By Jennifer Vazquez / Reporter

WOOD-RIDGE (Feb. 8, 2010, 11:45 a.m.) — After months of deliberating whether or not their police personnel should be affiliated anymore with the Wood-Ridge firing range, Rutherford officials are leaning toward accepting the latest agreement to have officers continue to practice at the facility.

The decision culminated when Wood-Ridge's counsel sent Rutherford and Carlstadt a notification stating that the former agreement outlining the use of the range was no longer valid, due to the fact that the annual fees required to use the establishment were not paid accordingly.

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By Alexis Tarrazi / Senior Reporter

RUTHERFORD (Feb. 5, 2010, 4:45 p.m.) — Rutherford police officials reported today, Feb. 5, that an 18-year-old Secaucus resident stole a diamond ring worth $12,000 from Crest Jewelers at 63 Park Ave.

At approximately 2:19 p.m., the owner of Crest reported to police that a male, later identified as Nima Malek, came into the store to look at a two-carat square diamond ring with small diamonds on the edges. Malek reportedly grabbed the ring and ran out of the store into a waiting silver Honda, driven by Christian A. Lopez, 19, of Secaucus, according to Rutherford Detective Lt. Patrick Feliciano.

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By Alexis Tarrazi / Senior Reporter

CARLSTADT (Feb. 5, 2010, 10:10 a.m.) — A burglar’s attempt to escape authorities in the early hours of Monday, Feb. 1 was foiled when he got stuck in the mud by Berry’s Creek, according to police.

Jose Devargas-Garcia, 26, of Hackensack, and Jimmy E. Del Rosario, 25, of Brooklyn, N.Y., were arrested Feb. 1 at 12:10 a.m. following the burglary of a trailer at Cheng’s Trading Company at 68 Broad St. in Carlstadt.

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(Feb. 4, 2010, 12:20 p.m.) — This week, Susan C. Moeller reports on the recent statements by state Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-36) that a casino may be the necessary financial solution to the Meadowlands Sports Complex.

You can read more here.

Then, vote in the new poll from The Leader: Should a casino be a part of the Meadowlands Sports Complex?

By Alexis Tarrazi / Senior Reporter

NORTH ARLINGTON (Feb. 4, 2010, 11:20 a.m.) — The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission filed a complaint yesterday, Feb. 3, against North Arlington Republicans Peter Norcia, James Bocchino and Joseph Bianchi for filing their campaign papers for the 2006 mayor and council election late.

“Everything was filed correctly and all the money was reported, but our accountant filed late,” said Councilman Bianchi in a phone interview with The Leader. “We will probably have to pay a penalty. But there is no skullduggery. All of our checks and money were filed, but they were filed late.”

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By Susan C. Moeller / Senior Reporter

LYNDHURST (Feb. 3, 2010, 3:35 p.m.) — State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-36) would like for a casino to be added to the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford. He made the suggestion during a panel discussion on horse racing at the Meadowlands Liberty Convention and Visitors’ Bureau conference, Tuesday, Jan. 26.

A past proponent of Video Lottery Terminals (VTLs) and slot machines being placed at the Meadowlands Racetrack, Sarlo said that the time for those measures has come and gone. A full-fledged casino is needed now.

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By Alexis Tarrazi / Senior Reporter

WOOD-RIDGE (Feb. 4, 2010) — Voters headed to the polls Tuesday, Jan. 26 and turned down both portions of the Wood-Ridge School District’s referendum — an expansive $25.3 million project that would have included additions, renovations and upgrades to the district’s three schools.

“It was made crystal clear last week that the 728 ‘no’ voters that took the time to come out and vote against the school referendum, that their choice is, at this time, to be opposed to addressing the concerns and needs of the children in school today as well as those in the forseeable future,” stated Wood-Ridge Board Vice President Robert Valenti in a letter to the editor. “I am extremely disappointed with the outcome, but obviously my vision must be clouded by my intimacy with the state of affairs in the Wood-Ridge School District, having served on the board for the past 10 plus years.”

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Burglary

RUTHERFORD — Kevin Corkin, 19, of Rutherford, was arrested Saturday, Jan. 30 for burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia (marijuana pipe), underage drinking and possession of an open container of alcohol while being underage. Police reported that some time between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m., Corkin stole cologne, a 25-piece screwdriver set, personal papers, a Dell laptop ($700), a charger ($7), seven packs of cigarettes and two speakers from a friend’s home in the 100 block of Mountain Way. Police located all of the stolen items in a North Face backpack, which was in Corkin’s possession. Bail was set at $50,000 with a 10-percent option. He was released after posting $5,000 bail.

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By Susan C. Moeller / Senior Reporter

TRENTON (Feb. 4, 2010) — Local municipalities have wrestled with the state Council on Affordable Housing for years, with varying degrees of success and failure.

