Ridgewood NJ, from the office of the Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco ,when it comes to mosquitoes, Bergen County is biting back! Bergen County Mosquito Control works diligently throughout the year to reduce and eliminate the mosquito population through a variety of environmentally responsible best practices. But we also need your help to keep our communities safe and healthy!
I want to encourage each of you to do your part in preventing mosquito-borne illness by taking practical steps in and around your home. Please watch and share this video and visit https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/mosquito-control to download our residential Mosquito Habitat Checklist.
Ridgewood NJ, In recent months, the exotic longhorned tick has been found in New Jersey, including one identified in Bergen County. This invasive species uses humans, other mammals, and birds as hosts. Longhorned ticks found thus far in New Jersey have tested negative for pathogens dangerous to humans or animals, but in other countries these insects have spread disease to humans.
Various local, state, and federal animal health agencies, as well as Rutgers–New Brunswick, are working together to identify the range of the ticks and develop a plan to eliminate them from the areas where they are found. Like deer-ticks, the nymphs of the Longhorned tick are very small (resembling tiny spiders) and can easily go unnoticed on animals and people.
To avoid tick bites, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture recommends the following:
Apply a tick repellent containing at least 20% DEET to exposed skin and clothing.
Apply a product containing permethrin to clothing to kill ticks.
Stay in the middle of trails. Avoid contact with tall grasses, shrubs, fallen leaves, and logs under trees.
Check yourself for ticks often and remove any ticks before leaving this area.
Check your pet for ticks, keep pets on trails.
Bathe or shower as soon as possible to wash off and more easily find ticks.
Check your entire body for ticks for several days after you leave this area.
Wyckoff NJ, Yesterday Friday July 20, a water main break occurred on Franklin Avenue in the vicinity of the entrance to Boulder Run. Franklin Avenue in both directions (East & Westbound) was closed between Main Street and Godwin Avenue. Ridgewood Water and Wyckoff traffic officers were on site.
East-bound & West-bound Franklin Avenue have been reopened between Main Street & Godwin Avenue .
Fort Lee NJ, A Fort Lee, New Jersey, man today admitted generating phony tax refunds using personal identifying information stolen from current and former members of the U.S. army, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Shope Oluwo, 33, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson in Trenton federal court to an indictment charging him with one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From January through February 2016, Oluwo conspired with others, including Dermot Sutherland, 29, of Philadelphia, to obtain personal identifying information that was stolen from current or former members of the U.S. Army. Oluwo used that stolen information to create fake military identification cards and fraudulent W-2 forms bearing the victims’ names.
Oluwo provided the phony cards and W-2 forms to Sutherland, who posed as the victims and filed phony returns with a tax preparation company. Afterwards, Sutherland received debit cards from the tax preparation company that contained the ill-gotten refunds.
The conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The access device fraud charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a term of imprisonment of two years which must run consecutively to any other prison term. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 26, 2018.
Sutherland previously pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme and awaits sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Leigh-Alistair Barzey; postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Judy Ramos; and special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
Paramus NJ, The Bergen County Zoo will open a new, interactive seasonal exhibit featuring Budgerigars, often called “budgies,” which are small docile birds that can be easily trained and feed on small seeds. The exhibit features 350 budgies in a 2,400 square feet screened enclosure. Guests can enter the enclosure with a feeding stick and budgies will flock to the sticks and allow for close interaction between the guests and the birds. Admission to this exhibit is $2 per person and is separate from the zoo’s general admission fee.
Where: The Bergen County Zoo at Van Saun County Park, Paramus
When: July 20, 2018 at 12:30 pm
Who: County Executive Jim Tedesco and other county officials
Wyckoff NJ, With Township Committeemen Thomas Madigan and Timothy Shanley leading the way, Wyckoff’s governing body approved an ordinance this week banning the sale of marijuana in the township.
The ordinance, which supplements the town’s existing zoning code, prohibits the sale of marijuana, it’s derivatives and paraphernalia throughout the town. The ordinance does not prohibit the sale of medical marijuana prescribed by a physician and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.
The ordinance was approved in a 4-0 vote of the township committee; Mayor Brian Scanlan was absent from the meeting. The ordinance has the support of the local police department and the Wyckoff Planning Board.
Republicans Madigan and Shanley said they acted now to prevent retail marijuana sales in the township because they are anticipating that Trenton politicians, including Gov. Murphy will legalize marijuana sales after the November election.
“We wanted to take preventive action before someone began investing in setting up a shop to sell marijuana in town,” said Madigan, a long-time resident and community volunteer.
“Retail marijuana sales are likely to bring with it an element of the drug culture that will not fit our community and could cause crime problems,” added Madigan.
