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Waldwick fire continues to burn into evening

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Though rain had started to fall, a fire at a PSE&G substation continued to smolder at 5 p.m. p.m., more than six hours after neighbors reported hearing a pair of explosions.

WALDWICK -- Though rain had started to fall, a fire at a PSE&G substation continued to smolder at 5 p.m., more than six hours after neighbors reported hearing a pair of explosions.

The blasts shook the pictures on Mike Pendergast's wall and scared Mario Ritondale's wife.

Late into the afternoon, they were still unable to return to their homes after firefighters evacuated them.

"I just hope they get it under control," said Ritondale, 58. "I don't want any damage."

It took more than three hours for firefighters to begin spraying foam on the electrical fire and suppress the tower of black smoke, which could be seen for miles. PSE&G said "the area had to be made safe" before firefighters could attack the fire.

The fire initially knocked out power for nearly 2,000 PSE&G customers in Hillsdale, Westwood and Woodcliff Lake, Kate Vossen, a spokeswoman for the utility, said. Power was restored around 2 p.m.


RELATED: House-shaking blasts sparked Waldwick fire, residents say

The ground of the substation was caked in foam as firefighters doused the burning reactor. A brook near the substation was covered in a bubbles, as were firefighters emerging from the blaze.

By 5 p.m., the foam and the wind tamped down the black plume rising from the substation, but the smoke persisted and a ladder continued to drop foam. Firefighters at the scene and Waldwick police declined to comment. Mayor Thomas Giordano did not return a call seeking comment.

The fire prompted a massive response. In addition to Waldwick firefighters, departments from Ho-Ho-Kus, Lodi, Mahwah, Paramus, Wyckoff, Saddle River, Oakland, Franklin Lakes and Midland Park were at the scene.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.


Crews continue work at scene of Waldwick PSE&G blaze

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The fire began at 10:30 Sunday morning with the sound of explosions that shook nearby houses.

WALDWICK -- Firefighters worked into the night at the scene of a PSE&G substation fire that had delayed trains, forced evacuations and cut off power to 2,000 in Bergen County. 

The fire was caused by an equipment failure, and broke out around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, company spokeswoman Kate Vossen said. As of 9 p.m., crews were still on scene, but the fire had long been under control, officials said. 

Tom Giordano, the mayor and president of the Waldwick Fire Department, was not available for an update late Sunday evening. 


RELATED: House-shaking blasts sparked Waldwick fire, residents say


The fire had raged for several hours. PSE&G workers had to shut down parts of the facility to avoid posing a hazard to firefighters, delaying immediate action, PSE&G said. Crews used foam to attack the blaze

Power has been fully restored after an outage for residents of Waldwick and some nearby towns. Trains were back up and running normally within a few hours. 

Residents reported hearing loud explosions before seeing smoke and flames. 

"It shook the pictures on the wall," Mike Pendergast, a resident of Smith Street, said.

NJ Advance Media reporter Myles Ma contributed to this report. 

Brian Amaral may be reached at bamaral@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bamaral44. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

3rd suspect in pepper spray robbery turns himself in

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The third suspect wanted in connection with a robbery at a liquor store turned himself in Saturday, police said.

jamell-carmona-leonia-0914.jpgJamell Carmona, 28, of Staten Island. (Leonia Police) 

LEONIA -- The third suspect wanted in connection with a robbery at a liquor store turned himself in Saturday, police said.

Police took Jamell Carmona, 28, into custody late Saturday morning, Leonia Police Capt. Scott Tamagny said.

Carmona, along with fellow Staten Island residents Nikyia Smith, 27, and Samantha James, 26, used pepper spray in a Broad Avenue liquor store Thursday and stole several bottles of liquor, police said. Police tracked their vehicle to Staten Island and found Smith and James inside the vehicle with a bottle of liquor from the robbery.

They were charged with robbery and held on $100,000 bail in New York City pending extradition.


RELATED: 2 suspects in Leonia pepper-spray robbery caught; 3rd at large

Detectives also tracked Carmona to Staten Island, Tamagny said. Carmona surrendered to Leonia police after speaking with detectives on the phone.

Carmona was sent to Bergen County Jail in lieu of $100,000 full bail.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Wallington school evacuated due to gas leak, police say

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Students were permitted back in the school by 9 a.m.

Jefferson School in Wallington Officials evacuated Jefferson Elementary School on Monday due to a gas leak. (Google Maps) 

WALLINGTON--A gas leak in the basement triggered the evacuation of a Wallington school Monday morning, police said. 

