N.J.—Undeterred by a pair of rejections in state Superior Court a coalition of 27 towns has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to stop New Jersey’s fourth round of affordable housing mandates alleging violations of the equal protection clauses of both the U.S The Local Leaders for Responsible Planning (LLRP) filed the suit April 24 in U.S and unworkable.” The lawsuit challenges the Urban Aid Classification which imposes new affordable housing obligations on suburban towns while exempting so-called “urban aid” municipalities from constructing new units The coalition claims the policy is inequitable and the product of “backroom deals between state officials and special interests — while suburban families were left out.” Local Leaders for Responsible Planning includes: said the urban aid classification is outdated “It began over 40 years ago when most new development was suburban,” he said new development is split nearly 50/50 between urban and suburban areas.” “Every community should do its part — but Trenton’s suburb-only housing plan just isn’t fair,” Ghassali said “We are in federal court because our communities are not receiving equal protection under the law We are speaking out to protect the character of our neighborhoods.” Ghassali has said Montvale’s affordable housing stock represents 10% of the borough’s total and that obligations calculations often ignore environmental constraints and infrastructure costs Fair Share Housing Center spokesperson Jag Davies told Pascack Press that the federal filing “rehashes many of the same arguments that have already failed several times in state court.” “While it’s disappointing that a few wealthy communities continue to spend local taxpayer dollars opposing the creation of much-needed affordable housing they represent only a small fraction — less than 5% — of New Jersey municipalities,” Davies said A recent Fair Share Housing Center survey found that 85% of 440 towns participating in the fourth round (2025–2035) adopted obligation numbers the center accepted Davies noted that challenges brought by Fair Share to 68 towns’ calculations recovered an additional 4,959 affordable homes LLRP argues: “The law establishes a classification that imposes a ‘prospective need’ affordable housing obligation upon non-urban aid municipalities while exempting urban aid municipalities.” Ghassali said LLRP has filed three additional lawsuits in state court including one challenging the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) for issuing rules allegedly crafted in consultation with the Fair Share Housing Center and the New Jersey Builders Association The NJBA has separately challenged affordable housing numbers in 159 towns with disputes now being mediated by the state’s Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program Municipal obligations must be finalized by April 1 though several Pascack Valley towns were awaiting confirmation into late April LLRP first filed suit against the amended affordable housing law in September 2024 Two state court challenges by the group were rejected earlier this year The coalition has also questioned the legality of using retired judges as mediators Ghassali cited public documents showing that HMFA shared confidential draft rules with Fair Share and the builders’ association “There is no fairness when the state conspires with builders and housing special interests to write affordable housing rules all without any input from our communities,” he alleged “HMFA requested public comments and held meetings with a variety of stakeholders including the League of Municipalities,” he said Davies added that urban municipalities continue to bear substantial affordable housing responsibilities particularly through the rehabilitation of existing units and said the idea that urban municipalities have no obligations “is just not true.” Fair Share Housing Center reports that since the Mount Laurel Doctrine’s inception in 1975 more than 75,000 affordable homes — including 25,000 built since 2015 — and over 130,000 middle-class homes have been created in New Jersey Forum on teens’ mental health May 7 at Hills All content on this website is the property of The Press Group and is protected by copyright. Reproduction, distribution, or use of any material without prior written permission is strictly prohibited, unless otherwise stated. To report any misuse, please contact us at PascackPress@ThePressGroup.net a lifelong Montvale resident and retired borough police officer was recently diagnosed with kidney failure for the second time The GoFundMe description says Szabo was first diagnosed with kidney failure in 2005 He was in urgent need of a transplant when his brother stepped forward and donated a kidney Szabo was once again diagnosed with kidney failure his lifelong friend and fellow Montvale native Bryan Cirelli offered to donate a kidney "without hesitation." Extensive testing confirmed that Cirelli was a perfect match He started his career in 1993 as a special police officer and was hired as a full-time officer for the Montvale Police Department in 1997 Jason was among the first responders who volunteered to assist in the recovery efforts in New York City His dedication to others is a testament to his character," reads the GoFundMe description His friendship with Cirelli dates back to childhood They became best friends in fifth grade and have grown closer over the years Cirelli served as a Montvale auxiliary police officer from 1992 through 1995 before enlisting in the Army where he served as an infantry paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division where he worked as a mechanic for the Department of Public Works the Montvale PBA organized the GoFundMe fundraiser to support Cirelli during his recovery The fundraiser's description says Cirelli will be out of work for at least two months without pay while he recovers from the surgery "We are asking for your assistance to provide Bryan with the resources he needs to focus on his recovery without the added stress of mounting expenses," reads the description "Jason has specifically requested that any donations be made for Bryan as a way to honor his friend's life-changing Since its creation on March 10, the campaign has raised more than $23,700 The transplant surgery was scheduled for last Monday, the Montvale Police Department announced in a post on Facebook adding that donations will be accepted through the rest of the week The money will then be sent to Cirelli to help with his recovery expenses In an update posted Tuesday the Montvale Police Department wrote on Facebook that the surgery went smoothly and Szabo and Cirelli were both doing well recovering in the hospital until they are well enough to go home "We are optimistic that they each will be able to return to a normal routine sooner than later," Capt Alisha Foley of the Montvale Police Department said in an emailed statement Friday morning A joint venture has closed on a nearly $15 million construction loan for a planned 989-unit self-storage facility in Montvale floating-rate financing with extension options to a partnership of Claremont Development March Development and Battery Global Advisors The firms will use the funds to build the three-story 129,889-square-foot building at 21 Phillips Parkway with plans calling for a management office a break room and temperature-controlled units JLL senior managing directors Jon Mikula and Michael Klein and Associate John Cumming arranged the $14.88 million transaction “Self-storage has proven to be a resilient asset class and is in high demand particularly in markets where there are limited competitive sets and high