Posted on

Small plane crash-lands in Bergen County, 2 seriously hurt

cresskill plane crash

A small plane crashed in Cresskill on Sept. 3, 2015, officials said (Courtesy of Marcelo DeMoraes)
By Noah Cohen | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on September 03, 2015 at 5:11 PM, updated September 03, 2015 at 9:21 PM

A small plane crashed in Cresskill on Sept. 3, 2015, officials said (Courtesy of Marcelo DeMoraes)
By Noah Cohen | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on September 03, 2015 at 5:11 PM, updated September 03, 2015 at 9:21 PM

CRESSKILL – A small plane on a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary patrol crash-landed in the borough late Thursday afternoon, leaving two people seriously injured, officials said.

The crash was reported near the Cresskill Swim Club, not far from an athletic field.

The plane was occupied by two people who were on a routine patrol of the Hudson River, a U.S. Coast Guard spokeswoman said Thursday. Auxiliary members are volunteers working on behalf of the Coast Guard, the spokeswoman added.

Officials confirmed that two people on the Cessna suffered serious injuries and were taken to Hackensack University Medical Center. Further information on their conditions was not immediately released.

Both occupants of the plane were alert and conscious when first responders arrived, according to Bergen County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Anthony Cureton.

In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration said it received reports that a Cessna 172 aircraft “landed in trees” around 5 p.m. FAA officials did not immediately release details on the crash.

National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Peter Knudson said the agency would investigate the crash.

 

https://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2015/09/small_plane_crash_lands_in_bergen_county_reports_say.html

Posted on

WBTP presents Congressmen Scott Garrett of New Jersey’s 5th congressional district on August 25th

Scott_Garrett_took2_a_break_from_DC_theridgewood blog

Congressmen Garrett with offer his UPDATE 2015

U.S. Representative Scott Garrett
Ernest Scott Garrett is the U.S. Representative for New Jersey’s 5th congressional district, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes much of the northern-most and western-most portions of the state.

Born: July 9, 1959 (age 56), Englewood, NJ
Office: Representative (R-NJ 5th District) since 2003
Spouse: Mary Garrett
Residence: Wantage Township, NJ
Children: Brittany Garrett, Jennifer Garrett
Education: Rutgers School of Law–Camden (1984), Montclair State University (1981)

WBTP Meeting 7 pm, Tuesday, August 25 at the Larkin House 380 Godwin Ave in Wyckoff NJ all are welcome

Posted on

Judge grants 2 lawyers in courthouse fistfight a dismissal

icuffs_theridgewoodblog

AUGUST 21, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY PETER J. SAMPSON
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

Two attorneys who were arrested and charged with simple assault in April after a heated dispute turned into a fistfight at the Bergen County Courthouse in Hackensack have persuaded a judge to dismiss the charges, a lawyer for one of the men said Thursday.

Costantino Fragale, 42, and Jeffrey Mandel, 43, were taking a deposition in a civil suit on April 29 when the dispute erupted in a fourth-floor jury deliberation room that doubles as an attorney conference room.

More than a dozen sheriff’s officers quickly responded and broke up the fight, authorities said.

“We worked it out,” Fragale’s attorney, Miles Feinstein, said Thursday.

Both parties agreed to drop their respective complaints, and Judge Louis Denise of the Central Municipal Court in Hackensack granted their request to dismiss the charges, Feinstein said.

“They are attorneys, and it is the best result for them to not have anything on their record,” he said.

Mandel was questioning Fragale’s client when “it got very heated,” Feinstein said. Mandel threw the first punch and bloodied Fragale’s face and, when his client tried to ward off further blows, sheriff’s officers came in and stopped the fight, Feinstein said.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/crime-and-courts/charges-dismissed-for-attorneys-in-courthouse-brawl-1.1396122

Posted on

Midland Park critical of lead remediation by Ridgewood Water

RidgewoodWaterLogo_061912_rn_tif_

AUGUST 20, 2015    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY LYNN BRUGGEMANN
CORRESPONDENT |
MIDLAND PARK SUBURBAN NEWS

MIDLAND PARK — The Borough Council flooded officials of Ridgewood Water with questions about the high level of lead in water supplied to the community but was left parched by its steps to remediate the situation.

Richard Calbi, the company’s new director of operations, and its business manager David Scheibner were asked to appear at the council’s Aug. 13 meeting to explain information contained in a brochure the company sent to residents and businesses about the contamination.

The brochure states that routine monitoring in June 2012 found that some drinking water samples had lead levels above the “EPA action level” of 15 parts per billion (ppb) or 0.015 milligrams of lead per liter (mg/L).

The representatives explained that samples were taken at addresses identified as “high-risk” or known to have lead pipes.

