August 10,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Road work is coming . Bergen county will be resurfacing Ridgewood Avenue from Paramus Road to Maple Avenue from Tuesday August 21-28.
Bergen County to Repave Ridgewood Avenue
Tag: Bergen County
Bergen County : preventing mosquito-borne illness
July 22,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, from the office of the Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco ,when it comes to mosquitoes, Bergen County is biting back! Bergen County Mosquito Control works diligently throughout the year to reduce and eliminate the mosquito population through a variety of environmentally responsible best practices. But we also need your help to keep our communities safe and healthy!
I want to encourage each of you to do your part in preventing mosquito-borne illness by taking practical steps in and around your home. Please watch and share this video and visit https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/mosquito-control to download our residential Mosquito Habitat Checklist.
Exotic Tick Species Found in Bergen County
July 22,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, In recent months, the exotic longhorned tick has been found in New Jersey, including one identified in Bergen County. This invasive species uses humans, other mammals, and birds as hosts. Longhorned ticks found thus far in New Jersey have tested negative for pathogens dangerous to humans or animals, but in other countries these insects have spread disease to humans.
Various local, state, and federal animal health agencies, as well as Rutgers–New Brunswick, are working together to identify the range of the ticks and develop a plan to eliminate them from the areas where they are found. Like deer-ticks, the nymphs of the Longhorned tick are very small (resembling tiny spiders) and can easily go unnoticed on animals and people.
To avoid tick bites, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture recommends the following:
Apply a tick repellent containing at least 20% DEET to exposed skin and clothing.
Apply a product containing permethrin to clothing to kill ticks.
Stay in the middle of trails. Avoid contact with tall grasses, shrubs, fallen leaves, and logs under trees.
Check yourself for ticks often and remove any ticks before leaving this area.
Check your pet for ticks, keep pets on trails.
Bathe or shower as soon as possible to wash off and more easily find ticks.
Check your entire body for ticks for several days after you leave this area.
Bergen County Man Admits Using Personal Information Stolen From U.S. Service Members To File Phony Tax Returns
July 20,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Fort Lee NJ, A Fort Lee, New Jersey, man today admitted generating phony tax refunds using personal identifying information stolen from current and former members of the U.S. army, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Shope Oluwo, 33, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson in Trenton federal court to an indictment charging him with one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From January through February 2016, Oluwo conspired with others, including Dermot Sutherland, 29, of Philadelphia, to obtain personal identifying information that was stolen from current or former members of the U.S. Army. Oluwo used that stolen information to create fake military identification cards and fraudulent W-2 forms bearing the victims’ names.
Oluwo provided the phony cards and W-2 forms to Sutherland, who posed as the victims and filed phony returns with a tax preparation company. Afterwards, Sutherland received debit cards from the tax preparation company that contained the ill-gotten refunds.
The conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The access device fraud charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a term of imprisonment of two years which must run consecutively to any other prison term. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 26, 2018.
Sutherland previously pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme and awaits sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Leigh-Alistair Barzey; postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Judy Ramos; and special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
Bergen County, New Jersey, Man Admits Conspiring To Defraud The IRS By Filing False Corporate Tax Returns
July 7,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Elmwood Park NJ, A Bergen County, New Jersey, man today admitted conspiring with his father to file false federal tax returns for shell companies, resulting in $191,953 in fraudulent refunds, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Jason Crespo, 35, of Elmwood Park, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiring with Jose Crespo, his father, to defraud the IRS by filing false corporate tax returns and cashing the resulting fraudulent refund checks.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between 2010 and 2012, Jason and Jose Crespo filed numerous false federal corporate tax returns – IRS Forms 1120 – for fake businesses, knowing that the businesses were not real and that the credits claimed on the tax returns were false. The Crespos took advantage of fuel excise tax credits offered under federal tax law. The federal government taxes gasoline, diesel fuel, and certain other types of fuel, but certain commercial uses of these fuels are nontaxable. Businesses that purchase fuel for a nontaxable use can claim a tax credit by filing a “Credit for Federal Tax Paid on Fuels” – IRS Form 4136.
In one instance Jason and Jose Crespo filed a federal corporate tax return for 2008 for Jason Cleaning Service Corp. that falsely claimed a fuel excise tax credit of $14,556 and a resulting refund of $10,592. In fact, Jason Cleaning Service Corporation was a shell company and the fuel excise tax credit and other tax return numbers were false. Jason Crespo received and cashed the $10,592 refund check at a check-cashing facility in Guttenberg, New Jersey. He cashed many other refund checks for similar false tax returns at this same facility.
Jose Crespo pleaded guilty on Sept. 11, 2017, before Judge Linares to engaging in the fuel excise tax credit scheme and another tax fraud scheme, both of which claimed fraudulent refunds from the IRS of approximately $1.5 million. Jose Crespo was sentenced on Dec. 20, 2017, to three years in prison.
Marilyn Crespo, Jose Crespo’s wife, pleaded guilty on March 1, 2018, before Judge Linares to engaging in the same fuel excise tax credit scheme and causing a loss to the IRS of $286,742. She was sentenced June 27, 2018, to one year and one day in prison.