barriers to entry “Fulton Bank quickly understood the project’s attributes and was able to provide strong loan terms that best met the borrower’s needs.” JLL said the development site is currently improved with an 18,500-square-foot medical office building that the joint venture will demolish The firm noted that the facility sits within Montvale an affluent community that is undersupplied with self-storage inventory and is easily accessible from the Garden State Parkway 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 Restaurant chain Bojangles has opened along a major commercial corridor in Piscataway as part of a previously announced deal brokered by The Goldstein Group 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 CareersPatient Portals1-800-VALLEY 1 Valley Medical Group is proud to announce the availability of cardiovascular services at a new location in Montvale The new cardiology practice is located at 135 N Cardiology services offered include heart disease For more information about heart care at Valley, please visit ValleyHealth.com/Heart To schedule an appointment with any of these providers 1-800-VALLEY 1 facebook instagram twitter youtube linkedinTikTok  Sign Up Now Now available on the App Store and Google Play 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 New details have been released in a deadly Bergen County dog attack A German Shepherd and Pitbull got loose from a Park Ridge home Wednesday evening The two larger dogs then attacked a Maltese being walked by a man on Raven Road in Montvale killing the Maltese and leaving the walker with a laceration on his hand according to Foley and Montvale Police Chief Doug McDowell The dogs involved in the attack have been secured and animal control is assisting in the investigation Officials are working to determine how the dogs got loose and whether charges will be filed “An investigation is currently underway to determine how the dogs escaped and whether charges will be filed,” McDowell said UPDATE: 14-year-old boy 'fighting for his life' after Montvale bus crash on Garden State Parkway A school bus from Lakewood with 31 on board crashed on the Garden State Parkway in Montvale injuring 13 people and closing northbound lanes Monday night "Overturned school bus heading to New York State on the Parkway at marker 170.9, with injuries," Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali posted on Facebook. State senator Holly Schepisi posted on Facebook that several children were injured Ghassali posted an updated at 9 p.m.: "Thankfully no fatalities reported 31 total occupants on bus heading to New York "I’ve been briefed on a crash on the Garden State Parkway earlier tonight near the James Gandolfini Service Area involving an overturned school bus from Lakewood," Gov The crash happened south of Exit 172 (Grand Avenue) around 7:40 p.m. and closed all northbound lanes, according to the NJ Department of Transportation's 511nj.org Video from the scene shows a large yellow school bus on its side efforts to reach the New Jersey State Police for information on the crash were not successful Check back for updates on this breaking story A general and cosmetic dentistry practice is coming to an Accordia-managed office building in Montvale after leasing more than 3,000 square feet at the property Kallos Dental will use the space at 160 Summit Ave to provide everything from routine cleanings to advanced procedures such as root canal treatments Nick Yanakas of CARR Realty represented Kallos Dental in the long-term a full-service real estate investment and redevelopment firm that has managed 160 Summit Ave “Kallos Dental is joining many stellar professionals in Montvale who are all focused on elevating the patient care experience,” said Frank D “Some of the biggest names in health care in our region call Montvale home like Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Orthopedic Specialists of New Jersey and CityMD urgent care Kallos Dental is adding to the impressive roster of available treatment and care options in Montvale.” The leasing team noted that Kallos Dental is owned by Dr who specializes in the treatment and planning of complex dental restorations for adults and kids She brings extensive clinical skills to the practice leveraging her post-graduate dental general practice education with Hackensack University Medical Center and a residency in which she trained in restorative dentistry the new space at 160 Summit is key to creating a comforting environment that emphasizes patients’ mental wellbeing I wanted natural light — I think that’s good for the psyche,” Cocchia said I knew immediately that it checked a lot of the boxes.” She also said she chose the Montvale location for its proximity to Interstate 287 and the Garden State Parkway and to be close to home in Bergen County “I have always been a proponent of small business and creating family-like relationships so I think it’s important to have that sense of community in my practice,” Cocchia said “I’m trying to foster a lot of strong positive feelings in the Bergen County community I want it to feel like you’re coming in and you’re seeing family to create more trusting relationships between health care providers and patients.” Other health care tenants at 160 Summit Ave Empowered Pelvic Health LLC and a psychotherapy practice known as Center for Resiliency LLC “Montvale is the place to be for medical professionals of all specialties,” Recine said “This area is home to some of the most impressive names in health care Operating a practice close to these institutions aligns health care practices It’s also incredibly convenient for patients who can find quality care in one area of one town.” A 14-year-old boy is "fighting for his life" after being pinned beneath an overturned school bus on the Garden State Parkway on Monday evening New Jersey State Police said troopers responded to the crash at 7:39 p.m A preliminary investigation found that the bus driven by a 44-year-old Lakewood resident Joseph Itzkowitz was traveling north when it veered off the right side of the roadway and overturned while one juvenile passenger suffered serious injuries Thirteen other juveniles sustained minor injuries Several Lakewood Orthodox students were among those heading to a post-wedding celebration for a grand rabbi’s family in New York when the bus skidded off the Garden State Parkway The bus had been hired by a Lakewood Orthodox group that included township residents and others from New Square He is among the most influential Orthodox leaders in Rockland County according to Lakewood Township Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein Lichtenstein said the group studies Twersky’s teachings at a Lakewood synagogue and had been invited to attend the New York event as part of the week-long Sheva Brachot post-wedding celebration for a member of Twersky’s family “It is for a week after a bride and a groom get married every evening there is a short festive event it gives people who were not at the wedding a chance to participate,” Lichtenstein said He did not know which synagogue was involved but indicated that none of the Lakewood residents had been seriously injured in the incident Itzkowitz previously pleaded guilty to obstructing passage of other vehicles and failure to wear a seatbelt in 2022 He was originally charged with using a wireless device while driving on the Garden State Parkway in Tinton Falls but pleaded to the obstruction charge instead Emergency responders from multiple agencies rushed to the scene The Woodcliff Lake Fire Department was the first to arrive and assisted the Montvale Volunteer Fire Department and other firefighters