Leonia, NJ , Dinosaurs After Dark is a spooky, funny adventure into a shadowy, prehistoric world. But things get a little scary when the lights go out it’s discovered there’s a vicious T-Rex on the loose! Expedition Commander, Guy Gsell, will lead a Tyrannosaurus Hunt along the Field Station’s darkened trails with a stop at every dinosaur and a few surprises along the way.
This unique family experience includes three live shows and a campfire with singing, s’mores and hot chocolate! The Dinosaur Profiler will be on hand to explore the modus operandi of the T-Rex, from its ability to see in the dark to its amazing sense of smell. The Field Station’s Director of Security and Safety has prepared a Dinosaur Survival Guide for when guests come face to face with a T-Rex. By looking at the dinosaurs that lived in the age of T-Rex, children will learn from the greatest masters of Dinosaur Self-Defense – triceratops, stegosaurus and dilophosaurus!
The Dinosaur Troubadour will host the Crazy Cretaceous Costume Party, a musical puppet show where staff paleontologists will use the scientific method to determine the scariest Halloween costume of all. Is it the mummy, the vampire, the skeleton or the dinosaur? The Field Station team is ready to conduct an experiment and announce their conclusions – along the way we’ll meet a baby parasaurolophus and a walking T-Rex skeleton!
At the end of the night, everyone will gather around the campfire for a dinosaur song-a-long, s’mores and hot chocolate!
Reserve your Adventure
Fridays & Saturdays
September 29 through October 28
Dinosaurs After Dark begins promptly at 7pm and ends at 9:30 pm. The front gate will open at 6:45pm.
Garfield NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor GURBIR S. GREWAL announced animal cruelty charges brought against JESUS GABRIEL VALENTIN RIVERA (DOB: 6/22/81, single; and unemployed) of 3812 Pinehurst Drive, Deltona, Florida, VANESSA MILLAN (DOB: 05/04/86, single; and unemployed) of 650 Kenwick Circle, Apt#102, Casselberry, Florida, and ELAINE RAMOS (DOB: 7/13/90, single; and unemployed) of 263 Rose Petal Place, Altamonte Springs, Florida. The charges are the result of an investigation led by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Animal Cruelty Task Force under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti.
On Saturday, August 19, 2017, the Animal Cruelty Task Force received information about a suspicious van in the parking lot of a store in Garfield. Task Force members, assisted by the Garfield Police Department, approached the van, which was occupied by VALENTIN RIVERA, MILLAN and RAMOS and discovered 26 English and French bulldog puppies. The dogs were contained within two cages and one cooler, all of which were feces-littered. One of the cages housed thirteen of the puppies. The temperature in Garfield that day was 90 degrees, and the puppies had no access to water.
On August 19, 2017, VALENTIN RIVERA, MILLAN and RAMOS were each charged with 26 counts of Animal Cruelty in violation of N.J.S.A. 4:22-17(a)(3), a disorderly person’s offense. The defendants were charged on summonses and their court date is scheduled for October 3, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. before the Honorable Louis J. Dinice, J.M.C. in Central Municipal Court in Hackensack, New Jersey.
Prosecutor Grewal states that these 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 Animal Cruelty Task Force and the Garfield Police Department for their investigation.
Trenton NJ, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced that the Attorney General’s Office and its state and federal partners have charged 100 criminal defendants in their unprecedented collaborative efforts to root out fraud in disaster relief programs following Superstorm Sandy. Four new defendants were charged yesterday with filing fraudulent applications for federal relief funds related to Sandy, bringing the total charged by the Attorney General’s Office with this type of fraud to 100.
“Charging 100 defendants in these relief-fraud cases is a sad milestone in that it highlights how many people are willing, in the face of a historic disaster, to dishonestly exploit an offer of aid meant for those who were hardest hit,” said Attorney General Porrino. “At the same time, we’re proud of our collaborative efforts, which have recovered millions of dollars and sent an unmistakable message that those who commit this fraud will face serious criminal charges, now and during any future disasters. The 100 defendants we have charged were responsible for diverting nearly $6 million in relief funds.”
