A Bergen County judge finalized a verdict in favor of Jessica Lynn Hunter after she brought a suit against the police department claiming she was discriminated against because of her military service Chief Mustafa Rabboh did not immediately return a call for comment Her lawsuit claimed she was denied paid leave while serving in the New Jersey National Guard Hunter won damages for all three counts under the state's Law Against Discrimination − hostile work environment retaliation and disparate treatment discrimination said his client felt "vindicated and validated by the jury's verdict on all counts of military service harassment "Our Constitutional right to a jury trial is as strong as ever," said Barber "We have the best judicial system in the world and the jury's verdict embodied it." Hunter will receive $190,000 in emotional distress damages and $318,000 in punitive damages "Throughout my career in the military and as a police officer I have always focused on doing my duty − first and without exception or favor," Hunter said in a statement provided by Lucignani "I am so thankful to see that same commitment to duty from the jurors who decided my case Hunter has served in the National Guard since 2008 and said it wasn't until Rabboh became chief that her service became a problem Hunter won a partial summary judgment with a judge ruling that the Bergenfield Police Department's policy regarding military leave violated state law that allows a leave of absence for military members without loss of pay or time for inactive-duty training active-duty training or any required training The department's policy defined a workday as 8 a.m Monday through Friday when on deployment but Hunter had a Pitman schedule which has officers work 12-hour shifts two days in a row work three 12-hour days and have three days off The department's definition caused Hunter to lose compensatory time Barber said the jury's verdict "sends a clear and loud message that New Jerseyans" value service members and "will protect them from mistreatment and punish those who mistreat them." This is not the first time a North Jersey police department has faced an issue regarding service members within the force Bloomfield had to pay two of its police officers $1 million after being accused of lying about their military leave time in the Air Force Clifton officers protested a 2019 mandate that required them to show their government pay stubs Giana Yaniero (22) of Rutherford delivers a pitch against Ramsey during the softball NJSIAA North Group 2 semifinal at Tisdale Elementary School in Ramsey .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Jack McKenna | For NJ Advance MediaGiana Yaniero did it all for ninth-seeded Rutherford on Thursday striking out ten batters while walking none in a four-hit shutout as a pitcher while going 2-for-2 with two RBI and a walk as a batter to lead her team to a 10-0 victory in five innings over 24th-seeded Bergenfield in the preliminary round of the Bergen County Tournament in Rutherford Rutherford’s victory advances it to a matchup against eighth-seeded Indian Hills Rutherford’s lineup was consistent throughout the game plating two runs in each of the bottom of the first and second innings and three runs in the fourth and fifth McKenna Grochowski knocked in three runs in a 1-for-3 day at the plate while Payton Lewis drew four walks and came around to score three times in a rare 0-for-0 outing for Rutherford (11-4-1) Bergenfield falls to 7-11 and return to action on Tuesday when it hosts Fort Lee Jack McKenna can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com The N.J. 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All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices The owner of a 70,000-square-foot retail center in Bergenfield will soon welcome Tropical Juice Bar in a newly announced deal by RIPCO Real Estate the eatery is leasing an undisclosed amount of space at Foster Village Shopping Center at 495 South Washington Ave The location will be the 10th for Tropical Juice Bar with plans to open this spring alongside tenants such as Aldi RIPCO Executive Vice President Curtis Nassau and Director Colby Piper represented the landlord while Director Therese O’Brian represented the tenant “We chose to open in Foster Village because of its strong mix of food tenants and because it’s the best center in the market offering excellent access and parking,” said Dolly Martinez “We can’t wait to share our food with the community when we open this spring.” Nassau added: “We are confident that Tropical Juice Bar will be a fantastic addition to Foster Village enhancing the tenant mix and providing a vibrant Their food and smoothies are not only delicious and refreshing but their commitment to quality and customer service truly sets them apart.” RIPCO noted that the Foster Village location will be open for breakfast empanadas and salads with a Dominican flair “Bringing a thriving local concept into the tenant mix is a win for everyone enhancing the center’s appeal and creating new opportunities for both businesses and the community,” Piper said noting that Foster Village recently underwent a major renovation that included a new façade The property sits at the intersection of New Bridge Road and South Washington Avenue benefiting from average daily traffic of nearly 40,000 vehicles and shoppers from nearby Englewood “Dolly and I appreciate Bergenfield’s strong demographics,” O’Brian said “With almost 190,000 residents and 80,000 employees within a three-mile radius of Foster Village we love that the center is shadow-anchored by the Soccer Coliseum.” has been covering New Jersey commercial real estate for 13 years Many industry leaders view him as the go-to real estate reporter in the state a role he is eager to continue as the editor of Real Estate NJ He is a lifelong New Jersey resident who has spent a decade covering the great Garden State Greek Real Estate Partners has gained a seal of approval for one of its key divisions thanks to a new accreditation from the Institute of Real Estate Management All RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright 2023 Real Estate NJ 101 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland Our site uses cookies. