The boy posted a photo on snap chat of himself with a toy gun and a written warning

RIVERDALE -- A Pompton Lakes High School student has been charged after he allegedly made a social media threat against his school Monday night, according to a report on NorthJersey.com.

The student, who is from Riverdale, was charged and released to his parents, Riverdale police said in a statement on Facebook.

The boy posted a photo of himself on SnapChat with a toy gun and a message that read, "do not go to school tomorrow," NorthJersey.com said.

Instagram post threatens shoot up at Linden High

Though the threat wasn't directed at Riverdale Public School, a police car was stationed outside the school on Tuesday "for parents' peace of mind and an abundance of caution," borough police said.

Students in Riverdale attend Riverdale Public School from kindergarten through eighth grade before moving onto Pompton Lakes High School.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The crash occurred on Route 80 east near Exit 38 for Route 46 in Denville

DENVILLE -- A 16-year-old girl was injured Wednesday morning when the school bus in which she was a passenger overturned in the right lane on Route 80, State Police said.

A traffic camera shows delays on Route 80 at Wharton, about five miles from the crash. (511nj.org) 

The crash occurred at about 6:57 a.m. on Route 80 east near mile-marker 38.6 in Denville, near Exit 38 for Route 46, State Police spokesman Trooper Alejandro Goez said. 

The driver -- James Johnson, 32, of Vauxhall -- wasn't injured in the crash but the teen passenger sustained minor injuries and was taken to Saint Clare's in Denville, Goez said.

It's not yet clear what circumstances led to the crash or what district the school bus was serving. However, Denville Police Capt. Paul Nigro said the bus is not affiliated with the Denville school district.

State Police initially said the bus passenger was an adult, but later stated the passenger was a teenager. 

Delays of more than an hour mounted following the crash, which wasn't cleared from the roadway until about 8:30 a.m., Goez said.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The 20 teams allowing the fewest points-per-game this season

A country singing legend, a mad-cap mystery and a cutting-edge comedian among this week's hot tickets

Rosanne Cash in South Orange

Singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash will feature music from her 2015 Grammy-nominated album "The River & the Thread" at South Orange Performing Arts Center Feb. 3. The eldest daughter of the legendary Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash has recorded 15 albums, 11 of which reached number one on the Country charts, proving she's got her father's grit and musical gifts She appears with her husband/long-time collaborator John Leventhal. 

$55-70, Feb. 3, 8 p.m., South Orange Performing Arts Center, One SOPAC Way, South Orange, 973-313-2787.

A closer look at Seth Meyers at Mayo

Way back in 2011, comedian Seth Meyers hosted the annual White House Correspondents dinner and made multiple jokes at the expense of now-President Donald Trump. Trump didn't like it, and some have theorized that fueled his presidential candidacy. Meyers is likely to address that -- and how politics has helped his late night TV show thrive -- when he appears at the Mayo Performing Arts Center Feb. 4. Meyers appearance is part of The Drew Forum's Speaker Series.

$45, Feb. 4, 8 p.m., Mayo Performing Arts Center, 100 South St., Morristown. 973-539-8008.

Election reflection at Summit's Dreamcatcher

Soon after the cast of Broadway's "Hamilton" made headlines for addressing Vice President Mike Pence from the stage, the team at Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre saw an opportunity for conversation: What role does theatre play in civic discourse? What do audiences need or gain from it? On Feb. 2, the theatre hosts "An Evening of Short Plays in Response to the Election" which will feature the readings of eight short plays by 25 actors and a post-reading discussion on the topics raised. 

$20, proceeds shared with Interweave, an interfaith educational center focused on wellness. Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m., Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre, 120 Morris Ave., Summit. 908-514-9654.

A 'postmodern' take on modern music

Fans of almost any musical genre -- from jazz to swing to country to big band standards -- will find something to love when Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox plays the State Theatre of New Jersey Feb. 8. Pianist/arranger Bradlee founded the rotating music collective in 2011 and has brought the world retro interpretations of modern hits by singers including Lady Gaga, David Bowie and Radiohead.

$35-75, Feb. 8, 8 p.m., State Theatre of New Jersey, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick. 732-246-7469.

A 'whodunnit' at the Morris Museum

It's like a game of "Clue" on stage: A man's been murdered and the five female suspects all seem to have something to hide. "Ravenscroft" by Don Nigro is a Gothic thriller/dark comedy playing at the Morris Museum's Bickford Theatre Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Feb. 12. Come help Inspector Ruffing -- the only male besides the dead man -- navigate his investigation's twists and turns. 

$45 for the general public with reduced pricing available for seniors, students, museum members and groups. Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Feb. 12, times vary. Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown. 973-971-3700.

Natalie Pompilio is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia. She can be reached at nataliepompilio@yahoo.com. Find her on Twitter @nataliepompilio. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.

The NJSIAA released its first statement regarding the Jefferson-Dover alleged racist incident at a boys basketball game.

In a statement Wednesday, the NJSIAA said it has received reports from both Dover and Jefferson on the alleged racist incident that targeted Dover basketball players in a game at Jefferson Friday. Its solution so far: Tell the schools to work it out themselves.

