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Posted on January 7, 2018 January 20, 2019

NJT Delays: Amtrak Begins Track Rehabilitation at New York Penn Station Monday

January 7,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Monday at Penn Station New York , the Amtrak Track Rehabilitation/Construction get underway. This will affect NJ TRANSIT’s NEC & NJCL Weekday Train Service ,beginning Monday, January 8, 2018.

Service will be adjusted in and out of New York, and NJT customers are advised to prepare for delays and crowded conditions.

Beginning Monday, January 8 and continuing through Monday, May 28, 2018, service on NJ TRANSIT’s Northeast Corridor (NEC) and North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL) will be adjusted to accommodate Amtrak Track Rehabilitation work at Penn Station New York (PSNY).

During this time, NEC and NJCL schedules will be modified. Other train lines may have slight adjustments. New rail schedules will take effect on Sunday, January 7 on all rail lines except the Atlantic City Line. Please review the information below and refer to your schedule.

Train 3867 (5:17 p.m. from PSNY) will now depart PSNY at 5:21 p.m. It will NOT stop at Newark Airport.

Train 3122 (7:06 a.m. from New Brunswick) will now depart New Brunswick at 7:05 a.m. and terminate at Newark Penn Station. This train (renumbered as Train 5822) will no longer serve Secaucus or New York. Connecting service to New York will be available on Train 3124 (see below).

Train 3869 (5:32 p.m. from PSNY) will now depart New York at 5:37 p.m. and operate to Jersey Avenue only. This train (renumbered as Train 3727) will NOT stop at Newark Airport.

Train 3124 (7:16 a.m. from New Brunswick) will now depart New Brunswick at 7:11 a.m. It will no longer serve Newark Airport or Secaucus stations.

Train3171 (5:43 p.m. from PSNY) will no longer serve New York and Secaucus, but will originate at Newark Penn Station, departing there at 6:03 p.m. This train (renumbered as Train 5869) will add a Newark Airport stop, operate express to Rahway, and then make all stops to Trenton.

NEC/NJCL NEC/NJCL

Train 3502 will now arrive in New York at 8:18 a.m.

Train 3441 (6:51 p.m. from PSNY) will be CANCELLED.

Train 3875 (6:47 p.m. from PSNY) will make ALL local stops.

Posted on January 2, 2018 January 20, 2019

Amtrak track work at Penn Station New York will impact select NJ TRANSIT peak period train service along the Northeast Corridor

January 2,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Upcoming Amtrak track work at Penn Station New York (PSNY) will impact select NJ TRANSIT peak period train service along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL) with scheduled service adjustments to begin on January 8, 2018 through May 28, 2018.

The work will mainly affect a total of five trains per day which includes two in the a.m. peak and three in the p.m. peak periods. Of these five trains, one NJCL train in both the a.m. and p.m. will be diverted to Hoboken; one NEC train in both the a.m. and p.m. will terminate/originate at Newark Penn Station and another NJCL train in the p.m. will be cancelled. Other trains and other train lines may have adjustments made to the timetable or station stops, and customers are advised to check the service timetables carefully.

“While this impact is far less than what we experienced this past summer, we encourage our Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line customers to do their homework and adjust their commuting plans if needed,” said Executive Director Steven H. Santoro. “I want to thank our customers in advance as we continue to support Amtrak’s efforts to renew critical infrastructure at Penn Station New York and avoid a repeat of the derailments we saw this past spring.”

The affected trains are as follows:

A.M.

NJCL train 3216, the 6:11 a.m. eastbound Long Branch departure, will now depart at 6:23 a.m. and will be diverted to Hoboken renumbered as 2604
NEC train 3122, the 7:06 a.m. eastbound departure from New Brunswick will terminate at Newark Penn Station renumbered as 5822.

P.M.

NJCL train 3267, the 5:25 p.m. departure from PSNY, will originate from Hoboken at 5:22 p.m. renumbered as 2609
NEC train 3171, the 5:43 p.m. departure from PSNY, will originate at Newark Penn Station at 6:03 p.m. renumbered as 5869
NJCL train 3441, the 6:51 p.m. departure from PSNY, will be cancelled

Customers are advised that trains prior to or following the affected trains may experience crowded conditions.

Alternate travel options

Customers with flexibility in their travel may consider the following alternate options:

NJCL customers may consider utilizing private bus carriers such as Academy Bus from locations including the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. Visit www.academybus.com for complete details.
NJCL customers may also consider ferry service from Monmouth County including NY Waterway’s ferry from Belford www.nywaterway.com or Seastreak ferry from Highlands or Atlantic Highlands www.seastreak.com.
NEC customers may consider private bus carriers including Suburban Transit/Coach USA bus from points in Mercer and Middlesex Counties www.coachusa.com.
Customers may also utilize NJ TRANSIT bus service on the Route 9 corridor.

Travel Tips

New York bound customers who choose to continue taking a train which now terminates at Newark Penn Station should purchase their tickets/passes to Newark Penn Station and then purchase tickets/passes for PATH.

New York bound customers who choose to continue taking a train which now terminates/originates at Hoboken Terminal should purchase their tickets/passes to Hoboken and then purchase tickets/passes for PATH or NY Waterway ferry.

Check njtransit.com or news media before starting your trip for service advisories or alerts that may affect your trip.
Stay connected during your commute through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Search for rail, bus or light rail-specific Twitter accounts for the best information. While we make every effort to respond to comments posted on our social media channels, we recommend that you contact our Customer Service team directly with critical or time-sensitive issues.
Twitter: @NJTRANSIT
Facebook: facebook.com/NJTRANSIT
YouTube Channel: TheNewJerseyTransit
If you will be altering your travel pattern during this time, you may want to update your travel alert preferences in your My Transit account. If you do not have a My Transit account, sign up to receive alerts at njtransit.com/mytransit.

Posted on November 14, 2017 January 20, 2019

AMTRAK: Major Work to Impact New York Penn Station in January

Ridgewood_Train_station_train _is_coming_theridgewoodblog

Two A.M. Peak and Three P.M. Peak Trains To Be Affected On NEC and NJCL Beginning January 8

November 14, 2017

The work will mainly affect a total of five trains per day which includes two in the a.m. peak and three in the p.m. peak periods. Of these five trains, one NJCL train in both the a.m. and p.m. will be diverted to Hoboken; one NEC train in both the a.m. and p.m. will terminate/originate at Newark Penn Station and another NJCL train in the p.m. will be cancelled. Other trains may have adjustments made to the timetable or station stops, and customers are advised to check the service timetables carefully.

