Saddle Brook Appoints New Schools Chief The Saddle Brook Board of Education Monday approved the hiring of Dr. Richard Katz as its new superintendent of schools. Council Approves 'Reasonable' Tax Increase Rather Than Deplete Surplus Fair Lawn borough council adopted a $46.8 million municipal budget Tuesday that will increase taxes $32 on the average assessed homeowner. Fair Lawn Makes 'America's Best High Schools' List for Fifth Straight Year Fair Lawn High School dropped a couple hundred spots, but still ranked 876th nationally in Newsweek's 2013 list of "America's Best High Schools." Four …

Fair Lawn Teen Hospitalized After Berdan Grove Fight A juvenile was taken to the hospital with a head injury late Friday night after being assaulted at Berdan Grove, Fair Lawn police said. Popular Hockey Coach Resigns to Take Bergen Catholic Job Fair Lawn High School hockey coach Brack Healy has accepted the head coaching job at Bergen Catholic after three years behind the bench for the Cutters. Routine Motor Vehicle Stop Ends in Heroin Possession, Distribution Charges Fair Lawn police arrested two Haskell men and a 17-year-old juvenile Tuesday on a variety of drug charges. Six Fair Lawn …

Police: Officer Injured After Detainee Kicks Out Patrol Car Window In His Face Patrol officer Gerard Graziano was taken to Valley Hospital in Ridgewood Monday with an eye injury after being sprayed in the face with glass shards from a kicked-out patrol unit window, police said. Softball Team Honors Memory of Major Parent Supporter The Fair Lawn High School softball team played its game Monday night in honor of Lisa Sudol, a major supporter of Fair Lawn athletics and the mother of senior shortstop Ashley Sudol, who died March 22 at age 48. Fair Lawn Burglaries Concentrated West of Route 208 […

Convicted Toddler Molester Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison Fair Lawn resident John Katsigiannis was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 15-month-old girl five years ago, a Bergen County law clerk said. Storm-Damaged Lyncrest Outdoor Classroom Rebuilt Lyncrest Elementary reopened its outdoor environmental center Tuesday through the efforts of the school, the borough of Fair Lawn and the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission. The center was severely damaged in Superstorm Sandy. Police: Lieutenant Nabs Hawthorne Burglary Suspect in Stolen U-Haul Truck A Fair Lawn police…

Police Apprehend TD Bank Robbery Suspect, Alleged Accomplice The suspect and an alleged accomplice in the TD Bank robbery in Saddle Brook Friday morning are in custody, Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler said. Fair Lawn Selects Interim Manager Jim Van Kruiningen, a lifelong Fair Lawn resident and assistant to the borough manager for the past six years, will take over as acting manager on June 4. Teacher from Fair Lawn Pleads Guilty to Sexual Contact with Student Clifton High School social studies teacher Kristin Leone, a 2003 graduate of Fair Lawn High School, pleaded guilty Monday to …

Former Employee Charged in Rivara's Burglary A man whom Fair Lawn police stopped for allegedly fleeing an accident scene in Paterson Thursday was found to be responsible for a burglary at Rivara's the night before, police said. Garfield Place Couple Loses Kitchen in Fire Fair Lawn firefighters responded to a kitchen fire on Garfield Place Tuesday afternoon. Fair Lawn's 'Most Dangerous' Roads for Pedestrians [Interactive Map] Fair Lawn Avenue has been home to more than a quarter of all pedestrian strikes since 2010, according to police department traffic data. Saddle Brook Ranks Dead Last …

Budget Introduced Over Democratic Council Members' Objections If the budget is approved as introduced, average assessed homeowners will pay about $39 more in taxes than they did last year. Teens Find Body Behind Memorial Soccer Field Three local teenagers found the body of a resident lying face up in the woods behind the Memorial Middle School soccer field last Tuesday, police said. Police Officer Hospitalized After Parking Lot Accident Fair Lawn police officer Louis Failla was transported to Valley Hospital Tuesday after being involved in a car accident in the municipal building parking lot…

Brunch Club to Renovate, Reopen as Dish Eatery The popular Fair Lawn breakfast and lunch spot, which has been under new ownership since late last year, will have a new look and a new name come summer. Saddle Brook Detective Sniffs Out $200,000 Cheese Heist Saddle Brook Police uncovered a 21-ton shipment of stolen Muenster cheese inside a refrigerated trailer at an NJ Turnpike rest area Tuesday, Police Chief Robert Kugler said. Main Break Cuts Water to Morlot Avenue Residents, Detours Traffic Approximately 40 to 50 homes were without water from early Thursday afternoon until Friday evening …

Fair Lawn Names Interim Police Chief Capt. Glen Cauwels will serve as Fair Lawn's interim police chief once Chief Erik Rose steps down. Municipal Budget Comes in Under 2 Percent Cap If council approves the manager's budget as presented Tuesday, Fair Lawn residents are looking at a 1.38 percent municipal tax increase this year. Saddle Brook School Board Trustee Steps Down Board of Education trustee Keith Rosso announced his plans Wednesday to vacate his seat on the board and accept a job in Texas. Borough, Workers Reach 6-Year Contract Agreement Fair Lawn's blue- and white-collar workers have …

Borough Manager Resigns; Accepts Consulting Gig Without a commitment from council to extend his contract beyond this year, Fair Lawn borough manager Tom Metzler submitted his letter of resignation Monday. Fair Lawn Police Chief Announces Retirement Chief Erik Rose, a 30-year veteran of the Fair Lawn Police Department, announced his retirement Friday. Infant Suffers Serious Head Injuries in Route 80 Crash An infant involved in a three-car crash on Route 80 in Saddle Brook Monday night was transported to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey State Police said. Police: Man…