A faulty stove in the basement of Jefferson Elementary School on Bond Street caused a gas leak at 8:30 a.m. throughout the building, Sgt. Mark Wyzykowski told NJ Advance Media. PSE&G arrived at the school and vented the building, he said. 

Students were permitted back in the school by 9 a.m.

Kathryn Brenzel may be reached at kbrenzel@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @katiebrenzel. Find NJ.com on Facebook

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Boulevard Avenue in Elmwood Park closed due to road project

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Detour will be in effect from Monday, Sept. 14 until Friday, Sept. 18, officials said.

Work on railroad crossing beginsBoulevard Avenue in Elmwood closed for week-long railroad crossing project. (File photo). 

BERGEN -- New Jersey Department of Transportation officials announced Friday a railroad crossing rehabilitation project that will require the closure and detour of Boulevard Avenue in Elmwood Park beginning Monday morning.

Boulevard Avenue will be closed to traffic in both directions at the NYS&W freight railroad grade crossing near the intersection of Van Riper Avenue from 7 a.m. Monday, Sept. 14, until 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, the agency said in a news release.

  • Traffic will be detoured using Linden Avenue, Molnar Drive, Midland Avenue (Route 67), and Market Street (Route 56).

The traffic detour will be coordinated with the local police. If work is completed earlier, the roadway will be reopened accordingly.


RELATED: Crews continue to work at scene of Waldwick PSE&G blaze

The existing crossing will be replaced with a new concrete crossing and new asphalt approaches in order to provide a safer and smoother railroad crossing in Elmwood Park.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com.Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Transformer leak caused Waldwick PSE&G blaze, officials say

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Fire crews used 15,000 gallons of foam to quell the blaze, officials said. Watch video

WALDWICK—Mineral oil from a leaking transformer fueled the blaze at a PSE&G substation in Waldwick on Sunday, keeping fire crews busy for roughly 12 hours, officials said.

The fire, caused by a transformer malfunction, injured two firefighters, sending one firefighter to the hospital with an ankle injury, said borough Lt. Doug Moore. The blaze also displaced 40 households for eight hours, since homes in the area were evacuated as a precautionary measure, he said.


RELATED: House-shaking blasts sparked Waldwick fire, residents say

Mineral oil—used as a cooling agent in the generator—leaked from a transformer at the south side of the plant and fueled the fire, forcing crews to use 15,000 gallons of foam to quell the blaze, Waldwick Fire Department President Tom Giordano told NJ Advance Media on Monday. He said the fire could have been more serious if it had started in a different section of the station.

"We were very lucky that the fire was contained to one area," he said. "We took all the measures, so that this wouldn't be a major issue."

The fire broke out at 10:31 a.m., causing a series of explosions and impressive plumes of smoke to billow from the station, officials and residents said. Fire departments from at least 25 towns responded to the blaze and worked until roughly 10 p.m. The blaze itself was under control by 6 p.m., and residents were permitted to return home shortly after, Moore said.

Nearly 2,000 customers temporarily lost power due to the transformer malfunction but was restored by 1:12 p.m., said Brooke Houston, a PSE&G spokeswoman. She said the company will conduct a full examination of the station's equipment to determine the extent of the damage and what caused the transformer to malfunction.

Kathryn Brenzel may be reached at kbrenzel@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @katiebrenzel. Find NJ.com on Facebook

Insurance doesn't have to pay $1.4M over law firm's mistake in custody dispute

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A Bergen man whose daughter was illegally taken by his ex-wife to Spain during a bitter custody dispute has lost a bid to collect a $1.4 million judgment against the malpractice insurance carrier for the law firm that previously represented his ex-wife. Peter Innes, who currently lives in Hasbrouck Heights, lost his daughter, Victoria, when his ex-wife, María José...

GavelA Bergen man whose daughter was illegally taken by his ex-wife to Spain a decade ago has lost a $1.4 million judgment against his ex-wife's divorce counsel, New Jersey Law Journal reported. 

A Bergen man whose daughter was illegally taken by his ex-wife to Spain during a bitter custody dispute has lost a bid to collect a $1.4 million judgment against the malpractice insurance carrier for the law firm that previously represented his ex-wife.

Peter Innes, who currently lives in Hasbrouck Heights, lost his daughter, Victoria, when his ex-wife, Maria Jose Carrascosa-- a Spanish citizen who formerly resided in Fort Lee -- violated a court order and took the girl to Spain, The Record reported this past April.

