file photo by Boyd Loving
Updated March 13, 2017
Posted March 13, 2017
By Samantha Marcus | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
New Jersey is known for having the highest property taxes in the country. In 2016, the average tax bill hit $8,549. But in many towns the average is well below that mark.
Here are the 30 New Jersey towns with lowest property tax bills — all where homeowners pay less than half the state average.
By RYAN HUTCHINS
03/14/17 05:32 AM EDT
TRENTON — Democratic lawmakers in the Statehouse are considering major changes to New Jersey’s infrastructure spending program but are being met with resistance from their Republican colleagues.
The complex, 21-page bill (S3075) would enact broad amendments to the law passed last year authorizing the state’s Transportation Trust Fund to spend $2 billion per year on road, bridge and transit projects.
The new measure, sponsored by Senate President Stephen Sweeney, would strip a key transparency requirement, delay the creation of a panel to review the proposals and create a new system by which counties and towns could take over stalled projects. It would also allow the state to “bundle” several related projects, potentially speeding up environmental reviews and engineering work.
Introduced a week ago, the bill was quickly ushered through committee and was scheduled for a vote in the state Senate Monday, but never went on the board. Sweeney said he did not have enough support to call a vote without first sending the bill though a second reading. Such a predicament suggests fairly significant Republican opposition.
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook
March 14,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, Paramus firefighters battled a smokey blaze fire that engulfed a large storage shed at the Denny Wiggers Garden Center, 395 Paramus Road, Paramus on Monday morning, 03/13. No injuries were reported in the conflagration.
The structure was apparently being used to store fire wood.
Traffic on busy Paramus Road was detoured throughout the incident. Mutual aid to cover empty Paramus firehouses was provided by several municipalities.
Established in 1991, Denny Wiggers Gardens is billed as being an environmentally friendly Company.
Kristie Cattafi , Staff Writer, @KristieCattafiPublished 7:22 p.m. ET March 7, 2017 | Updated 11:53 a.m. ET March 8, 2017
GARFIELD — Discussions are underway for a transit village designation around Garfield Station and the possibility of a commuter parking garage.
Plans for the parking garage were unveiled at the Garfield Redevelopment meeting March 6. The garage would be in the 1st Ward rehabilitation area, flanked by Somerset Street, Palisade Avenue, Hepworth Place and Hudson Street, along the train tracks. Plans call for a three-story structure with 468 spaces, said Pike Development’s president, Peter Cornell, who gave the presentation.
Editors Note: Former President Bill Clinton asked 93 politically-appointed U.S. attorneys to resign in 1993, which didn’t prompt as much media outrage as when President Trump did it.
Dustin Racioppi , State House Bureau, @dracioppiPublished 6:12 p.m. ET March 13, 2017 | Updated 4 hours ago
Gov. Chris Christie called “all this moaning and complaining” by two of the region’s prominent U.S. attorneys “ridiculous,” after they were ordered out of their posts by President Trump.
Christie, the former U.S. attorney for New Jersey, said Monday that those prosecutors – Paul Fishman, Christie’s appointed successor, and Preet Bharara, who led New York’s Southern District office – should have known and prepared for their transition out of their positions months ago. They had been appointed by former President Barack Obama, a Democrat, and “they received notice” by the electorate that they would not keep their positions much longer.
By Dino Flammia March 14, 2017 3:37 AM
867 tickets and counting: NJ cops crack down on snow-covered cars
You hear it during and after every snowstorm: clear your vehicle of ice and snow before hitting the road. Not doing so is actually against the law.
But if you’re willing to take a gamble and see what you can get away with, just know New Jersey cops are taking this law seriously, and they may be cracking down now more than ever.
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Between January and February of 2017, municipal police departments in New Jersey handed out 867 tickets to motorists who failed to remove ice and snow from their vehicles before driving, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts. And this hasn’t been a very active winter in terms of precipitation.
More than 300 summonses were delivered in Bergen County, the data show. The second-largest number of tickets (84) was registered in Middlesex County.
This year’s numbers already surpass the number of tickets handed out in all of 2016 — 838, according to the data, with Bergen and Middlesex Counties leading the pack.
Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino said the numbers are likely elevated in the county due to population and miles of highway. Seventy municipal departments operate in Bergen County.
