Social Studies Teacher Sues Local Bergen County District Over Suspension For Hitler Assignments Social Studies Teacher Sues Local Bergen County District Over Suspension For Hitler Assignments
Social Studies Teacher Sues Local Bergen County District Over Suspension For Hitler Assignments A Bergen County grade-school social studies teacher who was indefinitely suspended over assignments about Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany claims the district superintendent told him that he’d upset “Jewish people” in town and then ordered him to “fix” it. In a lawsuit filed against the Woodcliff Lake School District, Robert Welsh of Park Ridge says he was made a “scapegoat” amid complaints from parents because he’s a “socially conservative Christian in a community with a large Jewish population.” Welsh, 53, wrote a letter to the parents explaining why he considered the lesson necessary and ap…
UPDATE: Woman, 88, Struck, Killed By Commuter Train In Westwood Identified UPDATE: Woman, 88, Struck, Killed By Commuter Train In Westwood Identified
Update: Woman, 88, Struck, Killed By Commuter Train In Westwood Identified A woman who was struck and killed by a commuter train in Westwood was identified as an 88-year-old local resident. Cecile L. Archer lived at the nearby Madison Apartments, a few blocks from the other side of the tracks where she and her wheeled walker were hit near the Westwood train station at 9:48 a.m. Monday, Sept. 12. The Pascack Valley Line No. 1605 train had left Hoboken at 8:56 a.m. and was to arrive in Spring Valley at 10:10 a.m., NJ TRANSIT's Jim Smith said. Archer, formerly of Park Ridge, was pronounced dead at the scene at Broadway and Jefferson Avenue by an ALS unit. NJ TRANSI…
Not THAT Jack Bauer: Wrong-Way Driver Caught With Meth, LSD For Sale, Mahwah PD Says Not THAT Jack Bauer: Wrong-Way Driver Caught With Meth, LSD For Sale, Mahwah PD Says
Not That Jack Bauer: Wrong-Way Driver Caught With Meth, LSD For Sale, Mahwah PD Says A Park Ridge motorist who drove into a Mahwah hotel parking lot through the exit was busted by township detectives with crystal meth and LSD for sale, authorities said. Jack Cassidy Bauer, 33, “exhibited extremely nervous behavior when asked routine questions” after they approached his 2002 Subaru Legacy on Thursday, Capt. Guido Bussinelli said. A search of the vehicle turned up the meth, acid, some Ecstasy, Xanax and drug paraphernalia, the captain said. Bauer was charged with various drug offenses -- including first-degree possession of LSD with the intent to sell it – and sent to the Be…
NJ 'Mentalist' Actor John Zderko Dies NJ 'Mentalist' Actor John Zderko Dies
NJ 'Mentalist' Actor John Zderko Dies New Jersey native John Zderko died Thursday, May 26 after a battle with cancer. He was 60 years old. Known for his roles in "Criminal Minds," "The Mentalist" and "9-1-1 Lone," Zderko grew up in Park Ridge and later moved to California. He graduated from from UC Irvine but went back to UCLA for acting classes as he built he career, according to his bio on IMDB. Zderko is survived by his sister, Karen, brother-in-law Steve and nephews Jason and Jeff.
Feds: NJ Steel Drum Company Owner Admits Conning MD Manufacturer Out Of $20M Feds: NJ Steel Drum Company Owner Admits Conning MD Manufacturer Out Of $20M
Feds: NJ Steel Drum Company Owner Admits Conning MD Manufacturer Out Of $20M The owner of a New Jersey-based steel drum wholesaler admitted he conned a Maryland-based manufacturer out of nearly $20 million, federal authorities said. Anthony P. Urcioli, Sr., 78, of Park Ridge, conspired with an employee of a New York company to produce bogus invoices for more drums than his Tunnel, Barrel & Drum Co, Inc. had delivered to the company's facility in Harford County, MD, U.S. Attorney for Maryland Erek L. Barron said. Urcioli, who's TBD's owner and president, split the excess funds he received with the employee -- who, in turn, gave 25% to a co-worker, Barron said.  …
GHASTLY BERGEN CRASH: Driver, 22, Ejected Through Moonroof, Debris Field Covers 500 Feet GHASTLY BERGEN CRASH: Driver, 22, Ejected Through Moonroof, Debris Field Covers 500 Feet
Ghastly Bergen Crash: Driver, 22, Ejected Through Moonroof, Debris Field Covers 500 Feet A 22-year-old driver was ejected through the moon roof of his Jeep in a horrific overnight crash in Park Ridge that left a debris field of more than 150 yards, authorities said. The 2021 Grand Cherokee was headed north on Spring Valley Road when it left the roadway and slammed into a large tree at the north corner of Alberon Drive shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday, Park Ridge Police Capt. Joseph Rampolla said. The impact jettisoned the Jeep across the road, where it flipped over, spun and severed a utility pole, knocking it over, Rampolla said. The Elmwood Park driver, who was alone in the veh…
