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Death Penalty Sought For Bergen County Native Accused Of Killing Friend's Baby, Abusing Twin Death Penalty Sought For Bergen County Native Accused Of Killing Friend's Baby, Abusing Twin
Death Penalty Sought For Bergen County Native Accused Of Killing Friend's Baby, Abusing Twin The death penalty is being sought against a PhD student from New Jersey who is accused of killing an infant boy and abusing his twin brother in Pennsylvania, according to court records obtained by Daily Voice on Friday, Sept. 6. Nicole Virzi, 30, a PhD student who graduated from Northern Highlands Regional High School, was charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, child endangerment, and more in connection with the incidents last June. The Allegheny County District Attorney's Office filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty in Virzi's case on Thursday,…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
UPDATE: Judge Imposes Requirements On Tenafly Council Prez, Son Released On Child Porn Charges UPDATE: Judge Imposes Requirements On Tenafly Council Prez, Son Released On Child Porn Charges
Update: Judge Imposes Requirements On Tenafly Council Prez, Son Released On Child Porn Charges UPDATE: A judge in Hackensack released Tenafly Council President Jeffrey D. Grossman and his son from jail on Wednesday, but both must remain under house arrest at the family's home while they await trial on charges of child porn possession. Superior Court Judge David Labib didn't require electronic monitoring on Grossman and his son, Steven, during separate first appearances for both on Oct. 18. Labib (above photo, right) did impose several requirements after a prosecutor said investigators found more than 1,000 images of sexually abused boys between 10 and 13 collected by Steven Grossman …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
UPDATE: Ramifications Follow Arrests Of Tenafly Council President And Son On Child Porn Charges UPDATE: Ramifications Follow Arrests Of Tenafly Council President And Son On Child Porn Charges
Update: Ramifications Follow Arrests Of Tenafly Council President And Son On Child Porn Charges Shock waves spread from one corner of Bergen County to another with the arrests of Tenafly Council President Jeffrey D. Grossman and his son on child pornography charges following a raid Thursday at the family home. Jeff Grossman, 65, is a longtime elementary school teacher in Rochelle Park. Steven Grossman, 24, is a substitute teacher in the same district. Both men “used the Internet to view, download and possess items depicting nude and/or sexually explicit prepubescent and pubescent children,” Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Their Oct. 11 arrests stem from an investigation …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Tenafly Council President And Son Jailed On Child Porn Charges Tenafly Council President And Son Jailed On Child Porn Charges
Tenafly Council President And Son Jailed On Child Porn Charges Tenafly Council President Jeffrey D. Grossman and his son, Steven, were both arrested and jailed on child pornography charges following a raid on the family home on Thursday. Shock waves were felt in the borough as well as in Rochelle Park, where Jeff Grossman, 65, is an elementary school teacher and his 24-year-old son a substitute teacher. Both men “used the Internet to view, download and possess items depicting nude and/or sexually explicit prepubescent and pubescent children,” Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Their Oct. 11 arrests stem from an investigation by members of Mu…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Classmate Petitions To Have HS Track Named For Bergen County Teen Who Died In Tragic Fire Classmate Petitions To Have HS Track Named For Bergen County Teen Who Died In Tragic Fire
Classmate Petitions To Have HS Track Named For Bergen County Teen Who Died In Tragic Fire A classmate of a Bergen County teen killed in a house fire has launched a petition to name the running track at their school after her. Riley Boyle, 17, of Allendale "was an amazing soul like no other who was loved by many," Northern Highlands Regional High School classmate Ryan Glazer wrote in a change.org petition. "(She) was not only a member of the Highlands track team but was also an incredible student with a 4.0 GPA," Glazer noted. "It’s only right if we immortalize her in Highlands' history and honor the all-around successful and amazing person she already was and would surely bec…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
LOCAL TRAGEDY: Teenage Girl, Pets Killed In Allendale House Fire LOCAL TRAGEDY: Teenage Girl, Pets Killed In Allendale House Fire
Local Tragedy: Teenage Girl, Pets Killed In Allendale House Fire An apparently accidental weekend fire that claimed the life of a Bergen County teenager has staggered many in the community where she was raised, as well as others from area towns and beyond. Riley Boyle, 17, was in the shower when the fire broke out close to the rear entrance of the 2½-story Bonnie Way home around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, responders said. The flames quickly spread to a rear hot tub room and a pergola-covered porch, trapping the victim in a bathroom just above the blaze, they said. The fire began in the rear of the Allendale home.Damien Danis for DAILY VOICE The Northern Hi…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Obituaries
