Category: Bergenfield

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Bergen County high schools disrupted by Robo-call threats deemed safe

Waldwick Middle School-High School on Lock Down

file photo by Boyd Loving

BY STEFANIE DAZIO
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

The FBI is assisting Bergen County in its investigation of bomb threats that disrupted school Friday morning at five high schools and were declared to be hoaxes, said Doreen Holder, a public information officer for the federal agency

Bergen County Sheriff’s spokesman Anthony Cureton said all of the schools received threatening robo-calls. Schools in Bergenfield, Hackensack, Teaneck and Waldwick have been determined to be safe by the sheriff’s bomb squad. Mahwah High School was still being searched by authorities shortly before 11 a.m.

Teaneck High School students were evacuated this morning due to a bomb threat but have since returned, Police Deputy Chief Glenn O’Reilly said. The school was deemed safe after a search. The school’s Principal Dennis Heck said in an audio message to parents that the school was evacuated due to a threat, but he did not characterize the threat. Heck asked parents not to pick up their students. The principal at the Lowell Elementary School, which was not affected, characterized the incident as “swatting” in a message to parents.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen-county-high-schools-disrupted-by-robo-call-threats-deemed-safe-1.1518674

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N.J. won’t get federal funds to improve safety on rail lines carrying oil tankers

Tanker Train

BY SCOTT FALLON
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

Despite the millions of gallons of volatile crude being transported through the state by train, New Jersey will receive none of the $10 million awarded by the federal government Thursday to improve safety conditions on rail lines carrying the oil.

million awarded by the federal government Thursday to improve safety conditions on rail lines carrying the oil.

The Christie administration was among 34 applicants seeking a portion of the funds set aside by the Federal Railroad Administration to upgrade rail crossings along lines that have experienced an exponential increase in crude shipments. The oil, from the recent oil boom in North Dakota’s Bakken rock formation, has been involved in several fiery derailments, including one in Canada that killed 43 people three years ago.

Steve Schapiro, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, said agency officials were disappointed in not receiving any funds but understands the process was competitive.

Related:  Oil train bridges targeted in study; group says span over Passaic River decaying

Bergenfield Mayor Norman Schmelz was less diplomatic, saying the funding was inadequate to begin with. An estimated 15 to 30 trains, each carrying as much as 3 million gallons of crude, pass through his town each week. Like many communities in New Jersey, Bergenfield has homes, businesses, schools and government buildings within feet of the rail line.

“Ten million dollars probably wouldn’t be enough for Bergen County let alone the whole United States,” said Schmelz, whose emergency managers are preparing a response plan in case of a derailment. “I can’t believe there would be places in the country that are in more of a dire situation than here.”

Grants were awarded Thursday to transportation departments in Washington state, California, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Arkansas and Louisiana.

Federal Railroad Administration officials said they received requests totaling $50.8 million, more than five times the money available. “In short, there is more need than funding available and a lot of strong applications,” said Marc Willis, an agency spokesman. Neither state nor federal officials provided details Thursday about New Jersey’s application.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/n-j-won-t-get-federal-funds-to-improve-safety-on-rail-lines-carrying-oil-tankers-1.1514369

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The Ridgewood Board of Education and the Ridgewood Police conduct school security checks after 9 school districts throughout Bergen and Passaic Counties received threats

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file photo by Boyd Loving
January 20th 2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ , Ridgewood Police and the Ridgewood Board of Ed  took proactive measures Tuesday after Police in nine North Jersey towns received bomb threats on Monday evening and on Tuesday morning, disrupting the school day for thousands of local students . Schools in Bergenfield, Clifton, Englewood, Fair Lawn, Garfield, Hackensack, Leonia, Teaneck, and Tenafly received the threats. Some school systems instituted lockdowns while others evacuated. While threats turned out to be a false alarm Ridgewood  Police and BOE rightfully took no chances .

We have received several inquiries today concerning threats to area schools today. Approximately 9 schools throughout Bergen and Passaic Counties received threats and have taken appropriate measures to address their specific needs. Although our schools have not received any threats, the Ridgewood Board of Education and the Ridgewood Police upon hearing of the regional issues, took proactive measures, conducting school security checks of all schools. This proactive approach is part of our ongoing efforts with Dr. Fishbein and the Board of Education towards enhancing the safety of our schools and community.

