Garfield Mayor Everett E. Garnto Jr. of Bergen County officially left the Democratic Party on Thursday and endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, citing dissatisfaction with Governor Phil Murphy’s leadership. “The state is broken,” Garnto declared at a rally in Garfield, where hundreds gathered to support the GOP contender. He criticized Murphy for rising taxes, costly utilities, and public safety concerns, saying New Jerseyans “deserve better.”
Garnto, who supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, brings a strong background in local law enforcement, having served as president of the Garfield Police Benevolent Association. His switch marks a growing trend of moderate Democrats aligning with Ciattarelli. Other notable Democratic backers include Dover Mayor James P. Dodd and former Assemblyman Jamel Holley, who h ave also expressed discontent with current state leadership.
Ciattarelli, a former state assemblyman, is set to face Democratic U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill in the November 2025 gubernatorial race. According to a recent Emerson College poll, the contest is currently tied, with both candidates holding 43% of the vote and 11% of voters still undecided. The close numbers reflect a deeply polarized electorate and a growing appetite for change among some New Jersey voters.
Former President Donald Trump, who has endorsed Ciattarelli, amplified the Emerson poll on Truth Social, praising the candidate as “tough on crime and cutting taxes.” He criticized Sherrill for supporting progressive causes, attempting to paint her as out of touch with mainstream voters. Meanwhile, Sherrill has defended her record and committed to easing the financial burden on working families.
Beyond party lines, Ciattarelli has also secured support from organized labor. The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, representing over 7,000 members, endorsed him for his openness to natural gas projects and focus on infrastructure. With energy policy, tax reform, and economic transparency at the center of the campaign, the gubernatorial race remains highly competitive in a sharply divided New Jersey.
“We didn’t think he’d make it through the night.”
We called his daughter. Her voice broke:
Walter opened his eyes and smiled. He whispered: “Murphy… did you find her?” Confused, his daughter asked, “Who’s ‘her’?”
Walter replied: “He found her in the snow… when no one believed me.”
He told us about Lizzie, a troubled teen who went missing years ago. Everyone gave up—but Walter and Murphy didn’t. One day, Murphy barked near a ditch… and they found her alive.
Days later, after the story was shared, a woman messaged:
“My name was Lizzie. I think that’s me.”
She came with her daughter and hugged Walter.
“I wouldn’t be here without you.”
When Walter passed, Murphy lay beside him one last time.
At the funeral, Lizzie said:
“Murphy found me twice.”
A stone was placed:
Sometimes, one loyal heart can change everything.
Have you ever had a “Murphy” in your life?
The doctors brought the dog to say goodbye to its owner, but then the intelligent animal started barking loudly and suddenly jumped onto the officer’s bed.
The ward was eerily silent.
Only the faint hum of the overhead fluorescent lights provided any sense of life. On the hospital bed lay Alex—a brave police officer known for saving countless lives. Though he had managed to make it to the hospital on his own, now his body lay motionless, his breaths shallow and fading. The rhythmic beeping of the machines monitoring his vital signs grew more sporadic, more alarming with each minute.
Doctors worked tirelessly, doing everything in their power to save him. But the trauma was too severe. After what felt like an eternity, one of the surgeons finally stepped back, eyes heavy with defeat, and gave a subtle nod.
— “We’ve lost him,” he murmured.
At the doorway, a German Shepherd waited patiently. He was no ordinary dog—he had been Alex’s loyal service companion, having accompanied him on many high-risk missions. The dog hadn’t moved, his gaze fixed on the door, as if sensing something was terribly wrong.
A nurse, her voice shaking, asked quietly,
— “Can we… let the dog say goodbye?”
The doors were opened, and the dog slowly entered. His steps were hesitant, solemn. He approached the bed, stood still for a moment, then let out a soft whine. But then—something changed. He barked. Loudly. Urgently. He leaped onto the bed, nudging Alex with his nose, tugging at his sleeve, almost begging him to wake up. His eyes were full of fear… but also a strange kind of determination.
— “Wait a second… look at his hand!” a nurse cried out.
— “Don’t touch the dog—hold on!” another voice called out.
All eyes turned toward the monitor. A tiny blip appeared.
— “Pulse detected!” someone shouted.
Chaos turned to hope. The doctors sprang into action—adrenaline, oxygen, defibrillator—everything they had. Against all odds, Alex’s heart began to beat again. Faintly, but unmistakably.
The dog remained close, his head resting on Alex’s chest. His eyes, once full of panic, now glowed with quiet hope.
That night, not a single member of the hospital staff left without tears in their eyes. Because what brought Alex back wasn’t just medicine—it was loyalty, love, and the unshakable bond between a man and his dog.
If this story touched you, don’t forget to share it. Let the world feel the power of connection and hope.
Do we ever take the time to ponder over the thought that what goes around, comes around? Very often, we undertake certain actions without being completely aware of the impact they have on other people. Luckily, life finds a way to remind us that we should be a bit more considerate
After the passing of his father, one man decided he couldn’t take care of his mom any longer so he made the decision to take her to a nursing home. She wasn’t happy there and he didn’t visit very often, just occassionally.
One day, he got a call that his mom’s health deteriorated. She didn’t feel at all. In fact, it looked like she was living the last days of her life.
The son was quick to arrive to the nursing home. He went straight to his mother’s room and asked her if there was something he could do for her.
The mother looked straight into his eyes and said that she had few requests. Hearing that, he said he was more than willing to make her final wish come true.
The mom then explained that she wanted the fans changed because they didn’t work properly and she used to suffocate at times. “If you could change the refrigerator too… There were days when I fell asleep hungry because the food had expired…,” she added.
The son was surprised. He thought that his mother wasn’t aware that she was dying. He then asked her why she didn’t tell him all about that before. Now it was too late.
The mother then looked in his eyes and said, “I know I will die, but I think of you when your children won’t want you next to them either… And they will bring you here…Then, you will find better conditions… What you offer is what you get… Don’t forget that.”
These words broke the son’s heart into a million pieces. He knew he made a mistake when he left his mother at the nursing home against her will.
We should never forget that it is our responsibility to make sure our parents spend their golden years in a way that makes them happy.