Pascack Press 3.20.23

TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON

FROM ‘CHARLIE BROWN’S’ TO ACAMP, PRESCHOOL

ZBA welcomes Apple Montessori to town; landmark at Paramus line to see new life

BY MICHAELOLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS

The Zoning Board of Adjustment on March 13 approved a 154-student private Apple Montessori School preschool for 95 Linwood Ave., nearly 15 months after the township attempted to buy the 1.5-acre site for public use.

The application was approved at its first and only hearing before

See PRESCHOOL on page 14

‘HELAYNE’S A FIGHTER’ ‘HELAYNE’S A FIGHTER’

Hugs, a granddaughter 20 years after dramatic rescue

HILLSDALE

BONDLOSS ‘COMESAS ABLOW,’ SAYSSUPT.

Lombardy predicts another referendum; lively turnout on middle school question; official tally March 27

BY MICHAELOLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS

By a nearly 2-1 margin, local voters defeated the $82.7 million school bond referendum to replace the century-old George G. White Middle School, despite a continuous communication and outreach effort for months by school officials to make the case that a new school was needed for local students.

BY JOHN SNYDER OF PASCACK PRESS

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT describes it as “a miracle 20 years ago this month in Park Ridge,” and it rings absolutely true: tragedy turned miracle turned unexpected and beloved new family

On March 6, 2003 a lateseason sleet storm creates icy driving conditions in Park Ridge. Amid the elements a

woman, 46, from Tenafly, loses control of her 2002 Camry on Brae Boulevard, slides off the snowy road and down a 15-foot embankment, then smacks into a boulder. Physics flips her car over and she splashes down in a creek, where frigid water surges up, around, through the sunroof The driver drowns. She goes into cardiac arrest.

On March 8, 2023, the department says, “Thanks to witnesses, good Samaritans,

and police, she was pulled from the car and revived by officers. Helayne Simon, the victim, came to our headquarters today with her family to thank us again for coming to her aid 20 years ago. We met her 3-yearold granddaughter, her daughter, and son-in-law today What a special visit by a very special woman and her family. We are so glad to have a true friend in Helayne.”

Continued on page 22

Late on Tuesday, March 14, Borough Clerk Denise Kohan told Pascack Press that unofficial vote numbers showed the “yes” or “no” vote to replace the middle school at 1,947 votes against and 1,114 votes in favor. Approximately 63.7 percent voted no and 36.3 percent voted yes.

On March 15, Superintendent Robert Lombardy told Pascack Press, “I am personally disappointed by the outcome of the referendum because it means delaying a solution for what many, many people acknowledge as a problem for Hillsdale. But beyond me, I know that this comes as a blow to the Board of Education, our citizens committee, the staff and most of all

See BOND on page 25

Emerson • Hillsdale • Montvale • Park Ridge • River Vale • Township of Washington • Westwood • Woodcliff Lake P ASCACKVALLEY’S HOMETOWN

Woodcliff Lake residents celebrate the Hindu festival of colors, love, and spring.

At Park Ridge Police Headquarters on March 8, 20 years after a dramatic rescue:Chief Joseph Madden, Lt. Peter Mauro, Joel Fried, Bailie Fried, Amie Simon Fried, Helayne Simon, Capt. Joseph Rampolla, and Sgt. Anthony DiBlasi. PRPD photo.

PASCACK PRESS

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Mayor calls council out over bylaws

To the editor:

THE HILLSDALE Borough

Council majority simply cannot decide if it wants to act professionally like other municipal bodies. For every positive step they claim to take to improve their image, they take another step backward.

Their latest effort to perfect this “Hillsdale Two-Step” was exposed when they violated their own rules by meeting with profes-

sional architects and engineers to discuss potential flooding and location issues for a second community center at the Stonybrook Pool Club. Although the council majority had once again this year adopted bylaws that excluded the mayor from permanent “standing” committees, those same bylaws allow the mayor to be on “special” committees which he appoints.

The Stonybrook Community Center Space Committee is one of those committees. Council members Lundy, Escobar, and Trochimiuk, along with the mayor, are members. These council members never notified the mayor of meetings, nor told the mayor he could participate when councilmember Escobar did not attend either meeting. This happened

at the two meetings held by the committee thus far in 2023. I discovered the existence of these meetings only because I periodically request copies of emails from the clerk under the Open Public Meetings Act to learn of committee meetings/communications.

Not content to change its own rules to keep information from reaching the mayor, it has now begun violating portions of the bylaws that it did approve!

It validates my decision not to seek the nomination of the Republican party to run for a third term as mayor. It will be fascinating to see

if the council keeps these unfair and punitive bylaws now that I have announced my decision not to run and when a new mayor is chosen, especially if that person is a councilmember who voted for the restrictive rules.

Councilmembers heatedly have denied comments from Councilman Zoltán Horváthand myself that the council has acted non-transparently for several years on key issues, keeping plans for field improvements and community center sites in draft form for months so as not to share them with the public, refusing to consider placing expen-

NOTE: Letter submission deadline is 11 a.m. Wednesday for the following Monday’s paper. Publication not guaranteed. Subject to editing. Email topascackpress@thepressgroup.net.

sive capital projects up for a nonbinding referendum, and mischaracterizing the true cost of financing those projects during budget discussions. The council majority needs to come out from the shadows, and let sunlight disinfect its decision-making. It must constrain its tendency to spend large amounts of the publicʼs money as if it were its own on projects that are not widely demanded or are just plain wasteful.

Mayor John J. Ruocco Hillsdale

Editorʼs note:Council leadership declined our invitation to respond.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

The scholarship committee of Knights of Columbus Mother Seton Council #5427 will award another three scholarships from the James Picarella Memorial Trust Fund and one Mother Seton Scholarship. Each scholarship is for $1,000. Applicants for the scholarships must be Township residents graduating high school this year. Nonresidents who have a father, brother, grandfather, or uncle as a member of Mother Seton Council #5427 in good standing for at least one year prior to the date of the application

may also apply.

The principal criteria for selecting the winners:

• The award must be applied toward tuition for a full-time student at any accredited institution of higher education: college, business, nursing, or technical school.

• The award will be in one payment to the student upon proof of enrollment.

• Although scholastic ability is of great importance, we will also consider financial need, community involvement, and extracurricular

activities.

• The application must be completed by the student in its entirety Leave no blanks. If something does not apply, say so. A high school transcript must accompany the completed application. An incomplete application will be disqualified.

Applications are available at the Westwood High School and Immaculate Heart Academy Guidance Offices, the school websites, and the Knights of Columbus Council. Completed applications must be in a sealed envelope addressed to Mr Paul Elterlein, Scholarship Chairman, Knights of Columbus, 79 Pascack Road, Twp. of Washington 07676, no later than May 15, 2023.

The scholarships will be presented at the Awards Night Meeting, Tuesday, June 13. For more information call the council at (201) 6640422.

Applications for membership in the Knights of Columbus are welcome from qualified individuals. Call (201) 664-0422 or visit kofc5427.com

WOODCLIFFLAKE

The Planning Board voted, 6-0, that two ordinances to rezone the borough-owned North Broadway site for affordable housing and adopt a redevelopment plan for 188 Broadway are both consistent with the borough Master Plan.

The Borough Council will hold a public hearing on both ordinances at its March 20 meeting.

The hour-long Planning Board meeting was largely pro-forma as the two ordinances both implement aspects of a recent borough legal settlement that permits 24 units of affordable housing on the boroughowned North Broadway site and approved a new 46-unit apartment and townhome settlement (37 apartments and nine townhomes) at 188 Broadway.

(See “Itʼs Settled: 46 Housing Units At 188 Broadway,” Michael Olohan, Dec. 12, 2022, Pascack Press.)

Borough Planner Liz Leheny said the Planning Boardʼs role was to determine if the proposed ordinances were “not inconsistent” with the boroughʼs Master Plan and then make a recommendation back to the Borough Council.

She said both ordinances were based on a court settlement approved with Fair Share Housing Center and 188 Broadway LLP. She said the court-approved settlement gives the borough 60 days to adopt zoning to implement the affordable housing settlement agreement.

That agreement, part of the 188 Broadway settlement, requires the borough to build an additional eight

affordable units at the North Broadway site, where 24 units will be built.

The borough also signed an agreement with Bergen County United Way to build the 24 units. This will include 20 affordable housing units and four supportive housing units.

Leheny said the borough must also approve an amended Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, which becomes the Housing Element in the Master Plan.

Attorney John Schettino said approving the zoning changes on the North Broadway site and the Redevelopment Plan were part of a “statutory agreement.”

He said if the Planning Board found them Inconsistent with the Master Plan, they would be violating the affordable housing settlement agreement.

the wooded, sloped area behind the lot. There will be three separate buildings of three townhomes each, she said.

Leheny said zoning was not previously adopted for the North Broadway site. Friedberg said the site would provide the “nicest waterfront views” of any New Jersey affordable housing.

Four residents offered comments on the ordinancesʼconsistency with the Master Plan,

Alex Couto questioned how high the existing 188 building was with and without mechanical units, noting it could rise up to 38 feet with mechanicals.

requirements without the redevelopment plan. She said that each of the nine townhomes could have its own lot and block number.

ment complex to the proposed townhomes, and the rear retaining wall. Leheny told her the property setback was 160 feet and the current retaining wall will not be touched.

Ann Marie Borelli questioned building heights and was told that the hearing was to focus on the proposed ordinancesʼconsistency. She was told specifics of ordinances can be raised before the mayor and council meeting on March 20.

Schettino told members that the borough was meeting its affordable obligations “not having to approve significantly sized developments” as in nearby Park Ridge and Montvale.

Member Thomas Panso wondered where the townhomes would be located and Leheny said they would be built in the existing rear parking lot without encroaching on

Gwenn Levine wondered about part of the 188 redevelopment plan that mentioned part of the lot could be divided into more lots at a future date.

Leheny said that should the townhomes be “siphoned off” to individual owners, they would violate minimum property acreage

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Directed by Bergen professor Leigh Jonaitis,Ph.D.,D.W.Gregory’s “Radium Girls”spotlights the true story of female laborers who used radioactive paint to color watch dials in a 1920s U.S.radium plant. Students (from left) Yurianna Botero,Paloma Vizcaino,and Nia Coleman.

‘Radium Girls’ Chronicles 1920s Labor Conditions

PARAMUS

Bergen Community College presents Bergenstages theatre troupeʼs production of D.W. Gregoryʼs “Radium Girls” this March and April in the Anna Maria Ciccone Theatre at the Collegeʼs main campus in Paramus (400 Paramus Road).

Directed by Bergen Professor Leigh Jonaitis, Ph.D., D.W Gregoryʼs “Radium Girls” spotlights the true story of female laborers who used radioactive paint to color watch dials in a 1920s U.S. radium plant. Instructed to finely point their brushes by molding the bristles with their mouths while painting, the women begin to notice health issues, even

See Radium on page 18

A March Message From May

BY KRISTIN BEUSCHER SPECIAL TO PASCACK PRESS PARK RIDGE

INTHEEARLY 20th century, nearly 100 years before email and texting would become the publicʼs preferred way to write to friends and relations, postcards were enormously popular for drafting a quick note.

The postcard above shows Park Ridgeʼs Century Hook & Ladder firehouse as it looked 120 years ago; we see it at right in a modern image.

Formed in 1900, Century Hook & Ladder was one of three volunteer firefighting companies in Park Ridge in the early 20th century. The firehouse stood on Broadway between Roland and Perryland Streets. The three fire companies merged in 1924, but a century later Hook & Ladderʼs firehouse is still standing at 85 Broadway as a retail building. While the structure has seen many modern changes, the original stonework remains as a wonderful reminder of its past.

Postmarked March 25, 1907, the postcardʼs message reads, “Your card of ʻStone Bridgeʼwas very pretty. Many thanks. Glad you like the ʻGlen.ʼ Will send you another view of the Glen sometime.”

The postcard was mailed from Park Ridge by local resident May Doerries. May was one of five children of German-born Ferdinand Doerries, a Park Ridge farmer, and wife Katharine. At the time of the 1910 census, 37-year-old May was single, living with

her family, and working as a clerk at a life insurance company She would later marry for the first time, at age 47, to 50-year-old Harry Miller, an insurance salesman.

In the first decade of the 20th century, May frequently exchanged postcards with a young man in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Based on Mayʼs writing, which never delves into personal topics, it seems likely they came into contact through one of the postcard trad-

ing clubs that were so popular at the time. May sent him many postcards of Park Ridge scenes, and she received shots of Milwaukee in return.

Collectors often refer to the period between 1905 and 1915 as the Golden Age of Postcards. Hundreds of scenes from the Pascack Valley were committed to postcards,

See BIT on page 12

Park Ridge’s Hook & Ladder firehouse on a postcard mailed in March 1907.

The firehouse still stands at 85 Broadway, although now as a retail building. The original stonework on the ground floor recalls the 120-year-old building’s past.

COUNCILREVIEWSDISPATCHOPTIONS WITHEYETOWARDSAVINGMONEY

BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS

EMERSON

Borough Council discussed options March 7 for outsourcing emergency dispatch to two other boroughs or the county as costsaving alternatives to continuing with the boroughʼs own dispatchers.

No decisions were made after the hour-long discussion. The council discussion followed up on a Feb. 7 council discussion on alternatives to local dispatch.

These discussion follow a Feb. 4 preliminary budget session where Mayor Danielle DiPaola said the borough was faced with “significant tax increases this year” and that outsourcing of police dispatch was likely on the table.

DiPaola said the budget increases were mostly due to contractual obligations, including garbage collection, police, DPW salaries, and insurance.

Of the three dispatch options discussed between Paramus, Westwood and the county Public Safety Operations Center (PSOC), transitioning to the county dispatch service, based in Mahwah and Paramus, was estimated to cost $219,820 annually, versus keeping the dispatch operation inhouse, estimated to cost $375,900 to $387,109, depending on police overtime needed.

Transitioning to the Westwood Dispatch, which now serves only Westwood, was estimated to cost $227,800, annually plus a record clerkʼs salary and benefits.

Transitioning to Paramus,which now serves only Paramus, was estimated to cost $230,000, plus a records clerk. Both Paramus and Westwood would require Emerson to purchase and install radio frequency repeaters to boost radio transmissions.

Northwest Bergen Central Regional Dispatch, Ridgewood, would cost approximately $368,800 annually, they reported. Council reviewed a spreadsheet listing the costs for alternative dispatch options prepared by Lauren Roehrer, borough chief financial officer.

Pascack Press requested a copy of the spreadsheet March 13 and received it that day from the clerkʼs office.

On a monthly basis, Administrator Rob Hermansen said the “biggest savings” lie with the county Public Safety Operations Center costing $16,650 per month and the next closest in cost, Westwood, costing an estimated $18,985 per month, with needed extra equipment costs included.

The spreadsheet noted if the borough switched to county PSOC on June 1 2023, total savings would be about $100,000; if the borough switched as of July 1, savings would be $78,840.

For 2024, the dispatch outsource options show potential sav-

ings of:

• County PSOC ($183.940);

•Westwood ($155,940);

• Paramus ($61,940); and

• Northwest Bergen Central Regional Dispatch ($18,940).

Police Chief Michael Mazzeo told the council he saw a problem with increasing costs related to Emersonʼs dispatch service and looked at the options available to address the problem. He said often part-time dispatchers are hired, trained, and leave for other positions, which remains a problem, plus the need to fill in for dispatchers on vacation or out sick.

Mazzeo said his first recourse is to call local dispatchers to find a fill in. If none are available, he will try to place a police officer

there if one is available. If not, he calls in a police officer for overtime on the dispatch desk. He previously said police overtime costs for 2023 to cover dispatch are already over budget.

Mazzeo said he would prefer the county PSOC dispatch because they have multiple dispatchers working daily and during high-volume call times, when one dispatcher is busy or overwhelmed, calls can be picked up by a nearby dispatcher. “I think thatʼs safer,” said the chief, comparing the county dispatch set-up to Westwood and Paramus, where generally only one dispatcher would be available for Emerson.

DiPaola said Westwood and Paramus recently contacted Emerson following a “well-publicized newspaper article” in Pascack Press (“Council Hears Police Dispatch Proposals,” Michael Olohan, Feb. 20, 2023) that reported on the borough considering dispatch options due to high dispatcher turnover and increasing costs.

