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FOUR CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE COUNTS OF BURGLARY IN BERGEN

Bergen County Sheriffs department theridgewoodblog.net 1

file photo by Boyd Loving

July 19,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

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 .

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BERGEN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL DINNER, Elections, Awards

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June 10,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ramsey NJ, Thursday, June 14, 2018, 6:30 pm, Ramsey Golf & Country Club, NJ. More info on our website. Reservation deadline June 7. Mail check to BCHS, PO Box 55, River Edge, NJ 07661. $55.
We will meet this year’s award winners and elect officers and trustees.

Then Jennifer Rothschild will share highlights of Rudy Van Gelder’s work at “the cathedral of jazz,” the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs where jazz greats John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and Herbie Hancock and countless others created legendary recordings. The Rudy Van Gelder Home & Studio just received a Certificate of Eligibility for the NJ and National Registers of Historic Places in April 2018.

Bergen County Historical Society 2018 Awardees:
Maureen and Don Sickler, the Oratam Award for preservation of a landmark building, the Van Gelder House and Studio
Senator Loretta Weinberg, the Koehler Award for continuing enthusiasm and support for Historic New Bridge Landing
Matthew Wrightington, Life Scout with Troop 379 in Palisades Park, the Oratam Award for initiative, research and installation of 50 Retreat Markers in Bergen County
John Cookson, Eagle scout, Troop 2295, River Edge, the Oratam Award for initiative of BCHS Blue Marker restoration along Paramus Road
Kate Reilly, the Westervelt Award for her dedication as volunteer and trustee and for her leadership in advancing the professionalism of our corps of volunteers
Dave Clark accepting for the Ridgewood Country Club, the Oratam Award for preservation of the Ridgewood Country Club and open space through the National Register of Historic Places designation
Please join us for the BCHS Annual Dinner, Awards, Election & a Presentation by Jennifer Rothschild at the beautiful and historic Ramsey Golf & Country Club on June 14th.

How timely is this? We’re celebrating the Van Gelder Studios, the stewards of the property and artists that recorded there at our annual dinner June 14 with a talk and presentation of the BCHS Oratam award.
Search Bergen County History .org for info.

“Lost” John Coltrane Album to Be Released – Smithsonian
https://apple.news/A6Ymut5auQWmyrGjE5iao3g

 

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“OPERATION HELPING HAND 4”

Heroin-006

March 24,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

 

Hackensack NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced today the results of “Operation Helping Hand 4” – the fourth phase of an innovative law enforcement and public health initiative targeting the heroin and opioid crisis in Bergen County. The initiative was led by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (“BCPO”), under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Calo and Chief of Detectives Robert Anzilotti, in coordination with Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco III and Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino. Held from March 12 through 16, 2018, the initiative brought together Bergen County law enforcement from 30 agencies, Recovery Specialists from Children’s Aid and Family Services, clinicians and specialists from the Bergen County Department of Health Services, Division of Addiction Services, and professionals from New Bridge Medical Center to offer help to those suffering from the disease of addiction in Bergen County.

During the initiative, 37 individuals were arrested and brought to the BCPO to be processed. After they were issued summonses, largely for heroin possession, they were offered an opportunity to speak to a Recovery Specialist – a recovering addict, who has been clean and is trained to help them find treatment. This offer of help was in addition to, not in lieu of, criminal charges.

If the individual requested help, a trained clinician from the Bergen County Division of Addiction Services assessed him/her to determine the appropriate level of care and treatment needed. The clinicians, working closely with the Recovery Specialists and representatives from New Bridge Medical Center, then made arrangements for treatment, and law enforcement transported the individual to treatment.

Of the 37 individuals arrested during Operation Helping Hand 4, 19 have so far availed themselves of the treatment option, including 12 who are currently in 5-day detox programs, mostly at New Bridge Medical Center. As those individuals complete detox, longer-term treatment options are being arranged for them and their progress is being tracked by the Recovery Specialists. For those who did not avail themselves of treatment, the Recovery Specialists remain in touch with many of them and are prepared to offer help whenever they are ready to seek it.