The affected trains are as follows:

A.M.

P.M.

Posted on September 27, 2017 January 20, 2019

Bergen County Chiropractor Final Defendant Charged in Multi-Level Insurance Fraud Network Run by Monmouth County Brothers

September 27,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Park Ridge NJ, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP) today announced that a Bergen County chiropractor has been charged as the final defendant in a multi-level insurance fraud network run by Colts Neck Brothers Anhuar and Karim Bandy.

Anthony Riotto, 44, who operates Riotto Family Chiropractic in Park Ridge, was charged by accusation with third-degree health care claims fraud in connection with the Bandy brothers’ criminal network.

He is the final defendant charged in a complex insurance fraud scheme in which the Bandy brothers paid illegal “runners” to recruit car crash victims as patients for chiropractic facilities they controlled, then collected kickbacks for referring those victims for medical and legal services provided by others who pleaded guilty in the scheme, including a doctor, a lawyer, three licensed chiropractors, a paralegal and a licensed acupuncturist.

“We are moving forward with our prosecution of the final defendant in an investigation that put a stop to egregious corruption of New Jersey’s medical, legal, and insurance industries,” said Attorney General Porrino. “We will continue to enforce the laws that protect patients from being treated like cattle being sold to the highest bidder.”

“Patients must be able to trust that medical decisions are being made in their interest, not in the interest of criminals trying to scam the insurance system,” said Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Christopher Iu. “As this case demonstrates, anyone who exploits and manipulates patients for financial gain will be held accountable.”

According to the allegations against him, Riotto caused numerous fraudulent claims to be submitted to five insurance carriers in connection with patients he referred to MLS Medical, a Park Ridge practice specializing in pain management owned by another participant in the Bandy brother’s criminal scheme.

Riotto allegedly received the patients for his chiropractic practice through the Bandy brothers’ illegal runners network, then referred them to MLS Medical without disclosing to them that he had a financial interest in the practice. MLS Medical, in turn, submitted insurance claims for those patients without disclosing to insurance carriers that the patients had been referred by a practitioner with financial interest in the practice.

Twelve defendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced in the criminal enterprise exposed in the April 2014 indictment of Anhuar and Karim Bandy and 10 others. Five more individuals, including Riotto, were subsequently charged in connection with the scheme.

The Bandy brothers have admitted that between June 1, 2009 and January 1, 2014 they illegally controlled several chiropractic facilities through purported “management companies” and “marketing companies” whose real purpose was to hide their ownership. New Jersey regulations require that chiropractic facilities be owned by licensed chiropractors or medical doctors; neither Bandy holds such titles.

In order to generate revenue for the chiropractic facilities, the brothers used “runners” to bring motor vehicle accident patients to the facilities so the straw owners could bill insurance carriers for services rendered at the facilities. An investigation determined that, through the scheme, the chiropractic facilities billed insurance companies for millions of dollars for services they purported to perform. The checks sent by the insurance carriers were deposited into the various accounts of the chiropractic facilities or the management companies. A large portion of the monies deposited into the accounts of the chiropractic facilities would then be paid to the Bandy management companies.

The runners were paid up to $1,000 for each patient that they recruited for medical treatment. An investigation determined that the runners retrieved motor vehicle accident reports at local police stations, under the Open Public Records Act rules, and then visited the homes of the motor vehicle accident victims in an attempt to persuade them to utilize the services of the chiropractic facilities controlled by the Bandy brothers. The runners picked up the motor vehicle accident patients from their homes and drove them to the chiropractic facilities. An investigation determined that payments were made to companies incorporated by Karim Bandy for over a thousand referrals of patients for medical treatment and/or clients for legal representation.

In July 2015, Anhuar and Karim Bandy pleaded guilty to second-degree insurance fraud and were each sentenced to six-and-a-half-year prison terms in hearings that took place in June and July, respectively, of this year. They also were ordered to pay a $100,000 fine and $50,000 reimbursement to insurance companies that paid thousands of fraudulent claims over a four-year period.

The following professional service providers pleaded guilty and were sentenced in the scheme:

Dr. Mark Schwartz, D.O., 50, of Park Ridge, owner of MLS Medical in Park Ridge who pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree health care claims fraud and was sentenced to three years of probation and 40 hours of community service.
David Walker, Esq., 58, of Rockaway, a personal injury lawyer who pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree conspiracy and was sentenced to two years of probation and 40 hours of community service.
Alexandra Gallegos, 55, of Piscataway, a paralegal who received a percentage of the profits of Walker’s firm, who filed personal injury claims on behalf of the motor vehicle accident patients. She pleaded guilty to third-degree conspiracy and third-degree criminal use of runners and was sentenced two years of probation, 40 hours of community service, and a $5,000 criminal fine.
Edward Formisano, D.C., 55, of Roxbury, a chiropractor and purported owner of Eclipse Chiropractic, located in Plainfield; Lakewood Chiropractic, located in Lakewood; Liberty Chiropractic Center, located in Jersey City; and Chiropractic Spine Center, located in Perth Amboy. He pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree health care claims fraud and was sentenced to two years of probation and 40 hours of community service.
Louis Brown, D.C., 65, of Rahway, a chiropractor and purported owner of True Healing and Wellness, located in New Brunswick; New Century Chiropractic, located in Dover; and Wellspring Rehabilitation, located in North Plainfield. He pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal use of a runner and was sentenced to two years of probation and 40 hours of community service.
Gerald Roth, D.C., 69, of Highland Park, a chiropractor who pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal use of runners and was sentenced to one year of probation.
Sergey Lipschitz, 44, of Morganville, an acupuncturist who pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree insurance fraud and was admitted into the Pretrial Intervention Program.