Chief John M. Ward

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Threats made against at least 9 school districts in North Jersey

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file photo by Boyd Loving

By Myles Ma | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on January 19, 2016 at 10:10 AM, updated January 19, 2016 at 10:47 AM

Multiple Bergen and Passaic county schools received bomb threats, Jan. 19, 2016. (File Photo)

High schools in at least nine school districts in Bergen County and Passaic County received threats Tuesday morning.

Schools in Leonia, Tenafly, Teaneck, Garfield, Fair Lawn, Hackensack, Englewood  and Bergenfield received threats, Anthony Cureton, a spokesman for Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino, said.

Police are investigating whether the threats are related, Cureton said. It’s also possible all the calls were automated, he said.

Fair Lawn Police Sgt. Brian Metzler said Fair Lawn High School received a threat over the phone at about 9 a.m. All the students have been moved to Memorial Middle School.

https://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2016/01/several_bergen_passaic_county_school_receive_bomb.html

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Advanced Placement courses surge, but so does debate about worth and stress

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NOVEMBER 16, 2015    LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY DEENA YELLIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

Advanced Placement courses are all the rage in New Jersey this school year, with many high schools having added more of the college-level courses to meet surging demand.

Students and advocates of the courses cite their value as college preparation, and parents hope to save on the cost of college credits earned for free in high school.

But critical observers also are pointing to the amplified stress that AP courses put on already high-achieving students with packed schedules.

The courses, which lend cachet to a student’s résumé, have long been a staple across the nation. But now, many North Jersey schools, including those in Northern Valley Regional High School District and in Lodi, Bergenfield, Tenafly, Wayne, Emerson and Glen Rock, have launched additional AP courses.

The most popular have traditionally been AP English Literature and AP U.S. History, said staff of the College Board, which administers the AP tests and trains teachers. But school administrators cite a dramatic increase in the number of AP STEM courses added over the past few years, including at Northern Valley High School, which has launched AP physics, science, and computer science; Emerson, which added AP Physics I and II; and Glen Rock, which is adding AP computer science.

New Jersey students have done particularly well on the AP exams, with more than 72.8 percent scoring a 3 or higher — out of 5 — on AP exams in 2015, compared with the average of 60.5 percent internationally.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/students-load-up-on-tougher-courses-1.1456207

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The definitive recap of Bergen’s Election 2015

Bergen_County_Seal-1

Posted by Matthew Gilson On November 04, 2015 1 Comment

By Matthew Gilson | The Save Jersey Blog

Let’s dive right in, Save Jerseyans…

#1 – District 36 Got Even More Republican Locally

While things were dicey across the county, Republicans once again exceeded expectations in District 36, sweeping all the competitive races.  The surprise of the night came in Wallington where two Republican challengers will join Chris Sinisi andSharon Robie on the council in January to create the first Republican majority in the town in decades.

In Carlstadt, though not unexpected Councilman Craig Lahullier scored a landslide victory along with his running mates to keep the town in firm Republican hands. Rutherford proved another solid victory for Mayor Joe DeSalvo and his team who now hold a 4-2 advantage on the council.  While expected, it is nonetheless amazing that North Arlington, a town where Democrats outnumber Republicans 3-1, will now be completely Republican controlled as top vote-getter Brian Fitzhenry and his team clobbered the Democratic incumbents.

District 36 GOP’ers cleaned-up on a night with not a lot to be excited about elsewhere. They are the model for which the entire county should be running elections.

#2 – John Cosgrove Did More Than Enough to Cement Himself to Take on Bob Gordon

He may not have carried his running mates, but Mayor John Cosgrove was hundreds of votes ahead of his nearest Democratic competitor. I noted earlier that a big victory would set up Cosgrove to take on Gordon in 2017, and he put on a show made even more impressive by the fact that it was a dismal night for many in towns near him.

Republicans lost in the neighboring District 38 towns including Paramus and Glen Rock. While the lost Republican seats will be our top targets in 2017, Cosgrove gives Republicans a top-flight candidate to take on Gordon. Much like the “Scarpa or bust” chants of this year, the discussion of who should take on Gordon begins and ends with Cosgrove. But speaking of popular mayors in the swing district….

#3 – Popular Candidates Can Still Beat Machines

Nothing put on a smile on my face more than the re-election of Norman Schmelz in Bergenfield. Norman is truly one of the good guys and a dedicated mayor, but he faced an onslaught of dirty attacks by his opponents including a full-blown attack website. Knowing the overwhelming Democratic tilt of the town, Democrats tried to tie Norman to Chris Christie, Scott Garrett, Anthony Cappola and stopped just short of portraying him as a patsy of Nucky Thompson. Through the onslaught, through the excessive spending gap, through the bad night for everyone else, Norman Schmelz still eeked out a victory and proved good guys and popular candidates can still win.

