Emerson • Hillsdale • Montvale • Park Ridge • River Vale • Township of Washington • Westwood • Woodcliff Lake
PA S C AC K VA L L E Y ’ S H O M E TO W N N E W S PA P E R
VOLUME 25 ISSUE 20
BUSINESS BOOSTER
AUGUST 2, 2021
SAFETY TOWN AT MILESTONE Beloved River Vale camp for tots now 30
TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
FIREHOUSE ROOF A WASHOUT
Replacement set after firefighters raise alarm
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
Montvale Mayor Michael Ghassali host dignitaries from the Japanese consulate as part of a push for jobs, growth. SEE PAGE 15
PASCACK VALLEY
‘THEY
TREATED ME AS A FRIEND’
Stories from Literacy Volunteers of Pascack Valley
BY RACHEL COHEN OF PASCACK PRESS
Montvale resident Arlene Fultenberg watched her grandfather work to become a citizen and take care of his family once moving to the United States from Poland. With his legacy in mind, she was inspired to help others do the same. “When [my grandparents] came here at the turn of the century, people went to school because they wanted to be American citizens, and my grandpa decided immediately that he had to become one,” said Fultenberg, who has tutored 18 students in Literacy
See STORIES on page 134
C
KNOWING HOW AND WHEN to greet unfamiliar dogs is one of the lessons taught at Safety Town. The program has decades of graduates and is looking to grow for 2022. ONGRATULATIONS
TO
Safety Town. The program for River Vale and Hillsdale children eligible to enter public or parochial kindergarten in September, and nonresident children who will be attending St. Johnʼs Academy in Hillsdale, delivered on decades of experience at its latest run,
July 12–23 at River Vale Community Center. Thirty kids learned songs, worked on arts and crafts projects, and learned about a world of safety topics at the camp, which, according to co-director Lisa Buckley — who took this year on with fellow director Danielle Giordano — is now 30.
PHOTO BY TOWNSHIP OF RIVER VALE
The camp, naturally, was not held in 2020, due to the pandemic. But it roared back this year, with plenty of hands-on activities furnished by community experts and backed by 13 teen volunteer counselors. Buckley and Giordano are
Continued on page 26
After volunteer firefighters and several public officials raised issues over the new emergency services building (ESB) on Washington Avenue, the roofer admits to a faulty installation and promises ALSO... to tear out all shingles and • Township tar paper rejected on $1M down to the bid for private plywood and swim, rec club redo the work — See Page 34 at its own expense. Thatʼs according to two local officials we spoke with, and it follows complaints from volunteer firefighters who work in the building trades and others in public session at recent council meetings. The project is a sheer rise of cinderblocks, framing, and roof trusses next to the current firehouse, at 656 Washington Ave. When all is said and done it also will be the new home of the Washington Volunteer Ambulance Corps, now at 354 Hudson Ave. The contractor requested extra time to complete the project. Project architect Robbie Conley said delays also were pegged to inclement weather and Covidrelated supply bottlenecks. He said he was reviewing the request. At last word, in a memo from
See FIREHOUSE on page 64
GIVING BACK
B ck in time...
Montvale Girl Scouts power on and sell, sell, sell — and donate a chunk of their cookie proceeds to Tri-Boro Food Pantry in Park Ridge.
Long before the days of backyard swimming pools and air conditioning, boys chill out at the Mill Pond spillway in Park Ridge in the 1920s.
SEE PAGE 17
SEE PAGE 4
PASCACK PRESS
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
based on the fact that the applica- ing to set a precedent. Your suption was not substantially different port in attending the Zoning Board meetings, watching on TV, from the previous application. The Zoning Board also voted writing letters, spreading info unanimously to deny the case of with neighbors, asking questions office space hardship. It was and sharing your comments and revealed by appraisal documenta- concerns is greatly appreciated. This fight is not completely tion acquired by a concerned citiover. At the conclusion of the zen, through OPRAH, that the HE GROUP ownersʼ intentions prior to their Zoning Board Meeting, Paul purchase were to construct an beautiful suburban Woodcliff apartment complex. We greatly appreciate everyoneʼs efforts to RIVER VALE Lake community. We would like to thank protect the quality of life in Woodeveryone on the Zoning Board cliff Lake. The members of S.H.I.N.E are for their unanimous decision in very proud in how our community last weekʼs denial of the 188 River Vale Rascals is a application for the second time collectively came together in fight- soccer clinic for kids 3–4 (must be 3 by Sept. 30, 2021) residing in River Vale. The 2021 clinic is planned to be held on Saturdays for six ANY ANY weeks from 4 to 5 p.m.: Sept. JOB JOB 11, 18, and 25 and Oct. 2, 16, • Gutter Installation & Repairs and 24 at the Upper Grove • Soft Washing Sports Complex. The cost is RIVERVALE, NJ $55 per child. Registration is available PROFESSIONALS online only through Sept. 10 allbrightecowash.com Lic# 13VH090443900 via Community Pass. Clinic participants get a TCall Call Now Now For For Your Your Free Free Estimate! Estimate! shirt, soccer ball, and socks
Watching Woodcliff Lake moves To the editor: S.H.I.N.E extends T a heartfelt thanks to all for your dedication to preserving our
NOTE: Letter submission deadline is 11 a.m. Wednesday for the following Monday’s paper. Publication not guaranteed. Subject to editing. Email to pascackpress@thepressgroup.net.
in the July 26 edition of the Pascack Press. The S.H.I.N.E group asks for your continued support in protecting our town from predatory developers. Heartfelt thanks. S.H.I.N.E: Sharing Helpful Information Now for Everyone Via email blast
Kaufman (part-owner and applicant lawyer) stated “…For now.” Currently the applicant has an appeal for the 2019 denial that is awaiting a decision by Judge Padovano. For more detailed information, please read an article about the Zoning Board meeting, as well as an article about the Master Plan
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with registration fee; parent volunteers; and a season ending trophy and pizza party. “Given the Covid-19 environment, we will seek to have smaller teams than in normal years to enable increased distancing. Consequently, we will need additional volunteers for head and assistant coaches. All interested parents should refer to the townshipʼs coaching requirements,” organizers said.
FOOD, BACKPACK DRIVE SET FOR AUG. 7, 8
The organizers of the food drives hosted by Our Lady of Mercy Church run four to five drives a year supporting local food pantries. On Aug. 7 and 8 the drive is collecting food and backpacks for kids, supporting Tri-Boro Food Pantry and Blessed Sacrament Food Pantry. The events run 5 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday amd 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady of Mercy Churchʼs Gathering Space Room.
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Items needed are coffee, tea, canned vegetables, canned tuna, canned chicken, cold cereal, jar tomato sauce, and snacks for kids: canned fruit, cookies etc., peanut butter and jelly/jam, and granola bars. Backpacks 4 Kids seeks backpacks and school supplies: think crayons, pens, Ticonderoga No. 2 pencils, glue sticks, erasers, pencil cases, small packages of tissues, and rulers. Social Justice and Peace Ministry thanks you for your support.
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They add, “Rascals Soccer will likely be your childʼs first experience with recreational youth sports offered in our town. As such, the goal is to have fun. The children will engage in a series of games and drills to maximize their touches of the ball. Want to play? Get in touch!” For more information, rivervalerascals@ write yahoo.com.