Fair Lawn Police Investigating TD Bank Robbery A man robbed the TD Bank on River Road of approximately $2,800 Monday afternoon, police said. Surveillance camera photos were released the following day. Embattled Police Captain Reaches Retirement Agreement with Borough Fair Lawn police Capt. Joseph Cook, the target of multiple lawsuits and a 2012 internal affairs investigation, has retired, effective Thursday. Preliminary School Budget Contains District's 'Lowest Tax Increase Ever' The Fair Lawn Board of Education Thursday unanimously passed an $88.3 million preliminary budget for the 2013-2014…

High Street Apartment Fire Damages 2 Units A closet fire in a High Street apartment building Wednesday caused major damage to two units and forced the evacuation of the building. Alert Neighbor Assists Police in Burglary Arrest Leonardo R. Castro, 28, was charged with burglary Thursday after a resident saw him breaking into neighbors' cars, Saddle Brook police said. Pedestrian Struck Walking Home from Radburn Train Station A woman walking on Warren Road near Plaza Road was struck by a motorist around 6 p.m. Tuesday. Fair Lawn Republicans Announce 2013 Borough Council Nominees Dan Dunay and …

Hostage Scam Triggers Rapid Police Response at Chase Bank Police from surrounding towns as well as the county and state converged on the Chase Bank on Saddle River Road after receiving reports of a robbery in progress. The situation turned out to be a misunderstanding brought on by a kidnap hoax. Rapper Jim Jones Charged with Disorderly Conduct in Fair Lawn Rapper Jim Jones was arrested Wednesday after an altercation with a Fair Lawn police officer outside his Ward Street home, police said Fair Lawn Named 49th Safest City in United States Neighborhood research site NeighborhoodScout has named…

Freeholder David Ganz's Son Found Dead Fair Lawn native and army veteran Scott Ganz, 30, was discovered dead at his home in Orlando, Fla. this week. Saddle Brook Board of Education Appoints Replacement Trustee Regina Barrale, 44, was sworn in as a Saddle Brook Board of Education trustee Monday night. Council Reallocates Skate Park Funds to ADA Playground Council has elected to reallocate $80,000 in county grants originally intended for the construction of a skate park at the former Walsh Pool to a barrier-free playground at Berdan Grove. Fair Lawn Man Accused of Burglarizing, Impersonating …

Dog Owners Fighting Borough Over Fate of Locked Up Pups Two dogs, now impounded since Jan. 3 after an alleged attack that killed one dog and injured its owner, have been in the middle of an increasingly public effort by their owners to free them. Trawinski Urges Borough to Release Dog Attack Photos Deputy Mayor Ed Trawinski would like photos from a dog attack on Jan. 3 that killed one dog and injured its owner posted on the borough's website. Man Snatches Keys from Oceanos' Valet Stand, Speeds Off in Patron's Audi One car and three additional sets of car keys were stolen from the free-…

Picnic the Restaurant Closes, Citing Rough Economy Picnic the Restaurant, an award-winnig eatery located at 14-25 Plaza Road in Radburn, closed this week after two-and-a-half years in business. Cosgrove Sworn in as Mayor of Fair Lawn [PHOTOS] Lifelong resident and volunteer extraordinaire John Cosgrove was sworn in as the mayor of Fair Lawn Thursday night at the borough council re-organization meeting. State to Auction Off Track Side's Liquor License Daniella's Track Side Grille, which was seized by the state in October for non-payment of taxes, will have its liquor license auctioned off on …

'Mr. Fair Lawn' John Cosgrove Tabbed as Next Mayor Lifelong borough volunteer John Cosgrove will be sworn in as Fair Lawn's next mayor at the Jan. 3 council re-organization meeting. Partner Charged With $400K Theft From Saddle Brook Clothing Company Lina Martinez, of Clifton, allegedly stole approximately $400,000 from the Saddle Brook fashion design company where she was a partner. Santa Boone Surprises Food Pantry Volunteer for Christmas [VIDEO] The Operation Santa Boone team was back at it this year, orchestrating a surprise Christmas visit for a dedicated food pantry client/volunteer. …

Fire Department Members Elect New Chief Jeff Greco, a 32-year member of Fire Company 4, will take over for Chief Eric Reamy next year. Store Manager Mulls Relocation After Third Burglary This Year A burglar broke into E-Z- Ship & Shop on Maple Avenue over the weekend and made off with thousands of dollars in cigarettes, cigars and lighters. Hooper Survives Serious Health Scare to Make High School Debut Sophomore Keyla Martinez, 15, returns to the court Friday just one year removed from suffering a life-threatening cerebral hemorrhage that forced her to miss all of last season. Fair Lawn …

Fair Lawn to Add 3 Police Officers Anticipating a slew of retirements in the coming years, the borough will swear in three new police officers in January, pending their passage of a battery of tests. Saddle Brook Begins Replacement Search for Retiring Superintendent Dr. Kathryn Fedina, the superintendent of the Saddle Brook School District for the past two-and-a-half years, is retiring at the end of the year. Redesigned Borough Website Expected by Late January Fair Lawn is contracting with QScend Technologies to design, build and host a more engaging and, eventually, interactive borough …

'A Ways to Go' for Landmark Development More than 40 conditions attached to the approval of the Landmark plan will extend the pre-construction process for the developer. Heat Gun Ignites Fire at Fair Lawn Packaging Company A heat gun being used for shrinkwrapping products ignited a fire Thursday morning at P&R Packaging, located at 20-21 Wagaraw Road. Sandy-Induced Fuel Shortage Posed Biggest Problem for Borough Fair Lawn will review its contingency plans for fuel backup after the fragility of its current setup was exposed during Superstorm Sandy. Sandy Shortens Winter Recess for Fair Lawn …