The following individuals pleaded guilty to criminal use of runners (3rd degree) and were sentenced:

Cesar Huaman, 48, of Orlando, Fla., who also recruited other runners in the scheme, also pleaded guilty to third-degree conspiracy. He was sentenced to two years of probation.
Estefania Frias, 27, of Plainfield, who is Anhuar Bandy’s fiancé, was sentenced to two years of probation, 40 hours of community service, a $2,000 criminal fine, and $2,000 in restitution.
Bernardo Neiman, 55, of Elizabeth, was sentenced to one year of probation.

Lillian Frias, 55, of Plainfield, who is Estefania Frias’ mother; Albert Lee Hughes, 35, of Orlando, Fla.; and Anali Rivera, 29, Somerville, were all admitted into the Pretrial Intervention Program based on the charges in the indictment. Charges are pending against Rene Lacotera, 39, of Elizabeth, who is being sought on a fugitive warrant.

In 2004, Anhuar Bandy was convicted on charges of criminal racketeering, conspiracy, health care claims fraud, and theft charges brought by the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor. Bandy subsequently served approximately four years in state prison.

Deputy Attorney Cheryl Maccaroni, Bureau Chief, Private Insurance, represented the State in the filing of the criminal charges against Riotto on September 8, 2017. Lt. Joseph Waters, Investigator/Analyst Marwa Kashef coordinated the investigation. Detectives Janet Amberg, Amy Carson, Heather Pittman, and Analyst Bethany Schussler assisted in the investigation. Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Iu thanks the Special Investigations Units and counsel for the following insurance Companies: Allstate, Plymouth Rock, Liberty Mutual, Geico and Travelers; as well as the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, the New Jersey Division of Taxation, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau for their assistance in the investigation.

Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Iu noted that some important cases have started with anonymous tips. People who are concerned about insurance cheating and have information about a fraud can report it anonymously by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-877-55-FRAUD, or visiting the Web site at www.NJInsurancefraud.org. State regulations permit a reward to be paid to an eligible person who provides information that leads to an arrest, prosecution and conviction for insurance fraud.

Posted on September 12, 2017 January 20, 2019

US News Ranks Princeton University Top US College

September 12,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, U.S. News provides nearly 50 different types of numerical rankings and lists to help students narrow their college search. From National Universities and Liberal Arts Colleges to A-Plus Schools for B Students.

New Jersey offers a mix of small liberal arts colleges, midsize colleges and large research universities are located throughout New Jersey. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey–New Brunswick is among the largest colleges in the U.S., enrolling more than 31,000 undergraduate students annually. Some of the publicly funded colleges and universities in New Jersey are located in Newark and the capital of Trenton. Several notable private institutions are located in the state as well, including Princeton University.

Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
#1 in National Universities

The ivy-covered campus of Princeton University, a private institution, is located in the quiet town of Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton was the first university to offer a “no loan” policy to financially needy students, giving grants instead of loans to accepted students who need help paying tuition. more

$47,140 Tuition and Fees
5,400 Undergraduate Enrollment

College of New Jersey

Ewing, NJ
#4 in Regional Universities North (tie)

The College of New Jersey, also known as TCNJ, is a selective, public school with many campus groups and activities for students to try. Home to theaters and an educational television station, TCNJ also hosts more than 150 student organizations and numerous recreational and competitive sports teams. more

$27,578 (out-of-state), $16,149 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
6,787 Undergraduate Enrollment

Rutgers University–Camden

Camden, NJ
#25 in Regional Universities North (tie)

Founded in 1927, Rutgers University–Camden is a public institution.

$29,381 (out-of-state), $14,238 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
5,021 Undergraduate Enrollment

Monmouth University

West Long Branch, NJ
#28 in Regional Universities North (tie)

Founded in 1933, Monmouth University is a private institution. Monmouth University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective. more

$36,733 Tuition and Fees
4,707 Undergraduate Enrollment

Rider University

Lawrenceville, NJ
#34 in Regional Universities North (tie)

Founded in 1865, Rider University is a private institution. The school has 48.7 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Rider University is 11:1. more

$41,310 Tuition and Fees
4,060 Undergraduate Enrollment

Ramapo College of New Jersey

Mahwah, NJ
#37 in Regional Universities North (tie)

Ramapo College of New Jersey is a public liberal arts institution that offers about 40 undergraduate programs in five schools. Students at Ramapo can get involved in more than 100 student organizations, Greek life, and campus media. more

$23,214 (out-of-state), $14,080 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
5,762 Undergraduate Enrollment

Stockton University

Galloway, NJ
#41 in Regional Universities North (tie)

The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey is located near the Atlantic shoreline in Galloway. About 5 percent of students at Stockton College participate in Greek life. more

$20,356 (out-of-state), $13,402 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
7,854 Undergraduate Enrollment

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Teaneck, NJ
#64 in Regional Universities North (tie)

Fairleigh Dickinson University has two campuses in New Jersey, the suburban College at Florham and the Metropolitan Campus, which allows students to select the type of college experience they’re looking for. more

$40,704 Tuition and Fees
7,870 Undergraduate Enrollment

Rutgers University–New Brunswick

Piscataway, NJ
#69 in National Universities (tie)

Rutgers University—New Brunswick, the flagship campus of New Jersey’s state university, is split into five minicampuses, each with a unique setting and identity, student center and dining options. Freshmen are not required to live on campus. Students can join more than 400 student clubs and organizations, including more than 80 fraternities and sororities. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights compete in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. Among its graduate offerings, Rutgers has a highly ranked Graduate School of Education. The university also awards one of the highest numbers of doctorate degrees a year among U.S. schools. As a public research university, Rutgers is home to unique institutions such as the Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, where students take hands-on courses in the sciences and work on community projects. more

$30,023 (out-of-state), $14,372 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
36,168 Undergraduate Enrollment

Stevens Institute of Technology

Hoboken, NJ
#69 in National Universities (tie)

