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Sunday, jan 5
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Wayne, NJ
Police & Fire
Wayne SWAT Standoff: Semi-Conscious Suspect Found After Hours-Long Barricade, Police Say
Details have been released in a SWAT standoff that had Wayne residents barred from entering their apartments for hours on Thursday, Jan. 2. Trouble on Lancaster Court in the Wayne Village apartments began around 1:40 p.m. when a woman called police saying that she was not home, but a man later identified as Hisham N. Obaid, 38, broke in and sent her photos saying he was inside, Wayne Police Capt. Daniel Daly said. Police found Obaid's car parked outside and observed him through a window. While the apartment doors were locked, officers contacted the man by phone and set up a perimeter. …
Police & Fire
SWAT Standoff Shakes Wayne Neighborhood, Barricade Ends After Nearly Five Hours
A SWAT standoff unfolded in a Wayne neighborhood on Thursday, Jan. 2, gripping residents of the Wayne Village apartments as authorities surrounded one particular unit. UPDATE: Semi-Conscious Suspect Found After Hours-Long Barricade, Police Say The situation began around 1 p.m. on Lancaster Court, according to residents, some of whom were unable to access their units during the standoff. Photos from the scene show heavily armed SWAT team members standing outside a unit, shields raised and long guns drawn, as they worked to resolve the incident. The barricade ended peacefully at approximate…
Business
Immigrant Couple Turns Struggles To Success: Celebrating 30 Years Of Jyoti In Wayne
Thirty years ago, Asha and Satish Guglani took a leap of faith on Route 46. They had little money, a dream, and a register sitting on a table because there wasn’t enough to buy a counter. Today, Jyoti, their Indian restaurant, stands as a cherished cornerstone of Wayne—a testament to decades of hard work, family dedication, and loyal customers. Jyoti, named after the Guglanis’ eldest daughter and symbolizing a “spiritual light,” opened its doors on Dec. 24, 1994. Asha was nervous but determined when Satish suggested opening a second restaurant just for her to run. Satish had already found s…
Police & Fire
Explosive Blaze At NJ Country Club Contained
A fiery inferno lit up the night sky over Preakness Hills Country Club on Monday, Dec. 29, as a maintenance building went up in flames, prompting a massive emergency response to prevent a potentially catastrophic disaster. Wayne Fire companies 3, 4, and 5 rushed to the scene on Ratzer Road just after 9:20 p.m. What they found was every firefighter’s worst-case scenario: a building fully engulfed in flames, dangerously close to both a fuel storage tank and a container of hazardous chemicals. “The first fire chief on the scene quickly realized the risks,” said Fire Commissioner Frank Velardi.…
Police & Fire
21-Year-Old Man Missing After Leaving Essex County Hospital: Sheriff's Office
A 21-year-old man remains missing after he left Essex County Hospital Center in Cedar Grove on Tuesday, Dec. 17, authorities said. Timothy Robinson left the facility on Grove Avenue toward a nearby neighborhood, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office said. Robinson is 5"8" and weighs 130 to 150 lbs., authorities said. He was last seen wearing all-black sweatpants, sweatshirt, and Crocs, with possibly a blue/gray coat, authorities said. Robinson is developmentally delayed and is not classified as a danger to himself or others, authorities said. Due to Robinson’s condition, he is not …
Police & Fire
Breaking
: Wayne School Bus Crashes Into Building After Hitting 2 Cars, Police Say
A Wayne Board of Education school bus crashed into a building after striking two vehicles at a busy intersection Thursday morning, Dec. 20, authorities said. ALSO SEE: Students, School Bus Driver Hospitalized In Crash With Tractor-Trailer On Route 17 In Paramus The crash occurred at approximately 7:28 a.m. as the bus was traveling north on Black Oak Ridge Road near the intersection with Pompton Plains Crossroad, according to Detective Captain Dan Daly of the Wayne Police Department. After hitting two vehicles stopped in the left turn lane, the bus continued into the intersection, veer…
Obituaries
Prominent North Jersey Jazz Musician Danny Bacher Dies At 48
Danny Bacher, a renowned jazz musician and Cliffside Park resident, died at the age of 48, the Jazz Loft in Stony Brook announced. The cause was a heart attack, the Jazz Loft said. A native of Wayne, Bacher was a singer, saxophonist, dancer and composer, who was also an author- having recently published a book about his collection of Laurel and Hardy merchandise, the Jazz Loft said. A graduate of Wayne Hills High School, Bacher attended New Jersey City University, according to his Facebook. At the time of his death, he was working on a project about Harry Nilsson, the Jazz Loft said. “I w…
Police & Fire
