'AI Moonshoot' Among Murphy's Ideas To Make Life More Affordable For NJ Residents 'AI Moonshoot' Among Murphy's Ideas To Make Life More Affordable For NJ Residents
'AI Moonshoot' Among Murphy's Ideas To Make Life More Affordable For NJ Residents Gov. Phil Murphy sees New Jersey as a future global leader in artificial intelligence, while balancing the urgent financial needs of families during his 2024 State of the State Address. In his speech on Tuesday, Jan. 9, Gov. Murphy spoke about "an era of unease and uncertainty" defined by economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with wars in Israel and Ukraine.  He also talked about how higher costs of living are the biggest challenges for many families. "Making life more affordable for more families is our highest priority," said Gov. Murphy. "We need to recognize t…
Update: 17-Year-Old Boy Killed In Northern Westchester Crash Left 'Indelible Mark,' Family Says Update: 17-Year-Old Boy Killed In Northern Westchester Crash Left 'Indelible Mark,' Family Says
Update: 17-Year-Old Boy Killed In Northern Westchester Crash Left 'Indelible Mark,' Family Says Funeral services have been announced for a 17-year-old Hudson Valley boy killed in a Northern Westchester crash who is being remembered for the joy he often brought to others.  Putnam County resident Vladislav “Vlad” Saban was killed in a crash in Cortlandt on Friday, Dec. 15 at the age of 17 when he lost control of the 2012 Toyota Prius he had been driving south on Albany Post Road (Route 9) and hit a utility pole and a tree, according to New York State Police.  Earlier Report - Fatal Cortlandt Crash: 17-Year-Old ID'd As Victim, Girl Critically Injured The pa…
Woodcliff Lake Baker Stars On New Food Network Show Celebrating 'Elf On The Shelf' Woodcliff Lake Baker Stars On New Food Network Show Celebrating 'Elf On The Shelf'
Woodcliff Lake Baker Stars On New Food Network Show Celebrating 'Elf On The Shelf' Tatiana Kovalenko, a North Jersey cakemaker, is ringing in the holiday season in style. Kovalenko, who lives in Woodcliff Lake and previously ran Skaza Cakes in Midland Park, is a contestant on the Food Network show "The Elf on the Shelf: Sweet Showdown", premiering on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m.  On the show, six teams of bakers are challenged to create a edible showpieces highlighting the holiday season. The winning team wins $25,000 and the coveted title of The Ambassadors of Confectionary Concoctions. The show is hosted by cake master Duff Goldman with judges Kardea Brown and Ashley Holt…
Unexpected Death Of Hackettstown Mom At 39 Prompts Outpour Of Community Support Unexpected Death Of Hackettstown Mom At 39 Prompts Outpour Of Community Support
Unexpected Death Of Hackettstown Mom At 39 Prompts Outpour Of Community Support The unexpected death of a beloved Hackettstown mother of two has prompted an outpour of support from the local community. Iryna Pradid died at Valley Hospital of Ridgewood on Monday, July 31, her obituary says. Born in Ukraine, the devoted mom and her family “were seeking a better life for themselves and their loved ones,” reads a GoFundMe launched for her funeral expenses. “Moving to a new country can be challenging, but it's a testament to their determination and hope for a brighter future. Their story highlights the struggles and aspirations of many families seeking opportunities abroad…
Alexandria's Maria Booker Killed In Indiana Crash (TRIBUTE) Alexandria's Maria Booker Killed In Indiana Crash (TRIBUTE)
Alexandria's Maria Booker Killed In Indiana Crash (Tribute) Maria Booker devoted her life to others. The Alexandria resident spent time in the US Peace Corps volunteering in Ukraine, and served in several capacities with the Capital Area Food Bank, and later became the Executive Director of the Chance for Life Foundation, her obituary says. A former foster mom to a little girl, Maria had recently completed a sabbatical working with at-risk youth in Colorado, her obit says.  In fact, she was on her way back home to Virginia when she crashed her car in Indiana on Sunday, June 4, according to abc8 and her obituary. She was pronounced dead at 35 years …
Ukrainian Academic Takes Refuge In Massachusetts Thanks To Tufts Program Ukrainian Academic Takes Refuge In Massachusetts Thanks To Tufts Program
Ukrainian Academic Takes Refuge In Massachusetts Thanks To Tufts Program The work of a lifetime does not stop because of political or humanitarian crises, at least for academics supported by Tufts University's Scholars at Risk program. Tufts has participated in the international umbrella program "Scholars at Risk" since 2011, according to the university. The program has recently expanded and is currently supporting four academics from war-torn countries, two from Afghanistan and two from Ukraine. Volodymr Dubovyk, who has a permanent position in Ukraine as an associate professor at Odesa Mechnikov National University, now holds a temporary position as a visiti…
