Upper Saddle River NJ, the Upper Saddle River Police remid us to drive carefully during the holidays. As Americans hit the road this holiday season to celebrate with family and friends, it’s important that we all drive safely—and safe driving means sober driving. That’s why The Upper Saddle River Police Department will be participating in the NHTSA annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over holiday campaign (December 13-31) to raise public awareness of the dangers of drunk driving.
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over drives home why it is so critical to always drive sober. Over the past 5 years, an average of 300 people died in drunk-driving crashes during the Christmas through New Year’s holiday period. In December 2016 alone, 781 people lost their lives in drunk-driving crashes.
To support Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, NHTSA released a new advertisement called “No Big Deal,” which vividly illustrates the destruction caused by a drunk driver. This ad is accompanied by a 360-degree virtual reality (VR) web experience of a drunk driving crash scene, nhtsa.gov/crash, that allows the viewer to interact with first responders and understand how one selfish choice to drink and drive can affect others.
The “No Big Deal” VR experience also highlights another consequence of drinking and driving: getting arrested. Law enforcement around the country will be making a special effort during Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over to find and arrest drunk drivers. The average arrest, including attorney fees, fines, court costs, and other expenses, can set you back $10,000. About one-third of all drivers arrested or convicted of drunk driving are repeat offenders.
Protect yourself and others this holiday season by always driving sober. For many, the holidays and holiday parties involve alcohol. Be honest with yourself about how you celebrate, and make a plan to get home without getting behind the wheel. Designate a driver, take public transportation, use a ridesharing service, or use NHTSA’s SaferRide app to call a taxi or a friend to pick you up. The app is available for Android devices on Google Play and Apple devices in the iTunes store.
This is the season of giving, so give yourself and all your neighbors the gift of safer roads by driving sober over the holidays. Carry that safer driving habit into the New Year by making a resolution to always drive sober. If we all do that, we will celebrate the holidays safely and ring in a better and safer 2018.
Ramsey NJ, Six (6) victims of a Monday morning, 12/17, crash on Route 17 northbound near Spring Avenue in Ramsey were transported to area hospitals by ambulances. Ramsey Police, Ramsey Rescue, and Ramsey EMS responded to the incident along with mutual aid ambulances from Upper Saddle River and The Valley Health System. Two (2) wrecked vehicles were removed from the scene by flatbed tow trucks. One (1) travel lane of Route 17 northbound and the exit ramp to Spring Street from Route 17 northbound were closed while emergency crews worked. All injuries were reported to have been non life threatening in nature.
Upper Saddle River NJ , The Upper Saddle River 5K Run, a charity event which attracts over 2,000 participants, is celebrating 20 years replete with new challenges, prizes and a beautiful commemorative 1/4 zip long sleeved shirt.
Among the highlights:
20th Anniversary Double Decade Award: The first male and female across the finish line who breaks the all-time course records, 15:02 in 2014 and 16:50 in 2011 respectively, wins bragging rights and an awesome prize.
Upper Saddle River NJ, Derek Michalski offered us more insights into the “Pleasant Brook debacle “, Another said anniversary is passing by: “Derek Michalski also from Upper Saddle River recounted to the Ridgewood blog ,” in the case of USR two developers father and son “forced” rezoning Apple Ridge property on USR mayor and Council and after obtaining the “rezoning signature” re-sold the same property to Toll Brothers for $20-30milion quick gain. if the town did this deal for its own benefit(residents) we wouldn’t have to raise taxes for decades to come. Thus such chaos is creating enormous benefit to developers and leaving communities in fear.” – YES THIS IS THE SAME 100 acres of DESERT Toll Brothers is using to dewater muddy water laden with arsenic and lead into Pleasant Brook. theridgewoodblog.net/assemblywomen-holly-schepisi-forum-focuses-on-overdevelopement-and-affordable-housing-in-bergen-county/ feeling nostalgic with James J Foytlin. “
Upper Saddle River NJ, after 10 months of questionable practice of pumping mud into Pleasant Brook Toll Brothers stopped ALL pumping activities into the brook over the weekend. Houses, pumps and generators used to power these pumps were also removed from 19 Meadowbrook Rd. construction site In Upper Saddle River.
