West Trenton NJ, Today Colonel Patrick Callahan and the New Jersey State Police today are participating in the global initiative, Safer Internet Day, which is a campaign aimed to raise awareness about the dangers posed to children by online predators.
The New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) is 1 of 61 task forces nationwide, which are comprised of more than 4,500 federal, state, and local agencies. The N.J. ICAC Task Force consists of more than 60 law enforcement partners including the Office of the Attorney General.
Upper Saddle River NJ, PLEASANT BROOK made the news again today. Scott Fallon from The Record published photo of Pleasant Brook taken by GreenUSR community volunteer Derek Michalski. Pleasant Brook is under constant assault by giant construction company Toll Brothers that decided to dewater 100 plus acres of construction desert in the middle of the town by pumping dirty muddy water called “colloidal clay” directly into the brook that divides 19 Meadowbrook Rd and 1 Lake Street in Upper Saddle River. These two mega construction projects are being developed by Toll Brothers. Between those two sites 150 acres of land will be dewater over the course of next 2-5 years. According to renowned environmental lawyer and ground water pollution expert from Boston, Matt Pawa who visited the area last month approximately 200 families in the corridor of Pleasant Brook are at potential health risk.
TRENTON NJ, New Jerseyans are inundated with taxes, some of which are among the highest in the country, and now they could be taxed based on how much it rains. Republicans blasted Democrats for considering the proposal (S1073 : Authorizes municipalities, counties, and certain authorities to establish stormwater utilities) at an Assembly session Thursday.
Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips was strongly opposed to raising taxes on people based on the weather. He also took issue with how financially irresponsible the bill is, allowing unlimited bonding and ever-more debt on the backs of property-tax payers.
“The last thing this state needs is more debt and another runaway tax. Especially one that taxes the weather,” said DePhillips (R-Bergen). “I implore my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: let’s not do this, let’s vote down this bill together, let’s vote no and consider financially responsible alternatives to this legislation.”
Washington DC, Jac. Vandenberg, Inc. of Yonkers, New York is recalling 1,727 cartons of Fresh Peaches, 1,207 cartons of Fresh Nectarines and 365 cartons of Fresh Plums because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Twp of Washington NJ, YWCA Bergen County Senior Health & Wellness in partnership with At Home Companions presents Fitness & Friendship Fridays, a FREE fun and informative speaker series. Learn changes you can easily make to improve your health from common misconceptions in health and nutrition that you can avoid and improve how you feel, look and move. Bring a friend! Presented by Presented by Valerie Di Martino, certified group exercise trainer, AFAA and YWCA Bergen County senior fitness instructor The presentation will be followed by a light lunch. Parking is available in the Bethany Community Center parking lot, which is flat and allows easy access to the facility.
Please RSVP here before Wednesday, Jan 30 2019! For more information, call Membership at 201-373-2907.
Fri, February 01, 2019
Time: 11:30 AM- 1:30 PM Location: Bethany Community Center, 605 Pascack Road, Washington Township, NJ
Oradell NJ, At a meeting in Jersey City today, Governor Murphy responded to criticisms of over brining our roads when there is no snow that he has no time for over-preparing critics. DOT’s salt overload however can temporarily turn freshwater bodies – from where we pull our drinking water – into something closer to seawater and cause more lead problems in our drinking water.
Westwood NJ,108 homes were sampled with 16 across Bergen and Hudson counties showing higher levels of lead than the federal standard. SUEZ, serves 53 municipalities in Bergen County and six in Hudson County .NJDEP records show that the SUEZ water system serves nearly 800,000 people in North Jersey.
Assemblywomen Holly Schepisi commented:
I just had a conference call with executives at SUEZ water regarding a report today that elevated lead levels were found in the drinking water of some homes in Bergen county. Out of 108 homes tested, higher than permissible lead levels were found in 16 homes. The elevated lead levels likely came either from older lead pipes that extend from water mains under the street into homes or from older lead fixtures in the homes. If you have a newer home or a new built construction you will not be impacted as lead products were no longer used in newer construction.
If you are a customer of Suez in an older home you can find out if you are served by a lead line by checking your account online at https://www.mysuezwater.com/njwq, visiting SUEZWQ.com or calling or emailing the customer service center at 1-800-422-5987 and [email protected],
Suez will test homes that are served by a company-owned lead service line for free.
