Paramus NJ, A five (5) vehicle crash in front of Paramus Catholic High School, 425 Paramus Road, Paramus, resulted in minor injuries to at least two (2) drivers on Tuesday evening, 12/01. The collision occurred in the northbound lanes of Paramus Road, at the jug handle turn for Paramus Catholic. Two (2) vehicles were heavily damaged and were removed by tow trucks. Paramus EMS responded along with Paramus PD. All of the victims refused medical treatment beyond whatever first aid was provided at the scene. Paramus PD is investigating the incident, which was reported shortly after 7 PM. Heavy rain was falling at the time of the crash.
NOVEMBER 27, 2015, 8:30 AM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015, 11:33 PM
BY JOAN VERDON, MELANIE ANZIDEI AND KATHLEEN LYNN
STAFF WRITERS |
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chris Singleton of North Arlington was out shopping with his wife and children on Black Friday because the post-Thanksgiving activity is a holiday tradition.
“It’s not even the deals, it’s just the excitement,” said Singleton, a telecommunications engineer who was shopping at the Toys “R” Us on Route 17 in Paramus. “It gets you into the holiday spirit.”
For thousands of shoppers in North Jersey, the malls and stores still are the place to be on the Friday after Thanksgiving. But the Black Friday shopping frenzy that used to jam the highways near the malls and create long lines at the stores is not that big of a deal anymore.
The spending that used to be focused on a single “Super Bowl of Shopping” event now is spread out over multiple days, and divided by new ways to shop, such as online or with a smartphone, that don’t involve driving to the mall.
“Every year the season gets longer,” said Charlie O’Shea, vice president at Moody’s Investors Service, referring to earlier promotions. And this year, many of the top deals were available online, as well as in stores, unlike previous years. As a result, he said, it is more difficult to compare the strength of this Black Friday to previous years.
Thanksgiving Accident on GSP backs up traffic for Miles
November 26,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Washington Twp NJ, The driver, and possibly other occupant(s), of a red compact passenger vehicle could not be located following a crash on the Garden State Parkway (GSP) in Washington Township that was reported via a 911 telephone call at 10:19 AM on Thanksgiving Day. The vehicle left the roadway of the northbound GSP just south of Hillsdale Avenue and crashed into a wooded area within the highway’s center median. Washington Township, Hillsdale, HoHoKus, and Ridgewood PD units canvassed the nearby residential areas but were unable to find any victims as of 12 noon.
A canine unit, believed to be from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, was also deployed to assist in the search. The car is registered to an adult female from Danbury, Connecticut. The heavily damaged vehicle was removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. Northbound and southbound traffic was slowed on the GSP due to heavy rubbernecking near the scene. A trooper from the NJ State Police Parkway Patrol Bloomfield Barracks is conducting the investigation.
Ridgewood NJ, The Division’s Turkey Restoration Project represents one of the greatest wildlife management success stories in the history of the state. By the mid-1800s, turkeys had disappeared in New Jersey due to habitat changes and killing for food. Division biologists, in cooperation with the NJ Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, reintroduced wild turkeys in 1977 with the release of 22 birds. In 1979 biologists and technicians began to live-trap and re-locate birds to establish populations throughout the state. By 1981 the population was able to support a spring hunting season, and in December, 1997, a limited fall season was initiated.
There is now an abundance of wild turkeys throughout the state with turkeys found wherever there is suitable habitat. In South Jersey, where wild turkeys had been struggling just a few years ago, intensive restoration efforts have improved population numbers significantly. The statewide population is now estimated at 20,000 – 23,000 turkeys with an annual harvest of approximately 3,000 birds.
The birds can be pretty aggressive certain times of the year and groups of wild turkeys have been known to wreak havoc on a neighborhood. Do not under estimate their boldness.
NOVEMBER 25, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY JOHN BRENNAN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
The sale of $1 billion in government bonds — a key financing element to ensure there is sufficient funding to complete the American Dream Meadowlands shopping and entertainment complex — may not be issued until early next year, officials said.
Tony Armlin, vice president of development and construction for Triple Five, the Canada-based conglomerate that is building American Dream, had said in an interview in September that the bonds would be issued “in the next several weeks.” But Debbie Patire, a Triple Five spokeswoman, confirmed Tuesday a revised timeline for issuing the bonds that executives at the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority first described last week.
That state agency is expected to issue about $350 million in bonds that will be repaid to institutional investors via the transfer of Triple Five’s annual tax savings through a state grant.
“We continue to work aggressively toward a sale of the bonds prior to the New Year — but, given the holidays, there is a potential that this could shift to after the new year,” Patire said.
Triple Five, which built and operates the Mall of America in Minnesota, was brought in to revive construction on the long-dormant American Dream project, then known as Meadowlands Xanadu, in mid-2011; company executives have projected as recently as September that it will open in the fall of 2017. It is unclear if that opening date will have to be pushed back in light of the revised timetable for issuing the bonds.