A multi-jurisdictional task force comprised of law enforcement officers from the following agencies, under the direction of BCPO Chief Anzilotti, participated in the initiative: Bergen County Sheriff’s Office; Bergenfield Police Department; Cliffside Park Police Department; Clifton Police Department; Dumont Police Department; East Rutherford Police Department; Englewood Police Department; Elmwood Park Police Department; Fair Lawn Police Department; Garfield Police Department; Glen Rock Police Department; Hackensack Police Department; Lyndhurst Police Department; Mahwah Police Department; Morris County Prosecutor’s Office; New Milford Police Department; Norwood Police Department; Paramus Police Department; Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office; Paterson Police Department; Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; Ridgefield Park Police Department; Saddle River Police Department; Tenafly Police Department; Union County Prosecutor’s Office; Upper Saddle River Police Department and the Westwood Police Department.

Statistics compiled by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office indicate an increase in opioid use and drug overdoses in Bergen County from 2016 to the present. A preliminary analysis of overdose data by the BCPO Intel Unit and Narcotics Task Force revealed the following with respect to 2017:
507 total reported overdoses, 416 of which are currently identified as heroin/opioid-related.
Of the 308 reported overdoses, 131 were fatal overdoses; 111 of those were identified as heroin/opioid-related.
325 deployments of Narcan, the overdose reversal drug, by law enforcement officers, resulting in 245 lives saved. (Note: there were many other deployments – by parents, friends, family members, EMTs and in the ER that are not accounted for in this )

Acting Prosecutor Dennis Calo stated that “Operation Helping Hand 4 is part of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and Bergen County law enforcement’s continuing effort to combat the opioid epidemic and help those who are affected by it. The Operation demonstrates the close cooperation of law enforcement, County government and Bergen County social service organizations in the fight against this epidemic and the results that are possible through that cooperation. We will continue the fight.”

Acting Prosecutor Calo would like to thank the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, the Bergen County Executive, New Bridge Medical Center, Children’s Aid and Family Services, the Bergen County Department of Health Services, Division of Addiction Services, as well as all the participating law enforcement agencies for their assistance with this initiative.

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Christie Vetoes “Airbnb” Tax Bill

Airbnb

July 23,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Gov. Chris Christie vetoed legislation on Friday that would have imposed taxes on the state’s burgeoning “home-sharing” industry.

The bill was an effort to target and regulate an industry dominated by San Francisco-based Airbnb, even as some municipalities in the state move toward banning the practice within their borders.

According to committee testimony Airbnb had 260,000 rentals in New Jersey last year alone and some municipalities such as Jersey City and Newark already have reached agreements with Airbnb to collect 6 percent fees. Other towns primarily those in Atlantic and Cape May counties, and near the New Jersey Meadowlands are permitted to charge additional taxes and fees.

Currently about 17 towns In New Jersey, mostly in Northern New Jersey closer to New York City, have chosen to bar such rentals, including Palisades Park, Englewood Cliffs, Fort Lee, Lyndhurt and Glen Rock.

Not surprisingly the bill two major proponents are the New Jersey Hotel and Lodging Association and the New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association.

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BERGEN BURGLARY TASK FORCE INVESTIGATION RESULTS IN ARREST OF BURGLARY DUO

Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S

June 11,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced today the arrests of TYRONE GOINS (DOB: 02/14/80; single; and unemployed) of 90 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, New Jersey and his brother, TRAVIS GOINS (DOB: 01/25/85; single; and employed as a driver) of 44 Brookway Avenue, Englewood, New Jersey. The arrests are the culmination of a three-month-long investigation by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, along with a multi-jurisdictional burglary task force comprised of detectives from Fort Lee, Paramus, Cliffside Park, Tenafly, Saddle River, and Teaneck police departments.

In response to a reported increase of residential burglaries in the eastern part of Bergen County, detectives from the affected towns met and shared information about the burglaries. As a result, a task force was formed and a joint investigation began.

On the evening of June 8, 2017, task force detectives were conducting physical surveillance in the Borough of Cliffside Park. TYRONE GOINS and TRAVIS GOINS were observed in a vehicle that circled the same blocks for a period of time. Shortly after the vehicle left the area, detectives confirmed that a burglary had been committed to a residence on Washington Avenue in Cliffside Park. Detectives were able to locate the suspects’ vehicle and conduct a motor vehicle stop.

TYRONE GOINS and TRAVIS GOINS were each charged with one count of Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C18-2A(1), a crime of the 3rd degree, for the Washington Avenue, Cliffside Park burglary along with an additional count of Burglary, for an April 27th, 2017 residential burglary to a Cliffside Park residence on West End Avenue. The investigation is ongoing and more charges are expected.

