photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook
June 10th 2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Glen Rock NJ, A two (2) vehicle, Saturday morning, 06/09, collision at the intersection of Hamilton Avenue and Rock Road in Glen Rock required the services of Glen Rock Fire Department to mitigate a crash related fluid spill. No injuries were reported in the crash. Both vehicles were removed by flat bed tow trucks. Glen Rock PD is investigating the incident.
Photo courtesy of Saddle River Police Facebook page
June 9,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Saddle River Nj, the Saddle River Borough Council held a SPECIAL MEETING on Saturday evening, JUNE 2, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at the Borough Hall as Saddle River to swear in its next Police Chief, Captain Jason Cosgriff, and say goodbye to retiring Chief Timothy McWilliams who served the police department with distinction for 34 years, the last 17 being Chief.
Saddle River Mayor Al Kurpis Statement regarding the next Police Chief – There are very few decisions a Mayor makes that is as important as selecting a Police Chief to oversee the safety and welfare of our community. After a thorough review of all eligible candidates it is my distinct pleasure to announce that on June 1, I will be submitting Captain Jason Cosgriff’s name for nomination to be the next Saddle River Police Chief. Captain Cosgriff has served the Saddle River Police Department for 20 years and his professionalism and distinguished service throughout that time has elevated him to his current rank as a Captain. It has been an honor and privilege to serve with Captain Cosgriff during my term as Mayor and I look forward to continuing to serve with him in his new capacity as Chief. In addition to his professional work as a member of our police department it is also worth noting that Captain Cosgriff grew up in Saddle River and at the age of 18 joined the Saddle River Valley Recue Squad where he reached the rank of Captain and earned Life Member status. Aside from his professional accomplishments Captain Cosgriff brings forward a stellar academic record which culminated with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.
There’s not enough I can say to express my gratitude to the 35 year service of Chief McWilliams. He has always served as a steady and calming presence in the police department and throughout the community and he will be missed. I wish him nothing but well wishes in his retirement and I look forward to our continued personal friendship.
I would like thank the members of the Public Safety Committee for their important role in this process. Like my nomination, their role in this process is one of the most important things they will ever participate in on the local government level. The residents can take comfort knowing that they performed this role with a high level of diligence and seriousness that would far exceed anyone’s expectations. In addition to my own review of the candidates I placed great weight in their ultimate recommendation which aligns with my nomination. I would also be remiss if I did not thank the other candidates who stepped up for an opportunity to lead the department. They both have long and distinguished careers with the Saddle River Police Department. I consider them both to be high caliber members of this department and look forward to their continued service.
Statement from Captain Jason Cosgriff: I am very thankful for the opportunity to serve as the next Police Chief in the town I grew up in. Reaching the pinnacle of my career is one thing, but to do so in my hometown that I always loved makes it extra special. I would like to thank the Mayor and Council for their support in this process and throughout the course of my career. I would like to thank the officers of the department for the fine work that they do in a professional manner day in and day out for the residents of Saddle River. I will always maintain an open door policy and it is that type of policy that sets the foundation for a strong relationship between our agency and the community we serve. My vision for the agency is to continue the high level of service we provide and to maintain the safety and security of Saddle River.
Comment from the Saddle River PBA President, Saddle River PO Paul Passaretti – On behalf of the PBA we have always had a great relationship with the command staff and we look forward to working with Captain Cosgriff as we continue to move forward in a positive direction. His record of distinction is well noted and his service to the community and this department is well received by its members. We are pleased by a process that sets forth a smooth transition from Chief McWilliams to future Chief Cosgriff. We look forward to this next chapter in our departments history as we continue to provide a high level of service to our residents.
June 8,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ho-Ho-Kus NJ, The Truck 7 WET DOWN and BLOCK PARTY is today June 9th ! Join in on the fun from 2-6 pm when we will commission Truck 741 for availability to service. In long standing tradition, neighboring fire departments will arrive to anoint our new fire apparatus with fog streams (no foam)…Live entertainment by Black Diamond Band, delicious food, craft beer from Defiant micro-brewery, commemorative cups, T-shirts and special merchandise for sale… plus lots of fun for the kids – games, a dunk tank and a bouncy house. DON’T MISS OUT! Everyone is invited!
Pictured Derek Michalski and Mayor Albert Kurpis
Pictured Margaret Chudziak and Derek Michalski
June 8,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paterson NJ, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal today announced a state grand jury indictment charging the alleged leader and 16 other alleged members of a narcotics network linked to the Bloods street gang that was distributing large amounts of heroin in Paterson. Seventeen more individuals are charged with possession of narcotics, including 16 who allegedly purchased heroin from the ring, bringing the total number of defendants indicted to 34.
