Category: Bergen County

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867 tickets and counting: NJ cops crack down on snow-covered cars

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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

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NJT ALL BUS SERVICE SUSPENDED BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT TILL MIDNIGHT TONIGHT

NJT ticket machine

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

 

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Bergen County Executive Tedesco Declares a County Wide Emergency

Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco

Bergen County State of Emergency March 14-15, 2017

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.

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Vehicle Hits Home in Prospect Park

Vehicle Hits Home in Prospect Park

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.

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Blizzard Warning……………………

Snow Blizzard of 2016 Ridgewood CBD

file photo by Boyd Loving

…Major Winter Storm Late Tonight into Tuesday Evening…

...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.
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US Exorcists: Demonic Activity on the Rise

priests exorcist

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

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FACT CHECK: Cory Booker Is Neither a ‘Truth-Teller’ Nor a ‘Determined Purveyor of The Truth’

cory5_booker_theridgewoodblog

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.

https://freebeacon.com/politics/fact-check-cory-is-neither-a-truth-teller-or-a-determined-purveyor-of-the-truth/

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MIDLAND PARK MAN CHARGED WITH CYBER-RELATED CRIMES IN LOVE GONE WRONG CASE

sexting
file photo
March 11,2017

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.

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No injuries reported following a two vehicle Friday afternoon crash on Route 17 northbound in Paramus

No injuries reported following a two vehicle Friday afternoon crash on Route 17 northbound in Paramus

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.

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BERGEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE RELEASES REPORT ON HEROIN AND OPIOID EPIDEMIC IN BERGEN COUNTY

heroin_theridgewoodblog
March 11,2017

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.

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Bergen One of 11 Counties in New Jersey Where Study Says It’s Better to Rent

for sale Ridgewood_Real_Estate_theRodgewopodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

Should you buy or rent? A county-by-county list for NJ

By Dino Flammia March 10, 2017 2:57 AM

Should you buy or rent your next home? It’s a major decision for many.

To make that decision a bit easier, real estate database ATTOM Data Solutions has released a report that breaks down the math in New Jersey’s housing markets and determines whether it’s more affordable to rent a three-bedroom home or buy one in each of them.

The report analyzed nearly all of New Jersey’s counties — all but Salem — using 2017 fair market rent data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and 2016 public record sales deed data.

Based on monthly payments alone, ATTOM found it’s more affordable to rent than buy in 55 percent of New Jersey’s markets, or 11 counties: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Monmouth, Union, Morris, Burlington, Somerset, Hunterdon, Warren and Cape May.

Read More: Should you buy or rent? A county-by-county list for NJ | https://nj1015.com/should-you-buy-or-rent-a-county-by-county-list-for-nj/?trackback=tsmclip

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Criminals No Longer the Only Ones to Carry Guns in New Jersey

Guns

Governor Christie Amends Regulations on Individuals’ Right to Firearms for Self-Defense with Commonsense Reforms
March 10th 2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Private Citizens May Prove They Are Under “Serious Threats” For Issuance of a Permit to Carry a Handgun

Trenton, NJ , Governor Chris Christie today announced the adoption of a revised regulation regarding applications for handgun carry permits, after his administration considered input during an official 60-day public comment period.

The revised regulation will allow a chief of police or the Superintendent of the Division of State Police, who review handgun carry permit applications, to consider evidence of “serious threats” that are not directed specifically at an individual, but which establish more than mere generalized fears or concerns.

This action taken by the Division of State Police amends paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of the permit application by adding “serious threats” to the circumstances that could demonstrate a special danger to an applicant’s life that a private citizen may specify in a written certification of justifiable need to carry a handgun. The changes also clarify that a permit to carry a handgun may be issued based on a special danger to the applicant’s life that cannot be avoided by other “reasonable” means.

The amendment harmonizes the regulatory definition of “justifiable need” with the construction of that standard by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

The original proposal was published at 48 N.J.R. 377(a), which is available at https://www.lexisnexis.com/njoal/.

Today’s adoption does not change the process for obtaining a permit to carry a handgun.

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Report Gives New Jersey D-Plus For Infrastructure

garber_square_roadwork_theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

March 9, 2017 5:42 PM
Filed Under: American Society of Civil Engineers’ National Report Card, Meg Baker, New Jersey Infrastructure

FAIR LAWN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — There is still a huge funding gap for infrastructure nationally and locally – and commuters in New Jersey have a share of complaints in particular.

As CBS2’s Meg Baker reported, many agree that the Garden State’s roads, bridges and transit system are in bad shape.

“It’s been long overdue that we need some repairs. The roads are just horrible,” said John Glita of Fair Lawn.

That is why many people were not surprised to hear that New Jersey gets a D-plus for infrastructure. The nearly failing grade is based on the 2017 American Society of Civil Engineers’ National Report Card.

https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/03/09/new-jersey-infrastructure-report/

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DARING RESCUE OF ELDERLY WOMAN FROM NJ TRANSIT TRAIN TRACKS CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Ridgewood-Trainstation1_theridgewoodblog

By A.J. Ross
Wednesday, March 08, 2017 11:33PM

SADDLE BROOK, New Jersey (WABC) -An elderly woman was crossing in front of an approaching New Jersey Transit train when a driver leapt from his car and rushed to save her, with seconds to spare.

Hunched over with two canes propping her up, walking from point A to point B is no easy task for the elderly Saddle Brook woman.

So when she suddenly became trapped in the middle of the train tracks Wednesday afternoon with precious moments to spare, one Good Samaritan didn’t hesitate to pull her out of harm’s way.

https://abc7ny.com/news/exclusive-daring-rescue-of-elderly-woman-from-train-tracks/1791236/

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Judge made staffer do son’s homework, complaint says

Dunce-cap

Allison Pries , Staff Writer, @allisonpriesPublished 4:35 p.m. ET March 8, 2017 | Updated 14 hours ago

The state’s judicial ethics board has filed a complaint against a Superior Court judge who served in Bergen, Passaic and Essex counties for misusing judicial resources — including making an employee do her son’s homework — and other integrity violations.

The complaint alleges that Deborah M. Gross-Quatrone forced a law clerk to start working several weeks prior to the official start date, secretly recorded meetings with senior judges and made a staff member attend to her personal business, including doing her son’s high school homework.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2017/03/08/judge-allegedly-made-staff-do-sons-homework/98914964/?utm_campaign=new-jersey-politics&utm_content=2017-09-03-9086822&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=New%20Jersey%20Politics