Scheibner said results at “six homes triggered treating the whole system.”

Mayor Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan asked whether any of the “high-risk” addresses were in the borough.

The representatives said three residences, all known to have lead service lines, located on Godwin Avenue, Erie Avenue and Van Blarcom Avenue, were used in the sampling and showed lead contaminants.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/business/representatives-taken-to-task-over-lead-remediation-measures-1.1395022

Posted on

Bill signed by Christie ensures continuation of traffic-ticket revenue to Bergen County

Ridgewood_Police_parked_theridgewoodblog

Governor Christie signed a bill this week that eliminates a concern raised by opponents of the consolidation of the Bergen County Police within the county Sheriff’s Office — the loss of revenue from traffic tickets. (John C. Ensslin, The Record) https://www.northjersey.com/news/bill-signed-by-christie-ensures-continuation-of-traffic-ticket-revenue-to-bergen-county-1.1390629

Posted on

Analysis: High-profile losses raise questions for Bergen Prosecutor John Molinelli

bergen-county-prosecutor-john-l-molinellijpg-6994b5ed55b809b7

AUGUST 1, 2015, 11:09 PM    LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2015, 11:23 PM
BY JEAN RIMBACH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

From a stinging rebuke by the state’s highest court to Friday’s reversal of the official-misconduct conviction of former Hackensack Police Chief Ken Zisa, it’s been a bad run of late for John Molinelli, Bergen County’s longtime prosecutor.

Although the county’s top law enforcement official has logged plenty of wins in more than a dozen years in the post, his office now finds itself on the losing end of some high-profile cases. On Friday, a state appellate panel tossed out Zisa’s conviction and described the prosecution’s case against him as weak and tainted by prejudicial and improper remarks and evidence.

Only recently the state Supreme Court cited “gross abuse of discretion” in Molinelli’s fight against Carlstadt Mayor William Roseman’s entry into a trial-diversion program known as Pretrial Intervention, or PTI.

Meanwhile, questions about possible political influence in Molinelli’s office emerged this year during the federal trial of former county Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Ferriero, when federal prosecutors referenced a years-old case involving a doctor who was allowed to enter PTI twice and avoid prosecution on allegations that he groped female patients.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/analysis-high-profile-losses-raise-questions-for-bergen-prosecutor-john-molinelli-1.1384813

 

Posted on

Mitchell: Bergen County Needs ‘Two-Party System’

11728820_961088737274871_2285387968787506221_o

Note for the editor : John actually the GOP needs to offer some competitive ideas on how to run the county , not just be the party of  “Democrat Lite “

LYNDHURST—John Mitchell, a challenger in Bergen County’s race for the Board of Chosen Freeholders said he is running for reelection in November for two reasons: 1. He wants to bring Bergen County back to a two party system and 2. He believes his budget methodology can benefit residents of Bergen County. (Alfaro/PolitickerNJ)

Mitchell: Bergen County Needs ‘Two-Party System’ | New Jersey News, Politics, Opinion, and Analysis

Posted on

$50 grand for wi/fi for 4 people ?

Charlie-Brown-Rolling-Eyes-300x259

Tedesco unveils a very expensive initiative to bring Internet to low-income high schoolers in Bergen County

JULY 15, 2015, 7:29 PM    LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015, 9:18 PM

BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

Bergen County Executive James Tedesco on Wednesday unveiled an initiative aimed at providing basic broadband Internet service to low-income families with children who are starting high school this fall.

Tedesco announced he will provide a $50,000 grant from a discretionary fund in his budget to Jersey On, a non-profit that aims to connect more low-income families to the Internet.

A wireless router is the hub of your home or business network, delivering a single Internet connection to other devices on the network, through either wired Ethernet or a wireless connection. Some routers, targeted at novice users, are easy to set up, while others take a little more know-how. Routers also vary in the throughput they can manage, depending on the antenna configuration and the hardware inside.https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2398080,00.asp

The organization is headed by Josh Gottheimer, a Microsoft executive who is a Democratic candidate for the 5th Congressional District seat now held by Republican Scott Garrett.

The $50,000 will provide a pocket-sized Wi-Fi hotspot device good for up to five wireless devices at no cost to 531 freshmen within the county whose families are eligible for the free or reduced-cost lunch program, starting this fall.

Those families also will receive free wi-fi for the four years that their student is in high school.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/tedesco-unveils-initiative-to-bring-internet-to-low-income-high-schoolers-in-bergen-county-1.1374635

Posted on

Weinberg v. Yudin and the Bergen County Property Tax Question

1074588_10200198490786569_1154426284_o

John Mitchell, Taxpayer Advocate Award to Bergen County Sheriff Mike Saudino. Under Sheriff Saudino’s leadership the taxpayer has saved over $2.5 million through prudent budget cuts and significant overtime reductions. Bravo Sheriff Mike!! 