"The schools have been instructed to meet," the statement said, "and come forward with appropriate action plans to satisfy both the letter and spirit of the NJSIAA sportsmanship policy. If they are unable to fulfill that obligation, the matter will go to the controversies committee of their own conference, the New Jersey Athletic Conference. If necessary, NJSIAA will convene its controversies committee, which will intercede as necessary."

The full NJSIAA statement is posted below.

The Dover-Jefferson conflict stems from allegations that fans in the Jefferson student section repeatedly chanted "ashy knees" at an African-American player for Dover when he shot foul shots and "Build the wall" while Dover, which has a number of Hispanic players, warmed up before the game. 

Both Dover and Jefferson released separate statements regarding the situation earlier this week, while Dover principal Robert Franks expressed frustration about how the matter was handled in the gym, telling NJ Advance Media that it 'just wasn't stopped.'

The fix-it-yourselves approach by the NJSIAA is not new, and in an interesting twist, was used in addressing a 2013 conflict that largely led to the creation of the NJSIAA's biased-language policies that were allegedly violated in this conflict.

Following a 2013 Thanksgiving football game during which Bergen Catholic fans allegedly used racial slurs towards Paramus Catholic coaches and players, including likely 2017 NFL draftee Jabrill Peppers, Paramus Catholic president Jim Vail met with officials from Bergen Catholic and the two sides decided that Bergen Catholic handle the incident internally.

The Bergen Catholic-Paramus Catholic incident sparked the NJSIAA to institute a ban on biased-language at sporting events, as well as announcements about such language read to players and fans prior to every game in every sport.

That policy states that the NJSIAA shares reports regarding race, religion, ethnicity, gender, disability or sexual orientation with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights in the Attorney General's Office.

The NJSIAA has followed that policy in the Jefferson-Dover situation and shared reports from both schools with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights in the Attorney General's Office.

FULL STATEMENT

“There is no place in interscholastic sports for any individual associated with a member school, be they a spectator, student-athlete, or staff member, who engages in harassing verbal or physical conduct related to race, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or religion. NJSIAA’s policies – which were among the first in the nation of their type – clearly outline expectations and punishments. They also detail the association’s ongoing training programs and communication protocols that provide a framework for addressing such issues.

“The NJSIAA was alerted to a situation involving Jefferson Township and Dover high schools. Reports on the matter have been submitted by both schools, and the association has shared these with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights in the Attorney General¹s Office.

“The schools have been instructed to meet and come forward with appropriate action plans to satisfy both the letter and spirit of the NJSIAA sportsmanship policy. If they are unable to fulfill that obligation, the matter will go to the controversies committee of their own conference, the New Jersey Athletic Conference. If necessary, NJSIAA will convene its controversies committee, which will intercede as necessary.

“Frankly, given the fan culture at the professional and even college level, it’s a constant battle to reinforce that high school athletics, while entertaining, are not entertainment. Rather, they’re an extension of the classroom. Adults – administrators, coaches, officials, teachers, parents, and journalists – need to be mindful of the distinctions between the different levels of sport.”

Which school landed the most prized recruits in New Jersey? How many members of the NJ.com Top 50 signed with Rutgers? All the answers are below in our National Signing Day lists. Here is a rundown...

Which school landed the most prized recruits in New Jersey?

How many members of the NJ.com Top 50 signed with Rutgers?

All the answers are below in our National Signing Day lists.

Here is a rundown of the players who signed or were expected to sign a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday, the first day of the signing period.

We have all the players finalizing their commitments with Football Bowl Subdivision schools, starting with members of the NJ.com Top 50, plus the ones headed to Football Championship Subdivision schools in Division 1, as well as all other commitments.

FEBRUARY SIGNING DAY

NJ.COM TOP 50 PLAYER SIGNINGS

PLAYER SCHOOL POSITION HEIGHT WEIGHT COLLEGE
1-Micah Clark, OT, St. John Vianney, 6-5, 275, Rutgers
2-Drew Singleton, LB, Paramus Catholic, 6-2, 218, Michigan
3-Fred Hansard, DT Hun School, 6-3, 305, Penn State
4-Bo Melton, WR, Cedar Creek, 6-0, 180, Rutgers
5-Markquese Bell, ATH, Bridgeton, 6-3, 190, Maryland
6-Harrison Hand, CB, Cherry Hill West, 6-0, 185, Baylor
10-Louis Acceus, LB, St. Joseph (Mont.), 6-0, 215, N.C. State
11-Ben Petrula, OT, St. Peter's Prep 6-5, 305, Boston College
12-Jonathan Taylor, RB, Salem 5-11, 218, Wisconsin
13 Tommy DeVito, QB, Don Bosco Prep, 6-1, 190, Syracuse
14-Carter Warren, OT, Passaic Tech, 6-6, 335, Pitt
15-Johnathan Lewis, QB, St. Peter's Prep 6-4, 220, Rutgers
16-Corey Bolds, DT, Paramus Catholic, 6-3, 270, Penn State
18-Dalyn Wade-Perry, DT, Pope John, 6-3, 325, Stanford
20-Mike Tverdov, DE, Union, 6-4, 235, Rutgers
21-Joshua Fedd-Jackson, OG, St. Joseph (Mont.), 6-2, 305, N.C. State
22-Robert Martin, OT, St. Joseph (Mont.), 6-5, 275, Penn State
25-Eddie Lewis, WR, Mater Dei, 6-0, 185, Rutgers
26-Jahmin Muse, WR, Elizabeth, 6-1, 190, Boston College
27-Paul Theobald, LB, Seton Hall Prep, 6-2, 215, Boston College
28-Johnathan Lovett, RB, Cherokee, 5-11, 195, Baylor
30-Bryce Watts, CB, Toms River North, 6-0, 170, Virginia Tech
32-Noah Dehond, OT, Peddie, 6-7, 310, Clemson
33-CJ Onyechi, LB, West Orange, 6-2, 225, Rutgers
35-Evidence Njoku, WR, Wayne Hills, 6-4, 195, Miami (Fla.)
37-Owen Drexel, C, Montclair, 6-3, 280, Pitt
38-Owen Bowles, C, Cedar Creek, 6-4, 285, Rutgers
40-Everett Wormley, WR, Burlington Township, 6-1, 185, Rutgers
46-Ihmir Smith-Marsette, CB. Weequahic, 6-1, 155, Iowa
47-Kenny Pickett, QB, Ocean Township, 6-2, 195, Pitt
49-Edwin Lopez, CB, Woodrow Wilson, 6-0, 180, Rutgers