In the event your home tests positive for lead above the acceptable government standards a water filter that removes lead will be provided free of charge.
Ridgewood water was effected by similar issues with some older homes in town.
Teaneck NJ, Teaneck Police Department is warning residents of new PSEG scams .
Residents Be on the ALERT ! Recent Report in Teaneck!
Imposters At Your Door
If anyone comes to your door looking like, or claiming to be, a PSE&G employee, ask for ID. All PSE&G employees must carry ID and present it when requested. If you are not convinced, do not let the person in your house. Call us at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734). A Customer Service Representative will gladly verify if a technician has been dispatched to your location.
Things to know:
If the person at your door gives you a different phone number to verify his/her presence, do not call it. Only call 1-800-436-PSEG (7734). PSE&G will never send employees to your home or small business offering cash refunds on deposits or utility charges. We will only either credit your account or mail a check to your service address.
Hackensack NJ, a reminder from the Hackensack Police Department : AAA estimates that 1 in 3 Americans will be traveling this holiday season. If you’re one of those people who will be hitting the road, we encourage you to take a few minutes to review these safety tips: 1. Make sure your home is secure. If you have an alarm system, check the batteries, and don’t forget to enable the alarm before you leave. Consider having a friend or neighbor check in on your home while you’re away. 2. If you’re planning to travel by car, get your car inspected and/or serviced before your trip. Prepare an emergency kit which should include jumper cables, flares or a reflective triangle, an ice scraper, a blanket, a cell phone charger, and a map. Plan your drive ahead of time and know alternative routes. 3. If you’ll be traveling by plane, review TSA’s travel tips: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/travel-tips. Share your itinerary with friends and family, and don’t forget to pack a small emergency kit that includes a flashlight, batteries, and a USB power bank. 4. If you’ll be traveling with a pet, be sure to add a few items to your emergency kit such as water and pet food. You may also want to consider including a toy or blanket to help alleviate stress. If you have additional tips you’d like to share with your neighbors, please respond in the comments. Safe travels!
Ridgefield Park NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the arrests of JULIAN MANGAL (DOB: 4/26/2000; single; unemployed) of 53 Maple Street, Richland Town, PA, on charges of Robbery, Burglary, Aggravated Assault, Possession Of A Weapon For An Unlawful Purpose, Assault By Pointing A Firearm, Theft, and Resisting Arrest; RYAN BLAKE (DOB: 7/28/1999; single; unemployed) of 223 Third Street, Ridgefield Park, NJ, on a charge of Resisting Arrest; and TYSHEEM CLINTON-MCQUEEN (DOB: 3/8/1996; single; unemployed) of 28 Franklin Street, Little Ferry, NJ, a charge of Supplying A Handgun. The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti and the Ridgefield Park Police Department under the direction of Chief Edward Rose.
On Tuesday, December 18, 2018, the Ridgefield Park Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad about an armed home invasion robbery. In the course of the robbery, the homeowner was slashed by a knife and hit in the head with a gun by an intruder. The intruder, who was later identified as Julian MANGAL, fled after taking the homeowner’s wallet and cellular telephone. As a result of the investigation, an arrest warrant for MANGAL was issued.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ridgefield Park Police Department located Julian MANGAL at the Knights Inn Motel on Route 46 in South Hackensack, NJ. The Bergen County Regional SWAT team assisted in the response and ultimately arrested MANGAL and another individual, Ryan BLAKE, who had attempted to flee through a crawl space in one of the hotel rooms.
On December 19, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the residence of Tysheem CLINTON-MCQUEEN in Little Ferry, NJ. Tysheem CLINTON-MCQUEEN was arrested and charged with Possession Of A Weapon For An Unlawful Purpose, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4A(2), a 2nd degree crime. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack pending a detention hearing scheduled for Monday, December 24, 2018, at 9:00 a.m.
Julian MANGAL was charged with three counts of Robbery, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1A(2), a 1st degree crime; four counts of Possession Of A Weapon For An Unlawful Purpose, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4A(1), a 2nd degree crime; three counts of Aggravated Assault, by pointing a firearm, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1B(4), a 2nd degree crime; two counts of Aggravated Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1B(2), a 2nd degree crime; two counts of Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2A(1), a 3rd degree crime; three counts of Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3, a 4th degree crime; and one count of Resisting Arrest, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2A(2), a 4th degree crime. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack pending a detention hearing scheduled for Monday, December 24, 2018.
