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Derek Vinyard is dangerous, a coiled fury of hate who leads a neo-Nazi gang. But time and events start to change him. He reassesses his ways while doing time for manslaughter and emerges from prison eager to keep his younger brother (Edward Furlong) from falling victim to the thug cycle of violence and payback. It may be too late. Weaving in and out of events past and present in Dereks life, American History X is revealing in its look at white-supremacist gangs and impassioned in its message that hatred and bigotry can be unlearned. Edward Norton (Fight Club, Pride and Glory) portrays Derek, giving a powerful, persuasive, Oscar®-nominated* performance.

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Casualties mount in NJ employee benefits battle

Eyewitness NewsTrenton, NJ (WABC) -- The struggle to legislate higher pension and health benefits contributions from a half-million New Jersey public workers is producing winners and losers.

Organized labor is losing clout in its attacks on traditional Democratic allies who support the legislation. And pro-union Democrats are pitted against colleagues who plan to vote to limit collective bargaining for a health care package.

The big winner may be Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who promised during his 2009 campaign to rein in public employee benefits as a way to help stabilize runaway property taxes.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney, an ironworker and a Democrat who sponsored the bill, says the traditionally Democratic unions have the right to throw their support behind Republicans in the next election. (Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »

NJ gov says he doesn't regret helicopter use

Eyewitness NewsTRENTON, N.J. -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said in a nationally televised interview Tuesday that criticism over his decision to use a state police helicopter to attend two of his son's baseball games and a political event would not prevent him from doing so again, but he would pay for the rides upfront.

In a wide-ranging interview with CNN's Piers Morgan, the governor said he would make the same decision in using the month-old, $12.5 million helicopter but would pay for the ride on the front end to prevent any bad public perception.

Democrats have called for hearings to look into the Republican governor's personal use of the perk and have called Christie a hypocrite for wasteful spending.

Christie said in the interview that he reimbursed the state after using the helicopter to shuttle from the Statehouse to the ballpark because he thought it was important to let the public know he wasn't using the aircraft "as a perk of public office."

Morgan interviewed Christie at his home, at Livingston High School where Christie went to school, and at the Ritz Diner in Livingston. Morgan also spoke with Christie's son, Andrew, who said he was just happy to have his dad at the game.

A rising star in the Republican Party, Christie has turned down repeated pleas to run for president in 2012.

He said no one in the current field of GOP candidates for president has distinguished himself or herself enough for him to publically back at this point.

"A lot of those folks impress me personally but none of them have emerged in my mind yet as the best option," Christie said. "I don't think any of them have yet distinguished themselves to say this is the best person, not only to take on Barack Obama but, more importantly, to lead our nation in the next four years after this election."

Morgan asked Christie's wife, Mary Pat, if her husband would make a great president, and she didn't hesitate in saying he would.

She said her husband was the best communicator she knows.

Asked what he felt most guilty about, the heavy-set governor said it was his weight. Christie said he'd be much happier personally and for his children if he could get that under control.

new jersey politics, chris christie, politics & elections

Plan to ban underage tanning moving forward in NJ

Eyewitness NewsTRENTON, N.J. -- Lawmakers in New Jersey are moving one step closer to banning the use of tanning beds by minors.

The Assembly Health Committee passed legislation Monday making it illegal for anyone under 18 from using tanning beds - even if they have their parents' permission.

Minors would still be allowed to get spray tans.

The bill moves now for a vote in the full Assembly. An identical bill is making its way through the Senate.

The American Academy of Dermatology says people who use indoor tanning devices are 75 percent more likely to develop the most dangerous type of skin cancer.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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new jersey politics, politics & elections

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Irvington police officer wounds teen suspect

IRVINGTON, N.J. -- Essex County authorities say a 15-year-old Newark boy was shot and slightly wounded by a police officer during a scuffle inside an Irvington apartment building.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray says the teen was grazed in the shoulder.

The teen has been charged with assaulting a police officer.

The shooting occurred at about 12:35 a.m. Friday. Irvington police responded to a call about youths damaging a vehicle and soon spotted the 15-year-old and a 16-year-old boy who fit the caller's description.

The older teen ran off but was soon caught. He hasn't been charged.

The other youth ran into the apartment hallway. Authorities say the officer feared for his life and drew his service weapon.

The shooting will be reviewed by the prosecutor's office.

Names of those involved were not released.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Worker rescued after getting stuck in large trench

Eyewitness NewsWESTFIELD, N.J. (WABC) -- Authorities have rescued a water company worker who became trapped inside a large trench in northern New Jersey after the dirt walls collapsed around him early Saturday afternoon.

The man - whose name was not disclosed - was digging the hole to install a water line at the Westfield site when he became trapped around 1 p.m.

He then remained stuck from the waist down for more than two hours as rescue crews worked to free him.

The worker was conscious and alert when he was removed from the trench and taken to a University Hospital in Newark. But further details on his injuries were not immediately available.

The cause of the trench collapse remained under investigation late Saturday afternoon.

new jersey, rescue, new jersey news

742 Chief: Damaged hydrants hampered fighting NJ fire

Chopper 6 HD was at the scene of a fire at an abandoned Camden tire factory on June 9, 2011.

By MARYCLAIRE DALECAMDEN, New Jersey -- Camden Fire Chief Michael Harper walked the perimeter of two blocks Friday morning that were largely leveled by a fire a day earlier, taking pictures with his cell phone.

In case anyone asked later, he wanted documentation of some of the obstacles - in addition to temperatures near 100 degrees - that hampered his depleted department's ability to battle the fire that left at least 16 families, including 30 adults and 35 children, without homes.

