Paterson Village

26/05/2026

Brothers Produce Receives Key to the City in Paterson for Decades of Community Impact

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PATERSON, NJ - A longtime family-owned business in the heart of the city was honored Tuesday as Mayor Andre Sayegh presented the ceremonial key to the city to Brothers Produce of NJ, recognizing more than three decades of service, community impact and entrepreneurship.
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The honor, presented as part of Arab American Heritage Month, celebrated the contributions of Arab American families and business owners in Paterson. Founded in October 1987 by Halema Gaber, Brothers Produce has operated for generations in the city’s historic farmers market, becoming a staple for residents across North Jersey.
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City officials and community leaders gathered for the ceremony, highlighting the business’s longstanding commitment to affordability, quality and community support.

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“During Arab American Heritage Month, we gather here to celebrate not only Brothers Produce but also the proud history of the Arab American community in Paterson,” Deputy Mayor Raed Odeh said during the program. “For generations, Arab Americans have helped shape Paterson through hard work, entrepreneurship, family values and service to the city.”
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Speakers throughout the event pointed to the business’s impact beyond commerce, emphasizing its role in supporting residents, local programs and community initiatives.
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Passaic County Sheriff Thomas Adamo reflected on his personal connection to the owners, saying he was introduced to them years ago and has since come to consider them close friends. He added that he “can’t think of a better recognition” than the honor presented to the family.
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Community leaders echoed similar sentiments, describing Brothers Produce as a pillar in Paterson and a destination that attracts visitors from across the region.
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“One of the best things that we have, that we are always very proud of, is Brothers Produce,” Diab Mustafa, Board President of the Palestinian American Community Center said. “You built something that the whole community is proud of, something that will last for generations.”
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Others highlighted the business’s generosity, noting its consistent support for local events, families in need and youth programs.
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“They’re nothing short of extraordinary for stepping up and helping the community,” Tarek Alnatur, Executive Director of the Paterson Business Association said, adding that the business has “always provided a helping hand to anyone and everybody, not just our community, everyone.”
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City Council members also praised the family’s legacy and continued impact, emphasizing both their business success and commitment to giving back.
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“They employ Patersonians. They give back to the entire city,” Sixth Ward Councilman Ibrahim Omar said. “If there was a higher honor than the key to the city, they would have gotten it.”

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Officials noted that the recognition reflects not only the business’s longevity but also the values it represents, including service, resilience and community connection.
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Sayegh highlighted the family’s broader contributions, including support for local programs and organizations, and reflected on the legacy of the founders.
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“You would not have Brothers Produce without a mother’s love,” Sayegh said, recalling his last interaction with the family’s matriarch. He also noted the city previously renamed a street in honor of the family’s contributions.
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Presenting the award, Sayegh described the key to the city as the highest honor a mayor can bestow, recognizing individuals and organizations that have made a lasting impact on the community.
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In accepting the honor, members of the family expressed gratitude and reaffirmed their commitment to serving the community.
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“I want to thank everybody here that has spoken on behalf of us. Really, this is an honor,” Steve Gaber, one of the owners of Brothers Produce, said. “I can’t imagine what my mother and father are thinking right now, but I know they did their job well.”
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Co-Owner Akram Gaber added that the business’s mission remains rooted in helping others.
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“We’re here to help the community, our community and everyone else’s community,” he said. “It doesn’t matter color, religion or whatever, we’re here to help everyone.”

Paterson’s Brothers Produce honored with key to the city after 30+ years of service & community support during Arab American Heritage Month. Read more.