Carrascosa returned to New Jersey to continue litigating the case, but in 2009 she was convicted of willful interference with child custody and sentenced to 14 years in prison, the newspaper reported. After she was paroled last year, she was taken to the Bergen County Jail where she was held for contempt of court for violating the order to bring the child back, the newspaper reported. She was released this past April.

In 2011, Innes was awarded $1.4 million in damages and attorney fees against Carracosa's former divorce counsel -- Lesnevich & Marzano-Lesnevich -- because the firm released Innes' daughter's passport to Carracossa without authorization, which allowed her to take the girl to Spain, according to U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas' ruling on Sept. 11. Those damages and attorneys' fees have not yet been paid.

Per Salas' ruling, the state Supreme Court "granted certification on the issue of counsel fees only" last October, leaving Innes with a judgment of $833,815.07 against the law firm (not including attorneys' fees or a $253,000 judgment for his daughter). No court date has yet been set with regard to the issue of legal fees.

In the meanwhile, Innes had filed suit to collect the $1.4 million state court judgment against the law firm's malpractice insurance carrier, Saint Paul Fire and Marine Insurance.


RELATED: Mom who illegally moved daughter to Spain released from jail, report says

Salas, in her decision, found that the insurer's policies don't cover Innes' claim because it was "made prior to the policies' term." She also found that his claim wasn't covered by the malpractice insurer because the law firm "could have reasonably foreseen that certain errors and acts might become the basis of a claim or suit."

As a result of Salas ruling, the law firm itself has been left on the hook for the balance of the judgment owed to Innes.

A call placed to Lesnevich & Marzano-Lesnevich Monday afternoon has not yet been returned.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Engine failure likely to blame in Cresskill plane crash, feds say

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Pilot opted for hard landing instead of risking lives of students on the ground

CRESSKILL -- A loss of engine power is to blame for the crash of a small plane near the town's public pool Sept. 3, according to a preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The Cessna 172 piloted by Jack Rosenberg, who was flying an observation mission as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, lost power while the craft was about 2,000 feet above the Hudson River, the federal agency said. Rosenberg, of Spring Valley, N.Y., was attempting to make it to Teterboro Airport and radioed controllers that he was experiencing engine trouble, according to  recordings of his transmissions released after the crash.


RELATED: Quick-thinking pilot avoided school field prior to crash


Rosenberg initially attempted to land in an athletic field in Tenafly, but waved off when he and an observer on board, Erik Pearson, saw students practicing there. Instead, Rosenberg continued on to make a hard landing in a hedgerow near the Cresskill municipal pool, according to the NTSB and witnesses at the scene.

Both he and Pearson sustained serious injuries in the crash.

A final report on the crash is still pending, the NTSB also said.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook

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N.J. lawmaker throws flag on fantasy sports, wants hearing on legality

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'How do fantasy sports differ from gambling?' Pallone asks

LONG BRANCH-- A New Jersey lawmaker is calling on Congress to take a closer look at what has become a favorite pastime of armchair coaches and general managers across America: fantasy sports leagues.

In a letter Monday addressed to the chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the chair of a related subcommittee, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6th) requested a hearing "examining the relationship between professional sports and fantasy sports to review the legal status of fantasy sports and sports betting."


RELATED: Federal appeals court rejects bid for N.J. sports wagering 


"Anyone who watched a game this weekend was inundated by commercials for fantasy sports websites, and it's only the first week of the NFL season," Pallone a member of the committee, said in a statement.  "These sites are enormously popular, arguably central to the fans' experience, and professional leagues are seeing the enormous profits as a result." 

Fantasy leagues in football and other sports allow participants to compose rosters using real players and compete with other participants. Although fantasy football traces its roots back to the early 1960s, it did not enjoy mainstream popularity until the aughts, but has since taken off quickly: National Football League teams have sponsorship deals with fantasy league operators and other professional leagues have also acquired interests in the pretend leagues.

About 57 million people in the United States and Canada take part in fantasy leagues every year, Pallone wrote. While participants can compete in fantasy leagues merely for fun, others, including DraftKings and FanDuel, offer cash prizes.

Pallone noted that fantasy leagues don't fall under federal laws banning interstate sports gambling or activities like online poker because fantasy leagues meet various criteria, including outcomes being based on skill and because the amount in prizes is not determined by the number of participants or the fees they pay. But Pallone said such distinctions were "murky" and warranted a review.

