Daily Voice Reader’s Choice

Accepting Nominations Now Through Sunday, November 3rd

Former Columbia University VP Convicted Of Sexually Assaulting Pre-Teen At Bergen County Home Former Columbia University VP Convicted Of Sexually Assaulting Pre-Teen At Bergen County Home
Former Columbia University VP Convicted Of Sexually Assaulting Pre-Teen At Bergen County Home A former Columbia University vice president has been convicted of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13 years old at his Bergen County home, authorities announced. Marcelo Velez was found to have sexually assaulted the child at his home in Woodcliff Lake after the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office was notified in January 2021, Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Velez was convicted by a jury of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of sexual contact, and endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct following a three-week trial that began earlier this month. Col…
Wayne Woman, 72, Made Bomb Threat That Locked Down Holy Name Medical Center: Prosecutor Wayne Woman, 72, Made Bomb Threat That Locked Down Holy Name Medical Center: Prosecutor
Wayne Woman, 72, Made Bomb Threat That Locked Down Holy Name Medical Center: Prosecutor A 72-year-old woman has been charged with calling in a bomb threat to Holy Name Medical in August, authorities said. Adele Ulrich, of Wayne, called the hospital on Aug. 17 saying that several bombs were going to detonate in the hospital, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said following a months-long investigation. The hospital was placed on divert, and a shelter-in-place order was implemented, bringing police officers, firefighters, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad to the scene. Ultimately, first responders determined that the call was a hoax, and no act…
Child Sex Assault Charges For NY Man Just Accused Of Kidnapping In Bergen County: Prosecutor Child Sex Assault Charges For NY Man Just Accused Of Kidnapping In Bergen County: Prosecutor
Child Sex Assault Charges For NY Man Just Accused Of Kidnapping In Bergen County: Prosecutor A 37-year-old Queens man already charged with kidnapping and sexual assault a victim in Englewood is facing new charges of sexually assaulting a child, authorities said. Miguel A. Chimbo-Orellana first kidnapped and sexually assaulted the adult victim in Englewood, in August 2024, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Chimbo-Orellana later kidnapped and sexually assaulted the victim multiple times in Englewood and Queens, NY on multiple occasions, and threatened to kill the victim, Musella said. On Monday, Oct. 21, Chimbo-Orellana was charged with kidnapping, sexual assault …
Passenger, 24, Killed In Crash Off NJ Highway: Prosecutor Passenger, 24, Killed In Crash Off NJ Highway: Prosecutor
Passenger, 24, Killed In Crash Off NJ Highway: Prosecutor A 24-year-old woman was killed in a two-car crash in West Orange on Tuesday, Oct. 29, authorities said. First responders arrived at Pleasant Valley Way and Belle Terre Road near the Route 280 ramp at 11:59 p.m. and saw multiple injuries at the scene, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and Joe Fagan, the public information officer for the city of West Orange said. Floribel Hiciano was sitting in the rear of one of the two cars at the time of the crash, authorities said. She was taken to University Hospital where she died, authorities said. Two individuals were transported to another …
Are You In? Announcing The 2024 Bergen County Moms Halloween Costume Contest Are You In? Announcing The 2024 Bergen County Moms Halloween Costume Contest
Are You In? Announcing The 2024 Bergen County Moms Halloween Costume Contest The official Bergen County Moms and Daily Voice Halloween costume contest is back, baby! Halloween festivities are almost underway, and we want to see the best costumes. Comment with a photo of your child's costume, first name, age, and the town you live in under this post on the Bergen County Moms Facebook page (must be okay with the child's photo being run on the Daily Voice website/social pages). Submissions are limited to one per household. Contestants must live in Bergen County to enter.  The deadline for submissions is Friday, Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. The winner will receive a special…