The filing a false tax return count carries a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison, and a potential $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Jason Crespo’s sentencing is set for Oct. 4, 2018.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The World Cup final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in 2026
June 14,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
East Rutherford NJ, For the first time in 32 years, the men’s World Cup is coming back to North America. FIFA’s 200-plus member associations gathered in Moscow on Wednesday and voted to award 2026 World Cup hosting rights to the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In a coup for the Trump administration , 60 of 80 games will be in the United States, with 10 apiece in Canada and Mexico. Those 60 include every game from the quarterfinals onward. Canada and Mexico have proposed three host cities each: Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton will stage games north of the U.S. border, while Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey will be match sites down south.
The U.S. has proposed the Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.) for the opener; Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) and AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Tex.) for semifinals; and New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.) for the final , which will have a capacity of more than 87,000 for the event. Unlike this year, the United States will automatically qualify for the World Cup as a host country.
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”
June 8,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
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
Pictured Derek Michalski and Mayor Albert Kurpis
Pictured Margaret Chudziak and Derek Michalski
The Bergen County Mosquito Control Division
May 16,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, The Bergen County Mosquito Control Division provides for the safety of the community by controlling the population of mosquitos in Bergen County.
The Bergen County Mosquito Control Division, founded in 1914, has the goal of reducing the number of nuisance and disease-transmitting mosquitos within the county. The division employs numerous field-tested techniques in its efforts to control mosquito outbreaks and the insects’ impact on Bergen’s residents. All of this work is done with minimal impact on the environment. The program can be summarized as follows:
Water Management – When assistance is requested from municipalities, this division will carry out extensive efforts to remove blockages from Bergen County waterways and to maintain drainage systems as required. Such work is done carefully, with the potential impact on the environment in mind. This program helps to reduce the use on insecticides needed to control mosquitos.
Larval Control – Mosquitos all start out in water, as larvae, or “wrigglers”. In areas where water management is not feasible, larval control is necessary. Some locations are suitable for stocking with mosquito eating fish, which provide continuous biological control of mosquitos. In other areas, larvicides may be used to eliminate mosquitos. We choose only low-impact products for this purpose, and these products are distributed by our trained staff. Locations receive treatment only when surveys show that large numbers of mosquitos are a threat to populated regions. These products are put out by hand crews, by light ground equipment or by helicopter. Larval habitats are treated only when larvae are present.
Adult Control – Although this is the most visible aspect of mosquito control, the division considers this to be the last resort. We try to halt mosquitos before they are out and airborne. When adult control is needed because of severe mosquito infestation, we generally use truck-mounted sprayers which distribute a prescribed amount of material per acre. Sometimes, small hand sprayers are used to treat remote locations.
Bergen County
Mr. Peter Pluchino, Director
Bergen County Division of Mosquito Control
Department of Public Works
220 East Ridgewood Avenue
Paramus, NJ 07652
TEL: (201) 634-2880, 2881
FAX: (201) 599-2888
Email: [email protected]
National Weather Service issues a Flash Flood Warning
file photo by Boyd Loving
Flash Flood Warning
April 16,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, National Weather Service issues a Flash Flood Warning! The National Weather Service in Upton NY has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... Hudson County in northeastern New Jersey... Passaic County in northeastern New Jersey... Union County in northeastern New Jersey... Bergen County in northeastern New Jersey... Essex County in northeastern New Jersey... Orange County in southeastern New York... Queens County in southeastern New York... Richmond County in southeastern New York... Bronx County in southeastern New York... Kings County in southeastern New York... Rockland County in southeastern New York... New York (Manhattan) County in southeastern New York... * Until 1115 AM EDT * At 718 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain across the warned area. Up to one inch to an inch and a half of rain has already fallen. Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly. Additional rainfall amounts of an inch to two inches are possible in the warned area. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other drainage areas and low lying spots. A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring. If you are in the warned area move to higher ground immediately. Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate precautions to protect life and property.
Ridgewood has more county roads running through it than any other town in Bergen County
file photo courtesy of the Ridgewood Police
April 11,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, according to councilmen Ramon Hache, the Village is continuing the improvements to our roads in 2018. The Village Council recently funded $2,489,852 for paving and resurfacing. Harsh winters and infrastructure work by PSE&G have wreaked havoc on our roads.
