Paramus NJ, On Sunday, August 27, 2017, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, along with members of the Paramus Police Department, under the direction of Chief Kenneth Ehrenberg, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Saudino, investigated a fatal motor vehicle collision in which two passengers of a 2001 Ford Mustang were ejected and killed as the car crashed along Route 4 East, into the Bergen Town Centre parking lot in Paramus, New Jersey.
Officers responded to the Bergen Town Centre parking lot on Sunday, August 27, 2017 at approximately 1:09 a.m., on multiple reports of a serious, roll-over, motor vehicle crash. There, officers found the heavily damaged Ford Mustang. All four occupants of the vehicle had been ejected and were found near the vehicle in the parking lot. One of the victims, a 19 year old female Garfield, New Jersey resident, was dead upon police arrival. The other three victims, two Garfield females, both of whom are believed to be in their early twenties; and a 23 year old Paterson male, were transported to Hackensack University Medical Center. After her arrival, one of the Garfield female victims succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead. The other female remains hospitalized with serious injuries. The Paterson male was treated and released. At this time, the Prosecutor’s Office is not identifying the vehicle occupants, pending further investigation and notification of next of kin.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation and no determination has yet been made relative to any potential criminal or motor vehicle charges. Prosecutor Grewal would like to thank members of the Paramus Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance in this ongoing investigation.
Advisory: ROAD CONSTRUCTION NOTICE: Berkeley Place – Carlton Place – Elmwood Avenue
ROAD CONSTRUCTION NOTICE:
Berkeley Place – Carlton Place – Elmwood Avenue
On Monday August 28th milling will take place in preparation for paving. On Wednesday & Thursday August 30th and 31st paving will be done.
All vehicles must be removed from these streets by 7:30AM. Emergency No Parking Regulations will be enforced. Vehicles left on the street obstructing roadway repairs will be towed at the owner’s expense.
Access to these roadways during and immediately after paving will be limited. Residents should plan according.
Any question, please contact the Glen Rock DPW at (201) 670-3980.
file photo by Boyd Loving The Paramus Police Department is cracking down August 18 thru September 4
Impaired Driving Enforcement Crackdown to be Conducted Locally as Part of National Campaign
August 27,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, Police agencies from around New Jersey are gearing up for the state’s largest annual drunk driving crackdown. The 2017 “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Statewide Labor Day Crackdown begins August 18 and concludes on September 4. During the campaign, local and state law enforcement officers will conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols targeting motorists who may be driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” is a national campaign designed to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through high-visibility enforcement backed up by educational activities including national radio and television advertisements, posters, banners and mobile video display signs. The campaign looks to curtail impaired driving during the busy summer travel season, including the Labor Day holiday period.
“Despite years of enforcement and public awareness efforts, too many people still make the unfortunate decision to get behind the wheel while impaired. Nearly 30% of all motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey are alcohol related,” said Gary Poedubicky, Acting Director of the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “This is a zero tolerance campaign. If drivers are caught operating their vehicle while impaired they will be arrested,” he added.
As part of the initiative, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety provides grants to local police agencies throughout the state to run the two-week campaign. During last year’s crackdown, participating agencies made 1,649 DWI arrests.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over 2017 crackdown offer the following advice:
• If you plan to drink, designate a driver, someone who will not drink alcohol, before going out.
• Take mass transit, a taxi or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
• Spend the night where the activity is held.
• Always buckle up, every ride, regardless of your seating position in the vehicle. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver.
• If you’re intoxicated and traveling on foot, the safest way to get home is to take a cab or have a sober friend or family member drive you to your doorstep
Kelly Nicholaides, Staff Writer, @rovingwriter Published 6:18 a.m. ET Aug. 26, 2017 | Updated 8:50 a.m. ET Aug. 26, 2017
GARFIELD — Merchants and homeowners are bracing for an eminent domain fight since their properties were included in a redevelopment study. Mayor Richard Rigoglioso points to news and magazine clips he is collecting that characterize Garfield as one of the worst places to live in New Jersey as to why redevelopment is needed to regrow the city.
Rigoglioso wants to change the negative perception–beginning with redeveloping the six block area surrounding the Passaic Street train station.
“It’s a tough area to live in, overpopulated with a lot of 2 to 3 family units and absentee landlords. These six blocks haven’t changed for the better,” said Rigoglioso after the Aug. 24 Planning Board meeting. “If we redevelop the area, we can gain Transit Village status, like what Bloomfield did to improve the area around their train station. We want people to visit Garfield and spend money here.”