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AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
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BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
A councilman who served in the Vietnam war wants to offer a help line to connect the Pascack Valleyʼs veterans with the benefits and services that they have earned. He says many are not aware what theyʼre entitled to. In Washington Township alone, said councilman and former Vietnam combat veteran Tom Sears — he served with the 3rd Marine Division 13th combat engineers in Vietnam from 1966 through 1968 — there are 523 veterans who reside in town. Sears said all qualified veterans should be receiving a $250 annual property tax credit recently approved by voters statewide, for example. He told Pascack Press last week that only 303 local veterans had applied for the tax credit. He said approximately 250 widowers were getting the property tax discount. “This is our goal: to reach out to veterans in town and answer their emails and work with the veterans,” Sears said. He said most veterans do not know that they are entitled to go to any of several urgent care centers as well as pharmacies to fill prescriptions. “There a lot of veterans who donʼt know how to reach out to the Veterans Administration,” he said. “Itʼs long overdue that we do this.” Sears, who fell short of his bid for re-election to council in 2019 with running mate Peter
Calamari — who returned to council as mayor — is a member of the Planning Board and the Green Team. He recently was appointed to fill the unexpired council term of the late Arthur Cumming, and from the dais has talked about veterans being eligible for a variety of benefits. He told the governing body and the public on July 12 that he would like to start a townshipsponsored veterans outreach service by establishing a township email and web portal. That outreach service is expected on the Aug. 9 council agenda. It would need to be approved by the townʼs insurer. “I never realized that I could get all these benefits and assistance,” said Sears, who noted he was assisting a fellow veteran when he first realized all the benefits available to veterans. He said he was recently talking to a neighbor who did not know he could apply for New Jerseyʼs $250 property tax credit for veterans. Moreover, he said many veterans were not aware of their federal medical benefits nor how to access them.
Sears said the effort would help veterans throughout the Pascack Valley, not just the township. He said that initially he, and at least two other VFW Post 6192 members, would help coordinate the outreach efforts and respond to questions and concerns. He said recently the Veterans Administration had expanded coverage to five additional cancers linked to defoliant Agent Orange, which was used prolifically in South Vietnam to destroy forests and crops and expose enemy troops. Sears said his portal would recommend where Vietnam vets can get tested for such exposures and possible cancers. Sears said one goal of the outreach service will be to get veterans signed up for medical ID cards and inform them of services available, including everything from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) counseling, eyeglasses and eye care, medical visits, and property tax credits. After Sears said he would like to begin the effort with a small budget for local mailings and notifications, Council President
Marion Lorenzo, ACSW, LCSW (201) 666-1241
Stacey Feeney said she would donate $300. Sears said the effort would be staffed by volunteers “and we want every veteran to get a medical ID card.” Sears noted the card entitles veterans to a primary care doctor within the VA, plus three annual visits to their local medical provider. He said once veterans contact them via email they will keep in
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Discover local history at museum The Pascack Historical Society invites members of the public to stop by its museum any Sunday from 1–4 p.m. Admission is free. Face masks are required. The Societyʼs John C. Storms Museum is located in an 1873 former chapel at 19 Ridge Ave., Park Ridge (one block north of Park Avenue West). The barrier-free museum is home to thousands of objects, artifacts, and documents that chronicle life in the Pascack Valley as it was in past centuries. Visitors will discover a special section devoted to colonial artifacts, they will learn about why shell beads called wampum were so important in the Pascack Valley, and they will see rooms recreated to illustrate early19th century and Victorian life. The museum also has a collection of Lenape stone tools that predate European settlement. Adults are encouraged to bring their children for a unique learning experience. For more information, visit pascackhistoricalsociety.org and follow the museum on Facebook.
EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS RAILROAD STATIONS The museumʼs latest exhibit highlights the railroad stations of the Pascack Valley line. Through photographs, documents, and artifacts, the exhibit will tell the story of how the coming of the railroad in 1870 helped form the Pascack Valley as we know it today, transforming our towns from isolated, sparsely populated rural hamlets into dynamic suburbs. Every train station in the valley will be highlighted (plus one that no longer exists!). The exhibit will continue into the autumn and is in addition to the museumʼs regular offerings.
B ck in time...
TO SEE MORE BACK IN TIME FEATURES
COOLING OFF
IN PARK RIDGE, 1920S STYLE
L
BY KRISTIN BEUSCHERZ OF PASCACK PRESS
ONG BEFORE THE DAYS of backyard swimming pools and air conditioning, boys chill out at the Mill Pond spillway in Park Ridge in the 1920s photo at left. Note the one-piece bathing suits popular with males. The United States had seen its first alternating current hydroelectric power plant in 1893 at national landmark Niagara Falls. A little over a decade later, in 1907, the Pascack Valley opened its first at Mill Pond in Park Ridge, known by longtimers as Electric Light Pond or Electric Lake. “Park Ridge became the first community in the area to generate its own electricity,” according to the Pascack Historical Society. “This improvement allowed the infrastructure of Park Ridge to grow. Street lights, public, private and commercial property all made use of the electric power that was generated.” Shortly after the plant went into operation, Park Ridgeʼs dirt lanes were illuminated for the first time by electric streetlights. In the 1920s the pond was also a popular recreation spot, with children swimming in the summer and skating in the winter months. Word about this pretty little spot in Park Ridge was getting around fast. A newspaper report from the summer of 1928 reads, “Electric Lake has been a Mecca for swimmers from all over Bergen and Rockland counties during the present hot spell. Bathers are using this lake from early in the morning until very late at night.” By the 1930s, as many as 500 people were coming to the lake on Saturdays and Sundays when the weather was hot. However, as it turned out, the vast majority of those people were from outside Park Ridge, and they were leaving a mess behind. A July 1930 report states, “Parked on the lawn were a number of cars bearing Paterson and Passaic license plates. The lake is a popular bathing place for people who come from a distance of 25 miles around, on warm afternoons and evenings.” In response to this influx of outsiders, in 1931 the borough council banned swimming at Electric Lake. The utility underwent many changes throughout the years from its humble beginnings of serving only 18 residents in 1907. In 1919 a gasoline engine was installed to augment the hydropower to meet a growing demand, and then in 1928 the water turbine was replaced by an electric motor. “Creating this 12-acre reservoir, dam and power plant might seem wasteful for only 21 years of operation, but Park Ridgeʼs gamble with electricity really paid off,” according to a history of Mill Pond on the Pascack Historical Societyʼs website. “The original creation of the electric poles and the distribution system allowed Park Ridge to create a unique relationship with the developing power utilities. To this day Park Ridge is one of only nine towns in New Jersey who run their own non-profit electricity company and the borough has among the lowest electrical rates in the state.”
Cooling down at the Electric Lake spillway, 1920s.
Advertise your service in the Service Directory in the Pascack Press. The electric light plant and spillway, early 20th century.
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39 Electric Lake on a postcard from the 1910s.
EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING Serving Emerson, Hillsdale, Montvale, Park Ridge, River Vale, Township of Washington, Westwood 201.664.2105 and Woodcliff Lake FAX 201.664.2109 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 335 E-MAIL US AT Westwood, N.J. 07675 pascackpress@thepressgroup.net
PASCACK VALLEY’S HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
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John J. DeFina John Snyder Kristin Beuscher Keith J. Harcher George F. Harcher
The articles and opinions printed in Pascack Press are not necessarily those of the publisher. Pascack Press is neither liable nor responsible for typographical errors. This publication contains material developed independently by Pascack Press. It may not be reproduced, in whole or in part. Pascack Press is published in Westwood and is distributed to every household in our circulation area.
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
The Planning Board is likely to take up a possible final hearing to review last-minute questions and challenges on the longstalled 66-unit Viviano development at 463 Van Emburgh Ave. when it meets on Sept. 22. Those details include stormwater management. At the boardʼs July 21 meeting, it was announced the hearing had been rescheduled to Sept. 22. The two-decade-old Viviano Project proposes to construct 66 total residential units on 14.3 acres, including 42 single-family lots and 24 townhouse lots. The property is currently vacant and wooded. At the June 2 Planning Board hearing, the attorney for Concerned Citizens of Washington Township said that while his clients, mostly neighbors of the proposed development, had signed an agreement with the applicant, they still had concerns about stormwater management due to new regulations and whether the previously submitted plan meets current state and local
standards. Moreover, John J. Lamb, an attorney representing the group, said he wanted Township Engineer Paul Azzolina to review the projectʼs latest stormwater management system design, and make sure that the settlement agreement signed by the group does not conflict with the agreement or impact upon any aspects of stormwater management. Lamb also wanted to make sure that Azzolina could confirm that the stormwater management system would reduce runoff and not lead to any impacts on his clientsʼ properties. Lamb also stressed to planners that the projectʼs approval resolution should include the terms and conditions specified in the homeownersʼ settlement agreement with the Viviano estate. Lamb said June 2 that the settlement agreement specifies terms relating to landscape buffers, reduced number of lots behind Katharina Place homeowners, a buffer maintenance agreement, and a provision that notes the agreement holds the applicant liable for any future stormwater impacts. The applicant seeks amended preliminary major site plan
Vicolo
approval and amended preliminary major subdivision approval with modifications to its 2004 initial approval. The modifications include an on-site pump station and force main to serve the 66 units; an amendment to the 2004 approval reducing residential units by seven from 73 to 66; an amendment to the 2004 approval reducing residential lots by six from 75 new tax lots to 69 new tax lots; and the elimination of all variance requests. The Viviano development won preliminary and final site plan approval in 2004, but the development has been delayed in part by court battles over affordable housing and residentsʼ concerns over impacts from high-density housing, including wastewater disposal and stormwater management. A Pascack Press review of the Townshipʼs affordable housing settlement found the reduction in units planned — from 73 to 66 — may require only 13 affordable units be provided for at an agreed price of $25,000 per affordable unit, payable to the local affordable housing trust fund. No affordable units are required on site, and the payment-
in-lieu-of-construction agreement, which now likely totals $325,000, is due in three payments once certain project milestones are met. None have yet occurred. The first condition is final site plan approval and conclusion of any final appeals from the approval
resolution; a second payment is due on the closing of title for 25% of the units; and a third payment due upon closing of title for sale of 50% of the units. Efforts to reach Azzolina for comment on the stormwater management concerns were not returned by press time.
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Firehouse: New building’s roof to be replaced Conley to the town administration, the firehouse/ambulance headquarters was due for a late December 2021 to early January 2022 move-in. The roofing re-do was spurred by reports by firefighters that the roofer was seen using rotted plywood as a base below some shingles, and reports from council members of workers working unsupervised and large roof portions being installed on wet plywood during a downpour on a recent weekend. The issue of poor construction was raised at the July 12 Township Council meeting. Conley, who also designed Montvaleʼs new firehouse, said he
FROM PAGE 1
monitors on-site activities every two weeks. He told Pascack Press on July 27 that the roofer admitted it installed roof shingles on wet plywood, which can cause the shingles to fail prematurely. Conley said properly installed shingles are backed by a 50-year lifetime guarantee. “They installed all of that over wet plywood and we had questions about the plywood prior to that.” He said last week that the roofing subcontractor did not have permission to work on Saturday, and was not properly supervised, when much of the roof was installed. He thanked firefighters and officials who had alerted them to apparent deficiencies in workmanship and materials. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
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BY RACHEL COHEN OF PASCACK PRESS
WESTWOOD REGIONAL SCHOOLS
Former Westwood Regional School District Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jill Mortimer was approved as acting superintendent for the 2021–22 school year by the Board of Education at its meeting on July 22. The appointment comes after former Superintendent Dr. Raymond A. González announced his resignation, effective Aug. 1, to take over as superintendent of the Westfield Public School District. He had come under fire from a number of local parents protesting school scheduling and transparency issues since October 2020. “Dr. Mortimer is a strong educator who has served Westwood Regional Schools incredibly well for seven years,” BOE President Frank Romano told Pascack Press after the meeting. “We are fortunate to have her because she knows our district and she has all of the attributes that a board would hope to find in a chief school administrator. Her new commitment brings promise for the smoothest of transitions.” The board had released a statement about Mortimerʼs appointment on June 21, the day before the meeting, on Westwoodʼs website. “The Westwood Regional School Community is fortunate to have Dr. Mortimer because she knows our district well and she has all of the attributes that one hopes to find in a public school leader,” the statement said. “She is well educated; she possesses broad and deep life experience; she represents the dispositions and skillsets that will serve students, parents, factually and staff, administrative colleagues, board members, and the general community
well.” Mortimer said that she looks forward to having students in school for fully-day and in-person learning starting on Sept. 9. “Last week, the administrative team met to study what it means to teach, learn, and lead in a post-pandemic environment,” Mortimer said. We discussed reacclimation to routines and reintegration of students and staff members. In August, I will work closely with the Board of Education to draft District and Board goals that address our current and future needs.” According to Romano, the BOE interviewed two candidates for an open board seat. Township of Washington resident Thomas Snee was chosen to fill the spot for the remainder of 2021. Snee also plans on running for the one-year remainder of the seat in the November election. Two seats for Westwood (threeyear terms) and two seats for the township (the one-year term for the resigned seat, and a three-year term) are up for election. Nominating petitions were due the afternoon of July 26. Westwoodʼs Andrea Peck and the townshipʼs Joe McCallister have announced that they are running. (Pascack Press looks forward to running candidate profiles for all local school board races.) The vacant Township of Washington seat — in addition to the board president position — was left by former President Matthew Perrapato, who stepped down following a statement he gave district families on May 10 in an update on the search for a new superintendent of schools. Westwood trustees Michael Pontillo and Michelle Sembler had accused Perrapato of plagiarism. (For more, see “Shakeup at Westwood Regional BOE as president resigns; Romano steps up,” Pascack Press, July 5, 2021.) “This is an exciting and
Nancy Frankel LCSW, MSW
rewarding time to serve as president of the Westwood Regional Schoolʼs Board of Education, as both the district and the board are undergoing a significant period of change,” said Romano, who was promoted to board president at a June 30 meeting. “I am grateful for the boardʼs confidence in me and inspired by its renewed efforts to build a more cohesive and productive board.” During the meeting, the board also appointed Westwood Regional High Schoolʼs current assistant principal, Michael Kenduck, to the position of Director of School Programs, effective Aug. 1. Rising seniors James Stickel and Kaley Klapsich will serve as student representatives to the board, succeeding Class of 2021 graduates Isabelle Abou-Daoud and Maximilian Wang, according to the year-end edition of “Cardinal Connection,” the districtʼs monthly e-newsletter. “I am looking forward to working with the board and administration to ensure student voices are heard and represented, student accomplishments are recognized accordingly in the monthly student representative reports and to be part of the positive change to the school district as a whole,” Stickel said. Klapsich also said that she is excited to explore the activities that the district has to offer. “Iʼm looking forward to being
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can be found online by searching “July 22, 2021 WWRSD Board of Education Meeting” on YouTube.