in lifting the bus to rescue the trapped teen and other passengers The Paramus Fire Department deployed a heavy-duty tow vehicle for additional support and the Tri-Boro Volunteer Ambulance Corps responded as well Phil Murphy said he was briefed on the crash The cause of the crash is under investigation Asbury Park Press staff writer Mike Davis contributed to this report A Rockland County man is facing multiple charges after police say he shoplifted from a Bergen County gas station store and lit a cigarette near a gas pump before assaulting two officers Albert Johansmeyer is accused of causing chaos and fighting cops at the TigerMart at the Exxon Mobile station in Montvale following a wild chain of events at the TigerMart inside the Exxon Gas Station on Chestnut Ridge Road — located just off the Garden State Parkway in Montvale Johansmeyer allegedly stole items from the store and got into an altercation with the store manager outside during which he threw water on an employee He then walked toward a gas pump with a lit cigarette before staff could intervene — a dangerous situation that police say could have been disastrous When officers arrived and attempted to take him into custody Johansmeyer fought back and assaulted two officers He was arrested and taken to the Bergen County Jail where he was processed and booked on the following charges: N.J.—Are you looking for that perfect piece of jewelry to complete a special outfit Does your little one love playing dress-up Or are you searching for a meaningful Mother’s Day gift The Friends of the Montvale Library might have just what you need the Friends will host a jewelry sale at the Montvale Library from 10 a.m Shoppers will find a wonderful selection of necklaces and rings—all generously donated by local residents Come on down and browse the collection—you might just find the perfect treasure The Montvale Library is at 12 DePiero Drive Bosch honored as Woodcliff Lake marks Arbor Day with new tree Rideshare drivers to rally in Trenton over fair pay A young EMT who rushed to help children trapped in an overturned school bus on the Garden State Parkway will be honored by Montvale officials for his actions to help at the scene a longtime volunteer with the Tri-Boro Volunteer Ambulance Corps was driving behind the bus on the Garden State Parkway when it crashed Monday he pulled over and began assisting children out of the wreckage When someone alerted him that a 14-year-old boy was trapped beneath the bus he used his EMT training to provide aid until emergency responders arrived The driver in the crash sustained moderate injuries Inspired by his experience with the ambulance corps he is now pursuing a career in nursing and is set to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in May Phil Murphy called Matt personally to commend his efforts “We all spoke about this young man and how we are proud of him,” Ghassali said in a statement Montvale officials will recognize Goldman at a Borough Council meeting Thursday at 7:30 p.m A 14-year-old boy was hospitalized in critical condition as of Tuesday Authorities did not provide an update on his condition Wednesday PISCATAWAY – JoJo Burke won the battle and St The Green Knights’ heralded freshman knew he’d make an immediate impact for the Montvale parochial school this season but admits the experience has gone much better than expected Burke’s walk-off win at 106 pounds in the final bout helped St Joseph secure a stunning 30-26 victory over New Jersey’s top-ranked team and defending champion in the Non-Public A state final Sunday at Jersey Mike’s Arena at Rutgers University “My first year is going better than expected to be honest with you,” Burke said with a laugh Clinging to a one-point team lead through 13 bouts Burke held on for an 8-6 win over sophomore P.J The Park Ridge resident opened up a 3-0 lead on a takedown midway through the first period He created space with another takedown in the third before Terranova closed the gap down the stretch “Maybe on paper today’s match didn’t look in our favor but we all have a great relationship and we believe We’re all brothers and we have each other’s backs.” Joseph is a state champion for the first time since upsetting the Green Wave in the 2023 state final The Green Knights have now won 10 state titles in history They've reached three straight state finals “The win two years ago was with a really special group of kids We liked the matchups heading into the tournament We wanted to wrestle Christian Brothers and St so getting those matchups before this got us ready for this one.” The tide turned in the Green Knights favor in the fourth bout Joseph senior Vincent Paino and Delbarton sophomore Ryan DeGeorge Paino took the reigning state champion to overtime and pulled off a 5-3 ultimate-tiebreaker upset Joseph after losing the opening bout at 113 pounds “I was trying to stay as clear-headed as possible Go out and wrestle and perform every single day,” Paino said I’m a senior and a team captain and I’ve been around this program for as long as I can remember with each side scoring bonus points in three matches including the final three to close out the come-from-behind win Joseph forfeited to two-time state champion Alessio Perentin at 165 pounds which gave the Wave three straight wins and a 10-point advantage senior Ryan Burton (175) stopped the bleeding and kicked off the streak when he scored a 19-3 technical fall over Jesse DeNegri We were the sixth seed coming in and that doubt just drove us all week,” Burton “You could just feel the push in the room all week and the feeling in the air Delbarton (23-4) added to its lead when C.J Joseph won the rest of the way with senior Anthony Harris (215) winning by fall Cristian Alvarez (285) an 8-1 decision and Burke closing it out “We went out there and checked all the boxes and have done everything we’ve wanted to do Now we have to bring it into March,” Burke said “We’re looking to keep it going with the district tournament and be the best we can be.” The Green Knights were never at full strength at any time since the campaign kicked off in mid-December returning state champion Zach Ballante announced he’d miss his entire senior season after having shoulder surgery just before the New Year We never got it together until this past week and today,” Farinaro said “I knew going into the sectionals we were healthy We came in here angry and we came in here to prove how good we are to everyone and we showed it This is one of the best teams I’ve ever coached and I’ve been doing this a long time.” 1 when the final NJWWA State Wrestling Top 20 rankings are released this week Added Burton; “This win is up there with all the accomplishments over the years It feels so much better when we do it together I would take this over any of my individual titles We’re going to try now and break the record for most individual wins in Atlantic City.” Briana Vannozzi, Anchor | December 10, 2024 | Politics Syrians around the world are celebrating the fall of President Bashir al-Assad Those celebrations have spilled into the streets of New Jersey which is home to one of the country’s largest populations of Syrian and Syrian American residents said people are elated but also uncertain about the type of government that will emerge “I have some family and friends still in Aleppo and in Damascus They are waiting to see what’s next,” said Ghassali in an interview with NJ Spotlight News That’s the most important thing.” Ghassali said “the fear of the unknown” concerns him about what’s next The Christian minorities in Syria were always … dealt with very nicely we are very anxious to see what’s next “I just hope