs because of injuries to both paws.

RELATED: Have you seen the walking bear? Wildlife officials need help finding him

Sabrina Walsh Pugsley, an Oak Ridge resident, has started a GoFundMe page to help relocate the bear to New York that has raised more than $23,000.

Care2 petition author Lisa Rose Rublack, of Bloomingdale, said supporters of the bear will rally on Nov. 10 at 12:30 p.m. at the New Jersey State House and ask that the bear be captured and allowed to relocate to the Orphaned Wildlife Center. 

"It's an urgent situation, and we desperately need the state of New Jersey to act immediately to allow us to help this handicapped bear," said Rublack.

Rublack said the money raised to support the transfer of the bear to the New York facility will expire at the end of November, per the campaign's 60-day deadline.
 
Making matters more urgent, Rublack said, is New Jersey's bear hunt, scheduled for Dec. 7. Activists are concerned the bear's unique movements and notoriety will make him an easy and inviting target if he wanders into bear hunting zones.

The challenge of the bear surviving another winter in his condition also concerns supporters.

An official at the Orphaned Wildlife Center Center was surprised when told that the New York Department of Environmental Conservation would block the facility from taking in the bear.

"No. They haven't told us that," said an official at the facility who declined to give her name. "We have 12 bears here, one black bear. We currently have one special permit to keep a bear with specific needs. We would have to add another. We've never been denied a permit before.

"I don't see any grounds on which they would deny us the permit. We have the space, the facilities and a young lady has raised over $23,000 for us to build a specific enclosure for the bear. We have over 100 acres here. We have had 100-percent stellar reviews. We're certainly capable of taking in the bear if New Jersey allows it."

PLUS: Residents worry that "Pedals," the walking bear, won't survive the winter

The official at the Orphaned Wildlife Center added that even if their facility isn't  allowed to take in the bear, something should be done to help the animal.

"We feel this bear is in a bad situation," she said. "Whether he's physically fit or not, he needs help. Ultimately, he's going to hurt someone or someone is going to hurt him. He walking through neighbors. Hunting season is coming. If they can't send him to us, send him somewhere. We just want to see the bear get help."

Lawrence Hajna, a spokesman for the New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency's Division of Fish and Wildlife, said the agency's biologists believe it's best to let the bear continue to survive in the wild. The agency has asked anyone who spots the  bear or has any information on his whereabouts to call state wildlife officials at 877-927-6337 immediately.

Hajna said the agency wants to have its biologists examine the bear and determine his condition and whether he'll be able to survive the winter. If not, the agency will determine the next course of action.

McDonald was stopped after he allegedly failed to wear a seatbelt

Pequannock Police Department 

PEQUANNOCK -- A 19-year-old Wanaque man was accused of possession of marijuana and possession of a pellet gun, following a traffic stop on Wednesday in Pequannock, according to Pequannock police.

Zackary Colin McDonald was stopped by Pequannock Patrolman Matthew Levine at 12:45 p.m. after the officer saw the vehicle traveling on Route 23 with the driver not wearing a seatbelt, police said in a statement.

Levine then noticed a strong odor of marijuana and the driver admitted there was an unloaded Airsoft Pellet gun in the car, police said.

RELATED: Police investigate drive-by pellet gun shootings

Two small bags of marijuana were also discovered, police said.

McDonald was charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, possession of an imitation firearm, failure to wear a seatbelt, failure to exhibit a driver's license and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, police said. He was released on his own recognizance and has a pending court appearance, according to police.

Ben Horowitz may be reached at bhorowitz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @HorowitzBen. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

 

A 38-year-old Lodi man was arrested and an accomplice was being sought in the gunpoint robbery of three men in the city early Friday, police said.

A Bergen County man was charged with three counts of robbery in Paterson on Nov. 6, 2015, police said. (File photo) 

Kahseem Allah-Shabazz was charged with three counts of robbery and weapons offenses, according to authorities.

Police Officer Sweeney Melendez was flagged down at 4th Avenue and East 17th Street around 2 a.m. by someone reporting the holdup, Detective Sgt. Michael McDonald said.

Allah-Shabazz and another assailant ordered the three men to lay down and stole their cell phones, the sergeant said.

RELATED: Cab driver, 3 others hurt in string of overnight shootings, police say

The officer arrived as the robbers were walking away, but broadcast their descriptions to fellow officers, police said.

Paterson officers Taitrum Khadaroo and Cesar Heyaime soon spotted the assailants run into separate backyards on East 16th Street, McDonald added. Police arrested Allah-Shabazz, but his accomplice escaped.

Officers recovered a loaded a semi-automatic Glock .35 handgun, according to police. A search of Allah-Shabazz's nearby car also turned up suspected glassine packets of heroin in the front console.

Police identified the robbery victims as a 23-year-old man, a 35-year-old man, both of Paterson, and a 21-year-old Hawthorne man.

