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Police & Fire
Port Authority Officer Who Pitched In MLB, Wrong Way Driver Both Killed In NJ Turnpike Crash Port Authority Officer Who Pitched In MLB, Wrong Way Driver Both Killed In NJ Turnpike Crash
Port Authority Officer Who Pitched In MLB, Wrong Way Driver Both Killed In NJ Turnpike Crash An off-duty Port Authority officer and the wrong-way driver who struck him were both killed in a 9/11 crash on the New Jersey Turnpike in Hudson County, authorities said. Anthony Varvaro, a 37-year-old married father of four, and former major league pitcher — was struck by Henry A. Plaras, 30, of Bridgewater, who was heading west on the Hudson Bay Extension in the eastbound lanes around 4:25 a.m. in Jersey City, New Jersey State Police Trooper Charles Marchan said. Henry PlarasHenry Plaras Facebook Plaras' Toyota Rav4 struck Varvaro in a Nissan Maxima head-on causing the Nissan to strik…

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by Jerry DeMarco & Cecilia Levine
News
Wanted Route 17 Driver Had Air Pistol, Ski Mask, More: Rochelle Park PD Wanted Route 17 Driver Had Air Pistol, Ski Mask, More: Rochelle Park PD
Wanted Route 17 Driver Had Air Pistol, Ski Mask, More: Rochelle Park PD A driver from Staten Island was caught with an air pistol, a ski mask and an outstanding warrant when Rochelle Park police stopped him on Route 17, authorities said. Officer Chris Kiszka pulled over the BMW with Florida transporter plates for multiple equipment violations on the southbound highway around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Lt. James M. DePreta said. The driver, 22-year-old Devonte Thomas, was unable to provide a valid registration or proof of insurance, he said. While Kiszka was dealing with him, backup Officer Jorge Orihuela spotted what looked like a handgun sticking out from beneath the…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Unlicensed NJ Driver Charged In Staten Island Crash That Killed 3 Teens In Ford Mustang Unlicensed NJ Driver Charged In Staten Island Crash That Killed 3 Teens In Ford Mustang
Unlicensed NJ Driver Charged In Staten Island Crash That Killed 3 Teens In Ford Mustang A 47-year-old unlicensed New Jersey driver has been charged in a Staten Island crash that left three teenagers, including a pair of siblings, dead over the weekend, authorities said. Maher Asi-Mahmoud, of Marlboro, was turning left in an eastbound 2017 GMC Yukon when it collided with a westbound Ford Mustang, carrying the teens Sunday, July 10, police said. The Mustang was sent into a tree on impact and split in half, ejecting two of the occupants. The victims were identified as 16-year-old Fernanda Gil, 15-year-old Jessie Gil and 15-year-old Ashley Rodriguez. The driver, 16, was the only o…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Barricaded NJ Driver Tased After Threatening Staten Island Police With Box Cutter: Report Barricaded NJ Driver Tased After Threatening Staten Island Police With Box Cutter: Report
Barricaded NJ Driver Tased After Threatening Staten Island Police With Box Cutter: Report A 20-year-old woman from Monmouth County was tased and arrested on Staten Island after barricading herself in a car with a box cutter, the Staten Island Advance reports.  Diana Prokopenko, of Freehold, was on the side of Korean War Veterans Parkway in Huguenot on Wednesday, July 6 when she menaced police, the outlet said, citing an NYPD spokesman.  Prokopenko faces charges of resisting arrest, menacing, obstructing governmental administration and possession of a weapon, the spokesman said. Click here for the complete story by the Staten Island Advance. 

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Staten Island Motorcyclist Seriously Injured In Linden Crash Staten Island Motorcyclist Seriously Injured In Linden Crash
Staten Island Motorcyclist Seriously Injured In Linden Crash A 37-year-old Staten Island motorcyclist was hospitalized with serious injuries in a Linden crash Tuesday, June 28, authorities said. The man was struck by a Jeep Cherokee leaving the CVS parking lot at 1000 W. St. George Avenue onto N. Stiles Street around 7 p.m., local police said. The motorcyclist was in serious condition while the Jeep driver, 26, was not injured. The crash remains under investigation by the Linden Police Traffic Bureau, and anyone with information is urged to contact Inv. Ryan Zaccaro at (908) 474- 8505.