The chief said in February that they had trained 15 dispatchers in the last three years who left for other positions.

He also said that should Emerson decide to enter into a

shared-service dispatch center with either Westwood or Paramus, they would be the “guinea pig” for that townʼs dispatch center, as both towns currently only service their residents.

Mazzeo said he would be happy to continue with the local dispatch center if that was the councilʼs desire, but noted that the same problems with newly trained dispatchers leaving, staffing the operation during 24/7 operations, and increasing costs to cover shifts remain.

He said based on his nearly three decades of service, and a near-similar amount by Capt. Mark Savino, both were in agreement that the best option to save money and provide dispatch services during unexpected emergency situations was to go with county PSOC.

He also noted that Emerson recently brought radios that use the county signal for transmission.

Local Dispatchers Speak Out

Near the discussionʼs end, a few local dispatchers questioned aspects of police overtime, possible future jobs if outsourced, and current pay for part-time dis-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

Emerson’s governing body is considering alteratives to local dispatch,with an eye toward savings. Photo via Emerson Police Department.

Capitalprojects,PlanningBoardapplications,andnewwork

Via Mayor Michael Ghassali in an email to residents March 13.

Borough/Capital Projects

• Montvale 2021 Road Program: The project has been completed. Colliers is preparing the final change order and pay estimate for the Contractor.

• Montvale FY2021 NJDOT Road Program – Craig Road. The project has been completed. Our engineers from Colliers are preparing the final change order and pay estimate. Engineer is also preparing the NJDOT close out documents for reimbursement.

• Veolia (formerly Suez) Water Main Replacement Program. Veolia has completed its 2022 water main replacements. We are working with Veolia to get their next list for water main replacements/upgrades for 2023.

There was a pre-construction meeting Feb. 2 with Veolia to discuss the scope, schedule and other related items for the water main construction on Terkuile Road. It is anticipated that the work will begin in the spring.

HILLSDALE

• Montvale 2020 Bergen County Open Space Grant- La Trenta Parking Lot & ADA Improvement Project. The project is substantially completed. Upon competition of the project in the spring of 2023, engineer will prepare the final documents for payment to the contractor and reimbursement from the county.

• Bergen County/Magnolia Avenue Bridge Replacement. The project is substantially completed and the roadway is open. Engineer is working with the County of Bergen on closeout of the project.

• Fieldstone Fields Portable Restroom Facility. Montvale was awarded an NJDCA grant for $40,000 for the installation of a three-unit (ADA, menʼs, and ladiesʼroom) restroom trailer that would be available to the public three seasons of the year. The borough is in discussions with the Montvale local BOE to determine a proposed location.

• Montvale FY2022 NJDOT Road Program – Summit Avenue

This project proposes milling and paving of Summit Avenue, from

Spring Valley Road east to the New York State border. It is anticipated the project will be ready to bid in April. It is anticipated that construction will begin in July.

Planning Board Applications

• Montvale Grove, LLC – 24 Spring Valley Road. The initial hearing was held on Oct. 18, 2022. Testimony continued at the Dec. 2022 meeting. This application proposes the construction of 18individual age-restricted buildings including a three-unit affordable building located on 4 acres north of the intersection of Spring Valley Road and Grand Avenue.

The initial hearing was Oct. 18, 2022. Testimony continued Dec. 6, 2022. Traffic testimony was provided Dec. 6, 2022. At the same meeting, applicantʼs attorney requested a technical discussion with CED prior to the Jan. 3, 2023 meeting. This was approved by the board. Testimony was continued at the January/February 2023 meetings. The next scheduled meeting is March 29.

Mobile DMV at West Lot on April 18

Itʼs headed your way. The mobile DMV is inbound April 18 in the West Lot, 411 Hillsdale Ave. Appointments are required for all transactions listed below.

If you are just dropping off license plates, you donʼt need an appointment.

To make an appointment, call Borough Clerk Denise Kohan at (201) 497-1552. You will need to

provide your name, email address, and telephone number. Time slots will be confirmed when making your appointment.

• Driverʼs license renewal (or name change);

•Registration renewal (no title work at mobile unit);

• Exam permit (no testing at mobile unit);

• Handicap placard;

•Boat stickers;

•Add veteran designation to license;

•Non-Driver ID. Initial license after passing road test; RealID: (Enforced May 7, 2025.) No appointments available yet.

• Unger – 45 Akers Ave. This is a major subdivision application with variances. The applicant requests to subdivide the existing property into two non-conforming lots with lot areas of 29,346square feet and 31,946 square feet, where the district minimum is 40,000 square feet as well as other required variances.

The applicant was requested to provide revised plans to the Board. Status is same.

• Harmony Hills subdivision (south end of cul-de-sac on Elizabeth Street). This is a major subdivision application with variances. The applicant proposes to reconfigure the existing lots into three conforming residential lots. Engineer has deemed the application incomplete for the latest submission dated Jan. 12, 2023.

Planning Board Inspection Projects

• North Market Phase II –Building 4 (Valley Health), 400 Market St. This application was approved at the Aug. 2, 2022 Planning Board meeting for a threestory 87,976- square foot retail and medical office building at the corner of De Piero Drive and Grand Avenue, with a future development pad site noted as Phase IIA in the northwest corner of the site.

Site work began for the first building in the final phase of the North Market development, with building permits under review. Permits issued for footings and foundations. Building footings are under construction.

• Atlantis Fresh Market – 12 Railroad Ave. Construction continues at this site, which includes a 2,899-square-foot convenience store, with six fueling stations.

The applicant has been issued all required building permits for this development. Construction is in progress for permits issued. The contractor was having difficulty connecting to the utilities on Railroad Avenue. Those connections

are now completed.

• Cornerstone at Montvale (Montvale Family Apartments –Summit Avenue) The applicant continues site, foundation and utility work for the construction of a 25-unit development on Summit Avenue at the intersection with Craig Road. Permits issued for two buildings. Status is same.

• Moksha/Valley View Subdivision – 87 & 89 Valley View Terrace. Work continues on the construction of the two-homes, as well as retaining wall installation and site grading. Status is same. NSFD homes-permits issued.

• Parkland Estates – 91 Spring Valley Road (formerly Metropolitan Homes). This application for the construction of four single-family homes at the end of Deep Wood Lane (off Stem Brook), and seven single-family homes on Spring Valley Road opposite Bear Brook Village.

The borough has received grading permit applications for four new homes proposed to be located on Wedgehill Lane, a new road off of Spring Valley Road. The contractor is scheduled to meet with the Planning Board site plan review subcommittee to discuss their revised plans.

The contractor is grading the site for the proposed interior roadways. The applicant attended the SPR meeting Dec. 6, 2022 to discuss the site plan changes for the individual lots provided on their grading plans. The changes were approved by the board. The revised grading applications and plans are under review by our engineer

• Village Springs at Montvale (Toll Brothers) – 2 Paragon Dr. The applicant has added additional landscaping along Paragon Drive and is looking to install landscaping on the islands at the intersection with Summit Avenue to further enhance the project. This project includes the construction of 80-townhouse units in 18-buildings. To date, the borough has issued 31 certificates of occupancy (COs).

• North Market/Triboro (former Mercedes property). Building 1 (100 Market) is fully opened with the majority of the apartments being rented and the majority of the retail spaces being rented.

Building 2 (200 Market) is completed and is currently being marketed for office and retail space.

Building 3 (300 Market) is completed and currently being marketed for rental apartments and retail tenants.

Building 4 (400 Market) is under construction for the installation of a healthcare facility.

• Alexa (Premier Development) – 160 Spring Valley Road. This 81-unit townhome development, north of Upper Saddle River Road, has 49-units occu-

BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS

PARKRIDGE

Borough officials are asking residents to write letters and emails in support of a proposed $12 million project to dredge Mill Pond (Electric Lake) to help restore its stormwater storage capacity and improve its water quality.

The boroughʼs project grant request — prepared by Neglia Engineering — was due March 17 to the Fiscal Year 2024 Community Project Funding Request, said Mayor Keith Misciagna.

Moreover, public letters of support can help boost the projectʼs chances for funding, said the mayor.

Misciagna told Pascack Press , “The Borough will be working with Congressman Gottheimerʼs office to potentially obtain funds for the dredging of Electric Lake by applying for the Fiscal Year 2024 Community Project Funding Request. We are

hopeful that with the congressmanʼs help, we can secure aid for the dredging and sediment removal of the Boroughʼs historical and prominent Mill Pond, also known as Electric Lake.”

He said, “This area has historically served as a prominent area of electrical development and industry, and later as a place of leisure for activities such as fishing and non-power boating that relies on the health of the water quality.”

Misciagna said, “Over the years, we have explored many options for funding this massive project, but have been unsuccessful. This may be our best chance to receive federal funding and community support could help. If you would like to help, please send me a letter to Borough Hall expressing your support for the project and how it affects quality of life in Park Ridge.”

The proposed $12 million grant projectʼs timeline is approximately one year from start to finish.

Borough Engineer John Dun-

lea of Neglia Engineering told us, “We anticipate construction spanning six to eight months, based upon weather and subsurface soil conditions encountered during construction. The existing pond would be drained and dredged utilizing excavators and dump trucks.”

He added, “All dredged material will be trucked off-site and disposed of in accordance with all applicable local, County, State and Federal requirements. A temporary bypass solution will be constructed to ensure that continuous flow is maintained from the upstream areas.”

Dunlea pointed out that the accumulation of sediment has resulted in “a substantial loss of stormwater storage capacity within the pond. Over time, loss of additional capacity could potentially result in upstream flooding in neighboring communities. This is critical as stormwater runoff from Montvale, which is located directly upstream, ultimately discharges to this pond.”

Dunlea noted, “Stormwater

runoff from Pearl River and portions of Nanuet, both located in New York, also ultimately discharge to the pond by way of upstream watercourses. As such, it is critical to note that dredging of the pond is an important element in the preservation of the overall functionality of surrounding stormwater infrastructure and rep-

resents a regional concern for associated communities in both New Jersey and New York.”

Borough Clerk Maggie Giandomenico said emails or letters supporting the grant funding can be emailed to her or mailed or dropped off to Borough Hall, 53 Park Ave.

Dr.

FROM PAGE 5

patchers. After dispatchers spoke, the chief, mayor and Hermansen expressed strong support for assisting the local employees in finding future employment.

While most dispatch services said current dispatchers could apply for jobs, no guarantees were made that positions were available or that they would be hired.

Resident Amy Levine, speaking on behalf of dispatcher William Levine, wondered about the increased overtime costs for

police officers on dispatch and whether local dispatchers were offered the opportunity to cover open shifts due to vacations/callouts.

The chief said local dispatchers were called first, and if an onduty officer was available, he would place that officer on dispatch. Only as a last resort were officers called in on overtime, said the chief.

A part-time dispatcher, Kristen Malakas, said she was the only current part-time dispatcher, and a recent part-time dispatcher was

hired at a higher pay rate than her. She said she was making $15 hourly, noting the overnight position was “paying so little.”

An advertisement posted by Emerson for part-time dispatchers offered $23 per hour for covering 12-hour weekend shifts, with an opportunity to cover open shifts during the week. The application deadline was Feb. 15.

Dispatcher Christine St. Angelo said all the dispatch outsource centers said there were no guaranteed jobs. “Where does that leave us?” she asked. She asked

that the council look into any dispatch center that offered to provide them jobs.

“Weʼll all do whatever we can, but we cannot guarantee it (dispatcher jobs),” said DiPaola, after Hermansen said he would do his best to help current employees.

Mazzeo pointed out that Hillsdale had recently invested heavily into its local dispatch only to decide to outsource dispatch with the county to save. Councilwoman Nicole Argenzia and DiPaola suggested that a “float pool” of dispatchers might be doable between two towns sharing

dispatch services.

Council: Emerson reviews options on dispatch Priester is champ

DiPaola said the council has “wrestled with” outsourcing police dispatch service for several years, calling it “a very difficult decision” and noting that depending on who you speak to, the county PSOC dispatch is “either the catʼs meow or not so great.”

“This is weighing on all of us,” said DiPaola.

At the meetingʼs end, council passed a consent resolution to appoint Guerine Tout-Puissant as a new part-time dispatcher for Emerson Police Department.

PASCACKVALLEY

Congratulations to Dominik Priester of Pascack Hills Junior Wrestling, who had an undefeated wrestling season in the 10U 100pound weight class, placing first in District, first in Region, and winning the USAW New Jersey Scholastic State Championship on Sunday, March 12 at Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton. Dominik thanks his dedicated coaches Rich, Eleazar, and Jeff; his cousin Marty; his mom, dad, and sisters; and his friends for their support.

BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS

TOWNSHIP OFWASHINGTON

A sixth Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing, March 21 at 7:30 p.m., on a proposed neighborhood retail plaza is likely to feature a township engineerʼs review of an applicant traffic study that residents questioned due to its finding of an “inconsequential” impact during peak traffic hours.

The applicant traffic study found a 43-vehicle increase during peak hours from a proposed 17,100-square-foot retail center at the Pascack Road–Washington Avenue intersection being overhauled.

Numerous residents questioned the studyʼs findings, which found improved traffic conditions at Pascack–Washington, mostly due to major intersection upgrades and improvements undertaken by Bergen County. To validate the studyʼs findings, the Zoning Board ordered an independent review of the study by its engineer, Boswell Engineering.

The 43 vehicles projected was the “peak hour” traffic increase projected by Gary Dean, of Dean & Dolan, Somerville.

The sixth ZBA hearing on 4 Seasons Marketplace could be the last, which would allow residents to offer views on the project, planned for 660-682 Pascack Road.

The applicant 660 Pascack Realty LLC, owned mostly by Seasons Catering owners, including James Kourgelis, proposes two retail buildings holding up to

11 retail shops and businesses, including restaurants on the 2.2acre site. The two buildings comprise 14,700 square feet, and 2,400 square feet, respectively, The site holds three boardedup homes marked unsafe to enter, plus two occupied homes. At Februaryʼs hearing, applicant planner Paul Grygiel provided specific reasons the proposed site was “particularly suited” for a retail plaza.

Grygiel said the siteʼs location at a busy intersection of two county roads, the siteʼs visibility from two major crossroads, a newly expanded intersection with improved traffic flow, the volume of traffic, and how current nonconforming uses at the three other corners are commercial uses despite single-family zoning — all are reasons the retail plaza is “particularly suited” to the site.

Nearby Meisten Street and Northgate Condominium residents have expressed concern over an applicant engineerʼs study that showed an unnamed tributary behind the proposed strip mall to no longer be a protected waterway, or “Category One” stream, when previously it was.

The applicantʼs drainage basin study showed the streamʼs drainage area to be 48.2 acres, less than the 50 acres required for a regulated “C1” waterway.

Separately, and apart from the Zoning Board hearings, the Township Council requested township engineer John Yakimic review the remotely sensed LIDAR data for accuracy in delineating the drainage basin size.

[Related: “Questioning devel-

oper on standards,” Letters, page 21.]

A copy of Boswellʼs traffic report analyzing the applicantʼs traffic study was expected to be publicly available 10 days in advance of the March 21 public hearing. As of March 14, ZBA secretary Grace Kalish said she had not yet received the Boswell study.

Check Documents under the Four Seasons Town Square application on the ZBA web page.

Town scoops $800K in grants over two years

BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS

TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON

Over the past two years, the townshipʼs grant consultant has pulled in more than $800,000 in

PARK RIDGE

federal, state and county grants including the $438,750 county Open Space grant used to partially reimburse the $750,000 acquisition cost of the 6.1-acre former Washington Township Swim and Recreation Club.

Recently, the grants consultant, GLD Associates, Summit, filed a grant application with the state Department of Community Affairs for $68,300 “for preliminary design and site investigation purposes” at the swim club prop-

Tallman stars in studies in L.A.

Resident Catherine Tallman has been accepted into the “QU in LA” program from Quinnipiac University and is working for a production company specializing in crime documentaries. Her spring semester, now based in Los Angeles through an online college curriculum, sees her gaining realworld production experience.

The Los Angeles program is available to Quinnipiac juniors and seniors who have maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA. Tallman has made the deanʼs list every semester and say she found the internship after an extensive search. We last reported on her in 2021, when Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D-5) lauded her for attaining her Girl Scout Gold Award.

The Quinnipiac program provides a fully immersive experience for students, who are housed in a central location to bond with their fellow program peers. A fulltime program director oversees

the internships while aiding with the personal and professional resources the students need.

