Build dunes, form a Coastal Commission, trim trees, fix FEMA, let non-profits help and listen to victims Watch video

Three years ago this morning, millions of people in New Jersey woke to a gray-sky dawn and the residual breezes of Hurricane Sandy, which rumbled through the state under the darkness of night with the straight-forward power of a slow-moving freight train.

The storm's wide swath of destruction unveiled itself in the gathering light. The images are impossible to forget.

The roller coaster in the water.

The home in the bay.

Beachfront mansions, broken and toppled, reduced to piles of shingles and cedar shakes.

Bayfront bungalows tossed like Monopoly houses.

Boats marooned on highways. Kayaks and canoes used for transportation along city streets.

Utility poles snapped and hanging in a jumble of wires - at the Shore, in the suburbs, in the cities.

Trees in the mountain areas sheared by the hundreds of thousands, snapped by the invisible hand of a howling wind.  

From Highlands to the Highlands, this was what New Jersey woke up to.

No electricity, broken water mains and ruptured gas lines, including gas lines above ground, as fuel became scarce. The state woke up to a full-blown, catastrophic disaster.  

Then came the long and ongoing recovery, or what many critics call the "the disaster after the disaster."

That's not completely fair. The cleanup was nothing short of amazing. Mountains of debris were piled into bigger mountains and carted away. Power in cities and high-use areas was restored quickly, though much less so in less-populated areas. The underground infrastructure - sewer, water and gas lines - were improved, as were above-ground utility lines.

But ...

An estimated 10,000 primary homeowners remain out of their houses today. And FEMA is in the midst of reviewing thousands of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims in which homeowners may have received low-ball reimbursements due to doctored engineering reports.

Six thousand of the 8,000 families in the state's Reconstruction, Remediation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) are still not home. Nearly 7,000 people dropped out of the program, which has had problems with contractors walking off the job and lots of finger-pointing between them and homeowners over the reasons.

The "disaster after the disaster" remains a recurring nightmare for people in four corners of the state, from the urban areas where the storm surge pushed the Hackensack and Passaic rivers into city streets, to the Raritan Bay-side towns swamped by record tides, to the Atlantic barrier islands lashed by ferocious winds and waves, to the forgotten coast of the Delaware Bay where the storm left island ghost towns in its wake.

Last month, when Hurricane Joaquin made a head-fake toward New Jersey, it exposed how little has changed since Sandy threw the state into chaos.

What follows is a to-do list if we want to protect ourselves from "another Sandy."

Build dunes ... now.

The evidence is empirical. Places with wide, high dunes anchored by plant life did not sustain the same level of damage as places without them. Homes safely tucked behind dunes in Seaside Park got nothing more than a sand blasting. A few hundred yards north, the Seaside Heights pier - holding the JetStar roller coaster - collapsed like a house of cards.     

The holdup is the holdouts; the private property owners who won't sign easements allowing the government to build dunes on their property. It's a complicated issue, but as long as there is nothing between homes and waves, eventually those homes - and those behind them - are going to get wrecked.

"Mother Nature is going to win," said Paul Jeffrey, president of the Ortley Beach Voters and Taxpayers Association, which has fought to get dunes built on the 20-mile barrier island that stretches from Point Pleasant to Island Beach State Park. "Eventually, I think the state will get those easements through eminent domain, but the longer we wait, the more the rest of us are at risk."

Form a Coastal Commission ... finally.

This idea, first floated by Gov. Thomas Kean in the 1980s, was reintroduced in an elaborate bill by state Sen. Peter J. Barnes  (D-Middlesex) prior to the 2014 legislative session. It is a forward-looking piece of legislation that demands environmental protection and common-sense regional development plans to protect the state's most valuable resource. If you read between the lines, the bill could be called "How to Avoid Another Sandy."

At its heart is the idea that the Shore, like the Pinelands and Highlands, is a shared entity and a unique eco-system that needs better protection. In that, comes the idea that development should be smart and better controlled. How many times do we rebuild on-beach homes and condos before it's time to stop building on shifting sand?

"I want to see a commission of experts on the environment and in building help guide us to what's truly best for the area," Barnes said.

He plans to reintroduce the bill for next year. 

Keep trees away from powerlines.

Following Hurricane Irene, the Halloween blizzard of 2011 and Sandy, falling trees were the main reason why it took so long for power to be restored to some areas as hundreds of miles of lines were downed. Since Sandy, JCP&L alone has spent $73 million on trimming trees back from power lines, according to spokesman Ron Morano. The result? A steady decline in tree-related outages. In 2014, they fell another 22 percent.

Fix FEMA, once and for all.

With sea levels rising, up to 130 million Americans living on coastlines, why isn't this a presidential campaign issue?

How many Katrinas and Sandys have to transpire before some smart administration figures out the National Flood Insurance Program is a disaster. The massive overpayment and fraud after Katrina is well-documented, as is the massive underpayment and fraud following Sandy.

"The No.1 reason we are not further along in the recovery is the National Flood Insurance Program," said Sue Marticek, the executive director of the Ocean County Long Term Recovery Group. "The systematic underpayment to homeowners cut the recovery off at the knees."

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) believes there are too many state and federal agencies involved in the recovery, wasting billions of tax dollars and precious time, and leaving displaced and traumatized people to fill out endless forms and supply infinite documentation to get help. The communication between FEMA and these agencies bogged down, and victims often had a hard time accessing information. And  FEMA's "go online" suggestion isn't the solution, especially when people lost their computers in the storm or didn't have one to begin with.

"We need to make sure that government is responsive to the people's needs and is there to help, not make lives more difficult," Menendez said in an email this week.

Which leads to ...

Embrace all non-profits.  

There is this enduring image from Union Beach: As Mennonite girls from Ohio wearing dust masks were ripping moldy wallboard out of homes, teen members of FEMA's Corps program were gingerly stepping over debris in their clean, blue windbreakers.

This is not to disparage those FEMA kids, but some agencies act and others talk about acting. By the weekend after Sandy, 50,000 church-related volunteers were in New Jersey with food, clothes, water, tools and 100,000 sets of hands to help with the clean-up.

Fast forward deeper into the recovery, and trusted, local nonprofits such as Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army became the sole advocates for many people.  Boots-on-ground agencies, like the Ocean County Long Term Recovery Group, serve as the point of entry to many services, from financial help to psychological counseling to even pet care.  They understand the local needs better than Washington.

Listen to people who know what they're talking about.

Jeffrey Major of Cherry Hill, has worked as an insurance adjuster and claims consultant on every major American disaster since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. He submitted an extensive white paper to state and federal officials after Sandy about the evidence and repair costs of flood damage. No response.

Lou DiGeronimo, who helped write New Jersey's uniform building code, submitted plans to the state for six hurricane-resistant recovery house models using uniform pieces that could be built for $135 a square foot - about $50 less than the going rate. No response.

These are just two examples of experts left out of what could be important discussions to create a playbook for future disasters.

And there is one more collective voice that should be heard as well: the victims.

 "Sandy survivors need a real say in the recovery process," said Amanda Devecka-Rinear, executive director of the New Jersey Organizing Project, which formed to give a voice to hurricane victims. "They're living it day to day, they are the experts. What's happening now is, decisions are being made about them - without them."

Mark Di Ionno may be reached at mdiionno@starledger.com. Follow The Star-Ledger on Twitter @StarLedger and find us on Facebook. 

Voters in Bergen County will be choosing their county freeholders Tuesday, as well as local and school representatives.

Freeholder seats and countless local mayoral and council spots are up for election Tuesday. (File Photo) 

BERGEN COUNTY -- Voters in Bergen County will be choosing their county freeholders Tuesday, as well as local and school representatives.

Bergen County

In the freeholder race, Democratic incumbents Steve Tanelli, Tracy Silna Zur and Thomas J. Sullivan are running against Republicans John Mitchell, Kenneth Tyburczy and Daisy Ortiz-Berger. Richard Siegel is also running under the Green Party banner, and Peter Rohrman is running as a Libertarian.

Allendale

In the council race, Republican incumbents James Strauch and Elizabeth Homan are unopposed.

In the school election, Andrew Prince, Natalie Capano and Robert Borst are competing for two seats.

Alpine

In the council race, Democratic incumbents Vicki Frankel and Michael Cacouris are unopposed.

In the school election, Richard Serko and Kathleen Martinelli are unopposed.

PLUS: Complete N.J. election coverage

Bergenfield

In the mayoral race, Republican incumbent Norman Schmelz is running against Democrat Ora Kornbluth.

In the council race, Democratic incumbents Thomas Lodato and Hernando Rivera are running against Republicans Cynthia Naylis and Ricardo Sanchez.