Innovation and entrepreneurship is stressed at Stevens Institute of Technology, a research-intensive school primarily known for its engineering, science and management programs. The school also has a humanities division with eight majors. Undergraduate students are encouraged to get involved in research projects and develop new technologies through the school’s Technogenesis philosophy. Students can opt for a cooperative education track, which is a five-year program with mostly alternating semesters of class and full-time, paid work. Students complete a full first and fifth year at Stevens, and pay for only four years of school. On campus, in Hoboken, N.J., there are more than 120 clubs and organizations, including about 15 fraternities and sororities. Housing is guaranteed for four years, and more than 60 percent of students choose to live on campus. The campus lies along the Hudson River, and New York City is a boat or subway ride away.
The Stevens Ducks mainly compete in the NCAA Division III Empire 8 Athletic Conference, and, through the school’s Adopt-a-Team program, all student athletes have a faculty mentor to help them juggle sports and school work. Incoming freshmen also do not have the hassle of buying a new laptop; each student is given a notebook computer with software configured to his or her major. The school was exclusively for male students until 1971, and now, females make up close to 30 percent of the student body. more

$50,554 Tuition and Fees
3,021 Undergraduate Enrollment

Saint Peter’s University

Jersey City, NJ
#97 in Regional Universities North (tie)

Founded in 1872, Saint Peter’s University is a private institution. Saint Peter’s University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered less selective. more

$36,402 Tuition and Fees
2,672 Undergraduate Enrollment

Caldwell University

Caldwell, NJ
#102 in Regional Universities North (tie)

Founded in 1939, Caldwell University is a private institution. The school has 62.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Caldwell University is 12:1. more

$33,900 Tuition and Fees
1,637 Undergraduate Enrollment

William Paterson University of New Jersey

Wayne, NJ
#102 in Regional Universities North (tie)

Founded in 1855, William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public institution. William Paterson University of New Jersey offers a Greek system, where 2 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 2 percent is involved in a fraternity. more

$20,842 (out-of-state), $12,804 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
9,103 Undergraduate Enrollment

Drew University

Madison, NJ
#112 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)

Drew University is located in Madison, New Jersey, not far from New York City. Students can take advantage of the school’s location through intensive semester-long programs on Wall Street and more. more

$49,168 Tuition and Fees
1,521 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more
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Seton Hall University

South Orange, NJ
#124 in National Universities (tie)

A private, Catholic school in South Orange, N.J., Seton Hall University is about a 30-minute train ride to New York City. Many students take advantage of the university’s location by interning and job hunting in the nearby city while still enjoying the clubs, Greek life, and Division I sports on campus.
more

$40,588 Tuition and Fees
5,956 Undergraduate Enrollment

Rutgers University–Newark

Newark, NJ
#133 in National Universities (tie)

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey—Newark is located in the largest city in the state. More than 60 percent of students complete majors in the Newark College of Arts and Sciences. more

$29,480 (out-of-state), $13,829 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
8,170 Undergraduate Enrollment

Centenary University

Hackettstown, NJ
#135 in Regional Universities North

Founded in 1867, Centenary University is a private institution. Centenary University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered less selective. more

$32,580 Tuition and Fees
1,518 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more
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College of St. Elizabeth

Morristown, NJ
#137 in Regional Universities North (tie)

Founded in 1899, College of St. Elizabeth is a private institution. The school has 82.9 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at College of St. Elizabeth is 10:1. more

$32,282 Tuition and Fees
763 Undergraduate Enrollment

Georgian Court University

Lakewood, NJ
#137 in Regional Universities North (tie)

Founded in 1908, Georgian Court University is a private institution.

$32,260 Tuition and Fees
1,591 Undergraduate Enrollment

Kean University

Union, NJ
#137 in Regional Universities North (tie)

Students at Kean University in New Jersey can choose from nearly 50 undergraduate majors and more than 30 master’s programs. Outside the classroom, students can visit the school’s two cougar mascots, named Sage and Scout, in a nearby zoo. more

$19,009 (out-of-state), $12,107 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
11,812 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more
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New Jersey Institute of Technology

Newark, NJ
#140 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1881, New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public institution. New Jersey Institute of Technology follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective. more

$31,034 (out-of-state), $16,430 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
8,211 Undergraduate Enrollment

Rowan University

Glassboro, NJ
#171 in National Universities (tie)

Rowan University started out as a teacher preparation college and is now a leading research institution for eco-friendly initiatives. Since 2007, the school has received at least 13 awards for green initiatives. It also offers a range of degree options for undergraduate and graduate students. Students study a host of subjects, such as whether blood tests can reveal Alzheimer’s and how to improve the safety of lithium-ion batteries. The school also promotes diversity in science, technology, engineering and math. Freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus unless they can commute from a nearby guardian’s home, and many upperclassmen live off campus. Student athletes can represent the Rowan Profs in the NCAA Division III New Jersey Athletic Conference and intramural sports. more

$21,378 (out-of-state), $13,108 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
14,344 Undergraduate Enrollment

Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ
#187 in National Universities (tie)

Located about 14 miles west of New York City in New Jersey, Montclair State University offers about 300 academic programs. Students can make the most of their studies by visiting the school’s Center for Career Services and Cooperative Education to get help planning for their future. more

$20,566 (out-of-state), $12,454 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
16,810 Undergraduate Enrollment

Posted on August 20, 2017 January 20, 2019

Rutgers University-New Brunswick astronomer offers tips for safe viewing the Solar Eclipse

photo by Margaret Morse

August 20,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Americans will be treated to a spectacular total solar eclipse on Aug. 21 in an approximately 70-mile-wide zone stretching from the Northwest to the Southeast.

In New Jersey, a partial eclipse will begin at about 1:20 p.m., peak at about 2:45 p.m. and end shortly before 4 p.m. that day.

The moon will block about 70 percent of the sun at the state’s northern border to 80 percent in Cape May, according to Carlton “Tad” Pryor, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

“A total solar eclipse is always very dramatic,” Pryor said. “The sky gets dark, animals and birds go quiet as if it’s nighttime and it’s a little bit cooler outside. The partial solar eclipse that will be visible in New Jersey is much more subtle, but will be noticeable if you know what to look for.”

Watch a YouTube video on the solar eclipse

Tips for Safe Eclipse Viewing

Because it is unsafe to look directly at the sun, Pryor said anyone wishing to see the phenomenon must protect their eyes with specially made and certified filters, or by observing the eclipse indirectly.

