A year readers would love to forget

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Turnpike toll hikes are front-page news.

The Record has been taking the easy way out as the end of the year approaches, reviewing the best and the worst of 2011 in a series of stories that require no heavy lifting by the editors.


Today's Page 1 opus on "crazy weather" doesn't mention longtime Editor Francis "Frank" Scandale didn't make it to the end of 2011, getting fired on Halloween, two days after a surprise snowstorm knocked out power to hundreds of thousands.


Since then, readers have noticed a stronger focus on North Jersey -- at least on the front page -- by interim Editor Douglas Clancy, who also put Wayne stories on A-1 more times than many Bergen readers wanted to see.


Tabloid news


Ultimately, Clancy and head Assignment Editor Deirdre Sykes were so desperate for local news, almost any story landed on A-1, especially if it involved violent or sleazy crime, such as today's tortured tale of a South Jersey woman who alleges she was forced into prostitution.


At the bottom of A-1, a $4.80 toll increase to drive the length of the New Jersey Turnpike is called "a leap." Why is this on the front page?


On the front of Local, a story reports three Democrats may step in where Rep. Steve Rothman, D-Fair Lawn, fears to tread -- taking on right-wing conservative Rep. Scott Garret, R-Wantage, in the new 5th District, which includes Hackensack and most of Teaneck.


Road Warrior John Cichowski continues to rely on readers -- not his assignment editor -- for direction, as in today's column on winter driving tips (L-1).


Coffin nails


At the bottom of L-1, a story reports the urge to smoke proved fatal for John P. Tamburro, 55, of Maywood.


Tamburro's nicotine fit hit just before midnight Monday, and he was struck and killed by a car "while walking to buy cigarettes."


The driver, a woman who wasn't identified, got off scot-free.


In Hackensack news, two people were injured in a minor auto accident (L-3).


The photo caption notes a "white station wagon" flipped on its side. Manufacturers stopped making "station wagons" years ago; today, it's a crossover or SUV.


If you believe this ...


Also on L-3, occupants of a house in Park Ridge that burned down on Christmas apparently convinced the Woodland Park daily to run their account of the fire -- which contradicts official statements the likely cause was a cigarette igniting a sofa in the garage.


The occupants' version seems aimed at the insurance company and people who believe in the Immaculate Conception. The vast majority of readers couldn't care less.


There is so little local news today, the editors had to run two wire service obituaries of people no one has ever heard of before (L-5 and L-6).


Handout arrives


In Business, the editors waited for the press release that said none of the 14 Sears and Kmart stores in North Jersey are on a preliminary store-closing list released on Thursday (L-7).


In Better Living, Staff Writer Elisa Ung couldn't be bothered telling readers whether Justin's Ristorante in Hawthorne offers a low-mercury fish alternative to the high-mercury halibut she sampled.


Or if the pork osso bucco and stuffed chicken were raised naturally. She lists entrees at $12.95  to $21.95, but the halibut special was $24.95.