part of the process and seeing firsthand how community business gets handled,” she said. A recording of the meeting
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I am excited to announce the opening of my Private Practice in Westwood. Nancy Frankel LLC. Clinical Social Work Practice will include, assessment and treatment of Individual, Couples and Group mental health issues for clients in the Bergen County area. I am pleased to offer services for young adults, adults, elders and couples seeking treatment for Anxiety, Depression, Mood Disorders, Addiction, Grief/Bereavement, Marital issues and Life transition issues. I am currently accepting new clients out of network. Please call me to arrange a phone consultation and schedule an appointment to discuss how I may support you in seeking help. Telehealth services are available. • Generalized Anxiety Disorder • Depression • Bi-Polar Disorder • Life Transitions including End of Life issues • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder • Disordered Eating • Addiction If you have any questions about my services, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. My office number is 201-474-5680. Please call to arrange for your Intake Assessment Appointment.
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Leadership changes, candidates emerge, at Westwood BOE
AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
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LIBRARY CALENDAR: VIRTUAL PROGRAMS THIS WEEK
E ME R S ON 20 Palisade Ave. (201) 261-5604 emersonlibrary.org • In-person event: Little ones can rock out with Mr. Chris on the libraryʼs front lawn during Magical Melodies, Monday, Aug. 2 at 10:30 a.m. High-energy songs, dance, and instruments. Best for ages 2–4. Space is limited; sign up on the libraryʼs website. • Emerson Library offers Grab & Go Crafts that can be picked up at the library and completed at home. The week of July 26 brings a craft for grades K–6.
The theme is “Animal Hair!” to accompany this weekʼs StoryWalk book: “What If You Had Animal Hair?” by Sandra Markle. Reserve your craft kit by registering online. • Bergen County Zoological Park is bringing the Zoo to You! In the Zoom program “Animal Adaptations,” kids will learn about the adaptations that help animals survive. Wednesday, Aug. 4 from 10 to 11 a.m. Open to children and families of Emerson only, grades 3–6. Register to receive the Zoom link. • In-person event: Baby &
Me, for age 2 and under, meets on the libraryʼs front lawn Wednesdays in August at 11:15 a.m. Introduces songs, dance and fingerplays with stuffed animals and rhymes. Register for each date you plan to attend. H I L L SD A L E 509 Hillsdale Ave. (201) 358-5072 hfpl.org • Work off those extra COVID-19 pounds in a fun and socially distant way with Zumba! Every Thursday at 4:30 p.m., Janet Weller, certified personal trainer,
That escalated quickly! The 3Dprinted Blinky ghost of Pac-Man fame, which we highlighted in our July 26 Library Calendar, escaped Hillsdale Public Library and is considering its options in Central Park. We’ll keep our eye on this. (Pascack Press) and understanding cousin relationships. Zoom on Thursday, Aug. 5 from 7 to 8 p.m. Register online.
leads this dance-based workout via Zoom. Register online. • The library presents a Virtual Live Tour of St. Petersburg, via Zoom, on Saturday, Aug. 7 from 10 to 11 a.m. Svetlana leads you through St. Petersburg, Russia, without leaving Hillsdale. Register on the libraryʼs website. MO N T VA L E 12 Mercedes Drive, Suite 100 (201) 391-5090 montvalelibrarynj.org • Whooo whoo wants to learn about owls? Wednesday, Aug. 4 at 2:30 p.m., Morris County Parks will present an online program for kids all about owls. All participants will get a real owl pellet to explore. Donʼt know what an owl pellet is? Well, join in this STEM-based, interactive investigation. Register online for access. • In the online class Basic Genealogy, learn about starting a family tree, decoding DNA matches, researching your family,
PARK RIDGE 51 Park Ave. (201) 391-5151 parkridge.bccls.org • In-person event: Miss Renee is back with Tuesday morning Storytimes geared towards the libraryʼs youngest patrons. Stories, songs and a craft for toddlers and pre-K. Meets Tuesday, Aug. 3 at 10 a.m. at the library. Registration required. • In-person event: Storytime with Miss Sherri meets at the library on Thursday, Aug. 5 from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Stories and songs. Register in advance. • In-person event: Miss Eileen is excited to welcome little ones to the library for Pajama Storytime on Thursday, Aug. 5 from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Wear pajamas and bring a stuffed animal and blanket. Registration required. • Take-and-Make Crafts with Miss Renee is every Friday at 10 a.m. on the libraryʼs CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
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Police connect with local seniors, campers
This past week has been busy for the Westwood Police Departmentʼs Community Affairs Team.
Detective Sean Roche and Officer Chris Horst participated in the Bergen County Prosecutorʼs Office
Senior Citizen Resource Initiative by setting up a resource table outside Westwood House, the senior
Giving kids the rules of the road... housing complex. The two handed out resources and engaged passersby in discussion. “This was all in effort to raise awareness about fraud within our elderly community and to prevent further victims,” the department said online. On July 26, Officer Greg Dorfman spoke to the children of the
Westwood Recreation Summer Program during their Bicycle Rodeo Day. “The children were taught about bicycle safety, the dangers of riding around town as well as in the roadway, and the importance of wearing helmets. Officer Dorfman guided the children on a miniature obstacle course,” the department said.
...meeting and greeting seniors at Westwood House.