In the school election, Eudhes Budhai, Charles Ferrer, Ralph Messina, Nelson Reynoso and Anthony J. Cortez are compeating for two seats.

Bogota

In the mayoral race, Republican incumbent Cristopher Kelemen is running against Democrat Lisa Kohles.

In the council race, Republicans Daniele Fede, Francisco Miranda and Michael Connors are running against Democrats Robert Robbins, Hector Rodriguez and Ingrid Brito.

In the school election, Eileen Lewis, Jo-Ellen Granquist, Kathryn C. Van Buren, Michael Cabana, Michael Leong and Asia Burnett are competing for three seats.

Carlstadt

In the mayoral race, Republican Craig Lahullier is running against Democrat Walter Beese.

In the council race, Republicans Robert Zimmerman and William Shockley are running against Democrats Susan Hamilton and Robert DeLeasea.

In the school election, Bruce Young, Hernan Lopez and Diane Lahullier are unopposed.

Carlstadt-East Rutherford Regional Board of Education

Raymond Muszynski and Robert Anderson are running for one Carlstadt seat. Jerome Winston, Joseph Morris, Kathryn Fukushima and Kevin Felten are running for two East Rutherford seats. Dennis Monks is uncontested for a one-year unexpired East Rutherford term.

Cliffside Park

In the mayoral race, Democrat Thomas Calabrese is unopposed.

In the council race, Republicans Joseph Weiss, Patricia Trovarelli are running against Democrats Donna Spoto and Bernard Fontana for full terms. Democrat Peter Colao is unopposed for an unexpired one-year term.

Closter

In the council race, Republicans Arthur Dolson, Alissa Latner and Thomas Hennessey are running against Democrats Dolores Witko, Jannie Chung and Brian Stabile.

In the school election, Anthony Linn and Sungmin Lee are unopposed.

Cresskill

In the mayoral race, Republican incumbent Benedict Romeo is unopposed.

In the council race, Republican incumbent Gregory Mueller and Democratic incumbent Kathleen Savas are unopposed.

In the school election, Rosanne Rabinowitz, Sally Cummings, Stephen Moldt and Caryn Aronson are unopposed.

Demarest

In the council race, Republicans Joseph Connolly and Howard Rifkind are running against Democrats Gregg Paster and Daryl Fox.

In the school election, Kristie Woods, Theodore Alevrontas and Eli Nachmany are competing for two seats.

Dumont

In the mayoral race, Republican James Kelly is running against Democrat Carl Manna.

In the council race, Republicans Christopher Snell and Ralph Williams are running against Democrats Rafael Riquelme and Louis DiPaolo.

In the school election, Rafael Tolentino, Sandra Fernandez, Richard Healy, Diana Englese and Scott Miller are competing for three seats.

East Rutherford

In the mayoral race, Republican incumbent James Cassella is unopposed.

In the council race, Republican incumbents George Perry and Jeffrey Lahullier are unopposed.

In the school election, Maria Caruso and Debra Zoller are unopposed.

Edgewater

In the mayoral race, Republican Bartholomew Talamini is running against Democrat Michael McPartland.

In the council race, Republicans Jacqueline Magalhaes and Andrew Poye are running against Democrats Anthony Bartoleomo and Dolores Lawlor. Democrat Duane Fischetti is unopposed for an unexpired one-year term.

In the school election, Sandy Klein and Christina Stefani-Rackow are unopposed.

Elmwood Park

In the mayoral race, Republican Richard Mola is running against Democrat Francesco Caramagna and Independent Richard Trawinski.

In the council race, Republicans Anthony Chirdo and Magdalena Giandomenico are running against Democrats Lorraine Pellegrine and Glenn Pettigano and Independents Robert Glenn Colon and Karen Varrecchia.

In the school election, Daniel Altamar, Jeane Freitag and Gladys Gryskiewicz are unopposed.

Emerson

In the council race, Republicans Stephen Paino and Kenneth Hoffman are running against Democrats John Lazar and Brian Downing.

In the school election, Craig Steel is running against Thomas Kelly. David Cannici is unopposed for an unexpired one-year term.

Englewood

In the mayoral race, Democrat Frank Huttle III is running against Independent Mack Cauthen.

In the council race, Democrat Charles Cobb is running against Glenn Coley.

In the school election, Molly Craig Berry, Howard Haughton, Henry Pruit III and George Garrison III are competing for three seats.

Englewood Cliffs

In the mayoral race, Republican Mario Kranjac is running against Democrat Joseph Favaro.

In the council race, Republicans Mark Park and Carrol McMorrow are running against Democrats Carlo Zimatore and Ellen Park.

In the school election, George Drimones, Gerard Misk, Shanna Jafri and Edmond Duda are competing for three seats.

Fair Lawn

In the council race, Republicans John Cosgrove, Marc Zharnest and John Gil IV are running against Democrats Lisa Swain, Kurt Peluso and Ellen Taner.

In the school election, Eugene Banta, Mark Spindel and Jeffrey Klein are unopposed.

Fairview

In the mayoral race, Democratic incumbent Vincent Belluci is unopposed.

In the council race, Democrats Stephen Russo and Jhon Gomez are unopposed.

Fort Lee

In the mayoral race, Democratic incumbent Mark Sokolich is running against Republican Eric Fisher.

In the council race, Democratic incumbents Joseph Cervieri Jr. and Harvey Sohmer are running against Republicans Jeffrey Valacer and Margaret Ahn.

In the school election, Jerry Ciccheli, Esther Han Silver, David Sarnoff and Holly Morell are running for three seats.

Franklin Lakes

In the council race, Republican incumbents Charles Kahwaty and Thomas Lambrix are unopposed.

In the school election, Jacqueline Veliky, Jeffrey Merlino, Victoria Holst, Justin Musella and Amanda Krakowiak are running for three full-term seats. Robert Medeiros, Shirley Hermansen O'Reilly, Eileen Hansen and Joseph Rosano are running for two one-year unexpired terms.

Glen Rock

In the mayoral race, Republican incumbent John Van Keuren is running against Democrat Bruce Jay Packer.

In the council race, Republicans Joan Orseck and Robert Bourne are running against Democrats Kristine Morieko and William Huisking Jr.

In the school election, Barbara Steuert, Elizabeth Carr, Theodore Jasick, Jr., Gene Calderon, Bryon Torsiello and Scharon Scarpelli are running for three seats.

Harrington Park

In the mayoral race, Republican Michelle Ryan is running against Independent Paul Hoelscher.

In the council race, Republicans Richard Guera and Diane Walker are running against Independents Jorden Pedersen and Laura Fitzgerald.

In the school election, Scott Weiner is unopposed.

Hasbrouck Heights

In the mayoral election, Republican John DeLorenzo III is running against Democrat Christian Semenecz.

In the council race, Republicans Rosario Lipari and Peter Traina Jr. are unopposed.

In the school election, Robert LaMorte, Constance Doheny, Alan Baker and David Grant are running for three seats.

Haworth

In the council race, Democrats Glenn Poosikian and Jack Ferber are running against Republicans Regina Duffy and Bonnie Borghi.

In the school election, Nicole Brennan and Stacy Nora Wunsch are unopposed.

Hillsdale

In the mayoral race, Republican Douglas Frank is running against Democrat Chrisoula Looes.

In the council race, Republicans Scott Karcich and Abby Lundy are running against Democrats Lawrence Meyerson and Peter Hard.

In the school election, Kathleen O'Flynn, Shane Svorec and Salvatore Sileo are unopposed.

Ho-Ho-Kus

In the mayoral race, Republican incumbent Thomas Randall is unopposed.

In the council race, Republican incumbents Kimberly Weiss and Douglas Troast are unopposed.

In the school election, Cinzia D'Iorio, Mary Ellen Nye and Barry Bernstein are running for two seats. Amy Langevin is unopposed for a one-year unexpired term.

Leonia

In the mayoral race, Democrat Judah Zeigler is unopposed.

In the council race, Democrats Gregory Makroulakis and Mark Minichiello are running against Republican Ronald Wolf for two seats.

In the school election, Neophytos Antoniades, Noreen Courtney Wilds and Anthony Cassano are unopposed.

Little Ferry

In the mayoral race, Democratic incumbent Mauro Raguseo is running against Republican Bernard Sobolewski and Independent Debra Ferrante-Rivera.

In the council race, Democratic incumbents Ronald Anzalone and George Muller are running against Republicans Foster Lowe and Eileen De Leeuw and Independent Karissa Rivera for two seats.

In the school election, Raymond Vorisek, Jeanine Ferrera and Leslie Gottlieb are unopposed.

Lodi

In the school election, Joseph Licata, Michael Nardino, Philip Carbonetti and Dominic Miller are unopposed.

