THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020 ESSEXNEWSDAILY.COM VOL. 89 NO. 20 — $1.00 Art exhibit goes online Photos Courtesy of Rob Reese — See Page 6 The West Orange Farmers Market now has online ordering to adhere to social distancing. Schools aid Farmers market goes high-tech local officers By Amanda Valentovic winds through the parking lot, and the after that, it will be available for pickup the Staff Writer vendors place the orders in the purchaser’s Saturday a week later. But Reese recom- The West Orange Farmers Market car. As of May 23, the second weekend of mends ordering earlier in the week. made its long-awaited return to town last the new system, shoppers can look at their “We’re in a pandemic, and things are in spring. After the market’s successful order on their phone and see which items higher demand,” he said. “Things sell out relaunch, many residents were looking for- have been placed into the car. Vendors can quickly. If you know you want something, ward to once again being able to browse flag items they run out of and then direct order at the beginning of the week.” the wares of the vendors who set up shop those cars to another area for assistance. Not only host to local food vendors, the in the parking lot of 80 Main St. on Satur- “The parking lot gives us the ability to farmers market also had an event calen- days. But the COVID-19 pandemic and the create a very long drive through,” Rob dar set for the 2020 season. Those events resulting stay-at-home orders had a differ- Reese said. “There were definitely some are on hold for now, in hopes that maybe — See Page 8 ent idea, and, at least for the time being, hiccups, but we were able to work with later in the summer some of them can the farmers market looks a little different. those vendors.” happen. It’s too early to tell. But the mar- “The governor actually exempted us The tentative date to decide how long ket organizers still need help. from the closures, so we’re considered the contactless farmers market will last is “We need volunteers if anyone is will- WO eatery’s essential,” Rob Reese, who runs the mar- June 6, but Reese said that, like every ing to help with traffic management,” ket along with his wife, Stacey Reese, said other deadline that has been set, it could Reese said. “We have a little call center collection in a phone interview with the West Orange change. Eventually, residents will be able there, which is a much safer way to deal Chronicle on May 22. “It’s up to each farm- to visit the market like they used to prior with any problems. And we’re always ers market whether or not they want to to the coronavirus. But even when that looking for vendors.” open. But given the large number of cases happens, the technology is here to stay. Information about volunteering and in West Orange, we decided it would not “It’s not going anywhere,” Reese said. becoming a vendor can be found at be responsible to open. It came down to, “Now that we have the technology to do it, www.wofarmersmarket.com. either we’re going to delay opening or why get rid of it? Let’s say next year we go Many of the vendors at the farmers we’re going to open with technology.” back to normal. It won’t be a drive market are local, another reason that the The Reeses settled on the second through, but to use this for six weeks and team decided to open for business; option, redesigning www.wofarmersmar- then shut it down would be a shame. It according to Reese, supporting the local ket.com to allow for online ordering. Shop- will just be another service.” economy is important, too. pers can choose what they want from the Orders that are received by 11:59 p.m. “We made the decision that we can be — See Page 12 farmers market vendors and pick it up on on Thursday will be available for pickup the just as effective with technology as we can be the following Saturday. A line of cars following Saturday. If the order is placed in the browse-and-shop model,” Reese said. 2 — May 28, 2020 — Worrall Media Hearing will determine if S.O. police REALTORS officer will be removed for use of force Serving By Yael Katzwer Editor Your Hometown South Orange officials last week released the video of an inci- dent in which a South Orange Police Department officer used force. The unidentified officer, who has been suspended since the Jan. 22 incident, is now awaiting the results of a hearing to determine his possible removal. The SOPD became aware of the use of force later the same day when, as part of its standard protocol and procedures, SOPD Jordan Baris Inc. personnel reviewed the incident video. According to village offi- cials, the force was used during the arrest of a man who had Realtors allegedly been involved in a robbery in the vicinity of the South 203 IRVINGTON AVE. Orange Train Station on Sloan Street just after midnight. SOUTH ORANGE The News-Record has submitted an Open Public Records Act Above is a still from the video, which shows the request for more information and is awaiting further documents. arrested man being held in place while a police offi- 973-763-7700 The video shows an occluded image of the accused, who cer punches him in the head. appears to be resisting being placed into the back seat of the Elite Realtors of police vehicle, at approximately the seven-minute mark. ly determined that criminal charges would not be sought against New Jersey Approximately three minutes later, a voice off camera is heard the officer and referred the matter back to the SOPD for an inter- saying that the accused is resisting arrest. The accused is then nal affairs investigation with respect to administrative charges. 160 S. Livingston Ave. pushed into the car and held in place by an officer’s hand on his As of May 20, the SOPD Internal Affairs Bureau has complet- Livingston head and neck area; at this time, the accused is using profanity ed its review, and the officer was issued a preliminary notice of 973-994-9009 to tell the officer that he slept with the officer’s wife. Less than a disciplinary action seeking the officer’s removal. Pending the minute later, an officer’s arm reaches into the car and punches outcome of a hearing, the officer will remain suspended. Call the accused five times in the head. “The SOPD takes all use-of-force incidents seriously and has Upon SOPD personnel reviewing the video on Jan. 22, it was a zero-tolerance policy toward any violation. The department 908-686-7700 determined that the force utilized by the officer may have been in reviews every use-of-force incident for compliance and man- to include your violation of SOPD policies, rules and New Jersey attorney gener- dates semiannual training and policy review to ensure its offi- al guidelines pertaining to use of force and its appropriateness. cers are best equipped to handle these situations appropriately,” information here! Subsequently, the officer was immediately suspended pending an a South Orange press release read. “The South Orange Village investigation, which was referred to the Essex County Prosecu- president and Board of Trustees remain committed to trans- tor’s Office Professional Standards Bureau. The bureau ultimate- parency and accountability.” You’ve taken every precaution. So have we. Welcome back. If you’ve put off any medical care due to COVID-19, please don’t delay it any longer. As a high reliability organization, we’ve taken every precaution and continue to provide health care services. We have initiated a resumption of services in adherence to all public health guidance and regulatory policies. Learn more at rwjbh.org/WelcomeBack Worrall Media — May 28, 2020 — 3 Investigation underway into voter fraud in Irvington By EmilyAnn Jackman rity, and alliance,” he continued. “Now, the votes make Staff Writer no sense because it was only 207 votes. It makes no sense The recent Irvington election season has been one for because Cox had 519 votes. The math doesn’t add up the books. Team Irvington Strong had a big win, with when you compare my two previous elections and I have Orlander Glen Vick, Jamillah Beasley, Sean C. Evans and much more experience and more maturity. Both Micano Vern Cox emerging as the winners in a sweep against their and I have nothing to do with the voter fraud. We had a opponents. But a suspicion of ballot tampering has caused very strong campaign and we were able to get the mes- a temporary stoppage of the counting of mail-in ballots in sage out there.” two Irvington Ward council races. Now, according to mul- Evra had more to say. tiple sources, an in-depth investigation is underway. “Ralph Cadet, an auxiliary policeman in Irvington, According to reports, the suspension of counting did posted that post on Facebook and I had no idea that was not cause the vote tallying in Irvington to take longer posted until I saw it in the newspaper,” Evra said. “It’s than in the other five Essex County municipalities with Above is a social media post made by Irving- not related to my campaign and it was never related to May 12 elections.