Former Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell found guilty in FBI sting
After a day of deliberations, a federal jury reached a decision Wednesday afternoon in the bribery and extortion trial of former Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell.
The jury found Elwell guilty of the third charge – acceptance of a corrupt payment – and not guilty of the first two charges, conspiracy to commit extortion and attempted extortion.
Sentencing will be Nov. 15, 2011. However, Elwell’s attorney said he plans to appeal.
Elwell was among dozens of religious and political leaders snared by the FBI in 2009 in a sting operation in which a developer (who himself was facing fraud charges) met with various politicians and offered campaign donations in exchange for future help with development projects.
In his trial, Elwell said that he did take $10,000 cash from his friend, political associate Ronald Manzo, that came originally from the developer. The developer, Solomon Dwek, had told both men that he wanted to build a hotel in Secaucus.
But Elwell said he saw it as a possible campaign donation rather than any sort of bribe, and that Manzo had asked him to hold onto the money for him.
Manzo pleaded guilty to accepting the money last month and testified against Elwell in the trial.
For more on this story, read this weekend’s Secaucus Reporter at hudsonreporter.com.
Palisades Medical Center to host casino night
Palisades Medical Center’s fifth annual casino night will be held on Thursday, Aug. 25 at The Waterside Restaurant in North Bergen.
The event will kick off at 6 p.m. with an hour dinner, followed by gambling from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. A raffle will take place afterwards.
Admission is $100 per person, which includes a buffet dinner with beer, wine, and soda, as well as $150 in casino chips. Table games will include Blackjack, Texas Hold ‘Em, Craps, Roulette, and more. Additional chips may be purchased throughout the evening, and guests will be able to redeem chips at the end of the event for raffle tickets.
Casino night is planned and organized by the Palisades Medical Center’s Auxiliary, a group of volunteers that works throughout the year to support the Palisades Medical Center Foundation. For tickets or information, call Denise Whitley at (201) 854-5011 or visit www.palisadesmedicalfoundation.org.
North Hudson Community Action Foundation to hold annual fundraising event
North Hudson Community Action Corp. (NHCAC), one of the region’s largest providers of health and social services to low-income residents, will hold its annual fundraising event on Monday, July 25.
The annual Michael A. Leggiero Memorial Golf Classic will be held at White Beeches Country Club in Haworth. Contributions are tax deductible and the proceeds are used throughout the year by the agency’s foundation to help provide additional services and programs for residents in Hudson, Bergen, and Passaic counties.
Attendees may golf, swim or play tennis, and there will be a brunch buffet and a dinner reception. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact Laurie McGahn at (201) 457-9000.
Green living program available
A free event will be held Wednesday, July 13, at 10 a.m. part of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission’s Green Living Program, which is designed to help people learn ways to better conserve resources, protect the environment, and generally “green” their lives. The event will include information on how to make green shopping decisions, eco-labels, what “organic” means and backyard composting. Free sample products will be available.
The event will take place at Williams Center One Williams Plaza at Park Avenue, Rutherford. For more information, call (201) 438-1245 or e-mail debbie.lawlor@njmeadowlands.gov.