He photographed a fire hydrant a block away from the hottest part of the fire. Like two others nearby, the brass threadings used to connect hoses had been stolen, leaving the hydrants unusable and delaying firefighters' ability to begin the firefight in the crucial early moments after they arrived Thursday afternoon. Unable to take water from a nearby hydrant, he said, six engine companies had to pump water several blocks from the Cooper River.

As they got water, the chief said, crews watched buildings catch fire that looked like they could have been saved.

Harper said the department is working with the water companies that serve the city to try to get an accurate weekly list of which hydrants don't work.

"When you don't get no water, you can't do anything," said Harper, a longtime firefighter who became chief in January.

The fire was devastating, burning at least parts of about 23 buildings. City officials, the American Red Cross and social service agencies were working to find new housing for the families whose homes were burned.

Dozens more were at least temporarily without electricity and contending with smoke damage.

Harper said three firefighters and one civilian were hospitalized, all for smoke inhalation. None had life-threatening injuries.

Harper said it might take weeks to determine what sparked the fire, which is believed to have started in the building that was rented by the tire distributor Reliable Tire Co. from 1964 until 1999. It appears to have been vacant for much of the time since the company moved out and no tires were left behind.

Some reports Thursday, including one from The Associated Press, described the building as a former tire factory. But a representative from the company says tires were not made there.

Like much of Camden, a city that consistently ranks as one of the nation's most impoverished, the area near the Parkside neighborhood where the fire broke out is a hodge-podge of businesses and homes, some vacant and some occupied.

The water wasn't the only challenge.

In January, the city, facing a deep fiscal crisis, laid off about one-third of its firefighters. Several have been hired back. But Harper said the smaller force means that reinforcements from elsewhere have to be brought in sooner.

And that's difficult, he said, because they don't know the lay of the land in a city that's so different from its suburbs.

Crews had to rest frequently because of the heat of the day, the hottest since July.

The thick plume of smoke meant the PATCO trains that take commuters from southern New Jersey to jobs in Philadelphia had to be shut down during the evening rush hour. Trains resumed by 7 p.m.

Around 8 p.m., there was a new environmental problem: a thunderstorm.

While the rain was welcomed as an aid, the lightning wasn't. Ladders positioned to fight the fire from above had to be lowered for fear they'd be struck.

By the time the fire was under control later Thursday night, power transformers had melted, some propane tanks burst, several homes were reduced to rubble and a van was left charred almost beyond recognition.

Harper said embers fell throughout the neighborhood, igniting a fire on a porch more than a block from the blaze.

A building across the street full of wood pallets and sawdust was kept from burning.

On Friday, demolition crews were knocking down the remaining unstable walls of the tire building, in the hopes that investigators could soon get to the area where the fire is thought to have started. Crews from the electric company PSEG were assessing how they might be able to restore power.

And Walter Nokes, who lives a block from the fire, said he had to keep his daughter home from school. All her clothes smelled of smoke, he said.

One tidy house on one of the devastated blocks appeared untouched by the fire.

"That house," Chief Harper said as he looked at it, "is blessed."

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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2 students charged with rape at NJ school

Eyewitness NewsCLIFTON, New Jersey -- Officials on Friday will ask students at a northern New Jersey high school to come forward if they have information about a rape on school grounds.

Two Clifton High School students are accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old in a stairwell during school hours in May.

Police say the girl waited several weeks to report the incident because she was afraid.

Police have charged 19-year-old Jaime Urbina and a 17-year-old with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated sexual contact and criminal restraint.

Urbina is held on $150,000 bail. The 17-year-old, whose name has not been released because of his age, is held at a juvenile detention center.

Superintendent Richard Tardalo told The Record newspaper officials are reviewing security at the school, which has 3,400 students.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=G7IIE8r0140

Photos, videos released in diner owner murder

Authorities have released surveillance photos and videos in hopes of catching the killer of a beloved diner owner. Chafic "Steve" Ezzeddine, 71, was found murdered in Kenvil Diner in Roxbury last Saturday evening. Anyone who may have information on the identity of this individual is asked to contact the Morris County Prosecutor's Office at 973-285-6200, the Roxbury Township Police Department at 973-448-2100, or the Morris County Sheriff's Crime Stopper Program at 973-267-2255. The Crime Stoppers Program can also be reached on the internet at www.morriscrimestoppers.org. (WABC Photo)

Eyewitness NewsROXBURY, N.J. (WABC) -- Authorities have released surveillance photos and videos in hopes of catching the killer of a beloved diner owner.

Chafic "Steve" Ezzeddine, 71, was found murdered in Kenvil Diner in Roxbury last Saturday evening.

The photos and videos show a "person of interest" in the case, police said.

Ezzeddine owned the business at 405 Route 46 West, which he closed around 2:00 p.m.

His wife went to the diner around 6:35 p.m. after he did not return home on time and found him murdered.

Police have not said how Ezzeddine died, but said his injuries were "significant."

Authorities in Morris County are now offering an $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the person who killed him.

The videos of the person of interest are posted on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jiQ7KPbEdJ4

Anyone who may have information on the identity of this individual is asked to contact the Morris County Prosecutor's Office at 973-285-6200, the Roxbury Township Police Department at 973-448-2100, or the Morris County Sheriff's Crime Stopper Program at 973-267-2255. The Crime Stoppers Program can also be reached on the internet at www.morriscrimestoppers.org.

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Synagogue fire investigated in Ocean, NJ

Eyewitness NewsOCEAN (WABC) -- Firefighters are investigating the cause of an overnight fire in a New Jersey synagogue.

Firefighters say the fire spread quickly at the community center of Congregation Magen David of West Deal in Ocean, NJ.