Want To Improve Your Golf Game? Try This New App Want To Improve Your Golf Game? Try This New App
Want To Improve Your Golf Game? Try This New App Local golf enthusiasts have a new tool in their arsenal with the launch of the Pinpoint Golf app, a cutting-edge application designed to help golfers of all skill levels improve. The app promises to bring precision and convenience to golfers, from beginners to seasoned pros. Pinpoint Golf (www.pinpoint.golf) offers a comprehensive suite of features aimed at improving your game. The app centers on strokes gained tracking, an advanced method to measure and improve performance. In addition, the app provides detailed GPS mapping of courses, real-time shot tracking, and other performance analytic…
Man, 34, Struck By Car On Route 3 Had Gotten Out Of Vehicle After Crash: Police Man, 34, Struck By Car On Route 3 Had Gotten Out Of Vehicle After Crash: Police
Man, 34, Struck By Car On Route 3 Had Gotten Out Of Vehicle After Crash: Police A man was hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle on Route 3 Thursday morning, Oct. 31, police said. Police said that the 34-year-old man was a passenger in a vehicle that had just been involved in a single-vehicle crash when he got out and proceeded to walk along the highway around 10 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of East Rutherford. That's when the man was struck by a vehicle eastbound. The victim suffered leg and back injuries and was taken to Hackensack Medical Center.  The highway was reopened around 10:50 a.m.
18-Year-Old HS Soccer Captain Seriously Injured, 4 Others Hurt In Weekend Morris County Crash 18-Year-Old HS Soccer Captain Seriously Injured, 4 Others Hurt In Weekend Morris County Crash
18-Year-Old HS Soccer Captain Seriously Injured, 4 Others Hurt In Weekend Morris County Crash An 18-year-old high school soccer player was among five people hurt in a weekend crash between two SUVs on Route 24 in Florham Park on Sunday, Oct. 27, Daily Voice has learned. At 12:23 p.m., a Suzuki SUV with one occupant collided with an Infiniti SUV containing five occupants while traveling eastbound on Route 24, New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron said. The Infiniti overturned and the 18-year-old Whippany resident, identified by her school soccer team as Molly Mack, was ejected from the vehicle, leaving her with serious injuries. Both drivers and three other occupants sustained…
Nominate Your Favorite Bergen County Businesses In DV's Readers' Choice Nominate Your Favorite Bergen County Businesses In DV's Readers' Choice
Nominate Your Favorite Bergen County Businesses In DV's Readers' Choice Daily Voice is excited to announce its first-ever Readers’ Choice contest in Bergen County! Readers’ Choice is set to showcase the top businesses that make the area special. Whether it’s a cozy coffee shop, a family-run pizzeria, a boutique spa, or a dedicated local handyman, this is your chance to give them the spotlight they deserve. Who makes the best pie in Bergen County? Engin Akyurt: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-pizza-2619970/ Nominations Are Open! Do you have a favorite place you love to dine at? Is there a hairstylist who always gets your look just right? …
Accused Pelosi Laptop Thief's Dad Convicted Of Child Abuse One Year After NJ Defamation Case Accused Pelosi Laptop Thief's Dad Convicted Of Child Abuse One Year After NJ Defamation Case
Accused Pelosi Laptop Thief's Dad Convicted Of Child Abuse One Year After NJ Defamation Case The father of a Pennsylvania woman who was accused of stealing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's laptop was convicted of sexually abusing a girl on Wednesday, Oct. 30 — just two days after the trial began, according to court documents and the Dauphin County District Attorney's office.  Rickey Williams, 55, — a security guard from Dauphin County — touched the girl when she was between the ages of 8 and 18. Judge William T. presided over the trial.  She came forward about the abuse within two weeks after police allegedly caught him soliciting a video of a 14-ye…
New Neighbors Keep Old Halloween Traditions Alive On Clinton Place In Hackensack (PHOTOS) New Neighbors Keep Old Halloween Traditions Alive On Clinton Place In Hackensack (PHOTOS)
