According to the Verona Police Department, the three men entered the Subway located at 45 Bloomfield Avenue just before 11 p.m. They had pulled up in a white-colored four-door sedan, which police say may have been a newer model Toyota Camry with passenger side damage.

Two of the men entered the store and immediately went behind the counter. They ordered a female employee to lie down on the ground and used white plastic zip ties to bind her hands and her feet. The police say they demanded instructions on how to operate the touch screen cash register. Approximately $400 in cash was taken. The men left the store in the white vehicle and headed toward Montclair.

The police are not releasing a description of the suspects at this time. If you know anything that could help solve the crime, call the desk at 973-239-5000.

They will lead a group up the Hilltop from the VCC to the site beginning at 7:30 p.m. The area, which is above the new driveway out to White Rock Road, was most recently the site of a women’s prison for Essex County.

For more information, call the Rec Department at 973-857-4830.

The new fields will rise between the back wall at Centennial and the green water tank.

You can get your badges at Town Hall during its normal business hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and on Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Be prepared to show a valid driver’s license and current PSE&G bill as identification to pick up pool badges.

If you have not already gotten a pool membership, it’s not too late, but you will have to pay a $20 late fee. For 2013, the Family membership is $430, the Family with Babysitter is $530, the Couple membership is $390, the Parent/Child membership is $365, an individual membership is $275, and a senior membership is $145.

For Memorial Day weekend, the Verona Pool is open from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. On Monday, the Memorial Day parade kicks off from Everett Field at 10 a.m. and heads to the center of town for ceremonies in front of Town Hall. There’s also the VBSL’s home run derby on Monday.

Upcoming fishing derbies will be held Saturday, June 8 in Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park and Saturday, June 15th in Essex County Irvington Park. For information, call the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs at 973-735-6229. (Photo by Glen Frieson)

As much as I am craving lighter foods and lighter flavors given our (finally) warmer days, I’m finding that with the juggling of sports schedules, homework, and the need to have more “free time” during dinner hour, I’m not quite ready to give up my slow cooker just yet.  Spring is definitely here though, and since the rosemary in my herb garden has survived our “wet” season I thought this recipe would be a good way to use some of it.

The first time I tried this recipe, I used lamb chops (I couldn’t find the lamb shanks the original recipe called for) and some cranberry sauce I had in the refrigerator. I was looking to combine the sweetness of fruit with the rich taste of lamb. I came to a conclusion at the end of that first trial that lamb chops should be grilled and that is that. By the time I went for the second try, months had passed. There were still no lamb shanks in the store and my cranberry sauce had been eaten. I substituted beef shanks (much easier to find) for the lamb and used some pomegranate balsamic vinegar instead of the cranberry sauce. The taste was much better for both the meat and the sauce. It was an easy meal that the whole family ate and kept me away from the stove while prepping to get out the door, lacrosse sticks in hand.

Crock It! Beef Shanks With Rosemary And Pomegranate

Ingredients:

6 bone-in beef shanks

1 yellow onion peeled and cut in large wedges

1/3 cup pomegranate balsamic vinegar*

5 cloves garlic peeled and smashed

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

2 sprigs fresh rosemary

1/2 of a 14-ounce can beef broth

1/2 cup water

* Olive That!, the Montclair store owned by Verona residents Steve Lehrhoff and Jennifer O’Sullivan, carries pomegranate balsamic vinegar. See details here.

What’s Next:

Heat olive oil in large pan or Dutch oven.

Season shanks with salt and pepper and brown, in batches, in olive oil, cooking for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Place browned shanks in slow cooker.

Sauté onion in pan for 3 to 5 minutes, until lightly browned. Add garlic, and cook for 1 minute more. Add to slow cooker.

Pour pomegranate balsamic vinegar, broth and water in slow cooker.

Add rosemary on top.

Cover and cook on high for 4 hours.

Notes From My Experience:

If I were to make this again, I’d add some pomegranate seeds as garnish to the final dish for a little fresh juice flavor.

I served this over penne pasta because that’s what I had in the cabinet. I do believe it would have been better served over quinoa or rice, I just didn’t have any at the time.

Human trafficking – or modern day slavery – is happening in our own backyard.

Through the grassroots efforts of groups such as Polaris Project, the New Jersey Coalition against Human Trafficking, the Junior Leagues of New Jersey, and the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, much awareness has been raised, whereby community members have learned the difference between the willing choice to prostitute versus the forced-upon noose of human trafficking.