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TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
A first Planning Board hearing for a 44-unit multifamily inclusionary housing development off Van Emburge Avenue that includes two single family homes is on track for Wednesday, Aug. 4. The hearing, which was delayed over the pandemic, will be held on Zoom. Application materials should be found on the Township website under “Government” and “Planning Board Applications.” The proposal includes seven on-site affordable units, which were agreed to in a 2015 affordable housing settlement where the applicant and Fair Share Housing Center were intervenors. The Planning Board saw an informal presentation, including elevations and a conceptual grading plan, by Roselle-based Franklin Court Management LLC on its proposal for 16 acres off of Van Emburgh Avenue in December 2019. (See “Board Gets Preview of Development Bound for Van Emburgh,” Pascack Press, Dec. 9, 2019.) It was scheduled for its first
hearings in March 2020 but these did not occur as planned, as the exploding Covid-19 crisis caused shutdowns and closed courts and businesses. A public notice published July 24 said the multifamily development requests four types of relief from township code. This includes preliminary and final major subdivision approval to subdivide the property to create three lots, where Lot 1.04 (proposed multifamily inclusionary building), and Lots 1.05 and 1.06 will each contain a single-family home. The applicant requests preliminary and final major site plan approval to construct a 44-unit multifamily inclusionary building and associated parking, landscaping, lighting and stormwater management improvements. Moreover, the applicant requests variance relief for minimum street frontage for Lots 1.05 and 1.06, and relief from minimum side yard setback for Lot 1.06. Also, the applicant requests all other relief “deemed necessary by the Planning Board or its professionals” during the hearings. In late 2019 we reported that the applicant intended to build its
44-unit complex, mostly two-bedrooms, on Van Emburgh Avenue, with seven units on site designated for affordable housing. The developer also agreed to build two single-family units and contribute $250,000 in a payment in lieu of construction, bound for the townshipʼs Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
Impact of developments During the 2020 Greater Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce Mayorsʼ Breakfast on Jan. 29, Mayor Peter Calamari said the 44 units “are the first rentals in Washington Township but we welcome them. We think itʼs going to be a good project.” Calamari noted then that the new development, plus the 66 units at the Viviano property at 463 Van Emburgh Ave., were likely to burden the school system. “Thatʼs (development) going to be a big tax burden for the residents in addition to adding to the traffic and what all the other mayors have said,” Calamari said 18 months ago. Then-Superintendent Raymond González said the regional board of education approved a contract for Statistical Forecasting LLC to conduct a demographic
and facilities feasibility study related to new developments. The June 2020 analysis estimated that if 81 additional residential units were built from the Viviano American Dream development (73 units proposed then) and 34 Maple Place LLC (eight townhomes). However, only 66 units are proposed at the Viviano development. Between 2020 and 2025, the estimate showed 57 more project-
ed children in grades K–12 from the Viviano and 34 Maple developments; 50 from Viviano and 7 from 34 Maple LLC. Based on additional factors such as births and home sales data, the study estimates 118 new students in pre-K through 12th grade. The study said the George Washington Elementary School “is projected to have the largest gain (plus 63) of the four elementary schools.”
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Volunteers of Pascack Valley program over the past 25 years. “Now, I do still hear from a few of my students and the relationship you can have with some of them is amazing.” LVPV, a non-profit literacy program dedicated to assisting community members learn English as a second language, runs through the 10 Pascack Valley public libraries and offers free individual and group tutoring. The program seeks students and volunteers. “The program is student-centered — thereʼs not a set syllabus,” program coordinator Maureen Lostumbo said. “The question that our tutors ask is ʻWhat do you need help with?ʼ Itʼs pronunciation, conversation and sometimes survival skills.” To qualify for LVPV, tutors must be over 18 years old and agree to work in Dumont, Emerson, Hillsdale, Mahwah, Montvale, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, River Vale or Westwood. Program registration can be found on literacyvolunteerspv.org or via literacyvolunteerspv@gmail.com. For the upcoming year, one training workshop will be held with four sessions — Sept. 14, 21, and 28, and Oct. 5 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. — via Zoom. “There are very few opportunities for students to come here and learn to speak English,” Lostumbo said. “Other than the library, where can a person learn to speak English for free? When there used to be a class in person, it gave students a chance to make friends and contacts. Itʼs difficult to move to a new neighborhood, much less a strange country and make connections with people.” The LVPV formed in 1980 after a church asked if someone from a local library could help teach English to a family from Cambodia following the Vietnam War. In 1984, the volunteers officially joined the Literacy Volunteers of America, and since then, the program has achieved accreditation status by ProLiteracy and has been reaccredited several times. Approximately 100 tutors and 300 students participate in the program every year, according to Lostumbo, and most have one-on-one sessions usually once a week. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, assistant coordinator Marilyn Katz said the program had to
FROM PAGE 1
switch to virtual learning, relying on Zoom, WhatsApp, FaceTime and other virtual methods. “A lot of our tutors we're not comfortable with tutoring online and are waiting until they can go in person to connect with their students,” Katz said. “Weʼre at a point where some libraries are opening up and enabling people to come back in person, depending on the libraryʼs policies.” Montvale Public Library reference librarian and LVPV coordinator Lorissa Lightman, who matches tutors and students with one another, said many inspiring moments in the program have still persisted despite the remote format. “I had a pair where they were working in person before the pandemic, and the goal was for the student to become an American citizen,” Lightman said. “Once the pandemic hit, they still met twice a week virtually to prepare for the exam, and the student ended up passing and becoming a citizen during the pandemic. Another ESL student in the program, [Sri Deepti], became very good at English and decided it was time to give back to the community, so she became a tutor.” Deepti, a Montvale resident and LVPV student of two years, said that the program has changed her life since arriving in the United States from India by giving her courage and confidence to speak English. “When I first came here, other people couldnʼt understand my language,” Deepti said. “They would say ʻwhat,ʼ and that simple word hurt me a lot, feeling like I didnʼt know anything. The program treated me as a friend and has given me a lot of opportunities, and so I want to give back what I have gained as a tutor.” Westwood resident Dilek Ülger, who became a student two years ago after coming to the United States from Turkey, also feels more comfortable with talking to others and making friends. During her tutoring sessions, she has learned about English idioms and grammar to how to return Amazon packages. “When I talk with somebody, I feel very comfortable compared to before, and when I meet a new friend, I can express myself,” Ülger said. “Itʼs because of my teachers, tutors and libraries. When you come to a different country, itʼs difficult. But when you meet nice people, you feel very comfortable.”
Outside of teaching English literacy, Katz and Lostumbo hope to hold the programʼs third naturalization ceremony in 2022 once it is safe to gather. The LVPV also awards one student and teacher of the year and holds tutor roundtables where around 20 tutors talk about their experiences and support one another, in addition to the help provided by library managers, Katz and Lostumbo. “We generally hold an international awards dinner at the com-
munity center in Westwood with anywhere from 170 to 180 people,” Lostumbo said. “We ask the tutors to ask their students if they could bring either an appetizer or dessert from their country, and theyʼre very proud to do that. Itʼs an important night because it gives people an opportunity to see the scope of the program and it is encouraging in naming students and tutors of the year.” Westwood resident Rashida Tewarson, who became a tutor in 2014, said she wanted to get
involved in the program to give back to those coming from overseas. She emphasized that it is important to ensure that they are comfortable and feel like they are a part of the community. “I was always interested in different cultures, different people and different languages,” Rashida said. “This is such a great way for me to keep in touch with people from all over the world. It has been a learning experience for me, too.”
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AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
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Firehouse: New building’s roof to be replaced Without the critical observations from firefighters and public officials, the roof likely would have not been replaced—neither would it have stood up to the elements for long, relative to its expected lifespan, he said. Conley said the roofer would be removing the roof the week of Aug. 2 and that he was likely to observe the plywood underneath on Aug. 5 or 6. Following his review, the roofer will install a new roof on the approved plywood. Conley said he was planning to attend the Aug. 9 council meeting, along with representatives from Boswell Engineering and general contractor Tekcon Construction of Somerset, to discuss concerns with residents. Tekcon, which says online “We are personally invested in each of our projects,” did not return our call seeking comment. Conley said he has confidence in the roof trusses, saying
FROM PAGE 6
they passed inspection by Boswell Engineeringʼs project engineer and a third-party engineer. He said the trussesʼ installation met manufacturer specifications. Conley has 35 years experience in fire service, 30 years experience in architecture, 10 years as chief of the Woodbury Heights Fire Department, three years as a councilman, and four years as mayor of Woodbury Heights. In 2019, consulting for the township, he found significant issues at the current firehouse to do with operations for firefighting, administration, and livability. With a committee representing the fire and ambulance teams, the administration, and the townʼs engineer, he came up with a plan he said would serve the town well for the next 50–75 years. The replaced firehouse will be razed. Mayor Peter Calamari helped break ground at the site in a Sept. 27, 2020 ceremony attended by local volunteer firefighters and ambulance crews, weeks after the Township Council awarded a
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Renderings of the new emergency services building, which is eyed for a late December to January 2022 opening.
