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Burgers and BBQ in Bergen County NJ: 8 Must-Visit Restaurants According to Local Readers

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The Ultimate Bergen County BBQ & Burger Guide: 8 Local Favorites You Need to Try

photo Cubby’s BBQ

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, When it comes to comfort food, North Jersey doesn’t mess around. From the smoky, slow-cooked pits of authentic Southern barbecue to the sizzling, lacy-edged perfection of a classic smashburger, Bergen County is low-key a foodie paradise.

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Bergen County Forces Quiet Return of $57,000 in COVID Funds Following Federal Audit Shocker

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Bergen County Returns $57K in Pandemic Relief to Federal Government After Audit Flags Missing Records

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, Even years after the height of the pandemic, federal oversight committees are still tracking down every dollar spent during the health emergency.

Case in point: Bergen County, New Jersey, has officially returned $57,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funding to Washington. The repayment comes after a sharp desk review by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Inspector General (OIG) revealed that local officials could not properly document a series of payroll bonuses distributed during the crisis.

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Is It Actually Legal to Ride a Bicycle on New Jersey Highways? What You Need to Know

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Can You Legally Ride a Bike on New Jersey Highways? Here is What the Law Says

photo courtesy of NJDOT

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, With unseasonably warm weather hitting the Garden State, many New Jersey residents are dusting off their handlebars, tuning up their gears, and ditching four wheels for two.

Whether you are cycling to crush your fitness goals, dodging skyrocketing gas prices, or commuting to work, traveling by bicycle is booming in North Jersey. But if you are trying to get from point A to point B in the Garden State, you will inevitably run into a major highway.

This raises a crucial safety and legal question for local riders: Is it actually legal to ride a bicycle on New Jersey highways? The short answer is yes—but with major exceptions. Here is a breakdown of what New Jersey traffic law actually says about highway cycling.

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Wanted: Multi-County Burglary Suspect at Large After Two-Year Investigation

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Bergen County towns hit by Cerdavera include Saddle River , Cresskill, Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Waldwick and Upper Saddle River

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Saddle River NJ, A major multi-agency investigation has pulled back the curtain on a high-stakes burglary pattern spanning Bergen and Morris Counties. Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella recently announced serious charges against 41-year-old Rogelio B. Cerdavera, formerly of Paterson, NJ, following a series of sophisticated residential break-ins.

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NJ Hate Watch: Why Bergen County Just Topped the List for Antisemitic Incidents in 2025

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Antisemitism in NJ: Bergen County Named #1 Hotspot as Violence Reaches Record Highs

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, A chilling new report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reveals that antisemitism is becoming “normalized” across the Garden State. While the nation saw a slight dip in overall incidents, New Jersey remains a volatile exception, ranking third in the nation for antisemitic acts, trailing only New York and California.

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Massive Bergen County Drug Bust: $520,000 Cash and “Pink Cocaine” Seized in NJ/NY Sting

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Bergen County Drug Ring Busted: $520K Cash and Massive Arsenal of “Pink Cocaine” & Weapons Seized

the staff of the ridgewood blog

TRENTON, NJ — In a major blow to tri-state narcotics trafficking, authorities have dismantled a sophisticated drug distribution network operating out of Bergen County. Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced the arrest of four local residents following a high-stakes investigation that uncovered over half a million dollars in cash, high-capacity firearms, and a staggering variety of illicit substances.

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500 Seats Empty: Can Vincent Durante Save the Bergen County Republican Party?

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Shakeup in Bergen County: Jack DeLorenzo Steps Down as GOP Chair; Vincent Durante Eyes the Gavel

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, The political landscape in Bergen County is shifting. After a disasterous and  turbulent two-year tenure marked by internal challenges, epic failure at the ballot box  and a lack of recruitment, Jack DeLorenzo has announced he will not seek re-election as the Chairman of the Bergen County Republican Organization (BCRO) this June.

