Pascack Valley, NJ
Police & Fire
Unlocked Vehicles Continue To Be Burglarized Or Stolen In Pascack Valley Unlocked Vehicles Continue To Be Burglarized Or Stolen In Pascack Valley
Unlocked Vehicles Continue To Be Burglarized Or Stolen In Pascack Valley Car burglaries and thefts continued to increase at a dizzying rate in Pascack Valley over the weekend. Several cars were ransacked on Ackerman Avenue, Repetti Street and Dogwood Road in Westwood, authorities said. Meanwhile, a 2018 Dodge Durango with Rhode Island license plates was stolen out of Emerson and late tracked on GPS to Newark. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Identification collected evidence. Meanwhile, police once again urged motorists to lock their cars and take their key fobs – and either remove all valuables or hide them. No windows are broken or locks jimmi…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Pascack Valley, NJ
Police & Fire
Emerson PD: Vandal Charged In Graffiti Spree Was About To Do It Again, Symbol Not Anti-Semitic Emerson PD: Vandal Charged In Graffiti Spree Was About To Do It Again, Symbol Not Anti-Semitic
Emerson PD: Vandal Charged In Graffiti Spree Was About To Do It Again, Symbol Not Anti-Semitic A local man who'd marked two Emerson schools and other areas in town with graffiti that was mistakenly believed to be anti-Semitic was about to do it again when borough police grabbed him Wednesday night, authorities confirmed. Brendan Rooney, 20, "was doing the same thing that he saw a [hip-hop] group he found on social media doing," Lt. Michael McDermott said. "There was no evidence at all of this being a bias crime." Rooney was mimicking a symbol used by the Brooklyn band Pro-Era "that can be mistaken for a swastika," his friend, Ian Maltzan, told Daily Voice. "It means inner peace.…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Pascack Valley, NJ
Police & Fire
Referee At Emerson Football Game Revived After Heart Attack Referee At Emerson Football Game Revived After Heart Attack
Referee At Emerson Football Game Revived After Heart Attack A referee who suffered a heart attack during an Emerson junior varsity football game on Monday was doing well after being resuscitated, officials said. The referee "went into cardiac arrest and collapsed onto the field," Schools Supt. Brian P. Gatens said in a message to parents and staff. "Athletic Director Gus Paleoudis, members of the Emerson Police Department, and community members in attendance responded immediately," Gatens said. "Using the district-supplied automated external defibrillator (AED), they were able to save the official's life." The referee …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Pascack Valley, NJ
Obituaries
Funeral Arrangements Set For Isabella Café Of Emerson, 17 Funeral Arrangements Set For Isabella Café Of Emerson, 17
Funeral Arrangements Set For Isabella Café Of Emerson, 17 A funeral Mass is scheduled Wednesday for a 17-year-old Emerson girl. Isabella Café, who was described as both a talented singer and pianist, died suddenly Thursday night. Visiting hours are from 2  to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Road in Westwood, (201) 664-0292.The funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of the Assumption, 29 Jefferson Ave. in Emerson. The oldest of three children, Isabella turned 17 on Oct. 3.  Those who knew the 11th-grader called her beautiful and talented. "She came from a wonderful…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Pascack Valley, NJ
Obituaries
'Always Smiling And Polite': Emerson HS Junior, 17, Dies Suddenly 'Always Smiling And Polite': Emerson HS Junior, 17, Dies Suddenly
'Always Smiling And Polite': Emerson HS Junior, 17, Dies Suddenly Those who knew Isabella Café called her beautiful, kind and talented. The oldest of three children, Isabella turned 17 on Oct 3.  She died suddenly Thursday night. The Emerson Junior-Senior High School 11th grader "came from a wonderful family," one parent said. "She was a great kid, always smiling and polite," said another. "Played the piano, sang like a bird and acted in all the school plays and was an altar server. "It is heartbreaking." A funeral Mass is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of the Assumption, 29 Jefferson Ave. in Emerson…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Hackensack, NJ
Police & Fire
Saudino Says He Hasn't Resigned Yet, Even Though He, Undersheriffs Turned In Guns, Badges, Cars Saudino Says He Hasn't Resigned Yet, Even Though He, Undersheriffs Turned In Guns, Badges, Cars
Saudino Says He Hasn't Resigned Yet, Even Though He, Undersheriffs Turned In Guns, Badges, Cars Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino claimed Friday that neither he nor his undersheriffs had officially resigned, even though they all surrendered their guns, badges and vehicles last weekend. Secretary of State Tahesha Way refused to allow Saudino the attempt at extending his tenure to Friday, Oct. 5, noting that she already had his official resignation letter from last week. "The position of the Bergen County Sheriff has been vacant since September 21 and remains vacant," she wrote in a letter released Friday night, adding that Bergen County Clerk John Hogan should prepare for…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Pascack Valley, NJ
Obituaries
Michael Goursky Of Emerson Dies, 26 Michael Goursky Of Emerson Dies, 26
Michael Goursky Of Emerson Dies, 26 Michael Goursky of Emerson died on Sunday, Sept. 16. He was 26 years old. Born in Hackensack, Michael was formerly of Hasbrouck Heights and had been working in construction, his obituary says. He is survived by his parents, Deborah (nee Wachter) and Gary Goursky; sister Christina Goursky; grandmother Peggy Goursky; along with aunts, uncles cousins and friends. Cremation was private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Bergen County Animal Shelter 100 United Lane in Teterboro.

