Mold Remediation in Newark, NJ

NEW JERSEY — The Garden State apparently has plenty of haunted places. And it’s that time of year when folks seek out “the spooky,” to visit haunted venues, or tell ghost stories that set the mood for trick-or-treating.

Our news sites have received a half-dozen media releases peddling spooky surveys and studies. We remain skeptical, but in the spirit of this Halloween season we kept track. Here’s a 2024 rundown of New Jersey’s most allegedly haunted sites:

BASKING RIDGE – THE DEVIL’S TREEA scraggly oak tree at 181 Mountain Road in Basking Ridge is reportedly the scene of ghostly sightings. Thrillist has named it New Jersey’s #1 most haunted 2024 site. This half-dead oak tree stands in a lonely field, marred by ax marks and vandalism. Records show it may have been a 19th century meeting site for the Ku Klux Klan and the scene of several hangings in the 1800s.

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CAPE MAY – THE PHYSICK ESTATEThis 18-room Victorian-era mansion on Washington Street in Cape May is now a museum and reportedly home to restless spirits, including its 1879 builder Dr. Emlen Physick, who haunts its hallways, says Affordable Urns. This Australian website says the Physick Estate Museum is one of the Garden State’s most haunted places. Affordable Urns ranks New Jersey as America’s 4th most haunted state behind Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

CAPE MAY – THE SOUTHERN MANSIONWealthy Philadelphia industrialist George Allen built The Southern Mansion in 1863 at what is now 720 Washington Street in Cape May.Back then, it was the Allen family’s private country estate, and it stayed in the Allen family until 1946, when the last living relative, Ester Mercur, died at this property. Haunted Rooms America says several Allen family spirits haunt this mansion, including Ester, who makes her presence known with a strong perfume smell. Guests say they see Ester’s ghost dancing joyfully in its hallways. Guests in Room 14 also claim to hear disembodied conversations. In the ballroom and kitchen, a chef reportedly saw the ghost of a man in military uniform.

MIDDLETOWN – SEABROOK-WILSON HOUSEThe Seabrook Wilson House – at 119 Port Monmouth Road in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown – is better known as the historic Spy House tavern. Probably our state's most famous haunted venue, it was a Revolutionary War-era site of intrigue and espionage. Forbes Magazine lists it as our most haunted house for 2024, where witnesses hear unexplained weeping, see a mysterious woman’s apparition and a seafarer’s ghost.

MONTCLAIR – MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY Montclair State University annually ranks as one of America’s most haunted colleges. Unexplained paranormal events seem to happen most at Blanton Hall, a five-story Webster Road dormitory, and at Hawk Crossings, garden apartments on Clove Road, according to Only In Our State. Students report slamming doors and windows, mysteriously flickering lights, and eerie persistent cold spots that can't be explained.Dormitory students at Freeman Hall and Bohn Hall have, over the years, said they feel like they are being watched, see doors swing open, and sometimes hear disembodied voices.

WEST MILFORD – CLINTON ROADThe 10-mile Clinton Road in Passaic County's community of West Milford now ranks as the second most haunted highway “in the entire world,” according to a 2024 analysis from Sixt, a German global car rental company.For years, New Jerseyans claim to see phantom headlights, report spooky sounds, and have heard rumors about “Ghost Boy,” who supposedly haunts a bridge near a sharp curve in Clinton Road. Legends say anyone who stops near this bridge to toss coins in the water below will have a “Ghost Boy” throw those coins back at them, according to media reports.

WESTFIELD – THE ‘WATCHER’ HOUSEThis lovely million-dollar home at 657 Boulevard in Westfield is not haunted. Yet, it is considered as one of New Jersey's spooky sites. Once the center of a creepy New Jersey urban legend, previous owners claim they got troubling letters from “The Watcher,” a stalker, obsessed with this six-bedroom, three-bath home. It ended up driving them away.Bizarre tales about this house got national media attention and became the basis for a six-episode fictionalized TV miniseries about this Union County home. The house was resold in 2016, and subsequent owners have not had any strange happenings.

Mosaic is NJ.com’s news site dedicated to serving New Jersey’s diverse and underrepresented communities.