Upper Saddle River NJ, according to Derek Michalski the moderator of the Facebook group GreenUSR, “After proposing on this site an Environmental Debate between incumbent Josh Gottheimer and his opponent John McCann reporter from CBS News called and interviewed me for the story. When I announced this on October 13, 2018 I immediately noticed that mud is no longer being pumped into Pleasant Brook/Saddle River. Today I spoke to the same reporter and she confirmed that she has also reached out to NJDEP and NJ Department of Agriculture for comments. Immediately after she spoke to them Roy Otto from Bergen County Soil Conservation Department called me. When I asked him what sparked his sudden interest in our situation after 10 months of NOT RETUTNING ANY CALLS he said “let’s not talk about what caused me to call you””.
Upper Saddle River NJ , the Group GreenUSR , is challenging Congressman Josh Gottheimer and his rival John McCann to debate the environment .
The Environmental Debate between Congressman Josh Gottheimer and his opponent attorney John McCann is being proposed by GreenUSR. Will small brook in Bergen County called Pleasant Brook/Saddle River oust popular Democratic Congressman who turned a blind eye to this unprecedented 10 month environmental disaster time will tell. John McCann is ready to rumble! So are GreenUSR members.
photo by Derek Michalski , Pictured: Chairman of Mahwah Environmental Commission Richard Wolf documenting ongoing pollution at Toll Brothers construction site in Mahwah and Upper Saddle River.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Upper Saddle River NJ, Major breakthrough in a 10-month community investigation started back in January 2018 by GreenUSR activist and resident of Upper Saddle River Derek Michalski.
Ramsey, Mahwah, Upper and Saddle River. Over the weekend residents from Ramsay, Mahwah and Upper Saddle River met for the second weekend in a row on the property that was featured in April 23, 2018 CBS New York Evening News coverage. We all remember Channel 2 Lisa Rozner’s report from 5 months ago about those infamous hoses pumping mud into Upper Saddle River stream directly from 100 acre site that had arsenic in the past.* Since that day very little has been done to stop the mud pumping that is occurring now 24/7 according to eyewitnesses. Last weekend the site was visited by Richard Wolf, Chairman of Mahwah Environmental Commission. This weekend Councilwoman Janet Ariemma took initiative and also met with residents and visually inspected continuous mud discharge into the Pleasant Brook.
Upper Saddle River NJ, Derek Michalski once again fills us in on the ongoing battle over Pleasant Brook and the unprecedented environmental disaster in one of the richest zip codes in America . Toll Brothers‘
Apple Ridge Project in Mahwah has been alleged to be pumping mud into local tributary’s down stream in Upper Saddle River and Saddle River .
Upper Saddle River NJ, The Upper Saddle River Police Department will be joining the national #9pmroutine campaign. The Upper Saddle River Police Department prides themselves on proactive police work. Recent media articles portray Bergen County as a mecca for Car Burglaries and Car Thefts. Our beautiful Borough of Upper Saddle River is not immune to these crimes. As most of the residents know, recently the Upper Saddle River Police Department apprehended two individuals for the theft of one vehicle and Burglary to a multitude of other vehicles in the Borough. The one constant with the above crimes is: all the vehicles were unlocked. The Upper Saddle River Police Department will be utilizing social media, Twitter and Facebook, reminding residents to check doors and windows of their homes, close garage doors, remove all valuables from vehicles and keep vehicles locked when unattended at 9 P.M. every evening. We are a community, let’s work together to keep the Borough of Upper Saddle River safe.
Ho Ho Kus NJ, On Tuesday, August 7th, residents throughout Upper Saddle River, Allendale, Saddle River and HoHo-Kus are being invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the “35th Annual National Night Out” (NNO) crime and drug prevention event. National Night Out, which is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) and co-sponsored locally by USRA Coalition (www.usracoalition.org), will involve over 16,500 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world. In all, over 38.5 million people are expected to participate in “America’s Night Out Against Crime”. NNO 2018 corporate sponsors are Diet & Watson, Ring, Associa and Package Guard.
