The Most Popular Westwood, Hillsdale, Washington Twp. Stories of 2012

Assemblyman Schroeder Charged With Writing $400k In Bad Checks

New Jersey State Assemblyman Robert Schroeder was charged Friday with writing almost $400,000 worth of bogus checks, according to a press release from the state attorney general's office.

Schroeder allegedly wrote the checks to people who invested in his Hillsdale-based company, All Points International Distributors. The company manufactures pre-fabricated structures. Most of the company's business has been with the federal government, according to the press release.

Westwood Regional Schools Superintendent Geoffrey Zoeller apologized Thursday for taking home a district-owned truck and generator for Hurricane Sandy and leaving them there while he went away on vacation.

The board did not take any action regarding Zoeller at the meeting, but held closed session meetings before and after the regular public meeting to discuss him. 

Board of Education attorney Rodney Hara confirmed that the board was conducting an investigation of Zoeller. Any action will be taken during a public meeting, according to board President Carol Mountain.

Westwood Regional Schools Superintendent Geoffrey Zoeller confirmed that he was "taking some vacation time," but told Patch via email that it was untrue he had been forced to take a leave by the Board of Education.

Rumors circulated this week that Zoeller had been forced to take a leave of absence pending a review by the Board of Education after he took home a district-owned generator and truck for Hurricane Sandy, and left them there while away on vacation in Florida

Westwood Student Who Made Threat Charged With Fake Weapon Possession

Police arrested an 18-year-old Westwood Jr./Sr. High School student who allegedly made threats against another student Wednesday.

Westwood and Washington Township Police conducted a joint investigation. A borough home was searched and some evidence was collected before the arrest was made, according to a press release from Westwood Police Chief Frank Regino.

Regino said he could not specify what was taken from the home due to an ongoing investigation, but said that the man had been charged with possession of an imitation weapon.

Teaneck Woman Killed in 'Road Rage' Crash

A 63-year-old Teaneck woman was the victim of a fatal two-vehicle crash on the Garden State Parkway Sunday and two drivers have been charged in her death, state police said. 

Annetta Billingy was the rear passenger in a silver Honda Pilot driven by 20-year-old John Emili of New City, N.Y., Trooper Christopher Kay, a state police spokesman, said Monday. The relationship between Billingy and Emili was not clear. 

Kay said the crash happened during a "road rage incident" between the two drivers that started near Route 17 and continued to its end between exits 167 and 168 on the Garden State Parkway northbound in Washington Township. 

Westwood School Board to Appoint Acting Superintendent For Remainder of School Year

Westwood Regional Schools may have a new superintendent through the end of the school year.

The school board is scheduled to vote Thursday on appointing current Director of Elementary Education and District Technology Rory McCourt as the acting superintendent through June 30.

McCourt was already credited as the acting superintendent in a letter to parents sent after the recent school shootings in Connecticut.

There is no mention of Superintendent Geoffrey Zoeller in the meeting's agenda.

Hospital Looking For New Employees

HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley is planning to hold an employment open house in Westwood on Oct. 10, according to hospital rep Lauren Zaccardi Samman.

The hospital is looking to hire 40 people this year for positions in a wide variety of medical, technical and administrative fields.

The hospital has plans to employ about 350 people by next spring, when they are scheduled to open.

Police Car Hits Jogger

A Westwood Police Officer driving on Westwood Avenue hit a jogger when she ran through a red light at an intersection Wednesday morning, according to Police Chief Frank Regino.

The woman, a 28-year-old Westwood resident, was jogging south on Kinderkamack Road and the officer was driving east through a green light on Westwood Avenue when the incident occured. Regino said the woman hit the side of the car and remained conscious afterward.

Wood-Ridge High School girls' softball coach Jillian Clementi engaged in improper sexual relations with a male student from the school, authorities charged Wednesday.

Clementi, 28, who is a full-time teacher atImmaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township, was charged with second degree sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a minor, Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said in a release.

The release did not detail if the alleged "sexual activities" occured more than once, nor did it characterize their nature.

Thousands Without Power After Sandy Brings Damaging Winds

Gusting winds knocked down numerous trees around the Pascack Valley Monday, damaging buildings and starting fires with downed power lines.

Thousands of area residents were without power early Tuesday. Westwood, Hillsdale and Washington Township each had between 2,001 and 5,000 customers without power, according to a PSE&G outage map. Crews were out working in the area Tuesday morning one winds had slowed down.

In Washington Township, Fire Chief Jamie Powell estimated 90 percent of the town was without power at about 10:30 a.m. Eight poles had snapped, bringing wires down. Several houses had also been hit by falling trees, some of which had been condemned due to structural damage, Powell said.

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