The Attorney General’s Office is continuing its aggressive efforts to investigate fraud in Sandy relief programs, working jointly with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), and the Offices of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Also assisting the taskforce is the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller, New Jersey Department of the Treasury Office of Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the non-profit National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
The defendants are alleged, in most cases, to have filed fraudulent applications for relief funds offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In many cases, they also applied for funds from a Sandy relief program funded by HUD, low-interest disaster loans from the SBA, or funds from HHS. The HUD funds are administered in New Jersey by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the HHS funds are administered by the New Jersey Department of Human Services.
The following defendants were charged yesterday by complaint-summons:
Michael A. Avena, 65, of Wyckoff, N.J., allegedly filed fraudulent applications following Superstorm Sandy for FEMA assistance and state grants under the Homeowner Resettlement Program (RSP), the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program, and the Sandy Homeowner and Renter Assistance Program (SHRAP). As a result, he allegedly received approximately $201,861 in relief funds to which he was not entitled. Avena allegedly falsely claimed in his applications that a home he owns on 5th Avenue in Ortley Beach, N.J., which was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, was his primary residence when Sandy struck. It is alleged that, in fact, his primary residence at the time of the storm was in Wyckoff and the home in Ortley Beach was a vacation home. As a result of the alleged fraudulent applications, Avena received $31,900 from FEMA, a $10,000 RSP grant, RREM grant funds totaling $150,000, and $9,961 in SHRAP funds. Avena is charged with second-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.
Charles Tuohy, 55, and his wife, Joanne Benzoni, 64, of Tenafly, N.J., allegedly filed fraudulent applications following Superstorm Sandy for FEMA assistance and state grants under the Homeowner Resettlement Program (RSP) and the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program. As a result, the couple allegedly received $162,270 in relief funds to which they were not entitled. Tuohy and Benzoni allegedly falsely claimed in their applications that a home Benzoni owns on Lynn Ann Lane in Manahawkin, N.J., which was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, was their primary residence when Sandy struck. It is alleged that, in fact, their primary residence at the time of the storm was in Tenafly and the home in Manahawkin was a seasonal/weekend home. As a result of the alleged fraudulent applications, Tuohy and Benzoni received $2,270 from FEMA, a $10,000 RSP grant, and $150,000 in RREM grant funds. Tuohy and Benzoni are charged with second-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.
Paula Belotta, 56, of Colonia, N.J., allegedly filed fraudulent applications following Superstorm Sandy for FEMA assistance and a state grant under the Homeowner Resettlement Program (RSP). As a result, she allegedly received $12,270 in relief funds to which she was not entitled. Belotta allegedly falsely claimed in her applications that a home she owns on Fielder Avenue in Ortley Beach, N.J., which was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, was her primary residence when Sandy struck. It is alleged that, in fact, her primary residence at the time of the storm was in Colonia and the home in Ortley Beach was a seasonal/weekend home. As a result of the alleged false applications, Belotta received $2,270 from FEMA and a $10,000 RSP grant. Belotta is charged with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.
“Our unprecedented collaborative efforts to target Sandy relief fraud have been highly productive, as evidenced by the 100 defendants we’ve charged,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “The payoff from this anti-fraud program is not only the millions of dollars we are recovering, but also the deterrent message we hammer home each time new charges are filed. Thanks to these efforts, relief administrators in future disasters may be able to spend less time policing fraud, which is a drain on resources and a distraction from the vital task of aiding those in need.”
“The State’s continued vigilance against Sandy fraud demonstrates that we won’t stand for this reprehensible behavior,” said DCA Commissioner Charles A. Richman. “As such, my Department remains as committed as ever to working with our law enforcement partners to catch anyone who misuses our Sandy recovery programs.”
The new cases were investigated by detectives of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice and special agents and inspectors of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, HUD Office of Inspector General, SBA Office of Inspector General, HHS Office of Inspector General and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The National Insurance Crime Bureau assisted. Deputy Attorneys General Peter Gallagher, Valerie Noto, and Denise Grugan are prosecuting the new defendants under the supervision of Deputy Attorney General Michael A. Monahan, Chief of the Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau, and Deputy Attorney General Mark Kurzawa, Deputy Bureau Chief. Lt. David Nolan and Sgt. Fred Weidman conducted and coordinated the investigations for the Division of Criminal Justice, with others, including Special Civil Investigators Rita Binn and James Parolski.
Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to$150,000. Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000, while fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a fine of $10,000. The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
On Oct. 29, 2012, Superstorm Sandy hit New Jersey, resulting in an unprecedented level of damage. Almost immediately, the affected areas were declared federal disaster areas, making residents eligible for FEMA relief. FEMA grants are provided to repair damaged homes and replace personal property. In addition, rental assistance grants are available for impacted homeowners. FEMA allocates up to $31,900 per applicant for federal disasters. To qualify for FEMA relief, applicants must affirm that the damaged property was their primary residence at the time of the storm.
In addition to the FEMA relief funds, HUD allocated $16 billion in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for storm victims on the East Coast. New Jersey received $2.3 billion in CDBG funds for housing-related programs, including $215 million that was allocated for the Homeowner Resettlement Program (RSP) and $1.1 billion that was allocated for the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program. Under RSP, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs is disbursing grants of $10,000 to encourage homeowners affected by Sandy to remain in the nine counties most seriously impacted by the storm: Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union counties. The RREM Program, which is the state’s largest housing recovery program, provides grants to Sandy-impacted homeowners to cover rebuilding costs up to $150,000 that are not funded by insurance, FEMA, SBA loans, or other sources.
The Small Business Administration provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and most private nonprofit organizations. SBA disaster loans can be used to repair or replace real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, and inventory and business assets damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster. Renters and homeowners may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, cars or appliances damaged or destroyed in the disaster. Homeowners may apply for a loan of up to $200,000 to replace or repair their primary residence to its pre-disaster condition. Secondary homes or vacation properties are not eligible for these loans, but qualified rental properties may be eligible for assistance under the business loan program.
The Disaster Relief Act provided HHS approximately $760 million in funding for Sandy victims. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) received approximately $577 million in Sandy funding through three grant programs, including the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) program, which received nearly $475 million to help five states (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maryland). New Jersey received over $226 million for a wide range of social services directly related to the disaster. New Jersey used SSBG funds to develop the Sandy Homeowner/Renter Assistance Program (SHRAP) to assist individuals/families with expenses for housing and other related needs.
Trenton NJ, According to the website Roadsnacks ,these are the places in New Jersey with the most drug-addicted, violent, welfare receiving white populations in the Garden State. The website claims these Are The 10 Most White Trash Cities In New Jersey.
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, white trash is defined as:
“A term used broadly to define a person or group of persons whom embody the concepts of ignorance, racism, violence, alcoholism, poverty, and anglo-saxon ancestry. Similarly used with the term ‘cracker,’ ‘hillbilly’ or ‘redneck’.”
The site claims after pouring over data, watching too many fist fights and perusing illiterate Facebook comments, we’ve determined these are the most White trash cities in New Jersey:
Roadsnacks used publicly available government data, as well as Google Maps, we were able to collect the data on the following white trash metrics:
Cities where there are lots of white people
Cities where residents are poorer than average
Cities where a high number of residents are high school dropouts
High drug use
Higher than average Payday Loan Outlets and bargain stores
Violent cities (measured in aggravated assaults)
Cities with a high number of residents on welfare
Saddle River NJ, the Borough of Saddle River has decided to take action against the aggressive coyotes in order to assure the safety of residents . The Mayor and council went as far as to approve the use of lethal force on the September 18th council meeting and created a taskforce , Emergency Mayor’s Coyote Management Task Force ,to recommend recommending long term solutions.
Here is the Mayor Albert J. Kurpis letter to residents
We have a Coyote Problem in Saddle River
An Update from your Mayor, 9/26/2017
As many of you have become aware, Saddle River is faced with a coyote problem. Over the past several years, our resident deer population has risen out of control, and it is believed that coyotes may be natural predators for these deer.
According to the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, coyotes are usually not a threat to humans as they are lone hunters preying upon small animals, fawns and weak or dead deer. However, with the overpopulation of coyotes in the borough, they are now forming family groups in which they hunt for food and share their prey. They are clearly becoming a threat to our pets and potentially to adults and children. With the maturation of the pups of the last coyote litter season, these animals have become much more aggressive and now pose a real threat to humans, never seen before in our community. We will no longer tolerate this threat to our families and to our safety.
At the recent Mayor and Council meeting of September 18, 2017, the governing body approved a resolution allowing the police to use lethal force within the confines of the law to cull any and all aggressive coyote encounters. These actions will have to be supplemented by a long term strategy to radically reduce our coyote population.
I convened an Emergency Mayor’s Coyote Management Task Force on September 22, 2017, consisting of the Borough’s most important public safety personnel (listed below). We have developed a strategy to significantly reduce the coyote population over the next several months.