Tyrone GOINS and Travis GOINS are currently lodged in the Bergen County Jail, pending a detention hearing.

Prosecutor Grewal states that the charges against the defendants are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and would also like to thank the Fort Lee, Paramus, Cliffside Park, Tenafly, Saddle River and Teaneck Police Departments for their assistance with this investigation.

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VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING, Bogart ,Cambridge ,and Pomander Walk

village-hall-theridgewoodblog

VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING

APRIL 12, 2017

8:00 P.M.

1.   Call to Order – Mayor

2.   Statement of Compliance with the Open Public       Meetings Act

3.   Roll Call – Village Clerk

4.   Flag Salute and Moment of Silence

5.   Acceptance of Financial Reports

6.   Approval of Minutes

7.   Proclamations

  1. Proclaim April as Tree Planting Month and   April 28, 2017 as Arbor Day
  2. Proclaim April 29, 2017 LAX Day in Ridgewood
  3. Proclaim May 7-13, 2017 National Drinking    Water Week
  4. Proclaim May as Building Safety Month

    8.   Presentation by Bradford Fritts, Owner of Jersey     Mike’s Subs – Donation for Restoration of Bell      Tower at Ridgewood High School

     

    9. Comments from the Public (Not to exceed 3 minutes    per person – 40 minutes in total)

    10.  Village Manager’s Report

    11.  Village Council Reports

    12.  ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION – RIDGEWOOD WATER

    NONE

    13.  ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING – RIDGEWOOD WATER

    3588 – Amend Chapter 269 – Water Irrigation Schedule      and Water Emergencies

    14.  RESOLUTIONS – RIDGEWOOD WATER

    THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-87 THROUGH 17-92 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:

    17-87     Title 59 Approval – Approves the plans and              specifications for Tree Maintenance Services,         prepared by the Ridgewood Water Department,              pursuant to Title 59

    17-88      Award Contract – Tree Maintenance Services –              Awards a contract to the sole responsible              bidder, Downes Tree Service, 65 Royal Avenue,           Hawthorne, NJ on a per item basis

    17-89     Award Contract – Water Main Replacements at               Stream Crossings ($998,500) –Awards a                    contract to the lowest responsible bidder,            Fred Devens Construction, 403 Stonetown Road,          Ringwood, NJ

    17-90      Award Contract Under State Contract –                    Materials and Supplies – Water Main Repairs –      Awards a contract under State Contract to             Stone Industries, Inc., P.O. Box 8310,                    Haledon, NJ

    17-91      Authorize Change Order – Rehabilitation of              Glen Avenue Tank ($29,766) –Authorizes a                change order for this project, to the                    original contractor, Brave Industrial Paint,              LLC, 177 Elmwood Avenue, Long Branch, NJ.                This change order was necessary due to the                fact that additional work, beyond the                    original contract scope, is necessary.

    17-92      Authorize Change Order – Furnish and Install            Control Valves at Various Locations ($26,960)           – Authorizes a change order for this project,        to the original contractor, CFM Construction,       Inc., 5 Bay Street, Stirling, NJ. This change        order was necessary due to the fact that           additional work, not anticipated at the time              of award, is necessary.  

    15.  ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION

    3592 – Establish a CAP Bank

    3593 – General Capital Ordinance

    3594 – Water Utility Capital Ordinance

    3595 – Parking Utility Capital Ordinance

    3596 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic –             Parking Restrictions – Bogert Avenue and              Cambridge Road – Prohibits parking at all times            on the east side of Bogert Avenue within 25-feet     of the 90 degree inside corner in the road north      of Glen Avenue and on the west side of Cambridge     Road within 25-feet of the 90 degree inside         corner in the road north of East Glen Avenue.         In addition, prohibits parking in other sections  of Bogert Avenue and Cambridge Road from 8:00      a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.      Monday through Friday, September 1st through June      30th.

