The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, as previously reported on the Ridgewood blog that Vandals stole a small 4-wheel drive utility vehicle owned by the Village of Ridgewood. Several sources say there is video of the kids and the suspects are being identified . The Same sources suggest that several kids were slightly hurt during the act.
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Vandals stole a small 4-wheel drive utility vehicle owned by the Village of Ridgewood, and took the the golf cart sized unit for a short joy ride in a municipal parking lot before overturning it on its side late Wednesday evening, 07/07. Witnesses to the incident reported seeing a small group of male juveniles, none of whom appeared to have been injured, run from the scene after the vehicle crashed. A search of the area by several Ridgewood Police patrol units failed to turn up the perpetrators. Ridgewood firefighters were dispatched to stabilize the vehicle, drain its large water tank, and right it in preparation for removal by a flatbed tow truck. Video footage from a nearby security camera was turned over to Ridgewood Police detectives for investigatory purposes. And yes the keys were left in the vehicle !
On the Churches Facebook page the church posted :
Heartbroken by the desecration of some 50 gravestones at the historic Wyckoff Reformed Church Cemetery, Peter Cantilina, US Army veteran of the Korean War, is hopeful the community will come together to identify those responsible as well as to assist with restoration of markers dating back to the Civil War. Damage to the cemetery, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
New Jersey State Detective Agency investigators, working with Wyckoff Cemetery Association administrators and local police, have donated a toll free anonymous tip line, 877-688-7162 to receive information.
Those wishing to assist with the restoration of the tombstones may make contributions to Go Fund Me “Wyckoff Cemetery Vandalism,” (https://www.gofundme.com/wrccemetery) or to the Wyckoff Reformed Church, 580 Wyckoff Ave., Wyckoff, NJ 07481, or may call 201-891-1782 for further information.
Meanwhile, Cemetery Association Vice President Richard Lynch said, “We also are asking for prayers for those who committed this very sad and senseless destruction.”
A message from The WRC Cemetery Association:
On Sunday night our cemetery was badly vandalized. The heartbreaking damage was discovered while Cemetery Board members Nancy Mattera and Rich Lynch were walking the cemetery with a contractor to plan further beautification work.
About 50 historic limestone headstones, most from burials in the 1800s, were toppled over and many were badly cracked. All the damage was between our historic 1806 sanctuary and Everett Avenue where the vandals were out of view from Wyckoff Avenue.
Please be reassured that any headstones from burials in the last 100 years were not damaged. No 20th century granite headstones were damaged.
The crime is under investigation by the Wyckoff Police who issued a press release Wednesday which was immediately picked up by Wyckoff Patch and other news outlets. An online article appeared in the Daily Voice with photos of Pastor Andy viewing the destruction. Channel 2 (CBS), Channel 7 (ABC) and Channel 12 were there to film for airing today. There was an article in Thursday’s Record.
As of Wednesday night there were 200 posts on Wyckoff Moms responding to an entry by Nancy offering assistance, and expressing sympathy and outrage at this destruction to “a local treasure”.
The Cemetery Trustees are meeting in an emergency session to consider further action to identify those responsible for this mindless desecration of hallowed ground honoring those who came before us, take further security measures to prevent future vandalism and plan for the restoration of the damage. Sadly, much of the good work over the past 15 years by WRC volunteers, Eagle Scouts, and intensive recent work by a monument company does not equal the damage done in a one night rampage. Be assured the damage will be repaired. We are getting an estimate of the cost of repairs which will run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
The headstones may not look the same after repair but it will be clear that we care about our honored dead.
We will keep you informed as we progress and advise those interested in lending a hand how they may help.
Pray for the misguided souls who carried out this destruction that it may be a lesson to them and others on how to conduct themselves in the future.
~The WRC Cemetery Board of Trustees
JUNE 2, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2015, 3:50 PM
BY LYNN BRUGGEMANN
CORRESPONDENT |
MIDLAND PARK SUBURBAN NEWS
MIDLAND PARK – Less than two weeks before the Elzahra Islamic Center planned to welcome the public to an open house at its newly established mosque, its leaders were forced to report the defacement of a sign at its entrance in what police are calling a bias incident.
Imam Moutaz Charaf reported the vandalism to the police department on Memorial Day, May 25, and estimates the damage at about $500. In the meantime, the sign has been altered to eliminate the appearance of the offensive symbols.
According to the police report, Patrolman Mark Berninger and Sgt. Gregory Kasbarian responded and found a swastika and “male genitalia” had been carved into the sign situated at the entrance of the mosque at 218 Irving St.
Police Chief Michael Powderley said the bias incident is being investigated by Detective Sgt. John Gibbons.
“It appears this is an isolated incident and the police have not received any other reports of this vandalism occurring in town,” Powderley said in interviews this week.
Powderley said since 2011 there have been “numerous incidents” in which swastikas have been featured in vandalized property.
“There were three separate incidents at the high school,” he said.
He said he has increased patrols in the area of the mosque.
The Elzahra Islamic Center is hosting a “community open house” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, June 5.
