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JANUARY 27, 2020
ROAD TO CLOSE FOR MONTHS
Project moving to Blanch Avenue, Closter
NORTHERN VALLEY
HUMAN SEX TRAFFICKING NOW ‘IN OUR BACKYARDS,’ PANEL SAYS
BY HILLARY VIDERS SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
A forum held Jan. 15 at the Bergen Family Center empanelled women leaders to discuss human sex trafficking, described as a growing crisis fueling a $150 billion worldwide criminal enterprise. “Traditionally, everyone always thought that sex trafficking only occurred in foreign countries, where handcuffed women were smuggled into brothels. But, in 2015, I had an eye-opening experience,” said moderator Liz Corsini, Bergen Family Center vice president. “After hosting an assembly at Dwight Morrow High School about sex trafficking, a female student told me that she had been approached at Ben and Jerryʼs Ice Cream store in Englewood by a ʻwell-dressedʼ man inviting her to a photo shoot. He took her phone number and contacted her repeatedly,” Corsini said. “The FBI later confirmed that he fit the description and tactics of a notorious sex trafficker,” Corsini said. “For years since, we have received countless reports from students who
See PANEL page 34
PICTURED: A road closure in mid-January to upgrade a CSX railroad crossing at Broad Street and Broadway in Norwood added to area traffic delays. Beginning Jan. 27, a portion of Blanch Avenue will be closed through May 2020. BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
Beginning Monday, Jan. 27, Blanch Avenue between Livingston Street and West Street, Closter—a 980-foot section of the road—will be closed to traffic through May as Rockland Electric continues installation of an underground transmission line, part of a two-year project to improve electric service reliability for 14,000 customers in 10 Northern Valley communities. The road closures follow a recent nearly two-month shut-
down of Broad Street in Norwood, which angered local business owners who criticized Rockland Electric officials for the untimely shutdown, lack of communication and claimed a major dropoff in sales during the yearʼs busiest retail season, from November through the holidays. During a heated meeting in mid-December, Rockland Electric officials said the closures were necessary to upgrade the electrical transmission infrastructure and pledged to communicate better with local business owners. Another
PHOTO BY MURRAY BASS
PAR FOR THE COURSE Congratulations to NVOTʼs Thomas Quinn, who takes the title of Boys Golf Coach of the Year.
SEE PAGE 12
local road detour occurred Jan. 13–16 when CSX Corp. repaired the railroad grade crossing on Broad Street at Broadway in Norwood, following repeated complaints by public officials, residents, and the police department for more than a year.
Blanch Avenue closure Rockland Electric officials said the closed portions of Blanch Avenue contain no residential or commercial buildings, which
Continued on page 11
NORTHERN VALLEY
CUSTOMER
SURCHARGE TO FUND LEAD PIPE FIXES CONSIDERED BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
A handful of Suez customers and public officials showed up Jan. 21 in Hackensack at an administrative law hearing to express opposition to a surcharge of up to 85 cents per month on 200,000 customer bills as part of a proposed plan to cover its costs—and earn a profit— to replace customersʼ lead service lines. The hearing, directed by Office of Administrative Law Judge Jacob Gertsman, offered opportunities for public input at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. for the record. Held at One Bergen County Plaza, it was attended by five customers including two municipal officials; however, both public officials present said they were speaking as Suez customers and not representing their respective boroughs. The hearing was part of a formal process initiated in March 2019 when Suez North America filed a petition to begin a two-year pilot program to remove customer lead service lines in hopes of eliminating lead in its system. The proposed plan would charge a customer $1,000 to replace their lead line, running from the curb into the home or business. Suez owns the water pipe (i.e. service line) from the main in the center of the street to the curb; the customer owns the service line from the curb into their home or business. Following legal motions in the case between Suez and the state Rate Counsel, which represents
See LEAD PIPES page 54
B ck in time...
Itʼs winter in Closter in a photo snapped more than 110 years ago. Can you guess the location?
SEE PAGE 4