Paramus NJ, the Paramus Police have issues a CRIME ALERT: DISTRACTION BURGLARY ATTEMPT. Paramus residents recently reported two instances of “Distraction Burglary Attempts” . First in the area of Paramus Road and Johnson Court was almost the victim of a diversion burglary. One suspect approached the homeowner and stated he was a police officer and needed to see the residents backyard.
Meanwhile a second suspect entered the unlocked front door of the home where he was confronted by a second resident. Suspect 2 stated he was with the water company and needed to check their pipes. Both suspects are described as olive skin possibly Hispanic. The suspects fled in a white pickup truck prior to stealing anything. If you are not sure whether a person is a legitimate water company worker, utility worker or police officer call your local police to confirm. Anyone with information is asked to call us at 201-262-3400
Glen Rock NJ, according to the Glen Rock Police , A Glen Rock man reported that his bicycle, valued at $200, was stolen from the NJ Transit Bergen County Line Train Station during the day. He had left the bicycle unlocked next to a bench before getting on a train at about 8AM and discovered it missing when he returned at 4 PM.
There have been a series of these types of robberies at NJT train stations along both the Main Line and the Bergen Line including some in Ridgewood , please lock your bikes up !
The Glen Rock detective bureau is currently investigating a series of bicycle thefts from both the Main Line and Bergen County Line Boro Hall NJ Transit train stations. As of this time there are no known witnesses or evidence. Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at (201) 670-3947 or (201) 670-3948. Anyone who suspects they are witnessing a theft in progress should call 9-1-1.
By Anjalee Khemlani, August 25, 2017 at 7:56 AM
Stockton University professors Christina Cavaliere, left, and Donna Albano. – (STOCKTON UNIVERSITY)
Professors at Stockton University at looking at how the $1.24 billion craft beer industry — as well as distilleries — can be a force for economic development in the Garden State.
“Distilleries in New Jersey are contributing to a sense of place in New Jersey,” said Christina Cavaliere, an assistant professor of hospitality and tourism management at Stockton, in Galloway.
She said the national trend contributes to other industries, including hospitality and agriculture, according to a statement from the university.
Mahwah NJ, the Bergen Rockland Eruv Association got approval from the local utility company to use its poles for the eruv, Mahwah says the materials violate township’s 20 year old ordinance against posting on utility poles. At a meeting on Aug. 18 the council voted to issue summonses if the eruv was not removed.
The Bergen Rockland Eruv association claims the order violates their constitutional and civil rights. The religious group has threatened to sue Upper Saddle River if the town tries to remove the markers. And a federal lawsuit, has already been filed against Mahwah . Mahwah has brought in Holwell Shuster & Goldberg LLP to represent Mahwah Township in the lawsuit brought upon by the Rockland Bergen Eruv Fund.
Residents and elected officials of both Mahwah and Upper Saddle River have reacted with outrage and concern after seeing the eruv markings given their view that no one asked their permission. Most of Northern Bergen County has viewed the eruv expansion as a power grab and a threat to their community autonomy .
A group called Mahwah Strong has been establish by local residents who have come together for the purpose of preserving the welcoming, inclusionary lifestyle of Mahwah Township. The group not a fan of the eruv but also distanced it self from recent acts of vandalism , reiterating they do not condone acts of vandalism.
Vandalism of the eruv pushed Mahwah Police Chief James Batelli to issue a statement saying in the area of East Crescent Avenue the eruvim was hit with “some type of blunt object” that damaged the piping. The incidents, according to the chief, likely happened on Friday evening. There were no reports of anyone seeing or hearing the vandalism occur.
Chief Batelli said it “appears that the eruvs were specifically targeted,” and that the department is already investigating similar incidents that happened in July as a hate crime. Mahwah Mayor Bill Laforet is offering a $1,000 reward for information about the vandalism.
So what is an eruv , an eruv, in modern terminology, is a technical boundary that allows Jews to carry in public areas on Shabbat. It is one of those traditions which has blossomed from a basic Torah principle into a highly complicated legal matter.
Under Jewish law on Shabbat, it is forbidden to carry anything–regardless of its weight, size or purpose–from a “private” domain into a “public” one or vice versa, or more than four cubits (approximately 6 feet) within a public domain. Private and public do not refer to ownership, rather to the nature of the area. An enclosed area is considered a private domain, whereas an open area is considered public for the purposes of these laws.
Practically, it is forbidden to carry something, such as a tallit bag or a prayer book from one’s home along the street and to a synagogue or to push a baby carriage from home to a synagogue, or to another home, on Shabbat.
The answer is a technical enclosure which surrounds both private and hitherto public domains and thus creates a large private domain in which carrying is permitted on Shabbat. Colloquially this is known as an eruv. The eruv is usually large enough to include entire neighborhoods with homes, apartments and synagogues, making it possible to carry on Shabbat, since one is never leaving one’s domain.