New Neighbors Keep Old Halloween Traditions Alive On Clinton Place In Hackensack (Photos) A neighborhood with a sense of community was paramount to Chris and Ryan McAllister when searching for a home. They certainly got that when they moved onto Clinton Place in Hackensack, three years ago. The street has become quite well-known for its Halloween traditions. Each year, the street in the Fairmount District gets hundreds of trick-or-treaters, and almost every house decorates for Halloween. The home that the McAllisters moved into happens to be an important piece of history when it comes to Halloween on Clinton Place. Years ago, the home was occupied by a man named Walter Smith, …
Man Who Accidentally Shot Himself Saved By 3 Paramus Officers Man Who Accidentally Shot Himself Saved By 3 Paramus Officers
Man Who Accidentally Shot Himself Saved By 3 Paramus Officers Three fast-acting Paramus police officers saved a 73-year-old man who accidentally shot himself Wednesday night, Oct. 30. The officers were called to the Summit Drive home around 10:40 p.m., where the man had shot himself in the leg, Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti said. Officers Nicholas Perna and Hugo Rodriguez forced their way into the home and applied a tourniquet to control bleeding, Guidetti said.  Officer Vincent Labarbiera then used Quick Clot to pack the entry wound and applied direct pressure, halting the bleeding until Paramus EMS arrived and transported the man to Hac…
Martha Stewart Criticizes New Netflix Doc That Shines Light On NJ Hometown Martha Stewart Criticizes New Netflix Doc That Shines Light On NJ Hometown
Martha Stewart Criticizes New Netflix Doc That Shines Light On NJ Hometown A new documentary explores the life of New Jersey native Martha Stewart and it already has one prominent critic: Martha Stewart. Courtesy of Netflix In an interview with the New York Times, the 83-year-old lifestyle mogul who grew up in Nutley had some choice words about the Netflix documentary, "Martha," which was made with her cooperation. “R.J. [director R.J. Cutler] had total access, and he really used very little,” she told the Times referring to her personal archives. “It was just shocking.” Stewart said the end of the film makes her look like a lonely old lady and said the movie h…
Sussex County Fire Department Mourns Loss Of Former Captain Michael Basso, 37 Sussex County Fire Department Mourns Loss Of Former Captain Michael Basso, 37
Sussex County Fire Department Mourns Loss Of Former Captain Michael Basso, 37 Michael Basso, a former captain in the McAfee Fire Department, died on Wednesday, Oct. 30, the fire department said. He was 37 years old. “He was a kind, smart, motivated person and a great friend,” the McAfee Fire Department said on Facebook. “We want to send our condolences to his family and wife, and hope they may find peace knowing he is resting easy now. We will miss you brother; we’ve got it from here.” This evening we learned of the passing of former McAfee Fire Department Captain & Highland Lakes Fire Department member... Posted by Vernon Township Fire Department C…
Two Celebs Confirmed For Big Santa Lighting At Westfield's Garden State Plaza Two Celebs Confirmed For Big Santa Lighting At Westfield's Garden State Plaza
Two Celebs Confirmed For Big Santa Lighting At Westfield's Garden State Plaza Two celebrities will be on hand at this year's Big Santa lighting at Westfield's Garden State Plaza. The Paramus mall announced "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Melissa Gorga and "American Idol" Season 7 semi-finalist David Archuleta will both be at the event on Saturday, Nov. 9. The event will also feature a 200-drone show and live performances from some of your favorite movie characters and holiday icons, the mall said. Santa is expected to make his grand entrance on a fire truck. Guests can grab food from food trucks, enjoy exclusive one-day and weeklong deals and discounts, an…
Jeremiah Rodriguez Of Lyndhurst Dies, 30 Jeremiah Rodriguez Of Lyndhurst Dies, 30
