New Jersey
New Jersey pastor detained by ICE weeks before Easter
A pastor in New Jersey was taken into custody by immigration agents while working at his day job, according to church members.
Yeison Cortes Vasquez was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 20. He is a pastor at The Gathering Place Church in Elizabeth.
Officials from the National Latino Evangelical Coalition said on Wednesday that Vasquez has no criminal record. He has been ministering to other detainees while in custody at Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, they said in a statement.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the pastor illegally entered the country in January 2016 from Colombia. Vasquez allegedly overstayed a tourist visa that expired in July 2016.
“Against our nation’s laws, he knowingly overstayed his visa by nearly a decade and failed to depart. He will remain in ICE custody pending his removal procedures,” the statement read.
“Any allegation that Cortes Vasquez was denied a bible while in detention are FALSE. ICE facilities do not deny detainees accesses to holy coverings or texts. Detainees are given the opportunity to practice their religions. ICE provides all religious items permitted as soon as detainees make the request,” the spokesperson also said.
Church leaders are now trying to get him out of detention before Easter on Sunday.
“For us, this is devastating because this is our holy week. This is the week we are celebrating the death and resurrection of our Lord. The church is devastated,” said the Rev. Dan Mendez. “Instead of celebrating our spiritual holiday, we are crying and praying for the situation of our dear brother.”
The National Latino Evangelical Coalition said it plans on retaining an attorney for Vasquez.
New Jersey
Recently Completed 135-Unit Development in Newark Listed for Sale | Jersey Digs
A mixed-use complex in Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood has already been put up for sale less than two years after wrapping up construction.
Matthews, a commercial real estate investment services and technology firm, recently listed Iron65 for sale at 59-65 McWhorter Street. The asset, exclusively listed by Matthews First Vice President & Director David Ferber and Associate Brendan Cina, is asking $56 million and is currently the only Class A building on the market in Newark.
Iron65 features 135 luxury residential units and one ground-floor commercial space, complemented by a full suite of high-end amenities. Perks at the property include a fully equipped fitness center with wet and dry saunas, a yoga studio, a rooftop social hub with outdoor kitchens, a game room, and a skyline spa lounge with New York City views.
“Iron65 is built for today’s core stabilized buyer, offering high-quality construction, a best-in-class amenity package, and durable, high-end finishes,” Ferber said. “With strong in-place rents, institutional-level construction, and favorable financing available in today’s market, this offering presents a compelling opportunity for core buyers seeking durable cash flow and long-term growth.”
The development is supported by a 30-year tax PILOT starting at 10%, with potential debt below 5%. Iron 65 is a quick walk from Newark Penn Station and adjacent to the city’s Downtown in a neighborhood that has seen several notable new residential buildings like Union 55 in recent years.
Matthews noted in their announcement that the Newark submarket continues to attract renters seeking quality housing with strong transit connectivity, and that Iron65 is supported by ongoing reinvestment and development momentum throughout Newark.
New Jersey
NJ’s Jamie Ding wins 17th straight on ‘Jeopardy!’. See his ranking
‘Jeopardy!’ contestant cracks joke (and wins). See the final clue.
A “Jeopardy!” contestant joked in her Final Jeopardy answer. The bet payed off as the others wagered everything and lost, making her the winner.
The “Jeopardy!’ champ just keeps on rolling.
Jamie Ding, of Lawrenceville, N.J., won his 17th straight game on the long-running game show to put him alone in 10th place on the all-time “Jeopardy!” wins list, according to TheJeopardyFan.com. He broke a tie with Ryan Long (16 wins in 2022) and fellow New Jerseyan Scott Riccardi, an engineer and Rutgers grad from Somerville, who won 16-straight last July.
On the Monday, April 6 show, Ding won $31,611 to bring his 17-day total to $494,012, which is eighth on the regular-season money list all-time and 19th overall.
Ding’s opponents on Monday’s show were: Mikey Hlebasko, a sales operations director from Marietta, Georgia, and Maggie Faucher, a research assistant from Pittsburgh.
Heading into Final Jeopardy in Monday’s game, Ding had the contest wrapped up with $44,200 to Faucher’s $7,400 and Hlebasko’s $3,000, TheJeopardyFan.com reported.