NJ Native Riding Scooter Struck, Killed By Box Truck In NYC NJ Native Riding Scooter Struck, Killed By Box Truck In NYC
NJ Native Riding Scooter Struck, Killed By Box Truck In NYC A 24-year-old North Jersey native died days after being struck by a box truck in New York City last week, according to police and her obituary. Molly Pearson, a Ho-Ho-Kus native and Northern Highlands Regional High School graduate, was riding a scooter when the truck ran her over around 11:15 a.m. on Nov. 2, the NYPD said. The truck apparently tried turning onto Skillman Avenue from Meeker in Williamsburg, when the driver struck Pearson, authorities said. Both were heading east. Pearson was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where she died Saturday, authorities said. The truck driver remained on…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Music Teacher From Wayne Charged In Ho-Ho-Kus Juvenile Sex Case Music Teacher From Wayne Charged In Ho-Ho-Kus Juvenile Sex Case
Music Teacher From Wayne Charged In Ho-Ho-Kus Juvenile Sex Case UPDATE: A music teacher from Wayne had "sexually inappropriate conduct" with an underage Ho-Ho-Kus teen, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Thursday. Kyle Kubicki, 29, formerly of Mahwah, remained held in the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack following his arrest Tuesday. He's charged with providing obscenity to a minor and child endangerment through sexual conduct for "engaging in sexual conversations with a child under the age of 18 and also providing pornographic materials" to the youngster "for the purpose of sexual…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Schools
39 NJ Public Schools Ranked Among Best In America By U.S. News 39 NJ Public Schools Ranked Among Best In America By U.S. News
39 NJ Public Schools Ranked Among Best In America By U.S. News U.S. News & World Report has released is latest rankings of the best public high schools in America. Thirty-nine of those are in New Jersey and rank among the top 10 percent in the nation. "Families can use the Best High Schools rankings to see how schools compare at the national, state and local level on factors like graduation rates and college readiness," said Anita Narayan, managing editor of Education at U.S. News.  "The rankings also provide insight into academic performance among underserved groups." High Technology High School was ranked the No. 1 STEM school this ye…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
COVID-19: More Schools In Bergen, Passaic County Go Remote COVID-19: More Schools In Bergen, Passaic County Go Remote
Covid-19: More Schools In Bergen, Passaic County Go Remote A switch to remote learning was the move for more schools in Bergen and Passaic counties due to COVID-19. At least two individuals tested positive at Northern Highlands Regional High School, which switched to virtual instruction on Thursday, Oct. 22. Classes will resume in person on Nov. 9, according to a letter sent by schools principal Joseph J. Occhino Wednesday evening. "This letter is to inform you that we just received notification that another individual at Northern Highlands has tested positive for COVID-19," Occhino said, noting schools must close when two or more positive ca…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
RANKINGS: Website Names NJ Public High School Overall Best In America RANKINGS: Website Names NJ Public High School Overall Best In America
Rankings: Website Names NJ Public High School Overall Best In America Niche.com has released its annual rankings of the best public high schools in America. The website graded every school across the U.S. based on a "rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education," it said. Bergen County Academies in Hackensack was crowned the overall best in the U.S.  The school earned an A+ in every category: Academics, diversity, teachers, college prep, clubs/activities, and health/safety. The website also ranked the best schools in New Jersey. Here are the top 20: 20.…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Northern Highlands Regional HS Grad Phillip Hayward Dies, 23 Northern Highlands Regional HS Grad Phillip Hayward Dies, 23
Northern Highlands Regional HS Grad Phillip Hayward Dies, 23 Quick wit. Sharp humor. A bright light and unique character. This is how Ho-Ho-Kus native Phillip Hayward is being remembered. He died on Aug. 24 at 23 years old -- but his legacy lives on, thanks to a GoFundMe launched by Gabrielle Rodriguez in his memory. The $11,800 that had been raised as of Tuesday morning will be donated to "The Trevor Project" in Phillip's name. The American non-profit organization focuses on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth.  A Northern Highlands Regional High School graduate, Phillip earned his Ba…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
Grant Helps USR-Allendale Coalition Assist Families Dealing With Drugs, Other Youth Issues Grant Helps USR-Allendale Coalition Assist Families Dealing With Drugs, Other Youth Issues
Grant Helps Usr-allendale Coalition Assist Families Dealing With Drugs, Other Youth Issues A unique program aimed at reducing substance abuse while also tackling other troubling issues among young people in Allendale and Upper Saddle River will grow even stronger, thanks to a new federal grant, organizers said. The $625,000 National Drug Control Policy grant will be distributed evenly over five years to the USRA Coalition, said Upper Saddle River Mayor Joanne Minichetti, the group’s chairperson. The money will “both sustain and broaden the USRA Coalition’s programming and education,” Minichetti said. The USRA Coalition was created in 2017 in response to the increase in substan…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Schools
