Nature’s Park Café now open in Braddock Park

With warmer weather finally here and a pleasant Memorial Day weekend forecast, residents and visitors are taking advantage of one of the area’s greatest resources: James J. Braddock North Hudson Park.

And now there’s a great new reason to visit, Nature’s Park Café opened in September inside the lake house, offering a wide selection of delicious meals and snack options. Their vast international menu features everything from pancakes to quesadillas, croissants to empanadas, Jamaican beef patties to Greek yogurt.

Enjoy coffee or tea, a smoothie, juice or protein shake made from all natural ingredients – maybe paired with some avocado mash or a tasty dessert like mango Italian ices. Four legged friends aren’t forgotten either, with a variety of pet treats available.

Owner Madelin Zapata from North Bergen previously ran successful restaurants in Manhattan. This is her first venture in New Jersey. She renovated a portion of the lake house to accommodate the restaurant, with plans to install indoor seating upstairs in the near future.

Located at 5 Lakeside Drive South Nature’s Café is currently open every day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with extended hours during the summer.

For curbside pickup order ahead at www.naturesparkcafe.com and then call 201-861-8600 from the rotunda and they will deliver the food straight to your car.

Truck falls through platform of North Bergen parking lot

The dump truck filled with construction debris was estimated to weigh 80,000 lbs. The signs at the parking platform warned that the weight limit was 6,000 lbs. That didn’t stop the driver from steering up onto the top level of the platform, above a parking garage and shops. The surface apparently trembled and began to buckle under the strain of the moving vehicle, and when the truck came to a stop, the weight was simply too much and a portion of the platform collapsed beneath it.

The rear of the truck plunged through two floors, leaving the vehicle facing straight up, its windshield pointing at the sky. Amazingly, nobody was injured in the incident and no other vehicles were damaged. Although the incident occurred near a Chuck-E-Cheese and a Planet Fitness gym, the immediate area was unoccupied when the bulky truck plunged through two level of steel and concrete.

The incident occurred at the Tonnelle Center shopping mall at 81st Street and Tonnelle Avenue at a little before noon on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. The truck driver had allegedly been involved in a motor vehicle crash immediately before the incident and had pulled into the mall to turn his vehicle around.

Traffic on Tonnelle Avenue was heavily impacted on Wednesday but had returned to normal by the next morning. A towing company was able to pull the truck down and remove it.

There is no word on when the mall will reopen.

The incident is currently under investigation.

The Quesada Mahmoud camp release campaign ad

Democratic primaries in North Bergen are usually quiet, however, Roger Quesada and Mahmoud Mahmoud announced their candidacy for the 2019 NJ General Assembly election for the 32nd Legislative District under the campaign slogan; “People. Transparency. Action.” #PTA2019

They will be challenging incumbents Angelica M. Jimenez, who has served since January 2012, and Pedro Mejia who assumed office on April 2018.

North Bergen pool opening this Memorial Day Weekend

The 2019 pool season is about to begin. Doors will open at the North Bergen Municipal Pool on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at 11 a.m. The pool will be open Memorial Day Weekend from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday through Monday.

For the month of June the pool will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., before opening daily in July.

North Bergen residents are invited to join the pool to enjoy a cool and refreshing summer.

Resident can register from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Rec Center, 6300 Meadowview Ave., or from 4 to 9 p.m. at the pool, 2111 91st St. Registration will also be available at the pool from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Members must be North Bergen residents.

For more information contact the Recreation Center at 201-861-9601.

Click here for the registration for the North Bergen pool.

HUDSON COUNTY REGIONAL COLLISION UNIT AND HUDSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE INVESTIGATE RELATED CRASHES

On Friday, May 10, 2019, at approximately 12:05 p.m., a Fairview Police Department Officer was traveling in a marked unit from Fairview into North Bergen and eventually onto 76th Street while attempting to make a traffic stop of an Audi SUV. As the police cruiser approached JFK Boulevard it collided with a Hyundai Tucson.

The two occupants of the Hyundai, a 60-year-old female from West New York and a 28-year-old female from West New York, were transported by Emergency Medical Services to Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen where they were treated for their injuries and released.

The Fairview Police Officer who was driving the police cruiser was transported to Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck where she is being treated for non-life threatening injuries. The events surrounding this collision remain under investigation by the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit.