 

https://savejersey.com/2015/11/bergen-county-election-results/

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Judge affirms Bergen schools’ right to withhold full security-drill reports from NBC-TV

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file photo by Boyd Loving

JUNE 19, 2015, 5:26 PM    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015, 5:26 PM
BY STEVE JANOSKI
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

A state Superior Court judge has ruled that a dozen Bergen County school districts were within their rights to redact details of their school security drills before turning drill records over to a TV station probing alleged irregularities.

Superior Court Judge Robert P. Contillo wrote in the decision that the safety and security concerns voiced by the districts outweighed plaintiff WNBC-TV’s interest in receiving un-redacted records. The redactions, he wrote, which varied district-to-district but generally blacked out the date, time, and length of the drills, were “necessary to protect defendants’ interest in maintaining the safety and integrity of the school community.”

“Any other result would risk this information falling into the wrong hands and being of use in an effort to cause harm,” he wrote.

Donald Doherty, attorney for plaintiff WNBC-TV, was disappointed by the June 4 ruling, which he said didn’t make sense given that other districts freely gave the network the information.

“If it was such a security risk, you’d have thought everybody would have thought [so],” he said. “But I’m not the judge.”

Doherty said he doesn’t plan to appeal the decision, but that that “doesn’t mean we think the judge is right.”

Named in the station’s Feb. 20 suit were the boards of education in Allendale, Bergenfield, Englewood Cliffs, Hillsdale, Oakland, Old Tappan, Ramapo-Indian Hills, Ramsey, River Vale, and Tenafly, as well as the Bergen County Technical and Special Services districts. Also named were those districts’ business administrators, who serve as public records custodians.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/judge-affirms-bergen-schools-right-to-withhold-full-security-drill-reports-from-nbc-tv-1.1359734

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Rep. Scott Garrett Announces 2015 Congressional Art Competition Winners

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May 29, 2015

NEWTON, NJ – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) announced the winners of the 2015 Congressional Art Competition.  This year’s top honor went to Norwood resident and Academy of the Holy Angels student Na Young Lee for her piece, “Crammed.”  This year’s competition featured 95 student entries and was hosted at Sussex County Community College in Newton. Meagan Khoury and Sherry Fitzgerald, both of Sussex County Community College, judged the competition.  The winners were announced at a ceremony on Saturday, May 16th.

“Congratulations to the winners and participants of the 2015 Congressional Art Competition,” said Garrett.  “I am amazed at the quality of work produced by these students.  Each student should be very proud of their efforts, and I want to thank their parents and teachers for encouraging and cultivating such exceptional talent.”

The Congressional Art Competition is an annual event held in congressional districts across the country.  The first place winner from each congressional district will have his or her artwork displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol alongside winning artwork from other high school students across the country.  The second, third, and fourth place winners will have their submissions displayed in Congressman Garrett’s Glen Rock, Newton, and Washington, D.C. offices.  Click here for more information about the nation-wide contest.

Below is a complete list of this year’s winners and participants.  Names without a corresponding link were unable to attend the May 16th ceremony.

2015 Congressional Art Competition Winners

1st Place
Student:  Na Young Lee
Title:  “Crammed”
School:  Academy of the Holy Angels
Residence: Norwood

2nd Place
Student:  Cindy Lee
Title:  “Bakekujira the Ghost Whale”
School:  Northern Valley Regional High School – Old Tappan
Residence: Norwood

3rd Place
Student:  Haley Fletcher
Title:  “Covetous”
School:  Lakeland Regional High School
Residence: Ringwood

4th Place
Student:  Yubin Lee
Title:  “Bounded”
School:  Bergen County Academies
Residence: Haworth

5th Place
Student:  Alessandra Ferrari-Wong
Title:  “Investigation”
School:  Bergen County Academies
Residence: Westwood

6th Place
Student:  Laura David
Title:  “Looking Ahead”
School:  Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Hamburg

7th Place
Student:  Kara Kovach
Title:  “Hot and Beardy”
School:  Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Franklin

8th Place
Student:  Anna Kristofick
Title:  “True Colors”
School:  Indian Hills High School
Residence: Wyckoff