OTHER FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION SIGNEES

Wankeith Akin, Don Bosco Prep, Buffalo
Jamaal Beaty, St. John Vianney, Rutgers
Jadan Blue, Peddie, Temple
Owen Bowles, Cedar Creek, Rutgers
Tony Brown, Timber Creek, Navy
Brenden Devera, Wayne Hills, Rutgers
Chris DiTommaso, Ramapo, UMass
Keshon Farmer, Peddie, Navy
Zach Feagles, Ridgewood, Miami
Hunter Hayek, Wayne Hills, Rutgers
Tyler Hayek, Wayne Hills, Rutgers
L'Jeron Holder, Manalapan, Temple
Naijee Jones, Timber Creek, Rutgers
Jelani McCargo, Woodrow Wilson, Navy
Jackson Mitchell, Paramus Catholic, Navy
Christopher Pearson, Teaneck, Navy
T.J. Rayam, Peddie, Boston College
Michael Ruane, Rumson-Fair Haven, UMass
Rob Saulin, Pennsville, Baylor
Ja'Sir Taylor, Brick Township, Wake Forest
Marcus Valdez, Don Bosco, Boston College
Ryan Van Demark, Hun School, UConn
Dalyn Wade-Perry, Pope John, Stanford
Isaiah Watson, Cedar Creek, Army

FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION

Jacob Abill, Clifton, Marist
Adedayo Adebo, Franklin, Wagner
Masaki Aerts, St. Peter's Prep, Dartmouth
Jack Agnew, St. Joseph (Mont.), Bryant
Joey Alderelli, Ocean Township, Monmouth
Mike Andrejco, Wall, Bryant
Ezrah Archie, Timber Creek, James Madison
PJ. Barr, North Brunswick, Bucknell
Zac Barnard, Peddie, Albany
Hudson Barth, New Providence, William & Mary
Alex Bolinger, Haddonfield, Bucknell
John Burk, Parsippany, Lafayette
Dante Capruso, Ridgefield Park, Wagner
Darrion Carrington, Toms River North, Yale
Noah Carroll, Lenape, Marist
Jahmir Chatman, Audubon, Sacred Heart
Michael Colantuono, Immaculata, Bucknell
Christian Correa, New Milford, Wagner
Gerald Crowley, Paramus Catholic, Morgan State
Stuart Cundiff, Immaculata, Lehigh
Ryan Dickens, Raritan, Lafayette
Reidgee Dimanche, Hamilton West, Stony Brook
Eric DiCrescenzo, Haddon Township, Stony Brook
J.D. Direnzo, St. Joseph (Hamm.), Sacred Heart
Nick Eccleston, Freehold Borough, Wagner
Zeke Ennis, St. Augustine, Sacred Heart
Lamar Evans, Watchung Hills, Sacred Heart
Sam Everett, Paramus Catholic, Howard
Jahsim Floyd, Sayreville, St. Francis
Liam Fornadel, Don Bosco, James Madison
Sean Gaffney, Immaculata, Marist
Donald Glenn, Middletown North, Wagner
Ronin Guerra, Paramus Catholic, Morgan State
Drew Harris, Camden, Sacred Heart
Artis Hemmingway, Pope John, Delaware
Lorenzo Hernandez, Cherry Hill West, Villanova
Noel Hijazi, Peddie, Sacred Heart
David Hoffman​, Immaculata, Princeton
Kurtis Huff, Camden, Tennessee Tech
Mike Husni, Toms River North, Marist
Shqipron Idrizi, Bergen Catholic, Delaware
Alijah Jackson, Paramus Catholic, Robert Morris
Owen Kessler, Westfield, Georgetown
Kevin Kosakowski, Rutherford, New Haven
Emil LaMarca, Paramus, Rhode Island
Michael Lekperic, Donovan Catholic, Wagner
Cameron Lipton-Martinez, Montclair, Columbia
Anthony Lotti, Freehold Township, Penn
Alex Lozano, Lincoln, Delaware State
Eric Magnifico, Hanover Park, Towson
Erik Massey, Bergen Catholic, Monmouth
Rich McDonald, Sparta, Sacred Heart
Michael McHugh, Matawan, Central Connecticut State
Max Michel, Elizabeth, Buffalo
Satchel Moore, Lawrenceville, Davidson
Naeem Morgan, Middlesex, Dartmouth
Ricky Mottram, Allentown, Bucknell
John Mullins, Ridge, Towson
Mike Murdock, Rumson-Fair Haven, Lafayette
Micheal O'Connor, Rumson-Fair Haven, Bryant
Chris Outterbridge, Red Bank, Sacred Heart
German Pimentel, New Brunswick, Monmouth
Jorge Portorreal, St. Peter's Prep, Lafayette
Haram Ransom, Don Bosco Prep, Morgan State
Donald Rappoccio, Donovan Catholic, Sacred Heart
J.P. Roane, Timber Creek, Stony Brook
Erick Robertson, Paul VI, Maine
Jordan Scott, St. Joseph (Mont.), Howard
Paul Simpson, Ridgewood, Georgetown
Elijah Singh, Don Bosco Prep, New Haven
Eric Slater, Old Tappan, Lehigh
Matt Tantleff, Bernards, Monmouth
Nnamdi Unachukwu, Marlboro, Bucknell
Gerrit Van Italie, St. Joseph (Mont.), Bucknell
Donte Small, Paramus Catholic, Morgan State
Isaiah Watson, Cedar Creek, Albany
Tyler Wipper, Paramus Catholic, Rhode Island
Xavier Young, Roselle, Wagner

