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Police & Fire
SUVs Collide In Fair Lawn, Three 70-Somethings Hospitalized SUVs Collide In Fair Lawn, Three 70-Somethings Hospitalized
SUVs Collide In Fair Lawn, Three 70-Somethings Hospitalized Three Fair Lawn residents were hospitalized Monday, including a driver who had to be freed by firefighters, after two SUVs collided, police said. Fair Lawn police, firefighters, EMS and Heavy Rescue responded to the 11:43 a.m. crash, which toppled a street sign at the intersection of George Street and Hopper Avenue. The 77-year-old driver of a Ford was taken to the Valley Hospital, while the 72-year-old extricated driver of a Toyota and his 70-year-old passenger were taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, Sgt. Brian Metzler said. All three complained of chest pain, he said. Boyd …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
FOUND! Missing Man From Family Of Bergen First Responders Safe, Sound FOUND! Missing Man From Family Of Bergen First Responders Safe, Sound
Found! Missing Man From Family Of Bergen First Responders Safe, Sound UPDATE: A missing man who comes from a line of veteran Bergen County police, firefighters and other first responders was found. "Glenn has been located safe and sound and is recovering in a NY hospital," a family member wrote. "Our heartfelt thanks to all of you who shared the information.  "Glenn was found because your posts were seen by the right person who identified his picture and notified the authorities.  "Again, on behalf of our entire family, we thank you all for your efforts, kind thoughts and prayers."

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Air Force Honors New Milford Airman For Anti-Suicide Work Among Vets, Responders Air Force Honors New Milford Airman For Anti-Suicide Work Among Vets, Responders
Air Force Honors New Milford Airman For Anti-Suicide Work Among Vets, Responders U.S. Air Force Technical Sgt. James P. Connors of New Milford has dedicated himself to combating suicide among the military and first responders -- from police to firefighters. For that reason, the force recently awarded the retired Teaneck firefighter its Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. Connors distinguished himself through “leadership, ceaseless efforts and dedication” to the Save a Warrior program, which aims to reduce suicide among returning veterans, active service members and first responders with post-traumatic stress, the Air Force said in awarding him an Outstanding Volunteer …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
'No Pulse, Blue Lips,' Paterson's Bravest, Finest Revive Victim At Girl's Softball Game 'No Pulse, Blue Lips,' Paterson's Bravest, Finest Revive Victim At Girl's Softball Game
'No Pulse, Blue Lips,' Paterson's Bravest, Finest Revive Victim At Girl's Softball Game Sometimes the fates are in your favor: When the heart of a spectator at a Paterson girls softball game stopped beating, one of the first to rush to the fallen woman's aid was one of the coaches -- city firefighter John Molina. Also there in seconds was another spectator, Washington Griffin -- a retired Paterson police lieutenant. Together, the veterans of Paterson's bravest and finest -- "real-life superheroes," Mayor Andre Sayegh called them -- revived the 50-year-old grandmother. Molina gave mouth-to-mouth while Griffin handled the chest compressions until her heart began beating again. …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
'Legends, Heroes': Bergen Jam Band Headlines Mayday Missions First-Responder Fundraiser 'Legends, Heroes': Bergen Jam Band Headlines Mayday Missions First-Responder Fundraiser
'Legends, Heroes': Bergen Jam Band Headlines Mayday Missions First-Responder Fundraiser Classics by several recently-departed rock and soul legends will make a powerful set list when the Bergen-based jam band Midnight Toast headlines a fundraiser for a non-profit group dedicated to helping first responders and their families in times of trouble. The “Legends and Heroes Tribute Show” at Debonair Music Hall (formerly Mexicali Blues) in Teaneck on April 6 will benefit Mayday Missions. Switching back and forth between electric and acoustic, Midnight Toast moves from festival stages to bars without missing a chord. They're also bringing guest musicians -- as well as a horn section…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Lifestyle
First ResPAWnders: American Bully From Lyndhurst Follows Sign Language Commands First ResPAWnders: American Bully From Lyndhurst Follows Sign Language Commands
First ResPAWnders: American Bully From Lyndhurst Follows Sign Language Commands Meet Fortress, a 4-year-old American Bully from Lyndhurst. Her dad Raymond Skop is a firefighter with the Jersey City Fire Department. Fortress is in training to become a service dog for Skop's wife, Leah Skop. She follows sign language commands, is inquisitive and loves her family -- "she is an expert at loving us," Skop said. Fortress is smart and expressive, she doesn’t bark -- she can but she chooses not to, her owner said. Instead, she huffs and puffs, tap dancing when she’s excited. She grunts when you're taking too long to serve her food. The pup is always happy -- as long as she's…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Hawthorne Ambulance Knocked On Its Side, Three Removed Hawthorne Ambulance Knocked On Its Side, Three Removed