While opposed to conventional sports betting, Pallone noted that professional sports leagues derive a benefit from their fantasy counterparts, with fantasy leagues and individual teams including in the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball in sponsorship deals. Individual players also have similar deals with fantasy leagues operators.

Such close relationships open the door to questions of whether "fantasy sports are distinguishable from sports betting and other forms of gambling," Pallone wrote.

Pallone was one of several New Jersey lawmakers pushing for legalized sports betting in the state, a move that was defeated in a federal appeals court ruling last month. Sports betting is seen by Pallone and others as a way to invigorate the state's battered gaming industry in Atlantic City as well as boosting venues such as the Monmouth Park racetrack, located in his own district.

In his letter Monday, Pallone noted that the NCAA, NHL, NFL MLB and the NBA sued to halt the plan that would have allowed sports betting at New Jersey racetracks and casinos.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook

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Bail lowered for landlord accused of shooting tenant, report says

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Superior Court Judge Susan J. Steele on Monday cut the bail of a Hasbrouck Heights landlord accused of fatally shooting his tenant from $750,000 to $500,000

HACKENSACK -- Superior Court Judge Susan J. Steele on Monday cut the bail of a Hasbrouck Heights landlord accused of fatally shooting his tenant from $750,000 to $500,000, the Record reported.

John C. Wisse, 83, allegedly shot tenant Gerard Velardi, 58, in the chest in August after an argument, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said at the time.

Velardi had been "abusive" to Wisse, said Robert Galantucci, Wisse's attorney. Galantucci also argued that Wisse had never been in trouble with the law.


RELATED: Landlord accused of shooting tenant planned to move out, family says

Aside from the amount, the conditions of Wisse's bail are that he have no contact with Velardi's family, no access to weapons and that he surrender his passport and stay in New Jersey while the case is tried.

Wisse has been in poor health for decades, his family said. He planned to sell the house where Velardi was a tenant after finding a senior home he liked, his daughter-in-law Assiatou said.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Crash shuts I-80 local lanes in Bogota

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An accident has closed the local lanes of I-80 westbound Tuesday morning, the state Department of Transportation said.

Fullscreen capture 9152015 72807 AM.bmp.jpgA crash closed the local lanes of I-80 westbound, Sept. 15, 2015. (511nj) 

BOGOTA -- An accident has closed two local lanes of I-80 westbound Tuesday morning, the state Department of Transportation said.

There was at least one injury, according to 511nj.org.

The right and center lanes were temporarily closed as of 7:26 a.m. east of the River Road exit in Bogota, the website said. Delays were up to 15 minutes.

New Jersey State Police did not immediately have more details on the crash.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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New outdoor-based education program hosts classes in all types of weather

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Tinkergarten classes are held in green spaces in all types of weather and are only canceled under extreme conditions

Kristina Quigley spent her finals days of summer at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside with her 1-year-old son, Christian, surveying the resources that nature had to offer. 

The Garwood mother took her time mapping out the grassiest, and muddiest, parts of the outdoor expanse, trying to figure out where her young charges could sit without ruining their clothes. 

The park, after all, would be their classroom.

Quigley is a leader with Tinkergarten, a startup founded in Brooklyn, that offers play-based outdoor classes to children -- ages 18 months to 8 years old -- in all types of weather. Its target is the "Mommy and me" crowd. 

Tinkergarten is not a school, as such. The curriculum, which is reviewed by a board of educational advisers, includes hands-on activities, such as making mud pies and creating art using items found outdoors such as leaves, berries and sticks. Class is held in green spaces and are only canceled under extreme conditions. 

While outdoor programs are not a new concept, Tinkergarten is the newest in its evolution. The parent-child program starts at an earlier age than most.

"What Tinkergarten seems to promote is more than tinkering, it situates activities in nature to develop a connection between the child and the natural world," said Sumi Hagiwara, associate professor in early childhood and elementary education at Montclair State University. 


RELATEDHave 2 Princeton students developed the next Facebook?


Experts say this form of experiential teaching provides children with the cognitive skills to develop self-reliance, creativity and the ability to problem solve. It is not intended to replace a traditional classroom education.

Tinkergarten was founded in March 2012 by husband-and-wife duo Brian and Meghan Fitzgerald. Brian Fitzgerald has spent his career in the tech industry, working for Yahoo, Audible, Amazon and Knewton. Meghan Fitzgerald is a former teacher and elementary school principal. 

