Whenever a new school year starts, we are reminded by local police departments of the importance…
Category: Columns
Columns, mostly written by the Observer staff. Occasionally, we run guest columns, too, which will appear here.
COMMENTARY — Sickeningly, because of bail reform, punk who pummeled New York City cop was released six hours after his heinous act
If you have not yet seen the video, perhaps you ought not. It’s that bad. But…
COMMENTARY — Parents: Are you really noticing what your kids are saying & doing?
The murderer, apparently, told his dad he couldn’t understand how people could fire upon innocent citizens,…
I’m done with Major League Baseball if there’s even 1 delay
August 1994 was a fun time to be a baseball fan. The Yanks had the best…
35 years ago, Shea shook, mom & I were there and (we) I almost missed it
By the time you read this, the 2021 World Series will be underway, with either the…
Despite COVID-19, we mustn’t forget HIV & AIDS epidemic
Dec. 1 was world AIDS Day. Each year, it is a stark reminder of the epidemic…
Those who must teach remotely are certainly earning their keep
I spent the first years of my life out of college — 1998 to 2005 —…
EDITORIAL: Kearny Fire Dept. is in the right hands with Mastandrea
Joseph Mastandrea is a man who knows hard work. When he was a youngster, he had…
Op-Ed: Open the cemetery, Cardinal Tobin
To the Archdiocese of Newark. And the people. I am writing this message to the Archdiocese…
Op-Ed: Zautyk — Bravo on bag ban, Kearny
Just because someone writes for a certain newspaper doesn’t mean they necessarily agree with the editorial…
Ho, ho, ho, whaddya know? It’s Santa Hague once again
Well, you better watch out and better not cry, you better stay still and don’t be…
GUEST COMMENTARY: Bail reform’s working
By James Calautti Special to The Observer As a regular reader of The Observer, I have…
Observer Co-owner Lisa Feorenzo pens letter to Murphy
It's been a week for open letters to Trenton.The Observer's Co-owner and Advertising Director Lisa M.…
EDITORIAL: An open letter to Gov. Phil Murphy
Dear Gov. Murphy: Hi, I’m Kevin, a journalist at The Observer newspaper in Kearny, you know,…
Teens head to camp this week and will bring positive message back to peers
By Kevin Canessa This week, a group of Kearny teenagers head out to a camp in…
Have you ever left a kid in a hot car?
By Kevin Canessa As someone who spent four full years in the oppressive heat of South…
Smile! You’re on candid cameras
By Karen Zautyk Last week, news broke that the national Transportation Security Administration has been monitoring…
The strange death of an N.Y.C. mayor
In the June 13 edition of The Observer, I wrote a feature story about the misadventures…
New laws that could soon affect you
A recent report listed a series of bills that could be heading to the desk of Gov.…
One man just couldn’t do it on his own …
The Portuguese national team suffered a somewhat surprising first round exit in the knockout stage of…
Don’t swim against the tide
Last week, “rescuers” were searching for the body of an 8-year-old boy believed to have drowned off…
Have summer plans? Here are a few ideas …
By Ron Leir My colleague Kevin Canessa recently covered an exhibition in Nutley of old-time Base…
‘If ye break faith with us …’
To say that World War I devastated the countryside of France and Belgium would be an…
Let’s shame the scofflaws & make ‘em pay what they owe
By Ron Leir Have you heard the commercials pleading with New York City drivers to be…
‘Those who fail to learn from history…’
By Karen Zautyk “… are doomed to repeat it.” I would attribute that quote, but my…
Cirne still missing
By the time you’re reading this, it will have been nearly two weeks since 51-year-old Vitorino…
Getting at the truth can be dangerous to your health
By Ron Leir It’s a dangerous world out there and nobody knows that better than foreign…
Memories of (pre-casino) Atlantic City
By Karen Zautyk What do Louis Armstrong, Conway Twitty, Mr. Peanut and Elsie the Cow have in…