The Task Force will also be advising and recommending long term solutions to the Mayor and Council for implementation. In order for me to disseminate accurate and up-to-date information to you, the residents, I will be relying upon my Task Force to accumulate all data and information and to keep me abreast of their findings.
I want you to know that your local government is responding to your concerns and coyote population reduction has already begun. Implementation of a short and long term plan for controlling our deer population will be approved by the Mayor and Council within the next 60 90 days.
Paramus NJ, A two (2) vehicle Wednesday afternoon, 09/27, collision in front of Bergen Community College’s Paramus campus sent an SUV careening off of the roadway, narrowly missing a bus shelter, and toppling a traffic light before coming to a stop. One (1) occupant of the vehicle was trapped inside, which required members of the Paramus Rescue Squad to use the “Jaws of Life” to free her/him. The injured person was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Paramus Road northbound was temporarily closed at the College’s entrance due to the crash. Both vehicles were removed by flatbed tow trucks. Paramus Police and Fire Department personnel responded to the incident also.
Park Ridge NJ, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP) today announced that a Bergen County chiropractor has been charged as the final defendant in a multi-level insurance fraud network run by Colts Neck Brothers Anhuar and Karim Bandy.
Anthony Riotto, 44, who operates Riotto Family Chiropractic in Park Ridge, was charged by accusation with third-degree health care claims fraud in connection with the Bandy brothers’ criminal network.
He is the final defendant charged in a complex insurance fraud scheme in which the Bandy brothers paid illegal “runners” to recruit car crash victims as patients for chiropractic facilities they controlled, then collected kickbacks for referring those victims for medical and legal services provided by others who pleaded guilty in the scheme, including a doctor, a lawyer, three licensed chiropractors, a paralegal and a licensed acupuncturist.
“We are moving forward with our prosecution of the final defendant in an investigation that put a stop to egregious corruption of New Jersey’s medical, legal, and insurance industries,” said Attorney General Porrino. “We will continue to enforce the laws that protect patients from being treated like cattle being sold to the highest bidder.”
“Patients must be able to trust that medical decisions are being made in their interest, not in the interest of criminals trying to scam the insurance system,” said Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Christopher Iu. “As this case demonstrates, anyone who exploits and manipulates patients for financial gain will be held accountable.”
According to the allegations against him, Riotto caused numerous fraudulent claims to be submitted to five insurance carriers in connection with patients he referred to MLS Medical, a Park Ridge practice specializing in pain management owned by another participant in the Bandy brother’s criminal scheme.
Riotto allegedly received the patients for his chiropractic practice through the Bandy brothers’ illegal runners network, then referred them to MLS Medical without disclosing to them that he had a financial interest in the practice. MLS Medical, in turn, submitted insurance claims for those patients without disclosing to insurance carriers that the patients had been referred by a practitioner with financial interest in the practice.
Twelve defendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced in the criminal enterprise exposed in the April 2014 indictment of Anhuar and Karim Bandy and 10 others. Five more individuals, including Riotto, were subsequently charged in connection with the scheme.
The Bandy brothers have admitted that between June 1, 2009 and January 1, 2014 they illegally controlled several chiropractic facilities through purported “management companies” and “marketing companies” whose real purpose was to hide their ownership. New Jersey regulations require that chiropractic facilities be owned by licensed chiropractors or medical doctors; neither Bandy holds such titles.
In order to generate revenue for the chiropractic facilities, the brothers used “runners” to bring motor vehicle accident patients to the facilities so the straw owners could bill insurance carriers for services rendered at the facilities. An investigation determined that, through the scheme, the chiropractic facilities billed insurance companies for millions of dollars for services they purported to perform. The checks sent by the insurance carriers were deposited into the various accounts of the chiropractic facilities or the management companies. A large portion of the monies deposited into the accounts of the chiropractic facilities would then be paid to the Bandy management companies.
The runners were paid up to $1,000 for each patient that they recruited for medical treatment. An investigation determined that the runners retrieved motor vehicle accident reports at local police stations, under the Open Public Records Act rules, and then visited the homes of the motor vehicle accident victims in an attempt to persuade them to utilize the services of the chiropractic facilities controlled by the Bandy brothers. The runners picked up the motor vehicle accident patients from their homes and drove them to the chiropractic facilities. An investigation determined that payments were made to companies incorporated by Karim Bandy for over a thousand referrals of patients for medical treatment and/or clients for legal representation.
