The Record, Bergen County, NJ

Blaze Damages River Edge Home

A River Edge house was damaged late Saturday afternoon by a fire that sent flames through its roof. The fire at 927 Laurel Ave. was reported shortly before 5 p.m. and extinguished within an hour, with help from the Hackensack and Oradell fire departments, according to Chris Weissman, chief of the River Edge Fire Department.

Crews Make Clean Sweep Through North Jersey Litter ; Environmental Activities Cap Green Week

The hope of a cleaner and greener New Jersey spurred North Jersey residents to drag trash from rivers Saturday, hold environmental fairs and learn practical ways to conserve resources. The activities, held from Kinnelon to Jersey City, capped a week devoted to spreading the message of conservation. The most high- profile event, the Global Green Expo in Jersey City's Liberty State Park, was billed as the largest environmental fair in state history.

Marchers Protest Chinese Abuses ; a Torch Relay for Human Rights

As the Olympic torch made its 16th stop in Japan on Saturday, replicas of it were paraded in Paterson but not to celebrate the games. More than 100 people marched from the Great Falls, carrying placards that said, "The Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot co-exist in China," "Stop China's destruction of Tibet" and "China supports the genocide in Darfur."

Preakness Cost Rises As Deal Is Adjusted ; Freeholder Seeking Update On Overruns

The expansion of Preakness Healthcare Center, Passaic County's largest capital project, has accumulated more than 50 contract changes that have resulted in nearly $3 million in cost overruns, according to county records. Prior to the start of construction in June 2006, the freeholders awarded contracts to five companies to build additions to the long- term health care facility in Wayne.

Ridgefield Resumes Land-Use Debate

What's new: The Ridgefield Borough Council's Redevelopment Committee Council President Bob Avery and council members Warren Vincentz and Angus Todd is scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss the future of the Overpeck Creek Redevelopment Area. Background: In March, the all-Republican council voted to rescind the borough's redevelopment plan for the underused 44-acre industrial parcel along Overpeck Creek on the recommendation of its redevelopment attorney, Carmine Alampi. The plan had called f...

Fun with Fewer Risks ; Playground Law Protects Kids - When It's Followed

Kayla Kahn had safely ridden the big metal school slide many times. But on March 25, the Pompton Lakes third-grader recalls, "When I got off, I had no pinkie." The after-school incident at Lincoln Elementary School, in which police say a defect in the slide severed the girl's finger, has left Kayla permanently injured one of more than 200,000 children across the country brought to emergency rooms annually because of playground injuries.

A Glimpse at How Koreans See the World

Above, Hyunjin Lee, left, and Cathy Yim, right, greeting Leonia Councilman Philip Choi and his wife, Jacqueline, as they entered Korea Vision 2008, an evening of Korean customs, cuisine and culture at the Palisadium Restaurant in Palisades Park. At left, John Park of Wayne looking at Korean artwork.

Fire Destroys Hackensack House; 2 Hurt

HACKENSACK Investigators were uncertain Saturday what caused an early-morning fire that destroyed a two-family home on Anderson Street, but they did not suspect arson, officials said. Hackensack Deputy Fire Chief Steve Kalman said the blaze, which began on the front porch around 2:45 a.m., "does not appear to be suspicious at this time."

494 Miles to Go Before She Sleeps ; Power Naps Fuel Distance Runner

RIDGEWOOD The near loss of two toenails, a bruised foot, a stomach virus and a foot rash did not stop ultramarathon runner Jody- Lynn Reicher from trying to reach her goal of finishing a 494-mile solo run this week from Port Jervis, N.Y., to Cape May and back to help injured U.S. Marines. Reicher, 45, a former Marine corporal from Midland Park, said she "sucked up" a lot of her ailments especially a stomach virus to raise $15,000 to $20,000 for several charities, including the Injured Mari...

It's a Bold Move, but Will It Work? ; Senate Candidate Claims, Loudly, That He's Favored

Murray Sabrin of Fort Lee is the first Republican U.S. Senate candidate to boldly actually, bold-facedly declare himself the front-runner in the June 3 primary. Sabrin began using the "front-runner" references in darkened type in several news releases issued last week.

Computer Games Prep Students for Exams ; Pep Rallies Also Aid Districts' Push for Gains

School districts eager to boost scores and keep pace with federal mandates are using computer games, electronic blackboards and even pep rallies to prepare students for state exams. Technology in particular has become a mainstay for schools in Bergen and Passaic counties as they prepare students for an acronym soup of tests. In late April and early May, students in the fifth through seventh grades will take the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge, or ASK, while eighth-graders will r...

Man Dies After Motorcycle Strikes Fort Lee Utility Pole

FORT LEE A man died Friday evening when his motorcycle struck a telephone pole on Cumbermeade Road near Bluff Road. The biker was found lying facedown on the street, after being ejected from his motorcycle about 7:10 p.m., according to an emergency medical technician who was at the scene.

Jimmy Giuffre, 86, Jazz Pioneer ; Big-Band Composer Became Innovator

Jimmy Giuffre, a jazz musician who composed a popular big-band anthem of the 1940s and became an innovator of a minimalist form of classically inspired jazz, died Thursday at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Mass. He had Parkinson's disease and would have turned 87 on Saturday.

Dean's List

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY * Park Ridge: Christopher Minasi.