The indictment, handed up yesterday, stems from “Operation Pitfall,” a collaborative investigation led by the New Jersey State Police Gangs & Organized Crime North Unit, the Division of Criminal Justice, the State Parole Board, the Newark Police Department, and ICE Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Paterson Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Prospect Park Police, Wallington Police, Elmwood Park Police, Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, Wayne Police, and Clifton Police.
The investigation targeted a drug trafficking organization operating in a section of the 4th Ward of Paterson known as the four corners or “4K” area, referring to the intersections of Mercer Street and Putnam Street, Rosa Parks Boulevard and Putnam Street, Mercer Street and Warren Street, and Rosa Parks Boulevard and Warren Street. The area has a history of open air drug dealing and gun violence. The drug network was led by a local set of the Bloods street gang known as the “4K Bloods” or “Korner Boyz.” The cooperating agencies arrested most of the defendants in November, including the alleged ringleader, Jaumel Reese, 35, of Passaic, N.J., and one of his alleged bulk suppliers, Jesse Garcia, 27, of Lodi, N.J. Reese and many of the other defendants are allegedly members of the 4K Bloods.
The Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau yesterday obtained a 63-count state grand jury indictment charging all 17 alleged ring members with second-degree conspiracy to distribute heroin. Reese is also charged with first-degree promoting organized street crime, and Eric Huntington, 41, of Paterson, who allegedly was one of Reese’s top “runners” or suppliers to street-level dealers, is charged with first-degree distribution of heroin. During the takedown of the ring, authorities executed a search warrant at the home of Garcia, where they seized 90 bricks of heroin (each including about 50 “bags” or doses), a handgun, hollow-nose bullets, and over $19,000. Garcia is charged with additional second-degree drug and gun offenses, as well as third-degree money laundering. A total of three guns were seized during the investigation. The other ring members face various additional second- and third-degree drug charges, and the 16 alleged buyers face third-degree heroin possession charges.
“We are collaborating in investigations like Operation Pitfall to target the drug traffickers who are fueling the deadly opioid epidemic and bringing violence to the neighborhoods of our cities,” said Attorney General Grewal. “This investigation really took aim at the heart of the problem, because Paterson is a major hub for heroin distribution across northern New Jersey and the open-air drug markets allegedly controlled by this Bloods set in the city’s 4th Ward have a history of gun violence.”
“This investigation is a great example of all levels of law enforcement working together seamlessly to dismantle a significant narcotics network,” said Director Veronica Allende of the Division of Criminal Justice. “There can be little doubt that we saved lives by stopping the heroin trafficked by these gang members from reaching people struggling with addiction in Paterson and the surrounding region.”
“When heroin dealing is introduced into a community, gun violence is not far behind, and if you add dangerous street gangs to the equation, the effect on a city’s residents can be devastating,” said Colonel Patrick Callahan of the New Jersey State Police. “I want to commend the State Police personnel and our law enforcement partners who ultimately dismantled this drug distribution network and made the streets safer for the residents of Paterson.”
Deputy Attorney General Amy Sieminski presented the case to the state grand jury for the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Annmarie Taggart and Bureau Chief Lauren Scarpa Yfantis. Attorney General Grewal commended the prosecutors in the Division of Criminal Justice, the detectives in the New Jersey State Police Gangs and Organized Crime North Unit, including the lead detective, Detective Scott Sanders, and all of the detectives, officers and special agents who investigated for the other participating agencies.
The following is a full list of the defendants charged with second-degree conspiracy as alleged ring members:
Jaumel Reese, 35, of Passaic, N.J.
Jessie Garcia, 27, of Lodi, N.J.
Eric Huntington, 41, of Paterson, N.J.
Jerome Deas, 38, of Paterson, N.J.
Marvelous Pitts, 31, of Paterson, N.J.
Shaques Huntington, 24, Paterson, N.J.
Herbert Pitts, 60, of Paterson, N.J.
Justin Jones, 24, of Paterson, N.J.
Angela Whitehead, 32, of Prospect Park, N.J.
Jeffrey Hunter, 29, of Paterson, N.J.
Markeith Davis, 48, of Paterson, N.J.
Tariq Jackson, 25, of Paterson, N.J.
Devon Armstrong, 40, of Paterson, N.J.
Jonathan Cedeno, 22, of Paterson, N.J.
Isaac Coleman, 32, of Paterson, N.J.
Hanife Dock, 29, of Paterson, N.J.
Theodore Blackshear, 46, of Paterson, N.J.