The Final Jeopardy was: “At least since 1890 plans have existed to link these two islands across the North Channel: a 2021 estimate ranged around $450 billion.”
All three contestants missed the correct answer, which was: “What is Great Britain and Ireland?”
Who is Jamie Ding?
Ding, who works for the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, has secured a spot in the season-ending Tournament of Champions.
He has a supporter in New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who posted applauding Ding after he set an impressive record on the show that began 62 years ago.
On the March 17 show, Ding set the mark for highest Coryat score with with $42,400, topping the record of $39,200 achieved by now “Jeopardy!” host Ken Jennings back on June 10, 2004, according to TheJeopardyFan.com. On the April 1 show, Ding tied Jennings with at $39,200 Coryat. A Coryat score, named after a former contestant, is the sum of the natural value of any clues without Daily Doubles or Final Jeopardy.
Sen. Andy Kim has also tweeted out congratulations to Ding during this impressive run on the show.
While Sen. Cory Booker tweeted on April 1: “Jamie Ding! Making New Jersey proud! This Lawrenceville resident spends his days helping fund affordable housing across the Garden State, then goes on national TV and dominates. The man answers trivia on @Jeopardy and houses people for a living. New Jersey does not miss. Keep buzzing, Jamie.”
Originally, Ding is from the Detroit area, having graduated from Grosse Pointe North High School in 2009. He graduated from Princeton University in 2013.
Ding told his alma mater that being on the show is “phenomenal.”
He and his sister have a Instagram account where they review General Tsos chicken at restaurants called: @attorneygeneraltsos. Ding talked about it on the show.
New Jersey
Best places for sea glass at the Jersey Shore: Try these hotspots
New Jersey offers some fantastic spots for sea glass hunting, particularly along the Delaware Bay and certain parts of the Atlantic coast.
Here are some of the best places to increase your chances of finding frosted treasures:
Jersey Shore
- Barnegat Light: Many sea glass enthusiasts recommend Barnegat Light, especially by the jetty. Look in the sand and around the jetty rocks.
- Popamora Point Beach (Highlands): A free, clean state park beach with good potential, offering views of the Sandy Hook Bay.
- Bay Head: This peaceful Ocean County beach has gained a reputation as a great sea glass destination and is often less crowded than other spots.
- Sandy Hook (Bayside): While the ocean side might not be as fruitful, the bay side of Sandy Hook can yield good results.
South Jersey
- East Point Beach (Heislerville, Maurice River Township): This hidden gem where the Delaware River and Maurice River meet the bay is excellent. The area has a rich history of glass production and shipwrecks, contributing to the sea glass supply.
- Higbee Beach (Cape May): Another Delaware Bay gem, known for its rustic feel and good potential for sea glass, pottery shards and old bottles.
- Sunset Beach (Cape May): This is perhaps the most famous spot in New Jersey for sea glass and for “Cape May Diamonds” (naturally tumbled quartz). The Delaware Bay beaches tend to yield more glass due to historical shipping activity and less intensive beach replenishment compared to some oceanfront areas.
- Townbank (Cape May): Located on the Delaware Bay and often cited by local hunters for its good finds.
Where to look for sea glass
- High tide wrack line: This is the line of debris left by the highest tide, often containing shells, driftwood and, yes, sea glass.
- Rocky or pebbly beaches: Sea glass tumbles and smooths more effectively on beaches with a mix of sand and pebbles or rocks. Heavily raked sandy beaches are generally less productive.
- Near inlets, bays and historic areas: Areas with historical shipping, fishing or even old dump sites can be great sources of old glass that has been tumbling for decades.
- Near jetties: These structures can trap debris, including sea glass.
What is sea glass?
Sea glass is essentially nature’s polished gemstone, born from discarded glass that has been transformed by the persistent forces of the ocean. Imagine a broken bottle or piece of tableware tossed into the sea. Instead of remaining a sharp, dangerous shard, it embarks on a multi-decade journey of transformation.
Sea glass occurs in a spectrum of colors, reflecting its original source. Common hues include greens, browns and clear/white, primarily from bottles and jars. Rarer colors like blue, purple, red, orange and yellow are highly prized by collectors, often originating from older or less common glass items such as medicine bottles, insulators or specialized art glass.
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