Belleville-Nutley Week in Review

Busy last week and missed all the Belleville & Nutley news that's fit to be posted?

Here's a quick list of important news last week:

Three Departments Battle Nutley Blaze.  A Nutley fire lieutenant hurt his knee and a family was left homeless after a fire on Funston Place.  Crews from Newark and Belleville helped Nutley firefighters battle the fire last Friday at 44 Funston Place, which started shortly after 10 p.m, said Deputy Chief Paul Cafone.   The main body of the fire, which started in a second-floor bedroom of the one-family home, was quickly brought under control. Nutley Engines 1, 2,3 and 4, Nutley Ladder 1, as well as Belleville firefighters were all on the scene, as was Nutley Fire Capt. John Nicollette, the incident commander, and his son, Phil, who is chief of the department’s volunteers.   The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

Belleville’s Seasonal Haunted Attraction is Open for Humans and Ghouls.     The State Scare Haunted Attraction is back this year with an all-new “Maim Street” – a terrifying little thoroughfare built on the site of the old "State Processing Factory", recently shut down due to its evil activities. On Maim Street, visitors will find a creepy barber shop, butcher, pub, hotel and 5&10, run by 35 demonic workers who provide a memorable downtown experience.  Sponsored by the State Fair Halloween Superstore, “Maim Street” is located at 229 Main St., Belleville, adjacent to the superstore. Attraction starts at 7 p.m. and continues until midnight on weekends through Halloween, and finishing Nov. 3.  “State Scare's Maim Street is 30 minutes of pure unadulterated fear and unrivaled terror. Come and find out why shoppers are disappearing – shanghai-style – and Maim Street isn’t quite what it seems,” said Anthony Giordano, the special effects artist behind the haunt.

.    In the decades Nutley and Belleville have held their joint Columbus Day parade, organizers have never skimped on the spectacle. And this year’s celebration of Italian heritage, scheduled for this Sunday, won’t be any different.   Among the attractions will be a working calliope, a dancing “Super Mario” and -- yes -- a gondolier. The parade steps off this year at 1:30 pm at Nutley High School, 300 Franklin Ave., and proceeds south on Franklin, ending at Belleville High, 100 Passaic Ave., not far from the reviewing stand at Joralemon and Passaic. 

Anti-Bullying Activist Speaks to Belleville Students  Belleville Middle School 8th graders recently participated in an Anti-Bullying/Suicide Prevention presentation. The presenter was John Halligan, who lost his 13-year-old son, Ryan, to suicide in October 2003. After his death, it was revealed that Ryan Patrick Halligan was the victim of intense bullying and was ridiculed and humiliated by his peers at school and online. Halligan told the students about Ryan, the way he was bullied, and the effect it had on the whole family and community. His presentation began with a video of home movie clips and pictures of Ryan. Halligan then told about the factors which led to his son’s suicide.  The BMS students gained a deeper understanding of the devastating impact of a teen suicide. Many life lessons were imparted, including forgiveness and finding ways to turn a tragedy into hope for others. 

Nutley's Needy Families will Get Immediate Help.  Nutley officials Tuesday night took steps that will make it easier and faster for families in need to obtain financial assistance.  Nutley’s chief financial officer will be authorized to immediately cut a check to any resident in emergent need of public assistance, after the Board of Commissioners introduced a change to speed up the process during their regular meeting.  Mayor Alphonse Petracco said the change is important in tough economic times.  "If, God forbid, someone needs our emergency assistance, we will now be able to help," Petracco said.  The three commissioners present all voted for the ordinance, with Commissioner Joseph Scarpelli saying any way to help residents faster is welcome.  The CFO will be authorized to approve a payment of public assistance funds on an interim basis, the ordinance states.  Rogers will approve the payments as director of the Department of Public Affairs, along with an employee whom Rogers will designated.

.  The state Department of Treasury is working to assist residents in many Essex County towns whose mail, sent to government offices between Sept. 7 and Sept. 10, burned in a truck fire last month.  Affected zip codes begin with 070 to 076, 078, 079, 088 and 089.   All of the mail that was on the truck on Sept. 11 was destroyed in the accident near Hightstown on the New Jersey Turnpike when the truck carrying it burst into flames, according to a press release sent out by Gov. Chris Christie's office.    "The U.S. Postal Service now says the blaze and resulting firefighting efforts destroyed nearly every piece of mail on board. The truck was carrying a day’s worth of mail to a variety of locations in Central New Jersey, including letters and packages bound for some state government offices in Trenton and the surrounding area," the press release said.  The governor's office has ordered that all state agencies assist residents who may have been affected.  As of Tuesday, the USPS Consumer Affairs Office had not received any inquiries about lost mail, according to George Flood, the postal service's regional spokesperson. But concerned customers may call 800-275-8777 to report lost mail, he said.