they do consider the minorities they consider the different areas and the different sects that we have in Syria The different tribes in the different areas This will not be an easy transition by any means.” Briana Vannozzi serves as the anchor for NJ Spotlight News She's worked in several capacities since joining the news division in 2012 as interim anchor and senior correspondent after years of general assignment reporting as a multimedia journalist Vannozzi began her television journalism career by cutting her teeth on New Jersey State House politics for New Jersey Network News and later as a news radio correspondent at FM News 101.9 covering crime and politics in New York City Her work has taken her to national presidential nominating conventions up and down the East Coast and every corner of the Garden State She's interviewed every New Jersey governor dating back to Jon Corzine and moderated numerous political debates and forums Her work has also earned awards from the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists and the Philadelphia Press Association she's honored to be serving and covering her home state and raising her family there SUBSCRIBE NJ Spotlight is part of The WNET Group and is operated by WNET a non-profit organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code Nine towns are suing to block New Jersey’s new affordable housing law arguing it imposes excessive mandates on municipalities without fully considering local conditions and resources says the mandates go beyond what is constitutionally required under the landmark Mount Laurel doctrine that has guided affordable housing policy in New Jersey for the past five decades And it comes as state officials prepare to publish new calculations for each town and city’s obligations for the development of low- and moderate-income homes part of a framework that the Department of Community Affairs is slated to unveil by year-end calling it a “monumental piece of legislation” in the long-running controversial policy debate over how to address the state’s shortage of affordable housing But the saga is now set to continue with the legal challenge by Montvale which say they and other towns would unfairly shoulder the burden of some 60 urban and low-income communities that aren’t explicitly required to build new affordable housing “This isn’t about politics — it’s about fairness,” Ghassali said in prepared remarks we all believe that communities should have a say in how they grow Our communities lose the ability to plan for their future when they are mandated by Trenton to support the housing needs of other municipalities Lawmakers involved in crafting the bill quickly blasted the lawsuit as a stall tactic suburban towns opposing affordable housing mandates is nothing new — same story a Democrat who chairs the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee beyond using taxpayer dollars to fund this politically driven is the attempt to use the legal process to intentionally delay our affordable housing laws — not by weeks or months New Jersey Builders Association CEO Jeff Kolakowski added: “NJBA is disappointed but certainly not surprised at yet another attempt by certain municipalities to get out the constitutional obligation to provide their fair share of affordable housing We are looking forward to the implementation of the balanced affordable housing legislation enacted into law early this year and are optimistic that the court will see through the real purpose of this lawsuit which is obfuscation and delay.” a top sponsor of the measure and chair of the Assembly Housing Committee noted that supporters “worked with mayors to ensure the law is workable and will give responsible local elected officials the tools they need to accomplish this goal.” the complaint in state Superior Court takes aim at the mediation system established by the law which calls for having retired judges and other experts resolve disputes between DCA and municipalities that are challenging their affordable housing obligations The plaintiffs call the program “an unconstitutional structure” that places the decisions in the hands of unelected officials “Local leaders are the ones who know their communities best,” Ghassali said “Handing our future over to a panel of unvetted ‘experts’ with no connection to our towns is a disservice to our residents.” Murphy said after signing the law that his team and lawmakers sought “to craft a new process where all three branches of government are involved,” with the next round of state-mandated affordable housing requirements for municipalities set to begin July 1 The new framework emerged as part of a package of bills tied to affordable housing with Democrats spearheading the legislation with support from key stakeholders such as the Fair Share Housing Center and NJBA Both Gordon and Singleton also pushed back on the coalition’s argument that 62 urban municipalities are exempt from affordable housing requirements “One of the ideas that had been purported as behind the lawsuit — that urban municipalities don’t have affordable housing obligations under New Jersey law — is simply not true,” Gordon said “Since urban municipalities have historically produced far more affordable housing than suburban municipalities their obligations primarily consist of rehabilitating existing housing — often running into thousands of affordable homes they have to rehabilitate “S50/A4 requires these urban municipalities to meet these rehabilitation obligations which often far exceed suburban obligations in total By pretending that urban municipalities don’t have obligations under the law Mayor Ghassali is counting on the willful ignorance of residents who are already inclined to oppose affordable housing.” This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page 2025) – An injury bus accident occurred on the Garden State Parkway near Montvale on Monday evening when a school bus carrying 31 passengers overturned veered off the right side of the highway and flipped onto its side Firefighters and emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene and worked to extricate victims including a 14-year-old boy who had been pinned underneath the bus This child sustained serious injuries and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care 13 other children sustained minor injuries All victims were taken to local hospitals for treatment and authorities confirmed that none of the injuries were fatal The cause of the crash remains under investigation with the New Jersey State Police looking into factors such as road conditions and possible mechanical issues Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the victims and their families during this grieving time and we hope for a full and speedy recovery for all those affected by this tragic accident highlight the significant risks associated with transportation in the state New Jersey experienced a marked increase in traffic-related injuries with school buses and other public vehicles often involved in accidents Personal injuries from these incidents range from minor to severe where children and adults alike sustained injuries of varying degrees This increase in accidents calls attention to the importance of maintaining strict safety standards for buses and other forms of transport New Jersey is among the top states in the U.S reflecting the ongoing challenges the state faces with road safety and traffic-related incidents Personal injury cases in the state often stem from accidents involving buses contributing to a significant portion of the civil caseload With rising statistics in pedestrian fatalities and other injuries authorities and