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A 37-year-old Bergenfield BMW driver has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured a 17-year-old pedestrian in Teaneck in November of last year Sunder was charged following a months-long investigation into the Nov 2024 incident at the intersection of Teaneck Road and Tryon Avenue conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Teaneck Police Department Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Teaneck police responded to a 911 call reporting a vehicle had struck a pedestrian identified as a 17-year-old girl from Englewood was attempting to cross Teaneck Road when she was hit by a 2015 BMW The driver fled the scene without notifying authorities The victim was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries After a joint investigation involving multiple agencies detectives determined that Sunder was the driver of the BMW at the time of the collision Sunder was arrested and charged with third-degree knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury third-degree endangering an injured victim and fourth-degree obstructing the administration of law Sunder was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack Fair Lawn-Dumont-Bergenfield (New Jersey) boys hockey player Mike Ferrante heard whispers in his ear reminding him of who he should credit: “You’re linemates.” who compiled 13 points in consecutive outings Senior Sam Platsman and junior Dylan Ferlanti “are great I have been playing with them for the past three years.”  Ferrante compiled a team-high 22 goals among 52 points entering Thursday’s game at Hoboken at Secaucus Ice Rink Ferrante recently answered 10 questions for High School on SI (answers edited for brevity and clarity):   “I started playing hockey around 13 years ago I saw my older cousin playing street hockey and I wanted to join in.” “Last year when we were playing in one of the Silver Cup final games I scored the first goal of the game and I skated past the student section and I saw all of my friends That’s who I spend the majority of my time with and who made me into the person I am today.” (The former NHLer) wasn’t the fastest player “(Platsman and Ferlanti) are two of my closest friends We’re both Rangers fans and he’s usually the Rangers we can find a way to put a few behind him.” JEFF HAWKINSJeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in print and digital media A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008 Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation) he covered the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2023-24 and 2011-12) NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003) His minor-league coverage included the UHL’s Adirondack IceHawks (1999-2003) Northeast League’s Adirondack Lumberjacks (1997-99) and South Atlantic League’s Hickory Crawdads (1993-95) Hawkins penned four youth sports books and away from the laptop his main hobbies include mountain bike riding and live music He has been writing for High School On SI since 2024 © 2025 ABG-SI LLC - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Craig Epstein | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comGrace O’Dell went 2-for-5 with three RBI and one run to lead Westwood past Bergenfield 11-8 in the Breast Cancer Challenge in Bergenfield Westwood (6-7) led 7-6 entering the top of the seventh inning before pulling away with four more runs Westwood took a 7-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth before Bergenfield (5-9) scored three runs Craig Epstein may be reached at cepstein@njadvancemedia.com The deputy chief of a Bergen County police department is suing several borough officials alleging he was wrongfully denied pay for sick days over nearly three decades of service a member of the Bergenfield Police Department since 1995 filed the lawsuit Wednesday in state Superior Court before Judge Gregg Padovano The suit says Bergenfield officials breached his police contract by failing to credit him for sick days after accusing him of abusing the borough's leave policy The suit names as defendants the borough of Bergenfield Borough Administrator Corey Gallo and the six members of the council individually Gallo and Borough Attorney John Schettino did not respond to requests for comment Thursday afternoon The suit says Massey and the borough entered into a five-year employment agreement in December 2020 that ran through Dec and provided the officer with unlimited sick leave The contract also said that should the mayor and council "determine that the sick leave policy is being abused," Massey would be limited to 15 sick days per year and be credited that amount for each year of service the defendants presented Massey with a letter accusing him of abusing the policy by using it for knee and shoulder surgeries