In July 2015, Anhuar and Karim Bandy pleaded guilty to second-degree insurance fraud and were each sentenced to six-and-a-half-year prison terms in hearings that took place in June and July, respectively, of this year. They also were ordered to pay a $100,000 fine and $50,000 reimbursement to insurance companies that paid thousands of fraudulent claims over a four-year period.
The following professional service providers pleaded guilty and were sentenced in the scheme:
Dr. Mark Schwartz, D.O., 50, of Park Ridge, owner of MLS Medical in Park Ridge who pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree health care claims fraud and was sentenced to three years of probation and 40 hours of community service.
David Walker, Esq., 58, of Rockaway, a personal injury lawyer who pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree conspiracy and was sentenced to two years of probation and 40 hours of community service.
Alexandra Gallegos, 55, of Piscataway, a paralegal who received a percentage of the profits of Walker’s firm, who filed personal injury claims on behalf of the motor vehicle accident patients. She pleaded guilty to third-degree conspiracy and third-degree criminal use of runners and was sentenced two years of probation, 40 hours of community service, and a $5,000 criminal fine.
Edward Formisano, D.C., 55, of Roxbury, a chiropractor and purported owner of Eclipse Chiropractic, located in Plainfield; Lakewood Chiropractic, located in Lakewood; Liberty Chiropractic Center, located in Jersey City; and Chiropractic Spine Center, located in Perth Amboy. He pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree health care claims fraud and was sentenced to two years of probation and 40 hours of community service.
Louis Brown, D.C., 65, of Rahway, a chiropractor and purported owner of True Healing and Wellness, located in New Brunswick; New Century Chiropractic, located in Dover; and Wellspring Rehabilitation, located in North Plainfield. He pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal use of a runner and was sentenced to two years of probation and 40 hours of community service.
Gerald Roth, D.C., 69, of Highland Park, a chiropractor who pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal use of runners and was sentenced to one year of probation.
Sergey Lipschitz, 44, of Morganville, an acupuncturist who pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree insurance fraud and was admitted into the Pretrial Intervention Program.
The following individuals pleaded guilty to criminal use of runners (3rd degree) and were sentenced:
Cesar Huaman, 48, of Orlando, Fla., who also recruited other runners in the scheme, also pleaded guilty to third-degree conspiracy. He was sentenced to two years of probation.
Estefania Frias, 27, of Plainfield, who is Anhuar Bandy’s fiancé, was sentenced to two years of probation, 40 hours of community service, a $2,000 criminal fine, and $2,000 in restitution.
Bernardo Neiman, 55, of Elizabeth, was sentenced to one year of probation.
Lillian Frias, 55, of Plainfield, who is Estefania Frias’ mother; Albert Lee Hughes, 35, of Orlando, Fla.; and Anali Rivera, 29, Somerville, were all admitted into the Pretrial Intervention Program based on the charges in the indictment. Charges are pending against Rene Lacotera, 39, of Elizabeth, who is being sought on a fugitive warrant.
In 2004, Anhuar Bandy was convicted on charges of criminal racketeering, conspiracy, health care claims fraud, and theft charges brought by the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor. Bandy subsequently served approximately four years in state prison.
Deputy Attorney Cheryl Maccaroni, Bureau Chief, Private Insurance, represented the State in the filing of the criminal charges against Riotto on September 8, 2017. Lt. Joseph Waters, Investigator/Analyst Marwa Kashef coordinated the investigation. Detectives Janet Amberg, Amy Carson, Heather Pittman, and Analyst Bethany Schussler assisted in the investigation. Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Iu thanks the Special Investigations Units and counsel for the following insurance Companies: Allstate, Plymouth Rock, Liberty Mutual, Geico and Travelers; as well as the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, the New Jersey Division of Taxation, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau for their assistance in the investigation.
Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Iu noted that some important cases have started with anonymous tips. People who are concerned about insurance cheating and have information about a fraud can report it anonymously by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-877-55-FRAUD, or visiting the Web site at www.NJInsurancefraud.org. State regulations permit a reward to be paid to an eligible person who provides information that leads to an arrest, prosecution and conviction for insurance fraud.