the public must be proactive in promoting safety measures and understanding the legal implications for those affected by such incidents If you or someone close to you has been involved in a bus accident in the area, an experienced Montvale bus accident attorney from Metro Law is ready to offer you effective legal representation We take pride in our dedication to defending our clients and the personalized approach we apply to every case always striving for the best possible outcome Contact us today at (800) 469-6476 to speak with one of our attorneys and schedule a consultation Our team is committed to supporting you every step of the way and fighting for your interests with all the necessary effort Brooklyn, NY (January 13, 2025) – An injury fire accident occurred on the second floor of a two-story building... read more Salem County, NJ (June 7, 2023) – A man from Salem County lost his life on Tuesday afternoon when... read more Brooklyn, NY (March 4, 2024) – A traffic accident was reported in Brooklyn on the morning of March 4.... read more Bronx, NY (August 8, 2023) – A structure fire caused injuries in the Soundview area of the Bronx on... read more Hempstead, NY (September 27, 2022) – According to officials, one person died and two more were injured during a... read more The Bronx, NY (August 20, 2024) – A motorcyclist was injured in a collision that occurred at approximately 4:42... read more Brooklyn, NY (January 24, 2024) – A traffic accident involving a train and a pedestrian took place in Downtown... read more Staten Island, NY (January 10, 2024) – A car crash was reported to police in Staten Island on January... read more Lawrence Twp, NJ (February 15, 2024) – Police in Lawrence Township were dispatched to the 3300 block of Brunswick... read more Notes: Outside sources were used in the creation of this post including news bulletins and first-hand accounts of the accident and injuries involved the details of the accident presented have not been independently verified If you identify any false information in the story or want the post removed and we will correct the information or remove the post Disclaimer: As a member of the local community we at Metro Law strive to improve the overall safety and quality of life for everyone who lives in our beloved state We are extremely saddened by these accidents We hope awareness of these dangers allows our community to take precautions and avoid these accidents This information is not medical or legal advice We wish only the best and quickest recovery to all those involved in the accident The photos depicted in this post are not from the actual accident scene will open at the CVS Center on South Kinderkamack Road in Montvale Replacing a former liquor store in the same location spirits and craft beer and will be double the size of its predecessor Bipin Patel and Heerak Amin are the owner-operator team behind the new venture with the former having more than 20 years of experience in the liquor industry LMC Vice President of Leasing Sidney Singer linked the location and demographics for the desirability of such a store “From a standpoint of visibility and demographics this location is a great place to do business,” Singer said “Local residents have appreciated the presence of a liquor store at the property and this new shop will offer a larger and more robust selection of products.” CVS Center spans 32,000 square feet just one mile from downtown Park Ridge and is close to public transportation the Garden State Parkway and other major regional thoroughfares More than 63,000 people with an average household income exceeding $229,000 live within three miles of the property LMC officials said they are marketing an immediate availability of 2,400 square feet at CVS Center Joseph (Montvale) wrestling team got its lineup together at the right time and the result was a second NJSIAA Non-Public A championship and second No 1 ranking in the final New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20 in the last three seasons Joseph also defeated Delbarton in the 2023 Non-Public A final and finished No who were seeded sixth in the Non-Public A bracket Joseph avenged a regular season defeat to No 3 Christian Brothers Academy and defeated No The reason why the Green Knights were seeded so low was because of defeats to CBA and Bergen Catholic in the Catholic School Duals on Jan 3-4 when there were without several key wrestlers and a defeat by forfeit to Don Bosco Prep due to the use of an ineligible wrestler The defeat to Bergen Catholic was avenged a week later pinned and junior Cristian Alvarez (heavyweight) and highly-touted freshman JoJo Burke (106) both won by decision The swing bout came in the fourth one at 132 pounds a three-time state qualifier and state fifth-place finisher at 132 in 2023 defeated returning state champion Ryan DeGeorge 5-3 in the ultimate tiebreaker which defeated national prep power Blair Academy on Jan and overpowered all its in-state opponents before the final which won its second straight Group 2 championship is the top public school in the rankings at No who defeated Caldwell 40-28 in the Group 2 final Group 3 runner-up Brick Memorial and Non-Public A semifinalist St John Vianney in a 13-day span from Jan 15-28 Rumson-Fair Haven won its five state tournament matches by an average of 27 points other state champions were Delsea (Group 3) Delaware Valley (Group 1) and Camden Catholic (Non-Public B) It was the third straight state title for Southern which overpowered its five opponents in the state tournament by an average of 49.4 points It was the seventh state group championship for the Rams two behind Brick Memorial's Shore Conference record of nine North Hunterdon defeated Phillipsburg 37-27 for its seventh state title and second win of the season over the Stateliners The Lions survived a scare from Middletown North in the North 2 Group 4 final as they rallied from a 12-point deficit over the final three bouts for a 32-31 win Delsea won its fourth straight state title and sixth overall with a 45-30 win over Brick Memorial The Crusaders won their five state tournament matches by an average of 43.2 points which won its 11th state title with a 47-16 win over Hanover Park ran roughshod over its state tournament opponents The Terriers won their five matches by an average of 57.6 points Camden Catholic capped its first unbeaten season in 50 years with a dramatic 32-30 win over Pope John on a pin by sophomore Chase Martino in the final bout at 120 pounds It is the first unbeaten state championship team in Camden Catholic's history (the state team tournament began in 1980) and its 19th state championship Congratulations to all the state team champions It is now on to the individual part of the wrestling season which begins Saturday with the 32 district tournaments Here is the complete final NJWWA Top 20 of the 2024-25 season with first-place votes in parentheses followed by voting points NJWWA voting members in alphabetical order: Donald J Brower (gardenstatehswrestling.com); Frank D'Esposito (shoreconferencewrestling.com); Steven Falk (Asbury Park Press and app.com); Sean Farrell (The Record and NorthJersey.com); Tom McGurk (Courier Post and courierpostonline.com); Andy Mendlowitz (Home News Tribune Courier News and MyCentralJersey.com); Michael Weilamann (Open Mike and mikeopen.blogspot.com); Brad Wilson (lehighvalleylive.com) Others receiving votes: High Point (19-6) 2 Middletown North (24-2) 2 Paramus Catholic (9-8) 1 MONTVALE—A bus carrying passengers from Lakewood to New Square N.Y. overturned on the Garden State Parkway near Exit 172 on Monday night including at least one child in critical condition which was transporting a group of young men and adults to a post-wedding celebration in New Square Rockland Hatzolah—a Jewish volunteer ambulance service—and other first responders arrived at the scene to find a chaotic and distressing situation One individual was reportedly trapped beneath the wreckage stood outside the bus awaiting medical attention Montvale Mayor Michael Ghassali stated that the yellow school bus was heading to New York State when it crashed at mile marker 170.9 Authorities confirmed that emergency personnel treated 29 young men and two adults for a range of injuries Of the 31 total occupants, 13 were transported to local hospitals said Ghassali at around 9:30 p.m.