“It could be a matter of life or death — something as simple as getting the ice off your car,” he said
Read More: 867 tickets and counting: NJ cops crack down on snow-covered cars | https://nj1015.com/867-tickets-and-counting-nj-cops-crack-down-on-snow-covered-cars/?trackback=tsmclip
Systemwide Cross-Honoring in Effect: To give customers additional travel options – if they must travel – during expected winter weather conditions, NJ TRANSIT will offer full systemwide cross-honoring, enabling customers to use their ticket or pass on an alternate travel mode—rail, light rail, PATH or ferry. As a reminder, on Tuesday, March 14th all bus service will be suspended. For example, customers who normally take the bus from Rutherford to the Port Authority Bus Terminal may use their bus pass or ticket on the train from Rutherford to New York Penn Station. Similarly, customers who normally take the bus between Atlantic City and Lindenwold may use the Atlantic City Rail Line instead at no additional charge. NY Waterway and Billybey ferries will accept NJ TRANSIT tickets and passes.
...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT... * Locations...New York City, Northeast New Jersey, the Lower Hudson Valley, Southwestern and interior Southeastern Connecticut, and Northern Nassau and Northwestern Suffolk Counties. * Hazard Types...Heavy Snow and Blizzard Conditions. * Snow and Sleet Accumulations...1 to 2 feet across interior areas. 8 to 16 inches of snow and sleet are expected across New York City, Northwestern Long Island and Coastal Southwestern Connecticut. Locally higher amounts are possible, especially over areas north and west of New York City. * Snowfall Rates...2 to 4 inches per hour at times. * Timing...The snow may mix with sleet at times across Northwestern Long Island and portions of the New York City metropolitan area later this morning into this afternoon. The precipitation will change back to all snow before ending this evening. * Impacts...Dangerous travel due to whiteout conditions at times. Several roads may become impassable. * Winds...Northeast winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph, becoming northwest in the afternoon. Isolated gusts of 55 to 60 mph are possible near the immediate coast. * Temperatures...In the upper 20s. * Visibilities...Near zero at times. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout conditions...making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel. If you must travel...have a winter survival kit
March 13,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, With the impending winter storm expected to be the biggest we have seen this year, I have declared a county-wide State of Emergency,” said County Executive Tedesco. “I have instructed the Bergen County Office of Emergency Management to take every necessary step to implement our winter storm plan that protects residents and infrastructure.
Residents are encouraged to make sure they have enough food, water, as well as batteries, gasoline or diesel for personal generators. We encourage all residents to stay off the roads, as travel will be extremely dangerous. Please be safe and use good judgment.
photos courtesy of Boyd Lovings Facebook page
March 13,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Prospect Park NJ, Hawthorne FD Rescue 5 was dispatched to 94 North 16th Street, Prospect Park on Sunday evening, 03/12 on an assistance call to Prospect Park FD for a vehicle that had crashed into a home. No information was available on the scene as to whether the vehicle, a 4-door Chevrolet sedan, was occupied at the time of impact. The vehicle was removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck after Hawthorne FD and Prospect Park FD personnel shored up the front porch of the involved structure.
file photo by Boyd Loving
...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT EDT TUESDAY NIGHT... The National Weather Service in Upton has issued a Blizzard Warning, which is in effect from midnight tonight to midnight EDT Tuesday night. The Winter Storm Warning is no longer in effect. * Locations...Portions of northeastern New Jersey, Northern Westchester, Northern Fairfield, and Northern New Haven counties. * Hazard Types...Heavy Snow and Blizzard Conditions. * Snow Accumulations...18 to 24 inches. * Snowfall Rates...2 to 4 inches per hour early Tuesday morning into Tuesday afternoon. * Timing...Late Tonight through Tuesday evening. * Impacts...Dangerous travel due to whiteout conditions at times. Several roads may become impassable. Power outages possible. * Winds...Northeast 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph on Tuesday. * Temperatures...In the mid 20s. * Visibilities...One quarter mile or less at times. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout conditions...making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel. If you must travel...have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded...stay with your vehicle.
A look at the growing need to battle the devil.
Patti Armstrong
INDIANAPOLIS — There is an alarming increase in demonic activity being reported by those who work in exorcism ministry, said the exorcist for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Although steps are being taken to increase the number of exorcists, demand is still outpacing supply.
Father Vincent Lampert has been an exorcist for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis since 2005 and is the pastor at St. Malachy’s in Indianapolis. He trained at the North American College in Rome and assisted with more than 40 exorcisms with longtime Italian exorcist Father Carmine De Filippi. Although the identities of most exorcists are hidden, Father Lampert often gives talks to warn against evil and turn people toward the power of God.
In an interview with the Register, he said that he sees an increasing number of people involved in Satanic rituals and opening themselves up to evil.