Honorable Mentions

Student:  Hannah Kim
Title:  “Yin and Yang”
School:  Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Upper Saddle River

Student:  Melanie Rosenblatt
Title:  “Zoe”
School:  Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Upper Saddle River

Student: Julia Grace Shea
Title: “Indecisive”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Ho-Ho-Kus

Student:  Nico Tolinkski
Title:  “Mutilation”
School:  Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Allendale

Student:  Anna Allen
Title:  “Emotion in Full Color”
School:  Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence:  Stockholm

Student:  Nicole Spangenburg
Title:  “Dead End”
School:  Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Hamburg

All Participants

Student:  Na Young Lee*
Title:  “Crammed”
School:  Academy of the Holy Angels
Residence: Norwood

Student: Lydia Chen
Title: “The Road”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: New Milford

Student: Haine Cho
Title: “Parent”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: Northvale

Student:  Alessandra Ferrari-Wong*
Title:  “Investigation”
School:  Bergen County Academies
Residence: Westwood

Student: Gabrielle Fink
Title: “Promenade”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: Ridgewood

Student: Julia Fish
Title: “Fish Face”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: Glen Rock

Student: Lillian Hong
Title: “Soaked”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: Ramsey

Student: Ashley Lee
Title: “Best Memories”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: River Edge

Student:  Yubin Lee*
Title:  “Bounded” and “A Day in the Life of Edward Hopper”
School:  Bergen County Academies
Residence: Haworth

Student: Maansi Srivastava
Title: “Rolling Waves of Me”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: Harrington Park

Student: Sarah Vargas
Title: “Winter Expressions”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: Allendale

Student: Jessica Zhu
Title: “Cutting the Strings”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: Montvale

Student: Nicholas Banta
Title: “GWB”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Isabelle Barraca
Title: “Uptown Girls”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Adrian Dela Cerna
Title: “The Awakening”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Veronica Chavez
Title: “Prima Ballerina”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Darin Diaz
Title: “Shine Bright”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Arianna Guce
Title: “Harrods”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Melany Guerrero
Title: “Morning Dew”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Jake Goldstein
Title: “The 100”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Jarel Harris
Title: “Full Bloom”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Abigail Lorenzo
Title: “My Reflection”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Olympia Nikolopoulos
Title: “Coronation Day”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Brenda Quijada
Title: “Letter from My Love”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Giovanna Ramirez
Title: “Dark Horse”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Ayanna Reyes
Title: “Conquer the World”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Kristofer Rodriguez
Title: “Springtime in NJ”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Nikki Rodriguez
Title: “Fondness of You”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Maleah Rohan
Title: “Celestial”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Robbie Torres
Title: “Spirit Guide”
School: Bergenfield High School
Residence: Bergenfield

Student: Karina Barragan
Title: “Untitled”
School: Hackensack High School
Residence: Hackensack

Student: Kathleen Caparo
Title: “Florence”
School: Hackensack High School
Residence: Hackensack

Student: Abigail DiGregorio
Title: “Pause”
School: Hackensack High School
Residence: Maywood

Student: Breanna Goins
Title: “Monochromatic Dream”
School: Hackensack High School
Residence: Hackensack

Student: Angie Melissa Tabares
Title: “Portrait” and “The Importance of Oral Hygiene”
School: Hackensack High School
Residence: Hackensack

Student: Emma Vuolo
Title: “Home”
School: Homeschooled
Residence: Mahwah

Student: Larissa Le Von-Zayas
Title: “Reflection”
School: Indian Hills High School
Residence: Oakland

Student:  Anna Kristofick*
Title:  “True Colors”
School:  Indian Hills High School
Residence: Wyckoff

Student: Mark Sabino
Title: “Anxiety” and “Refraction”
School: Indian Hills High School
Residence: Wyckoff

Student: Rachel Wikfors
Title: “The Gift”
School: Indian Hills High School
Residence: Oakland

Student: Ashley Amador
Title: “Acceptance”
School: Lakeland Regional High School
Residence: Ringwood

Student: Christieana Farrell
Title: “Self Portrait”
School: Lakeland Regional High School
Residence: Ringwood

Student:  Haley Fletcher*
Title:  “Covetous”
School:  Lakeland Regional High School
Residence: Ringwood

Student: Jordan Rockwell
Title: “Bad Moon on the Rise”
School: Lakeland Regional High School
Residence: Ringwood

Student: Jonathan Rojas
Title: “The Stigmas of Technology”
School: Lakeland Regional High School
Residence: Ringwood

