(via BergenPress.com)
Kevin Gnehm entered his first marathon last month and placed third — an amazing feat for anyone, made even more astonishing when you factor in the life threatening injures he sustained while competitive motorcycle racing a little more than a year…
SHOUT OUTS: Six new officers who’ve joined the Paramus police department bring diversity and experience.
Police Officer Amit Vaidya
Current resident of Metuchen, attended the Passaic County Police Academy and was hired by NJ Transit upon his graduation. During his time with NJ Transit, he was selected to work multiple specialty units and received several commendations. Recently with TAC unit, with work ranging from counter-terrorism on the rail lines to community outreach. Fluent in Gujarati and Hindi.
Police Officer Timothy Reed
Lives in Morristown, from the Roxbury area. While in Marine Corps, applicant deployed to Afghanistan and was placed in charge of more than 50 U.S. troops planning and executing combat operations and training Afghan National Army counterparts. Reed received 14 service medalsIawards, including the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Combat Action Ribbon (Afghanistan) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Attended Morris County Police Academy, received Morris County 200 Club Award, nominated for M.A.D.D. award for DWI enforcement. Received award from Rockaway Township PD for his role in the identifying a bank robbery suspect.
Police Officer Richard Paldino
Current resident of Belleville, completed Trenton Police Academy. Joined East Orange PD uniformed patrol in 2006, promoted to detective in 2011. Had one of his bureau’s highest closure rates and received commendations and unit citations.
Police Officer Connor Nutland
Lifelong Paramus resident. Volunteer baskeball, baseball, soccer coach, Paramus High School and Annunciation Church. Father is retired Paramus police sergeant and DARE officer William Nutland.
Police Officer Matthew McGuire
Played football at Bergen Catholic and Iona. Attended Passaic County Police Academy. YMCA volunteer mentor for at-risk youths. Commendations with Haworth include an apprehension award.
Police Officer Gil Maynard
Former Paramus resident, received nine service medalsIawards, including two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons in the USMC. Remains a reserve. Recipient of Bergen County 200 Club Role Model Award.
SHOUT OUT: “Chief for a Day,” one of Bergen County’s most popular law enforcement events, is set for this Friday, featuring youngsters with chronic disabilities from 18 towns holding the ceremonial post and attending a host of activities organized by Sheriff Michael Saudino.
The inspirational program provides children and their families a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of law enforcement.
“As public servants, it is our duty to bring care to those who need it the most,” Sheriff Michael Saudino said.
Bergen County Sheriff Saudino w/Brian Tuch, Tenafly Police Chief Robert Chamberlain w/Jonah Gold (COURTESY BCSO)
“I’ve been in law enforcement for more than 30 years,” Saudino told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “I think I speak for all of the officers here today when I say that we live for these days, when we can have a positive impact on our communities and celebrate life.”
This year’s honorary chiefs range from six to 15 years old.
Each gets his or her own uniform before being “sworn in” that morning in as Chief for a Day.
After touring their local police departments, they’re escoted in patrol cars to the Bergen County Justice Center in Hackensack, where they will participate in a group ceremony.
A motorcade will then take them to The Empire Club Restaurant in Little Ferry, where the new chiefs and their families will end the day with lunch, special guest speakers and a variety of fun activities and entertainment.
Each youngster also gets a commemorative plaque.
Michael Kontzamanis with Englewood Cliffs Police Chief Michael Cioffi
Saudino created “Chief for a Day” beginning with a modest number of chiefs and other officers. In just four years, it has become one of the most popular outings in the county.
A host of businesses contribute the uniforms, plaques, meals and other amenities that go with the special day.
“The experience is both humbling and rewarding,” recently retired Fairview Police Chief Frank DelVecchio said. “In a world with so many problems these kids, who are battling illnesses, display something missing in today’s society: courage and bravery.
“It’s equally important to our core mission of what we do as public safety administrators,” added Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler. “I consider it even more important because it energizes me to focus on what’s important in life.”
“It definitely reminds us all why we took this job,” Washington Township Police Chief Randy Ciocco said.
This year’s chiefs will be sponsored by:
Bergen County Sheriff’s Office
Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office
Bergenfield Police Department
Bogota Police Department
Carlstadt Police Department
Elmwood Park Police Department
Emerson Police Department
Englewood Cliffs Police Department
Fair Lawn Police Department
Fort Lee Police Department
Garfield Police Department
Montvale Police Department
North Arlington Police Department
Paramus Police Department
Park Ridge Police Department
Teaneck Police Department
Tenafly Police Department
Upper Saddle River Police Department
Wallington Police Department
Washington Township Police Department
SHOUT OUT: State lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are teaming up to tighten up regulations on “booting” parked cars, amid an outcry by motorists in Hoboken.
