Water Main Break, Pedestrian Fatalities, Much More in Week's Local Headlines

What was described by borough officials as a “large water main break” at Palisade Avenue and Bluff Road Wednesday evening forced closure of a portion of roadway and left an unknown number of Fort Lee residents with little or no water pressure.

Police closed the portion of Palisade Avenue from Columbia Avenue to Central Boulevard and said they received calls from as far away from where the water main break occurred as the north end of Fort Lee, and even Palisades Park and Englewood Cliffs.

Service was restored to most of the borough within hours, but those in the immediate vicinity remained without service or at least had very low pressure for much longer. Some people very close to the break sustained severe damage to their property as well. (Full Story)

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On Thursday, United Water officials issued a “boil water” advisory for about 5,000 customers in Fort Lee and Cliffside Park. (Full Story)

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A Fort Lee woman died Sunday from injuries suffered after getting hit by a car while crossing Lemoine Avenue at Whiteman Street, police said.

Helen Norton, 63, of Fort Lee, was struck by a 2010 Mercedes Benz driven by 66-year-old Joseph A. Dellaquila of Englewood Cliffs at about 6:15 p.m. Sunday, according to Fort Lee police.

Dellaquila was not charged. (Full Story)

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Then on Monday, an elderly Fort Lee woman was left in critical condition when she was hit by an SUV backing out of a driveway on Edwin Avenue in Fort Lee, police said.

Mary A. Hickey, 86, of Fort Lee, was walking north on Edwin at about 9:11 a.m. Monday, when she was struck by a 2010 Nissan Rogue driven by 29-year-old Arbnore Tafila, who was backing out of her own driveway, according to Fort Lee police.

Tafila was not charged. (Full Story)

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In light of the recent increase in motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians in the borough, Fort Lee Police Chief Thomas O. Ripoli issued a statement to residents Tuesday urging them to take proper safety precautions “while navigating our streets.” (Full Story)

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A Fort Lee man pleaded not guilty Monday in Hackensack to charges that he killed his girlfriend in a brutal hit-and-run attack outside the on Feb. 21.

Bergen County prosecutors charged Charles J. Ann, 26, with murder after he allegedly ran down his girlfriend, Aena Hong, 25, of Fort Lee, with his car after an argument, and then drove over her repeatedly in front of multiple witnesses.

An expressionless Ann, wearing an orange jumpsuit and with his hands shackled to his sides, was lead into the courtroom, where a court-appointed interpreter placed a device in his ear. Ann stared straight ahead, making eye contact with no one, as Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Wayne Mello described the charges against him, "that Ann purposely or knowingly caused the death or injuries that lead to the death of [Hong]." (Full Story)

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was in the national spotlight Friday, when MSNBC broadcast its morning shows, Way Too Early and Morning Joe, live from the school's gymnasium.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was one of the featured guests, along with Rev. Al Sharpton, Howard Dean, Michelle Rhee and many others on a show with a special focus on education reform.

Fort Lee Interim Superintendent of Schools Steven Engravalle was the main subject of a pre-recorded piece that aired on both shows, and he also joined Christie, Newark Superintendent of Schools Cami Anderson and Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist, in a live segment. (Full Story)

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For the second time in two months, a new episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit included footage shot on location in Fort Lee.

The latest episode of the long-running series that once shot regularly in the borough—an episode called "Child’s Welfare"—aired on NBC (Channel 4) at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29.

The production took place in early February and included an interior shoot at the now empty building at 1571 Palisade Ave., which was transformed into a daycare center, and an exterior night shoot at Martha Washington Way and Bruce Reynolds Boulevard with the George Washington Bridge in the background. (Full Story)

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A Newark man was charged Friday in connection with an alleged robbery earlier in the week at a Fort Lee gas station, police said.

Wahiduddi T. Kimbrough, 26, of Newark, was charged with one count of robbery with force for allegedly stealing $1,800 in cash from a gas station attendant at the Exxon station at 1616 Bergen Blvd. at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. (Full Story)

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And the cheerleaders celebrated their fourth national title win last weekend, when they took home first place honors and other accolades at the Contest of Champions National Cheerleading Competition in Orlando, Fla.

The girls, under the leadership of head coach Nina Anderson, who's in her 25th and final year of coaching, and assistant coach, Nikki Luppino, earned first place honors and the Level 3 National Title. In addition to a three-foot trophy, the team received a championship banner to hang in the Fort Lee High School gym and individual Mickey Mouse Awards. (Full Story)

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The Week in Review appears every Sunday on Fort Lee Patch.