ALL OTHER HIGH SCHOOL COMMITMENTS
Robbie Adams, Don Bosco Prep, Kenyon
Kamani Adison, Lincoln, Washburn
Alexander K. Aithal, St. Joseph (Met.), Chicago
Arthur Akina, Somerville, Kutztown
Arthur Akins, Somerville, Kutztown
Joey Aldarelli, Ocean Township, Monmouth
Chris Anderson, Franklin, Lock Haven
Willie Andrew, Sayreville, Southern Connecticut
Michael Barletta, New Providence, Bentley
Michael Bickford, Central, East Stroudsburg
Garrett Blesi, Seneca, Kutztown
Matthew Bordfield, North Plainfield, Merryhurst
Ryan Botto, St. Joseph (Mont.), Merrimack
Meikle Bowers, Cherokee, Monmouth
Matt Burns, Haddonfield, Gettysburg
Jonathan Campbell, Paramus Catholic, Long Island
Roderic Carson, St. Joseph (Mont), Gannon
Thomas Chapin, Rumson-Fair Haven, Sioux Falls
Darrell Davis Jr., Union, Indiana (Pa.)
Jayson DeMild, Sayreville, Campbell
Brian Dolan, Pope John, Pace
Marc Doran, St. Joseph (Mont.), Bentley
Kyle Dupree, Camden Catholic, Clarion
Jeremiah Edwards, Hackensack, Assumption
Andre Eldridge, South Brunswick, East Stroudsburg
Ezekiel Ennis, St. Augustine, Sacred Heart
Tay’shon Evans, Pleasantville, Alderson Broaddus
Omoniyi Fatiregun, Englewood, Virginia Union
Harrison Fernandez, Union City, Pace
Grant Freemyer, Hackensack, Southern Connecticut
Marcus Gaspard, Hackensack, Wesley College
Drew Gdansk, Ridgewood, Hamilton
Anthony Guy, Englewood, Pace
Hunter Halliburton, Clifton, Gannon
Gerald Hairston, Roselle, Lincoln
Kieran Hillary, Englewood, Saint Anselm
Nazir James, Piscataway, Indiana (Pa.)
C.J. Jaramillo, Bergen Catholic, Gettysburg
Junior Jean, Roselle, Lincoln
Justice Johnson, Woodrow Wilson, Cheyney
Shaquille Jones, Roselle, Pace
Kevin Kosakowski, Rutherford, New Haven
Nick Kranjac, Bergen Catholic, Tufts
Connor Krusac, Ridgewood, Wesleyan
Ricky LaPola, Pope John, Pace
Sean Larkin, Wall, Assumption
Timothy Leonard, Rumson-Fair Haven, Bentley
Anthony Lobelo, Immaculata, Ave Maria
Patrick Lowe, Woodrow Wilson, Cheyney
Erik Massey, Bergen Catholic, Monmouth
Tim McWilliams, Paramus Catholic, SUNY-Maritime
Sean Mitchell, St. Joseph (Mont.), Bentley
James Mondi, Ridgewood, Hamilton
Michael Montecalvo, Watchung Hills, New Haven
Laris Mulic, Rutherford, Kean
Ted Murphy, Ridgewood, Gettysburg
Erick Negro, Perth Amboy, Kutztown
David Nieto, Demarest, Ithaca
Mark O’Brien, Ridge, Bryant
Elyezer Oliviery, Union City, Pace
Chris Outerbridge, Red Bank Regional, Sacred Heart
Nick Palmer, Bergen Catholic, Kutztown
Pat Palmer, Bergen Catholic, Muhlenburg
Matt Pennell, Shore, Bentley
Cliff Pierce, Deptford, Assumption
Nick Pierro, Manasquan, East Stroudsburg
Tyler Pierson, Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Nadir Pineda, Hackensack, Garden City
Jake Pluta, Wayne Valley, Kutztown
Anthony Ramos, Woodrow Wilson, Cheyney
Lance Rice, Edison, East Stroudsburg
David Robinson, Immaculata, Frostburg
Lamont Rouse, Newark Central, Caldwell
Ramon Ruiz, Don Bosco Prep, Bates
Nick Savigliano, Williamstown, William Paterson
Joe Scancarella, Wayne Valley, Wesleyan
Jack Scordato, Paramus Catholic, Bentley
Gene Scott, Wall, Monmouth
Wylie Sherman, Ridgewood, Hobart
Julian Singh, Lenape, LIU-Post
Drew Stephens, Roselle, Virginia Union
Chase Stephenson, Lacey, Kutztown
Nazir Streater, Camden Catholic, LIU-Post
Chris Sumners, Hun, Stonehill
Ryan Swenson, Cherry Hill East, East Stroudsburg
Justin Szuba, Brick Memorial, Monmouth
Dante Waugh-Hill, Timber Creek, Alderson Broaddus
Ryan Weiss, Old Tappan, Stonehill
Deron Wharton, Camden, Clarion
Andrew Wille, Sayreville, Southern Connecticut
Marc Wolfe, Williamstown, Monmouth
Matt Zelaya, Paramus Catholic, Long Island
Eric Zokouri, Blair, Monmouth