over the previous years The letter limited his sick leave to 15 days without crediting him extra days pursuant to the agreement who was in his 29th year with the department at the time of the letter should have received at least 435 sick days It alleges the borough violated the terms of the contract by not awarding him the additional pay The suit seeks a judgment that Massey is entitled to 435 sick days under the agreement and that the defendants should credit him for that amount of time It also demands that the borough pay the plaintiff's attorney fees and other costs Massey's salary was $185,328 as of the end of 2020 according to the terms of his contract contained in the lawsuit Massey is represented in the case by attorney Dylan Hastings of the Philadelphia-based Williams Cedar law firm Wednesday's lawsuit marks the second time in less than five months that Massey has sued Bergenfield officials. In September, he filed a suit against Gallo multiple council members and Police Chief Mustafa Rabboh accusing them of age discrimination retaliation and creating a hostile work environment after he was passed over for the police chief position Massey also filed a federal lawsuit in February 2020 accusing the borough of reverse racial discrimination by promoting Rabboh to chief because of his race. Later that year, Massey was one of two Bergenfield officers to file complaints against Rabboh over violations of department policies Pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators faced off in Bergen County on Thursday night during a protest over the controversial sale of properties in Israel and the occupied West Bank The protest took place in a residential area of Bergenfield to oppose an advertised presentation Thursday night in town from the real estate company My Israel Home. Video posted on social media shows crowds of people chanting waving flags and holding signs for their respective group A pro-Palestinian group was seen marching through the neighborhood chanting in what some have described as a threatening manner The New Jersey chapter of American Muslims for Palestine announced plans for the protest on its Facebook page in recent days which says its mission is to educate Americans about the Palestinian people said the real estate event was a way for Israel to "advance their imperialist agenda" and likened it to "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians AMP says that Israel "is constructing settlement blocs strategically in order to divide the West Bank in order to annex more Palestinian land illegally" and that the settlements "act as a vehicle for ethnic cleansing." The Anti Defamation League counters that AMP "promotes extreme anti-Israel views and has at times provided a platform for antisemitism under the guise of educating Americans about the just cause of Palestine and the rights of self-determination." "AMP seeks to delegitimize and demonize the Jewish state," reads a passage on the ADL web site The Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, meanwhile, issued a statement on social media following Thursday night's protest offering its support for the Jewish community in Bergenfield and denouncing what it called an "antisemitic and hate-filled" protest "There should be no place for hate in our towns," the federation post read "We call upon community leaders and law enforcement to protect the innocent civilians being targeted solely because of their Jewish identity." Bergenfield Mayor Arvin Amatorio and other borough officials said in a letter to the community that they are "proactively coordinating" a security plan to protect local residents with county agencies and neighboring police departments The statement also noted that Bergenfield did not issue any permits for the protest "Our foremost goal is to ensure the safety of our community," Amatorio said "We are fully committed to preventing disruptions to residents' peaceful activities and will not allow anyone to create danger or harm to the community Please rest assured that we are taking every possible measure to keep you and our community safe." "There’s lots of things I don’t like but it doesn’t mean I’m threatening genocide against other people," Shames said Friday morning "Consider how far of a leap it was from what happened in Bergenfield to what happened in Amsterdam last night Staff writer Deena Yellin contributed to this story Patrick's Day Parade will take place on Sunday NorthJersey.com's annual live parade broadcast will capture all of the action on Washington Avenue along with historical images of the parade and interviews with parade officials Click on the video player above to watch the parade in real time. And here's an easy-to-remember web address to get to this page from any computer, smartphone or other connected device: northjersey.com/watchparade Sweepstakes: Enter here for a chance to win a $25 gift card to Tommy Fox's Public House Looking for more? Check out the video replay and photos from the 2024 Bergen County St Events: Here are North Jersey's St. Patrick's Day events for 2025 Saturday's summer temperature blip was a tease with more seasonal temperatures expected over most of next week Bob Ziff with North Jersey Weather Observers said Bergenfield tied its 1998 record for March 29 hitting 83 degrees when the average high for the month over the last 30 years has been 52 degrees where they had five days in a row over 82," Ziff said Other Saturday highs included Ramsey at 79 we can also get snow to the end of the month," he said Sunday "On