Student: Carter Boyd
Title: “False Security”
School: Newton High School
Residence: Newton

Student: Aidan Healy
Title: “High Point”
School: Newton High School
Residence: Newton

Student: Tamara Recalde
Title: “Remove the Chicken”
School: Newton High School
Residence: Newton

Student: Aurora Abzug
Title: “Europe”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Upper Saddle River

Student: Jennifer Asnis
Title: “London”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Ho-Ho-Kus

Student: Grace Basralian
Title: “Cubism”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Ho-Ho-Kus

Student: Alexandra Berndt
Title: “Greece”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Allendale

Student: Juliette Boyajian
Title: “Innocence”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Saddle River

Student: Sara Dec
Title: “Depiction”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Allendale

Student:  Hannah Kim*
Title:  “Yin and Yang”
School:  Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Upper Saddle River

Student: Nathan Kim
Title: “Monkey”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Allendale

Student: Sofia Mirante
Title: “Skull”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Allendale

Student: Michelle Morin
Title: “Sun Goddess”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Upper Saddle River

Student: Satsuki Okamoto
Title: “Fall Still Life”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Allendale

Student: Rachael Reinke
Title: “Broken Clock”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Upper Saddle River

Student:  Melanie Rosenblatt*
Title:  “Zoe”
School:  Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Upper Saddle River

Student: Julia Grace Shea*
Title: “Indecisive”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Ho-Ho-Kus

Student:  Nico Tolinkski*
Title:  “Mutilation”
School:  Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Allendale

Student: Mary Wang
Title: “Summer Cravings”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Upper Saddle River

Student: Jenna Jeeyoon Kim
Title: “Provence, France”
School: Northern Valley Regional High School – Demarest
Residence: Closter

Student: Celine Kim
Title: “Hidden”
School: Northern Valley Regional High School – Old Tappan
Residence: Old Tappan

Student:  Cindy Lee*
Title:  “Bakekujira the Ghost Whale”
School:  Northern Valley Regional High School – Old Tappan
Residence: Norwood

Student: Bhumi Patel
Title: “$unset in the Hamptons”
School: Pope John XIII High School
Residence: Franklin

Student: Brianna Struble
Title: “Flower”
School: Pope John XXIII High School
Residence: Lafayette

Student: Malavika Menon
Title: “Portrait of a Kenyan Woman” and “Drake”
School: Ramapo High School
Residence: Wyckoff

Student: Julie McNamara
Title: “Home”
School: Ramsey High School
Residence: Ramsey

Student: Nick Metz
Title: “Selfie [to the Fifth Power]”
School: Pascack Valley High School
Residence: Hillsdale

Student:  Anna Allen*
Title:  “Emotion in Full Color”
School:  Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence:  Stockholm

Student:  Laura David*
Title:  “Looking Ahead”
School:  Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Hamburg

Student: Merinda Gruszecki
Title: “American Addictions” and “Society of Malcontent”
School: Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Franklin

Student:  Kara Kovach*
Title:  “Hot and Beardy” and “Her Eyes Speak Volumes”
School:  Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Franklin

Student: Rebecca Kowalenko
Title: “Winding Path”
School: Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Hamburg

Student: Kylee Nicolai
Title: “Sitting in What Remains”
School: Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Hamburg

Student: Nicole Rotunda
Title: “Beach Escape”
School: Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Franklin

Student:  Nicole Spangenburg*
Title:  “Dead End”
School:  Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Hamburg

Student: Alexandria Stampone
Title: “Bleeding Heart”
School: Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Franklin

Student: Sarah Stapel
Title: “Vulnerability”
School: Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Franklin

Student: Ariana Blaeuer
Title: “Jesus of Suburbia”
School: West Milford High School
Residence: Hewitt

Student: Katherine McNaught
Title: “Hydranga”
School: West Milford High School
Residence: West Milford

Student: Allyssa Milne
Title: “Razzmatazz”
School: West Milford High School
Residence: West Milford

Student: Julia Norman
Title: “Mountainous Daze”
School: West Milford High School
Residence: West Milford

Student: Daniela Kaim
Title: “Winter Leaves”
School: Westwood Regional High School
Residence: Township of Washington

Student: Danielle Russo
Title: “Daily Dose”
School: Westwood Regional High School
Residence: Township of Washington

Student: Hana Tucker
Title: “Passage to New York”
School: Westwood Regional High School
Residence: Westwood

*signifies that the student received a medal or an honorable mention.