The three-alarm fire started at 1:00 a.m., but crews were not able to get it under control for nearly three hours. There was no one in the building at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported. (Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »

new jersey, ocean, fire, new jersey news

NJ agency gets complaint 9 days before child dies

By SAMANTHA HENRYNEWARK -- New Jersey child protection officials disclosed Friday their agency received an anonymous report of suspected abuse nine days before an 8-year-old Irvington girl was found dead in her mother's apartment, but did not order a field visit.

The Department of Children and Families is looking into why the report of the phone call, in which the caller gave an address where DCF previously had an open investigation, was not linked to the other case files. The agency had an open investigation on the family from 2006 to 2008, and classified four previous complaints of suspected abuse and neglect in the home unfounded before closing the case.

"This is a child protection agency, and it's really hard to absorb if there was a failure of this magnitude," said Commissioner Allison Blake.

The agency only learned of the fifth complaint in its recent investigation into the child's death.

Blake said DCF has not yet determined whether the oversight was an isolated or systemic failure in the safeguards. She also emphasized that the agency has made many improvements since a court-ordered federal monitor became involved, and said many of the current policies, protocols and training were not in place when the agency was first involved with the family.

"While the handling of this fifth referral raises concerns, this should not serve as an indictment of the entire child welfare system, nor does it reverse the significant progress that has been made to date," she wrote in a letter to colleagues updating them on the investigation.

Records released by the agency late Friday mention an anonymous call, received May 13, from a person reporting "concern about the appearance and wellbeing of two unknown children." The call was recorded as "information and referral, requiring no response by (the) field."

Eight-year-old Christina Glenn was found dead May 22 in her family's apartment from malnutrition and an untreated fracture in her femur. Her two young siblings were removed from the home, injured and severely malnourished.

The children's mother, 30-year-old Venette Ovilde, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child. Her roommate, Myriam Janvier, 23, has pleaded not guilty to child endangerment.

Friends and acquaintances said the women, both Haitian nationals who emigrated to New Jersey at a young age, had recently come under the sway of a religious leader who made them dress themselves and the children in head-to-toe white garments and engage in fasting and all-day prayer sessions. Ovilde allegedly removed the children from school and no longer allowed them to interact with outsiders.

The agency previously reported only that it had contact with the family between 2006 and 2008. A report from the commissioner updating stakeholders on the investigation into the handling of Glenn's case said the agency had reviewed the way the four complaints during that time period had been handled and determined they had been correctly classified as unfounded.

Investigators at the time found the children to be in school, receiving medical attention, getting the proper amount of food and said the children appeared "cooperative and loving."

"It appears there was a seismic shift in this family sometime after DYFS closed its case in 2008," the report states.

The case has drawn comparisons to when four boys were found starving in Collingswood in 2003, leading to an overhaul of the child welfare system. In 2004, the state settled a lawsuit filed by the children's advocacy group Children's Rights Inc., seeking changes to the way New Jersey deals with children who need protection.

The state has hired more caseworkers and improved their training. It has upgraded a computer system used to track children. Now, siblings are more likely to stay together when they are removed from a home and there are more services for foster children as they age out of the child-welfare system. With an emphasis on helping families, far fewer children are ever removed from their families' homes.

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Christie to caller: "It's none of your business"

By Scott Curkin; Eyewitness NewsNEW JERSEY (WABC) -- New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is receiving criticism for the way he answered a question about education funding on a local television show.

Christie appeared on an hour-long call-in show with Steve Adubato.

LINK: WATCH THE CLIP HERE

The calller asked why Christie felt it was right to cut funds from public schools when his kids attend private school. In his response, he said "It's none of your business" multiple times when referring to where his own kids go to school.

In his first year in office Christie cut school funding by $820M.

He's also been locked in a battle with the teacher's union over pension and health care contributions, calling union leaders political thugs.

INTERACTION: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

new jersey politics, politics & elections

New approach to solving neighborhood problems

NORTH ARLINGTON, NJ (WABC) -- In most communities when neighbors feel like their neighbor is not taking care of their lawn or violating code, it's up to the homeowner to report the infraction.

But in North Arlington, it led to more than a few neighbor disputes, so the town came up with a new plan that saved money at the same time.

Frank Guanci has been enforcing the parking laws in North Arlington for twenty years, but just this month, he got a new responsibility - spotting code violations, like the tall grass he reported at one home.

"I've lived in the town for 45 years and I don't mind doing a little bit extra," he said.

Like many municipal governments, North Arlington is trying to save taxpayer dollars. So instead of hiring a code enforcement officer, the town is relying on its three parking violations officers to report concerns.

"Small town. Gotta keep up appearances, keep the property values up," home owner Joe Norton said.

For years, North Arlington residents have had to report code violations themselves. That led to some neighbor disputes, so officials are hoping this new program will address problems before they get out of control.

"We want our employees to do the job. We don't want neighbors reporting other neighbors. We'll do the job," Councilman Joseph Bianchi said.

The program is intended to keep North Arlington's streets looking neat and clean, which in turns helps property values.

Town officials start by writing letters to home and business owners who are in violation. If that doesn't work, they get summoned to court.

(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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new jersey, north arlington, new jersey news, jen maxfield

Elderly woman found stabbed to death in home

Eyewitness NewsIRVINGTON (WABC) -- An elderly woman was found fatally stabbed in her well-kept home in New Jersey overnight Thursday.

The victim, 88-year-old Casetta Blunt, was found inside her Campfield Street home in Irvington.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Blunt, a longtime resident, lived alone in the home.