yesterday's date in 1996 there was 3.5 inches of snow there was a real elevation snowstorm that produced 24 inches of snow at High Point in Sussex County." Colder weather set in Saturday overnight as a cold front slipped through and temperatures fell to 39 degrees Sunday morning in Ramsey Matt Wunsch with the National Weather Service in Brookhaven said temperatures will fluctuate over the next week with showers in the forecast four of the next six days "There's a very large low-pressure system that's evolving in the central United States that's going to be influencing weather over the next couple of days," Wunsch said Here's a look at predicted temperatures from the weather service for Hackensack today and through the coming workweek The Bergenfield Public School District is mourning the sudden loss of its high school principal Superintendent Christopher Tully announced Fasano's death in a letter dated Thursday was a lifelong community member and had dedicated 30 years to Bergenfield High School as principal His career also included roles as a teacher he lived and breathed Bergenfield High School and always put his students’ needs first," Tully wrote and dedicated principal leading the learning at our school." Fasano was known for his commitment to providing a rigorous curriculum and outstanding extracurricular programs "His passion for ensuring students had access to rigorous curriculum and outstanding extracurricular programs was unmatched His commitment to his students and staff was second to none and he was an exceptional role model for both our students and staff," Tully said Bergenfield High School experienced a significant transformation the school rose more than 100 spots in the US News & World Report's annual school rankings and maintained its improved position for eight consecutive years Tully expressed his gratitude to Fasano for his contributions to the school "Jim Fasano made Bergenfield High School into a fantastic institution that has allowed countless graduates to have a brighter future," he said The loss of Fasano leaves a profound impact on the Bergenfield community "Our high school will never be the same without him." .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Craig Epstein | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comHailey Zirpoli recorded three RBI to lead Waldwick to a 9-0 start following its 11-1 win against Bergenfield in the Believe Tournament in Waldwick Gianna Dziekan and Abby Buser had two RBI with a home run for Waldwick Jennie Carmona recorded the lone RBI for Bergenfield (4-6) and went 2-for-3 Arianna Santos went 2-for-3 and scored a run for Bergenfield Sean Sailer (5) of Ramsey fields a ground ball and throws to first for the out during the baseball game between No 6 Bergen Catholic at Ponchak Field in Ramsey NJ on 4/4/24.Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Jack McKenna | For NJ Advance MediaRamsey plated three runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull away from Bergenfield and wrap up a 6-2 victory in Bergenfield and came around to score twice while going 2-for-3 for the Rams Joe Scarnecchia stepped onto the pitcher’s mound in the bottom of the third and settled his team down Scarnecchia scattered two hits and one walk while notching nine strikeouts for Ramsey (6-2) Esdrihan Shephard Placencia had a strong outing on the mound as well throwing 3 2/3 of one-run ball while striking out seven Ramsey batters and walking none for Bergenfield (2-7) Authorities in Bergen County have arrested a Bergenfield man in connection with a hit-and-run that left a teenage pedestrian seriously injured.   According to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella Sunder was taken into custody following an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Teaneck Police Department.  led by Chief Matthew Finck of the Prosecutor’s Office and Chief Andrew McGurr of the Teaneck Police Department identified Sunder as the driver involved in the incident The crash occurred on the night of Saturday when Teaneck police responded to a 911 call reporting that a pedestrian had been struck at the intersection of Teaneck Road and Tryon Avenue.  they found that the vehicle had fled the scene was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries Investigators determined that the pedestrian had been hit by a 2015 BMW.  instead of stopping to assist or alert authorities law enforcement officials identified Sunder as the individual behind the wheel at the time of the crash Sunder was arrested and charged with multiple offenses including leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury  He was taken to the Bergen County Jail and is awaiting his initial court appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack A $10,000 Mega Millions ticket winner was sold in Bergen County 7 drawing was purchased from the KCC Dollar Mart on S The Mega Ball was 18 and the Megaplier was 2X An accomplished Bergen County track icon and record-setter was found dead in his apartment in Ramsey on Sunday a renowned shot put and discus athlete in New Jersey track history was elected to the University of Michigan and St He was still teaching at Bergenfield (N.J.) High School and coached in the district as well Ramsey Police Chief Bryan Gurney said on Monday that Adams’ death did not appear suspicious and was being handled by the medical examiner’s office to determine the cause of death It was “hard to say’ how long he’d been in his apartment before he was found Gurney said he knew Adams for a long time and that he was always a “nice guy.” that’s always what I thought,” the chief said Bergenfield High School principal James Fasano called Adams irreplaceable and whose loss left a large void to fill “He was a long time permanent substitute teacher at Bergenfield (since 1986) and he was a major part of all athletics here,’’ said Fasano “In many ways he was the face of our school dedicated to his job and dedicated to the kids.’’ For more, visit NorthJersey.com Anna DeGuzman was one spot away from winning the country's most prestigious talent show Though she fell short of her ultimate goal the 26-year-old Bergenfield native is continuing to blaze a path through the entertainment world while also inspiring others like her to pursue their dreams DeGuzman lost out on the $1 million cash prize and an appearance at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas but she has not let the near-miss affect her magic career In January, DeGuzman hosted her first two solo magic shows, titled "Queen of Cards," at the Mastercard Midnight Theatre in New York. The following month, she excitedly posted on Instagram that her show was featured on a billboard in Los Angeles with a quote from GQ calling her "a master magician of the digital age." Another DeGuzman billboard popped up in March this time in one of the most popular places in the world: Times Square in New York City she was announced as the first official ambassador of Bicycle Cards "A Bicycle Ambassador is someone who inspires the best and unique talents in our amazing card community — from magic to card throwing, to rummy and spades — and Anna is a true leader," the playing card company wrote on Instagram Throughout her journey, DeGuzman has been a pioneer for other women who want to pursue magic. She previously told NorthJersey.com that many young girls have expressed an interest in card tricks but did not see it as a female profession until DeGuzman's televised run Considering her accomplishments in the past year along with the lasting impact on aspiring female magicians a quote from DeGuzman after the Season 18 finale of "AGT" feels even more relevant today "I don't think there is losing," she said after the results were announced Funeral services have been scheduled for a Bergenfield principal who died last week. Bergenfield High School Principal James “Jim” Fasano died on June 27 Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 3 to 8 p.m Vincent and Tom; and his nieces and nephews Fasano's family requests donations be made to the Bergenfield Board of Education c/o James Fasano “It’s A Great Day To Be A Bear” Scholarship Fasano graduated from Montclair State University, where he earned All-American honors and was inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame in 1999, according to this obituary and led students and faculty as the high school principal for 14 years BHS received numerous national accolades for its excellence in education and athletics His passion for the school was encapsulated in his motto “Every day is a great day to be a Bergenfield Bear.” Fasano when not working or supporting school activities he lived and breathed Bergenfield High School and always put his students’ needs first," Superintendent Christopher Tully wrote .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Mak Ojutiku | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comZach Day struck out six and walked four while conceding three hits and one earned run over 5 1/3 innings to help Dwight-Englewood in an 8-3 win over Bergenfield Dwight-Englewood (4-0) led 1-0 before adding on seven runs in the fifth inning Matthew Hur had two hits and two RBI in the win while Noah Fisher also drove in a pair of runs Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application James “Jim” Fasano was a beloved father Jim left this world after a 7-year battle of cancer and passed on June 27 Jim is a Montclair State University Alumni where he earned All American Honors and was inducted into the MSU hall of fame in 1999 He later continued his career at his alma-mater Bergenfield High School where he coached and lead students and faculty as the High School Principal for 14 years BHS received many national accolades for its excellence in education and athletics This was more than a career for Jim; Bergenfield High School was one of his biggest loves and passions leading him to coin the phrase “Every day is a great day to be a Bergenfield Bear” His enthusiasm for life and infectious positivity was one of his most admirable and inspiring qualities which held true until his very last moments When he wasn’t working or supporting the school’s extracurricular activities his love for his family triumphed all his accomplishments to donate via check made out to the Bergenfield Board of Education C/O James Fasano It’s A Great Day To Be A Bear Scholarship Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Firefighters in Bergenfield worked to put out a fire caused by high tension wires and transformers from a utility pole that had fallen on a vehicle Wednesday evening It happened on North Washington Avenue and West Church Street where PSE&G was called to the scene to turn off the power The occupants of the vehicle were able to escape before flames consumed the car with help from a Teaneck ladder and engine company from Dumont Jose Guales of Pompton Lakes (3) tries to get past Alex Kim of Glen Rock (5) during the NJSIAA North 1 quarterfinal boys soccer game in Glen Rock on Monday .