Sunday, May 19, 2013
A look back at the week's top Teaneck stories
A centuries old oak tree in Teaneck that residents have long fought to preserve will be chopped down after a tree expert determined the oak presented a "real hazard to people and property," a county official confirmed Friday. The township's Planning Board recently approved a digital marquee at Teaneck's only movie theater, but the cinema's reopening could face a delay over missing paperwork, the theater's new operator said. Teaneck police are searching for four men who beat a motorist before one of the attackers stole his minivan in a road rage attack early Sunday, authorities said. Teaneck police captured a 42-year-old man wanted for his role in a large-scale Pennsylvania drug trafficking ring that spanned six states and had links to …
Friday, May 17, 2013
Tree expert’s report points to safety hazard from Cedar Lane oak.
A centuries old oak tree in Teaneck that residents have long fought to preserve will be chopped down after a tree expert determined the oak presented a "real hazard to people and property," a county official confirmed Friday. The tree, which is maintained by the county, is set to be removed by Memorial Day, said Jeanne Baratta, chief of staff at the Bergen County Executive's Office. County officials briefed various Teaneck stakeholders on the situation earlier Friday. "The county did a lot of due diligence on this," Baratta said. "This is a safety issue. The tree has severe decay." Baratta said the tree is largely hollow, attracting termites and officials are concerned it could come down in a major storm. An initial review suggested the …
Cleanups planned around Teaneck Saturday and Sunday
Teaneck will host its "Clean and Green" clean-up event Saturday and Sunday at various locations around the township. Full details are available in the poster above.
New digital marquee among upgrades planned at Cedar Lane movie house
The township's Planning Board recently approved a digital marquee at Teaneck's only movie theater, but the cinema's reopening could face a delay over missing paperwork, the theater's new operator said. Matthew Latten, who signed a lease for the shuttered Cedar Lane Cinemas in April, said existing plans for the space were missing, causing a slight delay in the start of renovations at the theater. "Yesterday is where I wanted to be three weeks ago," he said Thursday, explaining that crews had to draw up new plans. "We're getting close." The new Teaneck Cinemas is set to undergo extensive renovations, but much of the construction hasn't started yet, he added. "I know I was really hoping for a July 1 opening, but we might push back about a …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Teaneck man ordered held on $500,000 bail
Two alleged members of a Bergen County burglary crew that authorities have said is an offshoot of the notorious "James Bond Gang" pleaded not guilty in Sussex County this week. Leevan Lawrence, 31, of Englewood, Courry Rice, 30, of Hackensack, entered their pleas before Newtown Superior Court Judge N. Peter Conforti, according to the New Jersey Herald. Sparta police arrested both men in February alongside 32-year-old Jerry Montgomery, of Teaneck. The trio faces third-degree theft, third-degree conspiracy to commit burglary and theft, fourth-degree criminal mischief and third-degree burglary charges. Lawrence was released on $100,000 bail while Montgomery and Rice were held on $500,000 and $200,000 cash only bail respectively. Acting on …
NYC Platters, on Queen Anne Road, features diverse menu
A 13-year resident of Teaneck has opened a new restaurant on Queen Anne Road featuring fresh platters with veggies, rice, chicken and more. NYC Platters, which opened Friday, replaced a vacant wellness center at 378 Queen Anne Road. The eatery is township resident Talmeez Tahir's first restaurant venture, he told Patch. "It's great. We have a lot of the community coming out and supporting us," he said of the restaurant's first few days in operation. As the name suggests, NYC Platters specializes in dishes with meat, vegetables, rice and pita bread. Customers can also select from fried chicken, fries, cheesesteaks and Halal dishes. The name was inspired by Tahir's desire to offer up some of the dishes popular around New York locally. The …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Merchants to compete for $50,000 investment
Teaneck's Pickle Licious is one of three New Jersey businesses scheduled to appear Tuesday on a new CNBC reality show. The three merchants will compete for votes from a 100-person studio audience to win $50,000 on the debut of "Crowd Rules," according to CNBC. The businesses will make their pitch to judges jewelry designer Kendra Scott, NY1 Anchor Pat Kiernan and a weekly guest judge. Pickle Licious will face off against Keyport's Mr. Green Tea and Heartbreaking Dawns in Wyckoff. This week, San Antonio-based Bird Bakery founder Elizabeth Chambers will join the judges. The show airs at 9 p.m. May 14 on CNBC. The Cedar Lane pickle shop has gained fans beyond Teaneck, often traveling to markets around the state. Pickle Licious offers a range …
Sunday, May 12, 2013
A look back at the week's top Teaneck stories
The Teaneck Township Council reversed course and voted Tuesday to extend an invitation to an Iraq War veteran who was disinvited last month from speaking at the town’s Memorial Day ceremony after criticizing the governing body Teaneck police arrested six people Wednesday after they kidnapped and robbed a township teenager who tried to sell a cell phone stolen from one of the attackers over the weekend, Police Chief Robert Wilson said. The Teaneck Township Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve the town's $69.1 million budget amid repeated calls from residents to make spending cuts. A Queens nightclub owner was sentenced Friday to 13 years in prison for a drug conspiracy that left two men shot to death on a street in Teaneck three years ago, …
Saturday, May 11, 2013
New restaurant to offer late night eats on Cedar Lane
A new Cedar Lane restaurant launched by a former waiter at Louie's Charcoal Pit is scheduled to open Sunday morning. Al's Charcoal Pit, a diner-style eatery at the former Mabat Steakhouse location, will open at 7 a.m., according to ex-Louie's staffer K. M. S. Alom, known to most customers as Al. The restaurant will be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight, with a 24-hour schedule planned, he told Patch Saturday. The menu include everything from breakfasts, burgers and steaks to soups and Greek-fare, he told Patch in a March interview. A group of Teaneck residents plan to gather early tomorrow for the unofficial opening. Al's former employer, longtime Teaneck favorite Louie's Charcoal Pit, closed late last year. A developer's …
Two men were found fatally shot in Teaneck three years ago
A Queens nightclub owner was sentenced Friday to 13 years in prison for a drug conspiracy that left two men shot to death on a street in Teaneck three years ago, NorthJersey.com reported. Nicholas Kiriakakis, 29, must serve 6 1/2 years of the sentence before being eligible for parole. Superior Court Judge Liliana De-Avila Silebi sentenced Kiriakakis to eight years for a conspiracy charge and another five years on a hindering apprehension charge. Prosecutors had charged with Kiriakakis with the February 2010 murder of Michael Mirasola, 27 and Jonathan Beneduce, 28, both of Queens. The men were found fatally shot in an SUV parked on Oakdene Avenue. A Bergen County jury acquitted Kiriakakis on the murder charges, but convicted him on the …
JamesTS
10:17 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013
I dont even understand how this is a big deal... Bergen County has no hidden motives to cut down the tree. They are worried about safety. Do you think they care about Teaneck petty politics?? Comment posters really need to READ articles first: "This is a safety issue. The tree has severe decay." is what Bergen County Executive said. AND you can download and read the entire report for yourself. … more ›