Under the measure, municipalities won’t be able to immobilize your vehicle unless there is an outstanding warrant against it.
Assemblyman Carmelo Garcia (D-33), a longtime Hoboken resident, says the bill, if passed, will curb overly aggressive public servants who engage in “a predatory practice that is designed to fill [municipal] coffers.”
The cost to retrieve your car after its bee booted can exceed $200.
“That’s a financial hardship for many residents,” Garcia said. “And if you don’t have a credit card to make the payment by phone, you could be stranded.”
If creating more resident parking and not raking in dough is truly is the goal, he said, the city “would be towing vehicles that violate local parking ordinances to free up spaces.”
Instead, visitors “are being deterred from patronizing our local businesses for fear it could prove to be a costly mistake if they park in the wrong spot.”
Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), a vocal critic of red light cameras, said it is “really a shame” that new laws were needed to put the brakes on “a blatant abuse of motorists.”
“You’ve got handicapped people, senior citizens returning from dinner, single women — anybody, really,” he said. “The fact that common human decency alone isn’t enough to persuade the people perpetuating this rip off to stop immediately says something sad about the individuals in charge.”
Weekhawken resident Wilson Vega Jr. said his pregnant wife had a troubling experience after her car was recently booted in Hoboken.
“It’s bad enough my pregnant wife had to pay a hefty fine,” he said. “She also had to return the boot or wait several hours until someone could come get it. It’s outrageous.”
According to the Hudson Reporter, Hoboken “pulled in nearly $5.6 million in revenue from parking tickets in 2013, almost $1 million more than in 2012.
“And though the city forks over $11.50 of every ticket to the state, there is still a financial gain for the city – 23.8 percent of this year’s parking utility budget will be funneled into the city’s coffers.” (SEE: Is Hoboken’s booting policy illegal?)
The bill, A-3225, is expected to considered by a legislative committee in the coming weeks. Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-25) joined Garcia and O’Scanlon as a co-sponsor.
SHOUT OUT: Carmen Martino, the first woman to head a county detective bureau in New Jersey history, was sworn in today as chief of detectives for the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
Martino, 48, is used to breaking ground, having begun her career nearly 25 years ago as the first Latina female detective on the county’s narcotics task force.
She was also the first female certified firearms instructor and first female captain in the BCPO.
BCPO Chief of Detectives Carmen Martino, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli (CVP PHOTOS: Robert Kugler)
“It’s an honor to be the first female chief, and I will do my very best to serve the people of Bergen County,” she said before being sworn in today at the county Law and Public Safety Institute in Mahwah. “This is a great agency to work for, and I’m happy to have been given this opportunity by the prosecutor.”
She replaces Steven Cucciniello, who is retiring after 4½ years in the position — and 27 years with the department.
“With over twenty-four years of law enforcement experience in criminal investigations, Carmen Martino has the first-hand knowledge and skills to ably lead our team of investigators,” Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said.
Martino has worked in just about every unit, including homicide, sex crimes, organized crime and narcotics.
Her law enforcement career began in July 1990 and involved investigations of major crimes in New Jersey and New York.
Martino was promoted to sergeant in October 2003, to lieutenant in April 2005 and to captain in October 2009.
CLIFFVIEW PILOT PHOTOS: Robert Kugler
Pictured: Pipes and Drums of Bergen County, Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez
SHOUT OUT: Donors at the Cresskill police and firefighters blood drive tomorrow will get a free $5 Dunkin Donuts gift card.
The blood/platelets drive runs from 3 to 7 p.m. at the firehouse at 51 Madison Ave.
You must weigh at least 110 pounds and show ID. It’s recommended that you eat before donating.
There’s a complimentary glucose and cholesterol test with each donation.
Click HERE to MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
Or call: (201) 251-3703 (Jeremy Luciano)
The event is sponsored by Cresskill PBA Local 180 and Cresskill IAFF Local 4896.
SHOUT OUT: It was a long time coming, but the celebration opening for a sculpture and garden dedicated to the memory of a 7-year-old Brownie Scout Joan D’Alessandro is set for later this month at the Hillsdale train station.
Both will serve as “lasting symbols of the need to protect our children while remembering Joan,” who was killed by a neighbor 41 years ago, Rosemarie D’Alessandro told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
The June 27 event, which begins at 6:30 p.m., will feature an original song called “Joanie,” a table display and remarks by several attendeees, along with commemorative white butterflies, “Joan’s Joy” cards and ice cream for children.