A wall can be a wall even if it has many doorways creating large open spacesIt is technical, because theoretically the eruv should be a wall. However, a wall can be a wall even if it has many doorways creating large open spaces. This means that a wall does not have to be solid. Therefore, the eruv enclosure may be created by telephone poles, for example, which act as the vertical part of a door post in a wall, with the existing cables strung between the poles acting as the lintel of the doorframe. As such, the entire “wall” is actually a series of “doorways.” Added to that there may be existing natural boundaries and fences.
While there are an increasing number of eruvs being established throughout the world in traditional Jewish communities, support for the practice is not universal.
There is the concern that if there is an eruv in a community, those who rely on it may very easily forget when they travel to communities without an eruv, and carry on Shabbat.
A second concern is that if the eruv breaks during Shabbat, no one will know. As a result, they will conduct themselves as if there still is a functioning eruv, this breaking the rules of Shabbat.
It is imperative that an expert rabbi oversee the construction of any eruv The final and perhaps the major concern is that because an eruv allows an exception to the prohibition against carrying on Shabbat, it is quite natural for anyone regularly using an eruv to forget that this is an exception; forgetting that there is a prohibition against carrying on Shabbat
Ridgewood NJ, Democrat Senator Bob Menendez is about to go on trial for corruption in New Jersey and a federal judge has ordered that the Senator physically remain in the court room throughout the entire process.
Senator Menendez countered by filing a request to the court asking if he could leave for votes in the Senate. Federal prosecutors filed a scathing opposition to the request and reminded him he isn’t above the law simply because he is a U.S. Senator.
“After being indicted twice for depriving the people who elected him of their right to his honest services, defendant Robert Menendez now demands that this Court disrupt his criminal trial so that he can perform his duties as a United States Senator. Defendant Menendez was indicted in 2015 and 2016 for bribery, conspiracy, honest services fraud, false statements, and violating the Travel Act. Those indictments allege a seven-year bribery conspiracy in which he traded the power of his public office for a lavish lifestyle that included private jet rides and vacations in Paris and the Caribbean,”
They continued , “The only reason defendant Menendez’s trial is scheduled for September 2017, almost two-and-a-half years after he was first indicted by a grand jury, is because he has spent that time pursuing a meritless argument that the Constitution immunizes him from prosecution—an argument that has been rejected by every judge to have considered it. Now he seeks to use his status as a United States Senator to pick and choose the dates on which his criminal trial will be conducted.”
Adding , “the Arrest Clause does not exalt Members of Congress to a status above the law:It is, therefore, sufficiently plain that the constitutional freedom from arrest does not exempt Members of Congress from the operation of the ordinary criminal laws,even though imprisonment may prevent or interfere with the performance of their duties as Members.”
Ending with ,”This is not the first time defendant Menendez has sought special treatment from this Court. At defendant Menendez’s very first appearance, he asked to be exempted from the routine requirement that defendants surrender their personal passports because of his status as a United States Senator,” the response continues. “This case began with defendant Menendez being treated like any other defendant, and it should end that way….only a United States Senator can try to hide behind the very office he corrupted to avoid accountability to the public for his actions.”
Advisory: ROAD CONSTRUCTION NOTICE: South Highwood Avenue – Highwood Terrance – Ferguson Place
ROAD CONSTRUCTION NOTICE:
South Highwood Avenue – Highwood Terrance – Ferguson Place
On Saturday August 26th milling will take place in preparation for paving. On Wednesday & Thursday August 30th and 31st paving will be done.
All vehicles must be removed from these streets by 7:30AM. Emergency No Parking Regulations will be enforced. Vehicles left on the street obstructing roadway repairs will be towed at the owner’s expense.
Access to these roadways during and immediately after paving will be limited. Residents should plan according.
Any question, please contact the Glen Rock DPW at (201) 670-3980.
Oradell NJ, sad news to report authorities confirmed that the body of Mark Schlegel, the talent agent from Oradell who has been missing for 11 days, has been discovered.
A Bergen County official confirmed on Thursday afternoon that the body of the missing man had been discovered.
Schlegel, 57, who worked for the Manhattan-based Cornerstone Talent agency had been missing since Sunday. Aug 13. He was last seen near Soldier Hill Road. According to reports a bloodhound detected his scent near a bus stop , while other reports suggest and officer found the body near Kinderkamack Road.