25/05/2026

Paterson STEAM Unified Flag Football Team Captures State Championship in Inaugural Season
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By Gabriella Dragone

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PATERSON, NJ - The Paterson Public Schools community is celebrating a championship season after the Paterson STEAM High School Unified flag football team captured the title at the New Jersey Unified High School Flag Football League Championship on May 15 at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center.
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Paterson STEAM defeated Bloomfield in the semifinal round before edging Parsippany Hills High School, 30-26, in the championship game to complete what school officials described as a historic inaugural season.
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The unified team, made up of students from Paterson STEAM High School and the STARS Academy/T.I.E.S. Program, was one of four teams in the league’s 18-team field to qualify for the playoffs.
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“This championship is a historic milestone that showcases the true spirit of Paterson STEAM, STARS Academy/T.I.E.S. Program, and Paterson Public Schools,” Superintendent Laurie W. Newell said. “It proves that when we intentionally build space for every student to compete and thrive, extraordinary achievements follow. I am incredibly proud of this team for bringing home the championship and setting a gold standard for athletic excellence and inclusion.”
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The New Jersey Unified High School Flag Football League was launched by the New York Jets in partnership with Special Olympics New Jersey and Special Olympics New York as an inclusive sports initiative for high school students.
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According to district officials, the team’s postseason run capped months of preparation and collaboration between students, coaches and school leaders.
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“Watching our student-athletes push through the regular season and rise to the occasion in the championship game was unforgettable,” Nellista Bess said. “This championship belongs to the entire Paterson STEAM, STARS/T.I.E.S. family – our dedicated players, coaches, staff, and families who believed in this vision from day one.”
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District officials credited Dr. Bess and Vice Principal Christopher Awad with leading the planning and preparation for the school’s participation in the league.
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The team was coached by Melvin Robinson, Cristina Concepcion and Vonward Alford.

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As part of the championship recognition, the team will be honored during a future New York Jets home game at MetLife Stadium next season.
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District officials said grants provided by the Jets and Special Olympics New Jersey helped establish Paterson STEAM as a Unified Champion School and allowed the STEAM and STARS/T.I.E.S. programs to participate in the league.

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PATERSON, NJ - The Paterson Public Schools community is celebrating a championship season after the Paterson STEAM High School Unified flag football team captured the title at the New Jersey...

25/05/2026

Paterson native Fetty Wap returns to the spotlight with an upcoming tour, new music, and a purpose beyond the stage

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After years away from the spotlight, Fetty Wap is stepping back into the music scene with something to prove, not only to fans, but to himself.
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The New Jersey native is officially launching his Nostalgia Tour on June 6 in Atlantic City, marking his first tour since being released from federal prison in January. The tour, which runs through December with stops in cities like Asbury Park, Boston, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, celebrates not only his catalog of hits but also the evolution of an artist entering a new chapter.
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“I got to the point in my life where like ‘679’ is gonna be ‘679.’ ‘My Way’ is gonna be ‘My Way,’ ‘Trap Queen’ is gonna be ‘Trap Queen,’” Fetty Wap said. “To try to remake that is kind of hard. So, I’m just like, let me try to create another sound.”
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That new sound is reflected in Zavier, his fourth studio album released on March 27. The 17-track project is his first since returning home and showcases a more mature version of the Grammy-nominated musician. A sound shaped by experience, accountability, and growth.
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“For me, it was like keep my best foot forward, keep pushing,” he said. “Don’t let anything that I’ve just been through define me as a person, as an artist, as a creative.”
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While music remains at the center of his comeback, Fetty Wap’s focus has expanded far beyond the studio.
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He was born with congenital glaucoma, an experience that now fuels his advocacy and outreach. Over the past several months, he has visited schools and spoken with young people about perseverance, bullying, and self-acceptance. His message is simple but powerful: Confidence comes from within.
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“You’re always gonna hear something negative. You can’t dodge that. You can’t escape that. But how you view it is what you bring into your life,” the artist stated.
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That message recently took on deeper meaning during a visit to Philadelphia, where Fetty Wap supported a glaucoma awareness walk for a young child named Baby Hayze. Diagnosed at just four months old, Hayze has already undergone major eye surgery and continues to fight through serious complications.
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The story hit close to home for Fetty, who shares a similar diagnosis. Showing up wasn’t about publicity; it was about connection.
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“I’m just proud to be able to do that for somebody. To give somebody that confidence that I gave myself back then," he said.
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That sense of purpose is also reflected in the way he views his fans, many of whom have stood by him through every phase of his career. From viral TikTok moments to sign language interpretations of his music, his audience continues to grow in meaningful ways.
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“I’m happy that I have enough fans that actually want to see me enough to go on tour,” he said. “A lot of people don’t give the fans the credit—because of them, there will be no tour.”
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With a major tour, new music, and a highly anticipated welcome-home celebration at Summer Jam, Fetty Wap’s summer is packed. But for him, success is no longer defined by chart-topping hits alone. Instead, it’s about impact, growth, and legacy.