The sports authority agreed in August to replace the Bergen County Improvement Authority as the issuer of those bonds, with Armlin of Triple Five saying at the time that the sports authority was better positioned to issue them “within 30 to 60 days,” or by mid-October.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Water will be performing a water system flushing beginning November 30th in Glen Rock and Ridgewood .Hydrant Flushing will proceed late at night at velocities sufficient enough to remove naturally occurring minerals .Each hydrant will be flushed from 5 to 60 minutes . Residents may experience water discoloration . Work will begin at 9pm and finish by 430am the next day . Residents will be notified by reverse Robo call
Hydrant Flushing – Update
Hydrant flushing in Ridgewood was suspended this week and will continue starting on Monday, November 30th, weather permitting. Below is the revised Public Service Announcement : Click Here
Thanksgiving Day Service – November 24th – Senior Bus Available
All are invited to attend the Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service to be held at the Old Paramus Church on Tuesday, November 24 at 7:30PM.
The Senior Bus will be available for transportation for this service. Reservations for the bus can be made at 201/670-5500 x203
Old Paramus Church to Host Community Thanksgiving Service, Nov. 24
Complete with a community choir, the Interfaith Religious Group of Ridgewood Thanksgiving service will be held at Old Paramus Church on Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24. The participating congregations will share the different expressions of their own faith as they all give thanks together. The community choir invites anyone interested to join them as they rehearse under the direction of Stewart Holmes, Old Paramus Choir Director, beginning at 6:45 p.m. immediately before the service.
Old Paramus Church is located at 660 East Glen Ave., Ridgewood. It is handicapped accessible and there is ample free parking. Additional questions may be addressed to the church office weekdays, from 9 to 1:30 or visit the church website, www.oldparamus.org
NOVEMBER 23, 2015, 10:19 AM LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015, 2:03 PM
BY STEFANIE DAZIO
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
A man accused of fatally stabbing a woman in Troy, N.Y., Monday morning was arrested several hours later following a chase on the Palisades Interstate Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike, authorities said.
David Campos, 45, allegedly killed Denise Gely, 44, with whom he once had a romantic relationship, around 5:45 a.m., Troy Police Capt. Daniel DeWolf said.
The couple had a history of “domestic issues,” DeWolf said, but Campos had never been arrested in Troy previously. At one time they lived together in Troy, but they were not at the time of her death, he said.
One of the couple’s three children called police to report the alleged attack, DeWolf said. Two were home at the time.
Troy is about 150 miles north of New York City along the Hudson River and authorities sent police departments a description of his vehicle, a black Chrysler 200, and his license plate.
Officers on the New York side of the Palisades Interstate Parkway discovered the car and a chase ensued into New Jersey around 9:40 a.m.
Officer Donald Liu, a Palisades Interstate Parkway cop in New Jersey, joined the pursuit at Interchange 5, Chief Michael Coppola said in a statement. Coppola, Detective Lt. Roman Galloza, Lt. Jesse Cohen and Officers Travis Philhower and Timothy Conboy jumped in as the chase continued south on the parkway.
Rep. Scott Garrett enjoyed his recent visit to Parkway Elementary School in Paramus to discuss his job as a Congressman with the 4th grade class. As you can see by the picture, they had a lot of great questions!
Rep. Scott Garrett , “My top priority is the safety and security of the American people”Garrett Statement on the American SAFE Act
Nov 19, 2015
Ridgewood NJ, Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) issued the following statement after voting in support of H.R. 4038, the American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act.
“My top priority is the safety and security of the American people, and last week’s horrific attacks on Paris are a stark reminder that our enemies are willing to impersonate refugees and go to great lengths to commit acts of terror. Today the House voted to pause our refugee program until we can fully examine our vetting process to ensure that every refugee admitted to the United States does not pose a threat to our nation. The Syrian people seeking refuge need the continued support of the international community, and we must continue to work on a balance between helping these people and our national security. The United States is, and will continue to be, a world leader in humanitarian aid operations, and those who are suffering from unspeakable horrors at the hands of oppressors will always have our support while we work diligently to advance policies that protect our country.”
NOVEMBER 19, 2015, 7:27 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2015, 7:11 AM
BY ALLISON PRIES
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
PARAMUS – Gary M., of Park Ridge, clutched a packet of tissues in one hand as he dabbed tears from his cheek with the other.
Listening to a presentation at Bergen Community College, titled “Caught in the Web: Heroin Addiction” the 27-year-old personal trainer blended into the crowd of mostly 20-somethings who stopped into the all-day event between classes.
Then, he moved to take his seat at the panel, where he told the dozens of attendees inside the Moses Family Meeting and Training Center that a weight-lifting injury at 19 got him a prescription for Oxycodone.
“I loved it,” said Gary, who asked that his last name not be published because he is in recovery. “Pills became too expensive and heroin was a whole lot cheaper.”
The tale is one that resonates throughout New Jersey, said the event’s keynote speaker, Michael DeLeon, a Vineland man who has made it his mission to inform whoever will listen about the danger of drugs in general and the heroin epidemic.
Parents don’t start young enough in talking to their children about drugs and they don’t do it often enough, DeLeon said. By the time they’re doing heroin, “you have a problem you might not win,” he said.
DeLeon founded the non-profit Steered Straight back in 2000 after serving 12 years in jail for drug-related crimes.