Tallman has taken full advantage of her first month in Hollywood. While experiencing preproduction preparations at work

and attending her virtual classes she has witnessed the filming of a few talk shows and attended panels for writing and casting.

The awards season has provided exciting events around the Writerʼs Guild Awards and the Grammys, and Tallman has been invited to attend the post-Oscars broadcast of “Live with Kelly and Ryan.”

Tallman says sheʼs returning to Connecticut in the fall and is scheduled to graduate in spring 2024.

Quinnipiac University says its QU in LA program gives participants “the opportunity to live, work and learn in the heart of Americaʼs entertainment industry. Los Angeles is home to the ʻBig 5ʼ film studios, 10 professional sports franchises, major broadcast news network bureaus — including ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC — and a media market that reaches more than 5 million people daily ”

erty.

During the March 6 Township Council meeting, the consultant prepared a quarterly report that was only made available to council members. Pascack Press obtained a copy via public records request after the meeting.

The Feb. 22, 2023 quarterly report by GLD Associates, Summit, said nearly $300,000 in additional grant funds were “filed and pending” over the last two years

“Following is the quarterly report of the various grants presently being researched, tracked, awarded and/or applied by GLD Associates on behalf of the Township of Washington to date,” states the grant summary.

“Also, it does not reflect all of the various grant awards, activities or projects that were researched and/or discussed with Township officials and determined not to be in the best interests of the Township, or a suitable project could not be decided upon, or for other eligibility issues.If there are any questions concerning this report, please communicate with the Township Business Administrator who will contact GLD Associates accordingly,” the report notes.

Over the last two calendar years, grant awards to date total $801,919.

These included: 2022 Bergen County Open Space $438,750; 2022 NJDepartment of Commu-

nity Affairs American Recovery Plan (ARP) Firefighters $13,150; 2021 Bergen County Community Development Block Grant ADA Improvements Sherry Field $26,000; 2021 FEMA AFG COVID-19 Fire Department Equipment and Supplies $15,705; 2021 USDepartment of Justice Body-Worn Cameras $26,848; 2021 NJ Department of Community Affairs Recreational Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities $15,000; 2020 FEMA Firefighter Staffing and Retention $72,000; 2020 Bergen County CARES Act $25,586; 2020 Bergen County Open Space Sherry Field Dog Park $29,000; and 2020 FEMA Hurricane Isaiah RPA $139,880.

O ther fiscal year 2022–2023 grant applications filed and pending total $294,177.

These pending grants i nclude: 2023 NJDCA Local Recreation Grant $68,300; 2022 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Equipment and Safety $54,931; 2022 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Vehicle (Rescue Boat) $45,503; and 2022 Bergen County CDBG ADA Improvements to Library $125,443.

Ongoing 2023 County Grants

The five-page report lists

Members of the “QU in LA”program – Sam Dorielan,Catherine Tallman,and Nicole Miller at The Grove in Los Angeles.Tallman is from Park Ridge.(Courtesy photo)

FROM PAGE 10

two grants currently in preparation for the County Open Space grant program: one for a 2023 Bergen Park Improvement Grant, most likely for the swim club; and one for an Open Space Land Acquisition Grant, possibly for 450 Pascack Road, or another tract. No funding amounts are listed.

Under the Land Acquisition Grant Synopsis/Comments colu mn, the report notes, This (County Open Space) grant will provide funding to purchase a particular tract of land (to be determined) in the Township of Washington that will be used for park and recreational purposes. A letter of Intent is due by April 14, 2023 and the full (Bergen County Open Space) application is due by May 12, 2023.”

It notes under the reportʼs C ouncil Action column, “No action required at this time.”

Recently, the council, mayor, and residents have spent parts of several meetings debating the pros and cons of moving to purchase 450 Pascack Road, a 3.2-acre tract of mostly wooded land squeezed between Ridgewood Boulevard East and Washington Elementary School and Memorial Field.

Some residents have called for preserving the 450 Pascack tract as open space, although no formal or informal conversations have occurred publicly over its future public use.

Residents, and Mayor Peter Calamari, say they fear the property may be sold and possibly developed with affordable multifamily housing, or a larger development, though the property is zoned for single-family homes.

T he mayor and neighbors have pressed for its purchase while council members seem uncert ain about acquiring it without a specific public purpose.

I n late 2021, the council bid $430,000 for the property, under threat of condemnation.

N egotiations appear to be continuing, though no condemnation filing has yet occurred.

N egotiations occur in closed s essions and few details have been made public.

( See “450 Pascack Road, Well Sited, Sees Pressure For Deal,” Michael Olohan, Feb. 27,

2023, Pascack Press.)

T he property also was liste d on commercial real estate sites since late 2021 at $2.1 million due mostly to its “developm ent potential” though any use besides single-family would require a use variance from the Z oning Board of Adjustment.

Residents repeatedly raise the fear that affordable housing w ill be placed on the site after a

new round of affordable housing commences in summer 2 025. No current proposals on t he site are pending or proposed. A dilapidated home and b arn near the front of 450 Pascack were recently cited for v iolations as a “nuisance prope rty” under the townʼs property maintenance code.

Montvale: Capital projects, Planning Board notes

FROM PAGE 6

pied in eight out of 11 buildings. The developer started construction on Building 1 closest to Spring Valley Road. To date, the Borough has issued 55 COs.

• AR Landmark (Hornrock) –12 Van Riper Road. The applicant has obtained all required building permits from the borough and continues to install off-site utilities and is continuing foundation work. This development includes 185-dwelling units over parking in the Montvale portion of the larger AR Landmark development in

Montvale, Park Ridge and Woodcliff Lake. (448 units are proposed for the Park Ridge portion of the site).

Work continues at this site with the installation of the foundation, curbing and site utilities.

• De Pieroʼs/Montvale

Development Phase II – 20 & 22 Philips Parkway. This application proposed the construction of two buildings, with a day-care center and a separate lifestyle building with up to four tenant spaces. This property, at the corner of Philips and Grand, continues to be developed with work on the fram-

ing for the building closest to Grand Avenue. Everbrook Academy will occupy the building farthest from Grand Avenue and Philips Parkway. Building permits issued for Buildings H and I.

• Woodland Heights/Flintlock Road. The homeowners association has prepared an engineers report outlining required improvements prior to their acceptance of the site from the developer.

There was a meeting held with the Planning Board Site Plan review sub-committee on May 17th with members of the HOA to discuss the homeowners site

Webinar puts women forward March 23

The League of Women Voters of Bergen County – Inter-League Organization (ILO) marks Womenʼs History Month with a live webinar, “Celebrate Womenʼs History in the Making,” on Thursday, March 23 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Join the League of Women Voters and hear these women leaders discuss their work serving our community: Helen Archontou, CEO of the YWCA Northern New Jersey, and Lillian “Lil” Corcoran, executive director of the Womenʼs Rights Information Center.

Archontou and Corcoran lead two multifaceted social service organizations providing programs and services in support of women and others to

strengthen our surrounding communities. Both women were featured in Senator Loretta Weinbergʼs 2023 Womenʼs Power List.

The League of Women Voters of Bergen County – Inter-League Organization (ILO) is an umbrella organization for five local Leagues in northeastern New Jersey. The five local Leagues cover Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, Northern Valley, Ridgewood, and Teaneck.

The League of Women Voters, a

nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The League neither supports nor opposes candidates or political parties. Register for the webinar at bit.ly/3m2jg3w For more information, write lwvbergen@gmail.com

restrictions within this condominium development.

This 20- home subdivision off Woodland Road has 1-undeveloped lots remaining in this development. COAH fees will be collected once the Applicant applies for the construction of the final home site. There is one home site remaining in this development. Status is same. No COAH fee received.

• De Pieroʼs Lifestyle Buildings. One tenant space remaining in “Ulta” building.

• Gray Capital – 100 Summit

Ave. Permits have not been issued.

Future Projects

• NJDOT 2023 Municipal Aid. Montvale received $180,540 for the Terkuile Road Resurfacing Project. Our engineer is preparing a proposal to perform this work.

• Bergen County Open Space Grant Awards. Montvale received $78,625 for Huff Park Playground Improvements: rubberized safety surfacing playground. Engineer is preparing a proposal to perform this work.

BIT: Firehouse

FROM PAGE 4 especially from the towns of Hillsdale, Park Ridge and Westwood. Views of local shops, railroads, churches, houses, farms, waterways, parks, schools and more were immortalized on the little paper cards.

“During the heyday of the postcard craze people bought them for the simple pleasure of owning them,” writes Fred Bassett, senior librarian of manuscripts and special collections at the New York State Library.

People advertised in newspapers and magazines for pen

pals with whom they could exchange postcards with interesting scenes. Clubs also formed for the same purpose.

“They preserved the cards carefully in albums or posted them to friends and relatives, with the expectation of receiving many in return. In essence, postcards served as an inexpensive form of entertainment in almost every American home, just as radio and television were in later eras,” according to Bassett.

Kristin Beuscher is president of Pascack Historical Society pascackhistoricalsociety.org

LEILA SHOOTS, SCORES!

Congratulations to resident Leila Martiesian, 11, who plays for travel teams locally and practices her shooting at The Shooting Zone in Ho-Ho-Kus.

Sheʼs been competing in the 2023 Elks Hoop Shoot, a foul shot competition for kids aged 8–13.

After winning the local (Westwood) and district (local Pascack Valley towns) competitions in the girls 10–11 age group, she reached the New Jersey State Finals Feb. 12 at South Plainfield High School.

There, Leila won her age group after competing against girls from all over the Garden State.

She competes at the regional finals on Saturday, March 18, against state winners from New York and Pennsylvania. These Northeast Central Region finals are in Wilkes-Barre, Penn. on the Penn State campus.

Should she win the regional finals, her dad, Josh Martiesian, tells Pascack Press, she will head to Chicago for the national finals, Saturday April 22, competing against regional winners from across the United States.

PASCACK VALLEY

ROTARY CLUB SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINENEARS

The Park Ridge Rotary Charity Foundation is pleased to announce it is again granting college scholarshipsto local high school students.

Scholarships are available to senior students who live in Park Ridge, Montvale, or Woodcliff Lake.

The service club will select recipients based upon need, scholastic ability, and contributions to the school and the community.

Moreover, one scholarship is available for an eligible Park Ridge High School senior majoring in education. This scholarship is in memory of Dr. Robert Balentine, former superintendent of

Rocky Pilger Memorial Scholarship

The Park Ridge Volunteer Firemanʼs Association is again offering its Rocky Pilger Memorial scholarship.

This scholarship, started in memory of Chief Pilger, is given to three current high school seniors who will be pursuing higher education in the fall. The award is open to any Park Ridge resident graduating high school or in college and needing assistance.

If you attend Park Ridge High School, see your guidance counselor for an application. If you attend any other school, contact Mark Cookey Eisen at markeisen4@gmail.com for an application.

To be considered, all paperwork must be submitted to the PRHS guidance office, or to Mark Eisen at markeisen4@gmail.com , no later than April 10.

The Association is composed of all active firefighters, officers, life members, and honorary members and is committed to serving the community and ensuring the

welfare of its members.

The Association is made up of many different committees; some focus on the serving the active side of the department

while some focus on the community by funding school scholarships and sponsoring town events and athletic teams.

Park Ridge High School, who was a member of the Park Ridge Rotary Club for more than 40 years. The completed application with supporting documents should be submitted no later than April 15.

Students will be notified of results in early June. The club will notify schools of a scholarship recipient(s) in advance of presenting the awards at senior assemblies.

For applications, see the guidance departments of Park Ridge High School, Pascack Hills High School, and St. Joseph Regional High Schools, or download the application PDF via parkridgerotaryclub.org

Leila Martiesian, 11,will represent New Jersey for her age group at the 2023 Elks Hoop Shoot regionals on March 18. Photo via Josh Martiesian.

Preschool: New life at former Charlie Brown’s in WT

FROM PAGE 1

the ZBA, which voted 5-0 on a use variance request and exceptions to code.

Nearly 15 months ago, the township moved, under threat of condemnation, to purchase the property for $1.35 million, first for a new DPW facility, and then a possible police facility, but public pushback and possibly contaminated piping below ground from prior use as a gas station caused the council to cancel its purchase plans.

Apple Montessori officials previously told Pascack Press in late 2022 that they had no concerns about contamination based on their environmental consultantʼs study. The contamination concerns were not raised at the March 13 hearing.

Throughout the 2 1⁄ 2-hour hearing, the applicantʼs professionals identified specific ways that a new preschool was “inherently beneficial” and would improve the present site, and agreed to work with township professionals on any outstanding issues raised by local police and fire officials.

Township engineer John Yakimic said resolution with Apple Montessori professionals on township professionalsʼ drainage comments, water and sewer comments, and a point-by-

point response to recent engineering comments needed to be completed and applicant attorney Jason Tuvel agreed.

All these preconditions will be memorialized in a resolution of approval to be voted on at the next Zoning Board meeting, said officials.

Prior to voting, Zoning Board Chair Michael DeSena said the new preschool/daycare would provide visual enhancements to the neighborhood, reduce impervious coverage, and achieve Master Plan goals.

Voting in favor of the new

preschool were DeSena, Anthony Capasso, Les Hanna, Michael LaGratta and Stephen Tekerian.

“Welcome, Apple Montessori, to Washington Township,” said DeSena after the vote.

The hearing featured testimony from the applicantʼs engineer/planner James E, Henry, architect Robert Grimaldi, Operations Development Director Danielle Selby, and traffic engineer Corey Chase Apple Montessori officials said that the preschool/daycare facility will operate from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily, Monday to Friday,

with children from 3 months old to 6 years old, and a two-month summer camp for children up to 8 years old.

Approximately 60, including teachers and administrative staff, may be employed at the facility with generally no more than 25 employees on site at any one time.

Applicant engineer Henry, who later testified as a licensed planner, went through a detailed list of Municipal Land Use Law criteria that he said qualified the preschool use as an “inherently beneficial use” as defined under the law

Some reasons cited included a widespread shortage of child care in New Jersey, the site plan advances Master Plan objectives, the use encourages good design and reduces impervious coverage. (Overall, impervious coverage will be reduced from 77.9% to 62.9% coverage.)

Other “beneficial” reasons cited included it fits in well with the residential area, parapets (up to 48 inches) cover roof mechanicals, the school building is away from residential homes on Hemlock Drive and adjacent to the siteʼs Garden State Parkway side, Henry called the proposed preschool “an improvement to the (siteʼs) existing condition.”

Traffic Study

Corey Chase, applicant traffic engineer, said the applicant has worked closely with county planning and engineering officials on Linwood Avenue (a county road) traffic movement near the proposed preschool.

He said the facility would have a “full access driveway” for circulating vehicles in and out of the school grounds. He said using Institute of Traffic Engineers data on trip generation from specific land uses and peak-hour traffic counts, he estimated only one new vehicle every minute during

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

Left:95 Linwood Ave.,most recently a restaurant;is prominent on an approach to the Township of Washington from Paramus and the Garden State Parkway; middle: Apple Montessori School,which specializes in early childhood education and summer camp programs,has the ZBA’s blessing to raze the restaurant and erect a two–story daycare facility comprising 18,743 square feet of gross space Photos: file; Apple Montessori Schools.

eats Dining & Cooking Guide

PASCACK VALLEY

Can’tgetouttoGiulio’sRestaurant?Prepareitssignaturedishathome

Giulioʼs Restaurant meets a full array of dining and entertaining needs. Giulioʼs welcomes walk-ins, but takes reservations and offers takeout.

Giulioʼs will be delighted to host your holiday business of fam-

BERGEN COUNTY

ily parties. Seating is available for up to 100. Catering is also offered and the restaurant has a full bar, including over 100 wines.

Enjoy making our Signature Dish at Home!

Sheriff touts purchase of body-worn cameras

Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton announces the purchase of body worn cameras for correctional police officers.

His office said in a statement March 13, “In an effort to provide better accountability for everyone within the Bergen County Jail, body worn cameras have been purchased to record incidents involving officer, staff, and inmates. The camera serves the agency as a training tool and reduced the amount of internal affairs investigation involving officers.”

“There is no Attorney General mandate regarding correctional institutions to have body-worn cameras,” Cureton said. “However, the growing trend in law

enforcement is transparency, and having these cameras protects allegations of assaults and/or improper conduct of an officer.”

