Holiday Hudson Reporter editorial and advertising deadlines
Because of the holidays the next two weeks, the Hudson Reporter newspapers will have special advertising and editorial deadlines.
For the Sunday, Dec. 27 newspapers, the display ad and classified deadline is 12 noon on Tuesday, Dec. 22.
The office will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 24, and Friday, Dec. 25.
For the Thursday, Dec. 31 edition of the Midweek Reporter, the classified and display advertising deadline is 12 noon on Monday, Dec. 28.
For the Sunday, Jan. 3 editions of the Reporter newspapers, the editorial deadline is Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 9 a.m., and the advertising deadline is 12 noon that same Tuesday.
The office will be closed Thursday, Dec. 31 and Friday, Jan. 1. It will reopen on Monday, Jan. 4.
If you have questions about these deadlines or any other issue, please call (201) 798-7800. Also check www.hudsonreporter.com.
North Bergen hosting food drive
Employees of North Bergen, in collaboration with Our Lady of Fatima Church, are hosting a food drive.
The food drive began on Dec. 14 and donations will be accepted until Dec. 28 at the North Bergen Town Hall Chambers, 4233 Kennedy Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All proceeds will benefit local families in need.
North Bergen is asking that no donations come in the form of glass. For more information on suggested non-perishable items, visit www.northbergen.org.
North Bergen man allegedly planned to kill wife
According to Commander of the North Bergen Detective Bureau Lt. Frank Cannella, police received a 911 call at approximately 9:20 a.m. on Dec. 11 after a witness reported to police that a man was chasing a female with a large knife.
When officers responded and entered a living room, they found Jesus Alberto Bacallao-Torres, 41, of North Bergen allegedly standing in his bedroom with a 10-inch kitchen knife in his right hand, said Cannella.
They ordered him to drop the knife, to which Bacallao-Torres allegedly responded “no” and then exited the room, allegedly lunging at Officers Mario Ho-Pelaez and Nicholas Galliano.
Cannella said that the officers were able to disarm him without the use of deadly force.
“This was certainly a situation where deadly force could have been used, [but] both officers relied on their training and experience and disarmed the individual without injuring anyone,” said Cannella, who explained that pepper spray was used to subdue Bacallao-Torres.
According to Cannella, when Bacallao-Torres was being transported to North Bergen Police Headquarters, he told police that he had been drinking that day and had allegedly planned to kill his wife in front of his children after they returned home from school.
His wife locked herself inside the apartment in a room, said Cannella.
“He was in police custody and made comments that he [allegedly] wanted to die, he wanted the police officers to [allegedly] shoot him [and] also made comments that he had all intentions of [allegedly] murdering his wife and his children when they arrived home from school,” said Cannella.
Bacallao-Torres was brought to Palisades Medical Center, where he was psychologically evaluated and then incarcerated.
North Bergen Police charged Bacallao-Torres with attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of terroristic threats, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes.
A Hudson County Superior Court Judge set his bail at $250,000 cash. Bacallao-Torres is currently in Hudson County Jail. North Bergen Police are also checking on his immigration status.
Alleged deli robber nabbed
On Dec. 14, Anthony Diana, 44, was apprehended by North Bergen Police in connection with a deli robbery at Maritza and Jennifer’s Deli, 64th Street and Bergenwood Avenue, said Lt. Frank Cannella.
Cannella said that on Dec. 2 between 11:20 and 11:45 p.m., Diana went into the deli and allegedly reached over the counter, allegedly grabbing $175 out of the cash box.
The owner of the deli and his son chased Diana down 64th Street to Smith Avenue, where the owner was able to get hold of him and a physical struggle ensued.
From the struggle Diana lost his jacket and sneaker, but was able to get away, said Cannella.
Police brought the victims into headquarters to look at a photo lineup. They were able to pick the suspect out of booking photos from their computer system.
A warrant was issued for Diana’s arrest for the robbery. It took police two weeks to locate him after they received an anonymous tip about his whereabouts.
Cannella said that Diana was found in an abandoned building in West New York on 61st Street, where they were able to apprehend him without incident.
Diana also had outstanding warrants in Palisades Park and Lyndhurst, said Cannella.
Councilwoman honored for service
Guttenberg Councilwoman Adela Martinez, who served on the council for eight years, attended her last meeting as a public official last week. Mayor Gerald Drasheff presented Martinez with a plaque recognizing her years of service. Martinez, 70, who also served a two-year term with the Guttenberg Board of Education, was completing her second four-year term with the council.
Martinez’s seat will be occupied by Councilwoman-elect Monica Fundora in January.
“I was fortunate to grow up in a household where all we heard was there was three worthy causes, ‘Serve God, serve your country, and serve your fellow man,’ ” said Martinez.
She continued, “My two brothers served the armed forces for a total of 53 years honorably. I wanted to be a nun, of course, but then I discovered boys and I said ‘I’m going to be a floozy.’ My father said, ‘You can’t be a floozy, you need job security.’ So that’s how I became a teacher. Having served the town of Guttenberg these couple of years have really culminated the goal of service that our parents instilled in us.”
She said that while she will no longer be on the council, she plans to attend every meeting now as a member of the public.
Longest continuous resident passes away
Guttenberg Mayor Gerald Drasheff announced last week that Mary Fogarty, no relation to former Police Chief Michael Fogarty, passed away right after Thanksgiving.
Mary, 93, had been the longest continuous resident of Guttenberg, said Drasheff, who explained that she had lived in town her entire life.
“We were fortunate to have her with us at the start of the 150th anniversary in May of this year,” said Drasheff. “Unfortunately, she’s not going to be with us at the end of it in May of next year.”