The Record, Bergen County, NJ

81-Year-Old Man Crushed by Own Car Dies

An 81-year-old Pequannock man died Friday night at Morristown Memorial Hospital after getting trapped beneath the wheels of his car earlier in the day at the Kinnelon Mall. William Peters, 81, was trying to maneuver his 2000 Mercury around a shopping cart with his front door open when his foot slipped off the brake and onto the gas pedal, causing the car to back up too quickly, police said. Peters' open car door caught on an adjacent minivan, dragging it a few feet into another vehicle, and P...

Clothing Store Puts a New Spin On Retail ; Passaic Shop Owner Mixes Sounds, Cultures

PASSAIC Misha Gattengo likes "edgy, experimental" electronic music, "gay, black and Latino house music" from the early '90s otherwise known as "Detroit techno." In contrast, customers and employees of his downtown clothing store, Nina's, are mainly Mexican. They prefer Latin beats such as reggaeton and bachata.

Joyce Carlson, 84, Artist for Disney's 'Small World'

In need of a job in 1944, Santa Monica High School graduate Joyce Carlson followed a friend to Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, Calif., where she landed work in the traffic department delivering mail and office and art supplies. But what started as just a job turned into a career for Ms. Carlson, who spent the next 56 years involved first with Disney animated movies and then theme park attractions worldwide.

33% Hike for Bridge has Drivers Howling

That wailing and moaning we heard on this side of the Hudson last week sounded like the grieving you'd expect at a wake. But the dearly departed in this case wasn't a loved one. It was a $6 toll. Starting March 2, crossing the big river will cost $8 instead of $6 by car. If you use the PATH train, the price will be $1.75 a ride instead of $1.50 or $1.30 rather than $1.20 via discount card.

Mansions Rich in Fire Threats ; Chiefs: Size, Layout Create Dangers, Problems

Modern-day mansions in towns such as Saddle River and Alpine are posing special challenges for firefighters, who face the prospect of encountering especially difficult search conditions and dragging fire hoses through home movie theaters or indoor basketball courts. "There are more of them," Saddle River volunteer Fire Chief Brian Yates said of "extreme" mansions in the borough. "It's a lot more work, a lot more to think about."

First Hike of the New Year, and It's Not Property Taxes

The chance to keep New Year's resolutions and get some fresh air drew more than two dozen nature lovers Saturday to one of North Jersey's first organized hikes of 2008. The three-mile hike in Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area in Kinnelon drew families with children as young as 7, as well as three dogs, on a warm January day.

Veteran Official Back As Ringwood Mayor

RINGWOOD Walter Davison, who has been active in borough affairs for decades, returned as mayor on Saturday. Davison was swept into office by a Republican victory in November's elections after four years of Democratic control. He was previously borough administrator.

Paterson, Clifton Among Cities with Terrorism Insurance

They're just 12 miles from New York City. They've got extensive utility infrastructure. And major highways run through them. That's why Paterson and Clifton have each been spending roughly $10,000 a year since 2002 on terrorism insurance to cover infrastructure.

The Benefit of Youthful Advice ; Student Reps Counsel Many School Boards

Fresh-faced students are joining Board of Education meetings right up there on the dais. About half of New Jersey's local boards of education now include "student representatives" as special advisory members, partnerships that signal a growing role for students in school governance.

'Muslims Are People Like Me and You' ; Feeding Homeless Displays Islam's Charitable Tenets

Everyone ate halal Saturday at a local soup kitchen. Serving the carefully selected menu, prepared in conformance with Islamic law, signified an important step for the group Muslims Against Hunger, which was volunteering for the first time at the Bergen County Community Action Partnership's Drop-in Center in Hackensack.

Sheriff's Deputies Arrest Drug Suspect After Chase

PARAMUS A 24-year-old New York State man trying to buy heroin in Paterson on Saturday led Passaic County sheriff's deputies on an hour-long chase that ended on the Garden State Parkway, a police spokesman said. Deputies arrested and charged Jonathon Schluffel of West Nyack with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and eluding police, said Bill Maer, a spokesman for the Passaic County Sheriff's Department.

Passaic County to Replace Old Bridges ; Work Planned This Year On 2 Sites in Clifton

Passaic County is moving ahead with its project to replace aging bridges in Clifton and Passaic that cover the Weasel Brook, a waterway that runs mostly underground from Garret Mountain to the Passaic River. The bridges, which carry vehicular traffic, were built of metal grating between 1894 and 1954. They've been deemed structurally unsafe and are being replaced with concrete, said county spokeswoman Dolores Choteborsky on Thursday.

Molinelli Insists He's Done with Politics ; Questionnaire Answer Indicated Otherwise

Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli assured the Senate Judiciary Committee last Thursday that he is no longer a cog in the county Democratic Party machine regardless of his response to a recent questionnaire. Molinelli, whose prospects for a second term were the subject of a hearing by the panel, was asked to explain his answer to No. 10 on a questionnaire for gubernatorial nominees.

2 Revived After Police Find Them Unconscious

POMPTON LAKES Two people were taken to a hospital early Saturday morning after they were found unconscious in adjacent apartments in a duplex building, police said. Police were still investigating what caused them to faint, investigators said.

Hearing Planned On User Fee Increase