"I can't imagine somebody wanting to hurt her. I can't imagine such a nice lady, such a sweet lady," neighbor Jennifer Ogbur said.

Blunt was always working in her yard, always with a smile on her face.

She was that one person who everyone knew and loved. She was a treasured part of this neighborhood.

At this time no one has been charged, but detectives are talkiing to a person of interest.

"We wish to reassure the public that we believe at this time this was a targeted incident," said Acting Essex County Prosecutor Murray.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Essex County Prosecutor's tips line at 1-877-847-7432.

new jersey, irvington, stabbing, murder, new jersey news

Arrest made in NJ elderly woman stabbing murder

Eyewitness NewsIRVINGTON (WABC) -- A woman who used to do chores for an elderly woman in New Jersey is now under arrest and charged with her murder.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray announced Friday that 45-year-old Yvonne Walker has been arrested in the fatal stabbing of 88-year-old Casetta Blunt, who stabbed multiples times in her home on Campfield Street in Irvington.

"The brutal and senseless death of an 88-year-old woman who was best known in the community for tending her garden and being kind to people is an unspeakable tragedy," Murray said. "We are pleased we were able to apprehend the suspect quickly."

At approximately 12:25 a.m. Thursday, Irvington police responded to the home after receiving a report of an elderly woman found unconscious. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The autopsy completed Thursday indicated she died from multiple stab wounds.

Walker is charged with murder, felony murder, robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of+ a weapon for a lawful purpose. Bail was set at $1 million.

new jersey, irvington, stabbing, murder, new jersey news

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Teacher left newborn baby on high school steps

By Scott Curkin; Eyewitness NewsWEEHAWKEN, New Jersey (WABC) -- New details about a woman accused of abandoning her newborn baby on the steps of a high school in Weehawken, New Jersey.

It turns out the woman is a 37-year-old teacher in West New York.

The child was left on the steps of Weehawken High School last Friday.

John Fauta is the superintendent of neighboring West New York schools.

He confirms that the woman police stopped driving erratically a short time after the baby was abandoned, has been teaching math to special needs children for years.

"She was a good teacher... I've spoken to her supervisor and other who know her and they say this is completely out of character... And there were no signs on a mental issues and so forth," said Fauta.

The woman whose name has not been released is undergoing a psychological evaluation at Jersey City Medical Center.

The infant found only in a diaper, and wrapped in a towel is being treated for injuries including a skull fracture.

But superintendent Fauta says he isn't prepared to draw any conclusions yet.

"I don't want to pass judgment. You never know what the circumstances are."

Authrorities say the woman has two other children, and was out in medical leave in May. She's due to return to teaching in September.

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Coast Guard: Missing NJ boat case is possible hoax

By JOSH LEDERMANSANDY HOOK, N.J. -- The U.S. Coast Guard launched an investigation Tuesday into a possible hoax after a 10-hour search turned up no sign of four boaters who sent distress calls saying they were abandoning ship.

Boats, planes and helicopters were dispatched before sunrise in a rescue operation that joined together military, state and local agencies and cost the Coast Guard almost $88,000. The rescue was called off in the afternoon after a search of a 600-square-mile area failed to turn up a boat, debris or the sailors.

Authorities are searching for whoever made two false distress calls - a federal felony - and are offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to arrest and prosecution.

The first call came in shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday on an emergency radio channel. Claiming to be aboard a 33-foot white sailboat named Courtney Lynn, the callers said their vessel was taking on water. Less than an hour later, those aboard radioed that the boat was 90 percent submerged, and that they were transferring to a small gray dinghy.

No further transmissions were received from the callers, who said they didn't have a hand-held radio or flares to communicate with rescuers from the dinghy. The Coast Guard did not have information about boat registration or owners.

A Coast Guard boat searched for five hours, while local police agencies searched from land. A Coast Guard airplane was dispatched from Massachusetts and flew three rescue flights over the search area, while both the Coast Guard and New Jersey State Police searched by helicopter.

"The weather conditions were ideal for finding a 33-foot vessel, even if it were sinking," said Chief Warrant Officer Troy Loining, who commands the Coast Guard's Sandy Hook Station.

The initial distress call placed the boat to the east of a naval station and a few miles from Sandy Hook Bay, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean between New York City and northeastern New Jersey.

The crew later corrected their position to say they were west of the naval station. Coast Guard direction-finding equipment was used to determine the signal likely came from a few miles away near Highlands, N.J., south of Sandy Hook.

With all search options exhausted and no evidence of anyone in distress, the rescue was suspended around 1:40 p.m. and an investigation launched. Making false distress calls is a felony that can result in up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines, according to the Coast Guard.

"False distress calls waste taxpayer dollars, put Coast Guard and other first responders at unnecessary risk and can interfere with the Coast Guard's ability to respond to those in actual distress at sea," said Coast Guard spokesman Charles Rowe.

Officials urged anyone with information to contact the Coast Guard anonymously at 646-872-5774.

Sandy Hook Station has responded to calls in the past that have turned out to be hoaxes, Loining said, but other distress calls have turned into legitimate rescues. In May 2010, the Coast Guard rescued two people by helicopter from a capsizing boat near Sandy Hook.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Parents of drowning victim sue public pool

Tiffany Jackson, Eyewitness NewsTRENTON, N.J. (WABC) -- The parents of a 3-year-old boy who drown in a crowded public pool in New Jersey filed a civil lawsuit on Tuesday.

It accuses pool administrators and the six lifeguards on-duty that day with negligence.

Surveillance video of the city owned pool in Trenton shows little Darren Horton, Jr. struggling for about 4 minutes to stay afloat in the crowded pool last summer.