He said, “The bodycams presence alone, provides a deterrent and enhances officer and inmate safety during transport” and that “people who know they are being observed and recorded on video tend to act better than those not under observation.”

Approximately 80 cameras have been purchased, and Cureton anticipates an additional purchase, as a result of entering into an agreement to receive Passaic County inmates.

The cost is approximately $500,000, funded through Curetonʼs capital budget.

Chicken alla Giulio

What youʼll need:

•4 chicken breasts

•1 1/2 cups light sweet

Perfection!

sherry wine

•1 pear, sliced

•1 tsp. shallots

•1/2 cup dried cranberries

What to do:

•Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

•Saute chicken in pan with olive oil and shallots.

Itʼs back! The Friends of the Pascack Brookʼs 31st Annual Kids Fishing Contest is on for Saturday, April 29 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine.

Pull up a chair at Giulio’s Restaurant, where elegance meets affordable —and delicious —Italian cuisine.

•Remove from stove.

•Add the pear and sherry wine to the chicken and shallots. •Bake in 375 degree oven for 8–10 min. (ovens vary).

•Buon Appetito!

Giulioʼs Restaurant is locat-

Fish the Pascack Brook between St. John R.C.

ed at 154 Washington Street, Tappan NY. Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

Visit Giulioʼs website for its menu: www.giuliosrestaurant.com

For reservations, takeout, catering, and more, call (845) 359-3657

eats Dining & Cooking Guide

Preschool: New life at former Charlie Brown’s in WT

FROM PAGE 14 preschool peak hour travel from 2 to 6:30 p.m.

Chase said the queue for dropping off children can hold up to 15 vehicles, and rarely goes over seven to nine vehicles at drop-offs and pick-ups.

He said a parking variance was being sought for providing 34 spaces, while code requires 108 spaces. A variance was requested for parking space size, where 9 foot wide by 18 foot deep spaces were proposed, and code requires 9 foot by 20 foot deep spaces.

He said one electric vehicle spot and charger must be provided by state law. ZBA members asked that the charger be in service only during school hours to prevent public access during off-hours and the applicant agreed.

Operations Director Danielle Selby told ZBA member Anthony Capasso that the “majority” of parents dropping off children just pull into the queue, drop off their child to a staff member, and exit the circular drive.

She said most parents do not park, but adequate parking based on other Montessori operations, has been provided on site. She said she has not seen 10 or more cars in a queue at any one time to

drop off children.

Public Comments

A couple residents questioned aspects of Chaseʼs traffic testimony.

Honeysuckle Drive resident Stephen Kalish said Linwood Avenue was a “pretty busy street” with cars often traveling at high rates of speed and wondered about cars making a left turn onto Linwood Avenue from Highland Avenue, which is in Paramus.

He asked if Bergen County officials had recommended restriping Linwood Avenue to have a more effective and safe traffic flow. Chase said they had “extensive discussions” about the traffic movement along Linwood Avenue but they were not requested to modify any road striping.

Kalish said he would ask the Zoning Board “to think about that.” Later, DeSena said the issue would be directed to Township Administrator Mark DiCarlo to follow-up with county officials.

Hemlock Drive resident Rose Candeletti wondered about vehicles making a left onto Linwood Avenue from Highland Avenue encountering vehicles making a left onto Linwood Avenue from the preschool driveway exit.

Chase said the county had

concerns about 95 Linwood Ave.ʼs original driveway location opposite Highland Avenue and wanted to move the driveway further west to “provide (an) offset” for vehicles turning “so that turning movements do not conflict with each other.”

Candeletti later said the pre-

school was “a good use for the property and I think theyʼll be a good neighbor and I think you should approve it.”

Hemlock Drive resident John Kral wondered about converting the land use zone from singlefamily to another “nonconforming use” and requested the Hemlock

Drive exit be only used for emergency vehicles.

He also wondered about the buffer between the site and Hemlock Drive residences. Applicant officials said they anticipated improving and expanding the Hemlock Drive buffer with more plantings.

eats Dining & Cooking Guide

Radium: Showtimes

FROM PAGE 4

resulting in death. Plant officials cover up the issue, with disastrous consequences.

Performances are Friday, March 31, Saturday, April 1, Thursday, April 6, Friday, April 7, and Saturday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. Matinee performances are Saturday, April 1 and Saturday, April 8 at 2 p.m.

WOODCLIFF LAKE

Gorgeous pâte-sur-pâte cherub vase

Following the performance on Thursday, April 6, a panel discussion will discuss the playʼs content from historical, scientific and feminist perspectives.

General tickets are $15, with discounts offered to senior citizens ($10) and Bergen faculty and staff ($10) and students ($5).

To purchase tickets, call (201) 447-7428 or visit tickets.bergen.edu

WLFD invites scholarship applications

The Woodcliff Lake Volunteer Fire Department (WLFD) is happy to announce that the Woodcliff Lake Volunteer Fire Department Scholarship Program application is available on the department website, woodclifflakefd.com

Since 2003, the WLFD has given out 103 scholarships to assist the students of our community in furthering their education and achieving their goals. Only graduating high school students residing in the Borough of Woodcliff Lake or members of the Woodcliff Lake Fire Department are eligible to receive an award.

Students must submit a com-

pleted application, including transcript by May 3, 2023. For all qualification and application details visit woodclifflakefd.com

BYJONFELZ

A curious reader sends in a photograph of a vase and requests information relative to its age and origin. She indicates it measures 6 inches in height and is in excellent condition, no damage. “What can you tell me about this?”

Dear reader,

This is a beautiful piece. Your figural-cherub-decorated pâte-sur-pâte hard-paste porcelain bud vase was produced by the renowned German porcelain manufacturer Meissen.

I identify the maker of this vase by the crossed-swords mark fired in underglaze blue on the bottom. Although this mark has been faked on other porcelain, the quality of your piece jumps out at me.

The decoration pâte-sur-pâte is a French term indicating pasteon-paste. Originally developed in the 1850s, this is a painstaking and arduous method of creating a relief design. This process can take weeks of work to add and build up the extra layers of usual-

Senior appraiser Jon Felz of RZM Fine Arts & Antiques Inc. answers yourquestions on fine art,American coins,and great antiques.Send your questions and photos to rzmantique@aol.com

This lovely figural-cherub-decorated pâte-sur-pâte hard-paste porcelain bud vase was produced by the renowned German porcelain manufacturer Meissen.

The crossed-swords mark fired in underglaze blue on the bottom of this vase denote its expert manufacturer.

ly white porcelain against a contrasting colored background. This style of decoration was quite popular from the 1880s to 1910. Your vase dates from this period.

As to the value of this wonderful vase, you indicate itʼs a miniature vase at 6 inches in height and in excellent condition. A current value for this vase is $2,500.

RZM Fine Arts & Antiques Inc is based at 132 Dexter Ave.,Pearl River, N.Y.Call (845) 735-1313 or visit rzmantiques.com.

Free training to tutor ESL

Make a difference in your community —volunteer to teach English as a Second Language.

Since 1982, Literacy Volunteers of Pascack Valley has been training volunteers to teach English to adults in their community. This online workshop is run by certified trainers and the program is an accredited member of Proliteracy.

Upon completion of the workshop, LVPV will match each volunteer with an appropriate student.

This workshop is open to residents of Allendale, Cresskill, Dumont, Emerson, Franklin Lakes, Hills-

dale, Lodi, Montvale, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, River Vale, Teaneck and Westwood. Tutoring may be remote or in person, depending on your preference.

Literacy Volunteers of Pascack Valley is pleased to announce the next online four-session Tutor Training Workshop on April 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Volunteers must be 18 or older. Contact Marilyn Katz or Cheryl Chang at literacyvolunteerspv@gmail.com to register. You may also register at literacyvolunteerspv.org/tutor-trainingworkshop-form.html.

eats Dining & Cooking Guide

Clean-up Day April 12; bring home a tree, free!

The Montvale Environmental Commission is hosting the Annual Montvale Clean-Up Day and celebrating Montvaleʼs Arbor Day and Nationwide Earth Day on themorning of Saturday, April 22.

Once again this year the Environmental Commission will be giving away shirts to the early arrivers. As a special treat for our environment, they are giving away seedlings as well.

Writes Bob Hanrahan, chair of the Montvale Environmental Commission, “Thatʼs right, early arriver residents who sign in will

Letters:

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Hometown

receive at least one small deer resistant tree in recognition of Montvaleʼs Arbor Day.”

Arbor Day is when the Borough of Montvale encourages all residents to plant at least one tree in town. If a resident does not have an appropriate property to plant a tree, they can designate the tree to be planted on borough property, where the Environmental Commission is organzing the planting of additional trees.

Hanrahan says trees reduce erosion, which prevents water problems; reduce heating and

To the editor:

OW IʼMGOING to have to give you guys another certificate of recognition for your kindness and in appreciation of Pascack Pressʼs latest support of what Rotary does and who we are!

(See “Park Ridge Rotary celebrates anniversary, allies,” Pascack Press, March 13, 2023, page 4.)

I thank you and bless you

Hear Carol Miller’s ‘Second Chances’

cooling costs; clean our air; produce oxygen; and are used to produce countless wood products.

Organizers encourage “anyone and everyone in the community to join at 9 a.m. All paticipants will receive gloves and garbage bags and be directed to a location in town to help cleanup.”

The event runs until noon, when all of the garbage is returned to the DPW building across the street from the Red Shed.

For more information visit montvale.org or call the Borough of Montvale at (201) 391-5700.

for all you have done! We have lots more work to be done in community outreach, and the good part is that we will do it together! I couldnʼt ask for more.

Terry Ciulla, president Park Ridge Rotary Club Editorʼs note:Weʼre delighted to hear our coverage connects! Thank you, Terry and Rotary, for your kind and unsolicited words.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

Longtime resident Carol Schepker Miller, president of the Hillsdale Free Public Library board of trustees, has been a successful executive in the New York fashion industry.

Sheʼs been a Girl Scout leader and recreational soccer coach in Hillsdale.

Now in retirement, Miller is following her lifelong dream: becoming a singer/songwriter.

She writes to say she released her debut song, “Second Chances,” on Spotify and Apple Music on March 3.

Miller has performed in New York City and Bergen, Essex, and Rockland counties.

She says “Second Chances” is an inspirational song that chronicles her life. “After all, ʻItʼs not too late for second chances, itʼs not too late to try.ʼ”

MONTVALE

Zion Lutheran ECC fundraising returns

Zion Lutheran Early Childhood Center invites you to save the date for its Tricky Tray and Live Auction Fundraiser, an inperson event on the evening of Saturday, April 29 from 6 to 10 p.m. This yearʼs theme: “Lights, Camera, Auction!”

T he adult-only, ticketed BYOB event features a catered buffet, three Tricky Tray rooms, a spirited live auction, and 50/50. Participants can enter to win a variety of big ticket items including a Yeti cooler, barbeque grill, kayak, 65-inch television set, as well as themed gift bundles, collectible items, local gift cards, services, experiences, and much more.

Funds raised through this event represent a significant portion of the operating budget for the Zion Early Childhood Center education programs which focus on the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and social d evelopment of students aged

EMERSON

1⁄ 2, 3, and 4.

Most recently, funds raised have been used to update the l ighting throughout the entire school building. Future funds will continue to support the programʼs earliest learners as they grow spiritually, emotionally, physically, and socially.

The fundraising committee tells Pascack Press , “Tax deductible donations will be accepted until March 4. We welcome gift certificates, items to be included in the tricky tray, or monetary donations. No contribution is too small.”

There are also tiered opportunities for corporate sponsorship. “We are grateful to all of our local businesses, families, a lumni, and congregation for your continued support of our earliest learners.”

For a donation form and to a rrange a pickup, write ZionWWFundraising@gmail.com.

Zion Lutheran Early Child-

EMERSON COMMUNITY SCHOOLREGISTRATION

Registration for the Emerson Community School is now open! New and updated classes are available for both children and adults.

Popular childrensʼ classes include childrenʼs babysitting, robotmakers (a different version of the class from the fall), videomakers and sewing.

You can scan this code for a link to the Emerson Community School’s spring brochure

Adult classes include health and recreation, cooking, languages, special

hood Center (64 First Ave.) was established in 1969 (as Zion Lutheran Nursery School) to prov ide families with preschool children a place where the child could be part of a program designed to help him/her grow socially, intellectually and creatively in a Christian atmosphere.

The programs are designed to help each child come to

greater awareness of the world and the people around them through broad exposure to language, mathematical concepts, social studies and science concepts, arts, music, and motor and visual coordination. The preschool program has grown and developed over the years to become one that is highly regarded by parents who have had children enrolled, and also

by the community.

The school is licensed by the state of New Jersey and is staffed by certified teachers and qualified assistants.

Tickets are $50 and will go on sale for the public on Monday, March 6.

For more information visit zionlutheranschool.org o r write ZionWWFundraising@gmail.com.

10th year of Eternal Flame Fellowship

The Valley Chabad Teen Leadership Initiative launched its 10th year of the Eternal Flame Fellowship on Sunday, March 12.

To kick start the fellowship, high schoolers from throughout the Pascack and Saddle River Valley communities came to hear Holocaust survivor Bella Miller share her story of horror, strength, and

inspiration.

She recounted the day the tattoo was engraved on her arm. “You were not anymore a human being; you were a number, and believe me, that number will never leave my mind: A24977. Thatʼs what I was.”

In the coming sessions the teens will explore appropriate responses to anti-Semitisim and

discover the Jewish connection to Israel. The pinnacle of the fellowship is the trip to Washington, D.C., where theyʼll be joined by chapters from seven states for a weekend of learning, friendship, and Jewish pride.

For more information visit eternalflame.org or call (201) 4760157.

Scouts rock Girl Scouts USA birthday

interests, and much more. Registration is open and fills up quickly, so donʼt miss out.

Check out the brochure at emersonschools.org then click on the Departments tab, then click on the Community School tab. Classes begin the week of March 6.

Contact persons are Kimberly Della Volpe and Tricia Mancino at ecschool@emersonschools.org.

Girl Scouts of the United States of America turned 111 on Sunday, March 12, and Park Ridge was ready to celebrate.

Carrie Rauschenberger

writes, “We took pictures at both of our elementary schools to showcase our Girl Scout stregnth. We also held a Girl Scout event where we packed birthday bag

Kits to donate to the food pantry

We were able to provide 75 kits thanks to donations from our community and our Girl Scout families. Happy birthday, Girl Scouts!”

PASCACK VALLEY

PARK RIDGE

Park Ridge Girl Scouts show their love of Girl Scouts of the United States of America,which turned 111 on Sunday, March 12,at both West Ridge and East Brook schools.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR : ATTHELIBRARY

HEREʼS AROUNDUP of some of what our libraries are offering patrons in the next days and weeks. Thanks to Pascack Press interns Nick and Mitchell for the web research! Visit your library online or in person to get all the facts —and have fun getting involved!

E EMMEERRSSOON N 20 Palisade Ave. (201) 261-5604 emersonlibrary.org

•Monday, March 20 at 11 a.m.: Little Bookworms and Craft, ages 6 and under. At 1 and 3 p.m.: Knitters Circle, adults. At 3:30 p.m.: Afternoon Storytime,

ages 2-5.

• Tuesday, March 21 at 11 a.m.: Baby & Me, newborn to 2. At 3:30 p.m: Switch Club, grades 2–4. Registration required for each child per date.

• Wednesday, March 22 at 10:30 a.m: Preschool Storytime & Craft, ages 2–5.

• Thursday, March 23 at 3:30 p.m.: Afterschool Craft, grades K–6. Registration required for each craft.

H HIILLLLSSDDAALLE E 509 Hillsdale Ave. (201) 358-5072 hfpl.org

• Monday, March 20 at 10:30

Burroughshonored

a.m., Jiggly Wiggly Childrenʼs Music Program At 4:30 p.m.: Girl Scouts 97667. At 7 p.m.: Highlights of The New York City High Line. Take a walk on The High Line with Mario Medici, amateur photographer and historian, and discover how the High Line was transformed from a historic elevated freight rail to one of New York Cityʼs most popular parks.

• Tuesday, March 21 at 4 p.m.: Reading Warriors Childrenʼs Book Club. Grades 5 and 6.

• Wednesday, March 22 at 3 p.m.: Think It, Make It, Share It: Weaving.