On May 6, 2013, Governor Christie signed legislation (A3352), known as The Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection and Treatment Act (S2239/A3352) into law, which was authored by Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), giving New Jersey premiere status in the fight against the quiet, still human trafficking that occurs in the midst of our plush Garden State towns and cities.

In September 2011, the Cedar Grove Township passed a new ordinance that placed tough restrictions on massage spas and nail salons for the “health and safety” of patrons and practitioners alike. In cases of human trafficking, victims are exploited and coerced into years of forced prostitution, labor, and drug activity.

I urge Verona to follow suit and introduce a town ordinance similar to the one in Cedar Grove.

Human trafficking can be any of these, namely: for commercial sex in massage/spa parlors, domestic servitude, and as free labor on Jersey farms, in hair-braiding salons, nail salons, and restaurants.

Last week, I called Essex County Acting Prosecutor Carolyn Murray and am grateful to have received her personal call back. Ms. Murray explained that three county-wide trainings will take place for law enforcement officials and for local zoning boards to learn how to identify human trafficking and how best to offer services to rescued trafficked victims.

Awareness is key, so the best thing any of us can do – whether we sit on a town council, lead a community group, or are simply a concerned citizen – is to become more educated and to realize that there is a big difference between the free choice to prostitute and the forced-upon noose of being trafficked into prostitution.

For more information, visit the groups mentioned earlier and search their websites. To learn more about recent New Jersey legislation, find these bills: SJR60/AJR56, Designates January 11th of each year as Human Trafficking Awareness Day; and SJR44/AJR55, Designates January each year as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

Just when we thought “slavery” was a historical textbook term, its new generation is the modern day slavery of human trafficking.

It may be cliché, but knowledge is power.

Verona resident Liz Santeramo is involved in three key community grassroots organizations that work to raise community advocacy and awareness of human trafficking.

Garrett Bell, vocalist of the winning band GNGR

Fronted by Garrett Bell, the rock and roll blues band performed Pearl Jam’s “Alive”, “Creep” by Radiohead and a dynamic original called “Just Like You,” which narrowly won the audience vote for best original song over “Jailbyrd” by the Ska Band. The audience vote was combined with judging by radio entrepreneur Steve Kingston and Joe Riccitelli, the executive vice president/GM of RCA Records. GNGR’s other members included Jake Lefkowitz, lead guitar; Jake Miller, bass; Michael Berry, keyboards/organ; and Nick VanLeer, drums.

Ska Band’s Brendan Lesko and Billy Giuliano

The night was kicked off by Young Goes Retro. Inspired by the 80s music their parents listened to, Kelsey Mitchell, Andrew Capuano and Carina Mitchell covered “Scavenger” by School of Seven Bells and “Let’s Go” by Matt & Kim, and performed an original, “Gone”. Young Goes Retro recently released its first video, which you can watch here.

Kelsey Mitchel and Andrew Capuano of Young Goes Retro

New to Cops & Rockers this year was White Wing, a classic rock band that traveled up from Springfield. The band covered “Pulling Mussels From A Shell” and “Helter Skelter”, as well as its original “All Gone”. They were followed by NaH, a Little Falls group making a return appearance. Ben Shooter, RJ Challice and Zach Thomas covered “Another Brick in the Wall” and said that their single, “Sucker for Tragedy”, is now on iTunes. The band is promising to post a video of its Cops & Rockers performance on its Facebook page soon.

Ska’s Fortgang and Foy went back on stage later with Fill In The Blank, a new Verona-based alternative rock band. Fronted by the clarion voice of Kyle Thomas, the band also included Chris Buneo and Ryan Lavoie. Among its songs, the band covered “Downfall Of Us All” and debuted its original, “Bring Me Down From My Cloud”.

David Cacciatore of White Wing, Kyle Thomas of Fill In The Blank

Mike Petillo of Zenith

Rounding out the evening was Faux Johnny, the Verona band that won last year’s Cops & Rockers. It was coming off an appearance at the Stone Pony, and band members Giancarlo Cordasco, Alex Campbell and Patrick Cichetti were clearly channeling the energy of the Asbury Park venue with a cover of “People Are Strange”. The band, which also performed an original “Come Back Johnny”, put part of its appearance on its Facebook page.

Patrick Cichetti of Faux Johnny

For its performance, GNGR won recording time at Verona’s Cat Eyez Recording Studio, which will produce a professional CD and music video of the band. GNGR also gets a free consultation at the RCA office in New York City. Cat Eyez recorded and mixed the live show for all the participating bands, and Rocktec Music, also based in Verona, supplied all the sound equipment.