Three Democrats will try to fend off a challenge by Republicans led by Bergen GOP Chairman Bob Yudin

By Alyana Alfaro | 07/14/15 1:35pm

In the upcoming November 2015 election, Bergen County Republicans will have the chance to usurp three seats on the Board of Chosen Freeholders currently occupied by Freeholder Vice Chairman Steve Tanelli, Freeholder Tracy Silna Zur and Freeholder Thomas Sullivan Jr.

The incumbent Democrats are opposed by Republicans John Mitchell, Ken Tyburczy and Daisy Ortiz-Berger.

For Bergen County Republican Chairman Bob Yudin, the main determining factor of the upcoming November freeholder election is going to be property taxes.

“There was a four percent increase in the total budget this year under the Democratic majority,” Yudin said. “That increase led to increased property taxes.”

According to Yudin, since Democrats currently have the majority on the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders—only two of the seven members are Republican—the issue of increasing the budget became a partisan one.

“To call it non-partisan is a joke,” Yudin told PolitickerNJ. “We need a serious reduction in the budget. The Republican Party in Bergen County is overwhelmingly in favor of a reduction in property taxes.

Eschewing Yudin’s argument, Democrats note that the chairman of the budget process was Freeholder John Felice, a Republican; and that the budget passed 7-0 with GOP support.

Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-37), also believes that property taxes are an issue in New Jersey. However, she thinks that the issue stems from a reduction in state funding to schools and counties, not a function of there being a democratic majority on the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

“I think property taxes are a problem in New Jersey, a big problem,” Weinberg said. “But I don’t think that anybody believes that one party or the other owns it or that one group of freeholders is going to find a unilateral solution.”

Read more https://politickernj.com/2015/07/weinberg-v-yudin-and-the-bergen-county-property-tax-question/

Posted on

In the trenches with Mahwah recall petition circulators

Mahwah_recall_theridgewoodblog

 

Mahwah — It’s a rainy Saturday afternoon in June and a dozen people — wearing matching shirts — have gathered at Society Hill, a local condominium complex. (Nobile/The Bergen Record)

https://www.northjersey.com/news/in-the-trenches-with-circulators-1.1371041

Posted on

Concerns about civil liberties in the air as Bergen seeks to use drones

Drone Surveillance

JUNE 23, 2015, 3:57 PM    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015, 10:19 PM
BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

Bergen County’s recent bid to be the first county in New Jersey to add drones to its toolbox for handling emergencies comes amid a growing national debate over the use of unmanned flying machines by government agencies.

Leaders of the county’s emergency management operation are seeking freeholder approval to acquire two drones, which would be used for purposes ranging from finding a lost child to getting a bird’s-eye view of a fire or disaster.

Civil liberties advocates say that’s fine. But they worry that what they termed “mission creep” could open the door to other uses for the new technology and lead to questions of who is watching whom and for what purpose.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/concerns-about-civil-liberties-in-the-air-as-bergen-seeks-to-use-drones-1.1361322

Posted on

Drug overdose deaths soar to double the number of N.J. road fatalities in 2014

Prescription-Drugs

JUNE 17, 2015, 10:02 AM    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015, 12:20 AM
BY MARY JO LAYTON
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

Drug overdoses from illicit and prescription drugs claimed twice as many lives statewide in 2014 as auto crashes, becoming the leading cause of accidental death in New Jersey, according to a national report and state data released Wednesday.

In Bergen County, heroin overdoses rose sharply, one of the most dramatic increases in New Jersey last year, according to data provided by the state Medical Examiner’s Office.

But there are signs that in North Jersey that trend may be reversing, as more first responders are using the rescue drug Narcan to save people in the throes of an overdose. So far this year, the drug has been used 60 times, resulting in far fewer deaths, said Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli. Since Narcan was approved for use in 2014, more than 45 towns across North Jersey have deployed it to stop overdoses. The drug, which can reverse an overdose in as little as two minutes, is injected or inhaled.

Last month, Cliffside Park police responded to a call at a Day Avenue home and found a 34-year-old Fairview man lying on his back, a potential overdose victim. They administered two doses of the rescue drug in the form of a nasal spray and took the patient to Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen. Other saves occurred in Hillsdale, Lodi, Oakland and Ramsey in recent weeks.

The results have been a reduction in deaths so far this year, with 11 people dying of heroin overdoses, compared with 42 who died all of last year in Bergen County, according to Molinelli, who has organized task forces to rein in the heroin trade in North Jersey.