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Defrocked priest finds strength in new followers

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MARCH 30, 2015, 10:35 PM    LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015, 10:36 PM
BY JEFF GREEN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

The Archdiocese of Newark is on the defensive in a dispute with a small but growing sect of Catholics over the defrocking of a former Bergen County priest who the church says “abandoned” the ministry, a term his defenders say was used to sow doubt about his conduct.

Anthony Lipari worked as a Roman Catholic priest for years in Bergenfield and Ridgewood parishes, and as a deacon in Dumont, becoming a popular youth minister with a loyal following. But in 2003, while he was an assistant priest in Nutley, he and a high-ranking archdiocese official agreed he should leave the church as his differences in theology became clear, Lipari said.

Lipari, 54, has just launched a ministry at the Jersey Shore, affiliated with a new, liberal sect of Catholics, and he, like some church experts, is questioning the announcement this month by Newark church leaders stripping him of the priesthood.

The defrocking has created new critics of Archbishop John J. Myers, who in recent years has faced a firestorm of publicity over his treatment of a sexually abusive Bergen County priest, and pushback from parents amid continuing school closings and an archdiocese takeover of education finances. Last year church donors mounted protests over revelations that Myers expanded a lavish countryside home for his retirement.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/defrocked-priest-finds-strength-in-new-followers-1.1299258

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Six Bergen County towns named among state’s 10 safest small municipalities

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Ridgewood-_supervisor_close_theridgewoodblog.net_4-12

file photo Boyd Loving

Six Bergen County towns named among state’s 10 safest small municipalities

January 15, 2015, 11:23 AM    Last updated: Thursday, January 15, 2015, 1:27 PM
By STEFANIE DAZIO
Staff Writer |
The Record

Six Bergen County towns were named among the state’s 10 safest small municipalities by a consumer finance website.

Old Tappan was ranked No. 2, Park Ridge at No. 5 and Emerson, Wyckoff, Waldwick and Norwood taking the seventh through 10th spots in ValuePenguin’s list of towns with fewer than 20,000 residents. In the midsize municipality category — which ranked towns with populations between 20,000 and 45,000 — Bergenfield came in seventh.

No North Jersey towns were named in the big city category, which looked at municipalities with populations above 45,000.

On ValuePenguin’s top five safest cities — which did not take population into account — Old Tappan ranked No. 2 and Park Ridge came in at No. 5.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/six-bergen-county-towns-named-among-state-s-10-safest-small-municipalities-1.1195933

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Angelo DeSimone former Ridgewood superintendent of business to become Elmwood Park schools new fiscal monitor

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Angelo DeSimone former Ridgewood superintendent of business to become Elmwood Park schools new fiscal monitor

January 10, 2015    Last updated: Saturday, January 10, 2015, 1:21 AM
By CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
The Record

ELMWOOD PARK — The state has appointed a new monitor to oversee the school district’s finances, the superintendent of schools said Friday.

Angelo DeSimone, who has been the state monitor in Garfield since 2013, has taken over in Elmwood Park from Thomas Egan.

The superintendent of schools, Richard Tomko, said Friday that DeSimone will be working about 30 hours a week in the district; Egan put in close to 40 hours.

Egan, the former business administrator in Bergenfield, was installed in early 2013 to manage the school district’s finances after two consecutive yearly budget deficits.

Egan served in his role in Elmwood Park for two years.

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Courtesy of Dom

DeSimone’s appointment runs for one year. Elmwood Park’s school board voted to accept his appointment at its meeting Tuesday night.

DeSimone will have final say in all purchasing decisions, can overrule the school board and is allowed to attend executive session meetings when financial matters are to be discussed.

DeSimone retired in 2012 after working for eight years as the Ridgewood school district’s superintendent of business.

While DeSimone will answer to Education Commissioner David Hespe, the district is required to pay his $96-an-hour wage and cover his business-related expenses.

In the spring of 2013, the district received $2.2 million in advance aid from the state to eradicate its budget deficit. As a result, Elmwood Park will receive reduced state aid funding over the next eight years.

Total district expenditures during the fiscal years 2011 and 2012 were $32.5 million and $34.6 million, respectively, according to the state’s audit.