Hawthorne NJ, No injuries were reported following a Tuesday evening, 09/26, crash in which a 4-door sedan was inadvertently driven into an open construction trench on Goffle Road under Route 208 in Hawthorne. The vehicle was removed from its predicament by a flatbed tow truck. Hawthorne Police officers were on the scene monitoring traffic flow at the construction site when the incident occurred. No word from officers on the scene as to whether any summonses would be issued in connection with the crash. The driver was provided with a “courtesy” ride home by Hawthorne Police.
Glen Rock NJ, as previously reported on the Ridgewood blog , “The GRPD has been receiving a large amount of alcohol related juvenile calls this evening including large groups of juveniles causing disturbances around town. Please be advised that any juveniles caught in possession of alcohol can be charged on a juvenile delinquency complaint. We are advising parents who may be unaware of their children’s whereabouts to reach out to them.”
Glen Rock Police followed up , “Between approximately 8 PM and 9 PM a high volume of complaints were received about large groups of juveniles causing disturbances throughout the borough. While responding to a Sycamore Terrace resident’s complaint about juvenile trespassers, P.O. T.J. Graziani arrested a 16-year-old Glen Rock male for underage possession of alcohol. The juvenile was detained and turned over to the custody of his mother pending further action.
As the volume of complaints received exceeded the resources available to respond, Det. Jim Calaski sent out a message via the GRPD Facebook page advising parents who may be unaware of their children’s whereabouts or activities to reach out to them. In addition to 36 “likes”, parents apparently responded quickly as the call volume subsided and the presences of disorderly individuals around town subsided in a timely manner. ”
Ridgewood NJ, in explosive testimony in the Senator Menendez Corruption trial , wealthy eye-doctor pal of Sen. Robert Menendez threatened to “make trouble” for the US Commerce Department through his “politically influential friends” if he did not get help with a troubled business project, it emerged at his bribery trial on Monday.
According to Commerce staffer Sam Smith a witness in the trial Dr. Salomon Melgen who is on trial for bribery alongside Menendez in Newark federal court made the threatening comments through a lawyer at a 2012 meeting. The lawyer set up the meeting to pressure Commerce Dept. officials to help Melgen with a costly contract dispute, Smith said.
“He was very aggressive and threatening and constantly brought up the fact that he could make trouble for the department and he could be a bull in the Commerce Dept.’s china shop,” Smith told jurors about the meeting with Melgen’s lawyer, Elio Muller.
“He stated that Dr. Melgen had politically influential friends and they could cause a lot of problems for Commerce Dept. if Dr. Melgen didn’t think he was being served well,” Smith added.
When asked who Muller was referring to when he spoke of Melgen’s “politically influential friends,” Smith didn’t hesitate to say Menendez, a senior Democratic senator from NJ who stands accused of accepting bribes from Melgen in exchange for official favors.
Ridgewood NJ, today is National Voter Registration Day , it is a national holiday celebrating our democracy. It was first observed in 2012 and has been growing in popularity every year since. Held on the fourth Tuesday of September, National Voter Registration Day will be observed on Tuesday, September 26th this year.
To vote in New Jersey, one must be a United States citizen and a resident of his or her county for at least 30 days prior to the election. A voter must be at least 18 years old by the time of the next election in order to register. The registration deadline occurs 21 days prior to the election.
Voter information for Bergen County : https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/499
Voter registration in Bergen County New Jersey: https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/1224
OCTOBER 17, 2017 DEADLINE GENERAL ELECTION (9:00 PM)
Ridgewood NJ, Teaching can be a profoundly rewarding career, considering the critical role educators play in shaping young minds. But many teachers find themselves overworked and underpaid. Historically education jobs are among the lowest-paying occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree, and teacher salaries consistently fail to keep up with inflation. Meanwhile, the law demands better student performance, but some critics argue that it deprives educators of guidance and positive incentive to improve their own effectiveness in the classroom.
This combination of job pressures, low pay and lack of mobility forces many teachers to quit soon after they start, a pattern that has led to a perpetual attrition problem in America’s public schools. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about a fifth of all newly minted public-school teachers leave their positions before the end of their first year, and nearly half never last more than five. Many teachers, especially novices, transfer to other schools or abandon the profession altogether “as the result of feeling overwhelmed, ineffective, and unsupported,” according to ASCD, a nonprofit focused on improving the education community.
