The Record, Bergen County, NJ

Highway Chase Ends in Crash and Dwi Charges for Driver

KINNELON Police have arrested a suspected drunken driver who crashed into the side of a bridge after a chase along three highways, officials said. No one was injured in the pursuit, which started in Kinnelon and ended in Glen Rock.

Minority Dropout Problem Explored

HACKENSACK Educators, professors, community leaders and parents met Thursday to discuss a vexing problem for public schools across the nation: the gap in academic achievement between white and minority students. High-quality preschool, small classes in elementary school and strong, personalized curriculum in high school are all proven ways to help more students graduate, Clive Belfield, an economist from Queens College in New York, said during a symposium at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Not at All 'Ignominious' ; Spelling Bee Finalists Earn Right to Be Proud

WAYNE Neil Coleman, a sixth-grader from Tenafly Middle School, shot down nearly every word the judges threw at him Thursday night, earning the right to compete in the national spelling bee in Washington, D.C. It took 10 rounds of words to top runner-up Alvin George, an eighth-grader from David E. Owens Middle School in New Milford.

Woman Charged in Theft of $5,000 From Neighbor ; Cops Says She Took Advantage of 84-Year-Old

SOUTH HACKENSACK A 34-year old township woman was arrested Thursday and charged with stealing $5,000 from a senior citizen, police said. Caterina Derrico of Chestnut Avenue was charged with eight counts of theft by deception and six counts of forgery, said Police Chief Michael Frew.

Man, 82, Fights the Pet Police [Corrected 03/19/07] ; Is 40 Minutes Outside Neglect?

EAST RUTHERFORD For 16 years, John Soriano's dog has roamed his quarter-acre property, returning to the house to eat, drink and sleep. But now county officials charge that the 82-year-old borough resident neglects the female husky and German shepherd mix named Sam.

Fair Lawn Tot's Death Called 'Suspected Neglect' ; Child Suffocated On Sofa As Father Slept

FAIR LAWN The death of a toddler who accidentally suffocated while sleeping on a couch with her father Sunday has been classified as "suspected neglect" by the state Division of Youth and Family Services, which is investigating the incident, an agency spokeswoman said Thursday. Danielle Anna Engelhardt, 2, was blue and unresponsive when she was found by her mother, Jacqueline, on the living room couch of the family's Sperber Road apartment around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, police Capt. Anthony Serrao...

Lofty Vision for a Fading Industrial Park ; Kodak Site Could Develop Into Housing, Offices

Bye-bye, factories. Hello, tree-lined office space, cafs and town houses. Behold the future of the Route 208 industrial park, currently home to the Nabisco cookie factory and about 134 other manufacturing companies.

Cops Toss Book at 2 Students with Gun ; New Milford Episode Sends Stern Warning

NEW MILFORD Police removed two middle school students from school Wednesday after a loaded BB gun was discovered in one's locker. There was no evidence that the gun was intended as a threat to anyone at the Henry E. Owens Middle School, Police Chief Frank Papapietro said, adding that student safety had not been compromised.

Park Ridge Plans Repairs to Dam ; $1.4m Bond Ordinance Introduced

PARK RIDGE The borough has introduced a $1.4 million bond ordinance for improvements to the Mill Pond Dam that have been mandated by the state Department of Environmental Protection. "There's basically a compromise of the integrity of the dam that needs to be addressed," said Borough Administrator Gene Vinci.

Ridgefield Motorcyclist Dies After Hitting Tree

RIDGEFIELD A borough man died Wednesday when he lost control of his motorcycle on a residential street, police said. Richard Schellack, 69, was riding his motorcycle at about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday when he hit a tree on Abbott Avenue, said Sgt. Robert Williams.

Sacco, North Bergen Commissioners to Run Unopposed

NORTH BERGEN Mayor Nicholas J. Sacco will sail into his next term unopposed, further cementing his position as one of the longest- serving officials in township history. Sacco and his Stable Taxes, Stable Neighborhood team of incumbents will run unopposed in the May 8 non-partisan election.

Fort Lee Mayor Faces Primary Challenge ; Councilman, Shunned From Slate, Forms His Own Team

FORT LEE It's official: Longtime Mayor Jack Alter will face a challenge from a renegade council member within his own party as Alter seeks his fifth term leading the borough. The challenger is fellow Democrat Michael Villano, a retired Fort Lee High School teacher now in his ninth year on the council. Villano filed Thursday to run on a slate with former Councilman Don Porrino and Bobbi Wailes.

Tax Aide Denies Taking $16,000 ; Bergenfield Sends Case to County

BERGENFIELD The borough's former deputy tax collector has pleaded not guilty to charges of theft, official misconduct and tampering with the public record. Marlon Mikesell, 31, denied allegations that he pocketed at least $16,000 in property tax revenue when he appeared in Municipal Court on Thursday morning,

Emerson Municipal Taxes May Rise 8.5%

EMERSON The municipal tax rate would rise 8.5 percent under the $10 million budget for 2007 introduced this week by the Borough Council. The owner of a home assessed at the borough average of $519,000 would pay $2,642 in municipal taxes, up $247 from last year. The tax rate would be 50.9 cents per $100 of assessed value.

Foes of High-Rise Plan Get Help ; Green Groups: It Risks 'Scenic Resources'

NORTH BERGEN Homeowners in a development built into the Palisades cliffs have enlisted the help of environmental groups to battle a proposed waterfront high-rise and protect scenic views. Members of the Bergen Ridge Homeowners Association have been embroiled in a fight with Riverview Development LLC over the developers' plans to build three nine-story towers atop a two-story parking garage.

State May Help Renovate Schools in Lincoln Park

LINCOLN PARK The state will pay part of the cost of renovations to two district schools if voters approve a bond financing plan next month. The school board accepted the last state aid figures this week for a $2.1 million referendum question that would finance replacement of decades-old windows, lighting fixtures and a boiler with more energy-efficient equipment, said school board President Perry Mayers.

Letting Athletes Out of Gym Class ; Backers Say They Get Enough Exercise; Critics Feel There Are Different Benefits

Varsity athletes spend so much time exercising that some high school officials see no reason to send them to gym classes with their less athletic peers. Proponents believe that athletes are far exceeding their physical education requirements during after school practices and games. They would rather see them use the extra time studying.

Obituaries

MARY MAIORINO BISSO, 95, of Little Ferry died Thursday. She was born in Italy. She was a parishioner of St. Margaret of Cortona R.C. Church, Little Ferry, and a member of its Rosary Altar Society. She was a member of the Columbiettes of the Knights of Columbus, Hackensack. Arrangements: Trinka-Faustini Funeral Service, Maywood. WILLIE BRACEY JR., 66, of Paterson died Wednesday. Before retiring, he was a construction worker. Arrangements: Bragg Funeral Home, Paterson.

Beatrice Bayersdorfer of Bogota

BOGOTA Beatrice Bayersdorfer spent only two of her 92 years away from the Bogota home where she was born. She married the boy who grew up in the house a stone's throw from hers on Queen Anne Road and became the borough's first crossing guard, president of the Fire Department's Ladies Auxiliary and a charter member of the Bogota Swim Club.

Man Hit by Car On Route 46 Listed As Serious

RIDGEFIELD PARK A man walking across Route 46 was struck by a car Wednesday night, police said. Galilao Diaz, 35, of Palisades Park was crossing the highway at the Teaneck Road overpass about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday when he was hit by a car driven by John Shi Gu, 56, of Cliffside Park, said Sgt. Phil McEntee, the Police Department's traffic supervisor.