National Night Out is designed to: (1) Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; (2) Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime efforts; (3) Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and (4) Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
National Project Coordinator Matt Peskin said, “This is a night for America to stand together to promote awareness, safety and neighborhood unity. National Night Out showcases the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement in our fight to build a safer nation. On NNO, we invite neighborhoods nationwide to join us in Giving Crime & Drugs A Going Away Party.”
From 6 to 9 p.m. on August 7th, residents throughout Upper Saddle River, Allendale, Saddle River, and Ho-Ho-Kus are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening with Police Officers from your community at the Red Barn located behind Crestwood Lake in Allendale.
This free fun filled family event will feature a DJ, live music, games, crafts, ice cream, face painting, inflatable obstacle course, basketball and much more! A Variety of food items will be available for purchase from Cars, Mason Jar, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Carmelo’s Brick Oven Pizza and more. Pre-registration requested but not necessary for certain events. E-mail [email protected] with ages of children participating. Space is limited for certain events.
Pre-registration requested but not necessary for certain events. E-mail [email protected] with ages of children participating. Space is limited for certain events.
Upper Saddle River NJ, This is an important Crime Alert from the Upper Saddle River Police Department:
Car Thefts/Burglaries
Last week, the Borough experienced multiple vehicle burglaries, vehicle thefts, and a residential burglary. A multi-jurisdictional effort from numerous law enforcement agencies led to the capture and arrest of two suspects for the crimes of vehicle theft and aggravated assault on a Police Officer. These suspects remain in Bergen County Jail. Although these arrests could serve as a deterrent for future acts, unfortunately our past experience has proven otherwise. The greatest deterrent for preventing car theft is the simple act of removing your key fob from your vehicle. Every single vehicle that has been stolen from Upper Saddle River contained a key fob. Remember, after parking your vehicle, “lock it, key in pocket.”
Residential Home Burglaries
Residential Burglaries occurred in Upper Saddle River and Saddle River this past Friday (June 29). These incidents tend to occur during the evening hours before midnight. The advantage to this time frame is that it is more likely to be witnessed by a Good Samaritan. Witness reports are a key asset in Burglary investigations. So, be a good witness!
Here are some things to look for:
• A vehicle idling in a cul-de-sac
• An occupied vehicle parked in a driveway for an extended period
• A slow moving vehicle “casing” the neighborhood
• A person ringing your doorbell to test if the home is occupied. The person will often give a silly excuse if you answer the door (wrong house, lost dog, etc.).
• Any person or vehicle acting suspiciously
• Immediately report all suspicious activity to the Upper Saddle River Police Department. Write down as many details as possible including vehicle description and license plate. This can be done using your cell phone which is usually within reach. Do not be embarrassed to call us! These cases are often solved by a tip provided by a concerned citizen.
• Please, do not try to confront suspicious people or vehicles.
If you have any questions or require further information, please contact the Upper Saddle River Police Department Detective Bureau.
Mahwah NJ, Heavy police presence during Toll Brothers’ Open House in Mahwah at Apple Ridge construction site over the weekend.
Probably never in the history of these three Bergen County towns Mahwah, Ramsey and Upper Saddle River residents who live along East Crescent Road heard so many drivers honking their horns. On June 24, 2018 Saturday afternoon over the course of four hours hundreds of drivers drove by and honked their horns sometimes 3, 4 and even 5 and more times in solidarity with the protesters who were all lined up along the road on East Crescent Avenue in Mahwah. The protest was aimed at Toll Brothers accused by some residents of Ramsey, Mahwah and Upper Saddle River of massive pollution of Pleasant Brook over the course of the past six months. The subject of this pollution was extensively covered by local and regional media. First CBS did a story which aired on April 23, 2018 on CBS NY News, than FIOS NJ one run all day reports from the site on. Also owned by USA Today media concern NJ Bergen Record wrote extensively in an article titled “Residents want backyard stream tested for arsenic, lead because of construction runoff”.