The Fitzgeralds said they didn't go into this hunting for a business opportunity, they were simply looking for an alternative to traditional play dates for their children. 


RELATED: Perfect selfie within reach thanks to N.J. inventor


"By being outdoors, children's inherent curiosity and imagination about the natural world can foster a sense of place, belonging and identity," Hagiwara said. "When these skills are used to solve problem-based projects that are situated in the outdoors, children can form deeper, contextualized understandings of what they know about their world." 

Each Tinkergarten class ranges from an hour to one-and-a-half hours and opens with "circle time," during which participants sing songs and share greetings. This is followed by a main activity determined by the season. In the fall, for example, children might create a bird feeder or make musical instruments out of materials found in the park. Messiness is not only accepted -- it is encouraged. 

tinkergarten.jpegKristina Quigley, a Tinkergarten instructor, and her son, Christian Leonardelli, at Echo Lake Park where she holds classes. (Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
 

Ramona White attended a trial class of Tinkergarten with her 2-year-old daughter, Zuri, and 4-year-old son, Ezra, at the beginning of summer.

"My expectation was to just have a good time, let the kids get some fresh air, and keep them busy on a day where I had nothing planned," White said. 

By the end of the class, she enrolled both children in the summer session.

On rainy days, the group will construct a temporary shelter in the park with a large tarp, bungee cords and rope tied to poles. 

The Fitzgeralds have turned their side project into a business platform, allowing others to receive training and host their own classes. Tinkergarten is expanding nationally with programs in the tri-state area, Massachusetts, Oregon and Northern California.

Tinkergarten made its way to New Jersey in the spring, with Quigley at its helm. The Garwood mother teaches at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside. Classes are also offered in Brookdale Park in Montclair and Wilde Memorial Park in Glen Rock. The program will debut in Hudson County next month. 

Each child is accompanied by a parent, family member or caregiver during the classes, which cost $20 to $30 per session. Instructors are allowed a maximum of 12 children per class. Families are required to sign up for a season which typically meets once a week and lasts six to 12 weeks. 

The program fosters observation skills, critical and divergent thinking, problem solving and experimenting, experts say. 

"While these skills can be honed indoors, it is refreshing to see a program that capitalizes on building these skills outdoors," said Jody Eberly, an associate professor and coordinator of early childhood education at The College of New Jersey. "While you can bring nature inside a classroom, it's a totally different experience to see it in its natural environment."

For more information visit Tinkergarten.com

Janelle Griffith may be reached at jgriffith@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @janellefiona. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.

Hawaii hooker admits sending $500K in earnings to N.J. husband, report says

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Michael P. Ernst, 43, shot and killed himself about a month after the two were indicted in March

GavelA Fredon woman who once worked as a prostitute in Hawaii pleaded guilty to conspiracy and filing false tax returns Monday in federal court. 

A 38-year-old woman admitted she made more than $525,000 working as a prostitute in Hawaii and then sent the money to her husband in New Jersey.

Khemwika Ernst will be sentenced to up to five years in prison after pleading guilty Monday to conspiracy and filing a false tax return, according to a report on KITV.com.

She didn't report the income she made as a prostitute for about six years.

Michael P. Ernst, 43, shot and killed himself about a month after the two were indicted in March, the report said.

The two used most of the money to buy a $390,000 house in Sussex County, the report said. The home, purchased in September 2012, sits on three acres in Fredon, according to public records.


PLUS: Son of accused 'Sopranos' mobster admits plot to run prostitution biz

Khemwika Ernst deposited money she made as a prostitute from 2008 to 2014 into a joint account, authorities in Hawaii alleged. After the credit union questioned the large deposits, Ernst began shipping cash to New Jersey via FedEx, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Authorities intercepted one of the packages, which contained $7,400 in cash.

Michael Ernst, a 1989 graduate of Ramapo High School, served in the U.S. Navy for more than 20 years, according to an online obituary. He grew up in Wyckoff. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

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Pancake houses leading change in N.J.'s inner cities

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Adenah Bayoh has been making the best of bad situations since she was young.

PATERSON -- Adenah Bayoh has been making the best of bad situations since she was young.

When she was 8 or 9, she found herself in a refugee camp in Sierra Leone when civil war drove her family out of her village in Liberia. Bayoh and a cousin got a business idea, displaying an entrepreneurial knack that would later blossom in New Jersey.