    3597 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic –             Parking Restrictions – Pomander Walk –Prohibits  parking on the South/West side of Pomander Walk         8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on all days and restricts  parking to two hours on the North/East side of          Pomander Walk from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on all     days except Sundays and Holidays

    3598 – Amend Chapter 260 – Trees and Shrubs – The goals  of this ordinance are: preservation of the           Village’s native tree stock on both public and      private lands; advocating for the removal of          invasive and non-indigenous tree and shrub            species; replacement of trees removed on both          public and private properties; maintain the          number of trees in the Village

    16.  ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING

    3589 – Establish Rules and Regulations for Rental of            Rooms in The Stable

    3590 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Establish Rental Fees     – The Stable

    3591 – Repeal Chapter 29, Historic Preservation             Commission, Amend Chapter 190, Land Use and        Development, and Repeal Chapter 251, Swimming        Pools

    17.  2017 BUDGET INTRODUCTION

    A.   Budget Message

     

    B.   RESOLUTION

     

         17-93      Approve 2017 Municipal Budget and Set                May 10, 2017 as the Date for the Public                    Hearing Thereon

    18.  RESOLUTIONS

    THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-94 THROUGH

    17-118 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:

    17-94      Approve Temporary Emergency Capital Budget

    17-95      Approve Temporary Emergency Budget                        Appropriations

    17-96     Title 59 Approval – Conduit Installation for              Traffic Signals – Approves the plans and              specifications for Conduit Installation for              Traffic Signals in the Village of Ridgewood                prepared by the Engineering Division,                    pursuant to Title 59

    17-97      Award Contract – Conduit Installation for              Traffic Signals (NTE $25,325) –Awards a              contract to the lowest quote, ConQuest                    Construction Corporation, 20 Carver Avenue,           Westwood, NJ

    17-98      Award Contract – Disposal of Recyclable                 Materials – Authorizes a contract for                  disposal of the Village’s recyclable                    materials for the first year of a two-year               contract to Atlantic Coast Fibers, LLC, 101               Seventh Street, Passaic, NJ

    17-99     Title 59 Approval – Gate House Sloped Entry –           Irene Habernickel Family Park –Approves the            plans and specifications for Gatehouse Sloped           Entry at the Irene Habernickel Family Park             prepared by the Engineering Division,                pursuant to Title 59

    17-100    Award Contract – Gate House Sloped Entry –           Irene Habernickel Family Park (NTE $67,735) –         Awards a contract to the lowest responsible             bidder, Onque Technologies, Inc., 297-146             Kinderkamack Road, Suite 101, Oradell, NJ

    17-101    Title 59 Approval – Furnishing, Delivering,             and Maintenance of Emergency Equipment and            Other Patrol Equipment – Approves the plans                and specifications for Furnishing,                        Delivering, and Maintenance of Emergency           Equipment, Radios, Vehicle Computer Systems,             and Other Listed Patrol Equipment for the             Ridgewood Police Department, July 1, 2017             through June 30, 2018, inclusive prepared by               the Engineering Division, pursuant to Title              59

    17-102    Award Contract – Furnishing, Delivering, and              Maintenance of Emergency Equipment, Vehicle            Computer Systems, and Other Patrol Equipment              – Police Department –Awards the second year           of a two-year contract to the lowest                 responsible bidder, Regional Communications,               Inc., 64 East Midland Avenue, Paramus, NJ at             the unit prices stated in the contract

    17-103    Title 59 Approval – Paving – Approves the           plans and specifications for 2017 Road                  Resurfacing and Repair of Various Village               Streets in the Village of Ridgewood prepared                by the Engineering Division, pursuant to               Title 59

    17-104    Award Contract – Paving ($1,000,000) – Awards          a partial award of a contract to the lowest              responsible bidder, J.A. Alexander, 13-158                John F. Kennedy Drive North, Bloomfield, NJ

    17-105    Award Professional Services Contract –                    Traffic Engineering Services – West Side              Study Area ($14,945) – Awards a Professional               Services contract to the lowest proposal by              Petry Traffic and Transportation Engineering,        155 Passaic Avenue, Fairfield, NJ

    17-106    Authorize Shared Services Agreement – Police           Pistol Range (Wood-Ridge $150 per                         officer/retired officer) – Authorizes a                  Shared Services Agreement between the Village      of Ridgewood and the Borough of Wood-Ridge so         that the Ridgewood Police Department may use             the Police Pistol Range in Wood-Ridge to                conduct their annual firearms qualifications

    17-107    Reject Bids – School Bus Transportation –              Summer Day Camp – Rejects the sole bid by           First Student, Inc. of Englewood, NJ due to                the fact that the bid received exceeds the              available funding

    17-108    Declare Police Vehicles Surplus Property –            Declares a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria and a           2009 Ford Crown Victoria Police vehicles                surplus property and authorizes the Village              Manager to dispose of these vehicles

    17-109    Declare Radar Systems Surplus and Authorize               Donation to Englewood Cliffs Police                   Department – Declares three radar systems             surplus and authorizes the Village Manager to       dispose of and transfer them to the Borough              of Englewood Cliffs for use by their Police               Department. No warranties or guarantees of            the condition or usefulness of the equipment           are offered by the Village of Ridgewood.