Apparently this matter is not going away anytime soon said Derek Michalski, one of the community organizers of the protest. We are still waiting for our Mayor and Council to show us the results of the water tests and for the assurance that appropriate Superfund is being set up to provide for the cleanup of potential contamination of Pleasant Brook as well as drinking water wells in the corridor of Pleasant Brook. Many residents of bucolic once Upper Saddle River still rely of private wells as a source of their drinking water. Many USR residents scared of potential toxic and carcinogenic contaminants being arsenic and lead allegedly intentionally released into our streams and aquifer by Toll Brothers over the course of the past six months are switching from private wells into the city water but the issue is not should they switch or not.
The issue in my opinion is the following- why environmental disaster caused by cutting corners by one of the largest developer in the country makes our residents’ life more difficult and more expensive as a consequence – said Derek Michalski.
photo above Derek Michalski and Lisa Glick
Mahwah PD cars parked in the “Arsenic Field” at the Toll Brothers construction site – a name coined by GreenUS.org volunteers after CBS run a news story on April 23, 2018.
New York NY, Last night in New York we had a taste of the finest example of European History, Politics and Music. Classical music buffs from Bergen County undertook an extraordinary task to bring to America the lost masterpiece of Prince Poniatowski. Gala Concert of the “Mass in F” composed by Prince Joseph Poniatowski, cousin of the last king of Poland Stanislaw August Poniatowski (1732-1798), son of Stanislaw Poniatowski and Cassandra Luci. The Polish Prince was well known in Italy and France as a composer of the romantic generation, six years younger than Fryderyk Chopin and three years younger than Giuseppe Verdi.
A few years ago, truly sensational information started to circulate among the musicians in London about a discovery at the British Museum. That discovery had to do with an unknown score composed by Prince Joseph Poniatowski. The world premier took place at Westminster Cathedral Hall in London in June 2015. Last night in New York dozen of dignitaries and hundreds of their guest had unique privilege and honor to witness an American premier of the “Mass in F”, under the patronage of His Excellency Ambassador Of the Republic Of Poland Mr. Piotr Wilczek in the beautiful settings of St. Bart’s Church, located at 235 Park Avenue in Manhattan.Among invited guests was Lady Blanka A. Rosenthiel, Honorary Consul to the Republic of Poland, wife of late Kentucky Seagram’s 7 Whisky Magnate Lewis Solon Rosenthiel, Mr. Maciej Golubiewski, Consul General of the Republic Of Poland in New York, Ian Brzezinski, the son of late Zbigniew Brzezinski, Witold Mroziewski, Bishop of Brooklyn, Joseph Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, Archbishop Bernardino Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations.Since the main organizer Mr. Robert Niziol is from Upper Saddle River and since one of the partners and sponsors of the event Mr. Derek Michalski, an Accredited Investment Fiduciary®and a local LPL Financial Wealth Manager is also a long time resident of Upper Saddle River many honorable guest representing zip code 07458 were on the guest list at this historic event. Derek’s fiancé Ms. Margaret Chudziak was among them. The Honorable Saddle River Mayor Albert Kurpis and his wife Judy Kurpis, Rev. Fr., JC Merino representing Church of the Presentation and many others were also invited to the VIP Reception after the concert where they commingled with the dignitaries and had opportunity to congratulate the soloists, the music conductor, members of the choir and the fantastic members of the Spectrum Symphony of New York. One member of the choir happened to be also a member of our Church of the Presentation’s choir. The list of the personal connections, discussions and photo opportunities between Upper and Saddle River Valley residents and the New York performers went on until early morning hours on Friday. Plans were made to introduce the idea of bringing this extraordinary concert “Mass in F” to parishes in NJ starting of course with the Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River and St. Gabriel the Archangel in Saddle River. Like Derek Michalski said: “If we can stop Toll Brothers and prevent the destruction of our local streams and Saddle River aquifer we can definitely pray for divine intervention to bring Spectrum Symphony Of New York and the famous now “Mass in F” by Prince Poniatowski to the Saddle River zip code. And to make it even more interested it should be noted that Saddle River Valley was discovered by none other than famous Albert Zabrieskie”. Yes, another Pole! More about this famous local Polish emigrant and more about last night great musicians and their biographies at www.GreenUSR.org
Paramus NJ, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor announced today that a Bergen County neurologist indicted last year on third-degree charges in connection with a statewide medical kickback scheme now faces additional charges of health care claims fraud, misconduct by a corporate official, and other second-degree offenses, as the result of a newly returned superseding indictment.