“The problem isn’t that the devil has upped his game, but more people are willing to play it,” Father Lampert said. He pointed to rampant pornography, illegal drugs use and the occult. “Where there is demonic activity, there is always an entry point,” he said.
https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/us-exorcists-demonic-activity-on-the-rise
file photo by Boyd Loving
New Jersey senator tells SXSW that he is on front-lines in fight with fake news
BY: Brent Scher Follow @brentscher
March 11, 2017 5:00 am
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (D.) described himself in a Friday interview at South By Southwest as a “determined purveyor of the truth,” but a Washington Free Beacon analysis finds that Booker has a long history of getting caught straying from reality.
Booker, who was introduced by his interviewer as “the incredible Cory Booker,” gave a speech to the crowd at the annual Austin tech conference, which will also hear from former Vice President Joe Biden over the weekend. His comment about being a “truth-teller,” however, came during an interview for Facebook Live, which can be viewed below.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Midland Park NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrest of STEVEN P. FELICE (DOB: 06/02/1993; single; and employed as a telemarketer) of 37 Waldo Avenue, Midland Park, New Jersey on charges of Wrongful Access/Disclosure of Information, Invasion of Privacy, Cyber-Harassment, and Contempt. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Robert ANZILOTTI.
On Friday, March 10, 2017, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at the home of Steven P. FELICE, who was identified during the investigation as an individual who had utilized the internet to post sexually explicit videos of a female acquaintance, without her consent, along with personal identifying information of the victim. Steven P. FELICE had been ordered by Honorable Judge Lisa Firko, J.S.C. of Bergen County on September 25, 2014, in a Final Restraining Order (FRO), not to communicate and/or harass the victim.
As a result of the investigation, STEVEN P FELICE was arrested on March 10, 2017 in Midland Park and charged with one count each of: Wrongful Access/ Disclosure or Information, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-31B, a 2nd degree crime; Invasion of Privacy, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9C, a 3rd degree crime; Cyber-Harassment, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4.1A(2), a 4th degree crime; and Contempt, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9A, a 4th degree crime. FELICE was charged by way of complaint summons and was released on his own recognizance pending his first appearance in the Bergen County Judicial Processing Court on Wednesday, March 29, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.
Prosecutor Grewal states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would also like to thank the Midland Park Police Department for their assistance in this investigation and the municipal police agencies that comprise the Cyber Crimes Task Force, specifically the Bogota Police Department.
photo courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook
March 11,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, No injuries were reported following a two (2) vehicle Friday afternoon, 03/10, crash on Route 17 northbound in Paramus during which an SUV left the roadway and hit a tree head on. Both occupants of the SUV were uninjured, as was the driver of the other vehicle involved (a pick up truck towing an equipment trailer). Paramus PD and FD personnel responded to the incident, which occurred just north of Ridgewood Avenue. The SUV was removed from the scene by a tow truck. No damage was apparent on the other vehicle(s) involved.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal today released a report entitled “Report on the Heroin and Opioid Epidemic in Bergen County.” The report is a year-end report that highlights the effect that the heroin and opioid crisis had on Bergen County in 2016. A copy of the report can be downloaded at https://www.bcpo.net/images/pdf/2016-Report-on-Heroin-Epidemic.pdf .
As detailed in the report, there was an increase in 2016 in total reported overdoses in Bergen County, with 308 overdoses. This represents a 6.9% increase from 2015, during which there were 288 total reported overdoses. As in 2015, however, the majority of the overdoses in 2016 were heroin and opioid related. Despite the increase in total overdoses, however, the number of overdose fatalities remained the same in 2016 with 87 overdose deaths. The fact that overdose deaths remained constant is due in large part to the tireless efforts of County law enforcement officers, who deployed Narcan, the overdose reversal drug, on 207 occasions in 2016, resulting in 180 saved lives. This represents a 10.7% increase in Narcan deployments from 2015.
As it did in 2016, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (“BCPO”) is sharing current County overdose and Narcan Save data, as well as mapping the epidemic in the County, using social media. The public is encouraged to follow the BCPO’s efforts on Twitter (@BCPONJ) or on Facebook (fb.com/bcponj). The BCPO is also asking the public to share their own experiences and suggestions concerning this issue by using the hashtag #StopTheODs
“The goal of this report, like our social media campaign, #StopTheODs, is to destigmatize the heroin and opioid epidemic by showing that it affects every pocket of the County.” stated Prosecutor Grewal. “By doing so, we hope to encourage parents, children, educators and others to use this information to do their part to help prevent the next overdose,” said Grewal. “In the end, however, education is the key; if we can steer children and adults from the known pathways to heroin and opioid addiction, we can stem this rising epidemic.”
Prosecutor Grewal thanked Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco, III, and Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino for their partnership and support of the BCPO’s efforts to combat the County’s heroin and opioid epidemic.
