Dick Clark Dead at 82

'World's Oldest Teenager' launched iconic American Bandstand, New Year's Rock'n Eve, music careers and many TV shows.

Dick Clark, who brought rock and roll to the masses as the longtime host of "American Bandstand," is dead after suffering a heart attack, according to several news reports. The always smiling 82-year-old TV producer and host had been at St. John's Hospital in Los Angeles after undergoing an outpatient procedure on Tuesday, according to TMZ. Clark reportedly suffered the heart attack following the procedure and died on Wednesday after failed attempts to resuscitate him. The Mount Vernon, NY-born Clark endured a long list of health troubles over the years; a stroke in 2004 that caused him to retire as host of "New Years' Rockin' Eve," the show he created in 1972. Although Ryan Seacrest took over as host, Clark made brief appearances on the …

• Photos (3)

Fairview Rep: 'Cemetery Open Only to Lot Owners'

The East Broad Street cemetery has been closed to the public since late singer Whitney Houston's Sunday burial.

Whitney Houston fans hoping to pay their respects will have to wait a little longer. Fairview Cemetery, where the late pop star was laid to rest in a private service Sunday morning, remains closed to anyone other than lot owners, a spokesman for the cemetery said Wednesday morning. The private cemetery, where Houston's father, John Russell Houston Jr. was buried in 2003, has admitted those with loved ones interred there but has kept all others outside the gated property. When the cemetery will reopen to the public "has not been determined at this point," the spokesman said. More than 100 fans lined up outside the 105-acre cemetery Sunday morning to say their goodbyes to Houston, who died on Feb. 11 at the age of 48.  

•  22 Comments
• Photos (3)

Whitney Houston Laid to Rest in Westfield

Procession arrived at noon Sunday for burial ceremony at Fairview Cemetery. Nearly 100 fans shouted 'We love you, Whitney' as hearse turned into the cemetery.

The vigil at Fairview Cemetery began at first light Sunday morning. There were no mourners, just reporters and photographers mingling congenially as they staked out a good spot for their reports back to the network morning shows or a position for the perfect photo of the funeral procession bringing Whitney Houston to the cemetery for her burial. Police officers arrived before daylight, at 6 a.m., to secure every possible corner of the Fairview property, from the Cranford border along Union County College to the south and E. Broad Street to the north. At the western end of the cemetery, Gallows Hill Road was closed to prevent any neighborhood street from messing up any potential route in which the procession of hearses and limos that would …

•  25 Comments
• Photos (17)

Westfield Mourners Turned Away From Fairview Cemetery

Visits to gravesites denied Saturday as cemetery prepares for Sunday burial of music icon Whitney Houston.

Roseanne Benjamin lost her father on Feb. 18, 2008 after a long struggle with colon cancer. Her father Dave was a long-time Westfield resident, and there was no question in Roseanne's mind that when he passed, he would be buried in Fairview Cemetery.  For the past four years, Benjamin, who now lives in Cranford, would stop by her father's grave to tell him about how his granddaughter was getting married, or how his grandson got into college.  But on the fourth anniversary of his death, Benjamin won't be able to place a bouquet of flowers on his grave. She won't even be allowed in the cemetery.  "I understand what a tragedy it is that Whitney Houston died, she was the voice of a generation," she said on the phone. "But just because she is …

•  26 Comments
• Photos (3)

Markjohn Michalik

9:30 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012

The fans who come will not be the type of people to go shopping in Westfield, maybe for crack.   more ›

Update: Westfield Police Prepare for Possibility of Whitney Houston's Burial Sunday

Though the late pop singer's family has not confirmed when her burial will take place, police are making preparations.