Welcome to this week’s newsletter! Discover places to celebrate Diwali, explore a new food find, and join us in recognizing a Queen who received an impressive honor.

Diwali, also known as “The Festival of Lights,” is an annual five-day festival focusing on the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Trending reporter Vashti Harris scoped out some upcoming events.

In her story, “Diwali is almost here. Check out these 7 upcoming N.J. events,” she tells us where to celebrate the holiday with dance performances, painting competitions, a Diya lighting ceremony and a lot of food!

Vashti also brought us news of Newark’s very own Queen Latifah, who President Joe Biden recently presented The National Medal of Arts — the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the federal government. Born Dana Elaine Owens in Newark, Queen Latifah rose to stardom after releasing her debut 1989 album “All Hail the Queen.” She was 19. Today, she stars in the “Equalizer” and promotes community programs with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.

Columnist Karim Shamsi-Basha found another place to dine on a dime in his column, “Affordable Eats: This N.J. restaurant features the best of Thai cuisine.” In it, he introduces us to Aroy-D The Thai Elephant in Verona and its tasty Thai dishes, but ends with a surprise dessert. He said, “You can’t leave without indulging in Thai ice cream. I tried the pink elephant in honor of the restaurant. It had a vanilla base with graham crackers, strawberries and whipped cream.”

Well, folks, that’s all for this week. I’m off to eat some Thai ice cream. Stay tuned for more interesting stories from Mosaic and NJ.com.

Essential Reading from Mosaic

In case you missed it on NJ.com

Over at NJ.com, reporter Nyah Marshall fills us in on a mayor who is not so keen on celebrating Diwali. Her story, “No fireworks during Diwali, mayor tells one of N.J.’s largest Indian American communities,” should spark some controversy. Imagine the Fourth of July with no fireworks...

Reporter Karin Price Mueller’s story, “Early voting is starting in N.J. Where can I vote?” reminds us that we don’t have to wait until election day on Nov. 5. New Jersey is making it convenient for voters: in addition to weekday hours, polls will also be open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Stay tuned for more captivating stories from the reporters at Mosaic and NJ.com.

Keep up with New Jersey’s diverse communities with the Mosaic newsletter, which provides the most popular stories from Mosaic of the past week. Click HERE to sign up.

Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom and on Facebook at MosaicNJcom and on YouTube at @MosaicNJcom.

Education

Fourth Graders at North Star Academy Deliver News As Part of DEI Program

As part of the North Star Academy Liberty Elementary School's diversity, equity and inclusion program, students participate in a weekly news show that is seen by every student at the school.

As part of the North Star Academy Liberty Elementary School's diversity, equity and inclusion program, students participate in a weekly news show that is seen by every student at the school.Photo Credit: Courtesy of North Star Academy

As part of the North Star Academy Liberty Elementary School's diversity, equity and inclusion program, students participate in a weekly news show that is seen by every student at the school.Photo Credit: Courtesy of North Star Academy

As part of the North Star Academy Liberty Elementary School's diversity, equity and inclusion program, students participate in a weekly news show that is seen by every student at the school.Photo Credit: Courtesy of North Star Academy

As part of the North Star Academy Liberty Elementary School's diversity, equity and inclusion program, students participate in a weekly news show that is seen by every student at the school.Photo Credit: Courtesy of North Star Academy

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By TAPinto Staff Report

Published October 29, 2024 at 5:14 PM

As a fourth grader, Nia Freeman enjoyed being part of the morning school announcements broadcast to every classroom in her Atlanta School. Now, as a teacher at North Star Academy - Liberty Elementary School in Newark, Freeman wanted to give her students the same thrill of putting newscasts together.

As part of the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion program, Freeman launched a program that gives fourth grade students an opportunity to host a weekly news show that is seen by every student at the school.

“It was born out of all of our different ideas and desires for some type of student culture moment where the kids are leading and involved,” said Freeman, who is co-chair of the DEI committee in the school.