Although the sculpture was unveiled in April, the garden now has a custom-made bench, and its perrenials are in full bloom. Lighting is also being installed by Raymond Brothers.
Joan D’Alessandro
The 5,670-pound monument joins the flagpole and sign in front of the train station and has a carving of a white butterfly and a plaque with Joan’s photo. The white butterfly was chosen because it symbolizes Joan’s “joyful and free spirit, giving hope to many,” D’Alessandro said.
It was inspired by one that then-grieving mother said she found at the site where Joan’s body was found.
The side that faces the street says: “Remember Joan today so tomorrow’s children will be safe.”
Besides referring to the “heinous crime” responsible for Joan’s death, the side facing the train station lists the laws passed that guarantee life in prison for those who kill children 14 or under during a sex crime — with a space left for what is hoped will be a measure to extend the law to victims under 18.
“Her life and death inspired a movement to keep her killer in prison and spurred law changes,” D’Alessandro told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “Joan’s legacy is more alive today than it ever was. It is a force for good in today’s society.”
Joseph McGowan, a former high school science teacher, was convicted of raping and murdering Joan on April 19, 1973 (Holy Thursday), before dumping her body in Harriman State Park, where it was found on Easter.
The youngster had come to McGowan’s home, three doors down, looking to sell her last two boxes of cookies.
Her murder prompted the passage of Joan’s Law, signed by Gov. Christie Whitman in 1997 and by President Clinton in 1998. It mandates life in prison for the killing of children under 14 during a sex crime.
Because it was adopted after McGowan was sentenced, the law doesn’t apply to him. But he remains in prison for his crimes, having repeatedly been denied parole.
Meanwhile, Rosemarie D’Alessandro has made helping other parents and abused children her life’s mission.
The project is funded by the Joan Angela D’Alessandro Foundation — also known as “Joan’s Joy” — which she established to help youngsters and raise awareness of child safety issues.
Sponsors and donors have contributed $22,000 to the foundation, D’Alessandro said this week. Others have contributed goods and services. They include:
Alpine Monuments (Closter)
Raymond Brothers (Hillsdale)
Mystical Gardens (Dumont)
Victoria’s Nursery (Paramus)
Charlie Winters Supply (Paramus)
Galaxy Gardens (Woodcliff Lake)
Bel Fiori Greenhouse (Woodcliff Lake)
Mike Goble Trucking and Landscape Products (Livingston)
Bruce Hawkins Landscape Architect (South Orange)
MRC Recreation (Spring Lake)
JF Exteriors (Califon, NJ)
Spruce Mountain Granites (Barre, VT)
Rock-It Creations (Council, ID)
Chimera Communications (Durango, CO)
This summer, the Foundation’s “Fun, Educational and Safety Program” will be sponsoring trips that include day excursions for the youth of the Passaic Teen Center and a dream adventure to Great Adventure for approximately 65 children of the YCS Holley House in Hackensack.
TO CONTRIBUTE: The Joan Angela D’Alessandro Foundation, 45 Florence St., Hillsdale, (201) 664-9140 OR: Rosebd@email.com
INFO: www.Joansjoy.org
SHOUT OUT: Protecting and rescuing as many animals as possible takes not only compassion and dedication but also financial support from the community, say members of Bergen County Protect and Rescue Foundation in Cliffside Park.
“BCP&R is a 501-3c organization. We exist based on the donations and sponsorships we receive. To have survived since our inception is unthinkable,” says Animal Control Officer Vince Ascolese.
“Now, more than ever, we need support to get much-needed supplies and food to keep our shelter going,” he said.
BCP&R operates the no-kill shelter from a former 2nd Street ambulance corps building that it rents.
The animals are rescued from the streets or surrendered by owners.
Ascolese and a cadre of volunteers (photo, below right) are always going full-tilt — finding strays or runaways and tending to the needs of all of their charges.
With the professional use of humane traps and trapping techniques, the volunteers also relocate various wildlife to safer locations.
A shelter-sponsored veterinarian carefully examines each animal that comes in. Some may need medical treatment, rehabilitation or medication. All require love and attention — along with walking, feeding and bathing.
The BCP&R crew of volunteers is tightly knit
The BCP&R team also works closely with rescue groups and shelters to help find domestic animals new homes — hopefully “fur-ever.”
“Our aim is to keep animals off the streets and in a loving and caring environment,” Ascolese said. “We also provide pet owners with advice and solutions to their animal related problems.”
In turn, the group relies on the support of the community.