They tracked back into Liberia, bought vegetables and other goods from farmers, carried them back to the camp and sold them. They ran the business until her father, from whom Bayoh had been separated, arrived at the camp and took her and her brother to Freetown.

Bayoh left the business with her cousin and arrived in Newark in 1991.

As an adult, she has focused on revitalizing New Jersey's inner cities, primarily through real estate developments, but also through pancakes. Bayoh opened the first International House of Pancakes in Irvington in 2007 and the first IHOP in Paterson in June.

The Irvington IHOP is located on Springfield Avenue, on a block once marked by abandoned buildings. Since it's opened, a pharmacy, a Caribbean market and beauty store have opened, Bayoh said.


RELATED: Paterson celebrates Fetty Wap's success at high school concert

Her most ambitious effort is the $150 million redevelopment of the former Irvington General Hospital site. Demolition began this summer, and the plan is for the site to have 700 residential units.

Bayoh, 35, calls herself a "social entrepreneur." "It's not just about money, it's also about extending opportunities," she said.

"Having the ability to give someone a job, I don't take that lightly," she said.

Bayoh arrived in Newark in 1991. Growing up, she worked at a McDonald's in Irvington.

Though she loved growing up in Newark, she saw Irvington as a place to aspire to live. (She now lives in Englewood.) After graduating from Fairleigh Dickinson University, she bought a three-family house in Irvington.

She opened the Irvington IHOP at the age of 28. It was the fastest-growing location for the chain by 2010.


RELATED: Baraka calls for 'Urban Marshall Plan' to help Newark, other struggling cities

That year, she met her would-be partner in the Paterson IHOP, city resident Joseph Knight. Bayoh was part of a panel of businesswomen speaking at Fairleigh Dickinson, where Knight was a student.

Knight stood up and said he worked at the IHOP on Broadway in Fair Lawn and declared that he, too, wanted to own an IHOP one day. He had been talking about it since he was 13.

Bayoh tested him, asking him what comprised a breakfast sampler.

"That's easy," Knight said. "Hash browns, sausage, bacon, ham, eggs and pancakes."

They exchanged contact information after the event, and Bayoh hired Knight to work at the Irvington IHOP, where she said he was one of her hardest workers.

"He can withstand a lot of things," she said. "He withstood me. Someone needs to give him a medal."


RELATED: Huddle House breakfast restaurants coming to N.J.

Bayoh was impressed enough to make Knight a partner in her next IHOP. After four years of convincing corporate and looking for a location, they opened in Center City Mall in June.

Bayoh hopes to inspire others from inner city communities to seize the opportunities they have.

"Anybody could have built this IHOP here, but the fact that Joseph is from here and he built this IHOP, that's what makes it special," she said.

Knight said he is grateful for the opportunity.

"Everyone was saying, 'You were talking about owning an IHOP when you were 13, and now you own an IHOP,'" he said. "I want people to see that if you put your mind to something, you actually can do it."

Bayoh's ambitions don't end with the Paterson IHOP. She hopes to start construction on the HillTop, the residential development at the former Irvington General Hospital site, in 2016. She also hopes to open her own restaurant brand, Cornbread, in Maplewood.

Bayoh believes the development, and the IHOPs, will attract other developers to inner-city locations like Irvington and Paterson. Irvington Mayor Tony Vauss shares that belief.

"The HillTop project is going to be a major, major draw for other developers and builders," Vauss said.

"I think we're going to grow," Bayoh said. "We're going to continue to find these urban centers and actualize these opportunities."

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Crossing guard critical after being struck in Bergenfield

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Driver, 63, receives summonses for careless driving, other offenses

BERGENFIELD -- A 60-year-old crossing guard was struck by a car and seriously injured Tuesday morning, police said.

Police Lights.jpg 

The accident occurred on New Bridge Road, near Congregation Beth Abraham, around 8 a.m. The victim, Jo-Ann Hans, was struck as she was assisting during Rosh Hashanah services, according to published reports. 

She was struck by a car driven by Pawothil Abraham, 63, of Bergenfield, police said. Abraham has been issued motor-vehicle summonses for careless driving, failure to obey a crossing guard and failure to stop for pedestrians crossing.