The following is a list of the remaining 17 defendants. All are charged with third-degree possession of heroin, with the exception of Winter Burch. Burch, who is a girlfriend of Reese, is charged with third-degree possession of codeine and fourth-degree possession of false government documents.
Jasmine Soto, 28, of Milford, Pa.
Christopher Gutierrez, 34, of Milford, Pa.
Daniel Grimm, 67, of Franklin, N.J.
Nicholas McLaughlin, 26, of Greeley, Pa.
Christopher Holbert, 24, of Hawley, Pa.
Brent Howell, 33, of Blairstown, N.J.
Frank Marchionni, 26, of Nanuet, N.Y.
Jonathon Kleinberg, 29, of New City, N.Y.
Michael Armao, 33, of Greenwood Lake, N.Y.
Michael Sheridan, 42, of Johnson, N.Y.
Robert Ferri, 33, of Wyckoff, N.J.
Chelsea Rouse, 34, of East Stroudsburg, Pa.
Jennifer Halterman, 33, of East Stroudsburg, Pa.
David Boralsky, 35, of Stanhope, N.J.
Michael Ryerson, 48, of Paterson, N.J.
Carl McKenith, 65, of Englewood, N.J.
Winter Burch, 36, of Passaic, N.J.
Jaumel Reese, Jessie Garcia, Eric Huntington and Jerome Deas are being detained in jail pre-trial. They were charged in a prior indictment in March that has been superseded by this new indictment.
First-degree charges carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000, while second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000. A sentence for first-degree promoting organized street crime must be served consecutively to the sentence for any underlying offense. The first-degree heroin distribution charge carries an enhanced fine of up to $500,000. Reese is charged with employing a juvenile in a drug distribution scheme, a second-degree charge which also carries an enhanced fine of up to $500,000. The second-degree charges of certain persons not to possess a weapon carry a mandatory term of parole ineligibility of five years. The third-degree drug charges carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $35,000.
The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
photo courtesy of Temple Beth Or Facebook page
June 8,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Washington Twp NJ, So ex council candidate Alexandra Harwin’s husband Rabbi Noah Fabricant may soon be without a job? This may explain quite a bit. According to Temple Beth Or ‘s website on ” 11/2/2017: As announced during the High Holy Days, we (Temple Beth Or) have signed a Letter of Intent with Temple Beth El of Northern Valley, in Closter, to take actions towards the merging of our two congregations to create a single Jewish community in a new location under a new name. Since then, we have made a significant amount of progress.”
https://www.templebethornj.org/images/stories/pdfs/TBO-TBE-FAQ.pdf
photo by Boyd Loving
June 7,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Westwood NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the arrest of TROY C. JONES (DOB: 09/23/1945; married; and employed as a bookkeeper) of 84 Westwood Boulevard, Westwood, NJ on charges of Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose. The arrest is the result of an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office under the direction of Sheriff Michael Saudino, and the Westwood Police Department under the direction of Chief Michael Pontillo.
On June 5, 2018, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office received information from the Westwood Police Department that two female victims were attacked inside the residence of 84 Westwood Boulevard in Westwood.
An investigation by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Westwood Police Department revealed that Troy C. JONES had physically assaulted one female victim and inflicted multiple stab wounds to another. Both victims were transported to Hackensack University Medical Center with serious injuries.
Troy C. JONES was charged with two counts each of Attempted Murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1A(1), a crime of the 1st degree; Aggravated Assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1B(1), a crime of the 2nd degree; Aggravated Assault With A Deadly Weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1B(2), a crime of the 3rd degree; and Possession Of A Weapon For Unlawful Purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4D, a crime of the 3rd degree. JONES is in the custody of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ. 2
Acting Prosecutor Calo states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and would like to thank the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and the Westwood Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.
Edgewater NJ, Developer claims politicians blocked their project to favor a crony who helps the politicians. Welcome to New Jersey!
Criminal Activity Alert – Auto Thefts & Car Burglaries -Saddle River & Neighboring Towns- Lock Vehicles – Remove Key Fob’s
June 6,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Saddle River NJ, Last night two vehicles were stolen from two different residential driveways in Saddle River. Both vehicles were unlocked and the key fobs were left in the vehicles. Several other unlocked vehicles were entered and burglarized by these actors during the overnight.
Saddle River and several neighboring jurisdictions have been experiencing high end auto thefts and auto burglaries. If everyone removes the keys and key FOB’s from their vehicles these thefts will stop. Locking your vehicle when its in the driveway prevents car burglaries from occurring and deters criminals from our area.