Ryan BLAKE was charged with one count of Resisting Arrest, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2A(2), a 4th degree crime. He was released on a summons and is scheduled for an appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack on January 3, 2019.
Acting Prosecutor Calo states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would also like to thank the Ridgefield Park Police Department, South Hackensack Police Department, and Little Ferry Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police Patrol Officer Patrick Elwood did his best to assist the driver of a FedEx delivery van that got stuck in the mud on Lakeview Drive in Ridgewood late Wednesday afternoon, 12/19. Despite the efforts of Officer Elwood and the van’s driver, a tow truck was eventually summoned to remove the muddy van from its predicament. No summonses were issued to the driver.
This month marks one year since the FCC repealed the controversial Obama era net neutrality rules. According to America’s left it would be killing the internet as we knew it forever , but in this post internet apocalyptic world one report shows that download speeds are actually up 35.8 percent.
Many will remember the hysteria when Democrats marched onto Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. and demanded that lawmakers stop a vote to repeal Net Neutrality? Liberals argued, and the Federal Communications Commission decision would take the country back to the stone age, well it didn’t, In fact, internet speeds across the board are faster than ever before.
The internet has been a household commodity available for public use since August 6, 1991 and gone fully mainstream since 1994 ,but according to net neutrality’s most fervent supporters, the internet didn’t truly take off until February 2015, when the FCC passed and adopted the new rules.
Net neutrality sought to define the internet as a public utility, putting it in the same category as water, electric, and telephone services. Doing so left it open to regulatory oversight, specifically when it came to connection speeds and the price providers were allowed to charge consumers for its use.
Cynics saw it as a power grab , to regulate and control the content you see on the internet .
Since the repeal Internet speeds have gone up by nearly 40 percent, per the 2018 Speedtest U.S. Fixed Broadband Performance Report.
“With gigabit expanding across the nation, fixed broadband speeds in the United States are rapidly increasing. Speedtest® data reveals a 35.8% increase in mean download speed during the last year and a 22.0% increase in upload speed,” internet speed-test company Ookla reports. “As a result, the U.S. ranks 7th in the world for download speed, between Hungary and Switzerland. The U.S. ranks 27th for upload, between Bulgaria and Canada, during Q2-Q3 2018.”
The internet is getting faster, especially fixed broadband internet. Broadband download speeds in the U.S. rose 35.8 percent and upload speeds are up 22 percent from last year, according to internet speed-test company Ookla in its latest U.S. broadband report.
The growth in speed is important as the internet undergirds more of our daily lives and the wider economy. As internet service providers continue building out fiber networks around the country, expect speeds to increase, though speeds vary widely by region depending on infrastructure and whether or not an area has fiber.
As of October, the U.S. ranked seventh in the world in broadband and 43rd in mobile download speeds — a slight increase in rank from last year. Broadband is twice as fast as mobile. Broadband speed growth is also outpacing mobile. The rollout of 5G mobile connections should help.
Once again demonstrating the fact is that less government regulation results in better outcomes for both companies and consumers. So the next time we are told that a lack of regulation is going to be the end of life as we know it, we would do well to remember what really happened when the government finally freed the internet from its grasp.
Autumn is the deer breeding season, or ‘rut’. The rut brings a peak in deer movement and we experience more deer on New Jersey roads, leading to a number of deer-vehicle collisions. Municipal vehicles are not immune from this hazard and in some cases, their operations can increase the likelihood, such as the 24 / 7 / 365 operations of police, fire and EMS agencies. The Safety Director offers the following best practices for avoiding deervehicle collisions.
Know your local ‘Danger Zones’ – As you conduct your everyday business, learn the local areas where you see more deer than other places all year-round. Often these are places where trees form pinch points that create natural funnels. Pay extra attention to these areas, and mentally mark them as danger zones. Make a mental note of the locations of the deer crossing warning signs.