The superseding indictment alleges Dr. Terry Ramnanan, 65, who operates the Interventional Spine and Pain Treatment Center facility in Paramus, used his medical facility to fraudulently bill insurance carriers for more than 637 medical procedures totaling $682,000 related to patients involved in the kickback scheme. The 10-count superseding indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Peter E. Warshaw in Mercer County yesterday.
“The deeper our investigators dig, the more dirt they uncover on doctors who conspired to buy and sell patients for profit in this statewide kickback scheme,” said Attorney General Grewal. “Upon further information and review, additional, upgraded charges against Dr. Ramnanan are appropriate, given his alleged role in this conspiracy to corrupt New Jersey’s health care industry.”
Ramnanan, who lives in Upper Saddle River, is one of dozens of health care practitioners charged in connection with an ongoing investigation by the Attorney General’s Commercial Bribery Task Force (CBTF) that was formed in January 2016 to target commercial bribery in the health care industry. The task force includes deputy attorneys general and detectives from the Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor and the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau.
The CBTF investigation has uncovered a statewide criminal enterprise in which doctors received hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal kickbacks in return for providing patient referrals worth millions of dollars to other doctors and medical service providers.
In August 2017, Ramnanan was indicted on one charge each of third-degree conspiracy, commercial bribery, and criminal use of runners for allegedly paying Totowa chiropractor Ronald Hayek in exchange for patient referrals.
Ramnanan is now accused of bribing another health care professional, identified only by the initials A.A, for patient referrals and then fraudulently submitting insurance claims for medical treatment performed on those patients.
“Dr. Ramnanan’s alleged crimes are greater in number and more serious in nature than we originally believed. The charges contained in the superseding indictment reflect the true nature of his involvement in this scheme,” said Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Tracy M. Thompson. “Our Commercial Bribery Task Force will continue to run down tips and follow leads to ensure that all those involved in this criminal enterprise are held fully accountable for their actions.”
In addition to the previous charges against Ramnanan, the superseding indictment contains additional charges of:
Misconduct by a Corporate Official (2nd degree)
Health Care Claims Fraud (two counts, 2nd degree)
Theft by Deception (2nd degree)
Commercial Bribery (3rd degree)
Criminal Use of Runners (3rd degree)
It also upgrades the previous count of Conspiracy from 3rd degree to 2nd degree.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
According to the superseding indictment, between January 2012 and April 2016, Ramnanan conspired with both “A.A.” and Hayek in a kickback scheme in which Ramnanan paid them for referring patients for treatment at his medical facility.Hayek was among dozens of doctors charged in two prior medical fraud investigations that led to the formation of the Commercial Bribery Task Force:
An investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau that led to guilty pleas in 2016 from Dr. Manoj Patharkar and his associate Mohammed Shamshair on charges that they hid and laundered approximately $3.6 million in income from the doctor’s pain management clinics to evade taxes, and “Operation Rayscam,” an investigation by the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor that led to guilty pleas in May 2015 from Rehan Zuberi, his wife, and three other defendants in connection with commercial bribes that Zuberi paid to doctors in return for the referral of patients to his medical imaging centers.
In July 2016, Hayek pleaded guilty to two accusations. The first accusation, filed by the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau, charged him with second-degree conspiracy, second-degree money laundering, six counts of commercial bribery, (four in the second degree, two in the third degree), and one count of third degree failure to pay taxes. The second accusation, filed by the Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, charged him with one count of third-degree conspiracy. He is awaiting sentencing.
In pleading guilty to the accusation filed by the Division of Criminal Justice, Hayek admitted he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks from Shamshair, Patharkar, Ramnanan, and others, in exchange for referring patients to them and their related medical facilities. He also admitted paying commercial bribes to attorneys in exchange for the referral of clients to his practice. In pleading guilty to the accusation filed by the Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, Hayek admitted to receiving kickbacks in exchange for referring patients to diagnostic imaging facilities owned or controlled by Rehan Zuberi.
