'Unique Sweetness, Tenderness': Dumont Boy, 14, Who Died Suddenly 'Wore Heart On His Sleeve' 'Unique Sweetness, Tenderness': Dumont Boy, 14, Who Died Suddenly 'Wore Heart On His Sleeve'
'Unique Sweetness, Tenderness': Dumont Boy, 14, Who Died Suddenly 'Wore Heart On His Sleeve' Members of a stunned and heartbroken community wrapped their collective hearts around a grieving Dumont family Sunday while trying to wrap their minds around the sudden death of a 14-year-old boy who collapsed while playing basketball. Aaron Vasquez, who hoped to someday become a major league baseball player or coach, had finished practicing with his recreational league team on Saturday when he decided to stick around Grant Elementary School to play ball with his younger brother, other parents said. A short time later he collapsed, they said. A coach who's a hospital medic immediately beg…
Dumont Boy, 14, Collapses, Dies Playing Basketball Dumont Boy, 14, Collapses, Dies Playing Basketball
Dumont Boy, 14, Collapses, Dies Playing Basketball Members of a stunned and heartbroken community wrapped their collective hearts around a grieving Dumont family Sunday while trying to wrap their minds around the sudden death of a 14-year-old boy who collapsed while playing basketball. Aaron Vasquez, who hoped to someday become a major league baseball player or coach, had finished practicing with his recreational league team on Saturday when he decided to stick around Grant Elementary School to play ball with his younger brother, other parents said. A short time later he collapsed, they said. A coach who's a hospital medic immediately beg…
Authorities: Repeat Offender Seized Following Domestic Assault In Dumont Authorities: Repeat Offender Seized Following Domestic Assault In Dumont
Authorities: Repeat Offender Seized Following Domestic Assault In Dumont UPDATE: A repeat offender with a drug-related history was arrested after a domestic violence assault at his parents' Dumont home on Monday, authorities confirmed. Christopher Joseph Stone, 26, was charged with aggravated assault and violating a restraining order following the incident, which brought a Bergen County Regional SWAT team, among other responders, to Blanche Court. Stone grabbed a victim by the throat from behind and squeezed her neck, according to a criminal complaint on file in Superior Court in Hackensack. Tactical officers were summoned because the "chronically unemployed" …
Authorities: Repeat Offender Seized In Dumont Following Domestic Assault Authorities: Repeat Offender Seized In Dumont Following Domestic Assault
Authorities: Repeat Offender Seized In Dumont Following Domestic Assault A repeat offender with a drug-related history was arrested after a domestic violence assault at his parents' Dumont home on Monday, authorities confirmed. Christopher Joseph Stone, 26, was charged with aggravated assault and violating a restraining order following the incident, which brought a Bergen County Regional SWAT team, among other responders, to Blanche Court. Stone grabbed a victim by the throat from behind and squeezed her neck, according to a criminal complaint on file in Superior Court in Hackensack. Tactical officers were summoned because the "chronically unemployed" Stone ha…
Teen Daughter Of Slain Fair Lawn Mom 'Lost Her Best Friend' Teen Daughter Of Slain Fair Lawn Mom 'Lost Her Best Friend'
Teen Daughter Of Slain Fair Lawn Mom 'Lost Her Best Friend' TRIBUTE: Jeanette Willem "was not much for attention," but the late Fair Lawn mom would've appreciated the tidal wave of love and support that has come her family's way, her grieving brother said. A funeral service is scheduled this Monday for Willem, 43, who was slain at her job at Jamis Bikes in Northvale this week. "Everyone has been so supportive," Matthew Willem wrote Friday afternoon, adding that his sister "would have loved seeing everyone come together during this time." The shock and grief has barely subsided since news of Jeanette Willem's death was announced on Wednesday. A co-…
Prosecutor: Harrington Park Man Killed Fair Lawn Mom With Hammer At Bergen Bicycle Distributor Prosecutor: Harrington Park Man Killed Fair Lawn Mom With Hammer At Bergen Bicycle Distributor
Prosecutor: Harrington Park Man Killed Fair Lawn Mom With Hammer At Bergen Bicycle Distributor UPDATE: A Harrington Park warehouse worker killed a Fair Lawn mom with a ball peen hammer at an international bicycle distributor in Northvale, authorities said. Christian Giron, 24, was quickly taken into custody after the body of co-worker Jeanette Willem, 43, was found at Jamis Bikes at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Giron is charged with murder, weapons offenses and hindering arrest. The killing came less than 24 hours before another, this one in Little Ferry, and was the third of fourth homicides reported in Bergen County in 10 days (SEE: Man Stabbed …
