Burglary at Burke's, Hospital Tour, Sober Living Home Top This Week's News

Westwood Police Searching For Burke's Burglar

A burglar made off with an undetermined amount of money after fleeing from Burke's on Old HookSaturday morning, Westwood Police Chief Frank Regino said.

Members of a cleaning crew called police at 8:29 a.m. Saturday after they reportedly heard a noise and saw a man run out the back door. 

Watch a Video Tour of Westwood's New Hospital

HackensackUMC at Pasack Valley CEO Chad Melton recently sat down with a crew from WCTV for an interview and took them on a tour of the soon-to-open hospital.

The hospital's renovations are "99 percent complete," Melton said in the video on Washington Township's local cable channel. They are scheduled to open June 1

Hillsdale Board Grills Sober Living Home Owner

Tenants in a proposed sober living home on Magnolia Avenue would have to obey three basic rules, according to Donna Lally, the home's owner.

The plan, to house as many has four "professional men" recovering from addictions, has drawn concern from residents because of the home's proximity to George G. White Middle School. Lally previously testified and began answering questions from the board and public at a meeting in February. She continued answering questions about her tenant selection process and how the men living in the home would share the responsibilities of running the home Wednesday.

The owner of a $300,000 wire transfer from a Dubai-based company is being disputed by State Assemblyman Robert Schroeder and Dinis DeAlmeida of LDA Corportation, who both claim to be entitled to the money, according to a complaint filed by Provident Bank March 22.

Provident filed the complaint seeking an order to have an interpleader, a procedure in which a party holding property requests a court determine who that property should be given to. The bank is also seeking to have its attorney and court costs covered.

Washington Township Chefs Named Among Best in America

Two Washington Township chefs have been named by peers as being among the nation's most skilled in the kitchen, according to NJ Monthly Magazine.

Among the 196 New Jersey chefs listed in the new peer-reviewed book Best Chefs Americaare Peter Angelakos of Bacari Grill and township resident Anthony DeVanzo, the chef and owner of Nyack's Velo Bistro-Wine Bar

Westwood Dentist Riding to Cure Diabetes

Westwood dentist Zach Orden is looking for other area residents to join him on a 100-mile bike ride raising money for type 1 diabetes research.

Orden has been riding in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's (JDRF) annual "Ride to Cure" events for 10 years and currently sits on the board of directors of the group's Northern N.J.-Rockland County chapter. He is hoping to assemble a team of riders from around Bergen and Rockland to join him at the JDRF event in Burlington, V.T. from July 25 to 28.

Hillsdale Chef Opening 'Due' in Ridgewood

Chris Tarta looks around Ridgewood and sees a lot of solid restaurants. But what he doesn't see is much in the way of authentic Italian fare. He plans to change that.

The restauranteur and executive chef of Bella Campania in Hillsdale is aiming for a late spring, early summer opening of his second restaurant, "Due," in the space that previously housed Blue Fish.

Developer Considers Appealing Rejected Strip Mall Plan

A developer has withdrawn an application to build a strip mall on Kinderkamack Road and is considering appealing the Westwood Zoning Board's decision to reject his plan to build another strip mall at the former Chevy dealer.

Developer Nicholas Aynilian had proposed to build a pair of five-unit strip malls at the former Chevrolet of Westwood building on Kinderkamack Road and the empty lot across the street.

Whether or not Aynilian will pursue the appeal will depend on whether he wants to "invest any further in this effort at costs which, even if successful, may jeopardize the financial viability of the project," he wrote in an email.

Washington Avenue to be Closed For Paving Monday

A large portion of Washington Avenue will be closed between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. for repaving Monday, according to Washington Township Police Lt. Gregg Hackbarth.

The work to repave the half-mile stretch between Pascack Road and Jackson Avenue is expected to be completed in on day, Hackbarth said. The road surface was torn up last summer when a crew replaced gas mains for PSE&G.

Hillsdale Council Introduces Budget Amendment

Hillsdale will likely borrow less than was originally planned for this year because of an amendment to the 2013 borough budget.

The Hillsdale Council voted 4-2 Tuesday to introduce a budget amendment which includes which were originally slated to be paid for through borrowing. They still plan to pay for two vehicles and road repaving by borrowing, likely through bond anticipation notes, officials said.