Paramus NJ, he’s back , speculation swirls as Steve Lonegan will announce his bid for US Congress NJ-5. The New Jersey Fifth Congressional District is currently represented by Democrat Josh Gottheimer who defeated long time Congressmen Scott Garrett . The district is composed of parts of Bergen , Passiac ,Sussex and Warren counties.
Lonegan’s announcement comes today August 24,2017 at the Courtyard Marriott in Paramus at 11am and promises to add fireworks to what is being billed as a very expensive and hotly contested seat.
Lonegan has gone up against long odds before when successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, one of the highest mountains in the world in December 2015 on a three week trip to Tanzania, Africa .
Steven Mark “Steve” Lonegan ,born April 27, 1956 is an New Jersey businessman and politician. He served as Mayor of Bogota, New Jersey, from 1995 to 2007. He is member of the Republican Party, Lonegan was named the New Jersey State Chairman for the Ted Cruz for President campaign in June 2015. He also served as a national spokesman for the campaign and appeared on various news outlets such as Fox News, Fox Business, CNN, and MSNBC.
His resume is outstanding ,Lonegan was Director of Monetary Policy for the American Principles Project , where he served as the organization’s national spokesman on monetary policies of the Federal Reserve System and directed the Fix the Dollar project until January 2016.
Lonegan lectured across the country to a range of audiences on the history of money and current monetary policy conditions. On February 27, 2015, Lonegan led a team of economists and conservative think tank leaders into a meeting with Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and Federal Reserve officials at the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the Federal Reserve System.
In August 2015, through American Principles Project, Lonegan hosted an international monetary conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming that included leaders from around the world and was held directly opposite the Federal Reserve’s annual economic symposium.
Lonegan also served as the State Director of the New Jersey chapter of Americans for Prosperity and was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of New Jersey in 2005 and 2009. He was the Republican Party’s nominee in the October 2013 special election to fill New Jersey’s open U.S. Senate seat following the death of Frank Lautenberg.
Government spending essential to eclipse viewing … Never let a crisis, or, seemingly, an astronomical observance, go to waste. That’s the message of Emily Atkin, who wrote in the New Republic, “Trump’s budget cuts could mess up your next solar eclipse viewing.” Apparently if the government doesn’t spend money it doesn’t have on satellites, you won’t be able to see an eclipse. This is absurd, unless her audience was astrophysicists who use the equipment.
Coverage gap … As I mentioned last week, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., is scheduled for trial on corruption charges on September 6, 2017. The jury selection in that trial starts today. While local newspapers like the NY Times and local television stations have covered jury selection, cable networks have been eerily silent. American Commitment president Phil Kerpen asks an important question on Twitter: “Any networks doing stand ups outside Menendez’s jury selection this morning?” I wouldn’t hold my breath, Phil.
What bombing plot? … Yesterday, a man was arrested for allegedly trying to blow up a confederate statue in Houston. According to NewsBusters, none of the broadcast networks covered the case. If this was someone they could pin to the Right, you know it would have been covered.
NEWARK, N.J. – Sen. Bob Menendez said Tuesday that he expects to be exonerated of federal bribery charges, as lawyers began picking the jurors who will decide his fate in a trial set to begin next month.
“Looking forward to picking a good jury,” the New Jersey Democrat told reporters as he arrived at the federal courthouse here, flanked by his lawyers.
His arrival just before 9:30 a.m. set off a day in which U.S. District Judge William H. Walls, prosecutors, and Menendez’s defense team worked to winnow the pool of about 200 prospective jurors to the 12 men and women and four alternates who will hear the case.
Whatever verdict the panel reaches – after a trial expected to last one to two months — has the potential to reverberate far beyond the courtroom. Should Menendez be convicted, it almost certainly would mean the end of his four-decade political career in New Jersey and could dramatically shift the makeup of the Senate.
Erica JedynakPublished 11:28 a.m. ET Aug. 22, 2017 | Updated 1:54 p.m. ET Aug. 22, 2017
New Jersey’s pension system is failing, and it is going to take a lot of good people down with it.
That sad fact adds a touch of poignancy – along with a dash of frustration – to the latest bad news on the state’s finances. The Mercatus Center, a think tank based at George Mason University, recently rated New Jersey’s state finances as the worst in the country.
While some of the data might seem obscure to non-accountants, the problems are all too straightforward – over-promising and underfunding. Successive administrations and legislative majorities of both parties have made overgenerous commitments, then failed to fund them, leaving a tab that the state’s future taxpayers cannot possibly cover.
New Jersey’s public pension crisis is a stark case in point. With more than $235 billion in unfunded liabilities – $26,000 for every man, woman and child – the state’s retirement system is among the worst in the nation. And while you’re reading this, the problem – decades in the making – is getting worse.
