Bail set for Kearny man detained by ICE while walking home after buying diapers

On Feb. 2, Martin Soto, a 30-year-old native of Peru and father of two, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while walking home after buying diapers at a store a few blocks from his Kearny residence. After 31 days at Delaney Hall, the ICE detention facility in Newark, an immigration judge set…

March 9, 20260Comments

ByJaimie Julia Winters

News People

Formidable women of Kearny helped shape the woman’s club movement

For more than a century, three women’s organizations in Kearny have been shaping the community largely out of the spotlight. The Woman’s Club of Arlington, its Evening Membership Department, and the Junior Woman’s Club of Arlington may call themselves “the best kept secret,” but their impact — spanning more than 125 years since becoming one…

March 5, 20260Comments

ByJaimie Julia Winters

News People

Finding home in the crossroads: Smriti Sangal’s journey to offer art for everyone

When Smriti Sangal was three or four years old in New Delhi, her mother handed her a pair of sharp scissors—much to her grandmother's alarm. While her mother taught classes, young Sangalwould sit nearby, cutting random shapes from paper, learning dexterity through trust and creative freedom. One day, that freedom led to…

March 3, 20260Comments

ByJaimie Julia Winters

News People

A Civil War romance: The love story behind Kearny’s name

Kearny takes its name from a renowned Civil War general whose romance inspired him to build a mansion along the banks of the Passaic River, offering his lover a refuge from the social gossip surrounding their illicit affair. Major General Philip Kearny was one of early America’s most captivating military figures. Nicknamed Kearny le…

February 14, 20260Comments

ByJaimie Julia Winters

News People

St. Stephens honors legacy of the Four Chaplains — Interfaith in action

Eighty-three years ago, a Catholic priest, a rabbi, and two ministers taught the world about interfaith unity, civic duty, grace, and courage—sacrificing their lives in the process. Fulfilling the core mission of the Army Chaplain Corps, they served as lieutenants, providing spiritual guidance for soldiers during World War II. …

February 1, 20260Comments

ByKelly Nicholaides

News People

One of NJ’s oldest Native American land deeds tells the story of Kearny

The deed describing the land that includes present-day Kearny, N.J., is among the oldest surviving New Jersey land-purchase deeds from Native Americans that still exists in its original form. It reflects one of many land transactions that occurred during the early period of European colonization in North America. The deed is preserved in the collections…

January 14, 20260Comments

ByJaimie Julia Winters

News People

Excellence in science and English: Two Kearny educators recognized by state leaders

Two Franklin School educators have gained recognition for their impact in and out of the Classroom. An avid reader, Mariann Ruhno, 39, was drawn to becoming an English teacher since childhood. “I was the oldest of all my cousins, which blossomed into babysitting, teaching Girl Scouts, book clubs, and volunteering,” she says. “Teaching English…

January 9, 20260Comments

ByKelly Nicholaides

News People

Kearny Life lands exclusive with Kearny’s beloved Santa and Mrs. Claus

Michele and Joe Sarowski were married in a Christmas-themed wedding on a blustery day in December 1979, a celebration befitting Santa and Mrs. Claus. Joe, a volunteer fireman, later became a police officer in Lyndhurst. Michele taught at St. Stephen’s in Kearny. However, they are most known for their work as Mr. and Mrs. Claus. …

December 16, 20250Comments

ByJaimie Julia Winters

News People

Kearny Giving Tree answers growing holiday need

More Kearny families are facing hardship this holiday season than ever before, but the Kearny Giving Tree is helping ensure they still enjoy a merry Christmas—thanks to the generosity of residents, organizations, and businesses. For decades, the Kearny Giving Tree has matched Kearny families in need with local gift givers. The Kearny-Belleville Elks #1050…

December 14, 20250Comments

ByJaimie Julia Winters

News People

Facing every challenge: Kearny mother helps children with disabilities with strength and love

When Nell Santos learned in 2012 that she was expecting a long-awaited baby girl after giving birth to two boys, she was overjoyed. Nicolle arrived on Oct. 19, 2022, in an uncomplicated delivery, but doctors quickly discovered she had been born with Down syndrome. “On that day, I received the most precious gift God…

December 9, 20250Comments

ByJaimie Julia Winters