AG's office investigating fatal police-involved shooting in Moonachie
The New Jersey Attorney General's Office is investigating a fatal police-involved shooting that occurred Wednesday, October 28, 2026, in Moonachie. During the encounter, an adult male civilian was fatally wounded; a New Jersey State Police trooper was the officer involved.
Civilian
adult male (identity not released)
Location
Gotham Parkway near W. Commercial Avenue, Moonachie
Paramus Route 17 fatal hit-and-run: second man arrested, hundreds of THC cartridges seized
Route 17 crash scene near Garden State Plaza in Paramus · Boyd Loving via The Ridgewood Blog
The investigation into the Oct. 19 fatal hit-and-run on Route 17 South in Paramus, which killed passenger Krisiann Reyes Rivera, took a major turn: a second suspect, Michael C. Marciano, 47, of Fairport, NY, surrendered Oct. 23 on second-degree drug distribution and conspiracy charges. A court-authorized search found several hundred THC cartridges plus suspected Ecstasy and Percocet pills.
Charges
second-degree possession with intent to distribute + conspiracy; all charges are accusations, defendants presumed innocent
Crash
Oct. 19, 2026, ~5:09 p.m., Route 17 South near Westfield Garden State Plaza
Driver
Estuardo G. Rodriguez, 31 — death by auto, leaving the scene; additional drug charges Oct. 23
Second suspect
Michael C. Marciano, 47, Fairport NY — owner of the Acura and U-Haul renter; surrendered Oct. 23
Victim
Krisiann Reyes Rivera (passenger, died at Hackensack University Medical Center)
Infographic breaking down Bergen County's $15M Aramark jail-food contract and bid pricing · Bergen TV
County commissioners voted 6-0 on Oct. 7 to award Aramark a five-year jail-food contract capped at $15 million — 65% above the 2021 ceiling — even as actual spending fell four straight years to $1.62M in 2025. Sixty-four minutes after Bergen TV reported that the Sheriff's Office demanded $54,000 in officer overtime to release meal-count records, the sheriff dropped the fee and released 1,294 pages for free; a follow-up investigation found a $188K overpay.
OPRA
sheriff dropped $54K fee demand Oct. 26, released 1,294 pages for $0; follow-up found $188K overpay
Bid math
Aramark's bid prices support ~$2.07M/year max; new ceiling allows $3M/year
Ceiling
$15,000,000 (not-to-exceed); actual 2025 spending $1,616,856.66
Car collides with unoccupied Franklin Lakes police cruiser at Route 208 crash scene
Franklin Lakes police responded to Route 208 north near Colonial Road after a vehicle struck a deer. At 5:58 a.m. on Oct. 27, another vehicle collided with the unoccupied patrol car, causing the civilian vehicle to overturn. The driver was taken to a hospital with unknown injuries; two officers suffered minor injuries removing the driver.
Why it matters A reminder that deer collisions spike on Bergen highways in late October; drivers should slow down at dawn near wooded stretches of Route 208 and Route 17.
Old Tappan man arrested for AI deepfake non-consensual nude images of local victims
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of Daniel G. Pfeiffer, 37, of Old Tappan on Oct. 22 after a months-long cyber crimes investigation. Pfeiffer allegedly used AI to create and distribute fake nude images of two adult victims on social media, pairing them with the victims' real names and photographs. The case began in May when Harrington Park police flagged the posts.
Why it matters One of the county's first AI-deepfake prosecutions under NJ's deceptive-visual-media statute — a warning to residents about image-based abuse and a sign that cyber crime cases are rising locally.
Teaneck adopts seventh straight year of severance borrowing
Teaneck's council adopted Ordinance 49-2026 on Oct. 27, borrowing up to $800,000 for payouts to retiring or laid-off workers — the seventh consecutive year of severance special-emergency borrowing, totaling $6.85M since 2020. The council also authorized a $42.9M bond anticipation/special emergency note sale; notes will be publicly bid in early December at an estimated 3.5-4% interest.
Why it matters Borrowing for severance keeps annual tax increases lower but piles debt; the audit shows Teaneck still owed $2.96M of 2021-2025 severance borrowing at end of 2025.