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by Cecilia Levine
Sports
NJ Youth Baseball Coach Arrested In Umpire's Assault: Prosecutor NJ Youth Baseball Coach Arrested In Umpire's Assault: Prosecutor
NJ Youth Baseball Coach Arrested In Umpire's Assault: Prosecutor A North Jersey youth baseball coach from Staten Island has been arrested in the assault of a 72-year-old umpire that left him with a broken jaw earlier this month, authorities announced. Jerry Otero on Tuesday, June 21 surrendered to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office in connection with the June 4 incident at White Oak Park in Branchburg, Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart said. The incident happened during a 13-and-under game around 8:10 p.m., Taggart said. Otero had left the park before police got there. The umpire told police that Otero had been ejected fo…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
SUCKER PUNCH: NY Rangers Fan Knocks Tampa Fan Unconscious Leaving MSG SUCKER PUNCH: NY Rangers Fan Knocks Tampa Fan Unconscious Leaving MSG
Sucker Punch: NY Rangers Fan Knocks Tampa Fan Unconscious Leaving MSG A New York Rangers fan viciously cold-cocked an unsuspecting Tampa Bay Lightning fan -- and then punched a Good Samaritan who tried to grab him -- following the Blueshirts' playoff loss Thursday night at the Garden. A now-viral Twitter video shows James Anastasio, 29, of Staten Island spinning around and throwing a haymaker left as fans filed out of MSG after the Lightning's 3-1 Stanley Cup semifinal victory. The brutal -- and cowardly -- sucker punch knocked the victim out cold. Fight at MSG #NYR #NoQuitInNY #Fights #TampaBay pic.twitter.com/xxL9oD1if1 — Scott Kaplan (@ScottKaplanOn) …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
NJ Coast Guardsman ID'd As Victim Critical In 9-Story Fall From Hotel Balcony NJ Coast Guardsman ID'd As Victim Critical In 9-Story Fall From Hotel Balcony
NJ Coast Guardsman ID'd As Victim Critical In 9-Story Fall From Hotel Balcony A man who suffered serious injuries after falling from a hotel balcony on Long Island earlier this week has been identified as a US Coast Guardsman. Alexander “AJ” Keating, 24, who has been living in South Amboy, was on a ninth-floor balcony at around 12:45 a.m. when he fell over a railing at the Hyatt Regency Long Island, Suffolk County police said. Keating survived the fall and was taken by ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital in critical condition, said police. “Unfortunately, AJ has had a horrific accident and is in critical condition fighting for his life," said family friend…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
This New Bergen County Bake Shop Has Layers This New Bergen County Bake Shop Has Layers
This New Bergen County Bake Shop Has Layers This new Bergen County bakery has layers. Guzzo's BakeHouse, coming to Haworth, is run by head chef Ralph Guzzo, who followed in his father's footsteps in the culinary arts when he was just 15. The bakery might be best known for its 7-layer doughnut, rolled out years ago in Staten Island. The bakery upgraded its layered products to crumb cake, cupcakes and more. Guzzo's touts itself for its invention of the Cragel, a hybrid between a croissant and a bagel. Guzzo formerly owned Belli Baci Bakery on Staten Island and Delizioso Bakery+Kitchen in Princeton, BoozyBurbs reports. Indoor an…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Jersey Shore Financial Advisors Fined $800K, Licenses Revoked: AG Jersey Shore Financial Advisors Fined $800K, Licenses Revoked: AG
Jersey Shore Financial Advisors Fined $800K, Licenses Revoked: AG A Monmouth County investment firm has been fined $800,000 for hiring an unregistered financial advisor, New Jersey authorities said. The advisor had been barred from the securities industry, according to Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. The New Jersey Bureau of Securities took further action against the Atlantic Highlands investment firm by revoking its registrations, Plotkin said. Acting Bureau Chief Amy G. Kopleton found that Steven Gluckstein and his advisory firm, Seaview Global Advisors LLC, employed Anthony Calascione from approximately 2017 through 2021, and allowed him t…

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by Jon Craig
News
KIDNAPPING: Fourth NYC Suspect Charged In Abduction Of Fort Lee Man, $680,000 Ransom Demand KIDNAPPING: Fourth NYC Suspect Charged In Abduction Of Fort Lee Man, $680,000 Ransom Demand
Kidnapping: Fourth NYC Suspect Charged In Abduction Of Fort Lee Man, $680,000 Ransom Demand UPDATE: A previously-unidentified fourth New York City man accused of kidnapping a Fort Lee resident was charged by federal authorities. Gabriel Anthony, 34, of Queens, was ordered detained by a federal judge in Newark, joining co-defendants Albert Ferrelli, 50, and Chiahao Lee, 30, both also of Queens, and Fa Deng, 42, of Staten Island. All four are charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Ferrelli and Anthony were wearing masks when they snatched the victim from his home on Catherine Street near William Street the night of April 5, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger sa…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Police Nab Burglar Inside Englewood Cliffs Auto Dealership Police Nab Burglar Inside Englewood Cliffs Auto Dealership
Police Nab Burglar Inside Englewood Cliffs Auto Dealership A burglar who’d broken into an Englewood Cliffs auto dealership was captured by borough police with a little help from some friends, authorities said. Englewood Cliffs officers responding to a burglar alarm at the Sylvan Avenue business shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday, April 9 were told by a key holder that an intruder could be seen on surveillance cameras, Detective Lt. Ronald F. Waldt said. They were quickly joined by fellow officers and their colleagues from the Fort Lee, Englewood and Palisades Interstate Parkway police departments, the lieutenant said. Kelvin L. Dennis, 26, of State…

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by Jerry DeMarco