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“I don’t wanna just be remembered for one thing,” he said. “I don’t want them to carve in stone ‘oh Fetty Wap was cool for saying 1738.’ I wanna have multiple legacies; whenever I meet somebody they have a different story to tell about me.”
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And for Fetty Wap, that story is still being written
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https://newjersey.news12.com/2026/05/22/patersons-own-fetty-wap-ready-to-launch-summer-tour-after-prison-release/3YmWLg7epJqEGbiWCzJfCm

25/05/2026

Two Sisters Overcome Addiction, Hardship to Graduate Together at Passaic County Community College
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Photo Credit: Gabriella Dragone

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By Gabriella Dragone

PATERSON, NJ - For sisters Danielle and Samantha Krumbein, graduating from Passaic County Community College (PCCC) was never just about earning degrees.

It was about proving to themselves, and to each other, that their past did not have to define their future.
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The sisters, who both overcame family struggles, addiction, financial hardship, and interrupted educational journeys, crossed the commencement stage during PCCC’s 54th commencement ceremonies at the Paterson campus gymnasium on May 20 and May 21.
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Danielle Krumbein graduated Thursday with Highest Honors, earning an Associate of Science degree in Human Services with a 3.99 GPA, while Samantha Krumbein graduated Wednesday with High Honors, earning an Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing along with two nursing awards.
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“I think we finally did it,” Samantha told TAPinto Paterson. “We broke the cycles.”
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The sisters said they never imagined they would one day graduate together.

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“No, never,” Danielle said. “I remember sitting right there at her graduation in 2024 and applying on my phone to go back.”
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Danielle said watching her younger sister graduate inspired her to return to school after years of struggling with addiction, financial problems, and uncertainty about her future.
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“I saw she had turned into a different person,” Danielle said. “I kind of wanted that for myself.”
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Samantha, who dropped out of high school as a teenager before later earning her GED, said she initially doubted whether she could succeed academically, especially in nursing.
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“I was never a good student,” Samantha said. “Math and science were not my strong suit.”
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But after taking a nutrition course at PCCC, she discovered a passion for healthcare and science that ultimately led her into the nursing program.

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“I don’t know how I pulled it together,” she said. “There was a lot to catch up on.”
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Their journey was shaped by instability at home, they said, including their parents’ divorce, financial hardship and addiction struggles within the family.
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“There was a time when she didn’t even want to come home and see me,” Danielle said of her younger sister, recalling her own struggles with alcoholism before becoming sober.
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Danielle, now three years in recovery, said sobriety helped her rebuild her life and pursue a new path helping others. She currently works as a drug and alcohol counselor at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center and plans to continue her education at Rider University on a full-tuition scholarship.
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Samantha recently accepted a position as an ICU nurse at Clara Maass Medical Center and plans to continue pursuing higher nursing degrees.
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The sisters credited one another for helping them persist through difficult moments in college, from financial struggles to emotional support during stressful semesters.
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“You really have to support each other,” Samantha said. “Even something as simple as bringing coffee when someone can’t afford it that week matters.”
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One of the most emotional moments came during the nursing pinning ceremony earlier this month, when Samantha asked Danielle to pin her as she entered the nursing profession.
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“She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” Samantha said.
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During the commencement ceremonies Wednesday and Thursday, college officials celebrated more than 750 graduates from campuses in Paterson, Passaic, Wayne and Wanaque.
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“This is a huge accomplishment,” Student Leader Jazmin Cortes told graduates Wednesday evening. “The challenges, the setbacks, when you feel unsure, those are the moments that shape you.”
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Interim President of PCCC Dr. Jacqueline Kineavy said 48% of graduates plan to continue their education at four-year colleges and universities. The graduating class included early college students earning associate degrees before high school diplomas, adult learners returning to school later in life and students from dozens of countries.
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The youngest graduate was 17 years old, while the oldest began attending the college in 1993, Dr. Kineavy said.
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Speakers throughout the ceremony also paid tribute to longtime college president Steven Rose, who died earlier this year after leading the institution for three decades.
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“We stand here this evening as living proof of Dr. Rose’s vision,” valedictorian Thomas Melani told graduates Wednesday.
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Melani, who graduated with an Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Arts-Humanities, reflected on overcoming challenges associated with autism, ADHD and dropping out of high school twice before earning his GED and enrolling at PCCC.
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“Like so many of us here today, my path toward graduation was not as linear or smooth as I had hoped,” Melani said.
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Vice Chair of the PCCC Board of Trustees Joel Ramirez told graduates their stories represented resilience and perseverance.
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“You earned this moment,” Ramirez said. “Tonight we celebrate not only what you have completed, but what is still ahead.”
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For the Krumbein sisters, graduation represented more than academic achievement.
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“It’s more than I feel like could be put into words,” Danielle said. “We never thought we would be here.”
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Now, after years of setbacks, recovery and rebuilding, the sisters say they are finally beginning a new chapter together.
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“In food insecurity, addiction, poverty, all those things, you can feel stuck,” Danielle said. “Education changed everything for us.”