Committeeman Shanley, the father of three young children and a baseball coach, said the ordinance is necessary “to protect the township’s children from exposure to the negative influences that will likely arise from the retail sale of marijuana in our town. If the legislature makes pot legal, we don’t want it sold in retail establishments in our town. I believe we can protect our neighborhoods by prohibiting the retail sale of marijuana in our town.”
“While many residents of New Jersey want marijuana legalization for a variety of reasons, it nevertheless brings with it some negative social concerns that have to be dealt with. Tim and I thought it was in the best interest of Wyckoff to get out front and begin addressing some of the concerns of legalizing pot for retail sales,” said Madigan.
Glen Rock NJ, Glen Rock Police have received some information about suspicious activity in the area of Grove and Forest overnight. Any residents who observed anything or think their vehicles were broken into please contact the GRPD Detective Bureau at 201-670-3948 or 201-670-3947.
Dear Mahwah, Ramsey and USR Residents and Friends,
It is time to organize our second protest against Toll Brothers at Apple Ridge. Following our first great protest this one promises to be even better!
Come and make your voices heard and protest the environmental damage that Toll Brothers are causing to our local environment and water. Bring family, friends and neighbors and support our community. Make some new friends, meet some old ones. Can’t stay for long, a short visit is great too! Short on time, drive by and honk your support!
Saturday July 21 12-4 pm.
269 E. Crescent Ave. Mahwah (on the Mahwah side of Apple Ridge)
Street parking is available, drinks and refreshments too!!
Bring signs, or your voice, wearing green is suggested and optional!
Hackensack NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the arrests of AASIM BOONE (DOB: 11/02/82; single; and unemployed) of 198 Waldo Place, Englewood, NJ, JOSLIN HARRINGTON (DOB: 11/13/85; single; and employed as a cafeteria worker) of 724 18th Avenue, Apt. 1, Irvington, NJ, JUSTIN DAHZY (DOB: 02/20/1999; single; and unemployed) of 44 Preston Street, Bogota, NJ, and VALERIE JOYNER (DOB: 07/08/1991; single; and employed as an aide at a residential care facility) of 19 Schirra Drive, Wanaque, NJ. The arrests are the result of a month-long investigation by a special task force comprised of members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and the Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Hackensack, Teaneck, Tenafly, Oradell, Paramus, and Rochelle Park Police Departments.
As a result of the investigation, Aasim BOONE, Joslin HARRINGTON, Justin DAHZY, and Valerie JOYNER were arrested on Monday, July 16, 2018 and charged with multiple counts of burglary and theft.
In June 2018, the Hackensack Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and provided information that led detectives to a rental vehicle being used by BOONE and others to commit numerous residential burglaries throughout Bergen County and to the formation of the task force. After tracking the vehicle in question and using multiple law enforcement databases, a historic timeline was produced in connection with the multiple burglaries that occurred.Through witness interviews, surveillance, video and other law enforcement investigative techniques, search warrants and arrest warrants were issued.
As a result of information obtained during this investigation, several arrest and search warrants were executed for the individuals and locations involved in this coordinated criminal enterprise. On July 16, 2018, members of the task force arrested BOONE, HARRINGTON, DAHZY, and JOYNER at various locations in Bergen County and Essex County. They were charged with residential burglaries in Bergen County , in the towns of Paramus , Hackensack ,Teaneck , Tenafly, Oradell and Englewood .
Glen Rock NJ , Glen Rock EMS transported one (1) driver to The Valley Hospital following a two (2) vehicle crash at the intersection of Grove Avenue and Prospect Street on Wednesday evening, 07/18. Both damaged vehicles were removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. Glen Rock Police and Ridgewood Police also responded.
Paramus NJ, A Wednesday morning, 07/18, multi-vehicle chain reaction crash on Route 4 westbound at Paramus Road, Paramus resulted in one (1) driver being transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Paramus Police and Fair Lawn Police responded to the incident along with an ambulance from Hackensack University Medical Center’s main campus. A flatbed tow truck was summoned to remove the wrecked vehicles. Significant traffic back ups were reported on Route 4 westbound through the Paramus area.
Ridgewood NJ, Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth County) today issued praise to the Supreme Court Committee on Municipal Court Operations, Fines and Fees for their comprehensive report which, after a 16 month investigation, “revealed a number of significant concerns where aggressive reform is needed. Many of those issues identified by the Committee undermine both the administration of justice and the independence of the Municipal Courts.”