$5,329,183 base bid construction contract to Tekcon, as recommended by Conley. Councilman Michael DeSena said at the July 12 meeting of the governing body that he was told in February—during discussion on a $206,000 change order for additional retaining wall work—that Business Administrator Robert Tovo would be the councilʼs liaison to the contractor. To that, Tovo acknowledged he was “primary representative” with Conley and the contractor, then added, “But no, thereʼs never been a commitment from me to be there on a daily basis. I donʼt have time for that.” Meanwhile, some neighbors have suggested the building appears to exceed its proposed height. Conley said his measurements show the building under current township height code. Mayor Peter Calamari and Councilman Tom Sears—himself a volunteer firefighter looking forward to the dedication of the ESB—told Pascack Press that the roofing subcontractor admitted he
wrongly installed large portions of roofing shingles atop wet roofing underlayment and wet plywood sheathing during a recent project meeting. Sears told Pascack Press on July 27 that he raised roof concerns right away when he saw roofers working on a Saturday, and in a rainstorm to boot. Generally, workers are only allowed on site with a supervisor from Monday to Friday. “All I know is that the Township is not paying,” he said. He noted that the subcontractor will replace poorly constructed roof sections and that the work should allow the township to qualify for a long-term roof wear-and-tear warranty. Sears said that the approximate $6.1 million being spent on the ESB shows “Youʼre talking the future here,” and noted that the required roof repairs bode well for the buildingʼs future. “You canʼt put up a roof in a rain and ice storm, with ice balls falling all around you. I had a big
CONTINUED ON PAGE 23
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
MONTVALE
The borough is initiating a business marketing campaign this fall to help entice area businesses to the business-friendly locale, said the mayor. Mayor Michael Ghassali and councilwoman Annmarie RussoVogelsang met July 26 with Japanese consular officials at Borough Hall and later dined with the small group at the Bellissimo Ristorante on Kinderkamack Road. “It was a good meeting where we were all just talking about how to encourage Japanese companies to come to Montvale,” Ghassali told Pascack Press on July 27. He said the meeting explored and bridged cultural norms and needs. Ghassali said the meeting was initiated to also find out what business and economic incentives might be offered to entice Japanese companies specifically, as well as other area companies, seeking a new location to operate a successful business. He noted that Sharp Electronics,based in Osaka, Japan, moved to Montvale a few years back, and that another Japanesebased company might be moving in soon. Ghassali said the borough, with local chamber of commerce and Economic Development Committee support, will kick off “Choose Montvale” this fall, likely at the October street fair. The effort will include a video and brochures and will emphasize reasons that businesses should choose Montvale. Some likely reasons include location, easy access to highways, access to talent, labor and other global companies, and a business-friendly government, Ghassali said. He said the push would rely in part on involving established
local businesses in outreach. “The main thing is for them to know that theyʼre moving into a business-friendly town.” We reported the May grand
opening of S. Hekemian Groupʼs Workplace North Market, a mixed-use project featuring office, retail and residential uses, on the former Mercedes-Benz
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Deputy Chief Futoshi Matsumoto of the Japanese Consulate, New York City, speaks with Montvale Mayor Michael Ghassali last week on cross-cultural business opportunities for Japanese companies and entrepreneurs in the borough. Matsumoto was most recently coordinator for Syria, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Syria, and Ghassali migrated from Syria. The officials met at Borough Hall and later dined at Bellissimo Ristorante. Also meeting with Ghassali were Japanese Consul Daisuke Sakuraba and Japanese Consul Haruna Maki.
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complete mixed-use development the future “hub” of the region. Planning Board Chair John DePinto called it “the crown jewel” of Montvale. He said the nearby SHG Groupʼs Shoppes at DePiero Farm, in addition to LifeTime Athletic and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center “exemplify forward-thinking in municipal government, out of the box.”
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Facebook page. Miss Renee walks kids through a fun craft at home. You must call the library the Monday–Thursday before the craft to reserve your kit, which must be picked up that day. All ages. • Book It! Club with Miss Eileen is live on the libraryʼs Facebook page on Saturdays from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Stories, science, and more geared towards kids in primary grades. FROM PAGE 8
RIVER VALE 412 Rivervale Road (201) 391-2323 rivervalelibrary.org • The week of Aug. 2 brings a Craft-to-Go for kids pre-K to fifth grade. Stop by the library to pick up a pineapple magnet craft to make at home. One per child; supplies limited. • River Vale residents in grades 4–8 can sign up for the libraryʼs On-Demand Craft for August. Create your own earbud holder at home. Craft kit includes all materials, plus directions to access the instructional video. Register for craft kit online; pickup begins Aug. 2. • Are you a tea lover or just getting started and want to taste
Dining & Cooking Guide
and learn? Join the libraryʼs Tea Club! Sign up each month to receive a sample of a different variety of tea. The pick for August is Cold Brewed Mint Iced Tea from Twinings. Pick up begins Aug. 2. River Vale residents only. Register online. • Virtual Chair Yoga meets via Zoom on Tuesday, Aug. 3 at 11 a.m. This gentle form of yoga is specially designed for seniors and people with disabilities to help them strengthen, stretch and tone the body, and to connect body, mind and spirit. Visit the libraryʼs website for details. • In-person event: The library will hold Movie Screenings in the community room on Tuesday, Aug. 3. The film is the 2020 drama/western “Nomadland” (R). Catch the matinee from 1 to 3 p.m. or the encore from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Seating first come, first served. Participants must sign a waiver to attend.
2 at 5:30 p.m. Have your pencil and paper ready, then join John on Zoom to learn step-by-step how to draw a cartoon. Register on the libraryʼs website. • Chair Yoga for Everyone, presented by Apple Rose Yoga, is offered free for Washington Township library patrons on
Mondays at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Visit the libraryʼs website for information. • In-person event: Children and their grownups can play Lawn Games outside the library on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. There will be a nice selection of lawn games for you and your friends and fam-
ily to enjoy. No registration required. Weather permitting. Call ahead if the weather looks questionable. • In-person event: Snack Chat is every Wednesday at 4 p.m. outside the library. Tweens CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
HILLSDALE
Demarest Farms Wine Fest Aug. 14–15
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Wine enthusiasts and nearby neighbors can enjoy the Demarest Farms Wine Festival on Saturday, Aug. 14 and Sunday, Aug. 15, when the neighborhood farm will host award-winning wineries from around New Jersey. The event takes places from noon to 6 p.m. both days, rain or
shine, and features wine tasting, live music, and food. The cost is $15 per person, which includes a wine tasting glass and sampling of wines from all wineries and admission to the band performances. The Kover Up Band and a Beatles tribute band are scheduled to perform.
Participating wineries include Dimatteo Winery, Valenzano Winery, Villa Milagros Vineyards, and Villari Winery. For more information, call Demarest Farms at (201) 666-0472 or visit www.demarestfarms.com. Demarest Farms is at 244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale.