May 20-21 at PCCC Paterson, sisters Danielle & Samantha Krumbein overcame addiction & hardship to graduate. Click for their inspiring journey.

25/05/2026

Paterson mom living with lupus turns diagnosis into message of hope
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May is Lupus Awareness Month, and one New Jersey mother is sharing her journey with the chronic illness to inspire others.
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By:Naomi Yané

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May is Lupus Awareness Month, and one New Jersey mother is sharing her journey with the chronic illness to inspire others.
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Cedeara Zabala, of Paterson, has been living with lupus since she was just 7 years old. The autoimmune disease causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy tissue, leading to inflammation, pain, and a wide range of symptoms. Often called an “invisible disease,” lupus can be difficult to diagnose and isn’t always apparent to others.
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For Zabala, one of the most powerful moments in her journey has been hearing her baby’s heartbeat.
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“I was told in my teenage years this could affect your ability to have children,” she said. “That was something I was apprehensive about… By the grace of God, I was able to conceive, and now I’m having a second one.”
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Despite the joy, her pregnancies have come with added challenges. Lupus can cause severe pain and complications, and Zabala describes her symptoms as intense.
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“My main symptom is muscle aches. It literally feels like someone pushed me into a pool of broken glass. It’s very painful,” she said.
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An estimated 43,000 people in New Jersey are living with lupus. The disease disproportionately affects Black, Hispanic, and Asian women, due in part to differences in genetics, environment, and access to care.
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Now, after 20 years of managing the condition, Zabala is a wife and soon-to-be mother of two. Her current pregnancy is considered high-risk, requiring close monitoring by specialists.
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“We have to observe her more often to make sure her lupus remains stable and to control the risk of flares during the pregnancy,” said Dr. Andrew Haddad, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Hackensack University Medical Center. “That helps us avoid complications, like preeclampsia. She also had good control of her lupus in the six months before conception, which is a strong predictor for how the disease will behave during pregnancy.”
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Zabala says her stability is largely due to care at Hackensack, including a transition program that guides patients from pediatric to adult lupus specialists, a period when treatment gaps are common.
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“Transitioning from my adolescent doctors to my adult doctors, I had a flare,” she said. “So they let me stay another year to make it easier. They really treated me like family.”
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Her rheumatologist, Dr. Anna Broder, said that collaboration between care teams is essential.
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“It’s really a handoff where her pediatric doctor discussed her medical story with me, and we came up with a plan together,” Broder said.
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As Zabala continues to manage her condition and prepare to welcome her second child, she hopes her story encourages understanding.
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“Just have more empathy and a better understanding of people with diseases you can’t always see,” she said.

May is Lupus Awareness Month, and one New Jersey mother is sharing her journey with the chronic illness to inspire others.

28/02/2026

A special ceremony to unveil Paterson’s Underground Railroad Historic Marker Trail will take place at the Lambert Castle Carriage House on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.