NORTH BERGEN BRIEFS

Guttenberg man pleads guilty in internet phone scheme

According to the U.S. attorney’s office, a man who pretended to be an Internet telephone service wholesaler admitted his role last week in a scheme to steal more than $4.4 million from multiple “voice over internet protocol” phone service providers.
Vinod Tonangi, 32, of Guttenberg, N.J., pleaded guilty this morning to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.
Tonangi entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court, according to a press release.

Hudson County ranks high nationally for property taxes

Hudson County was recently ranked eighth nationally in the percentage of household income that goes to pay property taxes, according to a group called the Tax Foundation. The foundation, a tax advocacy group, examined U.S. census data for most of the counties in the nation.
According to the foundation, the median amount of taxes paid on a home in Hudson County each year is $6,085, which is 7.28 percent of the median household income of $83,561.
The first 10 counties on the list are all in New Jersey and New York. Passaic, Essex, Bergen and Union were first, second, third, and fourth on the list.
The group examined U.S. Census data for nearly all of the nation’s 3,139 counties, except for 200 small counties.

Local students win awards for French

Ricardo Rojas, who lives in North Bergen, and Hoboken resident Oliver McClellan, both students at High Tech High School – the county high school, based in North Bergen – recently earned the silver and bronze, respectively, in Le Grand Concours (the National French Contest).
Le Grand Concours took place from March 2 through 28. Fifteen High Tech students took the Level I, II, and III tests and faced off against their nationwide peers.
Rojas took the Level III test, scoring 58 out of 60, and placed second in the state and third in the nation, receiving the silver. McClellan, who also took the Level III test, scored fifth in the state and sixth in the nation, thus earning the bronze.
The American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) sponsors the National French Contest each year. Founded in 1927, it is the largest national professional association of French teachers in the world.

Free seminar on erectile dysfunction

Palisades Medical Center will host a health seminar about new treatment options for erectile dysfunction in June. The presentation will be in English and Spanish.
Urologist Dr. Daniel Simon will discuss treatments ranging from medications to the latest in surgical options. There will also be remarks from a patient who has permanently corrected his ED, so attendees can hear about his experience first‐hand.
ED affects over 30 million men in the U.S. and is common in patients with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or who have just had prostate surgery.
ED can limit a man’s intimacy, affect his self-esteem, and impact his most important relationships.
According to the hospital, “The good news is men don’t have to live with this problem; it can be fixed for good. Virtually 100 percent of men can resume a normal quality of life with one of the many therapies available, including surgical procedures.:
Presentation and discussion will be made in English and Spanish.
The event is Thursday, June 2. Registration is 6:30 p.m., and the seminar runs from 7 to 9. Parking, refreshments, and the event in general are free. Free transportation is available from 60th Street and Bergenline Avenue starting at 5:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Nikki Mederos at (201) 854-5702.

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