Just a sampling of the items being sought:
Pedigree dog food (wet and dry)
Latex surgical gloves (M and L)
Garbage bags (contractor size)
Paper towels
Urine pads
Dish detergent
All-purpose bleach
(ALSO: SEE BELOW)
Members of the shelter will pick them up. CALL: (201) 945-0649.
Or you order and ship through Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/24NI3YLJFOJ3B/ref=cm_wl_sortbar_v_page_4?ie=UTF8&page=4
INFO: www.bcrescues.org 
DOG ADOPTION INFORMATION
justdogs@bcrescues.org
CAT ADOPTION INFORMATION
justcats@bcrescues.org
GENERAL CONTACT:
(201) 945-0649
rescueme@bcrescues.org
ADOPTIONS/DONATIONS:
302 2nd Street
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
MAILING ADDRESS:
PO Box 1172
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
SHOUT OUT: The third annual Norwood Carnival continues through tomorrow night, sponsored by the borough Public School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).
Highlights include:
The carnival will be open from 6 to 10 o’clock tonight and from 5-10 p.m. tomorrow.
All proceeds will be used “to enhance Norwood PTO programs and enrich our children’s educational experiences,” the organization said.
“Past and ongoing programs include cultural arts education, arts and music programs, Author Day, the purchase of educational technology assets, teacher and administrator appreciation events, and many others,” it said.
“Our organization is solely a volunteer organization and requires thousands of volunteer hours to be as successful and robust as it is.”
ALL PHOTOS: Courtesy NORWOOD PTO
SHOUT OUT: Ten area mayors will compete in the Mayors Cup Race on the Oradell Reservoir tomorrow as part of the annual Reservoir Challenge sponsored by the Hackensack Riverkeeper and United Water.
A variety of events are scheduled, including group paddles and children activities. A lunch wagon will also be there.
Check-in is at 8 a.m., with all in the water by 9 a.m.
The running start for the 10K race is 9:30 a.m. SHARP and for the 5K at 9:35 a.m. SHARP.
The Mayors Cup launches at 11 a.m.
Group paddles begin at noon. Organizers ask that participants arrive to check in at by 11:30, the latest.
SHOUT OUT: After a whirlwind day in which he was applauded by his school, saluted by his local police department and escorted by a special motorcade, 6-year-old Henry Naida of Tenafly had one “Chief of the Day” wish: “Let’s do it again tomorrow!”
Henry was one of nearly two dozen ill and disabled youngsters who became honorary police chiefs of their respective towns for today’s fourth annual “Chief of the Day” program sponsored by Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino.
“What a fantastic day — so very rewarding,” Tenafly Police Chief Robert Chamberlain told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “I think the sheriff said it best: The kids get so much out of this, but, in reality, we get as much out of it as they do.”
PHOTO: Courtesy Tenafly Police Chief Robert Chamberlain
Henry has alopecia areata, a hair-loss condition.
Today he was a hero.
McKay School Principal John Fabbo brought Henry up in front of a school assembly to applause and cheers from pupils, teachers, parents and staff who high-fived him as he went by this morning.
Surrounded by loved ones and neighbors, Henry also got salutes from Chamberlain’s officers outside his house.
He, his family and Chamberlain were then taken by motorcade, sirens sounding, to the steps of the county courthouse in Hackensack.
This year’s honorary chiefs range from six to 15 years old (FULL LIST BELOW).
* * * * * *
* * * * * *
Each got his or her own uniform before being “sworn in” this morning at 22 law enforcement agencies, including the county sheriff’s and prosecutor’s offices in Hackensack.
After department tours, they got the royal escort to the Bergen County Justice Center for a group ceremony before another motorcade took them to The Empire Club in Little Ferry.
There they had lunch, listened to guest speakers and participated in games and activities. All received gifts, including a commemorative plaque.
PHOTO: Courtesy Tenafly Police Chief Robert Chamberlain
Saudino, a former Emerson police chief, created “Chief for a Day” with a modest number of chiefs and other officers soon after becoming sheriff. In just four years, the event has become one of the most popular outings in the county.
A host of businesses contribute the uniforms, plaques, meals and other amenities that go with the special behind-the-scenes look that the children and their families get into the inner workings of law enforcement.
“I’ve been in law enforcement for more than 30 years,” Saudino said. “We live for these days, when we can have a positive impact on our communities and celebrate life.”
“It’s one of the most rewarding days of my year. I look forward to it,” said Upper Saddle River Police Chief Patrick Rotella. “The smiles that we see — it’s just amazing to know that we’re making a difference in their lives.”