• Saturday, March 25 at 10 a.m.: NJ Makers Day Share what you make.

M MOONNTTVVAALLE E

12 Mercedes Drive, Suite 100 (201) 391-5090 montvalelibrarynj.org

• Adult Book Club meets the first Monday of the month at 10:30 a.m. or the second Monday of the

Letters:

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

Questioning developer on standards

To the editor: A S A PROFESSIONALENGINEER practicing in Bergen County and certified as a municipal engineer and also in flood hazard, I was surprised by the story about using LIDAR to determine drainage area (Do mall applicantʼs drainage basin calculations hold water?” Michael Olohan, March 13, 2023, Pascack Press) for a proposed strip mall in a single family zone Washington Township.

month at noon. Call George Galuschak at (201) 391-5090 or write george.galuschak@montvale.bccls.org and provide your name, telephone number, and BCCLS Library bar code number.

• Monday, March 20 at 6:30 p.m.: Montvale Cookbook Supper Club. “Home is Where the Eggs Are: Farmhouse food for the people you love” (2022) by Molly Yeh.

• Thursdays, March 23 at 10 a.m.: Chair Yoga taught by certified instructor Shelley Sontag. Increase strength and mobility using gentle, easy-to-follow movements. All skill levels are welcome. This is a virtual event, a Zoom link will be emailed to all participants the day before the event.

• Thursday, March 23 at 10:30

a.m.: Yoga Little Storytime. Join us with Bozza Yoga Littles and enjoy creative yoga poses, movements, and storytime fun! Meet friends, and improve hand-eye coordination and motor skills

been USGS (United States Geologic Service) mapping.The USGS standard now used by NJDEP called Streamstats is more accurate than town tax maps or FEMA Firm maps because it delineates drainage areas, not just flood areas. Streamstats is easily available to anyone through the USGS website and takes minutes to use.

At stake is an important question. If a drainage basin is 50 acres or more, the NJDEP has jurisdiction over it as a “regulated water.” If the drainage basin is less than the cutoff of 50 acres, the NJDEP has no jurisdiction over the stream as a “regulated water.” According to USGS Streamstats that area appears to be 58 acres.

My question: Why is the developer requesting a different way to calculate this than the standard?

WESTWOOD

Bergen County Sheriff

Anthony Cureton and the Bergen County Sheriff's Office salute Robert R. Burroughs, former Westwood Chief of Police (1989–2002), as the closing highlight of Black History Month. Burroughs is the first African American chief of police in the history of Bergen County. He also holds the distinction as the first African American to hold the office of President for the Bergen County Chiefs Association (1996).

A man of strong faith, Chief Burroughs attributes his accomplishments to God. “I am truly blessed in order to attain what I did,” he said.

Curetonʼs office said, “We honor Chief Robert Burroughs for his trailblazing service to our Bergen County community.”

Westwood Mayor Ray Arroyo added his own view on Facebook on Feb. 28: “Our very own retired Westwood PD Chief Bob Burroughs — a history-making, glass-

ceiling-breaking, trailblazing Westwood resident. A quiet, humble man of faith. And a true gentleman.”

Among those commenting on Arroyoʼs post:

• Barbara Maxwell Tobiassen: “Congratulations Chief Burroughs. A true gentleman who served with fairness and dignity.”

• Ray Wiss: “Always a man of class.”

• Bobbie Cozic: “Truly a man of integrity.”

•Jimmy Wagner: “A true gentleman, absolutely, I remember Mr. Burroughs helping us with rec football back in the day, a great community man, we all loved him!”

•PJ Sambogna: “Very good man. Thank you for serving our town with great distinction and honor from the residents of our beautiful Westwood.”

• John Kenny Domville: “Congrats Chief! Truly a man of honor.”

— John Snyder

For years I have worked on NJDEP Flood Hazard applications, and the standard has always

Considering the riparian buffer is important as well. Riparian buffer is calculated as

through yoga! For children aged 18 months to 4 years. Registration required for each class.

• Thursday, March 23 at 7 p.m.: Secrets Wall Street Doesnʼt Want You To Know. (Virtual) After this program, you will learn about researching insurance and long term insurance, how not to get ripped off when buying/leasing cars, and investing on your own or properly interviewing financial planners to ensure that they are working for you and not the other way around.

• Saturday, March 25 at 12 p.m.: Benefits Of Using A Rain Barrel. Learn about the benefits of rainwater harvesting using a rain barrel. Installation, use, and maintenance. Presented by Green Mojo Eco Consulting. This in-person program takes place in the Library Activity Room. Registration required.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

explained in the NJDEP Flood Hazard Technical Manual, (available for free on the NJDEP websiteat nj.gov/dep/landuse/download/fh_044.pdf) depending on how valuable a stream is. Category 1 streams lead to reservoirs: our drinking water. Which is why they get the largest buffer of 300 feet to protect water quality. This stream flows to our reservoir, as shown on the USGS maps, and should still be considered a Category 1. I am concerned the USGS standard is not being used here. The Borough Engineer is raising questions of the developerʼs engineer regarding the use of a different technique to calculate drainage area. I would be too.

It may seem simple, but the answer is the difference between NJDEP protection of a “regulated water,” beloved local lake and our drinking water reservoir, or no protection at all.

Carol A. Hoernlein, P.E., M. ASCE, C.M.E. Emerson

Borough of Westwood

Fighter: Family of woman saved in ’03 cheers PRPD

FROM PAGE 1

Amie Simon Fried, who was 22 when her mother wiped out in the borough two decades ago, posted on the PRPDʼs Facebook, “I would like to give a shout out to all those involved, mentioned and not. Through the years we have stayed in touch with the officers and we are forever grateful and pleased to have them meet the next generation.”

She said, “It is our familyʼs hope that all who helped save my momʼs life should continue to be healthy and happy for many more years to come.”

Amie, her husband, Joel, and her mom, Helayne, brought wraps and pastries. Department photos show them, with young Bailie, flanked by police chief Joseph Madden, Lt. Peter Mauro, Capt. Joseph Rampolla, and Sgt. Anthony DiBlasi.

The officers who rescued Helayne Simon were Anthony DiBlasi, Greg Stalb, Peter Mauro, and Sgt. Joseph Rampolla.

James Babcock also was on the scene with the road and fire departments. The good Samaritans were Mark Wechshler of Pittsburgh and George Rice, 64, president of the Search and Rescue Council of New Jersey.

In its March 7, 2003 article “Good Samaritans, cops save woman from an icy death,” the Recordʼs Karen Mahabir said “Without a second thought, [Rice] and the other driver raced down the snowy hill, jumped into the creek, and yanked open the carʼs back door. Rice … said he could see a womanʼs hair flowing in the water.

“Feeling around in the frigid water, Rice lowered her seat. Joined by DiBlasi and Officer

Greg Stalb, they pulled Simon from the car and put her on the rock. Although they thought she was dead” — sheʼd turned blue — “Mauro and Rampolla immediately began CPR while DiBlasi ran back to the creek to check for other victims.”

Police had been alerted to the accident by a 9-1-1 call. Local emergency dispatcher Kenny Steele ran point.

Mahabir reported, “Standing in the water on either side of the rock, Mauro did chest compressions, while Rampolla used a bag mask to force air into Simonʼs lungs.”

The patient finally responded with a cough.

“We were in shock,”Rampolla told the press. “We stopped and checked her pulse, and she had one. She was breathing. It was quite amazing.”

Then there was the vital task of getting her back up the embankment. The Park Ridge Fire Department had lowered a basket. Responders raised her to the waiting embrace of a waiting ambulance crew. Road workers cleared the path.

Mahabir reported, “Recovering Thursday afternoon at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, Simon was in good spirits and wanted only to thank her rescuers, said her daughter.”

Amie Simon told the paper, “Iʼm amazed and thrilled. Iʼm very thankful that they saved my mom. We just thank them so much, from the bottom of our hearts.

Mahabir wrote, “No thanks were necessary for her rescuers, who said their reward came from knowing they had saved Simonʼs life.”

“Today was one for the win column,” Officer DiBlasi said at

the time.

On Facebook last week, the community added to the joy of the 20th anniversary visit:

• Jim Browski: “You never forget these moments in your career. Look at the good thatʼs happened since that day. Great work!”

• Town of Ramapo Police Department: “Great job by all involved and very nice of the Simon family to stop by and thank you all!”

• Ken Steele: “Great save! Good stuff! …I remember the 9-1-1 call and everything. Knowing the territory and the local landscape personally has become a lost art amidst ʻtechnologyʼthese days. I always took great pride in that fact and I continue to do so to this day.”

Amie Simon Fried, Helayneʼs daughter, now living in Monsey, N.Y., told Pascack Press on March 15 that her family visited the PRPD in 2018, at the 15-year anniversary of the save, bringing noshes, and again at this 20th anniversary, to introduce Bailie.

She said that in June 2019 life turned upside down again: Helayne was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. “For many people itʼs treatable and for many itʼs not, and so at the time I was six months pregnant. So it was a very emotionally charged time.”

In September 2019 Bailie was born.

In January 2020 Amie donated blood marrow to her mother — toward her complete recovery.

And now, of the reunion with Park Ridgeʼs finest:“Of course thereʼs hugs! Of course!”

Rampolla recalls Rampolla spoke with Pascack Press on March 15. “Itʼs interest-

ing, because after the event took place, you just create these bonds with people that you never expected to create. We think of Helayne and her family as our family.”

He said, “Sheʼs showed up to [department] promotion events, and there was a time when there was talk about laying off police officers — Helayne showed up with Amie and shared her story about what the police mean to their lives, and you just have that relationship thatʼs unbreakable and you have forever.”

He said, “Itʼs always nice to hear her voice” and “sheʼs just so appreciative of life.”

He added, “She didnʼt see a light, but she did relay that when she was upside down and the water was rushing in, she knew wasnʼt going to be able to get out. She was like, ʻIhad my peace with God and I was just ready to go.ʼ And then she woke up in a hospital room.”

Taking in her cancer win and other family lore, Rampolla said,

“Helayne is a fighter. Sheʼs shared with us all of the things thatʼve happened, and sheʼs like the Energizer Bunny.”

He said, “Whenever we deal with stuff thereʼs usually something bad going on, right, as a police officer; people donʼt just call us to say hi.And these types of good stories, when they happen, they mean a lot to us.”

He said, “Everybody kind of says, What if that was my mother, if that was my sister, and you see these stories of people overcoming adversity. Helayne has always done that.”

Rampolla lauded dispatcher Steele, who unfortunately was cropped out of a published group photo of this incidentʼs police responders in 2003. “I think dispatchers are way underpaid. Ken Steele was the first person in that chain … There were so many people involved in this situation, but it starts with the dispatcher. Without them you couldnʼt get anything else.”

MUSICHONORSOCIETY BENEFITCONCERT

The Pascack Valley High School Tri-M Music Honor Society is hosting a benefit concert on Thursday, March 23 at 7 p.m. in the Joseph Poli auditorium. Pascack Valleyʼs most talented and dedicated students will present vocal and instrumental performances representing a range of musical genres, including jazz, Gershwin, Broadway, classical, and pop with songs by Portugal the Man, Lady Gaga, and Demi Lovato.

Performing

Elizabeth Barlow, voice Gabrielle Brayman, voice Nicole Choi, voice Alex DeBiasio, piano Kelly Donlan, voice Alexandra Elek, voice Brianna Finch, voice Jess Grady, bass Evie Higgins, voice Minche Kim, oboe Sam Lagrosa, vocals

Wendy Muska, voice Nathan Prins, trumpet Ming-lang Qin, guitar Ming-yang Qin, saxophone Kareena Shah, voice Sophie Stepanov, voice Matthew Yakir, piano Juan Zapateiro, drums

Tickets can be purchased for a discounted price of $5 in advance by contacting the societyʼs advisor, Argine Safari, at asafari@pascack.org, or by contacting any of the performers. Tickets will be available at the door for $8.

All money raised will be donated to Save the Music, the nationʼs leading nonprofit foundation for music education that has already helped more than 2,000 schools start and sustain their music programs.

The community is invited to attend this local showcase of emerging young voices and musicians.

Calendar

FROM PAGE 21

P PAARRK K R RIIDDGGE E 51 Park Ave. (201) 391-5151 parkridge.bccls.org

• Monday, March 20 at 11:30 a.m.: Yoga.

• Tuesday, March 21 at 10 a.m.: Storytime with Miss Renee.

• Thursday, March 23 at 10 a.m.: Storytime with Miss

HILLSDALE

Renee.

• Friday, March 24 at 10 a.m.: Virtual Arts and Crafts with Miss Renee.

• Saturday, March 25 at 10 a.m.: Virtual Storytime with Miss Eileen

R RIIVVEER R V VAALLE E 412 Rivervale Road (201) 391-2323 rivervalelibrary.org

• Tuesday, March 21 at 10:30 a.m.: Music with Miss Nita. Share songs, play instruments, and enjoy rhythm in a

HILLSDALE 50+CLUB PLANSSPRINGTRIP

The Hillsdale 50+ Club invites all to gather to meet neighbors and friends. The club meets at 11:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at the United Methodist Church on Magnolia Avenue between Hillsdale and Washington avenues.

A trip to Hunterdon Hills Playhouse is scheduled for April

4. This trip includes a wonderful hot lunch and a terrific show, “Million Dollar Quartet.” The cost is $83 for members, $85 for nonmembers.

The clubʼs overnight trip to Cape May in May has a waiting list. More trips are planned for the fall. For more information, call Evelyn at (201) 666-7675

Hills DECA delivers

relaxed, playful, family-style class. Registration required

• Tuesday, March 21 at 1 p.m.: Movie Matinee: “Whitney Houston:I Wanna Dance With Somebody” (2022).

• Tuesday, March 21 at 5 p.m.: Mah Jongg Club. Experienced players only; drop in.

• Wednesday, March 22 at 6 p.m.: Family Trivia Night. Food is served; registration required.

• Thursday, March 23 at 1:30 p.m.: Adult Chair Yoga in-person; seats are first-come, firstserved. Doors open 15 minutes prior to scheduled class time. River Vale residents receive priority. At 4 p.m.: Coffee Filter Rainbows for grades K–5. Tie dye a coffee filter to create an adorable rainbow. Register in person.

• Friday, March 24 at 10 a.m.: Knit and Crochet Group. Bring a project to work on.

• Friday, March 24 at 1 p.m.: Afternoon Mah Jongg Club. Instruction is not provided; drop in.

T TOOWWNNSSHHIIP P O OF F W WAASSHHIINNGGTTOON N 144 Woodfield Road (201) 664-4586 twpofwashingtonpl.org

•Throughout March : Weekly StoryTimes at 10 a.m. Ages 2–3. Song, movement, and story. Thursdays: Pre-K Story Time at 3:45 p.m. for ages 3–5. Fridays:

WESTWOOD REGIONAL SCHOOLS

Infant through 2 at 10 a.m.

• Tuesday, March 21 at 6 p.m. Teen Tuesday: Movies and games.

• Wednesdays in March: Teen Scavenger Hunt: Come to the Library Teen Room and follow the clues about The Addams Family and Nevermore Academy and use library resources to find the passcode. Use the passcode to get a prize at the front desk.

• Wednesdays in March at 3:45 p.m.: Crafts to Share, ages 4 and up.

• Thursday, March 23 at 11 a.m. and noon. Adult Chair Yoga. Register.

• Thursday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m.: Parents Helping Parents: College financial aid. Each month features a new theme; a local parent helps guide discussion and introduces guest speakers. At 6 p.m.: Adult Social Stitching. Drop in.

W WEESSTTWWOOOOD D 49 Park Ave. (201) 664-0583 westwoodpubliclibrary.org

• Monday, March 20 at 3:45, 4:05, and 4:25 p.m.: Math Rookie s.

• Monday, March 20 through April 3, 7 to 8:30 p.m.: LVPV Beginner English Class

• Tuesday, March 21 at 11 a.m: LVPV ESL Intermediate Online Conversation Class. Virtu-

al. Register online. At 7 p.m.: LVPV ESL Online, intermediate. Register online. At 6 p.m.: Junior Library Council Meeting.

• Wednesday, March 22 at 10:30 a.m.: Peek a Boo Storytime. To age 5. Register.At 2:45 p.m.: ESL Game Time grades 3–5. Register. At 7:30 p.m.: LVPV Online Culture Club presentation on India (virtual).

