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Sonia Castro, NJ Mom Who Endured Tragedy With Grace, Dies
Sonia Castro, a North Jersey mother and grandmother who spent her life putting family first while battling a rare genetic condition, died on Thursday, June 26, her family said.
Her death comes just six months after she lost her own mother to cancer, and nearly 12 years after the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, Kiara, in 2013, according to a GoFundMe campaign organized by her family.
“Sonia’s life was a powerful testament to strength and unwavering love,” writes Aida Castro, who launched the campaign to support Sonia’s surviving children and grandchildren.
She was the proud mother…
Drug Raid: Fair Lawn Man Had $152K In Cash, Grow Tents, Shrooms Seized, Cops Say
A late-night call for a suspicious person in Fair Lawn led police to uncover what they say was a full-fledged drug operation—and more than $150,000 in cash, authorities said.
It happened on Monday, May 20, at approximately 11:09 p.m., according to Fair Lawn Police Sgt. Eric Eleshewich.
Officers responding to Ward Street encountered Timothy S. Brown, 62, after neighbors reported a man walking up and down driveways. Brown had a “large rucksack,” police said, and began acting suspiciously near the front door of a home.
Officers handcuffed Brown and noticed that the front door to a neighboring…
BMWs, Mercedes: Newark Members Of $1 Mil NJ Stolen Car Ring Learn Fate, Prosecutor Says
Five members, including two juveniles were sentenced for their involvement in an auto theft trafficking network that pilfered luxury vehicles throughout North Jersey, authorities announced Thursday, May 22.
Tikeem Shearin, 19, Carlos Espinal, 20 and Sincere Sims, 21, Newark residents, were each sentenced to five years in prison after previously pleading guilty to leader of an auto trafficking ring, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said.
Two juveniles were sentenced to three years in Jamesburg Juvenile Detention Center for their involvement in the ring.
A four-month investigation by n…
Video: Totaled By A Train In Fair Lawn, Spotted On The Parkway — Because, Jersey
Got hit by a train. Still made it to the Parkway.
New footage shows the same mangled Honda Civic that was slammed by an NJ Transit train in Bergen County casually cruising down the Garden State Parkway — without its bumper, trunk lid, or license plate.
The Civic, which was struck at the Fair Lawn Avenue crossing on Thursday, May 22, was spotted by Ahmed Kasab near the southbound lanes near the Bloomfield toll plaza.
Kasab, a mechanic in Paramus, was stunned.
Click here to watch.
"The whole passenger side airbag was hanging down," Kasab said, noting that driver seemed like that …
DWI Arrests Pile Up In Fair Lawn After BMW Crash, Slumped Driver, Hit-Run: Cops
Three people were charged with driving while intoxicated in Fair Lawn in recent weeks, police said.
On Friday, March 27, around 1:37 a.m., Patrol Officer Matthew Hearon responded to a crash on Route 208 North at Berdan Avenue. There, he arrested Kenneth R. Gibbs, 48, of Glen Rock after a roadside sobriety test, police said.
According to Fair Lawn police, Gibbs had been operating a 2023 BMW and struck the rear of a 2013 Volkswagen being driven by a 35-year-old man from Sacramento, CA. The driver complained of pain but refused medical attention.
Gibbs was charged with reckless driving, DWI, …
Assault Case Uncovers Machetes, 17 Lbs Of Pot, Nearly 900+ Xanax Pills In Fair Lawn: Cops
A two-week investigation into an assault led Fair Lawn detectives to a major drug bust that turned up 17 pounds of marijuana, more than 900 Xanax pills, and two machetes, police said.
The search happened on Friday, April 11, around 7:30 p.m., when Detective Anthony Lugo and the Fair Lawn Police Detective Bureau executed a search warrant at a residence on Pellington Drive, according to Sgt. Eric Eleshewich.
Inside the home, police found two machetes and what they described as “numerous indicators of drug distribution and manufacturing.” A second search warrant followed, and that’s when polic…
SUV Slams Fair Lawn Building, Driver Hospitalized
A dark blue Acura SUV slammed into a building in Fair Lawn on Saturday morning, April 5, sending the driver to the hospital and leaving behind a trail of damage, authorities said.
The crash happened around the intersection of Broadway westbound and Plaza Road, according to Boyd A. Loving. The SUV jumped a curb, barreled down the sidewalk, struck a bus stop sign, and eventually plowed into a building at 24-11 Broadway, which sustained moderate damage.
The driver was taken to Saint Joseph’s Regional Medical Center by Fair Lawn EMS, police said. A flatbed tow truck removed the vehicle from the…
Fair Lawn Man, 23, Sexually Assaulted Child Repeatedly In Oradell, Wayne: Prosecutor
A 23-year-old Fair Lawn man is facing charges for sexually assaulting a child repeatedly in Oradell and Wayne years ago, authorities said.
Gerald A. Picado assaulted the child between April 2022 and November 2023 on multiple occasions, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said following an investigation.
Picado was arrested Thursday, Feb. 13 and charged with six counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, three counts of second-degree sexual assault, two counts of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, four counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and one…
DUI Driver, 27, Slams Car Into Telephone Pole In Fair Lawn: Police
A 27-year-old Fair Lawn man was arrested for driving under the influence after crashing his car into a telephone pole over the weekend, authorities said.
Police Officer Vincent Messina responded to the scene at the corner of Fair Lawn and Parmelee avenues around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, after receiving reports of a single-car crash, police said.
The driver, identified as Luis A. Gamarroarrego, failed a roadside sobriety test and was taken into custody, authorities said.
Photos from the scene by Kyle Mazza of UNF News show a Chevrolet sedan slammed into the pole, and officers e…
$1M Lottery Ticket Sold In Fair Lawn
A New Jersey Lottery player in Bergen County just struck it big, winning a $1,065,447 jackpot in the Wednesday night, Feb. 5 Jersey Cash 5 drawing, officials announced.
The winning ticket was sold at Fair Lawn News Shop on Fair Lawn Avenue.
The winning numbers were 02, 03, 10, 11, and 30, with an Xtra of 2 and Bullseye of 02. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus for selling the jackpot-winning ticket.
Seventy-seven other players matched four numbers with the Bullseye, each scoring $500.
Meanwhile, a Monmouth County player won $50,000 in the Powerball Double Play drawing after purchasi…
Ridgewood Parks Employee John Quinn Dies, 34
John Quinn, a father and employee of the Ridgewood Parks Department, died suddenly on Thursday, Jan. 16. He was 34 years old.
John, of Hewitt, worked in the Village's Shade Tree Division since 2021, records show. His obituary on the Vander Plaat Vermeulen website says:
Known for his strong sense of family and unwavering support for his loved ones, John was a pillar of his community, always ready with a helping hand and a friendly word. His passing leaves an irreplaceable void in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. He was a man of integrity, humor, and love who will be remembere…