—was transported to a trauma center for urgent medical care Ghassali noted that no fatalities had been reported adding that the most seriously injured individual “now has a pulse” after initial life-saving efforts he began referring all inquiries to the New Jersey State Police “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all first responders and the neighboring towns’ first responders for their swift assistance Special thanks to Rockland Hatzoloh Ambulance Service for arriving on the scene to help,” Ghassali said in a statement emailed to residents was seen on its side facing the wrong way on the highway and skid marks were visible on a nearby embankment Chopper 2’s Dan Rice reported.” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he has been briefed on the crash confirming that state police and the Department of Transportation are actively responding at the scene which is near the James Gandolfini Service Area which only recently reopened following a years-long Community members have taken to social media sharing updates and calling for prayers for the victims and first responders The cause of the crash remains under investigation and more details will be provided as the story develops which covers the greater Rockland County region A 14-year-old boy is fighting for his life this morning after being pinned under the overturned bus on the Parkway Rockland Hatzoloh Ambulance Corps transported all 13 boys to local hospitals Although a comprehensive list of responding departments is not yet available Jersey Gals go to bat on national stage — with your help Borough to honor Hometown Hero for life-saving actions in Parkway bus crash Nicole Mooney could not have anticipated how her life would change on December 29 A day that started as a vacation with her family ended in emergency when a golf ball traveling around 100 miles per hour struck Nicole a 40-year-old mother of three and professional golfer and coach in the back of the head as she was stepping off her father-in-law’s boat where doctors put four staples in her head to stop the bleeding made sure she was stable and sent her home her mother—who quickly moved in with the family to help—woke her up every two hours that first night to make sure she was OK I literally couldn’t do anything,” she says director of Neuro Rehabilitation at Hackensack Tiu recommended that Nicole meet with a comprehensive team of specialists including a neuro-ophthalmologist to address her loss of depth perception a pain management specialist for her head and neck pain a sports medicine physician for the whiplash in her neck and a psychologist to help with the post-traumatic stress disorder she developed he wanted her to begin physical therapy up to six times a week immediately physical therapy is two or three days a week.” Dr we now believe that in the appropriate setting a specific type of exercise performed five to six days per week may help speed up recovery Given our emerging knowledge about the brain’s ability to change in the first few months after brain injury I felt it was important to capitalize on the moment to ensure the best chance of recovery for Nicole.”  she had to practice simple tasks like walking and getting out of a chair “I was the valedictorian of my college and could study for 10 hours straight,” she says “Now I can hardly focus and need constant breaks Nicole was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND) which affects how the brain sends and receives messages throughout the body While FND is very different from concussion treating it often also includes specialized physical and occupational therapists.  Nicole continues to go to physical therapy and can walk on her own but she still can’t drive her three young children around town she is determined to fight everyday to regain her beautiful life with her children and husband Tiu says he remains optimistic that the endpoint of her journey will be a full recovery “The accident has changed my life forever,” Nicole says jump at any loud noise and can’t imagine ever returning to the golf course there’s no way I would be where I am today.” The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician Always consult your physician for individual care tax-exempt charitable organization (tax ID 22-3474145) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law HACKENSACK—A Mercer County Superior Court judge will decide on Jan 3 whether the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association (NJUMA) can intervene in the 28-town lawsuit spearheaded by Montvale to halt the state’s fourth round of affordable housing obligations Lougy is scheduled to hear arguments on Friday from Montvale and other plaintiffs seeking a stay of the fourth-round affordable housing deadlines as the case progresses Montvale Mayor Michael Ghassali indicated that a Zoom link to the hearing would be made available and advised residents to check updates on the borough website or The Press Group’s site The state Office of the Attorney General and the Fair Share Housing Center are expected to oppose the stay have filed briefs on the matter through the New Jersey eCourts system Montvale’s lawsuit, initially filed in September with nine towns, has since grown to include 28 municipalities [active on Facebook as Local Leaders for Responsible Planning] 31 towns had committed to the legal challenge and those additional towns would soon be formally included in the case Commenting on the NJUMA’s motion to intervene “We are getting under their skin,” referencing prior opposition from the Fair Share Housing Center which had previously intervened in the lawsuit and we need more towns to join us in opposing the next round I just wish we would get a lot more support from other towns that stand to benefit from the lawsuit.” He also has clarified elsewhere that he doesn’t oppose work toward affordable housing but rather objects to mandates toward “high density housing.” The NJUMA filed its motion to intervene on Dec requesting to participate as amicus curiae (friend of the court) in support of the defendants’ motion to dismiss Montvale’s complaint the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association (‘Proposed Amicus’) hereby moves for leave to participate as amicus curiae in the above-captioned matter by filing a brief in support of Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss the Fourth Amended Complaint and presenting oral argument if such argument is heard by the Court on the Motion to Dismiss.” The Fair Share Housing Center, which has been critical of Montvale’s legal challenge previously filed to intervene and was granted approval It has since submitted a brief opposing Montvale’s case arguing that the lawsuit seeks to overturn affordable housing obligations on both constitutional and legal grounds The fourth round of affordable housing obligations a contentious issue in many municipalities is set to begin in mid-2025 unless delayed or overturned Montvale and its