In some states, however, teachers are more fairly paid and treated than in others and therefore less likely to face a revolving door of teacher turnover. To help America’s educators find the best opportunities and teaching environments, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 21 key indicators of teacher-friendliness. Our data set ranges from teachers’ income growth potential to pupil-teacher ratio to teacher safety. Read on for our findings, expert insight from a panel of researchers and a full description of our methodology.
WalletHub ranked states that are most conducive to be a teacher , New Jersey placed second . The top 5 were New York, New Jersey, Illinois , Connecticut, Pennsylvania.
Ramapough Lenape Nation , Join us for an early celebration of the 1 year Anniversary of Split Rock Sweetwater Prayer Camp on Sunday, October 1st from 12-5pm. Bring food (potluck!), games, family, and friends as we celebrate and recognize the entire community we have built over the last year.
– Tobacco Ceremony (12pm)
– Potluck (bring a dish!)
– Beading workshops (11am and 3pm)
– Artisans
– Community Building
On October 16, 2016, the Ramapough Lenape Nation and supporters erected teepees on their ceremonial grounds at 95 Halifax Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430 in solidarity with Standing Rock and to resist the proposed Pilgrim Pipeline.
Since then, indigenous groups from all over the world, environmentalists, and allies have come together in prayer and solidarity for protection of the land and waters. Come out and join us for a huge celebration!
Sunday at 12 PM – 5 PM
Split Rock Sweetwater Prayer Camp
95 Halifax Road, Mahwah, New Jersey
Ridgewood NJ, The Bergen County Board of Elections is currently recruiting poll workers. This important civic responsibility is open to all registered voters in Bergen County. It is vital to the democratic process to recruit and train reliable poll workers.
In order to be eligibility, you must meet the following criteria:
Must be able to work from approximately 5 AM to 9 PM on election day.
Must be able to read and speak English.
Must be registered to vote in Bergen County.
Must complete a 2-hour Poll Worker Training Class.
Duties include but are not limited to:
Arriving at 5:15 AM to set up machines, poll books and other material at designated polling district.
Sign-in voters and/or activate machine to receive voters.
If necessary, assist voters in the operation of the electronic voting machine.
Answer voter’s procedural questions.
Close polls at the end of the day which may include delivering materials to borough hall.
How to Apply:
Call the Board of Elections at 201-336-6235 or 201-336-6230
Complete the Poll Worker Application available here https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/5997 and fax to 201-336-6242 or mail to
Bergen County Board of Elections, One Bergen County Plaza, 3rd Floor, Room 310, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Upon approval of your application, you will be scheduled for a Poll Worker Training Class.
After successful completion of training class, you will be assigned to a polling site and contacted with this information.
Hackensack NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the following arrests:
ANTHONY PEGUERO (D.O.B. 2/07/1994; single; and employed as a mover) of 272 S 8th Street, Newark, New Jersey; charged with Trafficking in Stolen Identities, Check Fraud and Theft by Deception;
DALESKA DILLERVA (D.O.B. 2/21/1995; single; and unemployed) of 272 S 8th Street, Newark, New Jersey; charged with Trafficking in Stolen Identities, Check Fraud and Theft by Deception;
LEZLIE MERCEDES (D.O.B. 10/07/1997; single; and employed as a concierge) of 27 Newman Street, Hackensack, New Jersey; charged with Check Fraud and Theft by Deception;
GUILLERMO LOPEZ (D.O.B. 8/04/1987; single; and unemployed) of 92 Summit Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey; charged with Check Fraud and Theft by Deception;
ALYSHA VIERA (D.O.B. 12/04/1997; single; and employed as store clerk) of 313 2nd Street, Carlstadt, New Jersey; charged with Check Fraud and Theft by Deception;
FRANCISCO TROCHE (D.O.B. 10/27/1991; single; employed as a cook) of 20 Hiram Place, Harrison, New Jersey; charged with Check Fraud and Theft by Deception;
CLAUDIO RODRIGUES (D.O.B. 9/14/1991; single; and employed as an automotive service manager) of 117 Rutherford Place, Kearny, New Jersey; Check Fraud and Theft by Deception.
The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutors Office Financial Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti.
In August of 2017, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office received a complaint from County of Bergen financial officers regarding the fraudulent production and deposit of checks which were made to appear as if they were issued from a Bergen County payroll account. Along with the checks, it was determined that illicit wire activity had also occurred which brought the total theft amount to over $50,000.