Lyndhurst

In the school election, Chris Andrinopolous Jr., Josephine Malaniak, Joy Bilis, Ronald Grillo, Sheri Jarvis and Scot Weaver are running for three seats.

Mahwah

In the school election, Christine Davis, John Dolan, Peter Wendrychowicz, Leslie Konikow, Ted Slockbower, Ewa Asterita and Michael Galow are running for three seats.

Maywood

In the mayoral election, Republican Adrian Febre is running against Democrat Thomas Richards.

In the council race, Republicans Frank Morrone, Claire Padovano and Michael Gervino are running against Democrats Derek Eisenberg, Henry Perez and Ryan Ullman.

In the school election, Kevin Taylor and Lynn Wiebe are unopposed.

Midland Park

In the mayoral race, Republican Harry Shortway Jr. is unopposed.

In the council race, Republicans Robert Sansone and Kenneth Kruis are unopposed.

In the school election, Robert Schiffer, Timothy Thomas, William Sullivan and Patricia Fantulin are running for three seats.

Montvale

In the mayoral race, Republican Roger Fyfe is running against Independent Michael Ghassali.

In the council race, Republicans Robert Cudequest and Dieter Koelling are running against Democrats Kunal Verma and Jose Organ-Marte and Independent Michael Weaver for two seats.

In the school election, Scott Rossig, Marie Muller-Noonan and Ernie DiFiore are running for two seats.

Moonachie

In the council race, Democratic incumbents Bruce Surak and Lucille Millar are unopposed.

In the school election, Joan Carrion, Melissa Ann Rose and James Campbell are running for two seats.

New Milford

In the council race, Republicans Melfy Urena and Matthew Seymour are running against Democrats Hedy Grant and Thea Sirocchi-Hurley.

In the school election, Christine Giancola, Laura O'Grady and Joseph Steele are unopposed.

North Arlington

In the council race, Republicans Brian Fitzhenry, Allison Sheedy and Marijo Karcic, Jr. are running against Democrats Albert Granell, Thomas Zammatore and Kelly Velez.

In the school election, George McDermott is unopposed.

Northern Highlands Regional High School District

Gail Trumbetti and James Mulanaphy are uncontested for two Allendale seats. Sheila Yallowitz is uncontested to represent Upper Saddle River.

Northern Valley Regional High School District

Maria Kim and Peter Micera are running for one seat representing Closter. Ghanshyam Vaghasia is uncontested to represent Norwood. John Passalacqua, Melissa Driscoll, Kathleen Fable and Daniel Eller are running for two seats representing Old Tappan.

Northvale

In the council race, Republicans Peter Sotiropolous and John Lorenzini are running against Democrats Toni Machio and Michael Small.

In the school election, Johanna Bargisen and Robert Bargna are unopposed.

Norwood

In the mayoral race, Republican James Barsa is unopposed.

In the council race, Republican incumbent Joseph Ascolese and Democratic incumbent Thomas Brizzolara are unopposed.

In the school election, Edward Cammarata is unopposed.

Oakland

In the mayoral race, Democratic incumbent Linda Schwager is running against Republican Pasquale Pignatelli.

In the council race, Republicans Christopher Visconti and Brian Tully are running against Democrats Joshua Lurie and John Biale.

Old Tappan

In the mayoral race, Republican John Kramer is uncontested.

In the council race, Republicans Guy Carnazza and Anna Haverilla are uncontested.

In the school election, Melissa Del Rosso, John Shahdanian II and Richard Ferrigno are running for two seats.

Oradell

In the mayoral race, Republican incumbent Joseph Murray Jr. is running against Democrat Dianne Didio.

In the council race, Republicans Donna Risse Alonso and John Samuel are running against Democrat Tracy Schoenberg and Independent Roger Tashijan.

In the school election, Mary Katherine Norian and Andrew Oddo are uncontested.

Palisades Park

In the council race, Democratic incumbents Joseph Testa and Jongchul Lee are running against Republicans James Roper and Jacqulyn Roper.

Paramus

In the council race, Republicans Donna Warburton and Richard Lambert are running against Democrats Pate Verile and Holly Tedesco-Santos.

In the school election, Alison Donoghue, Anthony Feorenzo, Jr., Bernadette McCausland, Kohar Boyadjian and Alfred Scrivanich are running for three seats.

Park Ridge

In the mayoral race, Democratic incumbent Terence P. Maguire is running against Republican June Bertini.

In the council race, Republicans Steven Hopper and Albert DeSimone are running against Democrats Matthew Capilli and Robert Oppelt.

In the school election, Daniel Browne and Patrick Moran are uncontested.

Pascack Valley Regional High School District

Jeffrey Steinfeld is uncontested to represent Hillsdale. Janet Bissinger is uncontested for a Montvale seat. Joseph Blundo is uncontested for a River Vale seat.

Ramapo Indian Hills High School District

Lisa Sciancalepore is uncontested to represent Franklin Lakes. Jane Castor is uncontested for an Oakland seat. Kenneth Porro is uncontested to represent Wyckoff.

Ramsey

In the council race, Republican incumbents William Jones and Peter Kilman are uncontested.

In the school election, David Rockefeller, Keri Walsh, Mary-Ellen Fine and William Curtin are uncontested.

Ridgefield

In the mayoral race, Democratic incumbent Anthony Suarez is running against Republican Warren Vincentz.

In the council race, Democratic incumbents Ray Penabad and Dennis Shim are running against Republicans John Hroncich and Robert Wojtaszcyk.

In the school election, Steve Yang and Kathy O'Brien-Payerle are uncontested.

Ridgefield Park

In the school election, Barbara Merrit-Butler, Donna Blue, Robert Thiemann and Elsa Martinez are uncontested.

Ridgewood

In the school election, B. Vincent Loncto is uncontested.

River Dell Regional School District

Patrick Gallagher is uncontested for an Oradell seat. Claudia O'Neill, Joseph Dunsay and Joseph Manzelli Jr. are running for two River Edge seats.

River Edge

In the mayoral race, Democratic incumbent Sandy Moscarlito is running against Republican Edward Mignone.

In the council race, Democrats Vito Acquafredda and Louis Grasso are running against Republicans Alphonse Bartelloni and Paolo Cilia.

In the school election, Gyuchang Shim, Wendy Walker and Colin Busteed are uncontested.

River Vale

In the council race, Republican Ari Ben-Yishay is uncontested.

In the school election, William Ellis, Lorraine Waldes and Armine Lulejian-Manookian are running for two seats.

Rochelle Park

In the township committee race, Republican Jayme Ouelette and Michael Kazimir are running against Democrat William Hauser for two seats.

In the school election, Teresa Judge-Cravello, Dimitria Debbie-Leakas and Robert Jay Esposito III are running for two seats.

Rockleigh

In the council election, Republican incumbents John Mender and Marilyn Bresnak are uncontested.

Rutherford

In the mayoral election, Republican incumbent Joseph DeSalvo Jr. is running against Democrat Stephanie McGowan.

In the council election, Republicans Frank Nunziato and Sean Walker are running against Democrats Mark Goldsack and Thommas Mullahey.

In the school election, Kyongyup Chu, Shelly Ahmed and Gregory Recine are uncontested.

Saddle Brook

In the school election, Joseph Nigito, Stephen Quinn, Parampree Singh and Mathivanan Packiarajan are running for three seats.

Saddle River

In the mayoral election, Republican Albert Kurpis is uncontested.

In the council election, Republican Benjamin Acaster and Elizabeth Salazer are uncontested.

In the school election, Jennifer Connolly and Thomas Sun Weng are uncontested.

South Hackensack

In the township committee race, Democratic incumbents Gary Brugger and Francis Cagas are running against Republican Renee Czarnecki for two seats.

In the school election, Luis Perdomo, Anthony Aquilina and Maria Regan are uncontested.

Teaneck

In the school election, Kathleen Muse, David Gruber, Victoria Fisher, Gervonn Romney-Rice and Sarah Rappaport are running for three seats.

Tenafly

In the mayoral election, Republican Ronald Cutro is running against Democrat Nadia Lamastra and Independent Peter Rustin.

In the council race, Republicans Emanual Savas and David Simpson are running against Democrats Anthony Barzelatto and Shama Haider.

In the school election, Eileen Pleva, Jasmine Elson, Sherri Rothstein and Stephanie-Addison-Fontaine are running for three seats.

Township of Washington

In the council race, Republicans Glenn Beckmeyer, David Frank and James Hanson are running against Democrat Rosa D'Ambra and Independents Michael Ullman, Robert Bruno and Steven Charles Cascio for three seats.

Upper Saddle River

In the mayoral election, Republican incumbent Joanne Minichetti is uncontested.