Direct viewing can be done safely with No. 14 arc welder glass or with eclipse viewing glasses that meet the following criteria outlined by NASA:

Have certification information with a designated ISO 12312-2 international standard
Have the manufacturer’s name and address printed on the product
Not be used if more than three years old, or with scratched or wrinkled lenses

Homemade filters or sunglasses – even very dark ones – are NEVER safe for looking directly at the sun. There are reports of potentially unsafe eclipse glasses appearing for sale, so be sure to buy eclipse viewers from reputable vendors.

Pryor offered a few suggestions for safe, indirect viewing.

If the sky is clear at around 2:45 p.m. on the day of the eclipse, stand in a leafy tree’s shadow and look at the ground. The smallest spots of sunlight will make little crescent shapes, showing the sun’s apparent shape as the moon crosses in front.

Another method is to make a small hole in a piece of cardboard with the tip of a pencil or pen and project the light onto a white piece of paper, he said. For a better view, put the hole over a mirror and reflect the light onto a more distant white piece of paper or white surface.

Total eclipses in the Continental U.S. are unusual, with the last one unfolding in 1979, Pryor said. Hawaii experienced one in 1991, and New Jersey will have to wait until May 1, 2079, to get one. Even then, the total eclipse will be visible only in the northern two-thirds of the state and will occur only a few minutes after sunrise, so it won’t be easily visible.

“An eclipse is a remarkable phenomenon,” Pryor said. “It was always regarded as signifying something important. Some people thought something was eating the sun and tried to make noise to scare it away. But the ancient Greeks understood what was happening and could start to predict some of these phenomena.”

Posted on August 9, 2017 January 20, 2019

Valley Hospital Ties for 5th Highest Rated Hospital in New Jersey

U.S. News Hospitals Rankings and Ratings

August 9,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, U.S. News has issued it top hospitals rankings and ratings. The U.S. News Best Hospitals analysis reviews hospitals’ performance in clinical specialties, procedures and conditions. Scores are based on several factors, including survival, patient safety, nurse staffing and more. Hospitals are ranked nationally in specialties from cancer to urology and rated in common procedures and conditions, such as heart bypass surgery, hip and knee replacement and COPD. Hospitals are also ranked regionally within states and major metro areas. The Honor Roll recognizes 20 hospitals with outstanding performance across multiple areas of care.

According to the U.S. News Hospitals Rankings and Ratings Hackensack University Medical Center was the top ranked hospital in New Jersey edging out local Valley Hospital at number 5 , Englewood Hospital and Medical Center number 13 and St. Joseph’s Healthcare System-Paterson also tied for 13.

Hackensack University Medical Center

Hackensack, NJ 07601-1914
#1 in New Jersey

Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ is nationally ranked in 3 adult specialties and 1 pediatric specialty.

NATIONALLY RANKED in 3 Specialties & 1 Children’s Specialty
HIGH PERFORMING in 8 Procedures/Conditions

____________________________________________________________________

Morristown Medical Center

Morristown, NJ 07960-6136
#2 in New Jersey

Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ is nationally ranked in 2 adult specialties.

NATIONALLY RANKED in 2 Specialties
HIGH PERFORMING in 9 Procedures/Conditions

_____________________________________________________________________

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1928
#3 in New Jersey

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ is nationally ranked in 1 pediatric specialty.

NATIONALLY RANKED in 1 Children’s Specialty
HIGH PERFORMING in 7 Procedures/Conditions

______________________________________________________________________

Jersey Shore University Medical Center

Neptune, NJ 07754-0397
#4 in New Jersey

Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ is not nationally ranked in any specialty.

HIGH PERFORMING in 8 Procedures/Conditions

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AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center

Atlantic City, NJ 08401-6713
#5 in New Jersey

AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, NJ is not nationally ranked in any specialty.

HIGH PERFORMING in 6 Procedures/Conditions

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Valley Hospital

Ridgewood, NJ 07450-2726
#5 in New Jersey

Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ is not nationally ranked in any specialty.

HIGH PERFORMING in 7 Procedures/Conditions

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Englewood Hospital and Medical Center

Englewood, NJ 07631-1898
#13 in New Jersey

Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in Englewood, NJ is not nationally ranked in any specialty.

HIGH PERFORMING in 3 Procedures/Conditions

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St. Joseph’s Healthcare System-Paterson

Paterson, NJ 07503-2691
#13 in New Jersey

St. Joseph’s Healthcare System-Paterson in Paterson, NJ is not nationally ranked in any specialty.

HIGH PERFORMING in 3 Procedures/Conditions

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Posted on July 27, 2017 January 20, 2019

“Just Pups” Pet Stores and Owner Vincent LoSacco Agree to Permanently Stop Selling Animals in New Jersey and Pay $326,000 Fine

file photo

July 27,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Division of Consumer Affairs today announced that pet shop owner Vincent LoSacco and his “Just Pups” Stores have agreed to permanently stop selling animals in New Jersey and pay $326,000 to settle allegations they misled customers about the health of the puppies they sold, failed to reimburse consumers for animals that got sick or died, and committed dozens of other acts of consumer fraud.

Under a settlement with the Division of Consumer Affairs, Just Pups is permanently prohibited from conducting business in New Jersey, and LoSacco is permanently barred from advertising or selling animals in the state in any capacity, including, among other things, as an owner, employee, consultant, or independent contractor at a pet store, kennel, or breeding establishment, either in a paid or unpaid position.

“We’re pleased to finally close the book on Vincent LoSacco’s long and troubled history of selling puppies in this state,” said Attorney General Porrino. “By permanently banning him from New Jersey’s pet sales industry, we are not only protecting consumers from fraud, we are shielding families from the heartache of unwittingly purchasing a sick puppy and then being forced to choose between paying costly vet fees or losing their pet.”

“Buying a puppy is an emotional investment as well a financial investment. We will not allow unscrupulous pet stores to deliberately deceive consumers in this very important purchase,” said Steve Lee, Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “As this action shows, we will vigorously enforce the laws in place to protect consumers from suffering the emotional and financial cost of purchasing a puppy suffering from an undiagnosed or undisclosed illness.”