The arrest came amid a violent night in Paterson. Police said four people were wounded in separate shootings late Thursday into early Friday. Those cases are believed to be unrelated.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

A pedestrian has died after being struck by a truck in Paterson on Friday at 6 p.m., according to the Paterson police.

Paterson police are investigating a pedestrian strike on Friday that left a woman dead. (File photo) 

PATERSON -- A woman died after being struck by a truck in Paterson on Friday night, city police said.

The 52-year-old was struck around 6 p.m. at the corner of George and Main streets by a box truck, which was turning onto George Street, according to Paterson Police Director Jerry Speziale.

RELATED: Trespasser fatally struck by train in Paterson, police say,' cousin says

The woman died after being taken to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Speziale said.

"Obviously this is a terrible situation," he said. "On behalf of myself and the mayor, our heartfelt condolences to the family. They're in our thoughts and prayers."

The strike is currently being investigated by the Paterson Police Department's traffic division and the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office, the director said.

The truck driver, whose vehicle was not large enough to be considered a tractor trailer, stayed after hitting the woman, Speziale said.

Speziale said he did not know whether the driver was affiliated with a company.

Laura Herzog may be reached at lherzog@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LauraHerzogL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Paterson police recovered two guns, as well as heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana on Friday night, according to a press release issued by the department.

Paterson police recovered two guns and various drugs in recent days. (File photo) 

PATERSON -- City police recovered two guns, heroin and crack Friday night, according to a press release issued by the department.

Paterson Police Director Jerry Speziale said that on Friday, he sent plain-clothes officers to "spot locations" following an uptick in crime on Thursday.

RELATED: 5 charged, loaded guns seized in drug raid near library, Paterson police say

At about 10 p.m., two officers approached a group of eight men who were obstructing Governor Street and Carroll Street, and one man, later identified as Wellington Santana, began to flee, Speziale said in a press release.

Santana threw 70 glassines of heroin onto the ground before he was apprehended by police, police said. Santana was later charged with possession of heroin, intent to distribute heroin, intent to distribute within 100 feet of a public school, and obstructing a governmental function.

Police said $465 in drug proceeds was confiscated from Santana.

At 11 p.m., officers were alerted by a concerned citizen to a PT-22 Taurus .22 caliber handgun in a garbage can on Dixon Ave., police said. In the garbage can, the officers found both the gun -- which was loaded with eight .22 caliber rounds -- and a bag containing 24 glassines of heroin, four bags of marijuana, and 13 bags of crack cocaine, authorities said.

Also around 11 p.m. on Friday, Paterson police observed a large group playing loud music on their front porch on 10th Avenue, police said. After dispersing the crowd, police searched the porch and said they found a handgun loaded with one shotgun shell.

"Clearly, the hard work by the men and women has paid off with removing two guns and drugs from our streets on Friday evening to prevent further violence," Speziale said in a statement. "While there was an uptick in crime on Thursday, we will allocate our resources accordingly and fight back to ensure we deliver a safer city."

Laura Herzog may be reached at lherzog@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LauraHerzogL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Christopher Jenkins of Passaic allegedly entered two bets at a blackjack table after a dealer at the Sands Casino Bethlehem had already shut down wagers

Pennsylvania State Police told lehighvalleylive.com 32-year-old Christopher Jenkins twice tried to bet after cards had been dealt by a blackjack dealer at the Sands Casino Bethlehem just after 3:30 a.m. Sunday.

Known as "past post betting" - the act of entering a bet after a time when no more bets are to be taken - is considered cheating.

The site reported that Jenkins provided a false ID and date of birth after being confronted by a trooper, and was taken into custody on charges including gaming cheating and theft by deception.

Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Onur Cicen, 27, lost control of his 2012 Triumph Daytona on a ramp connecting Route 23 to Route 80 East

A Totowa man died after crashing his motorcycle in Wayne Sunday afternoon. (File photo)File Photo 

WAYNE - A Totowa man died after crashing his motorcycle on Route 23 Sunday afternoon, police said.

Onur Cicen, 27, was aboard his 2012 Triumph Daytona as he travelled along a ramp connecting the southbound side of the highway to Route 80 East around 1:50 p.m., Lt. Daniel Daly of the Wayne police said in a statement.

Cicen lost control of the motorcycle and was ejected onto the roadway, suffering critical injuries in the process, according to Daly.

A volunteer Lincoln Park firefighter who was passing by joinedWayne police officers to provide medical aid until an ambulance arrived to take Cicen to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson.

At about 2:30 p.m., however, he was pronounced dead.

Daly said detectives are still investigating the cause of the accident, and asked any witnesses to contact the Wayne Police Department Traffic Bureau at (973) 633-3520.

Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Middlesex County is rolling out a new program to residents that provides discounts on drugs at pharmacies for both the residents and their families, including their pets.

Middlesex County is rolling out a new prescription drug plan for residents. >File photo 

NEW BRUNSWICK -- Middlesex County is rolling out a new program to residents that provides discounts on drugs at pharmacies for both the residents and their families, including their pets.