“In law enforcement and judicial systems, profit is the mortal enemy of justice,” Senator O’Scanlon said. “We must take real steps towards reforming municipal court and ticketing procedures. Policing for profit is an unacceptable practice that tarnishes the reputation of all our upstanding police officers and often results in devastating consequences for petty infractions.”
“Municipal Courts should be about the administration of justice, not a profit center to plug holes in local governments’ budgets,” O’Scanlon continued. “In the twenty-five years since our Courts were last reformed, too many towns have come to rely on fines to fund their municipal operations and too many local judges have turned into de facto tax collectors. This is not justice and it has to stop.”
Among the reforms that O’Scanlon is considering are:
• Enhanced screening and training for municipal court judges
• Extending the terms and possibly create tenure for municipal court judges
• Reworking how fine revenue is distributed to remove direct profit motivation.
• Increased use of technology in administering local justice.
• Encouraging court consolidation.
“Policing for profit has become the norm for too many municipalities. It has become so accepted that many local officials don’t believe they’re doing anything wrong. Pressure to write more tickets and generate more revenue is routinely applied to police. When considering the hiring of judges there is open discussion of how aggressive candidates will be in generating revenue. That perverts our justice system and damages peoples’ faith and trust in our police. Neither the institution nor our dedicated cops deserve that. Our overarching goal should be the greatest amount of compliance and safety with the LEAST amount of punishment. Ticket revenue need to be used to modify behavior when necessary, not to balance budgets.”
O’Scanlon has been working with the Administrative Office of the Courts to ensure reforms are appropriate and effective. His reform plan announcement comes at the same time as the release of the Supreme Court Committee on Municipal Court Operations, Fines, and Fees report.
“We are grateful for the extensive work that the committee has done here in putting together forty-nine recommendations to address these serious issues. Many of the issues and policy ideas we are tackling in our reforms are addressed in the report. I look forward to continuing the process of implementing the Committee’s other recommendations and restoring faith in our justice system.”
O’Scanlon acknowledged that these reforms will be initially unpopular with municipal officials who have been using fines to balance their budgets. He challenges those officials to join him in continuing to reform government with greater efficiencies.
“When we implemented the two percent local spending cap eight years ago, many officials thought it was doomsday. But we also gave them the tools to do the job and the best and brightest got to work and created savings and efficiencies,” O’Scanlon said. “Now many towns are consistently passing budgets within the cap while maintaining services. We need to keep doing that and more, especially regarding this issue which is one of justice and fundamental fairness.”
Wyckoff NJ, Orange & Rockland today warned the public about a phony-bill payment scheme in which imposters pose as utility company representatives and call customers, demanding immediate payment for what they fraudulently claim are delinquent electric and gas bills.
Unsuspecting utility customers across the nation, most recently at in Orange & Rockland’s service territory, have been bilked by these bogus claims by crooks who insist on payment the day of the contact.
Here is how the scam works:
A Spanish or English-speaking individual posing as a utility company employee calls customers saying their service would be disconnected if they do not make an immediate payment using a prepaid debit card. In some cases, the call is pre-recorded.
Customers are told to purchase a Green Dot MoneyPak at a pharmacy or convenience store, use cash to put money onto the card, and then provide the number on the card to the person who called them.
Customers are advised that if they do not immediately call back and provide the MoneyPak information, their service will be turned off that day.
Typically, after the customer provides the MoneyPak number, the scammer steals the customer’s money by transferring the funds from the MoneyPak to a prepaid card and then cashing it in at an ATM.
O&R urges anyone who is contacted in this fashion to break off contact with the crooks and call O&R Customer Service at 1-877-434-4100.
If you are contacted by someone who says they represent O&R and you wish to verify their identity, either ask for their photo ID card, if they are at the door, or call O&R at 1-877-434-4100 to verify their identity and the nature of their business with you. Orange & Rockland employees are trained to cooperate with this request and happy to comply with an identity verification request.
Remember, when in doubt, hang up the phone or break off contact, and call O&R at 1-877-434-4100 to verify that the person you are dealing with is an Orange & Rockland employee conducting legitimate business.
Glen Rock NJ, Glen Rock Police Department is reporting that a few residents have reported a new scam to us that people should be aware of. This is a new twist on the “sextorsion” scam where suspects try and blackmail victims with the threat of releasing some type of sexual or embarrassing video/behavior to everyone on their contact list if they do not pay. The twist in this case is that the scammer actually has your correct password and makes you believe they might actually have some embarrassing content. These passwords were obtained via a large data hack in the past, however, it has been enough to scare quite a few people into paying. Read the attached article for full details. The GRPD Detective Bureau is also available to answer questions and assist residents as well. We can be reached at 201-670-3948 or 201-670-3947.