The settlement resolves allegations contained in the First Amended Complaint filed by the State in September 2016. The Complaint alleges that Lo Sacco and Just Pups violated New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act (CFA), Pet Purchase Protection Act (PPA), the Pet Regulations and the Advertising Regulations, by among other things:

Selling sick or defective animals to consumers from stores in East Brunswick, East Hanover, Emerson, and Paramus.
Misrepresenting as healthy and selling dogs suffering from Kennel Cough, Parvo, Bronchitis, and Giardia.
Failing to reimburse consumers for veterinary fees associated with the treatment of sick or defective dogs, even after receiving veterinary certifications that the animals had been unfit for sale.
Failing to refund the purchase price plus sales tax of an animal that died due to congenital or hereditary cause, within six months of delivery to consumer.
Misrepresenting that dogs are healthy when such was not the case.
Failing to have an animal that was examined more than 14 days prior to purchase reexamined by a veterinarian within 72 hours of delivery, as required by law.
Misrepresenting on the Just Pups website that Just Pups can prove that all of its puppies are free from adverse health symptoms, when such was not the case.
Selling an animal within the State of New Jersey without a completed animal history and health certificate.

The settlement also addresses the State’s concern that LoSacco violated the PPA in connection with his East Hanover store by accepting deposits and/or other payments from numerous consumers prior to Just Pups and LoSacco having the puppies examined by a New Jersey-licensed veterinarian.

In addition to permanently enjoining Just Pups and LoSacco from any involvement in the sale, advertising, breeding or kenneling of animals in New Jersey, the settlement requires them to pay a civil penalty of $290,000, $30,163 in restitution to consumers, and $5,876 in reimbursement of investigative costs. Under the terms of the settlement, the $290,000 civil penalty will be suspended if the defendants meet the terms of the agreement.

The allegations against LoSacco and Just Pups stem from the Division’s statewide inspections of pet shops to ensure compliance with the PPA, which took effect in June 2015.

Just Pups stores in East Brunswick, East Hanover, Emerson, and Paramus were among 26 pet stores cited for noncompliance.

In the months following the Division’s inspections, LoSacco came under fire from authorities in the towns where his stores were located.

State and local authorities charged him with more than 400 counts of animal cruelty and neglect in connection with his stores in Paramus and East Brunswick, including charges investigators found a gravely ill, emaciated puppy in a cage in the East Brunswick store that later died, and that he left 60 puppies unattended in small crates inside a cold van parked outside his Paramus store in April. LoSacco was also charged with hundreds of health code violations in connection with all four stores.

In March 2016, the Just Pups store in East Brunswick was closed permanently when the town council revoked LoSacco’s shop owner’s license. Just Pups in Paramus closed permanently in May 2016 when LoSacco did not attempt to renew his business license there. The Emerson store was permanently closed in July 2016 when the borough council voted against renewing his business license. The final Just Pups location, in East Hanover, was permanently closed in March 2017 when the town council voted not to renew LoSacco’s business license. The vote came a month after the store was placed in quarantine by the East Hanover Board of Health amid allegations that LoSacco had illegally transported puppies to his store from out of state without medical clearance.

Posted on July 8, 2017 January 20, 2019

Former Birdsall Executive Pleads Guilty for His Role in Scheme to Evade New Jersey Pay-To-Play Laws

Former Birdsall Executive Pleads Guilty for His Role in Scheme to Evade Pay-To-Play Laws With Illegal Political Contributions All nine individuals charged in the case – and the engineering firm itself – have now pleaded guilty

July 8,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

TRENTON NJ, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced that a former executive and shareholder of Birdsall Services Group (“BSG”) pleaded guilty today to participating in a criminal scheme in which more than $1 million in corporate political contributions were illegally made through firm employees to evade New Jersey’s pay-to-play laws. Nine former executives, shareholders and managers of BSG have pleaded guilty in the scheme, along with the engineering firm itself, which is no longer in business.

Alan Hilla, 77, of Jupiter, Fla., pleaded guilty today to a charge of second-degree misconduct by a corporate official before Superior Court Judge Wendel E. Daniels in Ocean County. Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that he be sentenced to five years in state prison. Hilla indicated he plans to apply for a suspended sentence, citing health issues. Hilla is the final defendant in the case against BSG and nine of its top executives, shareholders and employees. Judge Daniels scheduled sentencing for September 1, 2017 at 10 AM.

Deputy Attorney General Anthony A. Picione, Chief of the Corruption Bureau, and Deputy Attorneys General Mallory Shanahan, Brian Faulk and Charles Wright are prosecuting the case and took the guilty plea for the Division of Criminal Justice. The charge was contained in a March 26, 2013 indictment, which also charged BSG and six other executives and shareholders. Two other defendants pleaded guilty pre-indictment. The charges stemmed from an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau, which found that the defendants conspired to avoid the restrictions of New Jersey’s Pay-to-Play laws by disguising illegal corporate political contributions as personal contributions of employees.

“The many guilty pleas we have secured in this case hammer home an important message that criminal schemes aimed at evading New Jersey’s pay-to-play laws will be met with stern punishment,” said Attorney General Porrino. “Our laws prevent politically connected firms from garnering public contracts based on campaign contributions, but Birdsall’s executives gamed the system and secured millions of dollars in contracts for which they should have been disqualified.”

“My office recently announced two anti-corruption programs – a reward program offering up to $25,000 for tips about public corruption, as well as a whistleblower program that allows lower-level participants in a corruption scheme to potentially avoid prosecution by self-reporting,” Attorney General Porrino added. “I urge people to help us and help themselves by taking advantage of these programs, which expire on August 1.”

“New Jersey’s pay-to-play laws seek to ensure fair and open public contracting, free of the sway of political interests,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “By criminally prosecuting this firm and sending many of its top executives to prison, we have given those laws real teeth.”

Individuals may report information and apply for the Anti-Corruption Reward Program or Anti-Corruption Whistleblower Program by August 1 by one of the following methods:

Call the DCJ hotline 866-TIPS-4CJ to speak with detectives 24 hours/7 days a week; or

Visit www.njdcj.org to submit an online report.

BSG pleaded guilty on June 13, 2013 to charges of first-degree money laundering and second-degree making false representations for government contracts. As a result of its plea, BSG paid two major criminal penalties: a $500,000 public corruption profiteering penalty and a $500,000 anti-money laundering profiteering penalty. In each instance, the penalty was the maximum amount authorized by law. BSG also paid the state $2.6 million to settle a civil forfeiture action filed by the Attorney General’s Office in connection with the criminal case.