Hawthorne Ambulance Knocked On Its Side, Three Removed One person sustained what were characterized as minor injuries after a Hawthorne ambulance got knocked on its side by an SUV in a late Friday night crash. Three people inside the Hawthorne Volunteer Ambulance Corps rig had to be removed and taken to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center after the crash at Goffle Road and Lafayette Avenue. Another responder was behind the wheel of the SUV, headed to another call, authorities said. Mayor Richard Goldberg said visited the victims in the ER and was grateful that no one were seriously injured. He praised the first responders for their professi…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Obituaries
Haledon Boy, 8, Who Died Of Asthma Hoped His Kidney Could Help 'Pop Pop' Live Haledon Boy, 8, Who Died Of Asthma Hoped His Kidney Could Help 'Pop Pop' Live
Haledon Boy, 8, Who Died Of Asthma Hoped His Kidney Could Help 'Pop Pop' Live A Haledon family with a distinguished lineage of first responders is hoping the organs of an 8-year-old boy who died Monday night from complications of an asthma attack will help others live -- especially his grandfather. Caleb Van De Voort overheard his father and grandmother discussing an organ transplant for his maternal "pop pop," retired Haledon Police Chief Louis Mercuro, when he offered his own. Justin Van De Voort explained the process of organ donation to his son -- and, still, Caleb wanted to help.  If tests show a match, his kidney will help his grandfather live. "[Caleb] was …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
North Jersey Police Officers Running In NYC Marathon Raise Money For Responders In Need North Jersey Police Officers Running In NYC Marathon Raise Money For Responders In Need
North Jersey Police Officers Running In NYC Marathon Raise Money For Responders In Need Cresskill Detective Sergeant Jason Lanzilotti and Port Authority Police Officer Sam Sukool are raising money for a nonprofit organization that aids first responders in need before they run in the New York City Marathon. Mayday Missions is dedicated to "helping those who help others" -- bringing financial assistance to members of the service, law enforcement, firefighters, EMS and their families. Both Bergenfield firefighters, Lanzilotti and Sukool say the organization holds a special place in their hearts. "As police, fire and EMS, we don’t always suck up our pride to ask fo…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Bergen County DPW Worker Killed In Saddle River Tree Removal Operation Identified Bergen County DPW Worker Killed In Saddle River Tree Removal Operation Identified
Bergen County DPW Worker Killed In Saddle River Tree Removal Operation Identified A Bergen County DPW worker who killed during a tree removal operation in Saddle River Thursday has been identified by county officials. Thomas Epper, 48, was a two-year heavy equipment operator in the Bergen County DPW, County Executive James Tedesco announced. He was transported fatally injured while performing a routine tree-clearing in Saddle River, Tedesco said. "The Bergen County family mourns with the Epper family," he said in a release.  "I want to thank the first responders for their heroic actions together with the work crew that was present at the time." The …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Mahwah's New Oxygen Masks, Home Decals Could Save Pets' Lives Mahwah's New Oxygen Masks, Home Decals Could Save Pets' Lives
Mahwah's New Oxygen Masks, Home Decals Could Save Pets' Lives Somewhere, Greg Antonetti is smiling. Mahwah fire officials announced Thursday that they’d received five donated sets of specially-designed pet oxygen masks. The kits will be deployed across the township’s five fire companies so first responders can deliver oxygen to pets at house fires and other emergencies. They work, too: This year alone, at least a half-dozen family pets across the state have been rescued by responders using the masks. Getting oxygen masks was close to the heart of Antonetti, a Mahwah EMS charter member and former deputy chief who died in April 2017. Lt. Robert Polich…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Garfield Seeks Civilian Volunteers For Emergency Response Team Garfield Seeks Civilian Volunteers For Emergency Response Team
Garfield Seeks Civilian Volunteers For Emergency Response Team The Garfield Police Office of Emergency Management is looking for city residents to join its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). “We are looking for upstanding, dedicated citizens who would like to be able to help in situations before first responders arrive,” Garfield Police OEM Commander Lt. Mike Marsh said. First responders are often overwhelmed during and after a disaster, Marsh noted. "Experience has shown...ordinary citizens make over 80 percent of successful rescues as they respond to the emergency in their community," the lieutenant said. "However, many untrain…

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by Jerry DeMarco