The bankruptcy filing will effectively prevent the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission from moving forward with its plans for the remediation of the controversial landfill sites in Rutherford and Lyndhurst, according to Michael Cohen, executive vice president for The Trump Organization and project manager for EnCap.

By Susan C. Moeller
Senior Reporter

RUTHERFORD (May 8, 2008) — The mayor and council have given the preliminary approval for the Rutherford Police Department to buy its own listening equipment and fingerprint identification system.

The department already uses a listening device, or wire, when they conduct certain investigations — like those involving narcotics or prostitution, explained Council President John Genovesi. But, the police have to borrow the actual device from another department, he added.

The wire primarily “helps to ensure officer safety,” said Rutherford Police Detective Lt. Patrick Feliciano.

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(May 8, 2008, 2:10 p.m.) — Air Pegasus Helicopters LLC recently announced its plan to build a $10 million Heliplex facility in Newark off Graton Avenue and Route 21. Looking at a map, the proposed site lies directly across the Passaic River from South Midland Avenue in Kearny.

The proposed 5-acre complex will provide a full-service facility to the Newark Police Department’s Aviation Unit, as well as support civil aviation activities for commercial, governmental, media and charter aircraft operations in the Newark and New York metropolitan areas, according to an Air Pegasus press release.

Local residents and officials have spoken out against the proposed complex, claiming that its flight plan may affect the safety of residents in Lyndhurst, North Arlington and Kearny. Additionally, with Newark Liberty International Airport and Teterboro Airport already nearby, will the Heliplex add unwanted aircraft noise to the local area?

Read Alexis Tarrazi's article on the Heliplex here.

Then, vote in The Leader's new poll: Should a Heliplex be built in Newark with potential air traffic coming over local neighborhoods?

(May 7, 2008) — It appears the swan song has been sung, and the fat lady is ready to take the stage.

The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission unanimously voted on May 7 to deny the request of EnCap Golf Holdings LLC for a further extension of its developer's agreement to remediate the controversial landfill sites in Rutherford and Lyndhurst.

"EnCap is over as a result of this resolution," said Joseph Doria, NJMC chairman.

So where does the commission's decision leave Donald Trump?

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By Alexis Tarrazi
Senior Reporter

NORTH ARLINGTON (May 6, 2008) — The sounds of jets and airplanes flying by occasionally drown out street-side conversations, and now local residents residing in Kearny, North Arlington and Lyndhurst may have to deal with the sound of helicopters as well.

“We want to sleep at night without any additional airline noise,” said Steve Ceragno, head of the Coalition Against the Newark Heliplex Community. “We already have Newark (Liberty International) Airport, where we already have helicopters flying over. And some occasionally from Teterboro Airport.”

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By Susan C. Moeller
Senior Reporter

RUTHERFORD (May 8, 2008) — Retired Rutherford Police Capt. John Thompson started work as the borough’s first civilian police director on May 5.

Mayor John Hipp made the appointment at the April 29 mayor and council meeting.

The council approved Thompson for the post, but the vote was not unanimous. Council members John Genovesi, Rose Inguanti and Joseph Sommer voted in favor of Thompson’s appointment. But, Maura Keyes voted no, while John Sasso abstained. George Fecanin was absent.

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By John Soltes
Editor-in-Chief

RUTHERFORD (May 8, 2008)— Her brown hair falls lightly on an exposed shoulder. Her right hand, with gentle fingers extended, has a child-like playfulness.

Her pink, skin-tight shirt covers shapely breasts, while her simple red skirt hangs loose. Her face emits simultaneous feelings of consternation and apathy — content and concern.

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By Susan C. Moeller
Senior Reporter

(May 8, 2008) — Donald Trump is one of America’s wealthiest men and a world-famous real estate mogul. He’s also a member of the celebrity world — the world that rarely touches the day-to-day reality of people without millions or billions in the bank.

But, Trump — both his brand and his business — got a lot more personal for the people of this area when EnCap and The Trump Organization formed an alliance last year.

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By Alexis Tarrazi
Senior Reporter

(May 8, 2008) — With the Meadowlands Xanadu project set to open in November, local municipalities will need to have a vibrant downtown business district to draw in the many visitors making their way to the entertainment complex.

To aid towns in achieving this goal, the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission is offering municipalities the opportunity to apply for about $2 million in grants.

“A vibrant downtown is a source of identity and pride for a municipality; (it) provides ratables to lessen the tax burden on residents and enhances property values,” said Brian Aberback, spokesman for the Meadowlands Commission. “The NJMC is pleased to offer these grants to assist municipalities in growing their business districts and improving the quality of life of their residents.”

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By John Soltes
Editor-in-Chief

NEW YORK (May 8, 2008) — “Adding Machine,” the new hit off-Broadway musical currently playing the Minetta Lane Theatre in the West Village, is no Sunday in the park with George.