Henry Naioa said the highlight of his day was standing on the McKay School stage and seeing his teacher, Amanda Cobell, applauding him.
He called Chamberlain, the Tenafly chief, “my new best friend.”
“Henry’s a wonderful kid with a wonderful family,” Chamberlain said. “Anything I can do to brighten his day and give him something to be proud of, I’m there.
“I’ve definitely forged a friendship for life.”
PHOTOS BELOW: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter / NORTHWEST BERGEN PRESS reporter Stephanie Schwartz contributed to this account
PHOTOS: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter
The honorary chiefs (list provided by BERGEN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE):
Kamlyn Garcia / Bergenfield
Christopher Kwless / Carlstadt
Michael Kontzamanis / Englewood Cliffs
Gloria Cenolli / Elmwood Park
Isabella Romano / Emerson
Juliana Jorge / Fair Lawn
Julia Traiger / Fort Lee
Jerel Johnson / Garfield
Thomas Minervini / Hackensack (Sheriff’s Department)
Austin Alvarez / Hasbrouck Heights
Joseph McNeice / Montvale
Miguel Vega / North Arlington
Kostadinos Stepas / Paramus
Brandon Petronzi / Paramus (Prosecutor’s Office)
Rudy Ramirez / Park Ridge
Jake Guarderas / Saddle Brook
Deen Sheikh / Teaneck
Henry Naida / Tenafly
Julia Frances / Upper Saddle River
Carina Protasewicz / Wallington
Benjamin Waldinger / Washington Township
SHOUT OUT: Upper Saddle River police were one of three New Jersey semifinalists in the running for the highest honor the U.S. Department of Defense can give an organization for supporting the National Guard and Reserves.
The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is given to an employer who provides “extraordinary support” to their Guard and Reserve employees. The other New Jersey semifinalists were Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield in Newark and Grande Brothers Inc. of Toms River.
Thirty finalists – none from New Jersey – were chosen from an overall field of 2,864 who were nominated by a Reserve member who is employed by the organization nominated.
Of those, up to 15 will receive the award, which ordinarily is bestowed by the President of the Secretary of Defense.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award
Upper Saddle River police last week received a pro patria award from the Employers Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), which recognizes support of law enforcement officers assigned to the Guard or Reserves.
Recognition certificates, a statement of support and a ceremonial trophy were presented during a luncheon that drew active and retired members of all U.S. military branches to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Holmdel.
Borough Police Sgt. Emmett McDowell is assigned to the Air Force Reserves, while Officer Vincent Siracusa is assigned to the Army National Guard.
“I am proud to have soldiers like Sergeant McDowell and Officer Siracusa working for my agency,” Police Chief Patrick Rotella said. “They both should be commended for their tireless efforts and their service to our country.
“They bring back to my agency specialized military training, leadership, unique skills, and most importantly, an in-depth insight [into] the current threats facing our country,” the chief added. “Their military training has undoubtedly helped the Police Department on a daily basis, as well as during times of emergency and national disaster.”
Siracusa, a 10-year department veteran, served four years active duty in the Navy and currently is a captain with the New Jersey Army National Guard. He deployed to Iraq as a company commander in 2008 and in 2012 to Afghanistan as a mentor to the Albanian and Afghani national armies. Siracusa was promoted to major during his last deployment and currently works with the Battle Staff Training team at Fort Dix.
McDowell served four years of active duty in Air Force before joining the Reserves. He currently holds the rank of technical sergeant and works in quality assurance on KC-10 and C-17 aircraft. McDowell has flown with the Air Force on more than 15 missions since 2005 and was deployed in 2003 and 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Nearly half of the U.S. military is comprised of the Guard and Reserve.
The Department of Defense “shares these citizen warriors with their civilian employers, many of whom provide significant support to their employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve,” ESGR said.
Established in 1972, ESGR is a Department of Defense agency whose mission is “to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by advocating relevant initiatives, recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of applicable laws and resolving conflict between employers and service members,” the organization said.
Since it was authorized in 1996, the Freedom Award has been presented to 190 employers nationwide in three categories: large business, small business and the public sector.
A national selection board comprised of senior DOD officials and business leaders chooses the award recipients.
The employers selected as semifinalists “demonstrate their commitment to Guard and Reserve employees through initiatives such as setting veteran hiring goals, establishing military employee liaisons, arranging care package drives and granting additional leave for military members to spend time with family.”
The 15 award recipients will be announced within a few weeks and honored in Washington, D.C. in September at the 19th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony.
