The Record, Bergen County, NJ

Obituaries

HERMAN BAGNIS, 98, of Neptune, formerly of Haledon and Oradell, died Sunday. He was born in France. Before retiring, he was a textile worker. He was an Army veteran of World War II. Arrangements: Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home, Franklin Lakes. GREGORY BERLENGI SR., 76, of Fort Lee died Saturday. He was born in Croatia. He had owned Norvent Insulation, Long Island. Arrangements: McCorry Bros. Funeral Home, Cliffside Park.

Judge Bars Some School Ballots ; Manchester Regional Tax Numbers Incorrect

The tax numbers listed on some ballots to be cast in today's Manchester Regional High School election aren't up to date. And for that reason, those ballots won't be counted in official results, a judge ruled on Monday. Superior Court Judge Robert Passero ordered that the elections move forward today in the three towns - Haledon, North Haledon and Prospect Park - that share responsibility for Manchester's budget.

Old Tappan Promises Quiet Downtown Oasis

OLD TAPPAN - Construction on Twin Oakes Park, a downtown recreation area featuring a walking path, gazebo and 9/11 memorial, is scheduled to begin this week. The four-acre park, named for the original owner of the property, long-time resident Pete Oakes, and the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, will be on Central Avenue next to the business district.

Garfield Warned On Absentee Ballots ; County Elections Chief Meets with Candidates

GARFIELD - The Bergen County superintendent of elections sent a strong message to the school board candidates in today's election: Don't let it happen again. After conducting an investigation of possible absentee-ballot vote fraud in the last two city elections, county Superintendent Pattie DiCostanzo called all five school board candidates into her office two weeks ago and instructed them about proper absentee balloting.

Bergen Tpke. Bridge to Be Widened, Fixed ; $4.6m Project Is More Than a Year Away

The Bergen Turnpike Bridge linking Ridgefield and Ridgefield Park will get a face-lift. The span, which crosses Overpeck Creek, is one of four worn bridges in Bergen County that the freeholders approved for repairs this month.

Is That All There Is? Borough Asks Giants ; E. Rutherford Frets Over New Stadium

Some East Rutherford officials have the same mixed emotions about last week's deal for a new $750 million New York Giants stadium that many of the borough's residents have felt since the Meadowlands Sports Complex opened three decades ago. Yes, there are bragging rights for a home to a National Football League team, but borough leaders nevertheless question whether they are getting a fair deal. Both the Giants stadium and the $1.3 billion Xanadu complex that will be built at the Continental A...

Cop Car's Computer Helps Nab Fugitive

PEQUANNOCK - Police using a new dashboard computer system arrested a driver who was a fugitive for the past 12 years, authorities said. George A. Wilburgh 57, of Paterson was driving on Route 23 Friday when Patrolman Jack Lyons typed Wilburgh's license plate number into his Info-COP computer.

Stanley King, Headed Footwear Company Hackensack Businessman Active in Spca

Stanley N. King, for 45 years the board chairman of S.G. Footwear of Hackensack, a family-owned slipper and shoe manufacturer, died Saturday. He was 81 years old. "He was our inspiration and he was a big-picture kind of guy," said Bernie Leifer, president and CEO, on Monday. "He was able to see what was going to happen in the future and was not afraid of risk."

Bergen County Briefs

Minority women health workshop HASBROUCK HEIGHTS - An exercise and dance workshop promoting health and wellness among African-American and Hispanic women will be held Wednesday, 7 to 9:30 p.m., at the Hasbrouck Heights Holiday Inn on Route 17 south.

Hud Grants to Fund 2 Paterson Programs ; Computer Center, Social Service to Benefit

PATERSON - The city's Housing Authority will receive $500,000 in federal grants to establish a computer center in one of its developments and to create a social service program in another. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said it will award two $250,000 grants to the authority, part of $20.7 million divided up nationwide

Man Charged with in-Law's Slaying

PATERSON - A fight between two unemployed brothers-in-law ended in a killing Sunday evening in Riverview Towers, police said. About 6:30 p.m., Delroy Watson, 59, got into a fight in his apartment with Harry Fair, 62, of Paterson. Police said that the cause of the argument was unclear Monday.

Homeless but Not Friendless ; Street Family Mourns Passing of a Hackensack Fixture

HACKENSACK - Billy Schmidt couldn't help himself. The homelessness, unemployment and drugs were too much. Still, his words and deeds may have helped save others, friends said at his burial service Monday.

Wildfires Become New Risk for N.J. ; Warm, Dry Weather Leads to Restrictions

Recent floods have given way to a spell of warm and extremely dry weather - which makes for dangerous conditions in wooded areas. More than 150 wildfires erupted in New Jersey from April 11 through Sunday, which prompted the state Forest Fire Service to enact restrictions on campfires over the weekend. The state now says there is "very high" probability of forest fires, a big difference from the heavy rains that soaked the ground two weeks ago.

Guardsman Finds Service May Cost Him Council Reelection Bid

PROSPECT PARK - Rest and relaxation it wasn't. Councilman Thomas Jefferson returned to the borough on a two-week leave from Iraq to discover he also faces a battle on the home front. Despite the prayers and words of support from officials and residents for the councilman, the borough's Democratic committee has rejected supporting his reelection bid.

School Elections Are Today

Voters go the polls today to choose school board members and decide on tax proposals to fund school district operations. Polling station opening hours vary in Passaic County, although all polls close at 9 p.m. Polling hours in Morris County are 2 to 9 p.m.

Open-Records Cases Costly to Town ; W. Milford Spends at Least $80,000 On Defenses

WEST MILFORD - Township taxpayers have spent at least $80,000 to defend the way employees respond to requests for public information. The Open Public Records Act of 2002 was supposed to lay out a precise map of what government documents must be shared with the public, and how quickly government officials must provide them.

High-Tech Probe Yields Child Porn Arrest

A breakthrough technology led investigators to a Closter man accused of distributing kiddie porn over the Internet, authorities said. Ronald Kennedy, 38, was being held on $250,000 bail Monday at the Bergen County Jail, charged with possessing and distributing child pornography.

Delivered with Care ; Garfield Bakery Offers Homebound Sweet Relief

GARFIELD - It was as if he had been waiting for the delivery all day. Andrew Szarvas, 75, a disabled resident of Maple Street, rolled to the door as the bell rang. Finally, Charlie had arrived.

Confusion Delayed Response to Fire ; Dispatchers Struggled to Find Teaneck Address

TEANECK - Tapes of 911 calls obtained by The Record on Monday show that Bergen County and Teaneck emergency dispatchers had difficulty locating a Rutland Avenue house where four children died in a fire. The tape release came as state investigators examined the actions of firefighters who inspected a house and found nothing wrong hours before it was consumed by the deadly fire last month.

A Case for Mutual Respect ; Lawyer Offers Course in Understanding Islamic Faith

It's something Sohail Mohammed says he'll never understand. "A person takes a criminal act and manipulates faith around it to do what he wants," he said, of a North Carolina man who pleaded guilty last week to exploding bombs at two abortion clinics in the South. "We all basically say that's a lunatic." But when similar scenarios play out with someone who is Muslim, Mohammed says the Islamic faith comes under attack instead of the person committing the crimes.