In the council race, Republicans Vincent Durante and Joanne Florio are uncontested.

In the school election, Marc Prisco, Susan Gandara and Karen Fusaro are uncontested.

Waldwick

In the mayoral election, Republican incumbent Thomas Giordanio is running against Democrat James Schultz.

In the council race, Republicans Charles Farricker and Joseph Oravetz are running against Democrat John Danubio for two seats.

In the school election, George Tencza, Joseph Orlak, Timothy O'Hare and Andrew Fowler are running for two seats.

Wallington

In the mayoral race, Democrat Mark Tomko is uncontested.

In the council race, Democrats Krystyna Surowiec and David Pinto are running against Republicans Eugeniusz Rachelski and Khaldoun Androwis.

In the school election, Michael John Labriola, Helena Plaskon, Staci Hlavenka and Christie Fusaro are running for three seats.

Westwood

In the mayoral race, Democrat John Birkner Jr. is uncontested.

In the council race, Republicans Peter Grefrath and Raymond Arroyo are uncontested.

Westwood Regional School District

Paul H. Liddy is uncontested for a Township of Washington seat. Maria Straight and Russell Miller are uncontested for two Westwood seats.

Woodcliff Lake

In the mayoral race, Republican Carlos Rendo is running against Democrat Jeffrey Bader.

In the council race, Democrats Justin Cohen and Jacqueline Gadaleta are running against Republicans Kristy Herrington and Angela Hayes.

In the school election, Margaret Falanga, Jeffrey Hoffman, Patricia Eichenlaub and Andrew Roth are uncontested.

Wood-Ridge

In the mayoral race, Democrat Paul Sarlo is uncontested.

In the council race, Democrats Ezio Altamura and Edward Marino are uncontested.

In the school election, Richard Fallon, Thomas Schmidt and Albert Nieves are running for two seats.

Wyckoff

In the township committee race, Republicans Kevin Rooney and Susan Yudin are running against Independent Thomas Madigan. Republican John Carolan is uncontested for an unexpired two-year term.

In the school election, Frederic Farcy and Georgina Nico are uncontested.

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

LINDEN — Police are asking for the public's help in identifying a man who held-up a city store and robbed a clerk at gunpoint. Police released a security camera photo of the robber, described as a male in his late teens or early 20s. Authorities said the man entered the Linden Stationery store, 638 West St. near George Avenue, at...

Security camera photography of a man sought for robbing a Linden store clerk at gunpoint. (Linden Police)Tom Haydon | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

LINDEN -- Police are asking for the public's help in identifying a man who held-up a city store and robbed a clerk at gunpoint.

Police released a security camera photo of the robber, described as a male in his late teens or early 20s.

Authorities said the man entered the Linden Stationery store, 638 West St. near George Avenue, at 6:10 p.m. on Tuesday.

The store clerk told police the man wandered around for several minutes before approaching him, pulling a handgun from his waistband, and ordering him to open the cash register, Capt. James Sarnicki said.

MORE: Uber driver, passengers robbed in Linden

The suspect then walked behind the counter and scooped an unknown amount of cash from the register before fleeing, Sarnicki said.

The victim told officers the suspect was wearing a woodland camouflage hooded sweatshirt and dark pants, the captain said.

Police ask anyone with information about the robbery to the gunman to call contact Detective Ken Mikolajczyk at (908) 474-8542, or send an email crimetips@lpdnj.org.

MORE UNION COUNTY NEWS

Tom Haydon may be reached at thaydon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_HaydonSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

About 1,100 police officers are charged with crimes annually, according to an academic study.

LINDEN -- When suspended Linden police officer Pedro Abad was charged for the wrong-way double fatal drunk-driving accident, he joined a segment of the law enforcement community that no agency tracks: officers charged with crimes.

"There is not any government agency that keeps track of these cases," said Tim Lynch, director of the Washington-based Cato Institute's Project on Criminal Justice.

For three years, Lynch has overseen the National Police Misconduct Reporting Project (NPMRP), which collects data on the extent of misconduct by officers in the United States.

Abad appeared in court Thursday for a hearing on the indictment that charges him with aggravated vehicular homicide and manslaughter stemming from an off-duty March 20 crash in Staten Island when he was allegedly driving drunk.

RELATED: Officer in wrong-way crash pleads not guilty, released on bail

There are about 17,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide, but there are no requirements for them to report cases filed against officers, said Lynch.

Most of information collected at the NPMRP comes from media reports.

"That gives us an imperfect picture," Lynch said. "It's very hard to get specific numbers of cases against police."

While he has observed an increase in officers being charged in the last year, Lynch attributes that hike to the media attention placing law enforcement in the spotlight.

"That's probably a function of the increased scrutiny," he said, referring to cases in New York City, Baltimore and Ferguson, Mo.

In New Jersey, there have been several high profile cases recently:

* Four Edison police officers are accused of plotting retaliation against a North Brunswick officer for issuing a drunk-driving ticket.

* A former Plainfield officer was sentenced to prison for threatening a woman with criminal charges unless she disrobbed.

*Two Bloomfield officers currently face charges of tampering with records following an arrest and one of the officers was charged with aggravated assault allegedly committed during the arrest.

Abad has pleaded not guilty to a 27-count indictment stemming from the crash in Staten Island where two people, a fellow Linden police officer and a civilian passenger, were killed. Another Linden officer in Abad's car was severely injured. On Thursday, Abad's lawyer suggested he may have been drugged by a stripper at the strip club the men visited before the crash.

Off-Duty Incidents

Abad had two prior drunk-driving arrests, one was in Roselle in 2011 and the other in Rahway in 2013. The Roselle case was dismissed a year after the arrest when Abad's attorney complained to the municipal court that he had still not received information he had requested. Abad pleaded guilty to the charge in Rahway, where a police dashcam captured him failing a sobriety test, and had his license suspended.

Charges filed against police for off-duty conduct are among the most difficult to follow, particularly drunk-driving and domestic violence cases, Lynch said.

"I think DUI and and domestic violence are two of the scenarios where police often don't make reports," Lynch said.

Officers, he said, may be reluctant to file a charge against a fellow member of the law enforcement community.

"If it had been John Q. Citizen, then the person would have been arrested for DUI," he said.

Philip Stinson, professor criminal justice at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, also tracks cases of crimes against police and shares Lynch's suspicions about domestic violence cases.

"I've been stomping my feet trying to get people to pay attention to officers involved in domestic violence," Stinson said. "Police officers don't like to arrest other officers, and that is true for off-duty crimes as well as on-duty crimes. 

"Historically, police departments have not treated officer-involved domestic violence as a priority, and often officers were not arrested in situations where anyone else would have been arrested," said Stinson, who has researched such cases.

More than 1,000 charged annually

For more than nine years Stinson, a lawyer and former police officer, has collected data on law enforcement officers charged in crimes.

In each of the last seven years, more than 1,000 officers across the country have faced criminal charges, Stinson said.

In 2006, there were 968 officers arrested. That number jumped to 1,130 in 2008, and increased to 1,294 in 2011, the highest total in all the years Stinson has collected the data. In 2014, there were 1,088 in law enforcement facing charges.

"The numbers have been fairly consistent," Stinson said. "People are paying more attention (to the incidents). The general public is demanding more responsible responses from the police."

Juries reluctant to convict

Even as the public shows heighten interest in police charged with crimes for their on-duty actions, prosecutors tend to favor lesser charges, and juries rarely find police guilty at trials, say both Stinson and Lynch.

"There are biases that help to give the officer a benefit, as opposed to the average citizen," Lynch said.

From 2005 to 2014, there were 47 cases of an officer charged with murder for an on-duty incident where the officer shot and killed a person. 

Only 22 percent of those cases resulted in a guilty verdict against the officer charged, Stinson said.

"It seems that juries are reluctant to convict an officer when he is charged with a crime resulting from an on-duty violent street encounter," Stinson said. "People realize that policing is violent, ugly and difficult. They don't like to second-guess the split-second life-or-death decisions of police in those encounters."

Police misconduct reports are confidential in New Jersey, as they are in 23 other states, according to a report by Public Radio station WNYC. As with most public employees in New Jersey, police disciplinary files are confidential personnel records and are exempt from the Open Public Records Act.

Lynch says attitudes might be changing, in part because technology now allows more people to record incidents as they happen.

Tom Haydon may be reached at thaydon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_HaydonSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook

Sara Rong Liu, 54, of Mahwah, was charged with bilking investors in China and the United States out of millions over claims that she held lucrative contracts with various government agencies.

NEWARK--Sara Rong Liu told investors she headed a major textile distribution company headquartered in Hackensack, with millions in contracts in her pocket.

