The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
Dino-Mite Deal! Buy a 3-Story T-Rex for Your Backyard as North Jersey’s Field Station: Dinosaurs Closes Gates!
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Leonia NJ, if you’ve ever dreamt of owning a piece of Jurassic history, your moment has arrived. Field Station: Dinosaurs, the beloved 14-year-old theme park located in Overpeck Park, Leonia, NJ, is shutting down in early November—and they’re auctioning off their star attractions to the public!
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Leonia NJ, the borough of Leonia, New Jersey, has officially been removed from a controversial federal list of so-called “sanctuary cities,” according to an announcement from Mayor Bill Ziegler. The change follows a concerted effort by local and state officials to clarify the borough’s policies and affirm its compliance with federal immigration laws.
Continue reading Leonia, Removed from Federal “Sanctuary City” List
Powerful words honor the fallen and remind us of the enduring spirit of a nation
photos courtesy of Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco
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Leonia NJ, This evening, the Bergen County community gathered at the 9/11 Monument in Overpeck County Park to hold a solemn remembrance ceremony. Twenty-four years after the tragic attacks, the event honored the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001, including 147 cherished residents of Bergen County.
Continue reading “We Must Never Forget”: Bergen County Remembers 9/11 with Solemn Ceremony
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Leonia NJ, a bombshell lawsuit filed in 2025 accuses former Leonia High School drama teacher James Avidon of sexually assaulting a female student starting in 1998, with the Bergen County school board facing heat for alleged negligence. The unnamed plaintiff claims Avidon groomed her from middle school, escalating to “invasive physical conduct” during private lessons. This isn’t Leonia’s first scandal—similar accusations against another teacher surfaced earlier this year. Here’s the shocking story shaking NJ and what it means for school accountability in 2025!
Field Station: Dinosaurs Takes Its Final Bow in Bergen County — But Its Story Isn’t Over
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In a year when New Jersey’s film and television industry is booming, one beloved Bergen County attraction is stepping into the spotlight for one final season — and perhaps a new act altogether.
Field Station: Dinosaurs, the outdoor, family-friendly dinosaur-themed park located in the Henry Hoebel area of Leonia, is closing out its final year under a five-year lease with Bergen County. But while the dinosaurs may be roaring their last in this location, their legacy may be far from extinct — thanks to renewed interest, educational momentum, and a big break on national television.
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Leonia NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced an upgraded charge against 34-year-old OSMARY JIMENEZ-LUNA of North Bergen, NJ related to a hit-and-run accident. The upgraded charge is the result of an ongoing investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Leonia Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Tamagny.
Continue reading Charges Upgraded on Fatal Leonia Hit-and-Run Driver
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LEONIA, NJ — A woman is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle in the early hours of July 10, according to a statement from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
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Leonia NJ, after 14 years of bringing prehistoric wonder to New Jersey families, Field Station: Dinosaurs, the beloved outdoor dinosaur-themed park located in Overpeck County Park, has announced that its 2025 season will be its last.
Continue reading Field Station: Dinosaurs in Leonia to Close After Final 2025 Season
photos courtesy of Leonia Police
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Leonia NJ, a New Jersey Transit bus crashed into a building in Leonia on Wednesday morning, according to Leonia Police Chief Scott Tamagny. The incident occurred shortly before 9 a.m. near Grand Avenue and Fort Lee Road when the bus, which was not in passenger service, veered off the road and struck a vacant building before hitting nearby trees.
Continue reading NJ Transit Bus Crashes Into Vacant Building in Leonia
Photos courtesy of Chris Torello
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Leonia NJ, a massive fire tore through two apartment buildings on Grand Avenue in Leonia on Valentine’s Day, displacing multiple families and leaving two beloved pets missing.
Continue reading Leonia Apartment Fire Displaces Families, Two Pets Still Missing
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Leonia NJ, please join the County of Bergen on Wednesday, September 11 at 4:30 PM for the Bergen County annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony at Overpeck County Park – Henry Hoebel Area.
photos courtesy of Leonia Fire Department
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Leonia NJ, On Thursday night, just after 10:30 PM, fire units from Teaneck, Leonia, and Englewood responded to a significant incident on the Interstate 95 Express lanes.
Continue reading Thursday Night Multi-Response Incident on Interstate 95 Express Lanes
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Leonia NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of ANIBAL OYOLA (DOB: 6/09/1984; single; gymnastics instructor) of Leonia, NJ on charges of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault by sexual contact, and endangering the welfare of a child. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Leonia Police Department under the direction of Chief Scott Tamagny.
Continue reading Leonia Gymnastics Instructor Charged with Sexual Assault
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Leonia NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced that on July 31, 2023, NILES DIAKOS of Leonia, NJ was sentenced to an aggregate term of 35 years in New Jersey State Prison (“NJSP”) with no parole after pleading guilty to the 2022 murder of Alicia Arnone in addition to two Passaic County cases.
Continue reading Leonia Man Sentenced to 35 Years for Girlfriends Murder in 2022
photos are from both Leonia and Englewood Fire Departments
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Continue reading Car Crashes into Building in Leonia, Explodes into Flames
