Pascack Valley, NJ
Your Community
Westwood's Il Vero Breaks Silence On Backlash Westwood's Il Vero Breaks Silence On Backlash Westwood's Il Vero Breaks Silence On Backlash
Westwood's Il Vero Breaks Silence On Backlash Gia Giudice's new Bergen County restaurant has broken its silence following a wave of poor reviews. Il Vero is standing by its controversial no-children policy, saying its adults-only atmosphere was intentional and that not every restaurant is meant for everyone. The Westwood restaurant opened by the daughter of "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice and business partner Maria Sausa, has faced criticism from early diners over everything from its prices and food to a policy barring children. Now, Sausa is responding. "Our decision to create an adults-only dining experience at …

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by Cecilia Levine
National Interest
'DWTS' Star Almost Went 'Will Smith' On Judge, He Says In Deleted Post 'DWTS' Star Almost Went 'Will Smith' On Judge, He Says In Deleted Post 'DWTS' Star Almost Went 'Will Smith' On Judge, He Says In Deleted Post
'DWTS' Star Almost Went 'Will Smith' On Judge, He Says In Deleted Post "Dancing With the Stars" pro and Bergen County, NJ resident Val Chmerkovskiy has issued a public apology after referencing Will Smith's infamous 2022 Oscars slap in a since-deleted social media post. The day after the show's first-ever "Super Bowl Night," Chmerkovskiy wrote on TikTok, "You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night." The post appeared to be directed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba following a tense exchange with fellow pro Jenna Johnson, who is Chmerkovskiy's wife. Inaba had criticized Johnson's choreography with partner Harry Shum Jr., saying their samba lacked dance…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lyndhurst, NJ
Obituaries
North Arlington Priest Father Anthony DiStefano Dies After Cancer Battle North Arlington Priest Father Anthony DiStefano Dies After Cancer Battle North Arlington Priest Father Anthony DiStefano Dies After Cancer Battle
North Arlington Priest Father Anthony DiStefano Dies After Cancer Battle A former pastor of a Bergen County church has died following a years-long battle with cancer. Father Anthony DiStefano, a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark and pastor at the Queen of Peace Church in North Arlington, died Wednesday night, Oct. 14, according to an announcement posted on the Parow Funeral Home website. "It is with great sadness that we share the news that Fr. Anthony DiStefano passed away late last night after a long and courageous battle with cancer," the announcement said. "Throughout his illness, Fr. Anthony faced his suffering with courage and perseverance. We are …

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by Cecilia Levine
Saddle Brook-Elmwood Park, NJ
Breaking News
Lights Out: Pickup Truck Slams Into Elmwood Park Taco Bell, Cutting Electricity Lights Out: Pickup Truck Slams Into Elmwood Park Taco Bell, Cutting Electricity Lights Out: Pickup Truck Slams Into Elmwood Park Taco Bell, Cutting Electricity
Lights Out: Pickup Truck Slams Into Elmwood Park Taco Bell, Cutting Electricity A pickup truck slammed into a Taco Bell in Bergen County on Thursday morning, Oct. 15, sending the driver to the hospital and leaving the restaurant without power, incident photographer Boyd A. Loving reports. The Ford pickup crashed into the Taco Bell at 622 Market St. in Elmwood Park, damaging a utility pole and equipment cabinet along the roadway, Loving said. The driver was taken by ambulance to Hackensack University Medical Center. A possible medical episode may have caused the driver to lose control before the crash, according to Loving. Two tow trucks were needed to free the pickup …

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by Cecilia Levine
Ridgefield Park-Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
Breaking News
Aggravated Arson For Syrian National Allegedly For Hasbrouck Heights Blaze Aggravated Arson For Syrian National Allegedly For Hasbrouck Heights Blaze Aggravated Arson For Syrian National Allegedly For Hasbrouck Heights Blaze
Aggravated Arson For Syrian National Allegedly For Hasbrouck Heights Blaze A 48-year-old Syrian national has been jailed on multiple arson and aggravated assault charges dated the same day as a massive auto dealer warehouse fire early this summer that drew firefighters from across Bergen County, records show. Adulkoder Dahhan was booked into the Bergen County Jail on Wednesday, Oct. 14, on nine charges stemming from a June 9 incident in Hasbrouck Heights, according to jail records. The charges are believed to be connected to a massive warehouse fire on Industrial Avenue on June 9, a law enforcement source told Daily Voice. The source referred Daily Voice to the pr…

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by Cecilia Levine
Hackensack, NJ
Breaking News
Hackensack Teen Sexually Assaulted Girl Under 15 Three Times: Prosecutor Hackensack Teen Sexually Assaulted Girl Under 15 Three Times: Prosecutor Hackensack Teen Sexually Assaulted Girl Under 15 Three Times: Prosecutor
Hackensack Teen Sexually Assaulted Girl Under 15 Three Times: Prosecutor An 18-year-old Hackensack man has been accused of sexually assaulting a girl under 15 on three occasions in Bogota, authorities announced Wednesday, Oct. 14. Jefferson M. Lucero Tapia was arrested Tuesday, Oct. 6, following an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and Bogota police, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. The investigation began Friday, Oct. 2, when Bogota police contacted the prosecutor's Special Victims Unit about an alleged sexual assault, Musella said. Lucero Tapia was charged with five counts of second-degree sexual assault and two counts of third…