Now, legislation pending in the state Senate could abolish the controversial agency in favor of a different regulatory mechanism.

The Council, known as COAH, was established by the state Legislature in 1985 as a vehicle for municipalities to ensure that they were compliant with Supreme Court mandated affordable housing quotas.

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By Susan C. Moeller / Senior Reporter

LYNDHURST (Feb. 4, 2010) — The Kingsland Avenue Bridge, which connects Lyndhurst to Nutley, will undergo maintenance and repairs during the spring.

The bridge will be closed to traffic during some portions of the project, and traffic will be funneled onto Route 3 and the Belleville Turnpike.

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By Alexis Tarrazi / Senior Reporter

NORTH ARLINGTON (Feb. 4, 2010) — Election funds for North Arlington Republican Councilmen Chris Johnson and Jon Kearney are no longer a mystery, as the paperwork was finally filed with the state on Friday, Jan. 29.

It has been almost three months since the pair was elected to their first three-year term as councilmen and the election funds remained a mystery for a while. Johnson had told The Leader that the papers would be filed on Monday, Jan. 25.

But they were not.

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By Susan C. Moeller / Senior Reporter

RUTHERFORD (Feb. 4, 2010) — Shop Rutherford gift certificates will be available at a discount during the month of February, courtesy of the Rutherford Downtown Partnership and Boiling Springs Savings Bank. The certificates, which can be used like cash in approximately 75 of the borough’s businesses, can be purchased for 10 percent off their face value, but spent at full value — creating an instant “sale” at every participating store or service provider. The certificates are available at Boiling Springs’ new Rutherford location at 25 Orient Way.

The partnership and bank have contributed a total of $5,500 to fund the program, which will continue until the money runs out, or the end of February, whichever comes first, according to Robin Reenstra-Bryant, manager of the downtown partnership.

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By John Soltes / Editor in Chief

TRENTON (Feb. 3, 2010, 12:45 p.m.) — Governor Chris Christie announced today, Feb. 3, the creation of a new commission that will "devise a comprehensive policy to repair the unprecedented financial and structural challenges confronting New Jersey's gaming, professional sports and entertainment industries."

The commission will consist of seven members, including Jon F. Hanson, a former chairman of the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, who will head the advisory group.

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By Alexis Tarrazi / Senior Reporter

CARLSTADT (Feb. 4, 2010)  — Carlstadt Public School is up for the challenge of keeping its students fit. As part of the National Football League’s Play 60 Challenge, Carlstadt will be the second school in the area to participate in the fitness-incentive program.

“I think it’s a great job the NFL is doing by making communities aware of obesity in kids,” New York Giants wide-receiver Domenik Hixon said in a phone interview with The Leader.

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By Susan C. Moeller / Senior Reporter

LYNDHURST (Feb. 3, 2010, 9:40 a.m.) — It’s an unlucky era for horse racing — the sport’s popularity is declining, and the industry wants help to stay alive. Representatives of the racing industry sounded the alarm during a meeting of the Meadowlands-Liberty Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Their opinion matched that of Gov. Chris Christie’s transition team, whose report on the gaming, sports and entertainment industry indicated that on-track racing faces a projected loss of $22 million in the upcoming year.

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By Alexis Tarrazi / Senior Reporter

RUTHERFORD (Feb. 2, 2010, 6:25 p.m.) — More than 50 years ago, the Roman Catholic Church of St. Mary, which sits at 91 Home Ave. in Rutherford, was built as a temporary religious space for the church’s early parishioners. The building was only supposed to house the faithful for a short period of time.

The parish owned land on nearby Maple Avenue, where the plan was to build a new church. The old structure would be changed over into a gym and classrooms for the adjoining school.

That was 55 years ago. St. Mary’s parish hasn’t moved a foot in the decades since.

Until now.

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By Alexis Tarrazi / Senior Reporter

NORTH ARLINGTON (Feb. 1, 2010, 5:35 p.m.) — As George McDermott, captain of the North Arlington Volunteer Emergency Squad (NAVES), recently attempted to start up an emergency first responder vehicle, a wheezing sound emanated from the engine. The sound is not unique. Its quality is shared by at least two other emergency responder vehicles in the borough.

And now NAVES is asking the North Arlington Borough Council for replacements.

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The Leader / Staff Report

EAST RUTHERFORD (Jan. 31, 2009, 6:50 p.m.) — A 29-year-old math teacher from Henry P. Becton Regional High School in East Rutherford was arrested Saturday, Jan. 30 for allegedly having an "inappropriate relationship" with a 16-year-old student.

Gianfranco Maucione of Hasbrouck Heights was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, official misconduct and criminal sexual contact.

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