Verona Police Sgt. Dan Greco, who brought the show together for the PBA and the Verona Music Parents Association

Devyn Bevilacqua, a H. B. Whitehorne Middle School eighth grade student, will play “Sonatina Op. 36, No. 1, Mo. 3″ by M. Clementi.

Magdalena Botrous, who attends Our Lady of the Lake School, where she is in eighth grade, will play M. Clementi’s “Sonatina Op.36, No. 2, Move. 3″.

Sean Buzaid will perform “Fantasia K. 475″ by W. A. Mozart. Sean is an eleventh grade pupil at Seton Hall Prep.

Catherine Cordero, another H. B. Whitehorne Middle School eighth grader, will play “Intermezzo Op. 76, No. 7″ by J. Brahms.

David Cordero will play “Bright Days” by M. Palmieri. David also attends H. B. Whitehorne Middle School, where he is in the fifth grade.

Laryssa Horodysky is an eighth grade pupil at Our Lady of the Lake School. She will play “Prelude No. 1″ from The Well Tempered Clavier by J. S. Bach.

Zoriana Horodysky, who is a second grader at Our Lady of the Lake School, will play “Happy Song” by M. Palmieri

Jenni Lyon, another eighth grader attending Our Lady of the Lake School, will play “Scherzo in G” by F. J. Haydn.

Mary Elizabeth Wallace, a fourth grade student at Forest Ave. School, will play “Arabesque” by F. Burgmuller.

Michael Palmieri, a professional musician, composer and local piano teacher for 36 years, had annually presented his pupils at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.

The June 15 recital at The Church of the Immaculate Conception is free and open to the public. The church is located at 30 North Fullerton Ave.

Further concert information can be obtained by calling 973-748-6462 or by e-mail. Michael Palmieri’s website is located at “http://www.facebook.com/MichaelPalmieriMusic”.

John Bianco’s JAB Builders fully renovated this house at 109 Forest Avenue.

New Listings
349 Bloomfield Avenue #95: 1 bed, 1 bath condo. Second floor, updated kitchen. $159,900.

349 Bloomfield Avenue: 1 bed, 1 bath condo with office space on courtyard. Open house Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m $179,000.

50 Park Avenue: 2 bed, 2 bath. Steps from H.B. Whitehorne Middle School. $339,000.

90 Reid Place: 3 beds, 2 baths. Front porch, move-in ready. Open house Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. $385,000.

109 Forest Avenue: 2 beds, 1 1/2 baths. Fully renovated, open first floor, bluestone patio. Open house Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m. $499,000.

10 Beechwood Road: 4 beds, 3 baths. Fully renovated, first-floor master suite. Open house Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. $559,000.

Hemlock Drive and Laurel Court: 4 beds, 3 baths. 2-car garage, large deck. $569,000.

63 Otsego Road: 4 beds, 3 baths. Renovated throughout with eat-in kitchen, spacious yard. $575,000.

Open Houses

349 Bloomfield Avenue: 1 bed, 1 bath condo with office space on courtyard. Open house Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m $179,000.

72 Cumberland Avenue: 3 beds, 2 baths. Flat yard. Open house Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. $375,000

23 Montclair Avenue: 4 beds, 2 baths. Deep property on dead-end street. Open house Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m. Cut $24,900 to $375,000.

90 Reid Place: 3 beds, 2 baths. Front porch, move-in ready. Open house Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. $385,000.

101 Elmwood Road: 3 beds, 1 1/2 baths. Front porch, back desk, fully renovated. $389,000. Open house Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

109 Forest Avenue: 2 beds, 1 1/2 baths. Fully renovated, open first floor, bluestone patio. Open house Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m. $499,000.

74 Fairway Avenue: 3 beds, 2 1/2 baths. Split-level on large lot.  Open house Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m. $499,000.

92 Pease Avenue: 5 beds, 3 baths. Wraparound porch. Close to town center. Open house Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m. $579,900.

10 Beechwood Road: 4 beds, 3 baths. Fully renovated, first-floor master suite. Open house Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. $559,000.

Price Changes

2 Claridge Drive #9GE: 1 bed 1 1/2 bath. Condo. Master bath with dressing area, new vanity and 2 walk-in closets. Cut to $235,200.

23 Montclair Avenue: 4 beds, 2 baths. Deep property on dead-end street. Open house Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m. Cut $24,900 to $375,000.

60 Otsego Road: 4 beds, 2 1/2 baths. In-ground pool, updated kitchen. Spacious basement. Cut $15,000 to $599,999.