Learn To Handle Difficult Discussions With Your Teen At Special USRA Coalition Event Learn To Handle Difficult Discussions With Your Teen At Special USRA Coalition Event
Learn To Handle Difficult Discussions With Your Teen At Special Usra Coalition Event Because talking to teens about difficult subjects sometimes requires skills some parents may not have, the USRA Coalition is sponsoring a multi-media presentation and question-and-answer session to help with the task. Parents of middle and high school students in Upper Saddle River, Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus and Saddle River are among those invited to “How to Speak Effectively to Your Child or Teen on Difficult Subjects,” featuring the special one-hour presentation “15-Minute Child Break,” on Oct. 7. Topics include identifying risk factors, strengthening parenting and communication skills and ut…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Schools
BERGENFEST: Local Teens Organize Massive Bergen County Music Festival BERGENFEST: Local Teens Organize Massive Bergen County Music Festival
Bergenfest: Local Teens Organize Massive Bergen County Music Festival Hundreds of people are expected to turn out for a music festival organized by Bergen County teens. Bergenfest is a "local concert on a global mission" with Wé McDonald of NBC's "The Voice" headlining the June 29 event. Held at the Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Ridgewood, the concert is for non-profit humanitarian organization TEEEM: The Empathetic Entrepreneur Equality Mission. TEEEM raises funds and awareness toward world-wide community needs and includes students from across North Jersey. BergenfestContributed Each high school is dedicated to a particular country: Ridgewood H…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Ithaca Soccer Goalie Jase Barrack Of Upper Saddle River Dies In Off-Campus Incident Ithaca Soccer Goalie Jase Barrack Of Upper Saddle River Dies In Off-Campus Incident
Ithaca Soccer Goalie Jase Barrack Of Upper Saddle River Dies In Off-Campus Incident Upper Saddle River's Jase Barrack died of injuries sustained in an off-campus incident at Ithaca College, school officials said. Jase was taken off of life-support by his family on Friday, May 10, Ithaca College president Shirley M. Collado to the campus community. His organs will be donated to help others live. Details of the incident and the athlete's injuries were not made public. The Northern Highlands Regional High School graduate (Class of 2016) was majoring in athletic training in the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance. He was on track to graduate from Ithaca in 2020. …

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
Northern Highlands Regional HS Opening Delayed, Counselors Available Following Junior's Death Northern Highlands Regional HS Opening Delayed, Counselors Available Following Junior's Death
Northern Highlands Regional HS Opening Delayed, Counselors Available Following Junior's Death Shock and sadness spread Wednesday with the news of the death of a Northern Highlands Regional High School student. "The entire school community extends our heartfelt thought and prayers" to the family of junior Jared Bowen "during this difficult time," Principal Joseph J. Occhino wrote. The school had a delayed opening Wednesday, with homeroom at 9:45 a.m., when students were informed of Jared's passing, the principal said. Bus pickup was postponed for two hours. The Crisis Response Team, school counselors, Child Study Team members and counselors from other area high schools were mad…

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by Daily Voice
Police & Fire
Northern Highlands Students Hear About Opiate Addiction From Users, Police Praise Program Northern Highlands Students Hear About Opiate Addiction From Users, Police Praise Program
Northern Highlands Students Hear About Opiate Addiction From Users, Police Praise Program It’s one thing to have authority figures warn schoolkids of the dangers of heroin and opioids, but it’s another when it’s recovering addicts, as students at Northern Highlands Regional High School learned. Not only that: The speakers were all from schools in the Allendale area. A key component of the #NotEvenOnce program was the participation of the organization Alumni in Recovery, Police Chief George Scherb said. “Students had the opportunity to hear from addicts in recovery who shared their real-life experiences with addiction, dependency and their path to recovery,” he said. #NotEvenOn…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Schools
New Rankings: These North Jersey Schools Are Among Best In State New Rankings: These North Jersey Schools Are Among Best In State
New Rankings: These North Jersey Schools Are Among Best In State New Jersey is home to some of the nation’s finest schools -- but which high schools are at the top the list? Niche on Wednesday released its 2019 rankings, which are “based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education.” Using a weighted scale including academic grades (60 percent), teacher’s grades (10 percent), culture and diversity (10 percent), parent-student surveys (10 percent) and other factors, Niche determined the top high schools throughout the country. "The 2019 Best Public High Scho…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Matthew DeCesare Of Allendale Remembered For Love Of Animals, Performing Matthew DeCesare Of Allendale Remembered For Love Of Animals, Performing