One distracted lifeguard is less than 25 feet away, talking with a girl.

A neighbor had brought Horton and several other children to the pool that day.

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Teens step in to help six neglected kids

By Bill King, Eyewitness NewsJERSEY CITY (WABC) -- Police in New Jersey arrested a woman who allegedly left her kids alone and helpless to the point that area teens took matters into their own hands.

Jersey City police say two teenagers, 16-year-old Aaliyah Glover and 17-year-old Njlaja Wyatt, stepped in when they found five of the woman's six children running naked in the street, dodging traffic.

The children, ages 2 to 14, had apparently been left home by themselves before they were found in the street around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Glover, who lives in an apartment underneath the one where the children live, told NJ.com she felt the need to step in after she saw one of the children nearly get hit by a car several times.

The teens took the children into Glover's residence, then broke into the upstairs apartment, where the found the youngest child. They called police before giving the children baths and feeding them.

"They didn't know how to eat with forks," Glover told The Jersey Journal.

The 14-year-old child is reportedly autistic and unable to care for her siblings. Aaliyah said the family moved to the apartment just two weeks ago. Police said they found no food or drinks in the upstairs apartment.

Witnesses say the mother returned to the building Wednesday at 4 a.m. and briefly visited the apartment before leaving. The children were removed by the state Division of Health and Human Services about five hours prior. They were placed in temporary foster care after being evaluated by a doctor.

Jersey City Police Lt. Edgar Martinez said 40-year-old Francine Davis turned herself in Wednesday. She faces child endangerment charges.

(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Wood-Ridge High School teacher remembered

Web produced by Jennifer Matarese, Eyewitness NewsNEW JERSEY (WABC) -- Every teacher hopes to leave a lasting impression on their students. John Bischoff did just that.

Dozens of students from Wood-Ridge High School in New Jersey held a candle light vigil in his honor Monday night.

Boschoff died last week after a weight bar collapsed on his neck as he worked out.

Whenever John Bischoff had a free moment he'd take a couple of laps around the track.

Monday night, dozens of his students at Wood-Ridge High followed his spirit.

Bischoff was not just a high school history and economics teacher.

He was not just the former baseball coach.

By all accounts, he was a teacher extraordinaire, and for many a second father.

The 47-year-old teacher died this weekend from a freak accident.

Eyewitness News was told he was working out in the weight room on Monday when the weight bar fell on his neck and blocked his airway.

He spent the next 5 days on life support.

During that time, students desperately folded 1,000 origami cranes, hoping on the legend that you can then make a wish.

But not even all this love could bring him back to life.

So, students past and present, teachers, and fellow classmates who went to this same high school with Bischoff more than two decades ago remembered a bigger than life man.

They remembered a muscular teacher with a big tough exterior who was all heart inside.

If only every high school had a Mr. Bischoff.

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Body identified as missing swimmer from New Jersey

Eyewitness NewsBRADLEY BEACH -- Authorities have identified a body as the New Jersey teenager who disappeared last week after getting caught in a rip current.

Bradley Beach Police Chief Leonard Guida said a family friend identified the body as Naisere Nelson. An official identification is pending an autopsy on Wednesday.

The 15-year-old's body was seen floating beneath the Ocean Avenue Bridge in Avon before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The bridge is about 1 1/2 miles south of Bradley Beach. That's where the Neptune Township High School sophomore was last seen swimming with friends before he was pulled out to sea on Thursday. (Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »

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Work to cause delays near Holland Tunnel

Eyewitness NewsWOODBRIDGE, N.J. -- Motorists who use the Holland Tunnel to get to the New Jersey Turnpike should expect delays, beginning Wednesday.

Bridge work will reduce the westbound entrance from two lanes to one for the next two weeks.

The Turnpike Authority says the work on the Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension will take place between Jersey Avenue and the Interchange 14C toll plaza.

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Monitor questions handling of NJ child death case

By SAMANTHA HENRY and GEOFF MULVIHILLNEWARK, N.J. -- The state's child welfare system has made significant improvements, a federal monitor and a judge said Monday, despite new revelations about an anonymous tip to an agency hotline in May that went uninvestigated, nine days before an 8-year-old girl was found dead in her home from starvation and abuse.

Judith Meltzer, the court-appointed monitor assigned to report on a seven-year effort to overhaul the state's child welfare system, said she hoped the way the tip was handled was "an aberration."

Christiana Glenn was found dead in her Irvington home from malnutrition and an untreated broken leg. Her two young siblings were removed from the home, injured and severely malnourished.

The children's mother, Venette Ovilde, 30, pleaded not guilty to aggravated manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child. Her roommate, Myriam Janvier, 23, has pleaded not guilty to child endangerment.

At the time of the death, the Department of Children and Families reported it had had four contacts with the family, the most recent in 2008. On each occasion, the agency found abuse complaints to be unfounded, with the children enrolled in day care, eating properly and receiving medical checkups. The family's file was closed.

Shortly after that, neighbors and relatives said, Ovilde underwent a religious transformation, began fasting and keeping her children out school and public view.

Late Friday, the agency disclosed that an anonymous phone call had been made to a tip line on May 13, nine days before Christiana was found dead. The initial log of the call said it came from a person reporting "concern about the appearance and wellbeing of two unknown children" at the same address where DCF previously had the open case on the family. The call went uninvestigated.

On Monday, at a court hearing on the status of the state's overhaul of the child welfare system, more details emerged about what the caller reported.

Agency Commissioner Allison Blake said she had listened to a recording of the call, in which a man speaking in heavily accented English said he was very concerned about the height, weight and well-being of two previously unseen young children that seemed so emaciated, their mother had to carry them.