The kids need a night out – and so do you!
No need to stress over finding a babysitter-send your kids to us and enjoy a child free evening! Don’t consider it babysitting, but a great night for them to enjoy their own age appropriate fun activities. Kids Night Out is staffed by our professional team of childcare providers who excel at creating a stress-free, fun and safe environment. Activities include a Wii console, arts & crafts, beading, games, activities, snacks and much more! Sibling discount applies. Children must wear sneakers. All YWCA activities are peanut free zones. Prices listed are per evening.
Children must be registered and all forms submitted by 5 pm on the Wednesday prior to attendance.
See ywcabergencounty.org for registration form.
To register for the 360 Membership, please call our Membership Office at 201-444-5600 x400.
Local Business Partnerships Now Available to Parents!
YWCA Bergen County is proud to partner with businesses in Ridgewood to ensure parents enjoy a wonderful evening while your children have an awesome night of their own! Offers include:
10% off at:
29 Chestnut Italian Trattoria
A Mano Neapolitan Trattoria
Lisa’s Mediterranean Cuisine
Pearl Restaurant
Super Cellers Fine Wines and Marketplace
East Coast Burger will donate 10% of your order to the YWCA Bergen County
15% off your total order at The Office Beer Bar & Grill
Paramus NJ, Crunch Fitness of Paramus raised over a thousand dollars in support of The Valley Hospital Breast Cancer Fund during October as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
On Saturday, October 24, the employees and instructors at Crunch Fitness worked together to make and sell pink hair ties and healthy baked goods. They also offered special exercise classes to all members interested in “Sweating it Out” to raise money for breast cancer. Approximately 100 members participated in this event and attended master fitness classes, which included cardio and conditioning, boxing, and a loud, energetic zumba party.
The following week, Group Fitness Manager Sam Aguirre and Club Manager Terri Surdyka of Crunch Fitness presented a check for $1,010 to The Valley Hospital Foundation.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in US women in 2015, and approximately 7,310 of those new cases will be in New Jersey. The Valley Hospital Breast Center, which has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology, is the hospital of choice for many newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Valley’s multidisciplinary team of experienced physicians, radiologists, cytopathologists, nurses, researchers and coordinators collaborate on all aspects of breast care for their patient-focused comprehensive breast care program.
The Valley Hospital Foundation is grateful for Crunch Fitness’s generous donation to the Breast Cancer Fund.
Battle over Northern Highlands Regional district’s field lights heading to court
NOVEMBER 15, 2015 LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015, 9:59 AM
BY MARINA VILLENEUVE
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
ALLENDALE — The Northern Highlands Regional High School Board of Education is going to court to defend the new electric-powered light trailers on its athletic fields.
Three neighboring residents are suing the school district, claiming it’s unlawfully using the mobile trailers with lights up to 72 feet tall in defiance of state and local statutes and past court rulings.
On Thursday, the school board, the Northern Highlands Regional High School Sports Association and the Allendale Planning Board and Board of Adjustment filed a civil action in Superior Court in Hackensack asking a judge to dismiss the neighbors’ lawsuit and declare that the school’s use of the lights is legal.
The school has been using mobile, diesel-powered light trailers ever since the late 1990s, after the Planning Board denied the sports association’s application to build permanent 70-foot-tall light towers with a concrete foundation.
The board is arguing that mobile light trailers don’t require any kind of zoning variance or site-plan approval because they don’t fall under state and local definitions of “structure,” “fixture” or “development.”
The school says that it’s used the new electric-powered light trailers about 30 times since they were delivered in September, and that they’re less noisy and smelly than the previously rented diesel-powered trailers.
“As a result, hundreds of children have been able to safely use the turf field at Northern Highlands after dark,” reads the counterclaim filed Thursday.
The school “shall continue to utilize mobile light trailers in connection with its lawful lighting of the athletic fields on the property,” reads the counterclaim, which seeks compensatory, consequential and punitive damages.
In two counts of the neighbors’ eight-count lawsuit filed in October, they claim the new lights will be a public nuisance harming neighbors and that the Board of Education will be liable for damages.
“The development will give rise to a continual invasion of adjoining property by reason of light trespass and light and noise pollution,” reads the lawsuit, which also claims the taller lights will lead to lowered property values and a worse quality of life.
Paramus NJ, High winds caused a tree to topple into a home located at 180 Farview Avenue, Paramus shortly before 11 AM on Friday, 11/13. The home was unoccupied at the time and structural damage appeared to be moderate. Paramus FD and Rescue Squad units were dispatched to the scene, but were called back after it was determined there was no life hazard present. A Paramus PD Patrol Officer prepared a property damage report.
NOVEMBER 13, 2015, 12:44 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015, 3:01 PM
BY STEFANIE DAZIO
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
GLEN ROCK — The borough’s middle and high schools were locked down for two and a half hours Friday after a shell casing was found in a classroom.
Lt. Daniel Dour said the .38 caliber shell casing was discovered in a second floor classroom in the middle school around 10:30 a.m. There was no bullet in the casing. The middle and high schools are in the same building.
Authorities searched the lockers of the students who were in the classroom at the time but did not find anything.