“All the community outreach being done by addictive service groups, parent and school organizations and law enforcement has been substantial,” Molinelli said.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/n-j-drug-overdoses-double-over-4-years-become-leading-cause-of-accidental-death-1.1357250

Posted on

Ridgewood Blog Contact info

9e48b56893cd5138417bc9e04d5ccba9_400x400

Thank you so much for all the support ,please be advised that If you send us and email using the Red Email , and would like a response please enclose your email address in the body of the email.

Also if you send us a tip , a press release or some information please follow up if you do not see anything on the blog , sometimes things still end up in the junk email by accident .

Direct contact : onlyonesmallvoice@gmail.com

we can also be found on facebook https://www.facebook.com/theridgewoodblog

and on twitter https://twitter.com/ridgewoodblog

Posted on

Hard Rock International Announces Plan to Bring Casino to Meadowlands

BN-IS864_NYCASI_P_20150603135140

June 3, 2015
First visual of the proposed Hard Rock Casino at the Meadowlands in northern New Jersey.

ORLANDO, Fla., Hard Rock International, owner of one of the world’s most iconic and recognized brands, announced today its plan to build a casino at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. The proposed entertainment destination would be ideally situated in northern New Jersey and is projected to generate $400 Million of new tax revenues a year.

“With its close proximity to an international airport, the new casino would be designed to attract visitors from not only the 14 million adults in northern New Jersey and New York City, but also international travelers, making it a premier entertainment destination,” said Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International. “The significant tax revenue brought into New Jersey could go directly to aid in the development and reconstruction of Atlantic City’s casino and hotel industry.”

Reports show a casino in northern New Jersey would help draw visitors from other states, creating competition with New York andPennsylvania, who have taken more than $13 billion in revenue from New Jersey in the past eight years since they’ve expanded their gaming options.

“We’re thrilled to bring this great offering to the New Meadowlands Racetrack,” said Jeff Gural, Chairman of New Meadowlands Racetrack LLC. “With its expertise in gaming, hotels, restaurants, live events, entertainment, and retail offerings, Hard Rock International is the ideal partner for New Meadowlands Racetrack, bringing the globally recognized brand to the racetrack elevates excitement surrounding the project.”

The Hard Rock Casino will feature 5,000 slot machines and 200 gaming tables. The project will also feature ten restaurants and four bars; a multi-purpose Hard Rock Live showroom; New Jersey Music Hall of Fame; and “The Vault,” a music memorabilia museum expertly curated by Hard Rock – owners of the world’s largest music memorabilia collection. The entertainment destination will also offer retail shops and a six-story parking garage conveniently located just steps away from the casino grounds.  Due to the $120 millioninvestment that owner Jeff Gural made in the Meadowlands in 2012, Phase One could be open as soon as Summer of 2016.

Hard Rock International is awaiting approval from the New Jersey Legislature to move forward with this project. For more information or to book a stay at any of the Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, please visit www.hardrockhotels.com.

Posted on

More work needed to shore up Oradell Reservoir bridge

UWNJ_Oradell_Reservoir

JUNE 3, 2015, 11:16 PM    LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015, 11:28 PM
BY SCOTT FALLON
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

A small bridge over the Oradell Reservoir used by trains hauling millions of gallons of crude oil has deteriorated to the point that the rail company will soon replace the 86-year-old span’s entire deck, according to a federal government inspection report.

While federal officials have said the bridge is structurally sound, the report by the Federal Railroad Administration indicates the bridge is in worse condition than its owner, CSX Corp., acknowledged shortly after it was inspected in March.

The 25-foot bridge crosses the northeast corner of the reservoir, which supplies drinking water to 800,000 people. As many as 30 trains — each carrying up to 3 million gallons of volatile Bakken crude — cross the bridge each week along the CSX River Line on the way to refineries on the East Coast, prompting concerns from local officials, firefighters and water company executives.

The bridge was inspected by the Federal Railroad Administration on March 31, just a few days after The Record reported that government officials had no current reports on the bridge’s condition.

At that time, government officials said the bridge passed inspection and CSX executives said some railroad ties would be replaced “as a matter of routine maintenance.”

But the one-page inspection report — released to the newspaper this week, almost two months after it was requested under the federal Freedom of Information Act – reveals the bridge required serious attention. It states that the bridge deck showed enough deterioration that CSX had already determined to replace it. CSX also ordered trains to reduce speed from 40 mph to 25 mph on the span to “protect the railroad as well as the public for safe passage of trains,” according to the inspection report.

The Federal Railroad Administration employee who inspected the bridge declined to comment.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/more-work-needed-to-shore-up-oradell-reservoir-bridge-used-by-oil-trains-1.1348147