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Matt Bove | For NJ Advance MediaAlex Kim starred for Glen Rock with three goals in its 4-3 win over Bergenfield in Glen Rock Jacob Sasunov added one goal in the victory while Drew Carlin dished out two assists Andrew Eisenberg stopped nine shots in net The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! as pro-Palestinian activists gather to oppose an Israeli real estate event they allege is promoting the sale of "stolen Palestinian land."  Pro-Palestinian protestors in Teaneck in March Organized by the group American Muslims for Palestine, the demonstration is expected to begin at 6:30 p.m., according to an announcement on Instagram While the exact protest location hasn't been officially disclosed information circulating on WhatsApp suggests the real estate event is being held at a private home on Spring Avenue local rabbis have reportedly called on members of the Jewish community to counter the protest urging them to prevent disruptions by pro-Palestinian activists The protest unfolds against the backdrop of rising regional tensions as activists underscore escalating violence in Gaza and surrounding areas which has now continued for nearly 400 days since October 7 This gathering in Bergenfield adds to a series of recent demonstrations by activists around the world challenging real estate activities they claim contribute to the displacement of local communities Similar protests took place earlier this year including in Teaneck last March and South Hackensack in September Bergenfield police have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding planned security measures for the event 1/38Girls Soccer: Bergenfield vs. Tenafly, September 9, 2024.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Brandon Gould | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comOur HS sports photos like the ones above put you right up close with the action and the whole experience Check them out by clicking anywhere in the collage above to open the photo gallery Don’t forget to share the gallery with friends and relatives.These photos are also available for purchase in a variety of sizes and finishes – just click the “BUY IMAGE” link below any photo to see available options and make a purchase NJ.com subscribers can also get free print-quality digital downloads of any images in this gallery Note: Because we are trying to make these galleries available for viewing as quickly as possible you are probably seeing an early version and more photos will be added later Please return and refresh the page to see additions Mobile device users: For the best experience downloading high-resolution images (available free and to subscribers only) and making photo purchases it’s best to visit this page from your desktop or laptop computer Christopher Massey of the Bergenfield Police Department has filed a lawsuit against the borough and several of its officials accusing them of age discrimination retaliation and creating a hostile work environment Massey alleges that borough officials harassed him over his age and pressured him to retire after he was passed over for the position of police chief The lawsuit names Borough Administrator Corey Gallo Police Chief Mustafa Rabboh and multiple council members as defendants The lawsuit says their actions violated both New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination and his constitutional rights Plaintiff has suffered lost wages and salary loss of career advancement and opportunities and physical manifestations of emotional distress," the complaint says Massey joined the Police Department in 1995 and rose through the ranks to become deputy chief in 2015 he filed a federal lawsuit accusing the borough of reverse racial discrimination claiming officials promoted Rabboh to chief instead of him because of race the parties participated in private mediation Defendant Gallo conditioned any potential settlement on Plaintiff’s retirement but refused to offer a sum of money remotely commensurate with Plaintiff’s damages," the complaint reads "This was the first occasion that Defendants suggested that they wanted Plaintiff to retire during the course of the Federal Lawsuit."  "Defendants offer several reasons for why they hired Rabboh history of community engagement and outreach during mediation related to the federal lawsuit the borough initiated an Internal Affairs investigation against Massey which he says was retaliation for his lawsuit the defendants escalated their efforts to force him out including withdrawing privileges like his take-home vehicle and flexible work schedule both guaranteed by his employment agreement Plaintiff filed a grievance regarding Defendant Gallo’s elimination of his take home vehicle and flexible schedule privileges which Defendant Amatorio and the Defendant Councilmembers ignored," the complaint says said the borough is yet to receive a copy of the complaint but will continue to defend against these claims "They believe his original claims are meritless and any new claims will also be meritless," he said "The borough does not differentiate between its employees." Shahdanian said Bergenfield is a diverse town with a diverse governing body and takes pride in itself for it Massey "is trying to get a second bite of the apple he didn't get once," Shahdanian said The complaint also details an increase of 5% in Massey’s health insurance contributions and the denial of a $500 pay raise typically awarded to senior officers "When Plaintiff addressed this discrepancy with Defendant Gallo Defendant Gallo responded that Plaintiff’s health insurance contribution increased in accordance with the newly finalized PBA contract," Massey's complaint says Plaintiff’s employment agreement specifically outlines his medical care contribution and is completely independent from that of the PBA contract which he referenced in an email to Defendant Gallo that Defendant Gallo ignored."  