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A NOVEL IDEA FOR VALENTINE’S DAY
Closter • Demarest • Harrington Park • Haworth • Northvale • Norwood • Old Tappan • Rockleigh
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FEBRUARY 10, 2020 NORTHERN VALLEY
LEAD PAINT REMOVAL A PRIORITY, COUNTY EXEC SAYS
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BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
SEE PAGE 16 FOR DETAILS*
MEMORIAL AWARD HONORS THE LATE SGT. GOBLE BY JOHN SNYDER OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
President Trumpʼs third State of the Union address, at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 4, gave his supporters much to cheer. Many others in America found much to critique. Against that backdrop, we note that two lawmakers from North Jersey attended the event with guests who should meet anybodyʼs standards for respect. U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) introduced Jen Albuquerque, partner of former Township of Washington resident and Green Beret Sgt. 1st Class Michael Goble, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in late December. Gottheimer also announced the creation of the new Fifth District Sgt. First Class Michael Goble Memorial Award, “to honor North Jerseyʼs unsung heroes committed to supporting military families and veterans.” U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (NJ-9) was joined by Rabbi Zev Reichman, head of East Hill Synagogue in Englewood and a teacher at the Torah Academy of Bergen County in Teaneck. Both guests helped the
See AWARD page 24
Photo courtesy Northvale Public Library
NORTHERN VALLEY
Library Assistant Megha Gandhi and Library Director Jennifer Kelemen invite kids to take a ‘Blind Date with a Book.’
NORTHVALE—This Valentineʼs Day, how about a blind date—with a book? The Northvale Public Library invites kids in grades five through 12 to take a chance on loving a book that they may not otherwise read. Itʼs a good way to remember: never judge a book by its cover! Inside the books—whose front covers are hid-
den—kids will find a bookmark they can return to the library and enter to win a #loveyourlibrary basket created by Emily Pepe, youth services associate librarian. Itʼs all part of a busy week at the library, which is currently soliciting bids for an interior renovation, while hosting programming for kids and adults. (See the libraryʼs full schedule on page 13.)
Longtime Northvale clerk to be ‘forever missed’ BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
NORTHVALE—Longtime Northvale Clerk Wanda Worner, 65, passed away Sunday, Feb. 2, after serving nearly three decades as one of the boroughʼs key administrators. Borough officials placed memorial bunting over the municipal building entrance on Feb. 3 and it will remain in place for a month. Mayor Patrick Marana said borough flags would be lowered to half-staff on Feb. 7, the day of Wornerʼs wake. The boroughʼs Planning Board held a rare moment of silence in remembrance of Worner at
GIRLS IN CHARGE
The Community Chest is accepting applications for its High School Young Womanʼs Leadership Awards.
SEE PAGE 11
its Feb. 6 meeting, said Marana. “The Borough of Northvale is saddened by the recent passing of our longtime Borough Clerk, Wanda Worner. Wanda served the Borough of Northvale as Clerk for 28 years,” said Mayor Patrick Marana in an email. “The Borough of Northvale offers our condolences to the family at this difficult time. Everyone please keep them in their thoughts and prayers,” Marana added in a statement. Marana also said, “While serving as Clerk, Continued on page 5
A new $3.3 million federal grant to Bergen County will enable residents to get rid of the major source of lead contamination— leaded indoor paint—said the Bergen County executive at a Jan. 31 forum with county leaders held at Stony Hill Inn in Hackensack. James Tedesco III, now serving year two of his second term as county executive, and a former Paramus mayor, told over 100 leaders at a Friday Forum sponsored by Bergen County Volunteers, that the county health department applied for a grant last year to abate lead and was recently awarded funding. “Iʼm happy to say that we are one of only a few counties throughout the nation that was selected,” said Tedesco. “This grant allows us to test for it, find it and remediate [lead paint] out of peopleʼs houses.” Tedesco said people in older houses and tenants may not have the funds to remove and remediate the paint. The sale of lead paint was outlawed in 1978. Most health departments view lead paint as the leading cause of lead contamination in children who may eat leaded paint chips or be exposed to lead paint dust. Lead exposure can lead to cognitive impairment in children; symptoms include developmental delays, abdominal pain, neurologic changes and irritability, say health officials. Another risk of chronic exposure is irreversible brain damage
See TEDESCO page 34
B ck in time...
In February 1974, a controversy-packed historical building found its final home outside Closter.
SEE PAGE 4