• Thursday, March 23 at 9 a.m.: LVPV ESL Online Advanced English Class (virtual). Register online. At 11 a.m.: ESL Online Intermediate English Class (virtual). Register online. At 3:30, 3:45, 4, and 4:15 p.m.: Read to a Dog, grades K–3. Register online. At 6 p.m.: Office Trivia Night. Register online.

• Friday, March 24 at 10:30 a.m: Music and Movement with Boogie Woogie Babies: To age 5. At 11 a.m: Knitting & Crocheting Club.

• Saturday, March 25 at 10:30 a.m.: Makers Day Open STEAM activities, grades K–5. At 10:30 a.m.: Saving for College: A free seminar by Michael Gaer. Register online. At noon: Makers Day with RoboThink: Build a Bot, grades K–5. Register online.

• Sunday, March 26 at 3 p.m.: Oldies Sing-along. Sing classic folk and rock with some of our favorite local musicians. Open mic available. Register online.

WWRSD 2023–24 preschool registration

The Westwood Regional School District begins its annual preschool registration for the Integrated Preschool program for the 2023-2024 school year. This is a tuition-based program with an annual cost to be determined.

To be eligible, your child must be 3 years old and less than 5 years of age on or before Oct. 1, 2023. If

MONTVALE

The Pascack Valley Regional High School District congratulates Pascack Hills DECA winners and finalists! DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) is an association that innovatively encourages students to develop skills in leadership and business through competitions and conferences.

With more than 6,000 students competing in the New Jersey state DECA competition for the top six spots, the Pascack Hills DECA team had nine winners and five finalists in their respective categories. This success will assure Pascack Hills is one of the New Jersey representatives at Nationals (International) in Orlando, Florida.

The National (International) DECA Competition is the final level with more than 19,000 competitors from around the world competing in 50 business categories.

Pascack Hills ICDC Qualifiers are Gabe Crandall, Snehanshn Chowdhury, Amresh Balakrishnan, Stephen Huang, Meher Baath, Emily Sailer, Kate Lafferty, Hanna Baskin, and Sophie Edeshain. All were in categories ranging from start-up business plan to sports and entertainment marketing management.

State finalist winners: Dylan Fitter (personal finance); Marli Golden and Tiffany Suponitskiy (independent business plan, 20page paper); and Jillian Fleishman, Adrianne Heit, Reece Benisatto and Madison Saks in the hospitality and tourism management team.

you have a child residing in the Borough of Westwood or Township of Washington, visit the district website for an overview of the program and tuition payment schedule.

An application can be downloaded from the district website at wwrsd.org under the Menu dropdown, select Preschool, or it can be picked up at the Department of

Special Services office. For further assistance, contact Rosie Rodriguez at (201) 664-0880 ext 2047 or write rosalexa.rodriguez@wwrsd.org.

Completed applications will be accepted March 1–17. If a lottery is initiated, applications submitted after the March 17 deadline will not be eligible.

Pool

The Park Ridge Municipal Pool The Park Ridge

Above: Team photo,with DECA advisor Corin Gamgort third from the right). At right, from left to right: Stephen Huang, Amresh Balakrishnan, Kaitlyn Lafferty,Emily Sailer,and Gabe Crandall.

S Sc c h o o ol l N e w s

Municipal pool registration underway

The Park Ridge Municipal Pool will open on Saturday, May 27. Pool memberships are open to all residents, previous pool members, and non-resident employees of Park Ridge borough and the local board of education.

A limited number of memberships will be offered to non-residents, so get your registrations in early once they are available.

HILLSDALE

New non-residents must be sponsored by a Park Ridge resident or prior pool member.

Membership rates remain what they were in 2019:

• Resident family: $410

• Resident single: $300

• Resident seniors: Free

• Non-resident family: $510

• Non-resident: single: $360

• Non-resident senior: $75/$100 per couple (both must

be 65 or older).

Registration is available electronically from Feb. 15 on the Park Ridge Municipal Pool page at parkridgeboro.com. Note the registration due dates to avoid a $35 late fee. If electronic signup is not possible, paper pool registration forms can be picked up at the pool office weekends, from May 6, from noon to 3 p.m.

Please read the pool informa-

Bracco to speak at Sundial Garden Club

The next meeting of the Sundial Garden Club on Monday, April 3 at 7 p.m. will feature a presentation by Anthony Bracco: “Adapting Small Farm Methods to a Backyard Garden.”

The club meets at the Hillsdale Free Public Library, 509 Hillsdale Ave.

The Bracco Family Farm is a 25 acre farm in the “black dirt” region of Pine Island, N.Y. which uses sustainable techniques without chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or glyphosphate.

Techniques include hand cultivation of weeds and the use of old-fashioned farm equipment. The soil is allowed to naturally regenerate each season. The farm supplies produce for individual customers, families, chefs, and

farm2table eateries, and country clubs.

Bracco will show how the public can produce fresh, natural-

ly grown vegetables in their own gardens. He will discuss naturally grown and sustainable methods and describe the tools and implements used at the farm (and demonstrate their use).

He also will explain safe seed sources, cold greenhouse growing, and building and preparing garden beds. And heʼll share information on fertilizers, compost, and natural pest control methods.

Braccoʼs goal is to help the general public to successfully establish their own vegetable gardens to provide themselves with fresh, healthy, sustainable and delicious food.

The club welcomes all gardeners and would-be gardeners from the Pascack Valley to this information-packed presentation.

tion packet concerning hours of operation, guest fees, swim lessons and other important information by clicking on the link on the Park Ridge Municipal Pool page page.

The Park Ridge Municipal Pool normally provides swim lessons and such activities as com-

petitive swim and dive teams, arts and crafts, story time, Red Cross lifeguard training, and other special events as posted throughout the summer.

For more information visit parkridgeboro.com or write pool@parkridgeboro.com

Preschool registration at PVRHSD

The Pascack Valley Regional High School District is pleased to announce the preschool programs at Pascack Hills and Pascack Valley high schools are accepting applications for the 2023–2024 school year.

The Pascack Valley Regional High School Districtʼs preschool laboratory is part of the Early Childhood & Family Education Program, which enables high school students to work with and observe young children, while learning about child development and parenting.

The program is designed to provide high school students with the opportunity to engage with and embrace new roles and responsibilities through their work with young children. The skills and competencies required

to perform these roles serve as preparation for parenthood and child service careers.

To learn more about the program and for the online application, families are encouraged to visit the Family and Consumer Science page of the district website: tinyurl.com/PVRHSDPreschool

Note that all children who register for the program must reside within the Pascack Valley Regional High School District (Hillsdale, Montvale, River Vale, or Woodcliff Lake).

If you have questions about the program, contact Argine Safari, interim supervisor of world language, ESL, music, and family and consumer science, at (201) 358-7020 ext. 22054 or at asafari@pascack.org

MONTVALE

Bond: Next steps

FROM PAGE 1

the students and families who will be contending with the conditions at George White for another three to four years.”

He added, “That is the timeline for rethinking options, developing plans, getting state approval, scheduling another referendum, and hopefully finishing whatever work emerges as Hillsdaleʼs next best thing.”

Lombardy said the districtʼs “immediate next steps involve listening to residents about what they want in a middle school, and what they are willing to pay for. As I said numerous times over the past six months, George White is an example of the can being kicked down the road. Voters did that again on Tuesday.”

He said, “We can look at the cheaper options that patched up the building and added the barebones space GW needs to accommodate its population. We can look at the even cheaper option that patched up the building without improving the educational environment.”

He said, “The question of when and how to kick that can will fall to the Board of Education. However, what we have known for years is that the kinds of sweeping changes that building needs, not to mention additional classrooms,

cannot be paid for from the annual operating budget. Another bond referendum is likely in Hillsdaleʼs future.”

Kohan said the unofficial vote tallies included mail-in ballots received by March 14. She said official results would be released on March 27.

At 9:48 p.m. Tuesday night, Lombardy emailed Pascack Press with a general statement issued to Hillsdale families regarding referendum results and posted online.

“The Board of Education thanks the Hillsdale community for casting their votes. We will review the end results of this referendum, listen to feedback from the community, and then discuss how to determine the best path to meet Hillsdaleʼs present and future needs,” he said.

Nearly 30 percent of local voters turned out for the referendum vote, almost double the turnout for most school board elections and referendums that average closer to 15 percent. The large turnout occurred despite a Norʼeaster that delivered windwhipped snow and rain throughout the day

Recent editions of Pascack Press have featured letters to the editor from a handful of residents urging the referendumʼs defeat, including former mayor Doug Frank. Some residents have

Court of Honor

opposed the referendumʼs $82.7 million price tag and tax increases, saying not enough consideration was given to lower-cost renovation options.

District officials, however, have said the middle school needs to be replaced, and further renovations are only “Band-Aids” to major structural problems with a 100-year-old school.

Some residents also previously criticized the district for a lack of transparency about bond referendum options.

District officials disagreed, noting the Road to Referendum web portal, video, multiple open houses, and a dedicated email for residents to get answers to school bond questions. (See “Referen-

dum Outreach Is Focus Ahead Of March 14 Vote,” Michael Olohan, Feb. 27, 2023, Pascack Press.)

Since January, district officials have ramped up public outreach, holding two public middle school tours, a virtual Q&A forum, and released a fourminute-plus video on the need to replace the middle school due to its physical, mechanical and educational deficits.

School officials have estimated the bondʼs tax impacts would average approximately $1,140 annually, or $95 per month on Hillsdaleʼs average home assessed at $474,172. The tax impacts would likely be in the 2024–2025 tax year.

School finance officials had

also said bond costs were likely to be refinanced over its 30-year term, reducing the tax burden on residents. Had the bond referendum been approved, the district would have received $5.4 million in state aid to construct a new middle school.

Following consideration of several lower-cost options to renovate existing facilities, the school board voted unanimously last June to support replacing the middle school with a new stateof-the-art facility, rather than renovate the aged facility and relocate students for up to two years in temporary trailers that would be located on a nearby recreational field.

HILLSDALE

An Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Saturday, March 11 at Hillsdale United Methodist Church honored three scouts from Troop 109. Left to right: Brady Williams, Michael Pizzella, and Dylan Minneker.

Courtesy photo

Health,Wellness &FitnessGuide

DR. KAPLAN: Exercises to keep you brain in balance

If you have ever been hit in the head, had a car accident, or had a slip and fall, it is possible you had a brain injury. Symptoms of a brain injury or a concussion include headaches, dizziness, brain fog, trouble with focus, memory problems, blurry vision, anxiety, mood swings, or difficulty with sleep. These symptoms may appear immediately, or they may appear days, months, or even years later.

Although many people can get hit in the head and not have symptoms, others cannot handle the impact. These people usually have some sort of underlying issue before the injury that prevents them from recovering properly.

The most common underlying

issue that I see is dysautonomia, an imbalance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. These people are in the “fight or flight” mode rather than the normal “rest and digest” state. They live in a fearful state, even in their sleep. They will be on edge, little things will become big deals in their lives, and anger management becomes difficult.

As the nervous system is overstimulated, eventually it may lead to adrenal fatigue. As the brain is already so tired and weak from being in the “fight or flight” mode it cannot handle a brain impact and symptoms may ensue.

The solution is to make the brain stronger. Just like you should brush your teeth to keep your teeth healthy and you should exercise to keep your heart and muscles strong, I also recommend doing neurological exercises to make your brain strong so it can handle any physical, chemical, or emotional stress without creating any symptoms.

In neuroplasticity we exercise the brain by creating more connections between cells. As neuroscience continues to add contributions to medical innovations and treatment options, we use this research to help people improve their brain function and quality of life.

To rewire the brain, a person must increase oxygen that is delivered to the brain, perform new activities that they have never done before, challenge the brain, supply the brain with lots of water and feed the brain healthy and colorful food.

One example of a challenging brain exercise you can practice at home is to draw clockwise circles in the air using your left leg; and at the same time use your left arm to draw the number 6 in the air. Because one limb is going counterclockwise and the other is going clockwise, it becomes very difficult to perform. Try this every day and you will get the hang of it.

This is just one example of thousands of exercises that you can perform to keep your brain strong and healthy as you get older and wiser. You can purchase my book “Boost Your Brain Power: a guide to improving your memory and focus” on Amazon if you are interested in learning about more exercises to improve memory and focus.

Each traumatic brain injury requires a different type of treatment. Our office differs from most because our programs are based on the specific lobe of the brain and the specific side of the brain that is most damaged. For example, we might want to stimulate one side of the brain that is weak and underactive, but we also might want to calm down the other side of the brain that is overactive.

If the brain injury has affected the front part of the brain, it is possible the patient may have trouble with concentration, may be easily dis-

tracted, may have troubles with focus, may have trouble with organization, difficulty planning, decision making, abnormal social behavior, issues with language or speech, poor memory, confusion, brain fog, depression, anxiety, may have problems with punctuality, losing things easily, or forgetting conversations and details.

There are many easy ways to stimulate the front of the brain. For example little finger movements activate this front part. Smell is a sense that goes directly to this frontal lobe of the brain. Quick eye movements activate the frontal lobe.

One last common part of the nervous system affected in concussion is the vagus nerve. It may be due to its location near the top of the neck and the shearing forces that it has to handle during a concussion, but the vagus nerve is often damaged. As the nerve is not functioning properly, it may be appropriate to try to strengthen it by performing exercises that have already been proven to activate the vagus nerve.

Gargling intensely, performing the gag reflex, swallowing, singing, laughing, and screaming can create an increase in input to this weak area and create new stronger pathways that help the body function better. A dysfunctional vagus nerve can cause problems with breathing, diabetes, heart disease, digestion, urination, sexual function, thyroid function, liver function, and kidney function, so it is vital to make sure it is functioning at optimal levels.

The brain is complicated and each brain injury needs the proper attention. One of the best neurology tools we have in our office is a qEEG with neurofeedback, which measures brain waves. You wear what looks like a swim cap. Electrodes measure areas of the brain and tell you what isnʼt functioning well. It is noninvasive, there is no radiation, no

pain, and takes about 30 minutes to perform. It is normally $500, but we are giving a gift to our readers: the qEEG brain mapping with a review and consultation for $21. Call (201) 261-2150 or email info@kaplanbrainandbody.com to reserve your spot.

Besides stimulating the weak areas of the brain and calming the overactive parts of the brain, create good brain habits to improve your quality of life. These habits include eating healthy, exercising daily, getting a good nightʼs sleep, drinking the proper amount of water, reducing stress and anxiety, having fun, creating joy, meditating, being in nature, and getting sunlight.

I will review many of these habits on my weekly radio show “Boost Your Brainpower with Dr. Eric “ on AM 970 Saturdays from 8 to 9 a.m. and AM 710 Saturdays from 2 to 3 p.m.

If you are interested in informational videos about how to improve your brain function, please subscribe to my YouTube Channel “Kaplan Brain and Body,” so you will start to function better, feel better, and live better. Lastly, I will be running a live Boost Your Brain Power Seminar Series that begins March 22, 2023 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in River Edge. This first seminar is about the holistic and natural ways to reverse, as well as prevent, insomnia and chronic fatigue. Each seminar, which covers different topics such as mastering nutrition, natural reducing inflammation, learning functional brain exercises, and the Boost Your Brain Power Bootcamp, is $100, but if you call or text (646) 2216738 before March 22, you can go to all the live events, or participate on Zoom, or you can even get all the recordings, for a total of $49 (only $10 a module). Itʼs a no brainer! Hope to see you there.

DR. ERIC KAPLAN, KAPLAN BRAIN & BODY

Health,Wellness &FitnessGuide

Ask the Dentist: Do Ireally need to floss?

T here was a b ig story in the news recently t hat flossing is n ot proven to be beneficial. I t is important t o dig a little deeper into h ow this claim c ome to pass.

It turns out that the problem is that there are no great s cientific studies with enough subjects to prove that flossing is necessary for excellent dental h ealth, so the federal government will not put out a statement recommending flossing in the absence of this solid scientific evidence.

Before you stop flossing or decide not to start, consider that dentists have been recommending flossing to their patients since the early 1900ʼs. Every

d entist and hygienist that I know can vouch for the improved oral health in patients w ho floss regularly (regularity is the key), as opposed to those who donʼt.

I t only makes sense to clean around all sides of a tooth and in between teeth where plaque with bacteria and related t oxins reside and can cause damage including gum inflammation, decay and bad breath.