Backers in China and the United States gave her more than millions, with one investor from Virginia wiring approximately $530,000 into an account she controlled.

But when the Mahwah woman was arrested two years ago on federal fraud charges, the judge was told she had a $14-an-hour job at a clothing store and an $800,000 mortgage on her house.

On Friday in U.S. District Court in Newark, Liu--who pleaded guilty in April to pretending to be an employee of the United States--was sentenced to 3 years in prison for bilking investors out of $4 million. U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton also ordered her to repay the money she took.

SEE ALSO: NJ man charged in $1.5M investment scam that targeted friends

According to court filings, Liu, 54, was president of Westone, a company she set up in 1996 purportedly involved in the wholesale distribution of textiles as well as interior design. But beginning in 2010, prosecutors said Liu began seeking investors in what she characterized as short-term loans against a $156.6 million contract with the New York City Department of Design and Construction Fund. The U.S. Attorney's office said there was no such contract.

In the criminal complaint, Liu allegedly told investors there was a "problem with the contract" requiring Westone to pay certain fees before the NYC DDC would release contract payments.

The U.S. Attorney's office said she created fake contracts, emails and other documents--including records purportedly from the NYC DDC stating she had been awarded a contract to provide "design, construction, and construction support services" for textile products intended for such agencies as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Treasury Department, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

In her guilty plea, the charge of impersonating an employee of the United States referred to the variety of bogus government documents she generated to corroborate her claims about the NYC DDC contract, federal officials said.

Liu promised to repay the loans upon the release of the first contract payment.

Prosecutors said she also told other investors she stood to receive more than $17 million from her late uncle's estate in China, but first had to pay taxes related to the estate before she could receive the money. She told the investors she would share the inheritance if they helped her to pay the taxes.

The case was brought under the government's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which has brought nearly 10,000 financial fraud cases against 15,000 individuals nationwide.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Several N.J. Mets fans tailgating at Citi Field on Friday night before Game 3 of the World Series waxed nostalgic about 1986.

QUEENS -- As N.J. Mets fans had fun tailgating in the Citi Field parking lot on Friday night before Game 3 of the World Series, many waxed nostalgic about 1986, when the Mets started behind, too.

A young Ryan Burkowitz, who is 10 and lives in Cresskill, recited the history by memory when asked if he believed in a come back.

"They've just got to play hard," he said. "In 1986, the Mets came to the World Series. In the first game, they lost by one (run). In the second game, they lost by six. The same thing happened in 2015."

WATCH: The Mets won the World Series on this day in 1986

For other New Jersey residents, the answer was also 1986.

"Of course. They did it last time. Didn't they do it last time, '86?" said Melanie Vandervalk, of Denville. "We got married in '86. They were supposed to play Game 7 (the same day) but it was rained out. They had it the next day."

"Sure there could be a come back," said Tim Sullivan, of Marlboro. "We did it in '86. I'm sure everyone says that, right? The series isn't over until the home team loses... If they lose its gonna be a long ride home."

Christina Arce, of North Bergen, could even trace her fandom back to 1986, when her dad introduced her to the Mets, as they listened to games together on the radio on car rides on Saturdays and Sundays.

"I had no choice," she joked as she decorated a fan sign before the game.

Mets fans like Middlesex resident Todd Nicolay focused on taking the season game by game: "We're gonna do this. We're gonna stick together."

"You gotta believe," said James Dinsmore, of Morristown. "(Noah) Syndergaard is starting and he's a good pitcher."

Asked if the Syndergard's Avengers nickname suits him, Bobby Hajjar, who said he would have confidence in Syndergard's pitching "if" his first pitch strikes, joked that "instead of Thor for Noah Syndergaard, it should be Fabio."

Scott Collins, of Wayne, said he's down with the Mets' Avengers nicknames; "It's a little corny, but I like it."

Despite the generally overwhelming optimism, not every Jersey fan preached as much belief.

Max Edelsack, of Westfield, said he was protecting himself by hedging his bets.

"Obviously, you hope, but..." he trailed off. "If we can beat them today, it'll obvously give everyone more hope. Just hope for the best."

"It's possible, except Kansas City is a very good team," said pragmatic 13-year-old Eric Offer, of Summit. "Their pitching would have to be better, and they'd have to score a lot of runs."

But Offer, like so many Mets fans, thrives on uncertainty. He said he independently decided to become a Mets fan in 2009, since the Yankees "won a lot."

"I wanted something more interesting than that," he explained.

Laura Herzog may be reached at lherzog@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LauraHerzogL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Suspect was being held on $120K bail

MAHWAH -- A Monsey, N.Y. man arrested for shoplifting also had a large quantity of heroin in his possession, NorthJersey.com reported.

Jessica Mazzola | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

David Mizrachi, 21, was arrested Thursday night after he allegedly tried to take some small items at the Gulf gas station on Rt. 17.

When police carried out a search they found 124 folds of the drug as well as a hypodermic needle, Chief James Batelli said.

Mizrachi was being held on $120,000 bail at the Bergen County Jail Friday.

The R&B icon had previously listed the mansion in 2011 for $13.9 million

Looks like Mary J. Blige has left the building. The multi-platinum Grammy-winning R&B singer has put her sprawling Saddle River estate on the market for $13 million, and judging from the photos from the listing on Zillow.com, has already cleared out. 

Blige, who will play the Wicked Witch of the West in NBC's live production of "The Wiz!" this December, bought the 18,250-square-foot French County estate in 2008, reportedly for $12.3 million cash. (It was originally listed for $17 million.)

She had the home on the market in 2011 for $13.9 million, but it didn't sell. The singer, who is married to her manager Kendu Isaacs, has had money troubles in the past, including a $900,000 tax lien from the state of New Jersey, since cleared up, and a $3.4 million federal tax lien, which is still unpaid, according to court records obtained by NJ Advance Media. 

The 8-bedroom, 8-bath home on more than four acres features two separate dining rooms, a library, wine cellar, screening room, a large home gym, a steam room, a sauna, a pool and pool house, and a master bedroom with his and her bathrooms, closets and an espresso station. The property taxes are $97,548 a year. 

MORE: Mary J. Blige will pay huge N.J. show in December

Blige's Saddle River neighbors include rapper and reality show star Rev Run, hip hop's Wyclef Jean, and comedian and talk show host Rosie O'Donnell, whose English County estate is currently on the market for $6.975 million. 

Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy or like her on Facebook. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook, and check out TV Hangover, the podcast from Vicki and co-host Erin Medley on iTunes, Stitcher or listen here: 

TV HANGOVER, EP. 7: 'The Walking Dead' shocks, 'Supergirl' flies, 'Quantico' drags

Anti-Semitic messages were found on an athletic field at Dwight-Englewood School Saturday morning, a published report said.

The Dwight-Englewood School campus in Englewood (Google Maps) 

A swastika and the text "JEWS!!" were found made with eggs and shaving cream at Solomon Field, according to The Record.

Police said the case was considered a bias incident, the newspaper reported. Officials at the private school planned to discuss the matter with students on Monday.

Dwight-Englewood enrolls about 900 students in its lower, middle and upper school divisions, according to its website. The institution also calls itself the most ethnically-diverse school in Bergen County.

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

 

There are at least a few state Assembly races generating drama — with both Democrats and Republicans hoping they can grab a few new seats in the lower house of the state Legislature

TRENTON -- In two south Jersey races, the candidates are locked in a razor-thin heat -- with millions of dollars in campaign cash pouring in. 

In one north Jersey race, controversy erupted over a book filled with racial slurs written by one of the candidates a decade ago.

Experts say Tuesday's state Assembly elections may draw one of the lowest voter turnouts New Jersey has ever seen. In fact, a Rutgers-Eagleton poll released this past week showed three-quarters of New Jersey residents had no idea at all there was an election coming up.

But there are at least a few races generating drama -- with both Democrats and Republicans hoping they can grab a few new seats in the lower house of the state Legislature. 

All 80 seats in the Assembly are up for grabs Tuesday -- the first time since 1999 that the chamber has topped the ballot in New Jersey. That race drew only 32 percent of registered voters in the state to the polls. Experts are expecting an even lower number this time, without a presidential or governor's race to help bump up interest.

They're also expecting that most of the races won't be close, because redistricting has all but ensured that parties will hold on to the majority of their seats. 

"It's been 16 years since we last had the Assembly at the top of the ticket," said Ben Dworkin, a political science professor at Rider University. "The biggest thing that's changed since then: Many districts have become less competitive."

Democrats currently control the Assembly, 47 to 32 seats, with one vacancy. Experts say it's unlikely Republicans will win the nine seats they need to take over. (Democrats also control the state Senate, the upper house of the Legislature.)

Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union) had promised to mount an aggressive challenge in a state with 700,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans. He said voters should blame the fact that the state has among the highest property taxes in the nation on Democrats who have controlled the Assembly for 13 years.

"There's no guarantees," Bramnick said. "But this year, you have knowledgable voters voting, and they know who's in charge of the Legislature. People are just tired of paying high taxes, and I think they're figuring out who caused the high taxes."

Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden), the Democratic leader of the chamber, said he expects to pick up at least two seats, maybe more. He also said Bramnick is wrong to blame Democrats for high taxes.

"That's Jon's answer because he doesn't have any real solutions of his own," Greenwald said, adding that Republican Gov. Chris Christie and his party have not seen the returns they were hoping for after enacting pension reform and a property tax cap. "The Republican party and this Republican governor are incapable of keeping their word."

Democrats have also been trying to link Republican candidates with Christie, who has seen his approval rating drop into the mid-30s as he spends much of his time out of state campaigning for the GOP nomination for president. And some Republicans have been trying to distance themselves from Christie.

Despite the low interest from voters, the elections have seen a record amount of money. The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission said independent groups spent more than $8.5 million on the races -- the highest level of outside money the state has ever seen in a statewide election.

Most of that money has been funneled into the two tightest races: districts 1 and 2 in south Jersey. According to ELEC, the General Majority PAC -- which backs Democratic candidates -- has spent about $3 million in those showdowns.

Both districts are split, with one Republican and one Democrat currently holding Assembly seats there.

"All the heat is in those two districts," Dworkin said. "Each side believes it's an opportunity for a pickup. These races are going to be very tough, very tight."

In District 1 -- which includes Cape May and parts of Atlantic and Cumberland counties -- Democratic incumbent Bob Andrzejczak and running mate R. Bruce Land are battling Republican incumbent Sam Fiocci and Camden County Freeholder Jim Sauro.

In District 2 -- which includes parts of Atlantic County -- Democratic incumbent Vincent Mazzeo and county Freeholder Colin Bell are facing Republican incumbent Chris Brown and county Freeholder Will Pauls. 

Brigid Harrison, a political science professor at Montclair State University, said part of the reason the races are so close is because a key issue in both is the sharp downturn in Atlantic City.

The Jersey Shore resort has seen four casinos close and thousands of jobs lost over the last two years. Christie has hired an emergency manager to find ways to revive the city -- which has long been one of the economic engines in south Jersey.

Democrats have attempted to place the blame on Christie's administration for not doing more to help. 

"We'd all be surprised to see Demcoratic incumbents losing and less surprised to see Republican incumbents losing," Harrison said. "Maybe a Democrat picks up a seat."

Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, said it's tough to tell who will win either race.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Republicans or Democrats picked up a seat," Murray said. 

Another key race in the Shore region is District 11, a Republican-leaning area that includes affluent sections of Monmouth County. Incumbent Republicans Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande are fighting Democratic challengers Joann Downey and Eric Houghtaling. 

Then there's District 38 -- which includes parts of Bergen and Passaic counties --  in which incumbent Democrats Tim Eustace and Joseph Lagana vie against Republican challengers Anthony Cappola and Mark DiPisa. 

It was expected to be one of the districts where Republicans had a strong chance at picking up a seat.

But earlier this month, it was revealed that Cappola wrote a book 12 years ago that included slurs and stereotypes against blacks, gays, Asians, Muslims, and more. Cappola initially quit the race, and the Republican party waged a legal battle to replace his name on the ballot.

But the GOP dropped the effort because it would cost too much, and Cappola announced he was headed back to the campaign trail to clear his name. DiPisa has denounced Cappola's candidacy.

"People were looking at that district as being a place where Republicans could make inroads," Dworkin said. "Now, with the whole Cappola mess, so many Republicans are so frustrated, they're throwing up their hands and DiPisa is kind of left languishing."

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

 

A New York man hid three kilograms of heroin in a secret car compartment, police said.

A New York man hid heroin in a secret car compartment, police said. (File Photo) 

FORT LEE -- A New York man hid three kilograms of heroin in a secret car compartment, police said.

Fort Lee Detective T.J. Cullen stopped a 2007 Toyota Camry Thursday on Bergen Boulevard near Hazlitt Street for a motor vehicle violation, Detective Capt. Stanley Zon said.

The vehicle was registered to a Philadelphia man, but the driver was from Manhattan, N.Y., Zon said. The driver, Juan Polanco, 44, said he borrowed the vehicle from a friend, but didn't know the friend's name.

Cullen checked under the Toyota and found a hidden compartment accessible via the center console, Zon said. Inside there were three kilograms of heroin, worth an estimated $750,000.

MORE: Sheriff says $10K worth of heroin, cocaine seized in Paterson

Polanco was arrested and charged with heroin distribution. He was sent to Bergen County Jail on $250,000 bail.

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

Lauren Manzo marries Vito Scalia in a surprisingly tender and mostly drama-free second season finale

To quote "Manzo'd with Children" co-star Albie Manzo: "When I was there, I was really caught up in the moment, and I was watching something that I really thought was real." 

The second season finale of Bravo's "Real Housewives of New Jersey" spinoff was a (mostly) fake drama-free hour and a half, a celebratory (but not too self-congratulatory) and surprisingly tender look at Lauren Manzo and Vito Scalia's long-awaited nuptials.

"It's bittersweet," Caroline Manzo tells us before the wedding. "You're nervous, you're excited, you're sad, you're happy, because you're losing part of your soul. But it's beautiful." 

The couple, who have been dating since before "RHONJ" premiered in 2009, tied the knot back in July after a nearly two-year-long engagement. And despite close-ups of a shirtless grandfather in suspenders and a last-minute stop for fish nibblers and chicken rings before the ceremony ("When is White Castle not a good idea," Lauren reasons on "Watch What Happens" following the show") -- and despite the fact that this is still essentially a "Real Housewives" production -- it was a classy, magical affair. As Al Manzo says, albeit tongue in cheek, "It's like Disney, only in Paterson." 

RELATED: Judge rejects Teresa, Joe Giudice's challenge of foreclosure 

Lauren looked beautiful in a classic strapless ball gown with a magnificent embroidered veil, genuine tears were shed by seemingly everyone, including Vito, Albie and Chris Manzo (and, okay, maybe even me), and the dazzling reception could have been a commercial for the Manzo-owned Brownstone. (Okay, it basically was.)

"I know this wedding feels like it's very materialistic," Lauren says in the finale, "but at the root of everything, I'm just excited to be his wife." Aw. 

Lauren also revealed on "Watch What Happens" that she and Vito are still living Chez Manzo in Franklin Lakes, though she and Vito are sharing a bedroom, despite Al's vow to make them "Ricky and Lucy it" until they find their own place. 

PHOTOS: 'RHONJ' star Kathy Wakile lists Wayne home for $800K

In attendance from "RHONJ" seasons past: Jacqueline and Chris Laurita and their two sons C.J. and Nicholas and Jacqueline's daughter Ashlee Holmes, Kathy and Rich Wakile, Rosie Pierri, Dina Manzo, Greg Bennett and lots of people with blurry faces. 

The one downer of the episode? All the fuss about whether Albie was going to bring his on-again, off-again girlfriend Brittany to the event, which included a session with his life coach.

Albie eventually realizes that he is not going to have a "forever-type relationship with Brittany." They split up. Sad trombone. Also, Albie, now an agricultural entrepreneur, realizes that shipping his marijuana yield booster to growers could be tricky. If you have to ask your lawyer, "To what extent are you considered, I guess, a co-conspirator to growth?," consider a career change. Again, Albie.

Until next season! 

Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy or like her on Facebook. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook, and check out TV Hangover, the podcast from Vicki and co-host Erin Medley on iTunes, Stitcher or listen here: 

TV HANGOVER, EP. 7: 'The Walking Dead' shocks, 'Supergirl' flies, 'Quantico' drags

A directive issued by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office a year ago urged more vigorous enforcement of the law to stem the state's heroin and opiate 'crisis'

Enforcement of a 1987 law holding drug distributors criminally responsible for overdose deaths used to be a rare occurrence in New Jersey, but not any more.File photo 

It doesn't matter if you're a heroin overdose victim's best friend -- if you provided the drug that caused an overdose death, you can be prosecuted under a once rarely used 1987 law.

As the heroin epidemic rages on across New Jersey, law enforcement authorities are encouraging police and prosecutors to make full use of the "Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death" law, according to Elie Honig, director of the state Attorney General's Division of Criminal Justice.

"Under the law, the defendant does not have to be a drug kingpin," Honig said in an interview with NJ Advance Media. "You have to look at the whole case."