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by Cecilia Levine
Hackensack, NJ
Police & Fire
Saudino Resigns As Sheriff Over Racist, Homophobic Remarks Saudino Resigns As Sheriff Over Racist, Homophobic Remarks
Saudino Resigns As Sheriff Over Racist, Homophobic Remarks Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino announced his resignation Friday afternoon -- as did Executive Undersheriff George Buono, Undersheriff Robert Colaneri, Undersheriff Brian Smith and Undersheriff Joseph Hornyak -- following the release of secretly-recorded racist and homophobic comments by the sheriff. The announcement came as multiple sources told Daily Voice of the existence of other equally incriminating audio. Less than 20 minutes after the announcement, the Bergen County Courthouse was evacuated in response to an unspecified threat. The sheriff's office provides security to the cou…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Fair Lawn-Glen Rock, NJ
Obituaries
Arrangements Set For Beloved Fair Lawn Police Officer Edward Egan Arrangements Set For Beloved Fair Lawn Police Officer Edward Egan
Arrangements Set For Beloved Fair Lawn Police Officer Edward Egan Funeral arrangements have been set for popular Fair Lawn patrolman Edward Egan, who died Monday at his home. Visitation is scheduled from 2 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15 at the Van Riper-Ellis-Broadway Baptist Church in Fair Lawn. A funeral service will begin at 7 p.m. at the church. Cremation will be private.  Egan, who had been with the borough police department 27 years, was battling cancer and had heart problems, colleagues said. "Ed Egan was a friend to many," the Fair Lawn Police Department said in a Facebook post. "He lived up to the Irish Proverb: 'A good friend is…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Pascack Valley, NJ
Police & Fire
VIDEO/PHOTOS: 'Best Day Ever' For 6-Year-Old Emerson 'Chief For a Day' VIDEO/PHOTOS: 'Best Day Ever' For 6-Year-Old Emerson 'Chief For a Day'
Video/Photos: 'Best Day Ever' For 6-Year-Old Emerson 'Chief For a Day' A local youngster got the special honor of being Emerson’s “Chief for a Day” on Thursday. Joseph Cottone – the son of a Westwood police officer -- was selected during a borough PTA tricky tray event earlier this year. Joey, 6, got the full treatment, complete with a police escort from his home. Emerson Councilman Brian Downing swore in Joey, who did a uniform inspection of the officers and was given a tour of headquarters, vehicles and equipment – followed by a pizza lunch. To top his day, Joey was taken to Tons of Toys on Westwood Avenue, where he picked out a New York Jets helmet as a p…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Ridgewood, NJ
Police & Fire
Accused Arsonist From Ridgefield Park Stole Ridgewood Motorcycle, Police Charge Accused Arsonist From Ridgefield Park Stole Ridgewood Motorcycle, Police Charge
Accused Arsonist From Ridgefield Park Stole Ridgewood Motorcycle, Police Charge A 23-year-old Ridgefield Park man who’s already compiled a hefty rap sheet – including charges of ramming a car into a pursuing police cruiser -- stole a motorcycle from the Ridgewood owner’s garage right after it had been serviced, police said. Village detectives seized 23-year-old Zackery Rosario and recovered the $4,000 motorcycle in Passaic on July 17 with help from their city colleagues, Police Chief Jacqueline Luthcke said. Passaic police charged Rosario with receiving stolen property, then turned him over to Ridgewood police, who charged him with burglary and theft. Rosario was rele…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Pascack Valley, NJ
Police & Fire
GSP Crash In Woodcliff Lake Kills Montvale Motorcyclist, 21 GSP Crash In Woodcliff Lake Kills Montvale Motorcyclist, 21
GSP Crash In Woodcliff Lake Kills Montvale Motorcyclist, 21 A 21-year-old Fort Lee native who lived in Montvale and worked in Emerson was killed in a motorcycle crash Friday night on the southbound Garden State Parkway in Woodcliff Lake, State Police confirmed. Cyrus Ashtyani, a Bergen Catholic graduate who worked as an Internet sales consultant at Liberty Subaru, was heading south when he lost control of his Yamaha R6 at milepost 169.6, NJ State Police Trooper Alejandro Goez said. “It struck a guardrail, overturned and went into center median, ejecting him,” Goez said. Ashtyani was taken to The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, where he was pronounced…

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by Jerry DeMarco