The worker, who Blake said has been reassigned, recorded the call as "information and referral, requiring no response by (the) field."

The federal monitor was assigned to watch the state agency after a 2003 case in which four boys were found starving in Collingswood, prompting a lawsuit by children's advocates that lead to the state agreeing to overhaul its child welfare system.

"This is not an agency that has gone into a bunker mentality to try and avoid what happened," said U.S. District Judge Stanley Chesler, commenting on Christiana's death. "Nothing can ever bring this child back, but what the court hears is an agency committed to making sure it never happens again."

Meltzer's report, issued Monday, cited many areas where New Jersey's reforms are working, but found that cases are frequently closed before there are proper safety and risk-of-harm assessments done for the families the department investigates.

The state had a target of having the assessments completed within 30 days before closing 98 percent of its cases. But Meltzer's report found that there were risk assessments done in only 31 percent of the cases it closed and safety assessments in 22 percent.

She said the risk assessments were properly done in the Glenn case. She said the fact the children were apparently homeschooled in that case meant they would not have had access to the place where most suspected abuse is flagged.

Meltzer said New Jersey should overhaul its home-schooling regulations to include requirements like yearly pediatric checkups - as it's one of only 10 states where families are not required to tell school officials when they home-school their children.

The report from Meltzer, who is also deputy director of the Washington-based Center for the Study of Social Policy, found the state is doing well at recruiting foster families, keeping siblings together when they're removed from a home, training its staff, and in other areas.

The report is based on data and interviews covering 2010. It does not directly address Christiana's death, but that was the focus of a large part of Monday's hearing.

---
Mulvihill contributed from Haddonfield, N.J.

new jersey, irvington, child abuse, child death, christiana glenn, venette ovilde, new jersey news

Lawyers aiding family of NJ girl who fell off ride

Abiah Jones of Pleasantville, NJ died in a ferris wheel incident in Wildwood, New Jersey on June 3, 2011

By GEOFF MULVIHILLPHILADELPHIA -- The parents of an 11-year-old girl who fell to her death from near the top of a Ferris wheel on the Jersey shore said Tuesday that they believe a better restraint system would have saved her life.

Abiah Jones' parents, Byron and Twanda Jones, spoke Tuesday at a news conference at a Philadelphia law firm that has begun investigating Ferris wheel safety worldwide. Earlier in the day, they appeared on NBC's "Today" show to talk about what happened to their daughter. They said they haven't decided whether to file a legal action yet, but lawyer Larry Bendesky said he's looking into who could have been responsible for the girl's death.

The family says it wants to prevent other Ferris wheel accidents - and a better safety system is a key to doing so. "Click it or ticket," Byron Jones said. "You have to wear a seat belt in a car. You're 150 feet in the air."

The tragedy happened June 3, when Morey's Piers in Wildwood was hosting groups from several schools. Abiah, just finishing fifth grade at the PleasanTech Academy Charter School in Pleasantville, N.J., was awarded the trip with her school because she had top grades, her family said.

While she liked the Boardwalk and the beach, it was her first time on a Ferris wheel, her parents said.

A preliminary state report issued on Monday found that she was alone in a Ferris wheel gondola and that the adjacent gondolas were empty when she fell from near the ride's peak, about 160 feet from the ground.

The report said a video showed part of her fall but did not show the beginning, which might have answered the key question: How did she come out of the gondola?

The state said the gondola had no mechanical problems, its doors worked properly and the railings around the seat were in sound condition. Someone could have fallen while kneeling or standing in a seat but probably not while sitting in it, the state report found.

The Ferris wheel, known as the Giant Wheel, was closed after the girl's fall and remains closed.

As part of Monday's report, New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs recommended two new requirements for Ferris wheels.

Morey's Piers says one of them - that children be at least 4 feet, 6 inches tall to ride alone - is already policy at its amusement parks. The other would set a minimum of two riders per car.

Will Morey, president of Morey's Piers and Beachfront Waterparks, said in emailed responses to questions from The Associated Press that the company would comply with the additional state recommendations but that he doesn't believe restraints are needed on Ferris wheels.

"They have very mild forces, and we believe that restraints are not necessary to counteract these mild forces," he said.

The parents of Abiah, the second of four children in the family, said she was a bookworm who was already talking about going to college.

Twanda Jones said she got a frantic call that her daughter was in an accident. As she rode with a cousin to Wildwood, she spoke with a school official when she heard what parents fear most.

"I asked them: Was she alive?" she said. "They told me, `No."'

new jersey, wildwood, amusement park accident, new jersey news

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Sunday, June 5, 2011

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New Jersey Tax Accountant Can Solve All Your Tax Payment Blues

Tax accountant is an expert who helps an individual or a business in calculating the amount of tax returns that they have to pay to the government. People residing in New Jersey are really fortunate in this regard as they can find tax accountant in New Jersey who are very efficient in their work. In New Jersey, tax accountant are efficient not only in calculating individual tax returns, but also helping out big, medium and small businesses manage their accounts properly.

The important thing for you to do is hire the services of a tax accountant who is efficient in their job. In other words, you have to choose the best tax accountant that can do the work for you. It is needless to say that the tax accountant should know his job inside out. You can search for the accountant through the local yellow pages. It must be understood that you will need some time to find out an accountant who can do the work efficiently for you. So be ready to invest some time for this work, if you are serious about paying taxes on time becoming tax free as soon as possible.

You can find certain accountants that specialize in specific areas related to tax payment. If you need the services of such specialized tax accountants, you can hire their services. However if you want to hire the services of a tax accountant who has knowledge about everything related to tax payment and calculation, make sure to check out the amount of experience that he has in his work. An experienced tax accountant, whether it is in New Jersey or any other place, will handle the work more proficiently.