The topics covered include Hispanic History Month, Women's History Month, Black History Month, Pride Month as well as historical figures and weighty current events, such as the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Freeman said the typically 20-minute news show gives students an opportunity to engage directly in DEI topics.

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Freeman got the idea to use Zoom and stream the video to Smart Whiteboards in each kindergarten through fourth-grade classroom. The program started in 2021, by which time both teachers and students had grown accustomed to using Zoom because of the pandemic, she said.

Generally, six students are selected to participate in the program at one time. Over the course of the school year, as many as four groups will have an opportunity to rotate through the program.

Students are selected based on a variety of factors. Since Hispanic Heritage Month is during September and October, several students whose families were from Spanish-speaking countries were selected “so they could also share a little bit of their culture as well,” Freeman said.

Freeman and her fellow teachers write the scripts and the students practice reading before going live on Zoom.

“A lot of times they come in excited, but nervous,” Freeman said. “I just really hope that they build confidence.”

Freeman said he hopes the program not only improves the confidence of the students who are reading the news, but also raises awareness of culture differences among all the other students.

“There's a broader conversation around what people believe in and what people do and how people live,” Freeman said. “I hope that there's increased awareness and understanding and sensitivity.”

Fourth grader Esther Kulugh said she enjoys doing the show because it helps her learn about new cultures, but she wasn’t afraid to admit that she relishes the school-wide fame that comes along with being an anchor.

“I like that everyone sees me and I get to show my pride,” she said. “They tell me I did a good job and they smile at me. It makes me feel happy and appreciated.”

Freeman said some of her favorite newscasts are when the students discuss their cultural differences that make them stand out. For example, she said, some of Muslim students wear hijabs in the school.

“It's very exciting for them to be able to share about their experience and why this is important to them and their traditions,” Freeman said. “So now, students understand that she wears a hijab because it's part of what she believes in and that's all they have to know at this age to be inclusive and culturally aware. It doesn’t have to be anything greater.”

Amelia Espinal, 10, who is in fourth grade, was among the first group of students this year. Her family is from the Dominican Republic.

One of her news segments included the story of Sylvia Mendez, who was born in California to parents who emigrated from Mexico. When they tried to enroll her in school, the district blocked her from attending because it was for white students only. The case was taken to court and eventually led to a landmark U.S. Appellate Court ruling in 1947 that ended segregation of California schools.

Fourth grader Jason Esan, 9, did the weather reports as a third grader, so he’s familiar with what it takes and is looking forward to becoming a news reader this year. To get over butterflies before his segment, Jason has mastered a breathing technique passed on through the ages.

“Sometimes I can get a little bit nervous that I might say the wrong thing,” he said. “But mostly I take deep breaths naturally and it really helps you.”

Mother Nature tricked us into thinking it was spring by bringing 80-degree temperatures on Halloween. And it turned into a record-breaker in at least two areas of New Jersey.

The mercury inched its way up to 83 degrees at Newark Liberty International Airport Thursday afternoon, breaking the area‘s all-time record high for Halloween, according to data from the National Weather Service’s New York regional office.

Newark’s old record was set 78 years ago, back in 1946, when the high on Oct. 31 reached 82 degrees.

Thursday turned warm enough at Trenton Mercer Airport in Ewing to set a new record high there for Halloween, with a reading of 82 degrees. And New York City’s Central Park tied its record high of 81 degrees for Halloween.

Those readings are about 20 degrees warmer than usual for Oct. 31.

Mother Nature’s special Halloween treat comes courtesy of a dome of high pressure that has been circulating off the Mid-Atlantic coast, allowing warm air from the south and west to push across our region.

However, the very warm autumn air won’t last too long.

The National Weather Service’s New Jersey office says a cold front will be crossing our region on Friday, “ushering in a return of near-normal temperatures through the weekend.”

Steamy Halloween temperatures

Newark and Trenton weren’t the only warm spots in New Jersey on Halloween afternoon. These were among the highest temperature readings reported by the Rutgers NJ Weather Network as of 4 p.m. Thursday:

Current weather radar

Note: This post was updated Thursday evening, Oct. 31, to include Trenton’s record-breaking temperature.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local weather news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com or on X at @LensReality.