Honig acknowledged that a drug dealer is still more likely to be prosecuted, but someone who is sharing the drug is by no means immune. The Attorney General's Office, he said, has no statistics on the number of prosecutions by county prosecutors under the strict liability law, but added if there has been an increase, "that would be a good thing."

An online search of mainstream news sources revealed that in the past year, there have been at least 12 arrests under the strict liability law in New Jersey.

The increased enforcement of the law, particularly against people who were sharing the drug with friends, has its detractors, especially among defense attorneys.

Robert Bianchi, who served as Morris County prosecutor between 2007 and 2012 and now represents many drug defendants in his private law practice, called it "draconian" to prosecute in situations where "two consenting adults engaged in self-destructive behavior."

"You're not going to solve addiction this way," Bianchi said. "Years of taking a tough-guy approach have not done that."

In a recent use of the law, Angel Hernandez, 38, of Elmwood Park was arrested on Oct. 20 on two counts of the strict liability statute. He is accused of killing two people by providing heroin in two separate incidents in Clifton. Eric Somesia, 28, of Paterson, died in March, and Daniel Renois, 23, of Clifton died in July after each ingested heroin acquired from Hernandez, according to the Passaic County prosecutor.

Two Sussex County men, Edward Bochinski, 32, and Steven Smith, 29, both of Sussex Borough, face the charge in connection with an unnamed individual who died of a heroin overdose in Wantage on Aug. 20. Smith gave the heroin to Bochinski, who then distributed it to the victim, according to prosecutors.

"The allegation is that the drugs were sold to the victim, not shared," said Sussex First Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Mueller. He said his office is not releasing the name of the victim "at the request of the victim's family."

In 2013, Morris County prosecuted a man who was a user himself. Matthew Weisholz, 30, of Lincoln Park, who described himself as a "full-blown heroin addict," pleaded guilty to the strict liability charge on Aug. 9, 2013.

He admitted he gave the drug to a former girlfriend, Erin Idone of Montville, on March 5, 2013. Idone, who had recently been released from a rehabilitation center, died that day of an overdose. Weisholz was sentenced to five years in state prison.

A law enforcement directive issued by Acting Attorney General John Hoffman in October 2014 said the state "is in the midst of a heroin and prescription opiate crisis" and urged a number of steps for police and prosecutors aimed at both deterring drug use and saving lives.

Those included proper implementation of the Overdose Prevention Act of 2013, which provides immunity from a drug possession charge for a person seeking medical assistance for a possible overdose.

But the steps also included "prompt and thorough investigations of possible violations" of the strict liability for drug deaths law, which imposes penalties of up to 20 years in state prison.

For Hernandez, accused of killing two people with his heroin, that means he faces up to 40 years in prison if found guilty.

The directive states that "it is no defense that the drug user contributed to his or her own death by voluntarily ingesting the substance" and says the law applies "to every person along the drug distribution chain, and not just to 'retail' distributors."

"It's one of many options we have," Honig said. "You have to look at all the circumstances."

Under the law, a person who manufactured or distributed a drug may be found guilty if it can be proven that someone died as a result of ingesting the drug.

In this Morris County case, Weisholz told the court it was not his "intention" that Idone would die, adding: "I can't say how sorry I feel toward the family for the pain I caused."

Idone's father, mother and brother all communicated publicly to the court about how devastating her death was for them.

More recently in Bergen County, Jesse Kurzweil, 28, of Closter, was sentenced on Oct. 7 to six years in state prison under the statute, according to court records.

Kurzweil, who pleaded guilty in July to the charge, admitted his role in the death of Doreen Leach, 47, of Emerson, according to a report in The Record. After Leach was found dead in her apartment, an investigation revealed that Kurzweil had sold the heroin to a man who used the heroin with Leach, the newspaper reported.

Statistics released by the federal Centers for Disease Control and the state medical examiner's office revealed that New Jersey's heroin overdose rate reached record levels in 2013 and 2014 and was triple the national rate. Some 741 people died of heroin overdoses in 2013 and 781 in 2014.

The problem, Honig said, is "particularly acute down the Shore," especially in Cape May and Ocean counties,  and "those two counties are on the leading edge" of prosecutions.

"There are lots of tourists, college kids, people looking for recreation" at the Shore, he said.

In Ocean County, which has been prosecuting the crime aggressively for several years, there have been 20 arrests for providing heroin that kills since Joseph Coronato became prosecutor in March 2013, according to statistics compiled by his office.

Coronato's spokesman, Al Della Fave, said that as soon as Cornato took office, "he realized there was an issue" and he targeted dealers providing drugs that kill.

Among those who died in those cases was William Akers, son of Seaside Heights Mayor Bill Akers. Jason Jamiel Brinson, 28, was charged with manslaughter and drug distribution.

Della Fave said that in Ocean County, the prosecutor has been going after dealers and has not been prosecuting people who were just users.

"Our strategy is hard-core dealers are impacting a lot of people," Della Fave said, noting that the key in those getting is a medical examiner's report saying ingestion of drugs was the cause of death.

Honig linked the increase in heroin overdoses to the increased popularity of prescription painkillers such as oxycodone that produce an "intense high" similar to heroin.

"Pills give the same high, but they are are more expensive," he said. "In New Jersey, we have some of the most potent heroin in the country and it's also the most affordable."

Pills, while more expensive, may be safer because they are a regulated prescription drug, whereas with heroin, "you're more likely to get tainted stuff," Honig said.

Bianchi said that when he was prosecutor between 2007 and 2012, families of drug overdose victims sometimes asked for prosecutions under the "strict liability" law. His office investigated, but didn't pursue any prosecutions, Bianchi said.

The heroin epidemic has gotten even worse since he left office, Bianchi said.

Now, he said, "We're living in two worlds" and the state is taking a "frenzied" approach in which "they want to rehabilitate but they also want to be hard on drugs."

Defense attorney Feinstein said that with the heroin problem so widespread, he understands the need for law enforcement to push enforcement of the strict liability law. 

"This is a way of drawing attention to what is now a vast epidemic," Feinstein said. "It leads to deaths. This is something that has to be taken seriously. The law can be used as a deterrent."

Juries are unlikely to be sympathetic to drug dealers accused of killing people with their drugs, Feinstein said. "As a defense attorney, that's going to be a tough case."

But Feinstein said prosecuting those who shared drugs with friends is "going too far."

"Juries are going to have sympathy for people who were sharing," Feinstein said, adding that in those circumstances, everyone was using the drug voluntarily.

"Juries are going to say, 'there but for the grace of God, other people could have died,' " Feinstein said.

Ben Horowitz may be reached at bhorowitz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @HorowitzBen. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

 

Wildlife officials want to examine walking bear to decide the best course of action to ensure his survival over the winter. Watch video

JEFFERSON -- As winter approaches, concern for "Pedals," the injured walking bear, is increasing and the state Division of Fish and Wildflife has offered to step in if necessary.

Lawrence Hajna, a spokesman for the New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency's Division of Fish and Wildlife, said the agency is asking anyone who has sighted the bear or has any information on his whereabouts to call immediately.

Hajna said the agency wants to have its biologists examine the bear and determine his condition and whether he'll be able to survive the winter. He said the agency received a call roughly two weeks ago about a sighting but by the time it was able to mobilize the bear was gone.

"We're soliciting local residents to give us information," Hajna said. "We haven't received many reports, which may suggest the bear has moved into the woods. If anybody has any information, they need to contact us immediately. We heard the bear may not be getting enough to eat. We want our biologists to give us a first-hand assessment."

Nearly 250,000 people have signed a Care2 petition as of Monday morning demanding state Fish and Wildlife officials allow the relocation of the bear, who has been seen walking upright thorough Oak Ridge neighbors on his hind legs because of injuries to both paws, to The Orphaned Wildlife Center, a wildlife sanctuary in Otisville, NY. that has offered to take in the bear and rehabilitate him.

"We're keeping an open mind but I think that (relocating the bear) is getting a little ahead of the game," said Hajna. "We need to make an assessment first. Bears are very adaptable. Bears lose certain abilities as they age but they're still able to survive. Until we're able to assess its heath, we're taking a wait-and-see approach.

"A lot of people are very passionate about the bear and we understand that. But as wildlife managers, we know bears and other animals who have been injured and manage to survive in the wild."

RELATED: Residents worry that "Pedals," the walking bear, won't survive the winter

Sabrina Walsh Pugsley, who started a GoFundMe page to help relocate the bear that has raised more than $23,000, said she has been in touch with state wildlife officials but nothing has been done.

In addition to the perils of winter, Pugsley, of Oak Ridge, said a bear hunt is scheduled for the week of Dec. 7, which proposes a threat not only to the bear's life but to the many who may be in the woods to protect him from the hunters.