Be vigilant – This is your most effective defense against a deer – vehicle collision. In areas where woodlands adjoin the roadway, be on the lookout in the ditches and forest edges for deer. Deer are most active at dusk and dawn: periods when your vision is most compromised. To add to their terrible timing, deer are most on the move after we turn our clocks back an hour and you are more likely to travel in darkness. You may also spot a deer because their eyes will brightly reflect a car’s headlights, making them easier to spot.
Avoid distractions – There are a lot of things in work vehicles that can take our attention away from the road; radios, cell phones, computers, and conversations with passengers. Make a conscious decision to resist these distractions as much as possible, especially in danger zones.
Slow Down Early – When you think you see a deer ahead, slow down and be prepared to completely stop if necessary. At night, deer may be blinded or confused by your headlights. They may not be sure if there is danger or where it is locate and may dart suddenly in front of you. Depending on traffic, you may also be able to move towards the center of the road giving you more time to react if the deer decides to enter the road.
Blow Your Horn – Once you spot a deer standing on the roadside ahead, slow down and blow your horn. The structure of a deer’s ears, and their ability to pivot each ear independently, makes them very good at pinpointing the locations of sounds. Some experts recommend that one long blast of the horn will scare deer out of the road. Do not rely on hood whistles or other devices designed to scare off deer. University of Georgia researchers tested a variety of sounds of different frequencies and intensities to see how deer on a roadway reacted. These sounds, emitted from a specially equipped car, included a wide range of the high-frequency sounds that “deer whistles” are claimed to emit. In hundreds of trials, high-frequency whistles did not change deer behavior from the way they reacted when no sound was being emitted.
Use your high beams – When traveling at night in suburban or rural areas, use your high beams whenever possible to help you spot deer on the roadside. Of course, don’t forget to dim your lights for oncoming traffic.
Anticipate more than one deer – Deer are pack animals, and rarely travel alone. If a deer crosses in front of you, chances are there are more nearby. During the rut, a doe that runs across the road is very likely to be followed by one or more bucks. If you see one deer run across the road ahead of you, slow down and be prepared to stop.
Do not swerve to avoid hitting the animal – If you see a deer, brake firmly and calmly, and stay in your lane. Do not swerve into the opposite lane or onto the shoulder of the road to avoid hitting the deer. Swerving or oversteering could make you lose control of your vehicle and turn a bad situation much worse. Deer can be unpredictable, and you could actually swerve directly into their changed path of travel. Experts advise braking firmly up until the very last second of impact, and then releasing the brakes. This should propel the deer away from your vehicle instead of on to the hood or windshield. Should the animal make contact with the windshield, there’s a chance it will smash through, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in serious injury and in some cases, even death to the driver and passengers. Wear your seatbelt – While wearing a seatbelt may not help prevent a collision with a deer, if the situation worsens and an impact is inevitable, it may lessen the consequences. A seat belt will keep you behind the steering wheel and in a better position to operate the controls of the car. Investigate new technology – Researchers are constantly searching for new and innovative solutions to the hazards of deer – vehicle collisions. For example, developers have introduced a siren that they claim produces a sound wave that better scares deer away from the source of the noise. While the Safety Director does not recommend any particular product, we do recommend members evaluate for themselves promising new products, procedures, or ideas. We also promote sharing of successes among members.
If you are involved in a deer – vehicle collision: 1. Stay calm. 2. Move your vehicle to a safe place. If possible, pull over to the side of the road and onto the shoulder. Most accidents occur between dusk and dawn; times when you or your vehicle may be less visible to other motorists. Get out of your vehicle and stand in a safe place, well off the roadway. 3. Turn on your hazard lights. 4. New Jersey law requires you to call 9-1-1 if persons were injured or there is property or vehicle damage in excess of $500.00. The Safety Director recommends the police be notified of any deer-vehicle collision involving a public vehicle or a personal vehicle being driven on official business. 5. Notify your supervisor. 6. Stay away from the deer. If it is still alive, it could be confused, injured and dangerous if approached. A wounded deer could use its powerful legs and sharp hooves to harm you. When contacting the authorities, let them know if the deer is injured or blocking traffic or creating a threat for other drivers so that it can be quickly handled. 7. Document the incident: If it’s safe to do so, take photographs of the roadway, your surroundings, damage to your vehicle, and any injuries you or your passengers sustained. If witnesses stop, take down their account of what occurred and ask for their contact information.
