'Unthinkable': Fair Lawn Fire Co. Mourns 2 Deaths In One Week
A Fair Lawn fire company is mourning the loss of two members who died within one week of each other.
Michael M. Mullens, 57, died Sunday, June 21, and Berlando "B" Drake, died late Thursday, June 25, Fair Lawn Fire Co. 3 spokesman Douglas Sadowski said.
Sadowski, who has served with the department for 38 years alongside Mullens, said only about half a dozen active members have died during his time there.
"To have two pass away in one week is unthinkable," Sadowski said. "As a volunteer fire company, we are a family. It’s no different than having two family members die in the same week."
"…
9-Year-Old Boy Dies Days After Hotel Pool Drowning In Poconos
A 9-year-old boy has died days after he was pulled from a hotel swimming pool in the Poconos, the Lehigh County Coroner's Office announced Thursday, June 25.
The child, who was from Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County, was pronounced dead at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest at 3:51 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, the coroner's office said.
An autopsy completed Thursday determined the boy died from complications of drowning, and Coroner Daniel A. Buglio ruled the manner of death an accident, the coroner's office said.
The drowning happened around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, in the pool a…
Hackensack's White Manna Could Soon Have New Address, Bigger Home
One of Hackensack's most recognizable restaurants could soon be getting a new home.
An application to relocate White Manna from its longtime location at 350 River St. to 112-120 Hackensack Ave., was approved at the June 10 meeting, as first reported by JerseyDigs.
The application, submitted by Esther Realty, calls for relocating the historic diner to 112-120 Hackensack Ave. and constructing a roughly 1,950-square-foot, one-story restaurant featuring an expanded kitchen, takeout service area, ADA-accessible dining room and restroom, an additional restroom, and office space. Plans also includ…
Port Chester Man, 21, Shared Video Of Child Sexual Abuse Over Snapchat: DA
A 21-year-old Westchester County man is accused of sharing a video depicting the sexual abuse of a child over Snapchat, prosecutors announced.
Port Chester resident Christopher Mendoza, 21, was arraigned on Wednesday, June 24, on a felony complaint charging him with promoting and possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office said on Friday, June 26.
According to the DA's Office, on Feb. 5, 2025, Mendoza shared a digital video of an obscene sexual performance by a child over Snapchat. This video allegedly depicted a man…
Beloved Highspire Mom Found Dead In Creek, Wheelchair Found Nearby
A woman was found dead in a creek after apparently falling from her wheelchair, authorities said Friday, June 26.
Grace Lampley, 65, of Highspire, was found unresponsive in Burd Run Stream near Wolf Street and Rhoda Alley after police were called to the area at 8:19 a.m., according to the Highspire Borough Police Department.
Officers arrived to find Lampley in the water and a wheelchair nearby, police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Dauphin County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Lampley. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30, officials said.
Police have no…
27-Year-Old Pedestrian Killed In DWI Robert Moses Causeway Crash In West Islip
A 27-year-old man walking along the shoulder of the Robert Moses Causeway was struck and killed by a driver now facing an impaired driving charge, New York State Police announced Friday, June 26.
Stephen M. Aylward, 63, was driving a 2012 Jeep southbound near Exit RM2 in the Town of Islip when he struck 27-year-old Yusuf Gul, of Bay Shore, who was on the shoulder of the roadway, according to State Police.
Troopers responded to the scene at approximately 1:38 p.m. Thursday, June 25, after receiving a report of an unconscious man on the shoulder.
When they arrived, they found Gul deceased. I…
Fair Lawn Firefighter, Children's Book Author Berlando Drake Dies
The Fair Lawn Fire Department is mourning the loss of firefighter Berlando Drake, a member of Fire Company No. 3.
The company announced the eight-year member's death on Friday, June 26, and on June 15, announced she had been diagnosed with cancer months earlier.
Just 11 days earlier, Fire Company No. 3 had asked the community to rally around Drake after she was diagnosed with cancer. Friends, family, neighbors, and fellow firefighters gathered June 12 to help ease the financial burden of her illness.
Drake joined the department in 2018 and was assigned to Engine Company No. 3, according to…
Ex-Intel Official From Virginia Gets Prison For Sexually Abusing Women At Conference: Feds
He was a retired Army colonel and senior intelligence official. Now, he is headed to federal prison.
A Virginia man from Stafford County was sentenced Thursday, June 25, in Newport News to 25 years behind bars for sexually abusing two women during an intelligence conference at a government facility in Williamsburg, federal prosecutors announced.
Michael A. Dillard, 63, was convicted of sexual abuse, aggravated sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact, and making false statements, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
At the time of the assaults, Dillard wa…
Two Dirt Bikers Killed In AC Crash: Prosecutor
Two dirt bikers were killed in a crash in Atlantic City on Thursday evening, June 25, authorities said.
A 20-year-old Atlantic City resident was traveling eastbound on Route 40 in a BMW M2 when he struck the rear end of a Yamaha YZ250 dirt bike near 1600 N. Albany Avenue, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said.
The operator of the dirt bike, Baseem Taliaferro, a 21-year-old Galloway resident and his passenger, Yasmeen Williams, a 21-year-old Egg Harbor City resident, were ejected from the dirt bike and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
The investigation is ongoing, auth…
SWAT Raid Near Hackensack Park Uncovers Heroin, Stolen Shotgun: Police
A 68-year-old Hackensack man is behind bars after police say they found heroin, a stolen shotgun, and multiple firearms inside his home near a local park, police said.
Joseph Ferro was arrested Thursday, June 25, after members of the Hackensack Police Department's Crime Suppression Bureau, assisted by the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team, executed a court-authorized search warrant at his Hackensack home near Columbus Park, Police Chief Michael Antista said.
The search uncovered heroin individually packaged for street-level sales, a digital scale, drug paraphernalia, a Winchester Ranger 12-g…
