Upper Saddle River October 10, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 9 A week-long investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Investigation Squad, the Upper Saddle River Police Department, and the Little Ferry Police Department has resulted in the arrests of Sarah McAllister, 24, of Ridgefield and John DiCiancia, 26, of Lodi. Both have been charged with extortion. Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli revealed that, during the week of Sept. 24, the Upper Saddle River Police Department, which is directed by Chief Patrick Local police assisted with extortion arrests Rotella, indicated that an individual who works in Upper Saddle River was being extorted by McAllister, a former colleague. McAllister and the victim reportedly engaged in a relationship that continued after her departure from the company. Soon afterward, McAllister began extorting him for cash in return for not telling his employers or his family about the relationship. When the demands, which were made in person and electronically, continued to escalate The Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River will dedicate its brand-new, full-size replica of the Chartres labyrinth on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 12:30 p.m. The ceremony will take place immediately after the 11:30 a.m. Mass. Presentation Labyrinth Committee member Elizabeth Lawrence said the dedication would include recognition of the donors who helped to bring the project, and the related Peace Garden, to fruition. Lawrence noted that one of the many donors was Bergen Highlands Methodist Church. In a recent letter to the parish community, Father Bob Stagg, pastor at Church of the Presentation, acknowledged the contribution from Bergen Highlands, saying, “What an honor it was to receive their gift. It reminds me of some of the letters in the New Testament which describe the early Christian churches helping one another. Certainly, the labyrinth is ecumenical, interfaith, and open to all folks.” Father Stagg previously explained that the labyrinth is an outgrowth of the parish’s Share the Dream program, which focuses on new ways to make the church a spiritual center. Although the labyrinth has yet to be dedicated, some members of the community have already tried taking Labyrinth dedication is Sunday guided walks, which are being held at the church on Thursdays at 9:45 a.m. At the recent Parish Picnic, Lawrence said approximately 50 children tried walking the labyrinth. The labyrinth is intended as an oasis for meditation, prayer, and healing. It has been constructed on the grounds of the church behind the tomb located to the right of the building’s main entrance at 271 West Saddle River Road. The committee that worked on the labyrinth proposal set out to create a full-size replica of the renowned medieval labyrinth at Our Lady of Notre Dame Cathedral in Chartres, France. Labyrinths are ancient, sacred tools that have been used in 27 countries. Labyrinths have appeared in the manuscripts of monks from the 600s and 900s. While scholars believe a labyrinth replicates the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, history is uncertain as key records were destroyed by fire. Presentation’s labyrinth will be registered on the WorldWide Labyrinth Locator, an international registry. The 11-circuit labyrinth, which is the only Chartres replica labyrinth in Bergen County, is barrier-free. A Walk for Peace is planned for the evening of Oct. 29. For additional information, call (201) 327-1313. and started to involve DiCiancia, who was assisting McAllister in trying to get money from the victim, the victim notified law enforcement. McAllister and DiCiancia were arrested in the parking lot of a local motel in Little Ferry when the pair went to meet with the victim to collect cash on Oct. 1. McAllister was subsequently charged with one count of extortion in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-5, a crime of the second degree and one count of stalking in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C12-10b, a crime of the third degree. DiCiancia was also charged with extortion in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-5, a crime of the second degree. Bail was set by the Honorable Jae Kim, C.M.C, at $50,000, no 10 percent option. Both McAllister and DiCiancia were both remanded to the Bergen County Jail Annex in lieu of bail. Prosecutor Molinelli stated that these charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Molinelli thanked the Upper Saddle River and Little Ferry police departments for their assistance and cooperation with this investigation.