PREP/COLLEGE TRANSFERS
Terrance Barfield, Lincoln (Monroe CC), Alabama A&M
Rashad Brandon, St. Anthony (ASA College), Missouri
Sharman Nalls, Lincoln (Hudson Valley CC), New Haven
Brandon Ricketts, Elmwood Park (Milford Academy), Sacred Heart
Damon Smalls, Bayonne (Lackawana CC), Mississippi Valley State
Max Smyth, Palmyra (Jireh Prep), Monmouth
Justin Walker, St. Peter's Prep (Lackawanna CC), Albany

Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Schneider. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A snapshot of events that took place in the Garden State in Februaries gone by.

The second month of 2017 also brings the year's second installment of the "This Month in New Jersey History" gallery.

The gallery, which supplements our regular vintage photo galleries, offers a snapshot of events that took place in the Garden State in Februaries gone by.

While February is the shortest month on the calendar, it is not short on dates for significant events, births, deaths and crimes.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

If there are dates you don't see on our timeline but believe should be remembered, let us know in the comments section.

And, be sure to enable captions for the gallery so you can read all the information associated with each day in New Jersey history.

Here are links to previous "This month in N.J. history" galleries:

January     December     November

October     September     August     July

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.

Over 200 people gathered in the heart of Paterson's Middle Eastern district Wednesday night to show solidarity to Muslims and immigrants.

PATERSON -- Over 200 people stood in solidarity with Muslims and protested President Donald Trump's travel ban on Wednesday night in the heart of the city's predominantly Middle Eastern section.

Participants holding signs that ranged from promoting unity to criticism of Trump packed Gould Park between Main and Pacific streets to protest the Executive Order signed on Friday that temporarily banned refugees from seven majority-Muslim nations.

"We won't be silent and we won't be quite," said Passaic County Freeholder Assad Akhter. "We had Arabs and Muslims here [in Paterson] for over 100-years, they built this city."

Akhter, a Paterson native and former chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-9th), was elected in December as the first Muslim Freeholder in the county.

A majority of those in attendance wore headscarves and many said they hailed from Palestine. They gathered with others in the area filled with Middle Eastern markets and restaurants and where public signs are also in Arabic.

"This is unnecessary and we want our rights," said 24-year-old Palestinian Suhaib Jubran. "We're all one, one nation, neighbors."

Earlier in the day, N.J. lawmakers gathered at Liberty State Park to protest the order, which halted the U.S. refugee program and banned entry from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days.

Anita Young, a Unitarian from Ridgewood, said she hadn't seen people come together in solidarity over the ban since the 1960's, when she participated in Civil Rights marches, Women's Rights marches and Vietnam War protests.

"What is going on today is an apparent disgrace to our society," said Young.

Confusion reigned at airports across the U.S., including Newark, over the weekend as those from the seven countries were detained and even sent back, including green-card holders.

A woman at the rally, who only wished to give her first name as Aida, said even as a U.S. citizen she is worried about a planned trip in the summer to her homeland of Jordan.

"I'm scared," said Aida. "I'm Muslim and not sure what will happen when I go in the summer."

About a third of all Paterson residents are foreign-born, according to Census data. With a majority of those hailing from Latin America, people in attendance also protested Trump's plans to build a wall across the southern border with Mexico.

Despite the mix of ethnicities, native New Jerseyans said they were compelled to come out against Trump's ban.

One of them was 59-year-old Debbie Giardello of Pompton Plains. Giardello, who said her great-grandparents were immigrants from Italy, was at the rally Wednesday with a sign that read "Ashamed of this America."

"What's happening in this country is bad," said Giardello. "I've never done anything like this in my life, I was never involved in politics, but I can't sit by anymore."