INFO: www.esgr.mil
(PHOTO: Pictured left to right with military and ESGR staff are Upper Saddle River Police Officer Vincent Siracusa, Sgt. Emmett McDowell, Borough Administrator Ted Preusch, Lt. David Lally, Chief Patrick Rotella.)
SHOUT OUT: Youngsters can get free bicycle helmets when Fort Lee police conduct their annual bike registration and safety check this Saturday.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine, in the parking lot of the police department on 16th Street.
Children from the township who don’t have their own helmets can get one free when they register.
“If a bike is stolen from the street, a car or home, the owner needs the serial number to report the theft to the police,” Fort Lee Police Chief Keith Bendul said. “Most people don’t keep this number handy.
“However, when a bicycle is registered the police can recall information quickly from the computer,” the chief said. “The registration records are cross-referenced by name as well as by serial number and registration number.”
As a result, stolen bikes that are registered have a greater chance of being returned if found.
“Bicycle Registration also aids in the identification of the bicycle owner in case of a crash,” Bendul said, noting that most children don’t carry identification.
“What would happen if your child is involved in a bike crash?” he added. “It could take hours for emergency personnel to make positive identification and contact a parent.
“If your child’s bicycle is registered, you can be contacted quickly.”
On top of that, the chief said, thieves are less likely to steal a registered bike since its owner can easily be identified. Theft reports in Fort Lee’s computer are also posted on statewide and national crime computers. Bicycles can be recovered anywhere in the U.S. and traced back to the original owner.
Strictly Bicycles will conduct a free bicycle safety check, while Fort Lee bicycle patrol officers provide safety tips — and a bicycle rodeo — at Saturday’s event.
Strictly Bicycles is a full service shop in Fort Lee, New Jersey specializing in custom builds, repairs, and products for all cycling needs. Strictly Bicycles carries a large selection of road, triathlon, mountain, hybrid and children’s bikes. Their Benzel-Busch sponsored cafe serves fresh coffee, espresso, cappuccino, and Belgian waffles daily.
SHOUT OUT: A good Samaritan from Haworth is credited with preventing a despondent Union City man from jumping off the George Washington Bridge last night.
Port Authority police responding to emergency calls from passersby around 8 p.m. found bicyclist Benjamin Storch, 38, clinging tightly to the 67-year-old Union City man on the south walkway just west of the bridge’s New York tower, the authority’s Joseph Pentangelo said this morning.
The 5-foot-7-inch, 150-pound man “had a powdered substance in his mouth and he admitted that he had taken a handful of pills and chewed them,” Pentangelo said.
The would-be jumper then grabbed onto the bridge’s stringer cables in an attempt to climb over the outer railing but Storch, seeing what was happening, grabbed his arm and pulled him down, he said.
An ambulance took the man to Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center for a medical and psychological evaluation, Pentangelo said.
SHOUT OUT: In an effort to give people the strength to oppose and prevent domestic violence, Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan has forged an alliance with Shelter Our Sisters, “No More” and other organizations while participating in public service announcements.
In 2011 there were 4,521 incidents of domestic violence reported to police in Bergen County, after which 1,367 people were arrested, the county executive noted. 
“In December I attended a candlelight vigil commemorating four people who lost their lives to domestic violence,” Donovan said in her 2014 State of the County speech. “These victims included a 23 year-old mother, a 58 year old account executive, and a 5 year-old girl.
“They were killed by a husband, a boyfriend and an ex-boyfriend of that little girl’s mom.”
Trained professionals are are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week “to provide the help that is needed to put a stop to this destructive behavior,” she said.
All calls made to the Alternatives to Domestic Violence Hotline remain confidential, Donovan emphasized: (201) 336-7575
“We all hope for the day when their services are no longer needed,” she said.
Until then, county officials are working to spread the word.
The Bergen Cares campaign has produced several PSAs with Donovan as the spokesperson.
Here’s one:
These join those produced last year by actress Mariska Hargitay’s Joyful Heart Foundation:
SHOUT OUT: Two good Samaritans helped Garfield police make a pair of burglary arrests.
Officers tipped off by a caller were waiting Thursday afternoon as 31-year-old city resident Dione L. Briones emerged from a Van Winkle Ave residence, Police Capt. Darren Sucorowski said.
Briones broke a first-floor front window to get in, Sucorowski said.
She claimed she was moving in and that another woman had broken the window to help her, he said.
Briones didn’t have permission to be inside and was charged with burglary, giving a false report to police and possession of drug paraphernalia, the captain said.
The former Verona resident was being held on $30,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail.
Two days earlier, city police got a call from their Passaic colleagues that they had a witness and suspect involved in a River Drive break-in.