Jeremiah Rodriguez Of Lyndhurst Dies, 30 Jeremiah Rodriguez of Lyndhurst died on Sunday, Oct. 27, according to his obituary on the Alvarez Funeral Home website. He was 30 years old. A GoFundMe launched by Jeremiah's mother, Eileen, had raised more than $4,500 as of press time. "Today (10/27/2024) I got the worse news of my life that my brilliant, smart, loving, full of life and energetic son who was always giving to others by giving his last has passed away," she writes. "It is with a broken heart that I sit here today asking all to come together in joining me during these difficult moments. I am asking all to please make my son'…
Meet Christina Ricci In North Jersey Meet Christina Ricci In North Jersey
Meet Christina Ricci In North Jersey Wednesday is coming to Bergen County on Thursday. Christina Ricci, who played Wednesday Addams in “The Addams Family” is signing copies of her new guidebook to tarot cards at Bookends in Ridgewood on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. “Cat Full of Spiders Tarot Deck and Guidebook” is a surrealist dive into the cinematic subconscious of the iconic actress, according to a synopsis, she takes readers through a retrospective of her personal and professional journey told through tarot. The set also comes with a guidebook explaining each tarot card’s meaning as well as suggestions for simple spreads for…
These Are New Jersey's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released These Are New Jersey's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released
These Are New Jersey's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released Niche has released brand-new rankings running down the best public middle schools in America. The first New Jersey school to crack the list was Alpine Middle School at No. 65, while The Davidson Academy in Reno, NV was ranked No. 1. ALSO SEE: These NJ Public High Schools Were Named Among Best In America Daily Voice broke Niche's rankings down even further to find the top public middle schools in New Jersey. They are: 10. L.C. Johnson Summit Middle School, Summit 9. Briarcliff Middle School, Mountain Lakes 8. Thomas R Grover Middle School, West Windsor 7. Sea Girt Elementary School, …
Driver With NJ Plates Shoots Trooper On NY Highway; Suspect On Run Driver With NJ Plates Shoots Trooper On NY Highway; Suspect On Run
Driver With NJ Plates Shoots Trooper On NY Highway; Suspect On Run A New York State Police trooper is recovering after being shot on a Long Island highway. The incident happened on the Southern State Parkway in West Hempstead, in the westbound lanes near exit 17, late Wednesday night, Oct. 30. According to police, a trooper exchanged gunfire with a suspect before the suspect fled the scene.  The trooper was taken to a hospital and was listed in stable condition early Thursday, Oct. 31. Authorities did not elaborate on the nature of their injuries. Police said the suspect was a dark skinned man driving possibly a black Dodge Charger with temporary Ne…
Winning Numbers For Wednesday, Oct. 30 Powerball Drawing With Estimated $39M Jackpot Winning Numbers For Wednesday, Oct. 30 Powerball Drawing With Estimated $39M Jackpot
Winning Numbers For Wednesday, Oct. 30 Powerball Drawing With Estimated $39M Jackpot The winning numbers have been announced for the Wednesday, Oct. 30 Powerball drawing. The estimated jackpot is $39 million with an $18.6 million cash option. If no winner wins the top prize, the jackpot will continue to roll until the next drawing at 10:59 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2. The winning numbers for Wednesday's drawing were 13-22-29-43-58 with a Powerball of 22 and the Power Play was 3X. Lottery players have a 1 in 292,201,338 chance of winning a Powerball jackpot by matching all five balls plus the Powerball, according to officials. Prizes then range from $1 million to $4,…
Watch Officer Who Doubles As Firefighter Pull Victim From Burning NJ Home Watch Officer Who Doubles As Firefighter Pull Victim From Burning NJ Home
Watch Officer Who Doubles As Firefighter Pull Victim From Burning NJ Home A New Jersey police officer who doubles as a firefighter saved a woman from a burning home, and it was all caught on his body-worn camera. Clark Fire Capt. Thomas Sweeney was working his shift as a Millburn police officer when a fire broke out at a home on Old Short Hills Road around 2:45 a.m. Sunday morning, Oct. 26. The bodyworn camera footage shows Sweeney, a Clark firefighter since August 2020, running into the home without protective fire gear. Sweeney then finds an elderly woman trapped and pulls her to safety. Firefighters said all other occupants had already escaped and that the fi…