Sample wines from around New Jersey at the Demarest Farms Wine Festival Aug. 14–15.
Dining & Cooking Guide
WESTWOOD FARMERS’ MARKET OPEN ON SATURDAYS Youʼre invited to the Westwood Farmersʼ Market, conveniently located in the parking lot of the Columbian Club/St. Thomas More Knights of Columbus Council at 2188 at 40 Crest St. The market is open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. Do Re Me Farm is the local organic farmer with the freshest seasonal produce around. Artisans youʼll find at the market include: • Smokinʼ Joeʼs (201 Magazine Best of Bergen 2021 winner, BBQ & Signature Sandwich) • Best Damn Lemonade • Three Charmed Gems • Elixir Kitchensʼ Gourmet Pet Treats (201 Magazine Best of Bergen 2021 winner, Best Pet Store/Services) • Conradʼs Confectionery (201 Magazine Best of Bergen
2021 winner, Best Ice Cream & Place for a Sweet Treat) • House of Jerky • Riley & Mee Dog Training • Artisanal Soaps Creations • J & R Cookie (Italian breads and more) • Shipwreck Hot Sauce • The Spice Beast • Deliciously Aliciaʼs • Sweet Spot Donuts • Paoloʼs Kitchen (Italian dinners on the go) • Westwood Softball Association Additional artisans might join on a guest-appearance basis. Covid-19 health and safety guidelines are in place for everyoneʼs benefit. All monies raised by the market benefits “The Westwood Scholarships in Memory of Elizabeth Fasciano.” To donate, mail a check, made out to The Westwood
Scholarships in Memory of Elizabeth Fasciano, to Westwood Farmersʼ Market 40 Crest St., Westwood
NJ 07675. Stop by and take a look at the newly renovated catering hall.
For more information on the market and/or rentals, call (201) 723-8807.
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Save the date for these fun summer activities at Veterans Park Gazebo, 84 Park Ave., across from the train station. All times are 6:30 to 8 p.m. • July 22: Sheridan Ruitin (New York suburbia Irish music) • July 29: The Al's (folk, country, original hits, more) • Aug. 5: Tim Gysin: (hits from 1960s–today) • Aug. 12: DJ Anthony (summer favorites and requests) • Aug. 19: The Kootz (rock ʻnʼ roll with fiber) • Aug. 26: Over the Waterfall: (American and something from across the pond) Bring a chair or blanket.
Current New Jersey Covid-19 rules will be followed. The rain location is Davies Field Pavilion, behind Borough Hall, 53 Park Ave. For a list of participating local food businesses offering a 15% discount on eat in/takeout food, valid on all nine Summer Concert nights, visit parkridgeboro.com. For more information call the rec at (201) 573-1800 ext. 521. The rec thanks sponsor Carolee Chirico, NJ & NY Broker Associate with Keller Williams Valley Realty, 123 Tice Blvd. Woodcliff Lake. Cell (201) 400-3259, email caroleec@kw.com.
Making a difference! From left to right: Janelle Larghi, Lily Milkes, Eliana Schumacher, Mackenzie Legg, and Mayor Michael Ghassali. It was a tough year for everyone, including the Girl Scouts, whose annual cookie sale fundraiser suffered from Covid restrictions. But the young ladies adapted. Moving from a door-to-door sales routine, the girls found alternate sales methods, turning to social media, email and, direct appeals to family and friends. One of Montvaleʼs 3rd grade troops, #97451, pushed hard and came out victorious — selling
more cookies than in previous years. Leaders said, “In true Girl Scout fashion, rather than reaping the rewards, the 11-girl troop decided their own community needed the money even more. In the spirit of Girl Scoutʼs Give Back badge, where businesses help others, Democracy kicked in and the girls voted to donate $200, one-third of their total income, plus collected donations consisting of three bags of food, two cases of apple juice, and 31 boxes
of Girl Scout cookies for the TriBoro Food Pantry in Park Ridge.” Accompanied by Mayor Michael Ghassali, the troopʼs top three sellers were honored to bring their goodies to Janelle Larghi of the Tri-Boro Food Pantry and learn how their contribution will help local families in need—and this encouraged them to continue to support their community and talk about next yearʼs Community Give Back opportunities. — Submitted item
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AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
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AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
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Dining & Cooking Guide
Westwood seeks eight towns’ input on job-related habits survey
Residents of Emerson, Hillsdale, Montvale, Park Ridge, River Vale, the Township of Washington, Westwood, and Woodcliff Lake, your views are among those sought in a survey aming to show changes and opportunities stemming from the remarkable near-year and a half weʼve just lived through. The Covid-19 pandemic caused an enormous shift in work habits for residents of the Pascack Valley. To better understand the ramifications on local economies, Westwood Mayor Ray Arroyo assigned Economic Recovery Task Force member Lauren Letizia to draft a data-gathering survey. Questions are designed to collect information on how job-related habits were impacted by the Covid19 pandemic. They cover commuting changes, frequency of shopping,
dining, and receiving services in each of the towns within the Pascack Valley. You can access it at tinyurl.com/PVWorkSurvey through Aug. 22. The aim, said Letizia, who also is co-chair of the boroughʼs Celebrate Westwood committee, is to compare lifestyle patterns before and “post” pandemic. She told Pascack Press on July 27 that results will be considered against demographic and consumer data compiled by the borough planner as part of a project initiated by Arroyo “to better understand Westwoodʼs commercial hub and market catchment.” And she promised respondents would remain anonymous and that no personal information would be requested.
“The May 2021 research project illuminated many of the boroughʼs economic strengths and areas of saturation that have made Westwood an attractive place to operate a business, while highlighting areas of potential growth,” Letizia said.
Looking at the numbers Letizia said Arroyo directed Borough Planner Ed Snieckus of Burgis Associates, based in Westwood, to explore the location-based market intelligence offered by ESRI ArcGIS Business Analyst after she and Camille Sasena, chairperson of the Historic Preservation Commission, recommended it. Letizia said the product combines “demographic, business, lifestyle, spending, and census data with map-based analytics.”