T hink about how brushing teeth only cleans the outside exposed areas of teeth and it only makes sense to floss (properly and regularly). Just ask any dental health professional if they stopped flossing after this announcement came out.

For questions about this and other dental procedures contact Dr. Guller at askdrguller@aol.com or call (201) 391-5565.

Women in service

50+Club plans lively spring trips

The Hillsdale 50+ Club invites all to gather to meet neighbors and friends. The club meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Hillsdale. The entrance to the meeting room is on Magnolia Avenue between Hillsdale and Washington avenues.

The Hillsdale club has two trips planned:

•A trip to Hunterdon Hills Playhouse is scheduled for Tuesday, April 4. This trip includes a wonderful hot lunch and a terrific show, “The Million Dollar Quartet”

bers, $85 for non-members.

•A two-night, three-day trip is set for Cape May, May 8–10. There are many activities planned while the club is there, with hotel lodging.

For more information on club

feminine care supplies destined for parts of the world

women and girls live in “period poverty,”lacking access to such neccessities.

PARKRIDGE

The Womenʼs Association at First Congregational Church in Park Ridge recently completed a service project for Church World Service, providing feminine care supplies to parts of the world where women and girls live in “period poverty,” lacking access to such neccessities.

The team purchased the items and at FCCʼs annual meeting, and the congregation helped pack them.

The 50 kits were then shipped to CWS and will be distributed, with others collected, to women and girls living through disaster or living in shelters for immigrants. Many will be shipped to Syria, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Photo via Carol Kobbe Carrie Lawler,administrator,First Congregational Church,Park Ridge,with

where

EMT Justin Tsai gains more fans of his own

And to think, we knew him when!

Congratulations to Justin G. Tsai, NREMT, BSN, “EMT to the Stars,” whose Paramus-based Tsai Mobile Health LLC has now been profiled in “EMSWorld.”

Of course, we wrote about him first, both in his work with the Washington Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps and later with the growing success of Tsai Mobile Health, which provides EMS coverage for major film, television, and live productions.

(See “Serious A-list adventures with local EMT Justin G. Tsai,” Sept. 5, 2022.)

Tsai told “EMSWorld” for its March 6 feature on him, “If anyone had gone up to teenaged me and told me that, in less than 10 years, my EMT career would bring me from my humble beginnings in small-town Washington Township to being invited to attend private parties with the likes of Matt Rogers [“Have You Heard of Christmas,” “Las Culturistas,” “Fire Island”], Doron Max Hagay [director, “Saturday Night Live”], Bowen Yang [host, “Las Culturistas”], and Meghann Fahy [actress, “White Lotus,” “Chicago Fire,” “Law and Order,” “Blue Bloods”], I would have been in disbelief!”

The publication said, “Even before establishing Tsai Mobile Health, Tsai had been providing EMT services to commercial shoots and modeling shows for clients such as Cadillac, International Womanʼs Day, Maybelline, and Red Lobster. However, his big break into the A-list world didnʼt come until February 2021, six months after he had founded Tsai Mobile Health and had been working full time with Washington Township.”

Tsai said his first celebrity gig was working the pilot episode of “Pause with Sam Jay” for a week in various New York locations for HBO. “I got it because my name was already listed on a website for industry insiders. Someone from the show saw my credentials and felt I was the right person for the job.”

As the feature notes “The life of a celebrity EMT isnʼt all fun on set, selfies and parties.”

Tsai said, “On one occasion during a shoot for a rural countryside movie, our main actor reached into a bag—not realizing there was an open knife inside. That knife sliced our actor down the middle of his finger through an artery, causing a bleed that could not be stopped until we got to the emergency department.”

Tsai treated a similar serious injury during the Sam Jay show. “Finger lacerations—not so much against paper but against sharp blades and scissors—seem to be a common theme across several shows that I worked on,” he said.

Highlights from the feature

• On how he gets jobs: “In some ways this is a legit trade secret. As far as how I first got myself into the industry, I was noticed by a producer who thought I had the skills and potential to succeed here, so he recruited me. I originally served on food commercials and quickly expanded into other forms of commercials as well as some modeling gigs, all thanks to a small group of clients who passed my name around.”

• On marketing: “I learned how to make my own portfolio and hired a graphic design artist to improve the advertising. I worked my way up to getting invited to … online forums in which I could use my portfolio to network to producers, directors, showrunners, project

organizers, celebrities, and their representatives.”

• On growing the business: By the summer of 2021 “not only was I picking up more clients and their projects through my advertising, but my company received a large boost from positive word-of-

PASCACK VALLEY

mouth referrals amongst various clients, as well as a number of repeat clients who asked me to return over and over again for one project after another.”

Tsai can be reached at https://linktr.ee/justingtsai

—Staff report

WOMAN’SCLUBHOSTS SPEAKERONHEALTH

The Greater Pascack Valley Womanʼs Club holds its next meeting on Monday, March 13 at 7 p.m. at the Park Ridge Community Center, 53 Park Ave., Park Ridge.

The featured speaker is Tara Piantadosi of Hackensack University Medical Center, who will disciss how nutrition affects our immune systems and promotes disease prevention.

Also on the agenda: plans for the clubʼs annual military bridge fundraiser. This event is slated for Thursday, April 27, and will

include a fun game of cards (no experience required) and a tricky tray raffle. Tickets are $15, with all proceeds donated to local charities.

The Greater Pascack Valley Womanʼs Club has been a member of the New Jersey Federation of Womenʼs Clubs since 1990. The club welcomes all women who want to make a difference in their community and in their own lives. For more information call Carolyn at (201) 819-1000, write GPVWC1990@gmail.com , or visit the club on Facebook.

PRE-K T-BALL REGISTRATIONOPEN

River Vale children who are entering kindergarten in the fall are eligible to take part in River Valeʼs spring T-ball program.

The clinic runs Saturdays from 1 to 2 p.m: April 29; May 6, 13, and 20; and June 3 and 10 (no session Memorial Day weekend) at Holdrum School field.

The cost to participate is $50

per child. Registration is required and available online via River Valeʼs Community Pass system through April 7. Space is limited. Want to enrich your child's experience? Become a coach. No baseball/softball experience is necessary. See the town website for more information, including requirements.

Justin G.Tsai at Carnegie Hall. Courtesy photo.

E MT Justin G.Tsai w ith Matt Rogers,executive producer and lead performer of Showtime’s “Matt R ogers:Have You Heard of Christmas?”taped at The Public Theatre/Joe’s Pub in Manhattan in August. Matt Rogers selfie; provided.

RIVER VALE

CONSIDER THESE THREE SUGGESTIONS IF YOU INHERIT A TRUST

the beneficiaries of a sizable trust,” Esparza recalls, “they had no idea what to do next.”

The brother and sister had many questions. Who handles the estate? What are the terms of the trust? And what should their next steps be?

“Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., was the trustee, so we explained the timeline and process for settling the trust estate,” Esparza says. “It helped to ease their minds to know that professionals would be handling everything.”

As Esparzaʼs clients found, stepping into the role of beneficiary can feel a bit like stepping into the unknown. Here, Esparza offers three suggestions to ease the process.

Build an advisory team

A good first step for the beneficiary is to meet with the trustee who is tasked with executing the terms of the trust. It may be an individual, such as a CPA or lawyer, family member, or a corporate trustee.

“There will be a lot of questions,

so itʼs important to establish a communication plan and a general timeframe for how long it will take to settle the estate,” Esparza says.

In some instances, once the estate is settled, a new trust is funded with the beneficiaryʼs share of the estate; in other cases, assets will be distributed outright to the beneficiary. If the assets will be retained in trust, the trustee typically collaborates with an investment advisor to help manage the assets according to the terms of the trust.

“The trustee and investment advisor will create a plan that is based on the terms of the trust and considers the needs of the beneficiary,” Esparza says. “Beneficiaries also should consider seeking the guidance of a tax consultant regarding tax implications related to trust distribution.”

Understand the terms of the trust

One of the first questions a beneficiary might have for the advisory team is, “What does the trust mean for me?”

Esparza explains that a trust is a useful tool for holding, managing, and distributing property as outlined by the trustor(s) - the creator(s) of the trust - in the trust agreement, but each trust is unique in how assets can be distributed to beneficiaries. It is important to understand the terms of the trust. Some key trust aspects to discuss include:

• Beneficiary or beneficiaries: Is there a sole or several beneficiaries of the trust? How do the terms address the rights different beneficiaries have to distributions from the trust?

• Age restrictions: Does the beneficiary have to reach a certain age before accessing some or all of the trust?

• Distribution restrictions: Can beneficiaries access the principal or just the income from the trust? Does the beneficiary need to provide the trustee with proof of the beneficiaryʼs own income and expenses to receive distributions? What categories of expenses can the trust cover for the beneficiary? For what reasons may distributions be adjusted?

• Lifetime of the trust: Does the trust terminate once the beneficiary reaches a certain age, or is it meant to last the beneficiaryʼs lifetime? Is any portion of the trust designated for future generations?

“Trusts are an opportunity to build generational wealth, not only for the trustor but also for the beneficiary,” Esparza says. “For that reason, the trustee should be thoughtful in administrating the trust to help the funds last not only through beneficiaryʼs lifetime but also potentially for future generations.”

Ask questions before taking distributions

“Before taking a trust distribution, some beneficiaries find it useful to inquire about the potential tax consequences. Thatʼs where a tax advisor should provide guidance,” Esparza says. “Beneficiaries also may consid-

er consulting with the trustee and investment advisor about additional considerations or impacts a trust distribution may have.” In addition, beneficiaries should consult with their own legal counsel if they have specific questions regarding their rights with respect to a trust or the possible impact of a trust distribution.

Esparza shares the story of a young beneficiary who wanted to use her trust fund to purchase a luxury car when she turned 16. “As trustee, I posed this question: ʻWould a less-expensive car meet your transportation goals and preserve trust assets for the long term?ʼ” he says. “It is important for beneficiaries to stay connected with the trustee and to ask clarifying questions so they understand the impact certain distributions may have to the trust. As a fiduciary, a trustee is there to educate and can help the trust sustain longer term financial well-being for the beneficiary.”

Wells Fargo Private Bank offers products and services through Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, and its various affiliates and subsidiaries. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is a bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. offers various advisory and fiduciary products and services including discretionary portfolio management. Wells Fargo affiliates, including financial advisors of Wells Fargo Advisors, a separate non-bank affiliate, may be paid an ongoing or onetime referral fee in relation to clients referred to the bank. The bank is responsible for the day-to-day management of the account and for providing investment advice, investment management services, and wealth management services to clients. The role of the financial advisor with respect to the Bank products and services is limited to referral and relationship management services. Some of The Private Bank experiences may be available to clients of Wells Fargo Advisors without a relationship with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Wells Fargo & Company and its affiliates do not provide legal or tax advice. Wells Fargo Advisors is not a legal or tax advisor. Please consult your legal advisors to determine how this information may apply to your own situation. Whether any planned tax result is realized by you depends on the specific facts of your own situation at the time your taxes are prepared.

Trust services available through banking and trust affiliates in addition to non-affiliated companies of Wells Fargo Advisors. Any estate plan should be reviewed by an attorney who specializes in estate planning and is licensed to practice law in your state.

This article was written by Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Eric Kohlmeier, Senior Financial Advisor, Managing Director - Investments in Park Ridge at 201-505-0472.

David “Chico” Esparza, Senior Fiduciary Advisory Specialist with Wells Fargo Private Bank, remembers meeting two clients, a brother and sister whose parents had passed away. “Unfortunately, their parents had not discussed their estate plans with the adult children. When the siblings learned they were

ERIC KOHLMEIER

HILLSDALE

SpringFlingshoppingfunMarch25

Hillsdale United Methodist Church invites you to Spring Fling on Saturday, March 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

The event is sponsored by The United Methodist Women, “who work all year long to raise funds for missions around the world. When you do your shopping at a local vendor event, you support local merchants and small businesses. Every year, there is a wonderful variety of gift ideas on display and a great group of local professionals anxiously awaiting your arrival.”

On offer: arts and crafts, jewelry, skin care products, and so much more. Admission is free. All are welcome.

Local businesses and organizations interested in participating should email Lesa Brinker at umwrocks@gmail.com

Itʼs a new year and the Westwood United Methodist Church is happy to announce that the Faithworks Thrift Shop and food pantry are open.

Mark your calendars: The thrift shop will be open the first and third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and every Monday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Donations of clean used items will be accepted during those hours.

Hours for March: March 18 open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 13, 20, and 27 open 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The food distribution program has expanded its hours to coincide with the thrift shop hours with only non-perishables available. Food distribution includes fresh produce, meat and pantry items.

The food pantry is open on the second Tuesday of each month (March 14) from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free food is available to all in the area. Donations of unexpired food are gratefully accepted during thrift shop hours.

Westwood United Methodist Church is at 105 Fairview Ave., Westwood. The entrance to the thrift shop and food pantry is on Bergen Avenue. A sign outside the door is placed there for your convenience.

Holi festival a world of color in timely triumph

BY BRIANA KEENAN OF PASCACK PRESS

PASCACKVALLEY

IMMERSINGONESELF in spring calls for new beginnings, hope, and vibrancy. For some, “throwing colors” — a rainbowʼs worth of powdered chalk and colored water — in the traditional celebration of Holi brings joy and a fresh start as the seasons change.

On Sunday, March 12, the Woodcliff Lake Indian Desi Group hosted a Holi celebration aimed at “making our children aware of the culture of India.” Organizers said, “This is not organized by borough of Woodcliff Lake or any religious group. All the participants will come in colored outfits and enjoy all types of colors and music.”

Authoritative sources explain the holiday originated and is predominantly celebrated in the Indian subcontinent but has spread to other regions of Asia and parts of the Western world through the Indian diaspora. It celebrates the triumph of good over evil.

In “Celebrating Life Customs Around the World” (2016), Victoria Williams says that “Throughout the day people visit family, and friends and foes come together to chat, enjoy food and drink, and partake in Holi delicacies.”

This was the second year that the Woodcliff Lake committee held the festival. The first was in 2021 at Wood Dale County Park, at Hillsdale, Park Ridge, and Woodcliff Lake. The holiday was March 8.

The group got its start on WhatsApp. Members include Kanika Chopra, Shweta Pathak, Preeti Bansal, Kalindi Bakshi, Leena Bakshi, and Suzanne Mohan.

“Itʼs teamwork. It canʼt be handled by one person; itʼs a community,” Bansal told Pascack Press in the lead-up to the festival.

Similarly, members said they want to bring community and awareness to those who are not Indian so they can learn about the culture.

Chopra told us, “I think there is an opportunity for us to become one voice versus having our own [separate voices].”

And Mohan said, “I think we have done such a great job as a community trying to reach out in our community for our people to know that weʼve gotten the attention from people like even our leaders in the town.”

Woodcliff Lake Mayor Carlos Rendo attended the festival — held this year at The Gathering Social Club, opened this January at 209 Rivervale Road in River Vale — and spoke about the community relative to the borough.

“Itʼs a great festival … leaving the bad behind and bringing the good in,” he said. “Our Indian community is growing in Woodcliff Lake. By learning about other peopleʼs customs, it allows us to

become more united.”

Brij Chopra, owner of The Gathering, offered his space after organizers were unable to have it in Woodcliff Lake.

“It was very kind of Mr. Chopra to offer his place,” Bansal said. “Itʼs cold outside, so definitely many people do have a backyard that we can. With the community hall that we have, we were not sure if we would get it because they had meetings lined up.”

The members agreed that a goal is to have the celebration at the community center. “There are restrictions that have to be considered, because our festivals are not just only about food or clothing or music; thereʼs a lot of activities…so for Holi, for example, itʼs all about colors,” Chopra said, “We have to be mindful of that.”

In 2021 when the group had its first Holi celebration, Mohan explained that participants “just knew we wanted to get together and throw colors.”

“Kalindi stepped up and was like ʻI got colors; I got you covered,ʼ” she said, “[We told others], if you need to wear masks, come

masked up.”

This year, with the pandemic less of a felt presence, the group went bigger.

“We thought of doing it in a more structured way because things opened up, people opened up,” Bansal said.

This yearʼs event started out with socialization and traditional dancing. Afterward, guests enjoyed traditional Indian food, which Mohan said was “a big driving factor” in planning this yearʼs celebration.