co-plaintiffs are pushing for broader support from municipalities as they continue their legal fight Police find ‘no threat’ to school following troubling comments from student TRENTON—A Superior Court judge in Mercer County ruled Jan 3 that the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association (NJUMA) may file a brief by Jan 27 as an intervenor in Montvale’s 28-town lawsuit challenging the state’s new affordable housing law Oral arguments on a motion by the state Attorney General’s Office and Fair Share Housing Center to dismiss the lawsuit are scheduled for a Jan In granting NJUMA’s unopposed motion to intervene Lougy—a past interim state Attorney General under Gov Chris Christie—wrote that the case “involves issues of public importance to the leaders of municipalities across the State as well as the public.” He noted the court would benefit from NJUMA’s participation particularly regarding “the qualified urban aid exception,” and emphasized that the briefing schedule avoids prejudice to any party representing more than 30 urban municipalities aims to work with state and federal officials “to develop appropriate and effective public policy measures that benefit the state’s urban centers and to help lawmakers understand how public policy affects New Jersey’s cities and municipalities,” according to a press statement NJUMA president and Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp wrote that urban municipalities which are “home to many of New Jersey’s most vulnerable populations,” play a significant role in addressing both current and future affordable housing needs He highlighted the law’s emphasis on rehabilitation saying it helps preserve housing and prevents further deterioration in urban areas which already bear “a disproportionate share” of the state’s affordable housing burden writing that while such municipalities “may face challenges in building new affordable housing developments,” issues like property values or local resource burdens “should not delay or derail efforts to address the state’s growing housing crisis.” He argued the law ensures all municipalities contribute “in proportion to their size “fully supports affordable housing law P.L 2” and encourages municipalities to act “promptly and responsibly” in developing their plans ensuring that every New Jersey resident has access to “safe Bergen County touts success of ‘Crime Suppression Team,’ launched amid holidays Julie O’Connor looks ahead on Tenafly council MONTVALE—Amid the chaos of Monday night’s bus crash on the Garden State Parkway a longtime volunteer EMT with the Tri-Boro Volunteer Ambulance Corps was driving home when he saw the overturned bus near Exit 172 he pulled over and began assisting the children and young men trapped inside When he learned that a 14-year-old boy was pinned beneath the wreckage Matt used his emergency training to provide aid until additional first responders arrived Montvale is set to honor Matt as its 2025 Hometown Hero in a special ceremony this Thursday at the borough’s mayor and council meeting Phil Murphy personally called him to express gratitude involved a yellow school bus carrying 31 passengers from Lakewood to New Square The bus overturned near mile marker 170.9 close to the James Gandolfini Service Area which was recently renovated in a $250 million project Emergency responders from multiple agencies with skid marks visible on a nearby embankment Officials confirmed that 29 young men and two adults sustained injuries. Thirteen were taken to area hospitals and the most seriously injured—a 14-year-old boy—was transported to a trauma center in critical condition after being trapped beneath the bus Montvale Mayor Michael Ghassali provided updates throughout the night reporting that the most seriously injured victim “now has a pulse” after initial life-saving efforts Ghassali referred all inquiries to the New Jersey State Police According a post from Ghassali on March 11 who had been driving behind the bus, was the first to pull over and help. He immediately assisted passengers in exiting the overturned vehicle. As he helped the children and young men he was alerted that a boy was still trapped underneath the wreckage Using his six years of EMT experience Goldman provided lifesaving aid to the injured boy until additional emergency crews arrived. Firefighters from Woodcliff Lake and Montvale worked together to lift the bus with Paramus Fire Department dispatching a heavy-duty tow truck for added support Once the bus was lifted, all 31 occupants were rescued. Rockland Hatzoloh transported the 13 injured boys to local hospitals for treatment In the wake of the crash, the Montvale community is rallying behind Goldman. Residents have flooded social media with messages praising his quick thinking and calling him “an angel arriving at the right moment.” Matt’s actions reflect his long-standing commitment to emergency service He became a certified EMT at just 16 years old while still in high school and has volunteered with the Tri-Boro Volunteer Ambulance Corps for nearly six years he pursued a career in healthcare and is set to graduate this May with his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) the 14-year-old boy remains in critical condition. Community members continue to offer prayers for his recovery The New Jersey State Police are investigating the cause of the crash and further details are expected in the coming days questions as bus overturns on GSP in Montvale; injuries WAYNE -- Hard and heavy made history Wednesday night for St The Green Knights dominated perennial power Don Bosco in the 2025 Bergen County ice hockey final rolling to a 2-0 win and outshooting the Ironmen 36-20 It is the first county title in ice hockey for the Green Knights (11-3) and second-year coach Matt Juneau “The kids played hard and heavy all night and that’s what we need,” said Juneau We play physical and I think you saw it in the opening period we set the tone.” Ryan Beanland scored with 5:31 left for the Green Knights for the first goal and Logan Hughes added an empty netter with under a minute to play Gabe Florio stopped 20 shots to earn the shutout What it meansIt’s hard to make sweeping judgments after one performance but it was at least clear that the Green Knights were better than they were on Opening Night when Don Bosco (11-3) rolled past them 6-1 “I said to the kids at the beginning of the game that the first game means nothing,” Juneau said “It was a measuring stick of where we are and where we have to get better We have had this game circled for a while.” The Ironmen have dominated this tournament since its inception in 2012 having won all but one title contested it’s a great team we just played,” said Beanland from Washingtonville Tic-tac-goalThe Green Knights had 16 shots in the first period compared to the Ironmen’s four Joe’s began to generate some odd-man rushes in the Ironmen zone and the first goal was a perfect series of short passes from the right side (Hughes) of the Ironmen net to the center (Kyle Kondratowicz) to Beanland on the left side where he snapped a quick wrister home “I saw Kyle and called to him and it was a great pass and a great goal “There are certain things you practice in a line rush and we had been waiting for that all game and that’s what they did tonight It’s good to see practice come to action in games Quick hitsDon Bosco goal John Gazzola was steady in net with the Green Knights pressuring him from the start and never got rattled Ironmen freshman Preston Ferro gave Don Bosco a lift in the second period with some strong shifts Don Bosco was whistled four times for penalties Florio and Kondratowicz were