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'Was That An Earthquake?' North Jersey Asks 'Was That An Earthquake?' North Jersey Asks
'Was That An Earthquake?' North Jersey Asks "What was that?" was the question that rumbled through a large swath of North Jersey and into New York State early Wednesday afternoon. Mine blasting? A sonic boom? Seneca guns? Unconfirmed reports of an earthquake or "seismic-like event" stretched from Newton and Sparta in Sussex County to as far east as the Palisades in Alpine beginning at 12:52 p.m. Jan. 11.  There were similar calls in several southern New York State counties, as well as in the Poconos in Pennsylvania. All are basically in the area of the Ramapo Fault Line. The longest and oldest in the Northeast -- at 185 m…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Four Suffer Smoke Inhalation In Overnight Old Tappan House Fire Four Suffer Smoke Inhalation In Overnight Old Tappan House Fire
Four Suffer Smoke Inhalation In Overnight Old Tappan House Fire Four people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation from an overnight house fire in Old Tappan, responders said. The blaze in the $1 million home at the end of a cul-de-sac on Parker Place broke out in the kitchen around 2:45 a.m. It immediately went to a second alarm on arrival, with a third alarm called roughly 20 minutes later. Old Tappan firefighters were met with heavy smoke at the Parker Place fire.OLD TAPPAN FD The Parker Place house fire in Old Tappan before dawn Saturday, Nov. 19 quickly went to three alarms.WOODCLIFF LAKE FD Firefighters had the blaze knocked down and under…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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Park Ridge Family Loses All In Fire, Relatively Minor Injuries Reported Park Ridge Family Loses All In Fire, Relatively Minor Injuries Reported
Park Ridge Family Loses All In Fire, Relatively Minor Injuries Reported Loved ones and friends are rallying for a Park Ridge couple and their three young children who lost just about everything in a fire that sent four firefighters to the hospital. Authorities are investigating the cause of the two-alarm blaze, which broke out in the Henry Avenue home of Matt and Lisa Patterson shortly before 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9. Meanwhile, family friend Janet Zakrzewska launched a GoFundMe campaign to help the family. GO TO: Tragic House Fire - Matt and Lisa Patterson "They are the most hardworking, genuine, kind-hearted and giving people that we know!!" Zakrzewska …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Firefighters Contain Destructive Kitchen Fire At Westwood Restaurant Firefighters Contain Destructive Kitchen Fire At Westwood Restaurant
Firefighters Contain Destructive Kitchen Fire At Westwood Restaurant Firefighters kept a blaze that severely damaged a Guatemalan restaurant from spreading to the rest of a small shopping center in Westwood. The fire broke out in the kitchen and extended to the cockloft of Mi Flor Latin Cafe on Kinderkamack Road across from Kingsberry Avenue shortly before 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. Firefighters quickly climbed up and opened the roof as part of an aggressive attack that kept the blaze in check and was over in minutes. Their colleagues from Emerson and River Vale provided mutual aid. Fire inspectors were investigating the cause. The fire broke out in…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
DWI Driver From River Vale Drove Wrong Way On Rockland Highway: Sheriff DWI Driver From River Vale Drove Wrong Way On Rockland Highway: Sheriff
DWI Driver From River Vale Drove Wrong Way On Rockland Highway: Sheriff A River Vale motorist was drunk when he drove the wrong way overnight on a Rockland highway and somehow didn't hit anything, authorities said. Aidan Beahm, 25, was headed east on the westbound side of divided Route 59 in Nanuet when a sheriff's officer spotted the vehicle around 3 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco III said. Beahm was arrested, charged with DWI and issued summonses before being processed and released, the sheriff said. He was scheduled for a first appearance in Clarkstown Justice Court on Sept. 12.

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by Jerry DeMarco
Business
Rooftop Opens At Felina In Ridgewood Rooftop Opens At Felina In Ridgewood
Rooftop Opens At Felina In Ridgewood The rooftop has opened at Felina in Ridgewood after nearly 3.5 years. La Terrazza has its own food and drinks menu and is located on top of the Italian restaurant on East Ridgewood Avenue, initially run by four-star chef Anthony Bucco. Bucco left the restaurant during COVID-19, at which point Flavia Amaral and chef Carlos Valdez, both of Let's Meat in River Vale, took over. La Terrazza seats 85 guests, has a kitchen with a pizza oven, rosé bar, cocktails, and can be transformed into an event space. Felina/Terrazza, 54 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood.