According to state law, school districts can only receive advance state aid if a state monitor is in place.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/elmwood-park-schools-get-new-fiscal-monitor-1.1190087

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Judge refuses to dismiss case against ex-Bergen County Democrat chief Ferriero

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Judge refuses to dismiss case against ex-Bergen County Dems chief Ferriero
October 16, 2014, 6:17 PM    Last updated: Friday, October 17, 2014, 7:00 AM
By KAREN SUDOL

A federal judge on Thursday refused to throw out a case against a former chairman of the Bergen County Democratic Organization who is charged with profiting from his position through a series of bribery, kickback and extortion schemes.

U.S. District Judge Esther Salas denied a defense request for the dismissal of the 2013 indictment against Joseph A. Ferriero.

Federal prosecutors have charged Ferriero, 57, with extorting millions from a Meadowlands complex developer in exchange for his support and with persuading Bergen towns to hire a software developer who was paying Ferriero. He also secured a Bergenfield borough attorney job for a friend, Dennis Oury, who then persuaded the town to hire grant-writing firm that both he and Ferriero had ownership interests in, according to the indictment.

His trial, which was supposed to begin in November, has been postponed until February because of scheduling issues among the attorneys.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/judge-refuses-to-dismiss-case-against-ex-bergen-county-dems-chief-ferriero-1.1111206#sthash.c7MEFEgO.dpuf

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Ridgewood’s Nicole Parks Named to Ridgewood News All-Suburban Softball Team

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Ridgewood’s Nicole Parks Named to  Ridgewood News All-Suburban Softball Team

JULY 4, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 4, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY GREG TARTAGLIA
SPORTS EDITOR

RIDGEWOOD — An historic softball season in The Ridgewood News All-Suburban area had it roots in the Big North Freedom Division.

Led by undefeated Bergen County and State Group 3 champion Indian Hills (34-0), four teams from the division combined to produce nine of the 18 players on this year’s first team. The Braves supplied four, Northern Highlands three, and Ridgewood and Paramus one each.

Bergen County runner-up Immaculate Heart (31-2) leads all schools with five representatives, and its Big North United Division rival Paramus Catholic placed one among the 13 seniors, three juniors, a sophomore and a freshman. Ramsey, Midland Park and Hawthorne garnered one spot apiece.

A whopping eight players repeat on the top squad, led by Steph Thomas of IHA, who completed the All-Suburban “cycle” with her fourth first-team bid. The three-time overall honorees are IHA’s Rachel Pollard (2012-14 first team) and Daniella Ibarra (2012 Sophomore of Year, 2013-14 first team) and Ridgewood’s Nicole Parks (2012 second team, 2013-14 first team).

So deep was the talent pool this spring that four others repeat on the second team: Ridgewood’s Kelly Skettini, Ramsey’s Jess Juhlin and Fair Lawn’s Sam Colca (2013-14) and Paramus’ Kelsey Settecasi (2012 and ’14).

Hallie Donofrio of Waldwick is the Sophomore of the Year, while Northern Highlands’ Chris Broking is the Coach of the Year…..

NICOLE PARKS, Ridgewood — This senior right-hander finally was able to put her full pitching arsenal on display and led the Maroons (20-7) to an eight-win improvement over last season. A first-team outfielder in 2013, she showed no signs of the ankle injury that kept her out of the circle and came back with an 18-6 record, 0.86 ERA and .155 opponent’s batting average. She struck out 249 in 150 innings and threw four no-hitters (including a perfect game against Bergenfield), upping her career mark to 24-9 with five no-hitters. Bound for the University of Albany, she hit .375 with three home runs, 22 RBI and had a .648 slugging percentage.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/girls-softball/softball-stars-rewrite-history-books-1.1046366#sthash.rY5IfGZb.dpuf

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Clara Nibot Cuban-American anti Castro Republican Activist Dies

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Clara Nibot Cuban-American anti Castro Republican Activist Dies
Tuesday, May 21, 2014

Clara Nibot, a Cuban-American Republican activist and a former president of the Bergen County Hispanic Republican Club, died yesterday. She was from Bergenfield.

“She was an activist and very much involved in Republican Party politics until she got sick but until she got sick you could always count on her to be there and she will be sorely missed,” said Bergen County GOP Chairman Bob Yudin.

Ms. Nibot challenged Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-37) in the 2007 general election.

Fernando Alonso, the current President of the Bergen County Hispanic Republican Club described Ms. Nibot as a Cuban  anti-Castro dissident who helped many young Republicans. “Including me, many years ago,” Alonso said. “She was a good, kind, wise woman.”