Eight Hospitalized In 4-Car Route 46 Crash: Police Eight Hospitalized In 4-Car Route 46 Crash: Police
Eight Hospitalized In 4-Car Route 46 Crash: Police Eight people were hospitalized including one with a serious head injury in a four-car crash on Route 46 in Bergen County Tuesday, Oct. 29. A grey Toyota Corolla that was turning left onto Liberty Street from Route 46 west in Little Ferry was struck by a white Ford van heading east on Route 46 just before 5 p.m., Police Chief Jim Walters said. The vehicle spun out upon impact into two other vehicles that were stopped for the traffic light on Liberty Street northbound, Walters said.  All four vehicles were towed from the scene. Four victims were transported to Holy Name Hospital and fou…
Secret Accomplice Laborer Played Along In Gunman's Sick Bergen County Scheme: Prosecutor Secret Accomplice Laborer Played Along In Gunman's Sick Bergen County Scheme: Prosecutor
Secret Accomplice Laborer Played Along In Gunman's Sick Bergen County Scheme: Prosecutor A Virginia gunman and his secret accomplice, a laborer hired to help the true victim move, have both been indicted in an armed robbery last March in a Bergen County storage unit, authorities said. Eduardo L. Villegas Valera, 30, of Elmhurst, NY had been hired to help someone move items in Englewood Cliffs on Monday, March 11, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Once at the commercial property on Sylvan Avenue, Villegas Valera alerted Gliderman Cienfuego Castro, 37, confirming the existence of the true victim's watch, the prosecutor said. Just before 4 p.m., Cienfuego Castro, o…
These Are Bergen County's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released These Are Bergen County's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released
These Are Bergen County's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released Niche has released brand-new rankings running down the best public middle schools in America. The first New Jersey school to crack the list was Alpine Middle School at No. 65. Niche's rankings can be broken down even further to find the top public middle schools in Bergen County. They are: 20. Maywood Avenue School 19. Union School, Rutherford 18. Lewis F. Cole Middle School, Fort Lee 17. Charles DeWolf Middle School, Old Tappan 16. Glen Rock Middle School 15. Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Fair Lawn 14. Tenakill Middle School, Closter 13. Woodcliff Middle School, Woodcliff Lake 12. Riv…
'I'll Give You The Steel Bat:' NJ Man Sent Death Threats To Political Commentator, Feds Say 'I'll Give You The Steel Bat:' NJ Man Sent Death Threats To Political Commentator, Feds Say
'I'll Give You The Steel Bat:' NJ Man Sent Death Threats To Political Commentator, Feds Say A 45-year-old Morris County man has been arrested and charged after posting an online death threat at a political commentator, authorities said. Last month, Haim Braverman, of Morris Plains, posted a video of himself on a social media platform in which he made various threats to a political commentator who had publicly commented on a prominent, now-deceased rabbi, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said.  In the video, Braverman threatened to use a bat against the commentator, stating: “You’ll get what’s coming to you . . . , I’ve never met someone . . . if I could [expletive] kill you right…
Paterson Man Killed By SUV Was Inspecting His Damaged Car After Minor Crash In NY: NYSP Paterson Man Killed By SUV Was Inspecting His Damaged Car After Minor Crash In NY: NYSP
Paterson Man Killed By SUV Was Inspecting His Damaged Car After Minor Crash In NY: Nysp A man who was involved in a minor crash on the New York Thruway was killed when he stepped out of his vehicle to inspect the damage and was struck by a 2018 Ford SUV.  Saul Clark, 55, of Paterson, New Jersey, had gotten out of his vehicle in the southbound lanes of I-87 in West Nyack when he was struck by the passing SUV driven by a Nyack woman just before 10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, New York State Police Trooper Steven Nevel said. Nevel said Clark had stepped out of his vehicle to inspect the damage from a minor crash he'd just been involved in. Clark was declared dead at the scene…