Teacher's Aide Taped Boy To Desk For 50 Minutes, Teacher Did Nothing In Passaic County: Cops
A teacher and a teacher's aide are facing charges in Passaic County for taping a child to a desk for nearly one hour, authorities said. Todd Lewis, 57, of Wayne, a teacher's aide placed masking tape around the back of the 9-year-old boy's neck and secured it to the desk, where the child remained for approximately 40 to 50 minutes, while Sallyann Scala, 67, of Pompton Lakes, continued teaching at Lenox Elementary School on Oct. 31, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said. Scala reportedly failed to intervene, according to the child’s statement. On Dec. 11, 2024, based…
Police & Fire
Breaking
: Baby Found Dead In Wayne, Prosecutor Says
A 7-month-old baby was found dead in Wayne on Wednesday, Dec. 4, authorities said. Wayne police officers were called to Route 23 and Ratzer Road around 1:40 p.m. on reports of a deceased infant, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wayne Police Deputy Chief Joseph Rooney said. Upon arrival, the police located a possible crime scene and a 7- 7-month-old infant, who was subsequently pronounced dead. It was not immediately clear where exactly the harrowing discovery was made. The investigation remains active and ongoing. More information will be released once it becomes avail…
Police & Fire
Orange Dad's Route 80 Death Spreads Shock, Sadness
Shock and sadness spread following the sudden death of a 41-year-old dad on Route 80 this week. Troopers responded to the crash in the westbound lanes of the highway in Wayne at approximately 10:51 a.m., New Jersey State Police Sgt. Charles Marchan said. A Ford Econoline van, driven by Namon Melvin, 41, of Orange, had rear-ended a Honda passenger car near milepost 53.7, Marchan said. The van then veered off the road, went down an embankment, and struck a tree. Melvin died in the crash while the driver of the Honda was not reported injured, Marchan said. Melvin's death left loved ones in s…
News
NJ Ranks Among Top States For Hospital Safety In Fall 2024, Leapfrog Report Finds
New Jersey hospitals are among the safest in the nation, according to the fall 2024 Hospital Safety Grade report from The Leapfrog Group. The Garden State ranks in the top 10 states for the highest percentage of "A" hospitals, joining states like Utah, Virginia, and Connecticut. The grades, which are updated twice a year, assess nearly 3,000 hospitals across the country on their effectiveness at preventing medical errors, accidents, and infections. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 30 performance measures to assign grades ranging from "A" to "F," offering patients and fami…
Police & Fire
NJ Teacher's Aide Slammed, Dragged Toddler At Montessori School: Prosecutor
A teacher’s aide at Apple Montessori School in Wayne has been charged with child abuse following an incident in which she allegedly assaulted a two-year-old in her care, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office announced. Meghan Hornidge, 19, of River Edge, was charged with fourth-degree abuse of a child and simple assault, stemming from an investigation conducted by the Special Victims Unit, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said. The investigation began on Aug. 13, 2024, when the Prosecutor’s Office received a report that Hornidge had reportedly slammed and dragged the …
Politics
Passaic County Flips To Red: Here's How Each Town Voted In The 2024 Election
Passaic County is seeing red for the first time since 1992. The reliably Democrat county voted for President-elect Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris, 95,620 votes to 89,086 votes, 50% to 46.6%. It was the first time Passaic County had voted a Republican for president since 1992 and the first time a Republican got 50% of the vote since George H.W. Bush in 1988. In 2020, President Joe Biden defeated Trump, 129,097 votes to 92,009 votes, 57.55% to 41.02%. The shift in Passaic County was part of a shift toward Trump statewide. While Harris defeated Trump by 5 points in the G…
Police & Fire
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…
Politics
Dems Overtake Republicans In Early Voting: Here's Where Polls Are Now Open In North Jersey
More than 38 million Americans had cast their votes in the 2024 elections as of Saturday morning, Oct. 26, the University of Florida Election Lab's early voter tracker shows. Polls have officially opened for early, in-person voting in New Jersey. How will you be voting? According to the UFL lab, 7.8M Democrats and 6.9M Republicans had already voted. Here's where you can show up and vote in each county in North Jersey come Saturday morning, Oct. 26. BERGEN Jack Alter Community Center, Fort Lee Garfield Nutrition Center & Senior Citizens Building, Garfield County Admin Build…
Police & Fire
Wayne Resident Wakes Up To Find Multiple Masked Burglars In His Bedroom: Police