In an interview which appeared in the Record in January of 2011, Clara was quoted as having arrived in the US in 1961 from Cuba as a tourist.  She never returned to Cuba or saw her father, a doctor, who was not permitted to leave Cuba.

She was an outspoken advocate for her people and often pointed out the human rights violations so many continue to endure there.  “… But there are still human rights violations and people are being put in jail and persecuted because they believe in free speech,” Nibot said in 2011. “No one is holding him [Castro] accountable.”

Clara was born in Havana, Cuba. She lived in Irvington before moving to Bergenfield 43 years ago.  She was a Systems Analyst for Mason Tenders District Trust Fund, New York City for 30 years, prior to retiring in 2004.

Clara was the beloved wife of the late Jose Nibot who died in 2005, the devoted mother of Ismael (Caroline) Nibot and Sylvia Claffey, and loving sister of Alicia Burt. She will be sadly missed by her cherished granddaughters, Olivia and Megan Nibot.

The family will welcome friends Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m. onThursday, May 22nd at the French Funeral Home, 161 Washington Avenue in Dumont.

Funeral mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. at St. John’s R.C. Church, 29 North Washington Ave, Bergenfield.

Internment at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus.

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Rep. Scott Garrett Announces 2014 Congressional Art Competition Winners

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Rep. Scott Garrett congratulates Old Tappan Resident Soyoung Park for taking first place in the 2014 Congressional Art Competition with her piece, “Seeking For True Happiness.”

Rep. Scott Garrett Announces 2014 Congressional Art Competition Winners
May 14, 2014

MAHWAH, NJ – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) announced the winners of the 2014 Congressional Art Competition.  This year’s top honor went to Old Tappan resident Soyoung Park of Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan for her piece, “Seeking For True Happiness.”  This year’s competition, which boasted 79 entries from 33 Fifth District towns, was hosted by the Ramapo College in Mahwah and was judged by Eva Fazzari from Ramapo College, Gregg Biermann from Bergen Community College, and Meagan Khoury from Sussex Community College. The winners were announced at a ceremony on Saturday, May 10th.

“Congratulations to the winners of the 2014 Congressional Art Competition, this year’s work is both creative and inspired,” said Garrett.  “I commend the students, teachers and parents for encouraging these wonderful pieces of art, and I thank Ramapo College and the group of volunteers who helped to make this year’s competition one of the best we’ve ever had.  I’m looking forward to seeing the winning piece hanging in the U.S. Capitol.”

The Congressional Art Competition is an annual event held in congressional districts across the country.  The first place winner from each congressional district will have his or her artwork displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol alongside winning artwork from other high school students across the country.  The second, third, and fourth place winners will have their submissions displayed in Congressman Garrett’s Glen Rock, Newton, and Washington, D.C. offices.  Click here for more information about the nation-wide contest.

2014 Congressional Art Competition Winners

1st Place
Student: Soyoung Park
Title: “Seeking For True Happiness”
School: Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan
Hometown: Old Tappan

2nd Place
Student: Laura David
Title: “Alex”
School: Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Hometown: Hamburg

3rd Place
Student: Mark Bastidas
Title “My Mother”
School: Bergenfield High School
Hometown: Bergenfield

4th Place
Student: Kamille Gomez
Title: “Easy Breezy”
School: Bergen County Academies
Hometown: Teaneck

5th Place
Student: Sofia Mirante
Title: Untitled
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Hometown: Allendale

6th Place
Student: Julianna Scionti
Title: “Self Portrait”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Hometown: Allendale

7th Place
Student: Adrian Dela Cerna
Title: “Midnight Winter Walk”
School: Bergenfield High School
Hometown: Bergenfield

8th Place
Student: Alyaa Elsaadany
Title: “Jane Doe Thinks Liberty Is Dead”
School: Newton High School
Hometown: Andover

Honorable Mentions

Student: Rachel Young Seo Yoon
Title: “A Thirst for Beauty”
School: Saddle River Day School
Hometown: Norwood

Student: Hannah Kim
Title: “Portrait”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Hometown: Upper Saddle River

Student: Emma Brennan
Title: “Torched”
School: Bergen County Academies
Hometown: Ridgewood

Student: Haine Cho
Title: “Lovebirds”
School: Bergen County Academies
Hometown: Northvale

Student: Jessica Zhu
Title: “Kiss of a Dolphin”
School: Bergen County Academies
Hometown: Montvale

Student: Nico Tolinski
Title: “Whisper”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Hometown: Allendale