Pugsley said letters were mailed to three offices, the state Division of Fish and Wildlife, the state Department of Environmental Protection and the governor's office but no one has replied. She said those wishing to have the bear relocated tentatively plan to deliver an update petition to the Department of Environment Protection on Nov. 10 followed by a gathering at the Governor's office.

Pugsley has said the non-profit facility in New York has offered to take in the bear, with the permission from New Jersey wildlife officials, and build an enclosure designed specifically for his needs. 

The facility would provide a natural setting with a door for him to walk through, a pond and it would abut an enclosure with other bears, she said. The facility currently has 14 adult bears, she has said.

PLUS: Walking bear's GoFundMe pages reaches $15K goal

Because the facility is a non-profit, Pugsley has said, it needs money to build the enclosure, which spurred her to start the GoFundMe page. The facility told her it'll need between $15,000 to $18,000 to build the enclosure.

But state wildlife officials have said their biologists believe it's in the bear's best interest to leave it alone.

"We have been in touch with Sabrina," Hajna said. "I wouldn't take it as a bad sign that there hasn't been any recent sightings of the bear. Maybe he has gone in the woods and is getting a proper diet. We just haven't had any sightings that we can respond to."

Hajna is asking anyone who sights the bear or has any information on his whereabouts to call state wildlife officials at 877-927-6337 immediately.

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

Lab testing uncovered the problem.

These 22 ounce cartons of gluten-free turkey meatballs were found to contain gluten. They are made by an East Rutherford company.USDA 

The recall applied to meatballs produced produced by East Rutherford-based Joseph Epstein Food Enterprises on Oct. 19.

No illnesses have been reported but anyone who bought them and cannot consume food with gluten is advised to toss the package, the report said.

Third-party lab testing uncovered the problem.

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

No information immediately released on victim

PATERSON -- A person died after being hit by an express commuter train early Monday night, NJ Transit said.

Murray, Noah K. 

The victim, identified as a trespasser, was hit around 5:05 p.m. by the Suffern, N.Y.-bound 1163 train out of Hoboken, the agency said. The victim, who was knocked from the railway right-of-way onto the street, was not identified and no information was immediately available about the person. The collision occurred just west of the Paterson station.

None of the more than 350 passengers and crew aboard were hurt. Passengers were ferried by bus to their destination.

NJ Transit said the train was being held at the station but there were no delays along the Main Line as of about 6 p.m. The train's next scheduled stop was in Ridgewood.

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

 

Daniel "Tokyo" Gatson, 42, of North Bergen, was charged in 2013 with burglarizing 27 homes from New Jersey to Georgia—taking $3.4 million in jewelry, watches, cash and other valuables, before his cell phone betrayed him.

NEWARK--Authorities had a detailed record of the whereabouts of Daniel "Tokyo" when they arrested him for a long series of home break-ins up and down the East Coast--his cell phone kept a detailed log of his location as he and Anthony Hanks went on a years-long crime spree.

On Monday, the two men were convicted in federal court of interstate transportation of stolen property and conspiracy, following a three-week trial before U.S. District Judge William Martini in Newark. The jury deliberated less than two days before returning the verdicts.

Gatson, 43, of North Bergen, and Hanks, 36, of Brooklyn, were charged in 2013 with burglarizing 27 homes from New Jersey to Georgia--taking $3.4 million in jewelry, watches, cash and other valuables, before they were caught by the FBI and members of a special task force of county and local police agencies that had been set up to track them down.

Four others charged in the case had pleaded guilty earlier and testified against the pair.

MORE: Inside the case that brought down 'Tokyo' Gatson

According to court filings, Gatson allegedly began the crime spree just five days after he was released from state prison, following a 10-year term for breaking into the Englewood Cliffs home of former NBA star Patrick Ewing and stealing more than $300,000 worth of luxury cars, fur coats and jewelry--including a Mercedes-Benz, a Lincoln Navigator and two Piaget watches.

The crew targeted high-income homes in places such as Colts Neck, Bernardsville and Alpine, typically cutting phone lines and alarm wires on the exterior of a home before breaking in and ransacking the place, the authorities said.

They were ultimately caught because Gatson carried his cell phone with him, authorities said. The U.S. Attorney's office revealed in court filings that phone records obtained after Gatson became a leading suspect provided an electronic map of his footprints, giving the task force a trail that coincided exactly with dozens of major home break-ins reported to police.

U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, in court briefs, said the ring "used cell phones during each and every burglary--including 'open line calls,' where one co-conspirator inside the home kept in constant contact with the getaway driver outside while the burglary occurred.

All cellphones constantly search for a signal, even when no calls are being made, and continually re-scan several times a minute, always seeking the closest cellphone towers that will provide the strongest signal. The function cannot be turned off while the phone is getting a wireless signal. Smart phones also contain a GPS chip that identifies exactly where it is at all times.

The technology has led to a number of arrests nationwide. Last week, Eliezer Medina of Lancaster, Pa., was sentenced in federal court in Newark to two and a half years in prison for his role in a string of burglaries throughout northern and southern New Jersey that netted approximately $625,000. Authorities said it was his cell phone that betrayed him, after phone records indicated Medina's mobile phone was in the vicinity when the stores in Paramus and Pennsauken were hit.

Gatson had argued the cellphone records constituted unlawful search and seizure, violating his constitutional rights.

He and Hanks both face up to 10 years in prison when they are scheduled to be sentenced in February.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Sunday was the last full day for Montvale landmark DePiero's Country Farm, the Record reported.

MONTVALE -- Sunday was the last full day for Montvale landmark DePiero's Country Farm, the Record reported.

The farm store will stay open only on a limited basis through Wednesday.

The DePiero family has farmed in Montvale since 1924, opening the farm store in 1987. The family plans to continue farming on a smaller parcel at Summit Avenue and Craig Road, selling plants and Christmas items.

MORE: Longtime farm to make way for first Bergen County Wegmans

The family decided seven years ago that the farm was no longer viable, entering into a joint venture with S. Hekemian Group, a Paramus real estate developer, to build a 225,000-square-foot shopping center on the site of the farm. The first Wegmans supermarket in Bergen County will anchor the center.

Officials broke ground on the center in September.

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

Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli is dedicating seized asset money to train recovered drug addicts as mentors for people treated for drug overdoses.

Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli is using seized asset money to fund a mentor program for drug addicts. (File Photo) 

HACKENSACK -- Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli is dedicating seized asset money to train recovered drug addicts as mentors for people treated for drug overdoses.

Molinelli announced Monday he would use $7,500 to fund Recovery Coach Academy, a training program for the recovered addicts.

The prosecutor has asked Children's Aid and Family Services, a Paramus nonprofit provider of human services and child welfare programs, to interview Bergen County residents in recovery to be trained as coaches. The Center for Addiction Recovery and Success, of Rockaway, will provide the training.

Molinelli expects Bergen County will have 15 to 20 mentors. The five-day training curriculum will cover subjects including pathways to recovery, resources and referrals, boundaries and self-care.

The Academy will be a resource for people whom police treat with Narcan after overdosing on opiates and other drugs in Bergen County. While these people are treated at local hospitals for any ailments caused by the overdose, they are often released without follow-up, Molinelli said.

"While there has been some change in attitude amongst many hospitals to automatically provide addictive care services, the thought is to dispatch a member of the Recovery Coach Academy to the hospital and to interact immediately with the individual who has sustained the overdose and addiction," Molinelli said.

MORE: Heroin epidemic spurs cops to charge friends, others who provide drugs that kill

Molinelli said he hopes people who overdose from heroin will accept help from others who have gone through the same thing.

Law enforcement has struggled with the heroin epidemic sweeping New Jersey. Some police and prosecutors have opted for a more aggressive approach, using the "Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death" law to prosecute those who provide overdose victims with drugs.

Molinelli's office used the law recently in the case of Jesse Kurzweil, 28, of Closter, who admitted selling the heroin that caused an Emerson woman's overdose. Kurzweil was sentenced to six years in prison.

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

Residents headed to the polls Tuesday for county-wide and local primary elections.

A voter at the Brookside Fire House in Mendham stand in a voting booth as election workers man the desk.Robert Sciarrino/The Star-Ledger 

BERGEN COUNTY -- Residents headed to the polls Tuesday for county-wide and local primary elections.

Incumbents are noted by an asterisk (*).

Board of Freeholders
Two, three-year terms

John Mitchell (R)
Kenneth P. Tyburczy (R)
Steven Tanelli (D)*
Tracy Silna Zur (D)*
Richard A. Siegel (I)

Board of Freeholders
One unexpired term

Daisy Ortiz-Berger (R)
Thomas J. Sullivan (D)*
Peter J. Rohrman (I)

See the results of local races at the Bergen County Clerk's website.

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