A Wayne resident suffered a head injury chasing multiple masked suspects out of his home Wednesday morning, Oct. 23, police said. The homeowner said he awoke to the masked individuals in his bedroom around 5 a.m., after they'd removed the first-floor screen from a window and broke the lock that secured it, Police Chief Joseph Rooney said. The individuals then climbed into the home, and began looking for key fobs to vehicles in the driveway, the chief said. The homeowner confronted the suspects who fled the home, and the homeowner gave chase but fell and suffered an injury to his head …
Real Estate
7 Most Expensive Homes Sold In Passaic County In Last 30 Days
A $2.15 million home in Wayne was the most expensive home sold in the last 30 days in Passaic County. According to Redfin, prices in Passaic County were up 5.5% in September 2024 compared to September 2023, selling for a median price of $534,00. Homes in Passaic County sold after 29 days on average. In Bergen County, homes sold after about 70 days on the market last month, Redfin says. Here are seven of the most expensive homes sold in Passaic County in the last 30 days, according to Zillow and the NJMLS. 17 Urban Club Road, Wayne Google Maps 1. 58 Toms Lake Road, Wayne: Sold …
News
Boy Impaled By Stick In Wayne While Taking Shortcut Home From School, Police Say
An 11-year-old boy impaled by a stick in Wayne was rescued by his school's resource officer and firefighters using a stokes basket on Monday afternoon, Sept. 16, police said. The boy and other students from Anthony Wayne Middle School were taking a shortcut home through the woods, which required sliding down a steep hill, Wayne Police Capt. Daniel Daly said. While sliding down the hill, the boy was impaled through his thigh by a large stick, Daly said. A friend called 911 and another returned to the school seeking help, where he found the school resource officer, Detective John Barrows, and…
Police & Fire
Essex County Theft Crew's Plan To Beat Competition Goes Awry, 5 Arrested: Police
Five would-be package thieves from separate crews were arrested in Wayne after plans to beat out their competition last week in Wayne went awry, authorities said. Police received a 9-1-1 call reporting a burglary in progress at a hoem on Ratzer Road around 3:50 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, Wayne Police Capt. Dan Daly said. The caller said that two men were in his garage and one was in his backyard. He then said that the men fled and were in a black sedan on Kievit Road. The caller also told police that the suspect vehicle was a Honda. While responding officers found two black sedans on Kiev…
Police & Fire
Details Released In
Pcti
Football Game Shooting, Teen In Custody
Details have been released in the shooting following a football game at the Passaic County Technical Institute (PCTI) Friday night, Aug. 30. A 16-year-old has been arrested in the shooting a 15-year-old and 16-year-old around 7:30 p.m. at PCTI school in Wayne, where the football team had faced Lenape High School, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Passaic County Acting Sheriff Gary F. Giardina said. Police found a 15-year-old juvenile and a 16-year-old juvenile suffering from non-fatal gunshot wounds. Both were taken to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson.&n…
Police & Fire
18 Pounds Of Pot Seized From Consignment Shop Drug Ring Trio In North Jersey: Police
Three people have been arrested after authorities uncovered a massive drug ring being run out of a North Jersey thrift store. Search warrants executed at businesses, storage units, and vehicles in Bloomingdale, Newton, and Wayne turned up 18 pounds of marijuana and 1.13 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, Bloomingdale police said. Jesse A Baron, 43, of Bloomingdale, and Ryan T Smith, 36, of Butler, and Daniel F. Valerio, 39, of Bloomingdale, were slapped with various drug possession and distribution charges for running the scheme out of Thrifty Hippie Consignments on Main Street in Bloomin…
News
Teen Killed In Boating Accident Was Rising Rutgers Freshman
More information has come to light about the 18-year-old Wayne resident killed in a boating accident over the weekend in Harvey Cedars. Zeina Mahafzah was days away from beginning her freshman year at Rutgers University, as classes start on Tuesday, Sept. 2. According to university spokeswoman Dory Devlin, Zeina was enrolled in the School of Arts and Sciences–Newark. "The Rutgers-Newark community is devastated by the news of Zeina’s passing, and we are sending our support to the Mahafzah family during this incredibly difficult time," Devlin said. In a post shared to Faceboo…
Police & Fire
Crash With Fuel Spill Shuts Route 80 In Wayne
A crash and fuel spill closed all lanes of Route 80 in Wayne on Monday afternoon, Aug. 19, according to the NJDOT site. As of 2:22 p.m., all westbound lanes west of Exit 53 were closed. Delays up to 15 minutes were being reported.