The Audi continued to travel through North Bergen. While attempting to turn onto 44th Street the Audi collided with another SUV. There were two male occupants of the Audi and both fled on foot. The driver of the other SUV refused medical attention at the scene. The events surrounding this collision remain under investigation by the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office.

The Daily Voice reports, “A Fairview police officer backing up a colleague who was chasing a stolen car on Friday sustained a fractured thumb and bruises in a crash in North Bergen, authorities said. The thieves crashed, as well, several blocks away before bailing out of the vehicle, which had been reported stolen out of Alpine, Fairview Police Martin Kahn said.”

The Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit and the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office are being assisted by the North Bergen Police Department, the Bergen County P

Prosecutor’s Office and the Fairview Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. All information will be kept confidential.

Man in connection with midtown shooting apprehended

On Monday, May 6, 2019, a passing motorist contacted the South Whitehall Township Police Department in Pennsylvania after discovering a person on the side of the road in that municipality. Responding officers found an injured man at that location and he was subsequently transported to a local hospital.

The man was later identified as Jonathan Haughey-Morales, age 27, of West New York, the suspect who was charged and wanted in connection with the quadruple shooting in North Bergen on Sunday in which North Bergen resident Carlos Garcia died.

Responding officers found a 27-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds to his lower body, police said.

A dark-colored SUV was seen dropping off the victim on the sidewalk, then leaving the scene before police were called, officials said.

The man was taken to the hospital and his injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, police said.

On Sunday, May 5, 2019, Haughey-Morales was charged with Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, a first-degree crime; three counts of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1, second-degree crimes; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5, a third-degree crime; and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4, a second-degree crime.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the South Whitehall Township Police Department with the apprehension. She also credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit for the investigation leading to the arrest, as well as the North Bergen Police Department, the Union City Police Department and the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force for their assistance in the investigation. She also specifically thanked the North Bergen Police Department, under the leadership of Police Chief Robert Dowd, for all the resources they committed to this investigation.

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit continues to actively investigate this case with assistance from the North Bergen Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. All information will be kept confidential.

The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).

North Bergen mourns the loss of Adriana Riano

On Sunday, May 5, 2019, at approximately 7:15 a.m., Jersey City Police Officers were dispatched to Paterson Plank Road in Jersey City, just south of the Congress Street intersection, on a report of a motor vehicle collision. Upon arrival, the responding officers discovered two vehicles were involved in a collision.

Upon arrival, emergency responders found Adriana Riano, age 32, of North Bergen and two other individuals involved in a motor vehicle accident.

All three individuals were transported by Emergency Medical Services to Jersey City Medical Center.

Riano was pronounced dead at approximately 3:15 p.m.

The Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit has determined that the two vehicles were involved in a head-on collision. The events surrounding the collision remain under investigation.

Riano was an active member of the North Bergen community and loved by many.

A GoFundMe page was created in Riano’s name and has raised over $21,000 at the time of this post.

Riano worked as a nurse at Hackensack University Medical Center and was also a proud member of the Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority.

Memorial service for Adriana will be held Friday, May 10th, 2019 at Vainieri Funeral Home in North Bergen, NJ from 4PM-9PM.

Suspect wanted in connection with shooting in midtown North Bergen

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On Sunday, May 5, 2019, at approximately 3:30 a.m., the North Bergen Police Department responded to a report of shots fired at 2033 46th Street in North Bergen. Upon arrival, officers found four individuals had been shot near the vestibule area of the house at that location. This included an unresponsive male with an apparent gunshot wound to his torso.

The male, later identified as Carlos Garcia, age 40, and the additional victims — two males and one female — were all transported by Emergency Medical Services to Jersey City Medical Center. Garcia was pronounced dead at approximately 4:25 a.m. One of the additional male victims, age 42, is in critical condition while the other male victim, age 42, and the female victim, age 42, were treated and have now been released from the hospital.

All of the victims reside in North Bergen.

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit is actively investigating this case with the assistance of the North Bergen Police Department. A suspect has been identified during the preliminary investigation and a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Jonathan Haughey-Morales, age 27, of West New York.

Haughey-Morales has been charged with Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, a first-degree crime; three counts of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5, a third-degree crime; and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4, a second-degree crime.

Anyone with information as to the current whereabouts of Jonathan Haughey-Morales is asked to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit at (201) 915-1345 or leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office official website at http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. All information will be kept confidential.

Haughey-Morales should not be approached and he should be considered armed and dangerous.

The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).