The Record, Bergen County, NJ

Chromium Study Dates for Garfield Residents Set

The New York University School of Medicine has scheduled four information meetings for Garfield residents interested in volunteering for a study to determine the level of human exposure to chromium contamination in the borough. The study will measure chromium accumulation in the body by using toenail clippings and possibly blood samples.

Teaneck Tables Tree Removal Ordinance for Further Review

TEANECK -- The Township Council tabled an ordinance that would have given homeowners the right to hire a tree expert to cut, prune or remove public trees that are unhealthy or pose a risk to public safety and residential properties. Action on the ordinance, which was scheduled for adoption at Tuesday night's meeting, was postponed after a request by Roby Langert, chairwoman of the Shade Tree Advisory Board, who said that all the board members had not reviewed the changes to the law.

Paterson Is Host to Arab Festival

PATERSON - Michigan Avenue will be closed to traffic between Main Street and Getty Avenue to make way for the Arab Cultural Street Festival, a free event that runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. The second annual event will feature music, art, food and merchandise vendors.

3 Held in Bogota Woman's Kidnapping

BOGOTA -- Three Jersey City residents have been arrested and charged in connection with the attempted armed robbery and kidnapping of a borough woman who told police that she was taken at gunpoint from her home, forced into her car and made to drive through Hudson County for two hours before she was finally released in Jersey City. Jean Theophile, 24, Spring Funches-Mikell, 24, and Jeff Theophile, 27, were arraigned in the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack on Thursday on attempted robbery, kid...

Pedestrian, Child Struck in Ridgewood

RIDGEWOOD -- A pregnant mother and her son who were crossing Godwin Avenue on Thursday morning are recovering at the hospital after being struck by a car turning onto South Monroe Street, police said. The woman, 34, of Ridgewood, was crossing the street with her 5- year-old son and a 4-year-old son -- whom she was pushing in a stroller -- about 9 a.m. when a car making a left turn onto Godwin Avenue struck her, said Police Chief John Ward.

School Officials' Trip Drawing Criticism

PATERSON - In step with the district's mission to improve how schools teach black and Latino boys, four school board members and three district employees, including one who is also a county freeholder, are traveling to Chicago for a conference on that subject. But school board members, education advocates and teachers union leaders are questioning the need to send seven people whose costs for travel, lodging, meals and conference registration total $10,298.

Nj Transit Testing Ticketing App

Rail commuters who use NJ Transit's Pascack Valley Line will be the first to test a new smart-phone application that lets customers purchase tickets on their mobile devices. The MyTix app -- now available for free download at the iTunes and Google Play stores -- allows customers to buy one-way tickets and monthly passes from their Web-enabled phones for travel on the Pascack Valley Line.

Hospital, Ex-Ceo Sued Over Alleged Sex Harassment

ENGLEWOOD -- A marketing manager at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the hospital and its former president, claiming she was subjected to months of unwanted advances and a hostile work environment once she reported the behavior. Maria Margiotta said in her suit that Douglas A. Duchak, the hospital's former CEO and president, made comments on her weight, her clothes and her hair and told inappropriate stories about sex. She also claimed in the...

Drivers in Hackensack Find Themselves Taking the Bad with the Good

You probably haven't given this much thought, but if part of your car's mission today is to cross a river or climb over another highway, the ordeal you face seems to be getting harder and harder. This can happen in a crowded state with more than 6,500 bridges over highways, rivers, streams, creeks, inlets, reservoirs, bays, lakes and ponds that need constant repair. Take the poor folks who travel River Street, an aptly named thoroughfare in Hackensack that takes jurors, lawyers and judges to ...

Passaic Man Rejects Plea Deal in Sex Assault, Death of Toddler

A Passaic man charged with sexually assaulting and killing a 21- month-old girl he was baby-sitting three years ago rejected a final plea offer Thursday that could have spared him a life sentence. Akel A. Ackie, 25, described by authorities as a friend of the child's mother, was charged with murder, felony murder, aggravated sexual assault and two counts of child endangerment.

Sign-Stealing Case Headed to Trial

HACKENSACK -- A City Council candidate accused of stealing his opponent's campaign signs this month will go to trial in June on a theft complaint, a judge ruled Thursday. Kenneth Martin, a retired police detective, was accused by his opponent Leo Battaglia of removing Battaglia's campaign signs from the front of a supermarket on West Passaic Street.

School Trustee Arrested Again

HACKENSACK -- School board member Kevon Larkins, who was charged with aggravated assault in February after a domestic incident, was arrested again Thursday by city police on a warrant from South Brunswick Township in Middlesex County. The warrant was issued after Larkins failed to make a court appearance on a summons he received for driving while his license was suspended, South Brunswick police said.

Dna Linked to Mahwah Man in 19 Car Burglaries

MAHWAH -- Police used DNA to arrest a township man on Thursday for 19 car burglaries that occurred almost a year ago, Chief James Batelli said. Mahwah Police Officer Chris Fasulo was patrolling the Cragmere area on May 21, 2012, when he saw Wendel S. Hammond, 21, of Franklin Turnpike, walking in the area and spoke to him. The next day, several reports were made about cars in the same area being burglarized. Fasulo recalled seeing Hammond and remembered that he was carrying items similar to th...

Schoolgirl Death Threats

PATERSON - Two seventh-grade girls at School 27 have been removed from classes and face criminal charges for posting a video on YouTube.com in which they reportedly threaten to kill classmates. The two girls who posted the video will be home-schooled until further notice.

School Board Newcomers Are Cheered in Englewood

ENGLEWOOD -- After a heated school board campaign that galvanized the city's working-class 4th Ward to turn out at the polls in large numbers, an enthusiastic crowd cheered the three newest members of the Board of Education as they were sworn in to office Thursday night. Carol Feinstein, Devry Pazant and Junius "Jeff" Carter III got a standing ovation from scores of supporters at John Grieco Elementary School as each took the oath of office.

Liquor Licenses Weighed for Game

RUTHERFORD -- Long known as a town where you have to bring your own if you want to drink alcohol in a restaurant, Rutherford is considering granting a two-week liquor license to any restaurant that wants one during the time around the Super Bowl next February. Borough Councilman George Fecanin said Thursday that there is broad consensus among his colleagues that it would be good for business in the borough if such a measure were to be approved.

Man Enters Guilty Plea in Home Invasion

A Montville man who pleaded guilty earlier this week to a 2009 Clifton home invasion faces 12 years in prison when he's sentenced on June 14. Sabri Pilinci, 29, must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole. He will, however, receive credit for nearly four years he has been in the Passaic County Jail awaiting trial.