Obituaries
Gerald 'Jerry' McMinn, Owner Of NJ Ice Cream Institution, Longtime EMT Dies At 93
Gerald "Jerry" McMinn, a man credited for saving countless lives over more than 65 years volunteering as an EMT, and bringing joy to thousands of North Jersey residents through his iconic Milk Barn, has died at 93 years old. An Army Veteran widely known across North Jersey as the owner of the Old Barn Milk Bar in Wayne, died on Wednesday, Aug. 7, according to his obituary on the Scanlan Funeral Home website. Jerry graduated from Butler High School and later served in the U.S. Army. While volunteering at the St. Joseph's Hospital emergency room in Paterson, he met his wife, "the l…
News
New Details Emerge In NJ Crash Caused By Suicidal Driver Facing Attempted Murder, Police Say
New details have emerged in a serious wreck last June in Passaic County. According to police papers obtained by Daily Voice, the 31-year-old Paterson man who caused the crash on Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne had been trying to end his own life, but ended up injuring a 44-year-old motorist instead. Police called to Hamburg Turnpike and Black Oak Ridge Road just before 2 a.m. on June 14 where they found D’Airon J. James sitting on the ground "saying he wished for this happen," according to the criminal complaint in the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office. James said that he purposely dr…
Police & Fire
Jersey City Porch Pirate Busted In Wayne: Police
A 28-year-old Jersey City resident was arrested and charged on Wednesday, July 30, after he stole multiple packages from a residence in Wayne, authorities said. Officers responded to a home in the Heritage Manor neighborhood after a resident reported he observed on his home security camera a man, Cesar Moquete, taking packages from the front porch of his home soon after they were delivered, Wayne police said in a release. One of the packages contained multiple cell phones, police said. Officers observed Moquete's vehicle traveling east on Ratzer Road and conducted a traffic stop, where they…
News
Prostitution Bust At Motels, Massage Parlors Nets 18 Arrests, $22K: Passaic Sheriff
Eighteen people were arrested and more than $22,000 was seized in a widespread prostitution bust across Passaic County, authorities said. Acting on citizen complains, multiple divisions of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office conducted a quality of life operation on July 23 and 24, Acting Sheriff Gary Giardina said. The detail targeted massage parlors and hotels across Passaic County, and found that the establishments were collecting illegal profits through prostitution related activities, Giardina said. The total number seized was $22,206. During the detail, detectives working i…
News
$8K, Oxy, More Drugs Seized From Passaic County Dealers After Wayne Investigation: Cops
A pair of Passaic County men have been arrested for drug dealing, authorities said. A concerned resident tipped Wayne police off, who launched an investigation with help from the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Haledon Police Department, the Pompton Lakes Police Department and the Wayne Police Patrol Division, police said. Police began surveillance on Louis C. Colao, 50, of Prospect Park, and Armando Verdina, 45, of Paterson, on Tuesday, July 24, Wayne Police Capt. Daniel Daly said. Officers watched as Colao carried out drug deals in various Wayne Township parking lots, Daly s…
News
Man Smashing Windshields At Wayne Diner With Rocks Spits On 3 Arresting Officers: Cops
A 27-year-old West Milford man was arrested for throwing rocks and smashing windows of parked cars at a Wayne diner, including a police car, and spit on arresting officers, authorities said. Evan R. Gonzalez was found walking along Hamburg Turnpike by Wayne officers responding to Park Wayne Diner around 6:40 p.m. Saturday, July 13, Capt. Dan Daly said. Gonzalez had been throwing rocks through windshields of parked cars in the business lots, and went into the diner where he threw items out before leaving, Daly said. Officers stopped traffic in both directions and approached Gonzalez, …
News
Goffle Creamery Voted Best Ice Cream In North Jersey: Meet High School Sweethearts Behind It
Some of Vinnie and Alyssa Penna's best childhood memories were getting ice cream at the Old Bar Milk Barn. If you grew up in Wayne, you know it: The brown barn with red and white signage. You could grab a cone at the walk-up window or sit in a booth or at a bar. The Pennas enjoyed many an ice cream cone at the Old Barn Milk Bar in their summers dating through Wayne Valley High School. The two got married in 2012 and in August 2021, they opened Goffle Creamery 686 Goffle Road in Hawthorne. The Pennas always envisioned creating a shoppe that would be an ode to places like the…
News
Porch Pirates With 15-Round Magazine, Handgun Arrested In Undercover Operation In Wayne: Police
A pair of porch pirates form Newark repeatedly targeting a Wayne home were arrested during an undercover operation in which police found a handgun and 15-round magazine in their vehicle, authorities said. Steven Ariel Fong, 23 and Waldy Perez-Rivas, 20, have each been charged with with theft and weapons offenses, along with unlawful purpose and possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine following an undercover operation Friday, July 12, Wayne Police Cap. Dan Daly said. A Laurel Drive homeowner called police last Friday saying he had been awaiting a delivery of multiple cell pho…
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