Matthew DeCesare Of Allendale Remembered For Love Of Animals, Performing Matthew Bryant DeCesare of Allendale died unexpectedly on June 27. He was 26 years old. Born in California, Matthew was been an Allendale resident since 2005. His passions were his family, his friends, his dog and performing.  He attended Northern Highlands Regional High School. Also near and dear to Matthew's heart was his love for nature and animals. Donations in his memory can be made to Ramapo Bergen Animal Refuge, 2 Shelter Lane, Oakland, NJ 07436. Visitation is scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on July 2 at the  Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff. A Celebration of Life wi…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Principal: Threat Overheard By Northern Highlands HS Teacher Not Credible Principal: Threat Overheard By Northern Highlands HS Teacher Not Credible
Principal: Threat Overheard By Northern Highlands HS Teacher Not Credible ALLENDALE, N.J. -- Allendale police said there was no basis for concern over a threat that a teacher at Northern Highlands Regional High School said she overheard a student make in class, according to the principal. "Immediately upon receiving the information, we reported the incident to our local police," Principal Joseph J. Occhino wrote in a message to parents and staff. "As a result, the student in question has been addressed by law enforcement, by the school, and by the appropriate mental health professionals. "From what we were told by the police, the threat is not…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Schools
USRA Coalition: Doctors To Warn Northern Highlands Parents Of Opioid Danger USRA Coalition: Doctors To Warn Northern Highlands Parents Of Opioid Danger
Usra Coalition: Doctors To Warn Northern Highlands Parents Of Opioid Danger ALLENDALE, N.J. -- Addiction doesn't always begin at a party -- it could start in the family medicine chest. Experts will tell parents what to consider before their teens have surgery or treatment for chronic pain during a "Physician's Perspective on Drugs and Opiods" at Northern Highlands Regional High School later this month. Sponsored by the Upper Saddle River/Allendale Coalition, the boards of health from each town and Hackensack University Medical Center, the free April 25 event features panelists: Michael Kelly, the chairman of orthopedic surgery at Hackensack University M…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Allendale PD: Driver Shouted Death Threat Outside Northern Highlands HS Allendale PD: Driver Shouted Death Threat Outside Northern Highlands HS
Allendale PD: Driver Shouted Death Threat Outside Northern Highlands HS ALLENDALE, N.J. – “I will kill everyone!” a frustrated father of a student shouted as he pulled into the parking lot of Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, making a gun gesture with his hands – and leading to his arrest, authorities said. Another student told police he was stopped in traffic driving out of the lot Tuesday when a white Nissan pulled in and stopped next to a vehicle in front of his, Police Chief George Scherb said. The Nissan driver “made a weapons gesture with his hands” while shouting at the other driver that he would “kill everyone,” Scherb said. After i…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Schools
These Bergen County Schools Have The Best SAT Scores In New Jersey These Bergen County Schools Have The Best SAT Scores In New Jersey
These Bergen County Schools Have The Best SAT Scores In New Jersey The results are in!  According to NJ.com, the average SAT score for the Class of 2017 was 551 in reading and writing, 552 in math and a total of 1,103 out of 1,600.Here's how Bergen and Passaic county schools compare, NJ.com reports. 45. Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan: 1,214; reading: 607; math: 607 39. Glen Rock High School: 1,229; reading 610; math 619 30. Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes: 1,239 (tie with Union County Tech.); reading 616; math 623 28. Northern Highlands Regional High School: 1,248; reading 624; math 624 24. Northern Va…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Northern Highlands HS Graduate Carolyn Edwards Dies In Florida, 41 Northern Highlands HS Graduate Carolyn Edwards Dies In Florida, 41
Northern Highlands HS Graduate Carolyn Edwards Dies In Florida, 41 UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J. — Carolyn Ann Edwards of Upper Saddle River and Denville died on Jan. 5, in Hollywood, Fla. She was 41. Carolyn was born in Seoul, Korea and raised in Upper Saddle River by her mother, Cheryl Edwards, and her late father, Ali Shalforoosh.  She graduated Northern Highlands Regional High School in 1994, and went on to earn her Bachelors Degree at Wesley College in Dover, Delaware in 1998. Carolyn is survived by her fiancé, John Brodie; her mother, Cheryl Edwards; her beloved dog, Freya; sisters Margaret Atoria and husband Peter, Cathryn Dailey, Christyn DeSart and hu…

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by Cecilia Levine