Baltimore Woman's Baby Formula Scam Catches Illegal Romanian Man In Gettysburg: Authorities Baltimore Woman's Baby Formula Scam Catches Illegal Romanian Man In Gettysburg: Authorities
Baltimore Woman's Baby Formula Scam Catches Illegal Romanian Man In Gettysburg: Authorities A Baltimore woman illegally using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cards to collect baby formula she claimed to be sending to Ukraine, lead to the arrest of a Romanian man illegally in the US who allegedly forged documents for her, authorities say.  Eglisa Ciuciu, 25, of Baltimore, MD, and Sandrino Trifu, 32, of Croaova, Romania were arrested along with an unnamed 15-year-old in connection to a bizarre baby formula theft at the Gettysburg Walmart on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. Ciuciu used the 15-year-old to transport the stolen goods from the store that she supposedly needed “to s…
NJ Marine, 33, Killed By Missile Helping In Ukraine, Organization Says NJ Marine, 33, Killed By Missile Helping In Ukraine, Organization Says
NJ Marine, 33, Killed By Missile Helping In Ukraine, Organization Says Pete Reed, a 33-year-old New Jersey native and global activist, died helping civilians in Ukraine on Friday, Feb. 2. Reed was "actively aiding in the evacuation of Ukrainian civilians when his evacuation vehicle was hit with a reported missile in Bakhmut," according to Global Outreach Doctors.  Pete Reed helps an elderly woman evacuate in Ukraine.Albert Lores A Bordentown native and US Marine veteran, Reed served as the country director for the nonprofit, and founded Global Response Medicine, a different nonprofit. "The GoDocs team is devastated by this news, as are our humanitarian ai…
Effort To Aid Ukraine Has Powerful Point Person In Redding Effort To Aid Ukraine Has Powerful Point Person In Redding
Effort To Aid Ukraine Has Powerful Point Person In Redding Facebook gets a lot of blame for various societal ills, but the social media network has been forefront and indispensable to Ulyana Bolgachenko and thousands—if not millions—of Ukrainians. On Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, everything changed for Bolgachenko, who came to the United States 22 years ago. She awoke that morning to news of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. “That day, we were all on our phones just watching Telegram (a social media platform) and following every explosion,” said the Redding resident. “I decided I had to do something.” That something was sending anything that could help the…
NY To Receive $21M In Federal Funding To Help Ukrainian Refugees NY To Receive $21M In Federal Funding To Help Ukrainian Refugees
NY To Receive $21M In Federal Funding To Help Ukrainian Refugees New York is set to receive more than $21.4 million in federal funding to help Ukrainian refugees who have fled to the state following Russia’s invasion. The funding, which comes from the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement, will go toward 17 refugee services providers around the state, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office. It will supplement existing efforts being done through the federal government’s Uniting for Ukraine program, which provides displaced Ukrainians with a pathway to remain in the United States for up to two years. We are award…
GoFundMe Roundup: Help Your Neighbors Change The World GoFundMe Roundup: Help Your Neighbors Change The World
GoFundMe Roundup: Help Your Neighbors Change The World Your neighbors are out to change the world in big and small ways. Here is a list of local charities and local groups working with larger charities to make a difference.  International Medical Corps Work in Ukraine  Matthew Choumenkovitch is raising money for International Medical Corps (Brookline):  Looking back at my family’s history, my grandfather and his family experienced what it was like for their country, formerly known as Yugoslavia, to be taken away by an authoritarian regime. When Yugoslavia became communist, they were forced to flee their country and lost ever…
'I Was Willing To Die There': Bedford Native Conor Kennedy Joins Fight In Ukraine 'I Was Willing To Die There': Bedford Native Conor Kennedy Joins Fight In Ukraine
'I Was Willing To Die There': Bedford Native Conor Kennedy Joins Fight In Ukraine Robert F. Kennedy’s grandson, New York native Conor Kennedy spent time fighting in Ukraine, the 28-year-old revealed on Instagram. In the Friday, Oct. 14 post, Kennedy, a former resident of Bedford in Northern Westchester County, revealed that he secretly fought as part of Ukraine’s International Legion, a branch of foreign volunteers from around the world helping in the country’s ongoing war against Russia. Accompanying the post is a picture of a fellow fighter, whom Kennedy identified only as Nick. “Like many people, I was deeply moved by what I saw happening in Ukraine over the past ye…