Though the Westfield Police Department said they have not received any confirmation as to when late singer Whitney Houston's burial at Fairview Cemetery will take place, they are making preparations in the event that it will occur this weekend. Houston's official death certificate reveals that she will be laid to rest at the 105-acre East Broad Street cemetery where her father John Houston was buried in 2003 but as of 12:45 p.m. today the WPD said they had received "no confirmation" from the Houston family as to when that might happen. Houston's funeral service will be held at noon Saturday at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark. The ceremony is expected to draw 1,500 mourners, including her mother, Cissy Houston, cousin Dionne Warwick, …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (2)

Reports: Whitney Houston Burial Expected on Sunday

Rumors continue to circulate as to when and where the late pop star will be laid to rest.

As cruisers from the Westfield and Union County police departments came and went through the front gate of the Fairview Cemetery Thursday, Fairview officials were issuing "no comments" to a barrage of calls from reporters seeking comment and details about the burial plans for Whitney Houston — and calming down concerned family members of those already interred in the Westfield cemetery. Houston's funeral service will be held at noon Saturday at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark. The ceremony is expected to draw 1,500 mourners, including her mother, Cissy Houston, cousin Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Kevin Costner and Clive Davis. While those details appear to be firm, speculation swirls around when Houston's body will…

•  14 Comments
• Photos (4)

Mary Meki

5:21 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012

that is very rude to call it a circus how would you like for them to call your family member a circus you know God don't like ugly and he is not crazy about pretty so who ever you are you should be very careful with your Words that come out of your Mouth.   more ›

Will Whitney Houston Be Buried in Westfield?

Whitney Houston could be laid to rest beside her father John Houston, who was buried at Fairview Cemetery in 2003, according to reports.

Assemblyman Bramnick Issues Statement on Loss of DeCroce

Longtime public servant collapses and dies Monday night after lengthy final voting session. Governor Christie cancels today's "state of the state" address.

State Assemblyman Alex DeCroce, 75, died suddenly Monday night after a long deliberative session at the Statehouse. The Parsippany resident, who represented the 26th legislative district in Trenton since 1989, collapsed and died in a first-floor bathroom in the Statehouse just before 11:30 p.m., right after the legislature completed its final voting session. He is survived by his wife, Betty DeCroce, Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Assemblyman Jon Bramnick of Westfield released the following statement on the loss of DeCroce: "I am deeply saddened by the shocking and painful loss of Leader DeCroce. Alex became a close personal friend over the years, and I spent many hours by his side. He was a model …

• Photos (2)

Slain Park Ranger to Be Laid to Rest Tuesday in WA

Westfield High School graduate Margaret Kritsch Anderson was shot and killed on New Year's Day at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington.

Former Westfield resident Margaret Kritsch Anderson, 34, who was shot and killed Sunday, Jan. 1 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington, will be laid to rest Tuesday, Jan. 10 in Tacoma, Wash. A 1995 Westfield High School graduate who went on to pursue her dream of becoming a park ranger, Anderson was shot while on duty New Year's Day during what began as a routine traffic stop. Anderson's viewing will take place Monday, Jan. 9 at Mt. View Funeral Home. Her funeral will be held Tuesday, Jan. 10 on the campus of the Pacific Lutheran University at the Chapel in Tacoma, Wash. On Wednesday, Jan. 4, nearly 200 gathered for a prayer service at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Westfield where Anderson's father Paul Kritsch of Scotch Plains is the …

• Photos (1)

Update: Park Ranger Died 'Doing What She Was Called to Do'

Margaret Kritsch Anderson graduated from Westfield High School in 1995.

Former Westfield resident Margaret Kritsch Anderson, 34, was shot and killed Sunday, Jan. 1 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington, according to the National Park Service.        A 1995 Westfield High School graduate who went on to pursue her dream of becoming a park ranger, Anderson was shot while on duty New Year's Day during what began as a routine traffic stop. The body of Benjamin Colton Barnes, an Iraq War veteran whom authorities believe fired the shots that killed Anderson, was found Monday afternoon on the slopes of the park. Authorities believe Barnes initially fled to the remote area to hide following an earlier shooting at a New Year's party near Seattle that left four wounded, two critically, before he shot Anderson …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)