The county has partnered with ProAct Inc., a company that operates similar programs in six other counties in the states including Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Passaic, Union and Sussex, according to Gerry MacKenzie, head of Middlesex County's Department of Community Services.

MacKenzie said program is offered at no cost to the residents or taxpayers of Middlesex County.

"The discount varies from pharmacy to pharmacy," she said, adding that the program is not insurance and does not replace insurance that a resident may already have.

"However, residents can use the program to cover a drug not covered by his or her insurance," she said.

MacKenzie cautioned that senior citizens should call the county's Office on Aging or the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to find out how the new drug discount card could work with their Medicare benefits.

She said every resident regardless of their age, income or existing health insurance is eligible to use the program and cards are being sent to all residents. There are no pre-requisites or qualifications to take advantage of the program either.

Freeholder Director Ronald Rios said the discount cards are accepted at more than 170 pharmacies in the county at more than 62,000 pharmacies nationwide.

"This plan can help those who have no prescription coverage, minimal prescription coverage or those who must take certain medications that are not covered by their plans," Rios said. "So, even if you have a prescription plan, I encourage you to look into the program to see if it can help you."

He said residents could expect to see a savings from 10 to 20 percent off the full cash price of name brand medications and savings from 20 to 70 percent off the full cash price of generic medications.

Rios said the savings also applies to coverage for pet medications.

Discount cards are being mailed to households in the county and cards will also be available a local [pharmacies as well as county agencies including the Department of Community Services, the Office of Human Services and the Health Services Office, MacKenzie said.

Those with access to the internet and can go to a new web site can check pharmacies to find out which ones are giving the best discounts for the drugs they need as well, she said. The web site will be included in the information provided with the card.

Freeholder Blanquita Valenti, who chairs the county's community services committee, said the new program, "is a way for Middlesex County to ensure everyone, regardless of their health coverage, has access to discounted prescription medications."

MORE: Middlesex County news

Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Find this picture and many others in our "Vintage photos of working for a cause in N.J."

THE HAWTHORNE POLICE DEPARTMENT began a community outreach project in the early 1970s.

In this photo from that period, Chief Charles Kenyon gives schoolchildren a peek at what's inside a police car.

On Nov. 12, look for this snapshot and other vintage photos of police, fire, rescue and community groups serving their communities as "Vintage photos of working for a cause in N.J." on nj.com.

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Several schools will be closed Tuesday due to a fire at the Paterson Armory.

UPDATE: Fire at century-old Paterson armory reaches 7 alarms

PATERSON -- Several schools will be closed Tuesday due to a fire at the Paterson Armory.

Eastside High School, School 11, School 15, Roberto Clemente, New Roberto Clemente and the Madison Early Learning Center will be closed to students and staff, the Paterson Public School district announced on its website.

Firefighters have battled a five-alarm blaze at the abandoned armory on Market Street since 11 p.m. Monday, News 12 New Jersey reported.

The fire started in the basement of the armory, the Paterson Times reported.

The armory has been abandoned since the 1980s, when the National Guard left Paterson. As recently as 2012, the city had hoped to turn the crumbling building into a recreation center.

Emmanuel Rodriguez, a 22-year-old who lives in the neighborhood, said he's seen drug addicts and homeless people use the empty building. He saw the glow of the fire from inside the building Monday night. By about 7 a.m. Tuesday, it had reached the roof.

Ruth Torres, who lives nearby, said her children were upset the fire had cancelled school.

"They were a little mad," she said. "They love school. They were dressed and ready to go."

The fire has reached the roof. pic.twitter.com/Pgu2k8bCED

-- Myles Ma (@MylesMaNJ) November 10, 2015

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A fire at the Paterson Armory reached seven alarms Tuesday morning, as firefighters continued to battle the blaze 10 hours after it started.

PATERSON -- A fire at the Paterson Armory reached seven alarms Tuesday morning, as firefighters continued to battle the blaze 10 hours after it started.

The fire was still not under control as of 8:45 a.m., Paterson Fire Chief Michael Postorino said.

Mutual aid from as far as Ramsey responded to the fire, bringing the number of firefighters at the scene to about 100, Postorino said. Neighboring buildings to the south of the abandoned building were evacuated as smoke and ash came billowing off the armory roof.

Firefighters were dousing the building from outside, leaving it unclear whether fire was still burning inside, Postorino said. The fire has dealt significant damage to the century-old building.

One firefighter was sent to St. Joseph's Medical Center with a back injury.

The Paterson Public School district closed several area schools due to the fire: Eastside High School, School 11, School 15, Roberto Clemente, New Robert Clemente and Madison Early Learning.

MORE: Neighbors see fire as fatal blow to historic Paterson Armory

The National Guard left building behind in the 1980s, and the armory has sat empty ever since. The city took the building into possession when the subsequent owner failed to pay property taxes. It had fallen into disrepair in 2012 when then-Mayor Jeffrey Jones proposed a plan to revive it as a recreation center. It never came to pass.