    17-110    Accept Partial Donations – Portable Fuel Cell      Trailer – Parks and Recreation – Accepts                donations from Maroons Soccer Association            ($1,600), Ridgewood Soccer Association                   ($850), and Ridgewood Jr. Football                         Association ($600), toward the purchase of a            Portable Fuel Cell Trailer which costs $5,478

    17-111    Accept Donation – Restoration of Sally Port –         Ridgewood Police Department – Accepts a                donation valued at $3,800 from the owner of           Five Star Painting, 38 East Ridgewood Avenue,        Ridgewood, NJ to paint the walls and floors              of the Sallyport. The owner of the company,               Christian Cruz, has volunteered to donate the       labor and supplies to the Village of                    Ridgewood. He currently has no applications               before any Village Boards or Committees nor                does he have any pending business with the                Village.

    17-112    Support Responsible Pet Ownership –                   Delineates actions to be taken by the Village      to support responsible pet ownership,                    including: enforcing rabies control statutes;        impounding stray dogs and cats; educating all      residents about responsibilities for pet             ownership; increasing the percentage of                  licensed dogs and cats through ease of                    licensing and licensing enforcement;                  identifying and implementing best practices           for spaying and neutering animals;                        identifying alternatives to euthanasia of            adoptable companion animals; assisting in              identifying resources to      improve the                   condition and increasing the capacity of              animal shelters

    17-113    Authorize Mayor’s Pledge for Age Friendly              Ridgewood Initiatives – Authorizes the Mayor                to sign a Mayor’s Pledge to take steps to            adopt some policies widely recognized as            being advantageous for older adults

    17-114    Authorize Release of Cash Security Bond –               Sludge Hauling Contract – Authorizes the             release of a cash security bond for Ridgewood       Green RME, LLC for sludge hauling from the               Village’s Water Pollution Control Facility,              due to the fact that Ridgewood Green RME, LLC       is no longer the Village’s vendor for this               service

    17-115    Authorize Partial Release of Cash Bond – J.P.      Development – 143 & 147 West Glen Avenue –                The project is substantially complete,                  according to the Village Engineer, so the              majority of the cash bond will be refunded,             with the balance being refunded at the                 completion of the project

    17-116    Authorize Cleaning of Kings Pond Park by             Ridgewood      Wildscape and Partners –Authorizes          a cleanup of the Kings Pond area by Ridgewood        Wildscape and their partners on April 30,           2017. The Village will provide assistance by               providing chest waders, gloves and other           protective equipment to handle the debris,               rakes and hand tools, and pickup and disposal      of the debris. This cleanup has been reviewed       by the Village Engineer, pursuant to Title              59.

    17-117    Authorize Installation of Bus Shelter – North      Monroe Street and West Glen Avenue –                 Authorizes the installation of an IKEA                    Paramus, NJ model bus shelter on North Monroe        Street, just north of West Glen Avenue and            authorizes the Village Manager to execute the      necessary agreements

    17-118    Rescind Resolution #15-257 on Schedler Park –      Determination of Uses for Schedler Park                 Property – Rescinds Resolution #15-257 which            laid out the uses of the Schedler Park                     property, to include active and passive                   recreational areas, as well as a 90-foot             baseball diamond

    19.  Comments from the Public (Not to Exceed 5 minutes    per person)

    20.  Resolution to go into Closed Session

    21.  Closed Session

  1. Personnel/Contract Negotiations – Blue    Collar, White Collar and Supervisory Union   Negotiations
  2. Contract Negotiations – Consideration of Purchase of Properties

    22.  Adjournment

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Wife sues driver who killed her jogging husband

BergenCountyCourthouse

By Anthony G. Attrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on March 21, 2017 at 6:35 AM, updated March 21, 2017 at 8:48 AM

TENAFLY – The wife of a man struck and killed by a car during an early morning jog last fall has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver, according to court documents.

Robert E. Hyer Jr., 63, was killed as he tried to cross East Clinton Avenue at Woodland Street in Tenafly. (Google Maps)

Robert E. Hyer Jr., 63, of Tenafly, was killed Oct. 25, 2016, as he crossed East Clinton Avenue at Woodland Street in Tenafly, according to a lawsuit filed March 13 in Bergen County Superior Court.