Most crimes are prevented or criminals are caught when the public assists the Police by reporting suspicious persons and activity. Discuss this with your neighbors, family and friends. Advise them to secure their homes and vehicles and to report suspicious activity when it is observed, not the following day. The eyes and ears of the community are of great assistance in preventing and solving crimes. Any suspicious activity can be reported to the police desk @ 201-327-5300 or by calling 9-1-1
For additional information or assistance please call Saddle River Police headquarters anytime at 201-327-5300.
Hide – Lock – Take !!!
Address/Location
Saddle River NJ Police
83 E Allendale Rd
Saddle River, NJ 07458
photo Steven Lonegan Concession Speech
2018 New Jersey Election Results
U.S. SENATE ELECTION RESULTS
New Jersey
U.S. Senate – Dem – Primary
99.6 % Precincts Reporting Jun. 05, 2018 11:59 PM ET
Menendez, Bob I 258,042 62.13 %
McCormick, Lisa 157,263 37.87 %
U.S. Senate – GOP – Primary
99.6 % Precincts Reporting Jun. 05, 2018 11:59 PM ET
Hugin, Bob 167,000 75.15 %
Goldberg, Brian 55,229 24.85 %
U.S. House – District 5 – GOP – Primary
99.8 % Precincts Reporting Jun. 05, 2018 11:54 PM ET
McCann, John 16,598 52.98 %
Lonegan, Steve 14,728 47.02 %
GOP County Executive
one seat open
4-year term
Norman Schmelz10,371 50.5%
Paul A. Duggan10,185 49.5%
Democrat
Board of Chosen Freeholders
two seats open
3-year term
✔ Steven A. Tanelli34,408 50.3%
✔ Tracy Silna Zur34,002 49.7%
GOP
Board of Chosen Freeholders
two seats open
3-year term
✔ Hector Olmo10,725 26.8%
✔ Eric Kulmala10,992 27.4%
Kevin M. Parany9,522 23.8%
Edward N. Mazlish8,835 22.0%
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
June 6,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hawthorne NJ, Members of Hawthorne Fire Department Engine Company #3, Engine Company #4, and Rescue Company #5 assisted in the Tuesday morning, 06/05 rescue of a factory worker who fell 35 feet off of a ladder and landed on the secondary roof of an industrial building located at 1 Loretto Avenue, Hawthorne. The victim was placed on a backboard and then carried three (3) flights down a set of interior stairs in a basket stretcher by Hawthorne EMS, FD, and Police Department personnel. A paramedic team from The Valley Hospital assisted Hawthorne EMS with patient evaluation and treatment. The victim was transported to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center.
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook Page
June 6,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Westwood NJ, Members of the Westwood Police Department and Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Identification at the scene of a reported Tuesday evening, 06/05 stabbing in a single family home located on Westwood Boulevard, Westwood. A next door neighbor of the incident location reported seeing three (3) individuals being taken from the scene by ambulances. Two (2) of the individuals were said to have been on stretchers; the third reportedly walked into a waiting ambulance. All of the victims are reported to be members of the same family.
June 4,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Mahwah NJ, according to the group MahwahStrong , at the May 17th Council meeting town attorney Brian Chewcaskie gave a legal presentation on Mahwah’s affordable housing requirements. The video of this session is available at https://mahwahnj.swagit.com/play/05172018-820/6.
Summary of the Update
• Each NJ towns affordable housing requirements were based on 3 criteria. Mahwah ended up in Region #1 which had the highest affordable housing requirement. The criteria were;
1) Household Income (based on most recent census)
2) Amount of Non-residential Ratable properties
3) Vacant Land Available
• The number of units Mahwah is required to provide in this round is 830 units which after credits and other options will equate to approximately 210 new incremental affordable units built
• In addition to the 175 affordable units that will be built at the Crossroads center affordable units will be built at 3 other locations not previously discussed;
o 1 Fyke Road (Off Ramapo Valley Road) Approximately 42 units/ 7 affordable
o Mahwah Town Center (Post Office Location) Mixed Use commercial and residential. Residential will be no more than 14 units per acre. This site will yield an additional 10 affordable units
o 70 Island Road (Next to Fire Company #2) 15 units 100% affordable.
• Last, Mahwah must agree to set aside 20% of all future developments as affordable units.
If approved and agreed to this will close Mahwah’s affordable housing requirements through the year 2025 at which point additional affordable housing units will be required.
June 3,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor announced today that a Bergen County neurologist indicted last year on third-degree charges in connection with a statewide medical kickback scheme now faces additional charges of health care claims fraud, misconduct by a corporate official, and other second-degree offenses, as the result of a newly returned superseding indictment.