The show, based on the seminal 1923 Elmer Rice play, is dark, dank, dreary, murderous, meticulously staged and the brainchild of Jason Loewith and Joshua Schmidt, who coupled to write the musical’s libretto.

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By John Soltes
Editor-in-Chief

NEW YORK (May 8, 2008) — There’s something momentously captivating about Broadway’s new one-man show, “Thurgood,” starring the powerful acting and skillful command of Laurence Fishburne.

It’s a play that should feel cliched and routine, like any other biographical sketch of a historical figure. But Fishburne and the author of the piece, George Stevens Jr., elevate the story of Thurgood Marshall, who served as the first black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, to a level of stirring drama and adroit ingenuity that never ceases to inspire and invoke a passion of interest and action.

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By Alexis Tarrazi
Senior Reporter

LYNDHURST (May 5, 2008, 3:15 p.m.) — Five years ago, former Lyndhurst resident Lorraine Colabella was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer that affects plasma cells, and is treatable but incurable.

As time passed, Colabella and her friend Annette Bortone said they noticed their fellow Lyndhurst High School classmates and other local residents were also being diagnosed with some form of cancer.

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RUTHERFORD (May 2, 2008, 4:11 p.m.) — Rutherford Police Detective Lt. Patrick Feliciano has a message for criminals: “It may take a day, a week, or years … but if you commit a crime in Rutherford, we will come and get you.”

Using blood and fingerprints recovered in Rutherford and East Rutherford, police were able to arrest Juan Morillo, 28, of Newark, on a host of charges, including burglary, theft and criminal mischief, almost two years after the alleged incidents occurred.

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This past week saw the 'Battle of the Letters' between Rutherford Mayor John Hipp and real estate mogul Donald Trump. First, special counsel for Rutherford sent a letter to The Trump Organization blasting EnCap Golf Holdings LLC for being in apparent default and owing over $1.2 million.

Trump followed with his own heated response, claiming Rutherford should be happy with the remediation done thus far. He had a few choice words for Hipp as well.

It was a vocabulary slug-fest meant for the movies.

Read the original article on Rutherford's letter here.  And the article on Trump's response here.

Then, vote in The Leader's new poll: Who was right in their allegations, Rutherford Mayor John Hipp or Donald Trump?

By Alexis Tarrazi
Senior Reporter

RUTHERFORD (May 2, 2008, 1:20 p.m.) — Hagop Darakjian, 45, of Rutherford, was arrested May 1 for multiple fraud-related charges following a 2 1/2-month investigation led by Rutherford Police Detective Sean Farrell.

“Sean did a terrific job,” RPD Detective Lt. Patrick Feliciano said. “He was able to expand the scope of the investigation and find significant evidence.”

Darakjian was charged with identify theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, theft, theft of an access device, computer theft, credit card theft and intent of card holder to defraud.

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By Susan C. Moeller
Senior Reporter

RUTHERFORD (May 1, 2008, 5:05 p.m.) — Ding, ding. Round two in the knock-'em-down slug-fest battle of letters between Rutherford Mayor John Hipp and Donald Trump just got a whole lot dirtier.

This time, Trump threw a jab with a direct ultimatum to Hipp and Rutherford's council.

"Unless you immediately cease and desist from your actions and public rhetoric and allow the proposed development to go forward as bargained for, I will fight you and your administration at every turn to defend the rights to develop this property as already agreed," Trump wrote in a damning letter sent to Hipp on May 1.

Read Trump's letter here.

Read Rutherford's original letter here.

Click READ MORE for the complete story.

By Alexis Tarrazi
Senior Reporter

RUTHERFORD (May 1, 2008, 2:30 p.m.) — With heads bent down in respect, arms raised high to the skies and murmurs of “Thank you, Lord” and “Amen” in the air, local residents and clergy congregated in front of Rutherford Borough Hall at midday on May 1 to celebrate National Day of Prayer.

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By John Soltes
Editor-in-Chief

RUTHERFORD (April 30, 2008, 2:20 p.m.) — Rutherford apparently not only wants out of the controversial EnCap remediation project, it wants more than a million dollars in unpaid fees.

Citing apparent environmental and financial failures, the law firm of Maraziti, Falcon & Healey — who serve as special counsel for the borough — drafted a lengthy letter to EnCap that was stark and bleak in its assertions.

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By Susan C. Moeller
Senior Reporter

RUTHERFORD (April 30, 2008, 1:45 p.m.) — Former Rutherford Police Captain John Thompson will become the borough’s first civilian police director when he takes control of the department May 5.

Mayor John Hipp made the appointment late last night, April 29, at the mayor and council meeting.

The council approved Thompson for the post, but the vote was not unanimous. Council members John Genovesi, Rose Inguanti and Joseph Sommer voted in favor of Thompson’s appointment. But, Maura Keyes voted no, while John Sasso abstained. George Fecanin was absent.

Click READ MORE for the complete story.