The driver was Raffaella Garritano, 58, of Englewood Cliffs, according to attorneys for Hyer’s wife Andrea McDermott Hyer, 54.

“Garritano operated that vehicle in such an inattentive, careless, reckless and negligent manner so as to strike and violently knock (the victim) to the ground,” the suit states.

https://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2017/03/wrongful_death_suit_filed_against_driver_who_hit_j.html?ath=a661ed5d8cb41fa9dc524c06f451a07d#cmpid=nsltr_strybutton

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N.J. experiences largest private sector job growth in 16 years

Chris_Christie_Governor_of_New_Jersey

“We’re actually now over-performing the rest of the country, and I would suggest to you that the reason that there is that lag is because New Jersey is still a very expensive place to work and do business, and if the legislature had been willing to do other tax cuts and other measures that I put and recommended on property taxes and income taxes, perhaps we’d be in even better shape and it would’ve happened even faster. But, we’re certainly better off than we were from 2001 to 2009, when there was zero net private-sector job growth during a time” Governor Chris Christie

 

By KATHERINE LANDERGAN

03/13/17 03:08 PM EDT

Gov. Chris Christie on Monday heralded the state’s fiscal health as new figures showed New Jersey last year experienced the largest spike in private sector job growth since 2000.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the state gained 60,800 private sector jobs last year, meaning New Jersey recovered all of the jobs it lost during the recession, and then added another 65,000 jobs.

“This didn’t happen by accident,” Christie, a Republican, said at a press conference in Englewood Cliffs. “The tax cuts we put in place, holding the line on other taxes, the 2 percent property tax cap — all of these things are bearing fruit.”

Christie also said the state has shown strong gains in construction, the tourism industry, and the number of new businesses filings, and has seen a decline in foreclosures.

“It’s great news for the state and we should stop the drumbeat that somehow New Jersey is underperforming from a jobs perspective,” he said.

https://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2017/03/nj-experiences-largest-private-sector-growth-in-16-years-110315

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The Most Expensive Zip Codes in the State of New Jersey

Ridgewood_Real_estate_theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

March 4,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, At the end of last year, PropertyShark compiled a list of the most expensive zip codes in the U.S., and 2 New Jersey zip codes made the cut: Alpine’s 07620 landed the 44th spot on our list, and Short Hills’ 07078 landed the 88th. This year, PropertyShark took a closer look at the market and round up the most expensive zip codes in New Jersey.

The top three zip codes on our list will come as no surprise; the most expensive zip code on our list is occupied by Alpine’s 07620. with the medium price of $2,050,000. The next zip code in the state is Short Hills’ 07078, with a median home price of $1,430,000. The third priciest zip code on our list is Stone Harbor’s 08247, with a median home price of $1,110,000.

Ridgewood’s 07450 came in 26th with the median price of $712,500 with 350 real-estate transactions.

Hoboken’s 07030 ranked 33 but the small city had the largest number of residential transactions in the past year, with 830 sales closed here in 2016, at a median price of $685,000.

The methodology:  In order to determine which were the most expensive ZIP codes in New Jersey, PropertyShark looked at all residential transactions closed in 2016, taking into account condo, co-op, single- and two-family homes. All package deals were excluded.

Check out the full list of New Jersey zip codes below:

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Bergen County Police Chiefs Visit Valley Hospital’s Pediatric Patients To Hand out Gifts and Spread Holiday Cheer

Bergen County Police Chiefs Association

December 26,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Representatives from the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association recently accompanied Santa Claus to The Valley Hospital Pediatric Unit and Pediatric Emergency Room to give holiday gifts to hospitalized children.  Pictured here are (standing back row, from left to right):  Aleyamma Varghese, R.N., Bergenfield; Heather Evers, APN, Ocean Grove; Chief Frank Regino, Westwood; Lori Check, Fair Lawn; Chief Daniel Maye, Bogota; Christine Trent, Kinnelon; Chief William Skidmore, Edgewater; Retired Chief Fred Stahman, Glen Rock; Janine Cook, Saddle Brook; Tom Hauck, FBI; and Chief Michael Cioffi, Englewood Cliffs.  Front row (from left to right): Nadine Morton, Waldwick; Santa; and Kristin Harmon, R.N.