Fausto Giovanny Pinto may be reached at fpinto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @FGPreporting. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

High school kids mimic college fan 'crazies' with boorish behavior

What happened at a Jefferson High School basketball game last Friday night is, of course, deplorable. Some kids in the student section, dressed in stars and stripes for an American theme night, chanted "build a wall" at Dover High School's predominately Hispanic team, and called out "ashy knees" to a black player.

You know the fallout. News reports. A letter from Dover officials condemning the behavior. A letter from Jefferson apologizing -- with the caveat that it was a minority of knuckleheads who caused the trouble. Investigations are promised by town, county and state school officials. The attorney general wants a report.  Maybe a lawsuit will follow. It's the world we live in.

While what those few Jefferson students did is disgusting, anybody who's been to a high school basketball game, particularly in some suburbs, in the past few years probably isn't shocked.

Student sections have grown increasingly mean-spirited, at times even cruel. All in the name of good clean fun.

They mock opposing players' appearances.

They chant "air ball" at a kid who shoots and misses the rim -- not just for the errant shot, but every subsequent time he touches the ball.

They chant "you can't do that" when a player commits a foul.

They single out certain players, derisively sing-songing their name.

They scream when a kid from the other team goes to the foul line.

Students from affluent towns have a "someday you'll be working for us" chant for the kids from blue-collar towns.

All delivered from the safety of the mob.

It's no longer just about cheering for your team; it's about tearing down the other.

Sitting in the stands these days is taken by some kids as a license to be insulting, cutting, and yell things to players they would never say to their faces.

And that's what is most disturbing about these student sections. The cowardice. And the pack mentality.

"It doesn't take a lot of guts to make fun of somebody from the anonymity and safety of the crowd," said Steve Jenkins, the athletic director at Bloomfield High School, who has been a player, coach and administrator for 40 years. "At our place, we try to keep the personal stuff off-limits. We try to convey to our kids to keep their remarks toward our own team."

The second most-disturbing thing is that many parents and school officials just dismiss it as "kids having fun."

But that's also the world we live in. Adults as buddies, not enforcers.

Jenkins tells how he used to try to stop his students from yelling during foul shots.

"But I'd see (visiting team) teachers and administrators and parents doing it to our kids, so that ship has sailed," he said. "I gave up on that one."

John McCarthy, a Montclair State University professor and co-founder of the Yogi Berra Museum's Coaching Institute, says the bad behavior is a case of monkey see, monkey do.

"These high school kids are doing what they see on TV," McCarthy said. "I've written to ESPN saying, 'Please stop showing the (Duke University) 'Cameron Crazies,' who have built a legacy of boorish behavior. Now it's trickled down to the high school level."

McCarthy said the problem is that TV coverage makes fans part of the exhibition.

"ESPN reinforces the false ideology that fans are participants rather than merely onlookers with their ' Rivalry Week,' " he said. "It's a bonanza for them when students storm the court, a very dangerous and unsportsmanlike action that grows from one-upmanship. If students at one school watch crowds go wild, and the announcers applaud their partisanship, how can they resist outdoing them?"

Jenkins put it succinctly:

"The things we used to consider bad sportsmanship, are now seen as cool," he said. "It's what they see on TV. It's what gets the attention."

Bob Sferrazza has been refereeing basketball for 40 years. If you've been to any basketball game - from CYO to the pros - you know it takes a special kind of masochist to put on the striped shirt and whistle. Seems like every call is hooted by half the place.

"To me, the parents are worse," he said. "I've noticed the parents have become more unruly and hostile. And they don't let up."

So what to do?

Observe and teach. And maybe throw people out of the gym from time to time.

"At our games we have a faculty presence," Jenkins said. "Our teachers know who the knuckleheads are. They know who the leaders are. We don't want to hamstring the kids - we want them to have fun. But they have to know where the lines are drawn."

And since we're educating, a good place to start is with the words of Teddy Roosevelt:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood ... who knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." 

Mark Di Ionno may be reached at mdiionno@starledger.com. Follow The Star-Ledger on Twitter @StarLedger and find us on Facebook.  

Anyone with more information on this theft can contact Morris County CrimeStoppers at 973-COP-CALL or by calling 1-800-SHERIFF.

DENVILLE -- A $1,000 reward is being offered for information about the theft of two half-inch air-driven impact guns from the Morris County School of Technology last month.

Police say two air-driven impact guns were stolen from Morris County School of Technology this past January. Morris County CrimeStoppers 

Morris County CrimeStoppers said in a news release the impact guns -- a type of wrench -- were taken from the school's automotive shop on 400 East Main Street in Denville on January 18. 

The impact guns are each described as "Snap-On" Model M6725, and are red and black in color. 

Anyone with more information on this theft can contact Morris County CrimeStoppers at 973-COP-CALL or by calling 1-800-SHERIFF.

"No one will ask your name," according to the notice. "If the information you provide leads to the arrest or indictment of the responsible individual(s), you will receive up to a $1,000 cash reward."

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Jason R. Miller is being held at the Morris County jail

NEWTON -- A former Newton police officer accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy in a Burger King bathroom last month remains jailed despite getting his bail reduced nearly a month ago.

Jason R. Miller, 39, of Hampton, is being held at the Morris County jail, where he was transferred from the Sussex County jail soon after his arrest Dec. 15.