Eight other executives, shareholders and managers of the Birdsall firm previously pleaded guilty:

On April 22, 2016, Howard Birdsall, formerly CEO and largest shareholder of BSG, was sentenced to four years in prison on a charge of second-degree misconduct by a corporate official. He paid $49,808 to the state in forfeiture of his illegal political contributions.

On June 10, 2016, Thomas Rospos, formerly executive vice president of BSG and its second largest shareholder, was sentenced to three years in prison on a charge of third-degree tampering with public records or information. He paid $150,000 in forfeiture of his illegal contributions.

On July 11, 2016, William Birdsall, formerly senior vice president and a large shareholder of BSG, was sentenced to 270 days in the county jail and two years of probation on a charge of third-degree misconduct by a corporate official. He paid $129,115 in forfeiture of his illegal contributions, as well as a $75,000 public corruption profiteering penalty.

On June 2, Robert Gerard, 56, of Wall, N.J., former Chief Marketing Officer for BSG, was sentenced to 270 days in the county jail and two years of probation on a fourth-degree charge of making prohibited corporate political contributions through employees. He forfeited $86,200.

James Johnston, 55, of New Brunswick, N.J., former President of the Environmental Services Group within BSG, was sentenced to 270 days in the county jail and two years of probation on a fourth-degree charge of making prohibited corporate political contributions through employees. He forfeited $93,720.

On Jan. 6, 2016, Scott MacFadden, former chief administrative officer of BSG, pleaded guilty to third-degree misconduct by a corporate official. He faces a recommended sentence of up to 364 days in jail and a term of probation. He must pay $30,000 in forfeiture of his contributions.

On Nov. 30, 2012, Philip Angarone, the former marketing director for BSG, pleaded guilty to third-degree tampering with public records or information and fourth-degree making prohibited corporate political contributions through employees. He is awaiting sentencing and faces a sentence of up to 364 days in jail and a term of probation. He must forfeit $26,775.

On Feb. 12, 2013, Eileen Kufahl, a former marketing manager for Birdsall, pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree charge of making prohibited corporate contributions through employees. She forfeited $17,119 and was admitted into the Pre-Trial Intervention Program.

Under the alleged scheme, instead of Birdsall Services Group making corporate political contributions to campaigns and political organizations that would disqualify it from public contracts awarded by certain government agencies, shareholders and employees of the firm made personal political contributions of $300 or less, which are deemed unreportable. Multiple personal checks were bundled together at Birdsall Services Group and sent to the appropriate campaign or political organization. The shareholders and employees were then illegally reimbursed by Birdsall Services Group, directly or indirectly, through added bonus payments, and the firm falsely omitted the illegally reimbursed contributions in documents filed with the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) and with government agencies that awarded the firm engineering services contracts. The scheme continued for more than six years and involved more than $1 million in contributions.

Posted on June 29, 2017 April 9, 2020

Reader says you are wrong and you bought into the fake arguments raised by Arohson, Pucciarli and the developers

you are wrong and you bought into the fake arguments raised by Arohson, Pucciarli and the developers. Yes, we have requirements, but no, we did not need to line Saraceno’s and the other developer’s pockets in order to address these issues.

We were sold up the river, pure and simple, by a mean spirited and self-serving duo of public officials – – remember, they voted to make these projects the law as they were leaving office. They are carpetbaggers who have no place in our Village life.

We have now entered a new phase for life in Ridgewood thanks to the duplicitous duo. And we need to be ready for it. We are now going to much more like New Brunswick than a Ho-Ho-Kus or Glen Rock. We need to work hard to maintain the value of our properties, our schools and other public services as we deal with an influx of people that will totally drain our infrastructure.

Regrettably, it is not clear what the “new” council is doing to address and deal with the issues that lay ahead. Attention must now be focused on bringing them into focus, but as others on this thread have said, that ain’t going to happen if we all stay home and silent..

Posted on June 28, 2017 January 20, 2019

BUSINESS LEADERS MEH ABOUT NJ’S PROSPECTS BUT OPTIMISTIC FOR NATIONAL ECONOMY

JOHN REITMEYER | JUNE 28, 2017

Executives are perturbed about New Jersey’s high taxes and the state government’s approach to business

New Jersey’s top business leaders are optimistic about the direction that the national economy is heading in this year, but as the state gets ready to elect a new governor, they are more cautious about New Jersey’s own immediate economic future.

The results of a new survey released yesterday by Rutgers University’s Real Estate and Policy Research Consortium revealed that enthusiasm among the state’s top business leaders has returned to the levels measured before the onset of the Great Recession in 2007, with 60 percent expecting some improvement in the national economy over the next 12 months.

At the same time, the survey found the executives still have concerns about New Jersey’s high taxes and state government’s handling of business policies, with nearly 50 percent saying they expect the state’s economic conditions to only remain about the same over the next year.

The results of the survey, outlined yesterday during a conference held at Rutgers University’s Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in New Brunswick, emerge as New Jersey remains locked in a pattern of slow growth in the wake of the recession, which officially ended in 2009. New Jersey only recently added back all of the private-sector jobs that were lost to the recession as the annual rate of growth here has trailed that of the national economy, while the federal job losses were all recovered in 2014.

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/17/06/27/business-leaders-optimistic-for-national-economy-but-meh-about-new-jersey-s-prospects/

Posted on June 9, 2017 January 21, 2019

Saddle River Police Put Out Traffic Advisory Advisory: Traffic Alert For Northern Bergen County – Friday June 9th – Morning Rush – Special Olympics Torch Run – Expect Delays

June 9,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Saddle River NJ, Saddle River Police Deptment Officers will once again participate in this year’s Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics on Friday, June 9th, 2017. West Saddle River Road and East Allendale Road are part of our route.

In 1982, the late Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Officer Steven Vitale was asked to take photos at a local Special Olympics competition in New Jersey. He was so moved by the determination exhibited by the athletes that he asked other police officers to volunteer at the Summer Games. In 1984, the first New Jersey Torch Run was conceived to raise funds and public awareness for the Special Olympics New Jersey program. The course ran from Liberty State Park in Jersey City to Rutgers Stadium in New Brunswick through eight towns, covering 43 miles and raising $7,000. In each succeeding year, the dollar amount became greater and the number of volunteers increased substantially.