Woman Killed, Suspect Seized At Bergen County Industrial Building Woman Killed, Suspect Seized At Bergen County Industrial Building
Woman Killed, Suspect Seized At Bergen County Industrial Building A Harrington Park warehouse worker killed a Fair Lawn mom with a ball peen hammer at an international bicycle distributor in Northvale, authorities said. Christian Giron, 24, was quickly taken into custody after the body of co-worker Jeanette Willem, 43, was found at Jamis Bikes at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Giron is charged with murder, weapons offenses and hindering arrest. The killing came less than 24 hours before another, this one in Little Ferry, and was the third of fourth homicides reported in Bergen County in 10 days (SEE: Man Stabbed Dea…
North Jersey Man Brings Halloween Dreams To Life With Homemade Haunted House North Jersey Man Brings Halloween Dreams To Life With Homemade Haunted House
North Jersey Man Brings Halloween Dreams To Life With Homemade Haunted House Halloween Night looks a lot like Matt Kaprielian's childhood dream. The Park Ridge resident has smoke blowing across the lawn and animatronic skeletons rattling a cemetery gate. He has a casket from an actual funeral home and a mannequin painted to look like a corpse inside.  Kaprielian's got tombstones and rats, jack-o-lanterns and ghouls. And most importantly, Kaprielian has hundreds of trick-or-treaters. The 30-year-old New Milford native grew up helping his mom transform their house for spooky season. They made the decorations themselves and spent days perfecting them, hanging them up …
Bergenfield Family Routed By Fire Bergenfield Family Routed By Fire
Bergenfield Family Routed By Fire Everyone got out OK but a Bergenfield family lost everything in an early-morning fire on Friday, authorities said. The two-alarm blaze broke out on the second floor of the 2½-story home at North Prospect and Central avenues shortly before 6 a.m. It was knocked down within 45 minutes. Firefighters from Teaneck, Englewood, Dumont, New Milford, Demarest and Ridgefield Park provided mutual aid either at the scene or in coverage. The cause wasn't immediately determined. "The house is uninhabitable," Mayor Arvin Amatorio said. "No one was injured, but dealing with that type of disaster is ver…
HAZMAT INCIDENT: Leaking Household Cleaners Bring Responders To Dumont Home HAZMAT INCIDENT: Leaking Household Cleaners Bring Responders To Dumont Home
HAZMAT Incident: Leaking Household Cleaners Bring Responders To Dumont Home Leaking household cleaners created enough of a problem to bring responders to a Dumont home, authorities said. Borough police, firefighters and the Volunteer Ambulance Corps responded to the Prospect Avenue home along with a Bergen County Hazardous Materials Unit late Sunday morning, Mayor Andrew LaBruno said. No one was hospitalized, LaBruno said. "We are extremely pleased no parties were injured or made ill due to the incident," the mayor said. "A huge 'thank you' to our Dumont first responders for their tremendous work on the scene and the Bergen County HAZMAT team for their assistance.…
Police: Pedestrian, 27, Struck Crossing Busy Downtown Englewood Street Police: Pedestrian, 27, Struck Crossing Busy Downtown Englewood Street
Police: Pedestrian, 27, Struck Crossing Busy Downtown Englewood Street A 27-year-old Dumont woman was struck by a sedan when she crossed in the middle of a busy Englewood street in the dark, authorities said. The victim "walked into the roadway, midblock, not in a crosswalk, and was struck" by an Acura TL on West Palisade Avenue near Nathaniel Place shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday, Capt. Matthew de la Rosa said. Englewood police and paramedics from Englewood Hospital and Medical Center responded, de la Rosa said Wednesday. The pedestrian was taken to the hospital, where she was treated for her injuries before being released. No charges were filed or summonses …
Shock Follows Sudden Death Of Popular Children's Musician, 39, Who Performed In Rockland Shock Follows Sudden Death Of Popular Children's Musician, 39, Who Performed In Rockland
Shock Follows Sudden Death Of Popular Children's Musician, 39, Who Performed In Rockland You could almost hear the sound of hearts breaking as word spread that "Mr. Chris," a popular children's performer at libraries throughout North Jersey and Rockland County, had died suddenly. Christopher Flynn, 39, of Dumont brought joy to many, strumming his guitar and playing the trombone "much to the delight of children, parents and staff," as a notice Thursday morning from the Bergenfield Public Library put it. "I am absolutely devastated about this loss," one parent said. "He was such a happy part of my daughter's young life."  "He was just performing this week," another noted. …