The investigation revealed that DILLERVA and PEGUERO organized the illicit activities of a group of individuals who were responsible for forging and negotiating business checks. The checks were deposited in co-conspirators’ accounts and then the illicitly obtained funds were withdrawn before the forgeries and deception were uncovered. MERCEDES, LOPEZ, VIERA, TROCHE, and RODRIGUEZ acted in concert along with DILLERVA and PEGUERO to access and use the illicit bank accounts in which the forged checks were deposited. As a result of the still ongoing investigation, other suspected victim business accounts have been identified.
As a result of the investigation:
Alysha VIERA was arrested on Friday, September 8, 2017 in Paramus, New Jersey and charged with one count of Issuing or Passing Bad Checks, with a value greater than $1,000 but less than $75,000, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-5, a 3rd degree crime; and, one count of Theft by Deception, with a benefit greater than $500 but less than $75,000, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4a, a 3rd degree crime. The complaint was issued as a summons and VIERA is scheduled to appear in Central Judicial Processing Court at 8:30 a.m. on September 20, 2017.
Guillermo LOPEZ was arrested on Monday, September 11, 2017 in Jersey City, New Jersey and charged with one count of Issuing or Passing Bad Checks, with a value greater than $1,000 but less than $75,000, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-5, a 3rd degree crime; and one count of Theft by Deception, with a benefit greater than $500 but less than $75,000, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4a, a 3rd degree crime. The complaint was issued as a summons and LOPEZ is scheduled to appear in Central Judicial Processing Court at 8:30 a.m. on September 27, 2017.
Anthony PEGUERO was arrested on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 in Newark, New Jersey and charged with one count of Fraudulent Use, Distribution, Manufacture, and/or Possession of Items Containing the Personal Identification Information of Another (Trafficking in Stolen Identities), ten of more items pertaining to five or more persons, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17.3, a 2nd degree crime, one count of Issuing or Passing Bad Checks, with a value greater than $1,000 but less than $75,000, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-5, a 3rd degree crime; and one count of Theft by Deception, with a benefit greater than $500 but less than $75,000, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4a, a 3rd degree crime. The complaint was issued as a warrant and PEGUERO was detained pending a detention hearing.
Daleska DILLERVA was arrested on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 in Newark, New Jersey and charged with one count of Fraudulent Use, Distribution, Manufacture, and/or Possession of Items Containing the Personal Identification Information of Another (Trafficking in Stolen Identities), ten of more items pertaining to five or more persons, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17.3, a 2nd degree crime, one count of Issuing or Passing Bad Checks, with a value greater than $1,000 but less than $75,000, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-5, a 3rd degree crime; and, one count of Theft by Deception, with a benefit greater than $500 but less than $75,000, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4a, a 3rd degree crime. The complaint was issued as a summons and DILLERVA is scheduled to appear in Central Judicial Processing Court at 8:30 a.m. on October 4, 2017.
Francisco TROCHE was arrested on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 in Paramus, New Jersey and charged with one count of Issuing or Passing Bad Checks, with a value greater than $200 but less than $1,000, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-5, a 4th degree crime; and, one count of Theft by Deception, with a benefit greater than $500 but less than $75,000, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4a, a 3rd degree crime. The complaint was issued as a summons and TROCHE is scheduled to appear in Central Judicial Processing Court at 8:30 a.m. on October 4, 2017.
Claudio RODRIGUES was arrested on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 in Paramus, New Jersey and charged with one count of Issuing or Passing Bad Checks, with a value greater than $1,000 but less than $75,000, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-5, a 3rd degree crime; and, one count of Theft by Deception, with a benefit greater than $500 but less than $75,000, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4a, a 3rd degree crime. The complaint was issued as a summons and RODRIGUES is scheduled to appear in Central Judicial Processing Court at 8:30 a.m. on October 4, 2017.
Lezlie MERCEDES was arrested on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 in Paramus, New Jersey and charged with one count of Issuing or Passing Bad Checks, with a value greater than $1,000 but less than $75,000, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-5, a 3rd degree crime; and, one count of Theft by Deception, with a benefit greater than $500 but less than $75,000, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4a, a 3rd degree crime. The complaint was issued as a summons and MERCEDES is scheduled to appear in Central Judicial Processing Court at 8:30 a.m. on October 4, 2017.