Driven by the willingness of the New Jersey Law Enforcement officers to do more, the Law Enforcement Torch Run began to expand over the years. New fundraising events and initiatives were created and held throughout the Garden State to promote the Special Olympics movement. With over $3 million raised annually by more than 3,000 officers through local and statewide events, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey has been recognized in the world for many years as one of the top grassroots fundraising organizations for Special Olympics. Fundraising events that are conducted year-round in New Jersey include an Adopt-a-Cop campaign for the annual Torch Run, three Polar Bear Plunges, the Lincoln Tunnel Challenge 5K, the United Airlines Plane Pull and golf outings just to name a few. In addition to fundraising, Law Enforcement officers volunteer at athlete competitions and events year-round, while serving as ambassadors in local communities

Posted on June 6, 2017 January 20, 2019

Two Former Birdsall Executives Sentenced to Jail Terms for Evading Pay-To-Play Law with Illegal Political Contributions

June 6,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced that two former executives of Birdsall Services Group (“BSG”) were sentenced to jail today for participating in a criminal scheme in which more than $1 million in corporate political contributions were illegally made through firm employees to evade New Jersey’s pay-to-play law. Eight former executives, shareholders and managers of BSG have pleaded guilty in the scheme, along with the engineering firm itself, which is no longer in business.

These defendants were sentenced today by Superior Court Judge James Den Uyl in Ocean County. Each man was sentenced to 270 days in the county jail as a condition of a term of two years of probation:

Robert Gerard, 56, of Wall, N.J., former Chief Marketing Officer for BSG, and
James Johnston, 55, of New Brunswick, N.J., former President of the Environmental Services Group within BSG.

Gerard and Johnston pleaded guilty on April 12 to fourth-degree charges of making prohibited corporate political contributions through employees. Gerard was required to forfeit $86,200 to the state, and Johnston, $93,720. Each man is debarred for 10 years from personally bidding on public contracts in New Jersey or holding an interest of 5 percent or more in any company that bids for such contracts.

Deputy Attorney General Anthony A. Picione, Chief of the Corruption Bureau, and Deputy Attorneys General Mallory Shanahan and Brian Faulk prosecuted Gerard and Johnston and handled the sentencing hearings for the Division of Criminal Justice. The charge was contained in a March 26, 2013 indictment, which also charged BSG and six other executives and shareholders. The indictment stemmed from an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau, which found that the defendants allegedly conspired to avoid the restrictions of New Jersey’s Pay-to-Play Act by disguising illegal corporate political contributions as personal contributions of employees.

“The many guilty pleas we have secured in this case hammer home an important message that criminal schemes aimed at evading New Jersey’s pay-to-play law will be met with stern punishment,” said Attorney General Porrino. “Our law prevents politically connected firms from garnering public contracts based on campaign contributions, but Birdsall’s executives gamed the system and secured millions of dollars in contracts for which they should have been disqualified.”

“New Jersey’s pay-to-play law seeks to ensure fair and open public contracting, free of the sway of political interests,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “By criminally prosecuting this firm and its executives, we have given the law real teeth.”

Individuals may report information and apply for the Anti-Corruption Reward Program or Anti-Corruption Whistleblower Program by August 1 by one of the following methods:

Call the DCJ hotline 866-TIPS-4CJ to speak with detectives 24 hours/7 days a week; or

Visit www.njdcj.org to submit an online report.

Six other executives, shareholders and managers of the Birdsall firm previously pleaded guilty:

Posted on June 5, 2017 January 20, 2019

NJ STATE THEATRE NEW JERSEY CANCELS NOVEMBER 3rd KATHY GRIFFIN SHOW

PLEASE NOTE: AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF RECENT EVENTS AND FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR PATRONS, KATHY GRIFFIN’S NOVEMBER 3RD PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

All Kathy Griffin ticket buyers will be issued a full refund. If you purchased your tickets on Ticketmaster please call 800-745-3000. If you purchased your tickets through another party, please contact them directly.

KATHY GRIFFIN FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2017 AT 8:00PM AT STATE THEATRE NEW JERSEY

A note on the New Brunswick theater’s Facebook page reads:

“Please note: After careful consideration of recent events and for the safety of our patrons, Kathy Griffin’s November 3rd performance has been cancelled. All Kathy Griffin ticket buyers will be issued a full refund. If you purchased your tickets on Ticketmaster please call 800-745-3000. If you purchased your tickets through another party, please contact them directly.

Posted on June 2, 2017 January 20, 2019

ICE arrests Mexican, Honduran nationals after New Jersey County declines detainers

June 1,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

NEWARK NJ, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers arrested two individuals, one from Mexico and one from Honduras, after they were released from the custody of Middlesex County with active ICE detainers in place.

On April 14, 2016, ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Elder Antonio Quintero Rodriguez, a Honduran citizen. On May 19, 2017, the facility released him from custody without notifying ICE. Quintero Rodriguez has a felony conviction of endangering abuse; the neglect of a child. ERO Newark officers arrested him in New Brunswick, New Jersey, May 30, 2017.

On April 21, 2017, ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Rolando Herrera Saavedra, a Mexican citizen. On April 29, 2017, the facility released him from custody without notifying ICE. Herrera Saavedra is currently facing state criminal charges. ERO Newark officers arrested Herrera Saavedra in Long Branch, New Jersey, May 24, 2017.

Neither Herrera Saavedra nor Quintero Rodriguez has lawful status in the United States. Both remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

“As a nation, we must protect the integrity of our immigration system and aggressively pursue the removal of illegal criminal aliens; this is one of ICE’s top priorities,” said John Tsoukaris, ERO Newark field office director. “ICE shares the county’s ultimate objective to protect public safety and national security while simultaneously preserving the critical community-police bond; however, counties such as Middlesex that fail to work with ICE in the transfer of custody of criminal aliens, place the citizens of their communities at serious risk.”

In fiscal year 2016, ICE removed or returned 240,255 individuals. Of this total, 174,923 were apprehended while, or shortly after, attempting to illegally enter the United States. The remaining 65,332 were apprehended in the interior of the United States, and the vast majority was convicted criminals.