Massey further claims that while he was recovering from knee surgery earlier this year officials questioned the adequacy of his medical leave documentation adding pressure to return to work before his recovery was complete Plaintiff emphasized the language in his doctor’s note that clearly provided that he could not perform “any work” while he was recovering from his surgery which Defendant Rabboh did not respond to," the complaint says Massey says the officials accused him of abusing the borough’s sick leave policy The council members presented Massey with a letter that limited his sick leave to 15 days per year "Plaintiff should have received at least 435 sick days in his bank under the terms of his employment agreement which clearly provides: If at any time during the term of this agreement the Borough Administrator and the Mayor and Council determine that the sick leave policy is being abused the parties agree that the Deputy Chief will be limited to fifteen (15) sick days per year and will be credited for fifteen (15) sick days per year for each year of service This decision will not be grievable," the complaint says Massey says Rabboh reassigned him from Patrol and Detective Bureau commander — a role he held for over a decade — to Patrol and Records commander "Records was the only department that Plaintiff was never assigned to in his 28-year-career and one which he had little experience overseeing," the complaint says It further says Rabboh ignored Massey's request for training for his new position Massey also filed a harassment complaint with the borough against Gallo in August 2023 for "blowing a kiss at him in the BFPD parking lot and proceeding to stare at him as he drove away on the same day." Zoe Wasserlauf (10) of Tenafly tries to drive past Mia Derrico (12) of Old Tappan during the girls basketball game between Old Tappan and Tenafly at Northern Valley Regional Old Tappan High School in Old Tappan .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Greg Patuto | For NJ Advance MediaZoe Wasserlauf scored a game-high 30 points as Tenafly cruised past Bergenfield but Tenafly (4-6) took full control in the second including three makes from three-point range Immani Hernandez led Bergenfield with nine points Greg Patuto can be reached at gpatuto@njadvancemedia.com .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Craig Epstein | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comAlexis Ching scored nine points to lead Bergenfield past Belleville 39-6 in Belleville Geraldine Miano added seven points for Bergenfield (9-13) .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By N.J. High School Sports DeskLogan Garcia scored 16 points to lead Dumont to a 61-43 victory over Bergenfield in a Big North Conference matchup at Dumont High School Denzel Trinidad added 11 points and Aiden Reid chipped in 13 for Dumont which improved to 5-4 overall and 1-1 in the Big North American Nick Giangregorio and Milo Santos added seven points apiece in the victory Josh Hur paced Bergenfield with 16 points and Yadier Rodriguez contributed 13 in the loss The Bears fell to 0-9 on the season and 0-2 in the Big North National Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff North Jersey set a few temperature records on Tuesday as a stretch of unseasonally warm days made it feel a bit like summer again Ziff of the North Jersey Weather Observers Ziff reported that Sussex and Layton set records in Sussex County topping the 80-degree day way back in 1920 besting this day in 1963 when it was 81 degrees Temperatures topping the 80-degree mark during October is not unheard of Ziff said that temperatures have topped the mark 25 times since 1983 with the highest being 94 degrees back on Oct More: How drought could affect the state, as NJ is on track for its driest month on record Here is a look at the high temperatures reached on Tuesday throughout the state as reported by the North Jersey Weather Observers: Leila Sosa (18) of Bergenfield looks to get by Valeria Perales-Garcia (8) of Tenafly during the girls soccer game between Bergenfield and Tenafly at Vivyen Field in Bergenfield 2024.Mile Djordjiovski | For NJ Advance Media .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Craig Epstein | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comLeila Sosa recorded two goals and two assists as 28th-seeded Bergenfield defeated 37th-seeded Fort Lee 5-2 in the Bergen County Invitational play-in round in Bergenfield Bergenfield (5-9) took a 3-2 lead into halftime before pulling away in the second half with two more goals Mia Acosta tallied a goal and two assists for Bergenfield while Alyssa Santos had a goal and an assist Angelina Villate scored both goals for Fort Lee (6-5) while Misaki Kasahara made 14 saves Bergenfield advanced to the first round on Thursday It also snapped a three-game losing streak A 17-year-old girl Bergenfield who police said ran away from home last Wednesday Alyssa Santos (2) of Bergenfield and Clara Fabbroni (6) of Tenafly battle for the ball during the girls soccer game between Bergenfield and Tenafly at Vivyen Field in Bergenfield .