Miller did not appear in Superior Court on Jan. 4 when a judge reduced his bail from $200,000 to $150,000.

After the hearing, his attorney, Anthony Iacullo, said he was "hopeful" the reduction would soon result in Miller's release from custody. However, Miller remained in the Morris County jail as of Thursday morning, according to the jail.

Iacullo declined further comment Wednesday.

Sussex County Assistant Prosecutor Laura Nazzaro said the next step in the case is a grand jury review.

Miller resigned from the Newton force in 2015 as part of a plea agreement after allegations he exposed himself to male motorists during traffic stops.

As part of Miller's guilty plea to tampering with records, charges of lewdness and official misconduct were dismissed.

He avoided jail time but was sentenced to two year's probation.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A father of one of the Dover players says its the adults in Jefferson who allowed this to happen. Watch video

JEFFERSON -- Video has surfaced from the controversial Dover and Jefferson basketball game on Friday during which members of the Jefferson crowd shouted racial remarks at an African-American player on the Dover team and "Build the wall" during their pre-game warm-ups. 

The incident came to light Monday when Jefferson Superintendent Patrick Tierney apologized after students "allegedly made racist and/or offensive statements directed at the Dover athletes" during Friday's game. Dover Superintendent Robert Becker issued a statement hours later in which he identified two of those statements, saying Dover students chanted "ashy knees" at a player, as well as, "Build the wall."

Video obtained by NJ Advance Media shows several instances of members of the Jefferson crowd shouting "ashy knees" when an African-American player steps up to the free throw line for several foul shots. Occasionally, one area would shout "ashy," and the other area would follow with "knees."

The theme for the night was American pride, and several people in the video were dressed in clothes featuring the American flag -- and one member of the crowd waved a full-sized American flag. Earlier chants combined with the flags, upset some Dover parents.

Michael Moore, a parent of a Dover High School basketball player, told NJ Advance Media he believed the Jefferson crowd's intent was to disparage Dover -- a town with a significant Hispanic and African-American population.

"Their intent was disrespect," he said. "Not to promote the country as a whole."

Moore, who was in attendance at the game, said he placed the blame on the adults in the Jefferson group as they "allowed this and put this together."

Moore said the entire game was marked by "a lot of hard fouls, dirty fouls." At one point, he said, a Jefferson player fouled a Dover player and stood over him "for an excessive amount of time" in order to intimidate him. 

Moore added that the player who was targeted by the Jefferson crowd during his foul shots "maintained his composure" and handled the situation "like a saint." 

Tierney, the Jefferson school superintendent, said the America theme was picked by the student body two weeks before the game when the team was originally scheduled to play Mountain Lakes. He disputed the claim the theme was politically motivated. 

"We are currently doing the investigation," he said. "There has been no discipline (of students) administered at this point."

Tierney said his students were wrong to chant racist remarks at a member of the Dover team. But, he added, he believed there was provocation on the Dover side.  

"I'm not excusing this incident, but to say it was a one-sided incident is completely misleading," he said. 

Tierney alleged two Dover parents approached a Jefferson student who was wearing a Trump shirt before the game and made inflammatory remarks. That student then allegedly shouted, "Build the wall," he said. Tierney disputed claims more than one student chanted "Build the wall." 

"I'm not excusing the comments or behavior of my children," he said. "In my experience, kids who show up to cheer on games aren't bad kids. These kids have school spirit and they got caught up in the moment and they said something stupid."

Tierney said he believed the controversy was "a microcosm" of the current political climate and "a bigger, more complex issue than Dover and Jefferson." 

The NJSIAA, in response to this incident, has told Dover and Jefferson to work out a solution amongst themselves. 

"The schools have been instructed to meet and come forward with appropriate action plans to satisfy both the letter and spirit of the NJSIAA sportsmanship policy," the statement said. "If they are unable to fulfill that obligation, the matter will go to the controversies committee of their own conference, the New Jersey Athletic Conference. If necessary, NJSIAA will convene its controversies committee, which will intercede as necessary."

A message left for Becker on Thursday morning hasn't yet been returned.

Prior coverage by Jeremy Schneider and Rich Greco was used in this article.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Space Farms Zoo and Museum's latest celebrity groundhog "predicted" an early spring. Watch video

WANTAGE -- "Stonewall Jackson V" carried on the family tradition Thursday.

Space Farms Zoo and Museum latest celebrity groundhog "predicted" an early spring, said the zoo's owner, Assemblyman Parker Space.

In 2016, Groundhog Day at the zoo was canceled at the last minute after Stonewall's predecessor, Stonewall Jackson IV, died of old age.

The zoo has been holding Groundhog Day events for about 20 years.

Space said his 88-year-old father, Fred Space, named the line of groundhogs after Stonewall Jackson, a Confederate general during the Civil War.

Stonewall Jackson V was brought out Thursday morning to make his prediction, two hours before the official event.

As for how his new groundhog was taking to the spotlight, Space said, "They're not always the happiest when you first wake them up."

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Two adoption events are being held Saturday

NEWTON -- Volunteers are hoping to find new homes Saturday for 12 of the 50 cats rescued from a Sussex County home around Christmas.

Thirty-eight of the cats have already been placed, Byram Animal Kindness Resvue Squad (BARKS) president Darlene O'Connell said Thursday.