named Tournament MVPs A dental practice is joining the tenant roster at a newly updated 32,000-square-foot medical office building in Montvale according to a management team with Accordia The periodontal and implant dentistry practice will be among the newest health care operators at the building and in the borough which has attracted a host of high-profile investments by providers such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Summit Health and Hackensack Meridian Health Accordia represented ownership in the lease and is overseeing construction of the new facility Nick Yanakas of CARR Realty represented the tenant “We are pleased to welcome Perio Implant Moon LLC as the latest tenant to establish their state-of-the-art periodontal practice at 160 Summit Avenue and meticulous attention to detail,” said Frank Recine Accordia has managed 160 Summit since April of this year touting the building’s location just off Exit 172 of the Garden State Parkway and minutes from Interstate 287 and the border with Rockland County Other medical practices at the site include Rubinstein Plastic Surgery Center LLC Empowered Pelvic Health LLC and Center for Resiliency LLC “The investment that major health care systems make in the community has a ripple effect on health care providers throughout Bergen County and beyond,” Recine added Perio Implant Moon LLC picked the perfect location to serve their patients.” Accordia also announced that creative agency and content studio Overskies Inc has renewed its lease for the agency’s 5,500-square-foot suite at the Summit Avenue property “They are a long-term tenant and have renewed their lease at 160 Summit Road as a result of ownership’s commitment to reinvesting into the building and Accordia’s focus on providing superior management,” Recine said “Our mission is to continue to attract high-quality tenants who want to operate their business from a modernized board certified periodontist and owner of Perio Implant Moon added: “Opening Moon Implants & Perio in Montvale was such an easy decision I’m excited to join this dynamic community and serve patients in the convenient A 29-year-old Bronx man stole a $3,500 camera from a victim in a Bergen County liquor store whom he dragged the victim with his car while trying to escape Chris Hawken was assisting during the arrest of Felipe Ortiz-Martinez when he was injured Woodcliff Lake officers were alerted to a vehicle with a stolen New Jersey license plate near the Whole Foods shopping center on Wednesday located the vehicle driving recklessly in the parking lot and stopped it detaining both the driver and passenger for further investigation had stolen a Canon camera worth $3,500 from Cambridge Wine liquor store The victim told officers he saw the suspect take the camera and hide it under his sweatshirt before leaving the store The victim followed Ortiz-Martinez into the parking lot where Ortiz-Martinez jumped into the driver’s seat and sped off The victim grabbed onto the driver’s side door and was dragged several feet Chris Hawken was also injured during the incident Both Ortiz-Martinez and his female passenger were taken to Woodcliff Lake Police Headquarters and processed was charged with receiving stolen property and released on a complaint summons pending a future court date Ortiz-Martinez was charged with assault with a motor vehicle He was transported to the Bergen County Jail Ghassali said Hawken underwent successful Achilles surgery after the incident and is resting at home "He appreciates all the well wishes and requested that I post this update on his behalf When Bryan Cirelli donated a kidney to save his best friend’s life that friend—retired Montvale police officer Jason Szabo—is making sure Bryan doesn’t face recovery alone The two have been best friends since 5th grade, growing up together in Montvale, according to a GoFundMe launched by the Montvale PBA Szabo joined the Montvale Police Department in 1997 and retired in 2023 he volunteered to assist in the recovery efforts in New York City Szabo underwent his first kidney transplant receiving a life-saving donation from his brother it was Bryan Cirelli—a former Montvale auxiliary officer and U.S who now works construction and will be out of work for at least two months without pay So Szabo launched a campaign on his behalf asking the community to give back—not to him “Jason has specifically requested that any donations be made for Bryan as a way to honor his friend’s life-changing selfless decision,” said organizers with the Montvale PBA the fundraiser has brought in more than $25,000 to support Bryan while he heals “Thank you to everyone for their generous donations,” wrote organizer Eric Robalino Final donations are being accepted and will be forwarded to Mr. Cirelli to help cover lost wages and recovery expenses. Click here to donate. 2025Thirteen people were hospitalized after a New Jersey school bus crash on the side of the Garden State Parkway in Montvale on Monday.MONTVALE -- A school bus carrying 31 passengers overturned and landed on its side in New Jersey on Monday The crash occurred on the side of the Garden State Parkway in Montvale Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali said in a post on Facebook that no one died in the incident and the individual with the most severe of injuries has a pulse New Jersey to New York State when it overturned just south of Exit 172 around 7:30 p.m. RAMSEY − Don Bosco executed a nearly flawless game plan Friday night The result was five touchdowns on the Ironmen’s first six drives Their final possession ended with two kneel-downs at the 1-yard line to seal a 35-28 Super Football Conference victory over St Don Bosco (3-3) drove 79 yards on 10 plays to open the game and Dante DeLuca's 2-yard touchdown run gave the Ironmen a lead they never relinquished St. Joseph (4-2), No. 2 in the New Jersey Super 25 rankings got within 21-14 at the half and received the third-quarter kickoff but the Ironman defense forced a three-and-out MORE: Quarterback's big night puts Don Bosco back in the conversation "Our defense and offense are so close right now," DeLuca said and now we're finally working together as a team." What it meansDon Bosco had dropped its last two games by a combined five points including a 21-20 heartbreaker to DePaul in which DeLuca missed due to injury Friday's victory clouded the SFC United Red standings a bit as it left both the Ironmen and Green Knights at 1-1 in the division League leader Bergen Catholic defeated Don Bosco coming off two really gut-wrenching losses stayed the course," Ironman coach Dan Sabella said and those three or four plays that we hadn't made in those last two games The Don Bosco drive to make it 28-14 featured a Deven Sisler 34-yard pass to Isaiah Alvarez (6 catches 126 yards) one play after a holding penalty Sisler capped the possession with a 4-yard TD run Joseph converted three third downs on its next drive including Lamar Best's 36-yard scoring strike to Nathan Bailey on third-and-18 A holding penalty wiped out a fourth-down conversion with 8:02 remaining ► DeLuca carried 24 times for 125 yards and a TD and his final 25-yard run ended at the 1-yard line to help the Ironmen run out the clock ► Sisler completed 22-of-30 passes for 252 yards and three scores ► Bailey made big plays virtually every time he touched the ball: 9 catches for 157 yards and two TDs ► Green Knights senior CB Jahmir Joseph (8 tackles blocked FG) and Ironman junior Jack DeMenna (7 tackles) both stood out defensively and we're just going to start building more and more momentum now." —Sabella Asbury Park Press staff writer Mike Davis contributed to this report.