Tax payment is an important element and you cannot afford to take risks about this. In New Jersey, tax accountants charge the money depending on the kind of tax accounting work which they do. Keeping documented records of all the income, expenditure and any other transaction that has been made in the financial year. All these are vital for keeping a proper track of all the monetary transitions that was done.

After you have hired the services of a tax accountant in New Jersey, you must clarify any doubts that you have about tax payment. Remember, you must not get swayed by tax accountants in New Jersey who make exaggerated claims. If possible, make a proper check of the background and find out how efficient the tax accountant is in his work. Try to gather all the authentic information about tax payment that you can, as you must be properly informed about everything.

Handling tax payment on their own is not everybody's cup of tea, and this is why you must seek professional help. There are several nuances about tax calculation and tax payment that are crucial for paying taxes in time. So it is advised that one must hire the services of a professional, who knows his work. Besides being a difficult job, tax calculation is also a time consuming work which many people do not like to accomplish and seek for professional help.

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Shooting, chase, and a deadly end in Newark

Eyewitness NewsNEWARK (WABC) -- A shooting, and then a car chase, and finally a crash into a third vehicle. When it all came to end, an innocent man was dead in Newark.

The crash happened on Sanford Avenue on Saturday morning.

Witnesses say a gun was found at the found at the scene.

The incident allegedly began when shots were fired from one car at another car. A chase ensued that ended in a collision with the third car.

The driver of the third car was pronounced dead at the scene. Three others suffered injuries.

The force with which the cars hit is as evident from their blasted front ends and shattered windshields as it is from a now-battered intersection, with a light pole cut in half, a fire hydrant toppled and part of a brick building in pieces on the ground.

Three people from the first two cars are hospitalized and have been charged with aggravated assault and weapons charges. Their identities and the identity of the victim were not immediately released.

Newark police and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office are investigating.

new jersey, newark, accident, new jersey news

RV Lodgings in New Jersey

If you are road tripping up the east coast, you will inevitably roll through New Jersey. Here are some highlights of RV lodgings in New Jersey where you can stay.

One of the best shorelines on the upper East Coast has to be that of New Jersey. With many different beach towns and resort areas dotting the Jersey shore, there is plenty to see and do for everyone in the family. Atlantic City, the East Coast answer to Las Vegas, is located on the shoreline, as well as other beach havens like Seaside Heights and Cape May. Whether you feel like strolling the boardwalk (found in many shore towns) or gambling, New Jersey's shore is perfect for your trip. The many RV lodgings in New Jersey, especially along the Atlantic Ocean shore, make staying in this area comfortable and easy.

When staying on the Jersey shore, the different towns and regions tend to have different atmospheres. The area around Atlantic City is geared more towards the 21 and over set, although the boardwalk here does offer the Steel Pier amusement park (in season). Seaside Heights is more of a family destination, but some people find the touristy atmosphere along with the crowds that cover the beaches to be a bit too much. Cape May is located at the very southern end of New Jersey, and has been a traditional shore getaway spot for centuries. Victorian houses and quaint bed and breakfast establishments line the streets.

One of the RV lodgings in New Jersey that will allow you to access many points on the Jersey shore is the Holly Shores Lodging and RV Resort. Located just off of the Garden State Parkway in the southern part of Cape May County, Holly Shores is just north of Cape May. This area is within easy driving distance of the rest of the Jersey shore, as well as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The lodging here offers both RV sites and "primitive" tent sites, which do not include electricity or other hookups. Also available are cabins for rent for your stay.

The RV sites here range from minimal hookups (just water and electric), all the way up to their "Premier Ultra Sites", which include water, sewer, electric and cable. These sites are also in premium locations, with a concrete pad and post light. The Holly Shores Lodging is open from April 14 to October 31 each year, and they hold many different activities and theme nights throughout the months they are open. Some examples are a pet show weekend, a pamper your mom weekend and a Fourth of July celebration.

No matter why you want to visit the Jersey shore, you can be sure that you will find great RV lodgings in New Jersey to make your stay complete. A perfect way to enjoy a summer outing to the beach!

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Filled with dramatic re-enactments and action-packed battle scenes, Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire chronicles the dramatic story of one of history's greatest empires from its first major battle to its remarkable military feats and through its eventual fall. Told from the point of view of the Roman people under violent attack, History® takes viewers inside the fiery battles of a civilization crumbling in the face of brutal invasions. Vivid re-creations offer a firsthand look at the chaotic state of an empire in flames, while compelling characters on both sides fight for victory. Teeming streets, horseback battles, warring armies, and gladiatorial contests coexist with magnificent tales of Roman debauchery and excess.

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Saturday, June 4, 2011

New Jersey DWI Defense

Defending a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) case in New Jersey is a difficult task. The state has some of the most stringent DWI laws in the U.S. The mandatory suspension of a driver's license, and provisions like imprisonment, fines and surcharges, give the judge very little leeway. Nevertheless, a well-conceived defense strategy would be helpful in several cases, though there are situations where an admission of guilt could be the right thing to do. Only a competent lawyer can give the proper advice.

To start with, take the question of why the accused was stopped and asked to take a breath analysis or blood test. Was it merely because a police officer saw him come out of a bar? Did it infringe on the citizen's right to drive peacefully along the road? Were there any witnesses? Was the breath analyzer working properly? Was the person who conducted the test competent to do the job?

It is desirable for the accused to note down all the details as soon as possible. These should preferably include the statements he made to the arresting officer, whether he was informed that he had the right to have an independent test taken, whether the test results were given to him on demand, the names of witnesses and other pertinent details. These would help the lawyer to provide an effective defense.