Pet Smart in Newton is hosting an adoption event Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. as is Pet Goods in Roxbury during the same timeframe.

The cats were rescued from an undisclosed residence in Sussex County, over a period of about a week. All were described as slightly underweight, but otherwise in good health.

O'Connell said police were not notified because it did not appear that any of the pets were mistreated

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Recent events need to spark a conversation

Recent developments, which sparked an insightful column by The Star-Ledger’s Mark DiIonno, have made us re-think whether the timing is right for celebrating student sections.

While the actions in one student section – more accurately, the actions of a handful of students in that one student section – don’t come anywhere near indicting student sections all over New Jersey, the timing seems more appropriate for having a conversation about sportsmanship in the bleachers and elsewhere. 

We were interested in celebrating the rowdy, loud, school-spirited groups we know are out there making noise while being respectful and positive. We see in the video from the Jefferson-Dover basketball game that that's not always the case, and DiIonno's column and our own observations, frankly, show there may be reason for soul-searching - or at least a conversation.

RELATED: Jefferson student antics more common than you think | Di Ionno

DiIonno writes, “Student sections have become increasingly mean-spirited, at times even cruel. All in the name of good clean fun.” After listing some of the nasty types of behavior we’ve all seen in one form or another, he continues, “Sitting in the stands these days is taken by some kids as a license to be insulting, cutting, and yell things to players they would never say to their faces.”

With these thoughts in mind, we’ve decided to suspend our best-student-section contest this season and instead work on having that conversation.

Let’s start right here. Please answer these poll questions, and use the comment section below to tell us about what you’ve witnessed in the stands at HS sporting events.

For those of you who spent time nominating your school, we're sorry to disappoint you. We'll probably come back for another try down the road.

Question 1

Question 2

Please expand on your answers and offer other observations in the comments below.

Quotes are at the heart of all of this week's questions. Think you've, "got what it takes?"

Devotees of NJ.com's Local News Quiz (I know there's a couple of you), we've got a different format this week. All seven quiz questions are quote-based: We pulled a quote from some of our biggest stories of the week and built the question from there. Some questions have a blank in them, so just pick the name that you think fills in the blank. When you're done, share your score in comments.

Remember, there's a fresh NJ.com Local News Quiz every Thursday evening.

John Shabe can be reached via jshabe@njadvancemedia.com. Follow John on Twitter, and find NJ.com on Facebook.

Alan Carrino Jr. of Lyndhurst was arrested Thursday in Paramus.

PARAMUS - A Bergen County corrections officer from Lyndhurst was arrested Thursday and charged with sexually assaulting a girl over a decade ago, authorities said.

Alan Carrino Jr. (BCPO) 

Alan Carrino Jr., 42, was arrested in Paramus and charged with aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal said in a statement.

A woman contacted the prosecutor's office on Jan. 25 and told them Carrino sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions in 2003 and 2004 when she was ages 12 and 13, Grewal said.

After his arrest, Carrino was taken to the Morris County Jail, where he was held pending an arraignment scheduled for Friday in Bergen County, Grewal said.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Two right lanes were closed as of 7:46 a.m.

ROXBURY -- An overturned tractor-trailer was tying up westbound traffic on Route 80 in Roxbury Friday morning, authorities said.

The state Department of Transportation reported on 511nj.org the tractor-trailer overturned on Route 80 west near Exit 27 for Route 183/Route206. 

As of 7:46 a.m., two right lanes were closed on Route 80 west, the DOT reported.

Motorists should expect delays through the corridor and plan an alternate route.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

RANDOLPH -- Lincoln is a 16-week-old Labrador retriever/terrier mix in the care of Furever Home Rescue. Rescued from a high-kill shelter in North Carolina, volunteers describe him as a playful puppy who should fit into most any active home. Lincoln is up-to-date on shots. For more information on Lincoln or to obtain an adoption application, email fhdr@att.net or go to...

Lincoln 

RANDOLPH -- Lincoln is a 16-week-old Labrador retriever/terrier mix in the care of Furever Home Rescue.

Rescued from a high-kill shelter in North Carolina, volunteers describe him as a playful puppy who should fit into most any active home. Lincoln is up-to-date on shots.

For more information on Lincoln or to obtain an adoption application, email fhdr@att.net or go to fhdr.petfinder.com. Furever Home Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer fostering group serving the Morris County area.

Shelters interested in placing a pet in the Paw Print adoption column or submitting news should call 973-836-4922 or email morris@starledger.com.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.

 

The man wanted a milkshake without a lid on it, police said.

ROCKAWAY BOROUGH -- Borough officers were called to the local Arby's restaurant on Wednesday afternoon due to a dispute over a milkshake.

Officers met with the staff and learned that a customer ordered a milkshake without a lid, police said. An employee, however, put a lid on the milkshake, upsetting the man who then berated the employee, police said.

The Arby's employees took the milkshake back and the man left the restaurant and began pedaling his bicycle on Route 46, police said.

Officers were able to locate the man and speak with him about the incident. The man told police he ordered a milkshake with no lid and he became upset when they put a lid on it and began yelling at the employee. 

No charges were filed in connection with this matter, as neither the man nor employee wanted to pursue the matter, police said. 

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.