NJ Starbucks Worker Fired After Barista Spit In Officer's Coffee: Report Says Citing Suit NJ Starbucks Worker Fired After Barista Spit In Officer's Coffee: Report Says Citing Suit
NJ Starbucks Worker Fired After Barista Spit In Officer's Coffee: Report Says Citing Suit A longtime Starbucks manager in New Jersey says in a newly-filed lawsuit against her former employer she was fired following the arrest of a barista who spit into a police officer’s drink. Kelly Hansen-Grosman, 49, of Hewitt, was the store manger in Park Ridge in 2019, when then 21-year-old barista Kevin Trejo -- whom she supervised -- was caught spitting in an officer's drink, NorthJersey.com reports citing the suit. Hansen-Grosman said she was subsequently pressured into showing text messages between her and the investigating police detective. After refusing to let supervisors screenshot …
Police: Rockland Brothers Seized In Montvale After Pointing Fake Gun, Throwing Fireworks On Bus Police: Rockland Brothers Seized In Montvale After Pointing Fake Gun, Throwing Fireworks On Bus
Police: Rockland Brothers Seized In Montvale After Pointing Fake Gun, Throwing Fireworks On Bus UPDATE: An extremely tense situation ended safely when police in Montvale seized two underage Rockland brothers who they said threatened passengers on a commuter bus with a fake gun and fireworks. Police stopped the Monsey Trails bus on Chestnut Ridge Road around 10 p.m. Thursday after receiving multiple calls that one of the Monsey brothers – ages 14 and 16 – pointed a pistol at fellow passengers, Montvale Police Chief Joseph Sanfilippo said. The pair also threw lighted fireworks at them, the chief said. Fellow officers from Woodcliff Lake, Upper Saddle River, Park Ridge, Hillsdale, and R…
North Jersey Man Brings Halloween Dreams To Life With Homemade Haunted House North Jersey Man Brings Halloween Dreams To Life With Homemade Haunted House
North Jersey Man Brings Halloween Dreams To Life With Homemade Haunted House Halloween Night looks a lot like Matt Kaprielian's childhood dream. The Park Ridge resident has smoke blowing across the lawn and animatronic skeletons rattling a cemetery gate. He has a casket from an actual funeral home and a mannequin painted to look like a corpse inside.  Kaprielian's got tombstones and rats, jack-o-lanterns and ghouls. And most importantly, Kaprielian has hundreds of trick-or-treaters. The 30-year-old New Milford native grew up helping his mom transform their house for spooky season. They made the decorations themselves and spent days perfecting them, hanging them up…
Maywood Patient, 80, Ambulette Driver Injured In Washington Township Crash Maywood Patient, 80, Ambulette Driver Injured In Washington Township Crash
Maywood Patient, 80, Ambulette Driver Injured In Washington Township Crash An 80-year-old Maywood patient and an ambulette driver were hospitalized following a collision with a pickup truck in Washington Township, authorities said. The Metro Ambulance out of Hackensack was headed east on Washington Avenue when it collided with the westbound Nissan Frontier at Meisten Street near Seasons restaurant and catering hall shortly after 10:30 a.m. Monday, township police Lt. Roy Scherer said. The patient was conscious and alert when she was taken to Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, while the 46-year-old ambulette driver from Millville was taken to the Hackensac…
Montvale Mom Who Produced 'Little Steven's Underground Garage' Passes At 36 Montvale Mom Who Produced 'Little Steven's Underground Garage' Passes At 36
Montvale Mom Who Produced 'Little Steven's Underground Garage' Passes At 36 TRIBUTE: When loved ones say their final goodbyes to Jenna Antonacci of Montvale on Friday, they will no doubt recall how much she loved -- and at one time lived -- music. Antonacci had worked in her mid- to late-20s as a producer for the wildly popular "Little Steven's Underground Garage," created by longtime E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt on Sirius XM. She immersed herself in communicating with bands, managers and labels to organize appearances, among other tasks, and worked directly on the program hosted by Andrew Loog Oldham, the former manager and producer for the Rolling St…
Saddle River Barn Fire Poses Challenges Saddle River Barn Fire Poses Challenges
Saddle River Barn Fire Poses Challenges UPDATE: A trio of firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion during a "difficult" weekend barn fire in Saddle River, responders said. The two-alarm, 6:30 p.m. Sunday blaze on Old Farms Road posed an "additional hazard of ammunition exploding due to the heat of the flames," according to Waldwick firefighters, who were among the mutual aid responders. An initial report of surrounding homes being evacuated couldn't be confirmed. Valley Hospital BLS treated the firefighters at the scene. No other injuries were reported. Among the other mutual aid responders, at the scene or in coverage, w…