LINDEN, NJ — An off-duty Hillside police officer was killed and another person seriously injured in an early morning automobile crash Oct. 15 that closed U.S. Routes 1 & 9 in Linden in both directions for more than six hours. Hillside Police Officer Giovanni Esposito, 30, who joined the Hillside Police Department in November 2017, […]
HILLSIDE — Teachers, their union leaders and parents continued to clash with school board members about staff reassignments and poor communication, reiterating claims during a contentious meeting on Thursday, July 19, that the district administration has retaliated against union officials following yearlong contract negotiations. During a round of testimonials from educators in the audience, New […]
HILLSIDE, NJ — The township’s police union president has accused the chief of trying to turn the department against him in a newly filed lawsuit against the top cop. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 82 President Michael Flowers filed a hostile work environment and whistleblower suit against the township and Police Chief Vincent Ricciardi in […]
HILLSIDE, NJ — Tempers flared at a June 21 school board meeting between a representative from the state’s largest teachers’ union and board members over a decision to move faculty and staff in the district. New Jersey Education Association UniServ Representative Ted Tympanick responded quickly when board member Joi Stanley said it “disturbs” her to […]
HILLSIDE, NJ — A portion of the township’s police union contract affecting retirees that has gone unresolved since the previous administration left office is now being tackled by the new mayor. Superior officers in Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 160 had worked without a contract for about four years until July 2016, union President […]
HILLSIDE, NJ — Hillside High School briefly went into lockdown May 23 after a male student made a call to police falsely claiming he had a gun, authorities said. Police received the cellphone call around 11 a.m. and traced it to the high school, authorities said. “A student in the high school was determined to […]
HILLSIDE, NJ — Concern about removing funding for armed security guards pushed the local board of education on May 3 to adopt a more costly $59.9 million budget — with a 2 percent tax levy increase — over a leaner spending plan. In an April 26 budget hearing, the proposed spending plan included six armed […]
HILLSIDE, NJ — Kelly Ronca, a second-grade teacher, doesn’t want to leave the school district over contract negotiations, but she also doesn’t want to work three other jobs to pay her mortgage and other bills. “I don’t want to leave Hillside,” Ronca said at an April 19 meeting. “I love the families. I love my […]
HILLSIDE, NJ — Ten police recruits graduated from academy training on April 5, bringing the local force up to 62 officers, police Chief Vincent Ricciardi. Seventeen recruits entered the Essex County Police Academy in November, according to an earlier press release. There, they were instructed in law and protocols, crisis intervention, de-escalation, use of force […]
By Rebecca Panico Staff Writer HILLSIDE — As an author, actor and clothing designer, Essynce Moore has a resume that stacks up against those of most adults. And, she’s only 15 years old. “My mom has always taught me that school comes first,” Moore said, describing how she juggles her activities. “That’s always my first […]