Elections and Power Outages Top Local News

Incumbent board of education candidates in both Verona and Cedar Grove were re-elected after uncontested elections in both towns.

Incumbents John Quattrocchi and Joseph T. Bellino will retain their seats on the Verona Board of Education, while incumbents Frank G. Mandala Jr. and Laura Marinelli were re-elected in Cedar Grove.

Verona Voters Rebuff Full-Day Kindergarten

Verona will continue to have three-quarter days for kindergarteners after voters turned down full-day classes at the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6. 

The measure, which would have had Verona kindergarteners begin full school days ending at 2:45 p.m., was turned down by just 169 votes. As a result, kindergarteners will continue to be dismissed at 12:30 p.m.

A total of 5,367 Verona residents voted on the issue, with 2,599 voting in favor and 2,768 voted against the measure, according to unofficial results from the Essex County Clerk.

Here we go again.

Residents of Verona and Cedar Grove are losing power once again as a nor'easter, now named Winter Storm Athena, hit the towns on Wednesday afternoon.

“The township is experiencing a wide spread power outage,” Cedar Grove police said. “PSE&G is aware of the problem and is working on a repair.”

President Barack Obama was re-elected for a second term, but Verona and Cedar Grove voters responded differently at the polls.

A majority of Cedar Grove residents voted in favor of Mitt Romney, with 3,301 votes against Barack Obama's 2,393 votes.

In Cedar Grove Romney won by a margin of 908 votes.

In Verona, Obama won by a slight margin of just 51 votes.

Verona PBA Collection to Benefit Hurricane Sandy Victims

The Verona Policeman’s Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 72 will be collecting items for Hurricane Sandy victims.

They will be collecting canned foods, personal hygiene products, diapers, pet food, sternos, cleaning supplies and AA and D batteries.

Donated items will be distributed by Goman's Delivery Service.

Verona and Cedar Grove are seeing a big turnout for the 2012 election, despite Hurricane Sandy power outages and gas shortages.

“It's been pretty busy, but not as busy as Bush vs. Kerry,” said Linda Cavrick, a poll worker at Verona High School. “With the confusion of the storm there are going to be a lot of absentee and mail-in ballots.”

Verona resident Tom Ferrell was surprised by how long the line was when he went to cast his vote at Brookdale Avenue School, he said.

Officials in both Verona and Cedar Grove are working hard to get power back on in both townships as the storm recovery now enters its second week.

In Cedar Grove on Tuesday, Mayor Peter Tanella said there are 76 township residents waiting for power to return.

“The only remaining pockets are Ridge Court, Todd Terrace and Rugby Road,” he said. “The library is being worked on, Tanella added, which should fix the problem for about eight to 10 houses on Rugby Road.”