The good Samaritan had followed the suspect over the Wall Street bridge into Passaic after seeing him climb in through a first-floor side window and out through a rear window, Sucorowski said.
Garfield police arrested Erick F.Garcia (inset, above) and recovered power tools taken during the break-in, the captain said.
Garcia, 44, of Passaic was being held on $3,500 bail in the Bergen County Jail, charged with burglary and theft.
SHOUT OUT: Riding his bicycle home from work in Manhattan as he always does, Benjamin Storch of Haworth spotted a troubled man at the railing on the George Washington Bridge’s south walkway Tuesday night.
“He was trying to climb up over the side,” said Storch (inset, above), a capital planning insurance advisor who’s been riding his bike to work since last summer. “He grabbed one of the cables and was pulling himself up.”
Storch could see powder around the 67-year-old Union City man’s mouth. He’d swallowed a handful of pills.
“I pulled over and grabbed him and started yelling for help,” he told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
“I grabbed one of his arms,” said Storch, 38. “He still kept trying to pull himself over….Then I saw another bicyclist headed in the other direction. I yelled at him to call 911.
“Another guy who was walking by ran over and helped me grab his other arm. We held him there until the police arrived.”
Storch is originally from the Bay Area in California, the site of one of the world’s most popular destinations for suicide, the Golden Gate Bridge.
He hadn’t realized how many people jump from the GWB’s 212-foot-high span, he said, until he was riding to work last month, saw police activity and discovered that someone had plunged into the Hudson.
So Storch Googled it — and was surprised at the results.
Nine reported jumpers have committed suicide from the span this year. Countless others have been stopped.
There were 15 confirmed suicides last year, with 49 saves — formally known as “interventions,” the authority’s Joseph Pentangelo said.
That came after what is considered a recent GWB record, 18 suicides, that were recorded in 2012 — more than all of the other Hudson and East River crossings combined. This followed a decade that saw six, on average, per year (SEE: GWB a ‘suicide magnet’?).
An ambulance took the man Tuesday night to Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center for a medical and psychological evaluation, Pentangelo said.
Storch, meanwhile, calmed another person that night — his wife.
“She was worried about me,” he said. “But I was fine.”
SHOUT OUTS: Three Fort Lee police officers who collectively made more than 100 DWI arrests last year were among hundreds of law enforcers honored last week by Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s New Jersey chapter.
Among those touted was the officer who made the most DWI arrests last year in Bergen County — and the fourth-most in the entire state: Harrington Park’s Antimo Costagliola, with 53.
(COMPLETE LIST, below.)
Fort Lee Deputy Police Chief Timothy Ford, Officers Thomas Keelen, Carlos Cabrera, Richard Hernandez, Police Chief Keith Bendul
“These law enforcement officers are the ones truly making a difference in our quest to stop the impaired drivers from causing unnecessary death on our streets, roads and highways,” MADD New Jersey Chairman Maria Esteves told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
Of those honored by the organization — and loved ones of those killed by drunk drivers — 93 were from 52 departments in Bergen County, including the Port Authority police.
“We were so pleased with the turnout,” Esteves said. “It gives us a chance to say thanks.”
Fort Lee Police Officer was recognized for a third straight year and Officer Tom Keelen for the second.
“These officers remain a potent force in the battle against impaired driving,” Police Chief Keith Bendul said after the ceremony at Middlesex County College in Edison. “Their work has made Fort Lee a safer place.”
PHOTOS top, below: Nj.com
All of the officers honored at the Law Enforcement Recognition program received a plaque and a uniform citation bar for their “lifesaving work” combating drunk driving. They also got T-shirts from NJ MADD, which advocates for strict DWI laws.
The 2013 DWI arrest leaders in New Jersey: Stratford Borough Officer Steven Schmidt (Camden County), with 104, and Toms River Officer Robert Westfall (Ocean County), with 102 (SCROLL DOWN for BERGEN list).