Joe Thai Kitchen opens in Allendale's former Uno Mas space
Joe Thai Kitchen, from the team behind Wyckoff Thai, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting on Oct. 15 at 99 West Allendale Avenue, taking over the longtime Uno Mas space (closed April 2026). The BYOB spot serves fried rice, curry and noodle dishes plus signature Pla Kamin, Hot Basil Steak and Crab Curry, with gluten-free options and weekday lunch specials 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Why it matters Another vacant downtown storefront refilled — a good sign for Allendale's main street, and a new family dining option with lunch specials.
No weather alerts for Bergen County; Thursday brings morning fog then sun, high near 70
As of Thursday morning, no NWS watches, warnings or advisories are in effect for Bergen County. After morning fog and clouds, skies clear to sunshine with a high around 70°F in Paramus. Friday cools slightly: partly cloudy, high 70, low 42. A dry, pleasant stretch for Halloween weekend events.
Why it matters Good weather for Friday night playoff football, Halloween events and early-voting lines; morning commuters should watch for fog.
Bergen County extends weekend hours for in-person vote-by-mail
The Bergen County Clerk's Office announced extended weekend hours for residents to apply for, complete and cast vote-by-mail ballots in person: Saturday, Oct. 31 and Sunday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Elections Division, 1 Bergen County Plaza, Room 130, Hackensack. A secure ballot drop box is available on site. Early in-person voting runs through Nov. 1; Election Day is Nov. 3.
Why it matters Seniors who requested mail ballots can handle the whole process in one visit this weekend — no postage, no uncertainty.
NJ football playoffs kick off: Fair Lawn wins opener; big Friday slate for Bergen teams
Fair Lawn opened the postseason Wednesday with a 20-14 win over West Milford. Tonight (Oct. 29, 6 p.m.) Pascack Hills visits Fort Lee in the SFC Ivy Division final. Friday's first round of sectionals is packed with Bergen teams: Franklin at Ramapo, Ridgewood at Phillipsburg, Woodbridge at Northern Highlands, Garfield at Teaneck, Paramus at Old Tappan, Montville at River Dell, Hillside at Rutherford, Westwood hosts Hackettstown, Wood-Ridge hosts Mountain Lakes, and Pompton Lakes visits Hasbrouck Heights. Saturday: DePaul at Bergen Catholic, Paramus Catholic at St. Joseph.
Why it matters Old Tappan enters as the No. 1 seed in North 1 Group 3 after an 8-0 season; Ramapo is the No. 1 seed in North 1 Group 5 — deep playoff runs ahead for Bergen County teams.
Baron's Oktoberfest draws fall crowds to Historic New Bridge Landing; Nov. 21-22 events announced
The Bergen County Historical Society hosted its annual Baron's Oktoberfest and Harvest Homing at Historic New Bridge Landing in River Edge — craft beer, pumpkin picking, live music and a fundraiser for the new museum under construction. Next up: 'Dine with Washington' and 'Retreat to Victory,' scheduled for Nov. 21 and 22.
Why it matters A local history outing for seniors and families; the November programs land on the county's America 250th commemorative calendar.
Bergen Performing Arts Center screens The Blair Witch Project, followed by a Q&A with Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael C. Williams on the making of the film.
NJSIAA football playoffs, first round — Bergen teams
various (Ramapo, Northern Highlands, Teaneck, Old Tappan, River Dell, Rutherford, Westwood, Wood-Ridge, Hasbrouck Heights, Ramsey)
First round of the public-school sectionals. Marquee Bergen matchups: Franklin at Ramapo (6:30), Paramus at Old Tappan (6), Garfield at Teaneck (6), Woodbridge at Northern Highlands (6:15), Ridgewood at Phillipsburg (7).
Multiple townsticketed (typically school gate admission)Reported6:00-7:00 p.m.
Halloween Night Bash: Bites, Frights & Prize Night
Bergen County Players, Oradell (following Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors)
After trick-or-treating wraps up, Bergen County Players hosts a Halloween night bash for adults attending the show; a post-show talkback with co-writer Steve Rosen follows Sunday, Nov. 1.
Oradellwith show ticketOlder adultsReported7:30 p.m. (doors)
Item 9 (vote-by-mail hours) originally published Oct. 24 but the extended Oct. 31/Nov. 1 weekend hours remain current and timely. BergenTV jail-food story (item 5) includes its Oct. 26 update that the sheriff dropped the $54K fee. No weather alerts in effect for Bergen County as of the morning of Oct. 29. All remote image URLs were returned by browser tools; AI images credited as AI-generated and never presented as photographs.
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