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ACTING BERGEN PROSECUTOR GURBIR S. GREWAL ANNOUNCES THE ARRESTS OF 40 INDIVIDUALS AS A RESULT OF “OPERATION HELPING HAND”

Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S
September 1, 2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced today the arrests of 40 people from August 28, 2016 through Thursday, September 1, 2016, as the result of “Operation Helping Hand” – an innovative and collaborative law enforcement and public health initiative targeting the heroin and opioid crisis in Bergen County.

Ridgewood had two residents Christopher J. O’Brien and Lyndsay A. Paul, both 32, who were charged with possession of heroin.
This investigation was the result of a multi-jurisdictional task force consisting of local and county agencies coordinated by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Officer-in-Charge, Deputy Chief Robert ANZILOTTI. Assisting in this investigation were members of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Michael SAUDINO. These detectives and officers formed the backbone of the multiagency task force. The municipal police agencies participating in this investigation were: Bergenfield Police Department; Cliffside Park Police Department; Dumont Police Department; Englewood Police Department; Elmwood Park Police Department; Fort Lee Police Department; Lyndhurst Police Department; Mahwah Police Department; New Milford Police Department; Saddle River Police Department; Tenafly Police Department; and Upper Saddle River Police Department. In addition, valuable assistance was provided by Bergen County officials, including Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco, III, and Bergen Regional Medical Center.In 2015, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Intel Unit and Narcotic Task Force analyzed overdose data as well as deployments of NARCAN, the overdose reversal drug, in
Bergen County. That analysis revealed the following with respect to 2015:
288 total reported overdoses, 231 of which were heroin/opioid-related;
87 overdose fatalities, 71 of which were heroin/opioid-related; and
187 NARCAN deployments by law enforcement officers, resulting in 170 lives saved.In 2015, the hardest hit municipalities were:
Garfield with 23 overdoses;
Lyndhurst with 20 overdoses;
Fort Lee with 15 overdoses;
Lodi with 15 overdoses; and
Cliffside Park with 14 overdoses.Similar analysis of available data for 2016 year-to-date, revealed the following:
202 reported overdoses, 158 of which were heroin/opioid overdoses; and 48 total overdose fatalities, 40 of which are believed heroin/opioid-related.

In an effort to address this issue in a novel way, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office collaborated with Bergen Regional Medical Center to set aside a number of 5-day detox beds for a one-week period for individuals arrested on drug charges, who were battling addiction. Thereafter, on August 28, 2016, members of the multiagency task force described above began enforcement actions in areas known for narcotics sales, namely heroin sales. As a result of those operations, the task force arrested the individuals reflected on the attached spreadsheet. In addition to arresting them, task force members presented the option of participating in a voluntary detox program at Bergen Regional Medical Center that was available to them. The detox program was not in lieu of criminal charges. Approximately 12 individuals have afforded themselves to the detox option, and task force officers then either transported or are presently in the process of transporting those individuals to Bergen Regional Medical Center to enter into the detox program.

Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Grewal states that the charges against the defendants identified on the attached spreadsheet are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and would also like to thank the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, the Bergen County Executive and Bergen Regional Medical Center, as well as all the municipal departments that participated for their assistance with this initiative.

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Another Friday marked by blitz of ‘robo-call’ bomb threats at North Jersey schools

Waldwick Middle School-High School on Lock Down
file photo by Boyd Loving
Another Friday marked by blitz of ‘robo-call’ bomb threats at North Jersey schools

BY STEFANIE DAZIO AND ABBOTT KOLOFF
STAFF WRITERS |
THE RECORD

In what has become a frustrating routine for law enforcement and school officials, thousands of students across North Jersey had their school day disrupted Friday when a series of bomb threats were phoned into at least 15 North Jersey schools, including 10 in Bergen County.

This was the second consecutive Friday that multiple schools were targeted by calls characterized by a robotic-sounding voice, and at least the third time since January, according to authorities. All of the schools were determined to be safe on Friday, as they were in the other incidents, after being inspected by law enforcement.