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Mak Ojutiku | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comAlyssa Santos posted a hat trick to lead Bergenfield to a 6-0 win over Teaneck in Bergenfield Mia Acosta added a goal and an assist for the Bears (4-6) while Leila Sosa and Ashley Budiman also scored Alejandra Santos made four saves to earn the clean sheet Dylan Raess made 19 saves for the Highwaymen (0-5) Jesselyn Silva had a lot of people rooting for her Jesselyn Silva died after a three-year battle with cancer That's both in the ring as a national boxing champion The 18-year-old Bergenfield boxer lost her bout with cancer on Tuesday Known in the ring as JessZilla, was a two-time national champion who penned her own memoir, My Corner of the Ring by the time she was 15 years old She later starred in a feature film by Emily Sheskin called Jesszilla and Best Director at the Fargo Film Festival Her obituary on the Hennessy Heights Funeral Home website said she started boxing at 7 years old "knowing exactly what she wanted from a young age "Her determination and focus led her to accomplish so much in the short time she was with us Jesselyn never backed down from a challenge- even after her diagnosis of cancer she continued to move forward with unyielding courage and strength." A GoFundMe campaign launched for Jesselyn's family had raised more than $17,200 as of press time 20 at the Stellmantown Cemetery in Woodbine He graduated from Bergenfield High School in 1971 and was an equipment operator for the Bergenfield Department of Public Works before retiring in 2010 he worked part-time as a security guard for Englewood Hospital & Medical Center Surviving are his wife Angelina (nee Merkiche) and longtime friends from the emergency services as well as his four-legged fur babies: Murphy Bob is preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Ned Kneisler  Bob was a dedicated servant to many civic organizations and served the people of Bergenfield almost his entire life He started with the Bergenfield Fire Rescue Squad at 16 years old and then at 18 he became a volunteer firefighter with the Bergenfield Fire Department where he faithfully served over 40 years Bob progressed through the ranks serving as a Lieutenant Bob was an active member of the NJNY Volunteer Firemen’s Association serving as their President from 2006-2008 and again from 2012-2014 He was a fire investigator with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad for 5 years Bob served as an EMT for the Bergenfield Volunteer Ambulance Corps for 20 years and was elected Lieutenant several times and Captain of BVAC in 2002 and 2012 He held executive positions of Vice President and Trustee with BVAC as well Bob was a member and Deacon of South Presbyterian Church He was also a member of the Alpine Tilden Tenakill Masonic Lodge 77 Bob was a member and contributor to the Bergenfield Museum and the Bergen County Historical Society After relocating from Bergenfield to South Jersey a few years ago Bob continued serving his community by joining several service organizations and the local fire department in the town of Barnegat He was appointed the official photographer for the Barnegat police and fire departments He was also the President of the Hometown America Homeowners Association at Brighton at Barnegat and served as Vice President of the New Jersey State Homeowners Association He was a Deacon at Dwight Memorial Presbyterian Church in Barnegat Most recently he was a very active Deacon at Forked River Presbyterian Church who was always willing to help with church duties including cleaning and photographing members for the church phone list Bob had a love for history and photography and is best known for always having a camera in his hands Gaining his eye for photography from his father Bob’s pictures have been enjoyed by thousands as he traveled the US looking for that perfect sunrise or lighthouse lit in the soft glow of a summer evening His genuine care for others endeared him to many and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him All will gather at the funeral home on Saturday June 22 at 10:00 AM for the procession to South Presbyterian Church for a funeral service at 10:30 AM In lieu of flowers please consider memorial donations in Bob’s memory to Bergenfield Volunteer Fire Department PO Box 45 Bergenfield — A Bergenfield man has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run that left a 17-year-old girl seriously injured in Teaneck Elvis E. Sunder, 37, was charged following an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and Teaneck Police Department at the intersection of Teaneck Road and Tryon Avenue Investigators determined that a 2015 BMW hit the pedestrian before fleeing the scene without notifying police including third-degree knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury He was taken to the Bergen County Jail and is awaiting a court appearance © 2008-2025 - Shore News Media & Marketing Ltd Bergenfield tied a record for the hottest June 19 in the borough reaching 93 degrees on Wednesday Other towns approached record temperatures as the heat wave battering the region shows no signs of letting up. Here is a look at the high temperatures around North Jersey and beyond provided by the North Jersey Weather Observers: No relief in sightThe National Weather Service has a heat advisory in effect until 8 p.m. on Friday for North Jersey. The heat index is expected to reach between 95 and 100 degrees and could cause heat-related illnesses. The NWS also has an air quality alert until 11 p.m