A good lawyer may be able to get reduced sentences. Sometimes a jail term can be brought down if the accused goes through rehabilitation programs like the ones conducted by the Intoxicated Drivers Resource Center (IDRC). There are chances for other alternatives as well. It may be even possible to have earlier convictions vacated.

There is a guideline that DWI cases should be heard within sixty days. If this does not happen the defendant can possibly invoke the citizen's right to a speedy trial. The relevant grounds are whether the accused asserted his right, police prejudice, reason for the delay and the period of delay.

The state has to be made to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt. DWI cases are heard by Municipal Court judges, without a jury. Appeals are to be made before Superior Court Judge within twenty days.

In New Jersey, a defense based on psychiatric conditions may not be possible for DWI cases.

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New Jersey DWI Laws

New Jersey has some of the toughest DWI laws in the United States. DWI is the acronym for Driving While Intoxicated. Sometimes this is referred to as DUI, Driving Under the Influence. These laws come under the heading 'Traffic Violations.' The objective is to prevent inebriated drivers from causing injury or damages to themselves or others.

The capacity to hold liquor varies from person to person. But that is immaterial before the law. If a driver has 0.08% or more of alcohol by weight in his blood, he can be booked for DWI. Earlier, the limit was 0.10%. Now if the alcohol reading is 0.10% or more the penalties are more stringent. The punishment is also graded, for first offense, second offense and so on. It includes a combination of imprisonment, fine, suspension of license and counseling sessions. To decide prior offenses, similar charges faced by the accused in other states will also be counted. The time gap between the two offenses would also be relevant. If the offense takes place within 1,000 feet of an elementary or secondary school there would be additional fines and a condition to do community work.

If the owner lends his vehicle to another person and that person is caught for DWI, the owner still faces legal action. Under DWI laws 'intoxication' doesn't only mean the intake of alcohol beyond the permitted level. It could mean drugs and a whole array of intoxicating substances, which include even use of inhalers and certain prescription medicines.

A person who is under the influence of alcohol or any of the substances listed in the statute could be booked even for opening his car. A citizen drinking in a parked vehicle can have the same fate. In such cases the state has to prove intention to drive.

Notice is to be issued within ninety days of the alleged infringement. An appearance in court is mandatory. There is a guideline that the case is to be heard within sixty days, but this may not be always practical. In such situations it may be possible for the accused to assert his right to a speedy trial.

A Municipal Court Judge tries DWI cases. There is no right to trial by jury.

NJ's top cop asked to explain gov's helicopter use

By ANGELA DELLI SANTI and BETH DeFALCOTRENTON -- Writing a check to cover the cost of two helicopter flights to his son's baseball games seemed to do little to quiet criticism over New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's use of the gubernatorial perk.

Now, a legislator has requested that the head of the New Jersey State Police testify before a legislative committee examining Christie's use of state police helicopters for transportation.

A letter was sent Friday from Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, D-Union, chairwoman of the Homeland Security Committee, to state police Superintendent Rick Fuentes.

Quijano's committee wants to find out who approves helicopter travel, the standards for approval and how flight arrangements are made, according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Associated Pres.

"Based on the limited information released from your office, it appears one of the flights was for the governor to attend a charity event at his wife's employer, one flight appears to be just for the lieutenant governor, a couple flights were apparently for TV appearances, and lastly, a couple of flights appear to be for transporting support staff to Atlantic City and the Meadowlands," Quijano wrote.

On Friday, the governor's office declined to release more information on the trips.

"The list we've provided speaks for itself," Christie spokesman Kevin Roberts said.

The Assembly hearing is set for June 14. A spokesman for Fuentes said he had not yet received the letter.

Christie and the Republican State Committee reimbursed taxpayers $3,383 for personal and political trips the governor took in the past week.

His office released a log showing that Christie or his staff used the helicopter 35 times. The most common use was for trips to New York City, which were made on nine occasions - including two for media interviews.

Christie took to the podium Thursday using a "good father" defense, saying he didn't make a political calculation about using helicopter to see his son's games and was simply "dealing with the realities of life."

He woke up Friday to stinging editorials for his unapologetic tone; Christie had blamed the story on media theatrics "driven by political hacks who want to score cheap points."

"This is a governor who holds a press conference every time he catches a public official eating lobster on the public dime, or getting free rides on E-ZPass," The Star-Ledger editorial board wrote.

Many residents felt the same.

"If other people did what he did, he would complain about it, saying they were abusing their privileges," said Dan Walker, a 58-year-old computer analyst from Spotswood. "He has no right to complain about anyone else after doing what he did."

At the news conference, Christie said a schedule he couldn't control on Tuesday prompted him to take the helicopter, but police in Montvale said the governor's office made arrangements on Friday for him to fly. Three local police officers were on hand to ensure the landing was safe for the governor and pedestrians in the area.

"From the get-go, he should have taken his money, not our money," said Latisha Dotson, a 31-year-old Camden resident who manages a store. "What else is he doing with our money?"

But others felt the connection to his duties as a father.

"He's trying to be the best he could as a dad and a politician, and make both of those situations work," said Joe Smith, a 38-year-old computer contractor from Basking Ridge. Smith said regardless of Christie's brash remarks Thursday, reimbursing the state was an implicit admission that he'd made a mistake.

The governor's brother used Facebook on Friday to call on Democrats to pass pension and benefits reforms as quickly as they threatened to hold hearings to look into the legality of helicopter use.

"Those issues," Todd Christie wrote, "would save the state hundreds of millions of dollars."

new jersey politics, chris christie, politics & elections