Last week, my friend Peter who owns the Ewing Diner in Mercer County (and yes, delivers a consistently delicious breakfast daily to the morning crew) invited me to speak at the opening of the annual Greek Festival at St. George’s Church.

The kitchen team was nice enough to send me home with some delicious souvlaki, gyros, and tzatziki. Of course, the food was delicious.

And when it came up on the show, we were flooded with restaurant recommendations. We started with Greek and then turned to Mexican, Italian, and even Thai. I hope you didn’t miss my attempt at pronouncing some of the more authentic names.

Kostas in Tuckerton

Pru Thai in Clifton and Pennington

Jozanna’s in Middlesex Boro

The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Bill Spadea. Any opinions expressed are Bill’s own.

Report a correction 👈

A New Jersey businessman rescued the home of Sen. Bob Menendez’s wife from foreclosure just as the Democrat allegedly helped him secure a lucrative business relationship with Egypt, a lawyer testifying at his bribery trial said Monday.

Attorney John Moldovan told a Manhattan federal court jury that he was working for the businessman, Wael Hana, in July 2019 when he was asked to pay over $20,000 toward the Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, home’s mortgage.

Moldovan said Hana provided the money that he delivered to a bank to negate the need for a mortgage foreclosure lawsuit.

Menendez, 70, who has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, moved into the home after the couple married a year later. Hana and Menendez’s wife, Nadine, have pleaded not guilty in the case as well, although Nadine Menendez’s trial has been postponed until July after she was diagnosed with breast cancer and surgery was required.

In 2022, an FBI raid turned up 13 gold bars and over $480,000 in cash in the home, and a federal agent who led the raid testified extensively about it last week, saying tens of thousands of dollars were found stuffed in four jackets where the senator kept his coats. Other cash was found in bags and in a closet safe.

Prosecutors say the gold bars, cash and a luxury car found in the couple’s garage were bribery proceeds.

Bergen County

By: Najla Alexander 

Authorities in Bergen County announced the arrest of Noel Q. Ricketts, 25, of East Rutherford, on charges of possession of explicit materials involving minors. 

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said the arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck.

Officials stated that on Friday, May 17, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at the residence of Noel Q. Ricketts during the course of an online explicit materials involving minors investigation.

According to officials, the investigation revealed that Ricketts used the Internet to view, download, and possess 3,700 items depicting explicit materials involving prepubescent and pubescent minors.

As a result of the investigation, officials said, Noel Q. Ricketts was arrested on Friday, May 17, in Paramus and charged with second-degree possession of explicit materials involving minors.

Officials say Ricketts was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.