The superseding indictment alleges Dr. Terry Ramnanan, 65, who operates the Interventional Spine and Pain Treatment Center facility in Paramus, used his medical facility to fraudulently bill insurance carriers for more than 637 medical procedures totaling $682,000 related to patients involved in the kickback scheme. The 10-count superseding indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Peter E. Warshaw in Mercer County yesterday.
“The deeper our investigators dig, the more dirt they uncover on doctors who conspired to buy and sell patients for profit in this statewide kickback scheme,” said Attorney General Grewal. “Upon further information and review, additional, upgraded charges against Dr. Ramnanan are appropriate, given his alleged role in this conspiracy to corrupt New Jersey’s health care industry.”
Ramnanan, who lives in Upper Saddle River, is one of dozens of health care practitioners charged in connection with an ongoing investigation by the Attorney General’s Commercial Bribery Task Force (CBTF) that was formed in January 2016 to target commercial bribery in the health care industry. The task force includes deputy attorneys general and detectives from the Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor and the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau.
The CBTF investigation has uncovered a statewide criminal enterprise in which doctors received hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal kickbacks in return for providing patient referrals worth millions of dollars to other doctors and medical service providers.
In August 2017, Ramnanan was indicted on one charge each of third-degree conspiracy, commercial bribery, and criminal use of runners for allegedly paying Totowa chiropractor Ronald Hayek in exchange for patient referrals.
Ramnanan is now accused of bribing another health care professional, identified only by the initials A.A, for patient referrals and then fraudulently submitting insurance claims for medical treatment performed on those patients.
“Dr. Ramnanan’s alleged crimes are greater in number and more serious in nature than we originally believed. The charges contained in the superseding indictment reflect the true nature of his involvement in this scheme,” said Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Tracy M. Thompson. “Our Commercial Bribery Task Force will continue to run down tips and follow leads to ensure that all those involved in this criminal enterprise are held fully accountable for their actions.”
In addition to the previous charges against Ramnanan, the superseding indictment contains additional charges of:
Misconduct by a Corporate Official (2nd degree)
Health Care Claims Fraud (two counts, 2nd degree)
Theft by Deception (2nd degree)
Commercial Bribery (3rd degree)
Criminal Use of Runners (3rd degree)
It also upgrades the previous count of Conspiracy from 3rd degree to 2nd degree.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
According to the superseding indictment, between January 2012 and April 2016, Ramnanan conspired with both “A.A.” and Hayek in a kickback scheme in which Ramnanan paid them for referring patients for treatment at his medical facility.Hayek was among dozens of doctors charged in two prior medical fraud investigations that led to the formation of the Commercial Bribery Task Force:
An investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau that led to guilty pleas in 2016 from Dr. Manoj Patharkar and his associate Mohammed Shamshair on charges that they hid and laundered approximately $3.6 million in income from the doctor’s pain management clinics to evade taxes, and “Operation Rayscam,” an investigation by the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor that led to guilty pleas in May 2015 from Rehan Zuberi, his wife, and three other defendants in connection with commercial bribes that Zuberi paid to doctors in return for the referral of patients to his medical imaging centers.
In July 2016, Hayek pleaded guilty to two accusations. The first accusation, filed by the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau, charged him with second-degree conspiracy, second-degree money laundering, six counts of commercial bribery, (four in the second degree, two in the third degree), and one count of third degree failure to pay taxes. The second accusation, filed by the Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, charged him with one count of third-degree conspiracy. He is awaiting sentencing.
In pleading guilty to the accusation filed by the Division of Criminal Justice, Hayek admitted he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks from Shamshair, Patharkar, Ramnanan, and others, in exchange for referring patients to them and their related medical facilities. He also admitted paying commercial bribes to attorneys in exchange for the referral of clients to his practice. In pleading guilty to the accusation filed by the Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, Hayek admitted to receiving kickbacks in exchange for referring patients to diagnostic imaging facilities owned or controlled by Rehan Zuberi.
photo courtesy of Bergen County
June 2,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco was joined by County Mosquito Control Division Director Warren Staudinger and County Entomologist Matt Bickerton to release a school of fathead minnows, which feed on mosquito larvae, in Borg’s Woods Nature Preserve in Hackensack. The release of these fish is an environmentally friendly practice used in tandem with other methods to control the mosquito population and prevent mosquito-borne illness. It is part of an annual countywide effort, including a public awareness campaign, to reduce the mosquito population and educate the public about these illnesses and how to protect themselves and their neighbors. Included below are photos of the fish release