Hans was in critical condition at Hackensack University Medical Center late Tuesday afternoon, police also said.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook


Leonia P.D. investigation leads to 2 arrests in wide-ranging IRS scam

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More than 70 victims nationwide of IRS phone scam that was based in N.J., police say

LEONIA -- Two Iselin residents used data gleaned from call centers in India to carry out a scam that snared more than 70 victims across the country, Chief of Police Thomas Rowe said in a statement Tuesday night.

Police Lights.jpg 

The investigation began Sept. 2  with a call from a Lexington, Ky., resident to Det. Michael Jennings. The man told Jennings he received a call informing him that he owed the Internal Revenue Service $1,400 and that he would be jailed if he did not pay. The victim was told to send a MoneyGram to "Vincent Arora" at an address on Broad Avenue. The location is a CVS drug store, Rowe said.


RELATED: Nutley CVS employee saves resident from IRS phone scam 


Jennings obtained surveillance video from CVS and created still images of a suspect picking up the money, images Jennings distributed to police statewide, Rowe said. Jennings also contacted MoneyGram and learned that someone using the name Vincent Arora had conducted 30 transactions in the previous week at MoneyGram locations throughout the state.

After starting a track on the name, the company's security informed Jennings of a transaction at a Walmart in Watchung. Jennings called Watchug police, but officers there missed the suspect by just minutes, Rowe said. But surveillance video from  Walmart revealed the person receiving the cash there was the same man who received the money in the Sept. 2 incident, Rowe also said.

Police also obtained footage of the suspect using his personal debit card as well as of the suspect's vehicle. Using the information from the debit card transaction, Jennings identified a suspect, Rowe said.

Later, MoneyGram again called Jennings to alert him to another transaction, at a CVS in Elizabeth. A manager at the store told Jennings the transaction had already been completed,  but this time, Jennings was able to get a license plate number and a description of the suspects. Jennings called Elizabeth police, who located the suspects' vehicle at a CVS in Union, where the two had just carried out yet another transaction, Rowe said.

Jennings, along with Capt. Scott Tamagny, went to the Union CVS, where Akash Patel and Nikita Patel were being held by police. The two, who are not related, were taken into custody and transported to Leonia.

After obtaining permission to search the vehicle, Leonia police found MoneyGram transaction receipts and more than $9,100 in cash. Nikita Patel , 25,  told police there was additional cash and documentation at the apartment she shares with Akash Patel, 32, Rowe said, adding that more than $10,800 was found at the home.

The two allegedly told police they chose victims whose information they obtained from employees of call centers in India.

Both suspects were being held on $150,000 bail after each being charged with conspiracy to commit theft by deception. They were also ordered to surrender their passports.

"I would like to express my gratitude to the Watchung, Elizabeth and Union Police Departments and the Moneygram Global Security Department for their assistance with this investigation," Rowe said.

"Additionally, I would like to recognize Det. Michael Jennings for his outstanding work on this case. Because of Det. Jennings' hard work and perseverance, many victims will be able recover the money they lost in this case. In some cases, the victims lost their life savings."

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook

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Man allegedly robbed mall patrons to fuel Red Bull habit

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A Clifton man approached people at Paramus malls over a period of several months and forced them to withdraw money from ATMs and buy him Red Bull before robbing them, police said.

Johnson,eddie (2).jpgEddie Johnson, 27, of Clifton. (Paramus Police) 

PARAMUS -- A Clifton man approached people at Paramus malls over a period of several months and forced them to withdraw money from ATMs and buy him Red Bull before robbing them, police said.

Eddie J. Johnson, 27, was arrested Friday and charged with robbery, kidnapping and weapon possession.

Paramus Police said in a media release that Johnson approached people three times at borough malls. On Feb. 15, Johnson allegedly asked a woman for money in the parking lot of Blink Fitness at the Outlets at Bergen Town Center.

When she said no, Johnson forced her to drive him to an ATM to withdraw money, police said. To avoid giving Johnson money, she purposely entered a wrong PIN.

Johnson instead forced her to drive to the Pathmark in Elmwood Park and made her buy $70 worth of Red Bull with her credit card, police said. He then fled on foot.

He returned to Paramus Aug. 13, asking a man in the AMC parking lot at Westfield Garden State Plaza for money, police said. He said no.

Johnson forced the man to drive to Paterson, where he took the man's iPhone and $30 from his wallet, police said. Again, Johnson fled on foot.

Johnson approached another man Sept. 13 in the south parking lot of Garden State Plaza and asked for a ride to the other side of the mall, police said. The man agreed.