PHOTOS: Courtesy Nj.com
Alpine Borough Police PO Briam Prunk / PO Arthur White
Bergenfield Police PO David Tortora
Carlstadt Police PO Jason Colombo
Cliffside Park Police PO Daniel Murtagh / PO Yakup Zoklu
Closter Police PO Christopher Barbieri / PO Joseph Baldomero III
Dumont Police PO Steven Quintano
East Rutherford Police Department PO Robert Applegate / PO Matthew Bucceri
Elmwood Park Borough Police PO Thomas Giammanco / PO Michael Prelich
Emerson Borough Police Sgt. Stephen Clark
Englewood City Police PO Charles Silva
Englewood Cliffs Police Sgt. Ronald Waldt
Fair Lawn Police PO Brian Rypkema / PO Ian Manelis / PO Robert Manning / PO Steven Buskiewicz / PO Ken Cavanagh
Fairview Police PO Raphael Guastella
Fort Lee Police PO Richard Hernandez / PO Carlos Cabrera / PO Thomas Keelen
Frankin Lakes Police PO Will Zangara
Garfield City Police Department PO Gerald Wich
PO William Houck
Glen Rock Police PO Greg Carter / PO Mike Trover / PO Bryan Scott
Harrington Park Police PO Antimo Costagliola
Hasbrouck Heights Police PO Bradley Dussault
Hillsdale Borough Police PO Alex Kaplan / PO Ryan Norton
Leonia Police Sgt. Christopher Garris / PO Frank Rocco / PO Sihoon Chung
Mahwah Township Police PO David Vega / PO Ryan Hill / PO Timothy Letavish
Maywood Police PO Darryl Wuhrl / PO Erik Aronson
Midland Park Police PO Christopher Birch
Montvale Police PO Herminio Amado / PO Andrew Fedick / PO Christopher Hawken / PO Brian Lamendola
Moonachie Police PO Vito DeTrizio
New Milford Police PO Byan Mone / PO Brian Carlino / PO Frank Haggerty / PO Michael Lafrano / PO Renzo Trapani
North Arlington Police PO Thomas Farrell
Northvale Police Department PO Robert Devore
Norwood Police PO Michael Getto
Oakland Borough Police PO Keith Docwra
Oradell Police PO Jeff Peters
Palisades Park Police PO Christopher Scilingo
Paramus Police PO Joseph Cullen
Park Ridge Police PO Sabastian Szot / PO Dan Hoffmann / PO Christopher Puglis
Port Authority Police PO Edwin Berdecia
Ramsey Police PO James S. Peterson
Ridgefield Park Police PO Dale Madan / PO Bradley Gilmore
Ridgefield Police PO Brandon Hogan / PO Paul Svorec / PO Dan Fugnitti
Ridgewood Police Sgt. John Chuck / PO Anthony Mormino
River Edge Police PO Dennis Griffith / PO Vincent Ariano
River Vale Police Sgt. Christopher Bulger
Rutherford Police PO Craig Capoano
South Hackensack Police PO Justin Zanca
Teaneck Police PO Constantinos Stoufas / PO Kester Osaigbovo / PO Craig Luebeck
Tenafly Police PO Louis Smaragdakis
Upper Saddle River Police PO Colin Gurney
Waldwick Police PO Brian Finale / PO Christopher Goodell
Wallington Police PO Ronald Goral
Washington Township Police PO Steven Riedel
Westwood Police PO Mark Foley / PO Michael Fortunat
Wyckoff Township Police PO Kyle Ferreira
SHOUT OUT: Special fundraisers for Lily LaRue Anderson continue this Thursday with circus clowns making balloon art at Matthews’ Diner & Pancake House in Bergenfield, which will donate 20% of all purchases all day to her family.
The 3rd Masonic District organized the event at the Washington Avenue eatery for Lily, of Wayne, who has an inoperable brain tumor.
Salaam Shrine clowns will be on hand, along with other special guests.
READ MORE about Lily here:
A memorable day at the circus
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), as it’s called, is particularly cruel: The median overall survival term is 9 months.
YOU CAN HELP: Lily’s fight (GoFundMe)
Lily, who turns 6 in two weeks, is “smart, funny, and loves life,” her parents wrote on the GoFundMe page. “She is an animal lover…chihuahuas, unicorns, owls, monkeys, and even worms. She loves taking photos, making videos, dancing, and doing silly impressions.
“Lily is always ready to show you a new trick, tell you a joke, and sing you a song,” the page says. “You are guaranteed a good laugh and big smile.”
Whatever is raised will be used for expenses associated with medical care and travel for treatments — and for any needs or wishes that Lily has.
If you can find a place in your heart for an angel who likely won’t see Christmas, it would be appreciated.
GO TO: Lily’s Fight (GoFundMe)
SHOUT OUT: Motorola Solutions has chosen the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police to beta-test a new unit that allows officers to operate a cruiser’s radio, lights and siren at once.
The Siren Light Interface Module (SLIM) reduces the amount of devices and wiring needed in the center console, PIPPD Chief Michael Coppola said. There’s also less to replace or repair.
Coppola said the department is converting its entire fleet from test modules to the finished product.
His officers also participated in a video for Motorola:
PHOTOS: Courtesy PALISADES INTERSTATE PARKWAY PD