Many residents have expressed concerns over the conditions of many of our roads. It is important to note that not all of the roads in town belong to the Village. Many roads belong to the county and the cost and responsibility of paving those roads falls on the county. Despite being a quaint town, Ridgewood has more county roads running through it than any other town in Bergen County, with a total of 15. Hackensack comes in second with only 11. Some of the roads with the worst conditions are county roads. For example, Franklin Avenue and Ridgewood Avenue from Paramus Road to Maple Avenue (only the portion between Maple and Broad belongs to the Village). Here is a complete list of the county roads that run through Ridgewood:
Ackerman Ave
E Ridgewood Ave
E Saddle River Rd
Franklin Ave
Franklin Tpke
Glen Ave
Godwin Ave
Goffle Rd
Lake St
Lincoln Ave
Linwood Ave
Maple Ave
Prospect St
Racetrack Rd
Van Emburgh Ave
The county is working on their $13 million paving and resurfacing program. Their work in our area will begin with E Ridgewood Avenue from Rt 17 to Maple Avenue. In the meantime, we are pleased to announce our 2018 Ridgewood Paving List:
People always say to me I hate Politics
April 9,2018
John Wohlberg
“People always say to me I hate Politics, I can’t deal w all the back and forth and the fighting. Well Politics is all around you. Its in that check you write to your Mortgage Company every month and its in the Schools you drive your kids to everyday. NJ Politicians have completely lost control especially in Bergen and Passaic Counties and they don’t want you to know it. We pay the most ridiculous amount in taxes yet we know the least about what’s happening in Our Town and County Governments. It defies all logic. “
12,022,Speeding Tickets Issued in Bergen County in 2017
file photo by Boyd Loving
April 7,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, according to the NJ State Police last year, a total of 176,060 speeding tickets were issued statewide. That number includes 147, 996 tickets on roads throughout the state, excluding the Garden State Parkway, the New Jersey Turnpike and the Atlantic City Expressway, were another 28,064 speeding tickets were written by State Police .
If you thought there has been an up tick in speeding tickets lately Bergen County came in number 3 behind Monmouth (13103)and Middlesex (13841)in total speeding tickets with 12,022, that is up from 10,884 summons in 2016, but still down from the Bergen all time high in 2013 which had 13,009 .
Serial Caller Arrested After 19 municipal police departments in Bergen County Recieved Threats
March 27,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the arrest of ANGEL SARIOL (DOB: 3/30/1972; single; and employed as a custodian) of 22-24 Ward Street, Apartment 2H, Hackensack, NJ, on charges of Terroristic Threats and False Public Alarm. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti and members of the Rochelle Park Police Department under the direction of Chief Robert Flannelly.
From Monday, March 19, 2018, through Wednesday, March 21, 2018, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit received information from no fewer than 19 municipal police departments in Bergen County about a substantially similar series of phone calls that they received during that three-day period from an anonymous caller. During many of these calls, the unknown caller stated that police officers from those towns would be murdered. The ensuing investigation, led by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit and Rochelle Park Police Department, revealed that Angel SARIOL used technology to disguise his calling line identity and placed the phone calls.
As a result of the investigation, Angel SARIOL was arrested in Hackensack on Thursday, March 22, 2018 and charged with one count of False Public Alarm, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3B, a 2nd degree crime; one count of Terroristic Threats During a State of Emergency, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-3A, a 2nd degree crime; and one count of Terroristic Threats, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-3A, a 3rd degree crime. Angel SARIOL was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a hearing in Central Judicial Processing Court on March 23, 2018.
Acting Prosecutor Calo states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and would like to thank the Rochelle Park Police Department, Hackensack Police Department, Hasbrouck Heights Police Department, Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and Union City Police Department for their assistance with this investigation. In addition, Acting Prosecutor Calo would also like to thank all the agencies that provided investigative leads in this matter, including:
Wood-Ridge Police Department
Hasbrouck Heights Police Department
Paramus Police Department
Park Ridge Police Department
Wyckoff Police Department
Elmwood Park Police Department
Maywood Police Department
Rochelle Park Police Department
Waldwick Police Department
Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department
Saddle River Police Department
Harrington Park Police Department
Woodcliff Lake Police Department
Hackensack Police Department
Oradell Police Department
Demarest Police Department
Saddle Brook Police Department
River Edge Police Department
Weehawken Police Department (Hudson County)
Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco proposes NO COUNTY TAX INCREASE in his 2018 Budget
March 16,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, contrary to the insanity in Trenton , Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco , “This evening I introduced my 2018 proposed budget to the Board of Chosen Freeholders at their work session. I am excited to announce that this year, there will be NO COUNTY TAX INCREASE and Bergen County will continue to have the second lowest county tax rate in New Jersey. This budget exemplifies my administration’s commitment to continue building a better Bergen County by investing in important programs and services while exercising fiscal responsibility.”
Bergenfield Mayor Norman Schmelz is running for Bergen County Executive
March 5,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Bergenfield NJ, Bergenfield Mayor Norman Schmelz made it official on Sunday with his as promised announcement that he is running for Bergen County Executive. The announcement comes on the heels Steven Lonegan’s declaration of war with the Bergen GOP .
Over 150 people showed for event ,noticeable absent was embattle Bergen GOP Chair DiGaetano . In fact, no leaders from the current BCRO or Bergen County Republican Organization attended the event.
Only John McCann who is running for the GOP spot to face U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer put in an appearance. Steve Lonegan was at State Senator Gerald Cardinale’s birthday party , the Senator and his wife have endorsed Lonegan in his race against McCann to represent the GOP against Gotteimer.
(Photo above Jim Arakelian with Michael Homaychak, Norman Schmelz and Fernando Alonso.)
(John McCann)