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When Johnson got in the car, he pulled out a knife, police said. He allegedly forced the man to drive to two different ATMs and withdraw $60.

Johnson then forced the man to drive to the Pathmark in Elmwood Park to buy more Red Bull, but the man's credit card was declined, police said. The man instead drove to Paterson, where Johnson took his phone and fled.

Paramus detectives worked for months to identify Johnson. They were able to identify him on Friday with the help of Fair Lawn police and a surveillance video.

Clifton Police helped Detective Dmitriy Mazur arrest Johnson on Tuesday in Clifton. He was sent to Bergen County Jail on $500,000 bail.

Johnson's first court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 30.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 
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Bergen hospital to contest work safety citations

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Bergen Regional Medical Center has hired an attorney to contest allegations that the hospital failed to protect employees from violent patients.

bergen-regional-medical-center-0903.bmp.jpgBergen Regional Medical Center (Google Maps) 

PARAMUS -- Bergen Regional Medical Center has hired an attorney to contest allegations that the hospital failed to protect employees from violent patients.

The hospital has retained Eric J. Conn, said Donnalee Corrieri, a spokeswoman for Bergen Regional.

Conn is chairman of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Workplace Safety Group at Conn, Maciel, Carey, a Washington, D.C. law firm. OSHA cited Bergen Regional on Aug. 18 for failing to keep the workplace free of hazards.

The agency said it found eight incidents form Feb. 22 through June 12 in which violent patients attacked health care workers. Employees reported patients barricading them in rooms, threatening them, exposing them to blood-borne pathogens and biting, punching and kicking them.

Bergen Regional originally requested an informal conference with OSHA in response to the citations. The hospital has instead filed a formal notice to contest the allegations, Corrieri said.

The dispute may be heard by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, an independent agency that decides contests of citations and penalties handed down by OSHA.

"After consulting with Mr. Conn, BRMC remains confident that the Medical Center's ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe environment for its patients, employees and guests will lead to a vindication before the OSHRC," Corrieri said.

Conn did not return a request for comment.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Man sought in N.J. sexual assaults, authorities say

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Authorities on Wednesday asked for the public's help to find a man sought in connection with two reported sexual assaults in Palisades Park.

BCPO sketch final.jpgAuthorities released a sketch of a man they said is wanted in connection with two sexual assaults in Palisades Park (Photo: Bergen County Prosecutor's Office)

HACKENSACK -- Authorities on Wednesday asked for the public's help to find a man sought in connection with two reported sexual assaults in Palisades Park. 

Police said the attacker in both cases was described similarly as a short Hispanic man, about 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8, approximately 30 to 35 years old, with a medium build and wearing dark pants. Investigators also released a State Police composite sketch of the suspect.

In the latest attack on Sept. 10, a woman reported the assailant followed her from Broad Avenue to 2nd Street, where he knocked her down from behind and assaulted her around 10:25 p.m., according to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

A second victim told investigators that she was attacked Sept. 8 by a man as she walked on West Edsall Avenue after coming from Broad Avenue around 9:10 p.m., the prosecutor's office said. 

"The suspect knocked the victim to the ground and sexually assaulted the victim with his hands in the same manner as the previous report," a statement from the prosecutor's office said.

Authorities urged anyone with information to call the  Bergen County Prosecutor's Office confidential TIPS Line at 201-226-5532 or the Palisades Park Police Department at 201-944-0900.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahycFind NJ.com on Facebook.

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Protest marks year since police shot man in Lyndhurst, report says

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About 75 people marched on the township municipal complex Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the death Kashad Ashford, 23, of Newark

LYNDHURST -- About 75 people marched on the township municipal complex Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the death Kashad Ashford, 23, of Newark, The Record reported.

Police shot Ashford in Lyndhurst on Sept. 16, 2014, after chasing the SUV he was driving through several towns, Acting Attorney General John Hoffman said at the time. Ashford crashed and backed into a police SUV before police shot him, Hoffman said.

Protesters on Wednesday called for justice for Ashford and other black men shot by police in northern New Jersey.

They arrived on a bus from Newark and marched down Valley Brook Avenue to the the Township Police Department. Ashford's grandmother, 65-year-old Cecille Hepburn, said, "Somebody has to be held accountable for taking my baby."

The People's Organization for Progress, the group that led the march Wednesday, held a rally against police brutality the prior week in Newark. The gathering's aim was to seek justice for Ashford and other men shot by police in New Jersey.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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