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The “Key-Hunters” Busted: How Masked Burglars Terrorized Bergen County for Luxury Cars

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Masked Burglary Ring Busted: 4 Charged in “High-End” North Jersey Car Key Heists

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Twp of Washington NJ, A terrifying multi-town crime spree has come to an end after authorities dismantled a sophisticated burglary ring that targeted homes across Bergen, Passaic, and Essex counties.

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Bergen County Proposes a 4.01% Increase County tax levy

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Bergen County’s 2026 Budget Proposed: Skyrocketing Health Costs Drive Tax Increase

file photo courtesy of Bergen County Executive James Tedesco

the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, Bergen County officials have introduced a $749 million budget for 2026, proposing a 4.01% increase in the county tax levy, largely driven by soaring healthcare premiums and uncontrollable costs, officials announced on April 8.

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12 Museums for $10? Inside Bergen County’s Massive “History Day” Celebration This Month

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Unlock 250 Years of History: Northwest Bergen’s “12 Museums, One Ticket” Day is Back!

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Looking for a unique, budget-friendly way to explore North Jersey? Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 25th. The NW Bergen Coalition is hosting its annual History Day, offering residents and visitors a rare chance to step back in time across a dozen local landmarks for the price of a single movie ticket.

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Will This $3M Study Finally Stop the Saddle River From Overwhelming NJ Towns?

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Finally, a Solution? Why the New $3 Million Saddle River Flood Study is Different

the staff of the ridgewood blog

Saddle River NJ, For decades, residents in Bergen County have lived with a grim routine: heavy rain starts, the Saddle River rises, and the sirens begin. After years of stalled projects and “studies of studies,” a new $3 million federal-state partnership is breathing life into a flood management plan that has been sitting on a shelf since 1986.

With a fresh $500,000 grant, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is officially moving to tackle the “insufficient capacity” of the lower Saddle River. But for the 2,000 property owners affected, the burning question remains: Is this time actually different?

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Allendale and Ramsey Merge Police Dispatch Services

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Allendale & Ramsey Launch Shared Police Dispatch: What Residents Need to Know

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ramsey NJ, The landscape of local emergency services is shifting in Bergen County. Allendale has officially entered a “soft launch” phase of a strategic shared services agreement with Ramsey, consolidating police dispatch operations to enhance efficiency and reduce taxpayer burden.

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Bergen County Steps Up: New Ice Rescue Kits and Training for Local First Responders

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Protecting Our Own: Bergen County Boosts Ice Rescue Readiness with New Gear and Training

photos co0urtesy of Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

MAHWAH, NJ — In a county where winter weather can turn treacherous in an instant, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco is ensuring first responders aren’t just brave—they’re better equipped than ever before.

Drawing on his nearly 50 years as a volunteer firefighter, Tedesco visited the Bergen County Public Safety Operations Center in Mahwah this week to personally deliver specialized Ice Rescue Equipment Kits to 10 local fire and rescue departments.

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Parking Lot Maintenance Tips for Bergen County Commercial Properties

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Across Bergen County, commercial property managers are placing greater emphasis on the condition and performance of their parking lots. From high-traffic retail centers in Paramus to corporate office complexes near Hackensack, the state of a parking area directly influences both safety and perception. 

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What Bergen County Families Should Know About Nursing Home Billing

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When a parent or grandparent moves into a nursing home, the emotional weight alone can feel overwhelming. But for many Bergen County families, a secondary and often unexpected burden quickly surfaces: the billing. Between Medicare coverage windows, Medicaid eligibility rules, room-and-board charges, and a stack of explanation-of-benefits statements, skilled nursing facility billing is one of the most confusing areas of healthcare finance a family can navigate.

If you’ve ever stared at a nursing home invoice wondering what you’re actually being charged for, you’re not alone. And as New Jersey’s state budget continues to face pressure with programs like StayNJ on the chopping block, understanding how nursing home billing works is more important than ever for protecting your family’s finances.

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