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by Cecilia Levine
Fort Lee, NJ
Breaking News
Driver Speeds Toward PalPark Cop, Crashes Camaro On Route 46, Flees On Foot: Police Driver Speeds Toward PalPark Cop, Crashes Camaro On Route 46, Flees On Foot: Police Driver Speeds Toward PalPark Cop, Crashes Camaro On Route 46, Flees On Foot: Police
Driver Speeds Toward PalPark Cop, Crashes Camaro On Route 46, Flees On Foot: Police A 21-year-old Bergen County man accused of accelerating his Chevrolet Camaro directly toward a police officer before crashing on Route 46 and fleeing on foot has been arrested, authorities said. Wilmer J. Gamezsuchite, of Palisades Park, was charged with eluding following the incident that began around 9:10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, Police Chief George Beck said. Officers Christian Sisco, Marc Larrea and Jasper Chau responded to 10th Street and East Palisades Boulevard after receiving a report of a vehicle striking parked cars and fleeing, Beck said. Police identified a white Chevrolet Camaro…

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by Cecilia Levine
Fair Lawn-Glen Rock, NJ
Your Community
Fair Lawn ShopRite Site Gets New Life As Hindu Temple Plans Win Approval Fair Lawn ShopRite Site Gets New Life As Hindu Temple Plans Win Approval Fair Lawn ShopRite Site Gets New Life As Hindu Temple Plans Win Approval
Fair Lawn ShopRite Site Gets New Life As Hindu Temple Plans Win Approval A former ShopRite supermarket in Bergen County is set to become a Hindu temple under a redevelopment plan approved by the Fair Lawn Planning Board.  The property at 17-17 to 17-77 River Road in Fair Lawn, which also includes a Walgreens and a strip shopping center, is owned by BAPS Clifton Fair Lawn LLC.  Plans call for converting the vacant supermarket into a house of worship known as a Mandir, with prayer rooms, classrooms, a recreation area for children, multipurpose halls and living quarters for a priest and his family.  The project also includes a 1,620-square-foot entr…

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by Cecilia Levine
Pascack Valley, NJ
Breaking News
Tesla Driver Pinned By Tree Branch In Garden State Parkway Washington Twp Crash: Firefighters Tesla Driver Pinned By Tree Branch In Garden State Parkway Washington Twp Crash: Firefighters Tesla Driver Pinned By Tree Branch In Garden State Parkway Washington Twp Crash: Firefighters
Tesla Driver Pinned By Tree Branch In Garden State Parkway Washington Twp Crash: Firefighters A Tesla driver was pinned by a tree branch after veering off the Garden State Parkway and crashing into the woods in Bergen County, authorities said. The crash happened in the southbound lanes near milepost 167.2 in Washington Township around 7:55 p.m., New Jersey State Police Trooper II Christopher Postorino said. The driver lost control of the SUV, ran off the left side of the highway and struck a tree, Postorino said. The Township of Washington Fire Department arrived to find the Tesla in the woods, with the driver trapped inside by a tree branch. A passenger had managed to get out on t…

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by Cecilia Levine
Pascack Valley, NJ
Breaking News
19 Fire Alarms Go Off Almost At Once In Montvale In 'Extremely Rare' Incident 19 Fire Alarms Go Off Almost At Once In Montvale In 'Extremely Rare' Incident 19 Fire Alarms Go Off Almost At Once In Montvale In 'Extremely Rare' Incident
19 Fire Alarms Go Off Almost At Once In Montvale In 'Extremely Rare' Incident Fire alarms went off at 19 buildings across one Bergen County town almost simultaneously early Tuesday morning, Oct. 13, sending firefighters scrambling across town in what officials called an extremely rare incident. The Montvale Volunteer Fire Department began receiving reports of multiple fire alarm activations around 5:15 a.m., according to a statement shared to Facebook. Firefighters quickly determined the alarms were connected to sprinkler systems and changes in water pressure. Veolia had been performing work on the town's water tank and pumps, triggering water flow alarms in 19 …

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by Cecilia Levine
Fort Lee, NJ
Breaking News
Bogus Missing Baby Report Ends With Cops Assaulted, Death Threats In PalPark: Police Bogus Missing Baby Report Ends With Cops Assaulted, Death Threats In PalPark: Police Bogus Missing Baby Report Ends With Cops Assaulted, Death Threats In PalPark: Police
Bogus Missing Baby Report Ends With Cops Assaulted, Death Threats In PalPark: Police A report of a missing 4-month-old baby in Bergen County turned violent when the caller attacked two police officers and threatened to kill one of them, authorities said. Obel E. Simon-Lopez, 23, a Guatemalan national living in Palisades Park, was arrested following the Thursday, Oct. 8 incident, Police Chief George Beck announced Monday, Oct. 12. Officers responded to the area of Broad and Henry avenues around 3:33 p.m. after receiving the missing baby report, Beck said. Police initially could not find the caller at his apartment but later located Simon-Lopez outside on Broad Avenue, w…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lyndhurst, NJ
Breaking News
911 Caller Assaults Lyndhurst Officer, Authorities Say 911 Caller Assaults Lyndhurst Officer, Authorities Say 911 Caller Assaults Lyndhurst Officer, Authorities Say
911 Caller Assaults Lyndhurst Officer, Authorities Say A man who called 911 claiming he was being attacked ended up arrested after police say he shoved a lieutenant and grabbed his vest during a confrontation in Bergen County. Frederick D. Penamartinez was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer following the incident near 500 Fifth Avenue in Lyndhurst at approximately 1:21 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9, Deputy Chief Paul Haggerty said. Lt. Francis O'Rourke and Officers Anthony Morreale and Jorge Fernandez responded after a man called 911, reported being attacked and quickly hung up without providing further details. When police arr…

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by Cecilia Levine