Hackensack Man Convicted After Four Armed Robberies In One Night: Hudson County Prosecutor Hackensack Man Convicted After Four Armed Robberies In One Night: Hudson County Prosecutor
Hackensack Man Convicted After Four Armed Robberies In One Night: Hudson County Prosecutor A 37-year-old Hackensack man was convicted on Tuesday, Oct. 29 for his role in a string of armed robberies in Hudson County over the course of one night in April 2022, authorities said. The conviction stem from four armed robberies that were reported between the late night hours of Friday, April 29, 2022 and the early morning hours of Saturday, April 30, 2022. In each incident, Joel Krecz brandished a handgun and money was demanded from the clerk working at a business, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. A joint investigation by numerous police departments identified …
Reckless Driver Arrested After Reaching Speeds Of 100 MPH On Route 4, Officials Say Reckless Driver Arrested After Reaching Speeds Of 100 MPH On Route 4, Officials Say
Reckless Driver Arrested After Reaching Speeds Of 100 MPH On Route 4, Officials Say An 18-year-old reckless driver was arrested after authorities said he ignored officers' requests to stop and reached speeds up to 100 miles per hour on Route 4 Tuesday night, Oct. 28. An officer noticed a dark blue Hyundai Palisade driving recklessly near Teaneck Road on Route 4 and tried to stop the vehicle at 9:45 p.m., a spokesperson for the Bergen County Sheriff's Office said. The driver, later identified as Ali Ameer Abdulhakim Noman, of the Bronx, sped up, ignoring the officer's attempt to initiate a traffic stop, authorities said. The vehicle eventually came to a stop in traffic, an…
Intoxicated Driver Who Nearly Caused Bergen County Crash Found With Cocaine, Police Say Intoxicated Driver Who Nearly Caused Bergen County Crash Found With Cocaine, Police Say
Intoxicated Driver Who Nearly Caused Bergen County Crash Found With Cocaine, Police Say A 40-year-old Newark man was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and possessing cocaine in Lyndhurst on Sunday, Oct. 27, authorities said. At 12:08 a.m., officers were on patrol in the area of Ridge Road and Kingsland Avenue when they observed a silver Mazda CX5 delaying traffic which nearly caused a crash, Lyndhurst police said. Upon making contact with the driver, officers detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the driver’s, later identified as Sergio Torres, breath, police said.  Torres performed a series of field sobriety tests and was arre…
NJ Man Convicted Of Beating Mom To Death, Prosecutor Says NJ Man Convicted Of Beating Mom To Death, Prosecutor Says
NJ Man Convicted Of Beating Mom To Death, Prosecutor Says A 38-year-old Maplewood resident was convicted on Monday, Oct. 21 of murder charges in his mother's death, which he then framed as a suicide, authorities said. Benjamin Avrut was found guilty of first-degree murder after beating his 70-year-old-mothe Gwen to death, Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said. The jury had rejected Avrut's insanity defense. On Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, Avrut entered his sleeping mother's apartment at The Top, a luxury condominium in Maplewood, Stephens said. When she awoke, Avrut beat her to death with his fists, Stephens said.  Avrut,  who had a hist…
Mysterious Loud Boom Rocks Central Jersey: Did You Feel It? Mysterious Loud Boom Rocks Central Jersey: Did You Feel It?
Mysterious Loud Boom Rocks Central Jersey: Did You Feel It? Multiple Central Jersey residents were baffled by a loud boom that shook their houses on  Wednesday, Oct. 30. Ring app users reported hearing and feeling the massive explosion around noon. One person speculated some commotion at Naval Weapons Station Earle, in Colts Neck, and another said this is not the first time that the boom has occurred.  "This has been going on for a few months and nobody knows what it is," they wrote, noting it's "very strange" and seems to be getting "more widespread and louder." The boom was reported from West Long Branch to Trenton. One resident i…