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Drowning Bergen County Boy, 3, Pulled From Pool Drowning Bergen County Boy, 3, Pulled From Pool
Drowning Bergen County Boy, 3, Pulled From Pool A drowning 3-year-old boy was pulled from a backyard pool and rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center early Monday afternoon. Hospital staff tried to resuscitate the child, who was in cardiac arrest as police escorted the ambulance from the home on Forest Avenue in Rochelle Park shortly after 1:30 p.m. Hackensack and Maywood police assisted in clearing a path. The Bergen County Sheriff's Bureau of Criminal Identification responded to collect evidence and the county prosecutor's office was notified. It was another in a tragic string of accidents this summer not just in Bergen County …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
TERRIFYING: Children In Separate Bergen County Homes Come Face-To-Face With Brazen Car Thieves TERRIFYING: Children In Separate Bergen County Homes Come Face-To-Face With Brazen Car Thieves
Terrifying: Children In Separate Bergen County Homes Come Face-To-Face With Brazen Car Thieves It can give you chills: Children from two separate homes in Old Tappan came into contact with brazen thieves trying to steal their parents’ cars, authorities said. A bandit tried taking a Range Rover from the driveway of one home while two young girls played in front of it, Police Chief Joseph Tracy said. Hours later, a thief in a black ski mask and hoodie entered an open garage door to steal a Mercedes Benz but bolted after he was confronted by the residents’ 12-year-old son. Although both attempts failed, a third succeeded when a 2022 BMW that had been left unlocked with the key fob insi…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
River Vale Resident Drowns In Backyard Pool River Vale Resident Drowns In Backyard Pool
River Vale Resident Drowns In Backyard Pool A 55-year-old River Vale man drowned in his backyard pool on Friday, authorities confirmed. Borough police responding to a 911 call at 624 Brian Court shortly after 11 a.m. found Daniel Balestra still in the pool, responders said. Offices pulled the victim from the pool and began CPR, Police Lt. John Wisse said. “Hackensack University Medical Center Advanced Life Support arrived on the scene and it was determined he was deceased,” Wisse said. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Identification collected evidence and the Bergen County Medical Examiner’s Office took custody of the…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Three New Officers Sworn In River Vale, Veteran Promoted To Sergeant Three New Officers Sworn In River Vale, Veteran Promoted To Sergeant
Three New Officers Sworn In River Vale, Veteran Promoted To Sergeant A robust recruiting process by a dedicated police lieutenant produced the hiring of three new highly qualified officers in River Vale. Lt. Josh Wisse spent six months finding a large number of highly qualified applicants, Police Chief Sean Schiedle said. Following what the chief called an “exhaustive” interview and selection process, the department hired three probationary police officers – all of whom have names who were sworn in by Municipal Judge Michael Garrett: Born and raised in Ramsey, Officer Kyle Fanning played football and baseball at Ramsey High School before going on to play f…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Lifestyle
North Jersey Boy Draws On Passion For Technology With Christmas Light Display North Jersey Boy Draws On Passion For Technology With Christmas Light Display
North Jersey Boy Draws On Passion For Technology With Christmas Light Display The creative mind behind one of the brightest homes in Bergen County is only 10 years old. Ryan Pleeter, of Thurnau Drive in River Vale, was inspired to make a Christmas light display of his own by his uncle, Chris. "He asked for a few strings of pixel lights for Christmas and started researching on YouTube how to set up his own display at our house -- and the rest was history," his mom Briana Pleeter said. "Ryan is really into technology so this was a way to expand upon that passion." Ryan -- who has a YouTube channel dedicated to all-things technology -- started making the arches that l…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Deer Chased By Dog Dies After Crashing Through Window Of River Vale Home Deer Chased By Dog Dies After Crashing Through Window Of River Vale Home
Deer Chased By Dog Dies After Crashing Through Window Of River Vale Home It came in as a possible burglary in progress but turned out to be a horrific accident. Sometime before dawn Wednesday, a deer being chased by a dog crashed through the window of a River Vale home, police said. The gravely wounded deer eventually died, Capt. Chris Bulger said. Animal control removed the carcass from the Coopers Lane home, he said. “The dog appeared to be fine and the deer showed no signs of injury from the dog,” the captain said. The dog’s owner and the homeowner “have been in contact and will handle the matter between them for the damage,” he said.

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by Jerry DeMarco