The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad unit received 10 calls for help from local police over a period of about 30 minutes on Friday, starting at 11 a.m., authorities said. Officials confirmed threats across the region, in Ramsey, Mahwah, Cliffside Park, Waldwick, Teaneck, Fort Lee, Englewood, Hackensack, Oradell, Paramus, Paterson, Haledon, Little Falls, Nutley and Kearny. Most of the calls came in about 11 a.m. By 1:30 p.m., officials said, there was no longer a threat.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/bomb-threats-disrupt-school-day-in-several-north-jersey-towns-1.1522734

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North Jersey ringleader convicted in $3.4M multistate burglary spree

crime-scene

Called,  “a menace to the residents of North Jersey”

NOVEMBER 2, 2015, 7:13 PM    LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2015, 8:55 PM
BY ABBOTT KOLOFF
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
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The reputed head of a North Jersey burglary ring that targeted affluent homes and a New York City accomplice were found guilty Monday of multiple counts of transporting stolen property across state lines related to dozens of burglaries that netted millions of dollars in cash and other items, federal prosecutors said in a news release.

Daniel “Tokyo” Gatson, 43, of North Bergen, and Anthony “Big Country” Hanks, 36, of Brooklyn, and their gang took part in 27 burglaries in six states, stealing $3.4 million in cash and property, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said.

Law enforcement authorities have called Gatson, who previously lived in Teaneck and Cliffside Park, one of Bergen County’s most prolific burglars.

In 1999, he famously scored $300,000 in jewelry, luxury cars and other items from the Englewood Cliffs home of former New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing.

State Superior Court Judge William Meehan once called Gatson  and someone who had been committing burglaries since he was 18 years old and “has no intention of stopping.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/north-jersey-ringleader-convicted-in-3-4m-multistate-burglary-spree-1.1447041

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

Ridgewood_Police_theridgewoodblog

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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Price gap hinders housing recovery across North Jersey

RidgewoodRealestatesign_theridgewoodblog2

MAY 9, 2015, 11:30 PM    LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2015, 11:41 PM

BY KATHLEEN LYNN AND DAVE SHEINGOLD
STAFF WRITERS |
THE RECORD

Andrea and Joe Buccino bought their first home, a Cape Cod in Wallington, for $385,000 in 2005. A decade later, they put it on the market for $299,000 — one of many examples of how home values in North Jersey, like much of the nation, have struggled to recover since being slashed in the Great Recession.

An analysis of 2014 property sales data by The Record found that prices across most of Bergen and Passaic counties saw virtually no change last year. Overall in Bergen County, the median price of $405,000 remains 14.7 percent below the 2006 median peak of $475,000; Passaic County’s median is still off 25 percent, at $285,000. (Nationally, prices are about 16 percent below their peaks.)

And the slow recovery is most dramatic in the region’s lower-income, lower-priced housing markets.

At the top end of the market, in towns where the median value was at least $700,000 in 2006, prices are about 11 percent below their peaks. Homes in the middle range of values are about 17 percent off their peaks.

But at the lower end — in towns like Hackensack, Wallington, Garfield and Paterson — values held down by a greater concentration of foreclosures and distressed sales have barely recovered. They continue to languish 30 percent below their peaks — 26 percent if you take out Paterson and Passaic, where housing distress has been especially acute.

In actual dollars and cents, the housing troubles translate into median prices that are down in Paterson from $340,000 in 2006, to $185,000 in 2014; from $330,000, to $205,000 in Hackensack; $410,000, to $281,000 in Garfield; $380,000, to $250,000 in the city of Passaic; $423,000, to $260,000 in Wallington; and $410,000, to $300,000 in Elmwood Park.

At the high end of the market, the numbers tell a much different story. The median price in Ridgewood, for example, has climbed back to $685,000, near the 2006 peak of $710,000. In Ho-Ho-Kus, the median price in 2014 was $725,000, compared with $750,000 in 2006. While in Englewood Cliffs, the 2014 median of $1.1 million surpassed the $1.09 million median in 2006. Saddle River’s 2014 median of $1.5 million is approaching 2006’s $1.71 million. And agents in those towns describe the market as hot.

The picture is similar statewide, though there’s less gap between the low and the high ends of the market.

Comparisons with the peak of the market can be tricky. Prices in the years before the crash shot up annually, often by double digits, fueled by loose lending standards that led many households to borrow more than they could afford, leading to foreclosures and short sales, in which lenders accept less than is owed on the mortgage. The collapse, according to some experts, merely brought prices back to more realistic levels.

While the relatively stagnant prices at the lower end are good news for some buyers, homeowners who bought at or near the peak and are looking to move up, face being stuck with a big loss, or just stuck.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/price-gap-hinders-housing-recovery-across-north-jersey-1.1330541