“We have different kinds of stories, different kinds of celebrations, and different kinds of food, so we celebrate the same occasion but differently,” Bansal said.

After those that attended ate and danced, they participated in Holi: the traditional throwing of colored chalk to welcome spring.

Each color represents some-

thing different to welcome in: blue for the Hindu god Krishna; red for fertility and love; green for new beginnings; yellow for turmeric, a natural remedy; purple for mystery and magic; and pink for playfulness, youth, and good health.

“Thereʼs a significance of color…when you think about color, it brightens, it rings love, thereʼs fun, thereʼs laughter, so thereʼs a certain significance that comes with it,” Chopra said.

When asked about their favorite part of the celebration, members mentioned the bright colors and time with friends.

Chopra said, “For me, itʼs about being a kid again. Weʼre all faced in day-to-day life struggles of work, life, kids; this is the one time that we give everybody to loosen up and forget theyʼre adults.”

Celebrating Holi March 12 at The Gathering in River Vale.Organizers are residents from Woodcliff Lake. Photo via The Gathering.

Siding materials to consider for your home

Exterior renovations consistently top the list of projects that offer maximum return on investment, according to Remodeling magazineʼs annual “Cost vs. Value Report.” Siding replacement is a popular exterior renovation and one

ing & Siding. This material can be painted if homeowners desire a change of color down the line. This siding costs around $2.50 to $4.50 per square foot for siding and all trim accessories with an additional

installation cost of $5.50 to $12.00 per square foot. The product is made of wooden strands that have been coated with wax for moisture resistance. A special zinc-based solution is added to protect against rot and insect infestation.

A similar product, HardiePlank™, is engineered from a blend of cement, wood fibers, fine sand, and water. It is similar in price point to the SmartSide and offers resistance to rot and insects. HardiePlank also can be repainted.

Engineered products can be more expensive to install and generally are not DIY renovations, which may deter homeowners working on tight budgets.

Wood siding

Wood is one of the oldest siding materials. It can be stained or painted and comes in a variety of styles, from boards to shingles. Itʼs a popular choice in historical homes or ones with classic, architectural details.

Itʼs important to note that wood is a combustible material that can be susceptible to water and insect damage. It also needs to be maintained continuously to look its best. This makes wood siding a true commitment on the part of homeowners. The cost is midrange between vinyl and engineered sidings.

Metal

Those interested in one of the most energy efficient options in siding can look no further than metal siding. Metal isnʼt just for roofing. According to Colonial Contracting, Inc., metal siding creates a uniquely modern appearance and comes in a variety of styles that complement homes.

Unlike fiber, wood or vinyl products, metal siding reflects the sunʼs rays and keeps interior temperatures cooler in the summer, a boon in hot climates but maybe not the most insulating option for cold climates. One potential pitfall is the possibility of rust, which would make metal siding a less ideal choice for those who live near the ocean.

The cost of metal siding is comparable to other siding products, at around $10 per square foot. These are a few of the siding options homeowners can investigate if theyʼre revamping the exteriors of their homes.

that can completely transform the look of a home.

Siding comes in a variety of materials, and homeowners can explore the pros, cons and affordability of each to make the most informed decision when replacing their existing siding. Factors to consider apart from price include durability, maintenance and aesthetics.

Vinyl

Vinyl siding is one the most popular siding materials in North America. That popularity is perhaps due to the relatively low cost of vinyl siding replacement, which Forbes Home estimates is between $6,150 and $15,900 to install for a 2,000-square-foot home. A wide array of color options as well as weatherproof protection makes vinyl siding worthy of consideration.

PVC, which is what vinyl siding is comprised of, also is quite fire-resistant. Potential pitfalls of vinyl are that it can fade more quickly than other siding materials and is sensitive to excess UV exposure.

Engineered

Engineered materials cost more than vinyl but are considered very durable. They can be advantageous in damp climates or ones where insects are problematic. LP SmartSide™ is a type of engineered hardwood that is very durable, so much so that a 50-year warranty often is offered for the product, according to First American Roof-

Siding comes in a variety of materials, and homeowners can explore the pros, cons and affordability of each.

Anne Rae M. CONKLING

Anne Rae Mathers Conkling, 84, passed away on March 8, 2023 close to her son David Conkling and family in Park Ridge.

Anne Rae was born Jan. 24, 1939 in Tarrytown, N.Y., daughter to the late David “Bart” Mathers and Ethel Lang Mathers.

Anne Rae spent most of her younger years in Ossining, N.Y. where she met and married her late husband Allen Wells “Pete” Conkling in 1961.

She worked as a telephone representative for New York Telephone Company for over 35 years making lifelong friends.

In their early years of marriage, Pete and Anne Rae spent time in Japan during Peteʼs service in the U.S. Army.

Anne Rae spent her last 25 years enjoying family and friends while living between Tuckerton, N.J. and Stuart, Fla. She was involved with many clubs, charities, and civic organizations and was a longtime member of Saint Maryʼs Episcopal Church in Stuart and The Church of the Holy Spirit in Tuckerton.

Her home was always welcoming and filled with warmth and love. She enjoyed caring for others, gardening, reading, cooking but above all being a wonderful loving “Grandma-ma” to her three grandchildren: Devin, Dylan, and Taylor Rae.

Her life was filled with the love of her family and lifelong friendships, beginning in with her early years in Ossining, continuing in Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., many of which remained throughout her life.

Tuckerton was also like home for the last 45 years where all her loving friends on “North Burgee” have added an abundance of unforgettable and loving, cherished memories.

Stuart, Fla. “Conquistador” has been a winter retreat for some 50 years as it has been in the family for

generations — being one of the original owners within the community. Many lasting friendships, including her special group of ladies, created memories, occurrences, and wonderful experiences that blessed her life throughout.

Anne Rae is survived by her loving son David Conkling along with his wife, Dawn, and three wonderful grandchildren, Devin, Dylan, and Taylor Rae, as well as her cousin Robert Talbot of Ballston Spa, N.Y., whose hearts are surely broken.

The family will hold “Celebration of Life Memorials” in New Jersey and Florida at a later date.

Christine RUTHERFORD

Christine Rutherford, 77, of Bellevue, Wash., formerly of River Vale, died Feb. 17, 2023, of natural causes.

Services will be held in Westwood. Christine will be waked at Becker Funeral Home, 9 to 11 a.m. on Friday March 3. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Andrewʼs Catholic Church of Westwood at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, March 3.

Born Christine Roth in River Vale on Feb, 27, 1945, she was the daughter of John and Eleanor Roth. Her sisters and brothers included Mary Roth Browne, John Kyran Roth, Regina Roth Susek, Damien Roth, and Joseph Roth. Christine graduated from St. Andrewʼs grammar school in Westwood, Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale, and St. Johnʼs University in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Later in life, she earned a masterʼs degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

She was the beloved wife of Andrew Rutherford, of Westwood, until his death in 2002. They were married for 33 years. His career took their family to Illinois, Texas, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota. Together they raised three sons: Dr. Drew Rutherford, a chemistry professor at Concordia College in Minnesota; Dr. Robert Rutherford, a biology

professor at Seattle University in Washington, and Dr. Daniel Rutherford, and environmental engineer with the International Council on Clean Transportation in San Francisco, California.

Christineʼs beloved daughters in-law include Dr. Julie Rutherford, Liska Barker Rutherford, and Eiko Fujioka Rutherford. These woman blessed her with four grandchildren: Eliana Christine, Ross Andrew, Vivienne May, and Hannah.

Before her marriage, Christine worked as a group contract analyst with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Manhattan. After an 11-year stint as a stay-at-home mother, she re-entered the job market as a copywriter at KMNS/KSEZ sister radio stations in Sioux City, Iowa. She won several “Addy” awards for her creative work in radio. Over the years, she also worked as a freelance journalist, ghost-writer, switchboard operator, ice cream dipper, government documents clerk, customer service representative at a real phone company, and as a word processor at Farm Credit Service during the farm crisis of the mid-1980s.

In 1988, Christine enrolled in library school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, obtaining her masterʼs degree in library science shortly before her 45th birthday. She graduated second in her class and was inducted into Beta Phi Mu, an honorary professional society. Thanks were due to her husband for his urgings, encouragement, and for single-parenting three teenagers. Thereafter, she enjoyed a challenging and satisfying career in librarianship.

She was employed, 1991–2005, as reference and Internet services librarian at Northwest Iowa Library Services, serving 115 small rural libraries. Her work included fielding the most difficult reference and research questions, teaching continuing education, and consulting in the area of emerging electronic resources.

Each personʼs life has its challenges. As a college student, Christine commuted three hours, 45 min-

utes five days a week to St Johnʼs University in Brooklyn, N.Y. She traveled via car, train, ferry, subway and then on foot. She was on campus during the 1965 blackout. During the 1966 transit strike she walked across the Brooklyn Bridge to get to class.

As a mother, her challenges included bearing three sons in four years; then as teenagers moving them in a span of nine months between Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota.

In the 1980s, she prevailed in a sexual discrimination lawsuit against an industry giant.

She survived the crushing grief of widowhood at age 56.

She traveled to Japan at age 58, and to Ireland at 61 and again at 62.

She had fortitude.

Marie T. SIPALA

Marie Teresa Sipala (née Assante), 95, passed away peacefully among family on Jan. 17, 2023. Marie was born in Providence R.I. on Oct. 29, 1927. Her family moved to The Bronx, N.Y., where she was raised and later met and married her soulmate, Domenic. (They met at Orchard Beach and were married at Mount Carmel church.)

Together they raised their family in Emerson, and later moved to Park Ridge, before retiring to Ortley Beach, N.J. and Marco Island, Fla.

Marie is predeceased by her loving husband, Domenic Sipala, in 2015; brothers Joseph and Anthony Assante, sisters-in-law Barbara and Laura Assante respectively, and sister Louise (Assante) Malta, brother-inlaw Sonny Malta.

She is survived by her sister Laura (Assante) Geberth and brotherin-law Vernon Geberth. Marie is survived by her four children: daughter, Meline Capello; sons Michael, wife Marcy; Anthony, wife Kathy; and John, wife Elaine.

She was a loving grandmother to Rebecca (Sipala) Kenny, husband Todd; Robert Sipala, wife Tara; Kristie (Capello) Sniffen, husband Ben; Greg Capello, wife Kristen; Michael Sipala, wife Kate; Richard Sipala, wife Stephanie; David Sipala; Melanie Capello; Janel Sipala; Tyler Sipala, wife Jennifer; and Natalie (Sipala) Jordan, husband Brad.

She was also the proud greatgrandmother of AJ and Alexa Kenny; Hannah and Gabe Sniffen; Gregory and Christopher Capello, Juliana and Olivia Sipala, Hailey and Jade Sipala and newborn Nora Marie Jordan.

Marieʼs love and pride extended also to her many nieces and nephews.

Marieʼs strength and love were felt by all and the void that she and Domenic have left in their family will never be filled.

For those wishing to celebrate Marieʼs life, the family welcomes you to join them for a memorial service and Mass at the Church of the

Assumption in Emerson on March 31 at 10 a.m.

Donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Lung Association.

Margaret ‘Peggy’ ZOROVICH

Margaret “Peggy” Zorovich (Oliver), 79, passed away quietly at home on March 3, surrounded by family, following a brief hospital stay and home hospice care.

She is survived by her loving family, husband George, children Darlene Brozowski (John), Matthew Zorovich, Christine King (James) and Peggy Ann Zorovich, grandchildren Calvin, Casey and Kelly, brother Frank Oliver and sister Rita Oliver. Predeceased by her parents Francis and Rita, and brother John. Also survived by many in-laws, nieces and nephews.

Peg was born in Wilkes Barre, Penn. on Sept. 14, 1943 to Francis and Rita Oliver, and soon after moved to Hellʼs Kitchen in Manhattan. She attended Sacred Heart, PS17 and Washington Irving schools.

She met her husband George in the neighborhood, married in 1962 and soon started a family. They purchased a first house in Cresskill, and in 1967 moved into their newly built home in Washington Township, where she lived until her passing.

Peg soon became involved in all of her childrenʼs lives…from Brownie scout leader to baseball team mother and many roles in between, including involvement in the parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Never the wallflower, Peg also enjoyed an active social life, often entertaining friends and neighbors on Kennedy Drive.

She had also earned many trophies as a competitive tennis player, and enjoyed extensive travelling throughout North America with George due to his career, often being the first to get everyone up to dance. Her smile would light up any room.

Peg came from a time when dinner for a family of six was cooked from scratch most days of the week, a responsibility she excelled at and is appreciated for. She was proud that her four children went on to graduate from college.

George and Peg cherished the memory of the celebration of their 50th anniversary with friends and family in 2012, and surpassed the milestone of their 60th this last year.

Arrangments were made through Becker Funeral Home in Westwood. The wake wast Monday, March 6. Funeral Mass was Tuesday, March 7 at St. Andrewʼs in Westwood, followed by burial March 7 at George WashingtonMemorial Park in Paramus.

In lieu of flowers, a donation St. Jude Childrenʼs Research Hospital would be appreciated.

Treasures! Westwood-wide

Ready to spring clean and upcycle? What better way to celebrate earth day than by giving your old stuff a new home and keeping it out of the landfills! Join the Westwood-wide Garage Sale, hosted by Celebrate Westwood, on Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23.

Registration is open through April 1.

Registration includes: general event publicity in Pascack Press, Facebook, Instagram, and email newsletters; address featured on address directory and digital map which will be created one week prior to the event; a digital file that may be printed and displayed in accordance with borough regulations; link to online digital map for sharing on social media; and

sale April

the option to participate on one or both days.

Registration begins at $20 for one individual address, but in the spirit of community building and celebrating our wonderful neighborhoods, there is a discount for subsequent neighbors on the same block registering together ($25 for two addresses, $50 for three addresses, or contact us for group

rates for even larger neighborhood conglomerates!) Proceeds benefit Celebrate Westwood, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that supports com-

munity events and programming. To register, visit celebratewestwood.org before April 1. For more information write celebratewestwood@gmail.com

CROSSING GUARD P/T BORO OF EMERSON.

The Borough of Emerson, Bergen County, NJ has an opening for a P/T Crossing Guard. Experience preferred but will train. Background check required. Approximately 10 hours per week. Apply at Borough Hall, Police Department, 146 Linwood Avenue, Emerson. EOE.

holiday decorating materials. Attention to detail, the ability to follow processes & procedures & organizational skills are critical qualities. Ability to operate small to mid-size trucks required, as is a drivers license. Additional responsibilities include facility maintenance, picking up materials & possibly additional responsibilities such as equipment maintenance as the position grows. Hours & requirements of this position will fluctuate throughout the year. The busiest times will be during our holiday decorating season of Oct. thru Jan., when hours will be up to 40/week working Mon. thru Fri. From Feb. thru Sept., hours will vary from 8 to 24 hours per week. Call 844-642-9627 for more details.

PEST CONTROL TECHNICIAN. PEST CONTROLHELPER. GREATPAYAND BENEFITS. CALL201-6643933.

Kitchen Cabinet installers helper. Must have basic knowledge of tools. Valid drivers license. Ken Bauer Kitchens, Hillsdale NJ (201)664-6881.

SERVICES - CLEANING

Cleaning business that values honesty and integrity with many years exp. Competitively priced with close attention to detail. Ref. Avail. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Call or text Analu for free estimate. 973-474-7383

THEUPS STORE is now accepting applications. Join our team today! Email your resume to store1588@theupsstore.com.

Live-in housekeeper, private room with full bath, light housekeeping. Call (201) 960-7707.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT– HILLSDALE BOROUGH (BERGEN COUNTY)

The Borough of Hillsdale is seeking a part-time administrative professional with experience in providing administrative support in the Municipal Clerk’s Office. This position is part-time and not to exceed 20 hours per week. The candidate must be able to work independently, take initiative, prioritize tasks and meet deadlines. Must be able to work well with residents, co-workers and elected officials. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook is required. Salary is dependent upon qualifications, however this is an entry level position. EOE. The Borough reserves the right to interview qualified candidates prior to the deadline. Email resume, cover letter and salary requirements to Denise Kohan, Borough Clerk, at dkohan@hillsdalenj.org by March 31, 2023.

1998 Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck. 185,000 miles with 15k on new 350 v8 motor. $6,300. Hillsdale (201) 783-0353.

Park - Small apartment. 1 br. with garage. $1,200 per month. Call (201)7393561 for more information.

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