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She said this data-driven approach is common for “real estate groups, marketing firms, and corporations looking to better understand their markets, customers, and clients.” Moreover, she said, the approach can have “real applications to local planning, as taxes on commercial properties can significantly offset residential property taxes in a community.” She added, “A strong, diversified ratable base is a critical component of a thriving municipality, supporting a healthy, balanced budget.” According to Letizia, the boroughʼs Central Business District, centered on Westwood Avenue, represents an aggregated “most important ratable” for the municipality, “bringing in substantial and reliable tax revenue every year.” She said Westwood, the selfdescribed “Hub of the Pascack Valley,” has long enjoyed a thriving and energetic downtown perhaps dating back to before the boroughʼs incorporation, in 1894. She also said the Westwood Planning Board, Zoning Board, and Building Department had kept “watchful eyes” on decades of changing consumer tastes and needs. Those years saw the boroughʼs commercial core shift incrementally from “basic postal, banking, grocery, and clothing needs in the early
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20th century to fashion, home goods, services, and car dealerships in the mid-century, to its current iteration of multicultural restaurants, boutique retail shops, and specialized services,” she said. She added that, as the area continues to recover from Covid19 shutdowns and attendant economic shocks, “the impacts of demographic shifts—after a very hot and ongoing residential real estate market—and work-life changes must be carefully analyzed to better comprehend potential impacts on the municipality.” Letizia said the survey seeks input from folks in other towns in the Pascack Valley, “as well as anyone who works in the Pascack Valley”, because so many people avail themselves of shopping, dining, and recreation here. Participation in the survey is anonymous. Although it asks general questions for sorting and demographic purposes, it does not record or solicit personal information. (Donʼt worry, youʼre not going to wind up on a mailing list.) She said the final question gives participants the opportunity to share their email address if they would like to be entered to win a participation prize, but answers will otherwise not be traceable back to any individual. — Pascack Press
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eats Enjoy outdoor dining at Vicolo S
INCE 2011, Vicolo Ristorante in Old Tappan has been delighting hungry diners and serving as the setting for special moments. The restaurant offers live music on Friday and Saturday evenings, house-made, traditional semolina pasta, and the flavors of Northern Italy at its Bi-State Plaza location. Vicolo also offers buy-oneget-one dinners Sunday through Thursday, and a weekday lunch special for $9.95 that includes an appetizer, entree and choice of coffee or tea. Pascack Press recently caught up with owner Benny Qosaj, who was excited to invite the community to come celebrate nine years with Vicolo. In addition to the classic menu items that longtime diners know and enjoy, Qosaj told us about some of the restaurantʼs featured dishes that heʼs excited about right now, like the homemade Burrata Ravioli with chopped tomatoes and a garlic white wine sauce.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
Dining & Cooking Guide
Ristorante in Old Tappan
What else is Qosaj excited about? Thereʼs the Pork Osso Buco served with polenta and broccoli rabe, or a Grilled Veal Chop with portobello mushrooms in a marsala wine sauce. In addition to other classic fish dishes, Qosaj recommended the oven roasted whole Branzino Piccata, with capers and a lemon white wine sauce. Another dish to enjoy: roasted half duck with orange remoulade sauce over risotto. Before your entree, any meal will be off to a nice start with one of Vicoloʼs 12 appetizers, such as the Blue Point Oyster Cocktail or the Eggplant Rollatini. Any choice should pair nicely with the complimentary bread and dipping sauce. Choose a soup or salad—perhaps pasta fagoli, or maybe the soup du jour; or for something light and fresh, go for a salad. Daveʼs Salad features hearts of palm, endives, apples and gorgonzola. When choosing your entree, you may also want to consider the in-house pasta in an
assortment of preparations, such as the Orecchiette Benito (orecchiette pasta with sausage, broccoli rabe, garlic oil, and sun-dried tomato), or any of the seven mouth-watering pasta options. Craving meat or fish? Vicolo has no shortage of options. If itʼs fish, thereʼs the Shrimp and Scallops Fra Diavolo. Thereʼs
DELICIOUS LAMB CHOPS are prepared especially for you. also the Salmon Vicolo, which is stuffed with crab meat and cooked in a wood-fired oven with honey mustard sauce. Then again, there are still four other seafood options, one just as delectable as the next.
PARK RIDGE REC AND TGA SPORTS CAMPS
Park Ridge Recreation is offering TGA Sports Camps at Davies Memorial Field as follows: • August Multi Sports Camps: Aug. 2–20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Full and half day sessions offered. Non-residents are welcomed as well, and you can sign up for only a week, to fill a gap in your summer schedule. Sign up at http://bergencounty.playtga.com/go/praug21 or call (201) 375-7406. For more information call the Park Ridge Recreation Department at (201) 573-1800 ext. 521.
PULL UP A CHAIR at Vicolo Ristorante, where elegance meets affordable, delicious Italian cuisine. Thereʼs an array of classic but reservations may be made as chicken and veal dishes to choose well. The restaurant also offers the from as well. And donʼt forget option for take out. Vicolo can host your holiday, about the double cut pork chops, or the filet mignon, done Italian, business or family parties on their served with mushrooms and shal- patio. Seating is available for up to 100 guests. Catering is also offered lots in Barolo wine sauce. and the restaurant has a full bar, including over 100 wines. Live performances during the weekends feature Italian singing and opera-style music. Vicolo, at 216 Old Tappan Road in Old Tappan, is open Monday through Friday from noon to 3 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, Vicolo is open from 4 to 9 p.m. Visit Vicolo Ristorante FISH LOVERS can enjoy a whole online to see the menu: vicolroasted branzino. oristorante.com. Call (201) The restaurant meets a full 497-8777 for reservations, takearray of dining and entertaining out, catering, and more inforneeds. Vicolo welcomes walk-ins, mation.
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WHICH RETIREMENT PLAN IS RIGHT FOR YOUR BUSINESS? Editorʼs note: The following article is for informational purposes only. If you own a small business, there are many ERIC KOHLMEIER retirement plan alternatives available to help you and your eligible employees save for retirement. For most closely held business owners, a Simplified Employee Pension Individual Retirement Account (SEP IRA) was once the most cost-effective choice. Then
the Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE IRA) became a viable alternative. Today you may find that a defined benefit or 401(k) plan best suits your needs. To make an informed decision on which plan is right for your business, review the differences carefully before you choose. • Simplified Employee Pension Individual Retirement Account (SEP IRA). This plan is flexible, easy to set up, and has low administrative costs. An employer signs a plan adoption agreement, and IRAs are set up for each eligible employee. When choosing this
plan, keep in mind that it does not allow employees to save through payroll deductions, and contributions are immediately 100% vested. The maximum an employer can contribute each year is 25% of an employeeʼs eligible compensation, up to a maximum of $280,000 for 2019. However, the contribution for any individual cannot exceed $56,000 in 2019. Employer contributions are typically discretionary and may vary from year to year. With this plan, the same formula must be used to calculate the contribution amount for all eligible
employees, including any owners. Eligible employees include those who are age 21 and older and those employed (both part time and full time) for three of the last five years. • Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE). If you want a plan that encourages employees to save for retirement, a SIMPLE IRA might be appropriate for you. In order to select this plan, you must have 100 or fewer eligible employees who earned $5,000 or more in compensation in the preceding year and have no other employer-sponsored retirement plans to which contributions were made or accrued during that calendar year. There are no annual IRS filings or complex paperwork, and employer contributions are tax deductible for your business. The plan encourages employees to save for retirement through payroll deductions; contributions are immediately 100% vested. The maximum salary deferral limit to a SIMPLE IRA plan cannot exceed $13,000 for 2019. If an employee is 50 or older before Dec. 31, then an additional catchup contribution of $3,000 is permitted. Each year the employer must decide to do either a matching contribution (the lesser of the employeeʼs salary deferral or 3% of the employeeʼs compensation) or nonmatching contribution of 2% of an employeeʼs compensation (limited to $280,000 for 2019). All participants in the plan must be notified of the employerʼs decision each year no later than Nov. 2 for the upcoming year. • Defined benefit pension plan. This type of a plan may be a good solution for a profitable company with stable cash flow with intentions of benefitting employees over the age of 40. This type of plan can also help build savings quickly. It generally produces a much larger tax-deductible contribution for your business than a defined contribution plan; however, annual employer contributions are mandatory since each participant is promised a monthly benefit at retirement age. Since this plan is more complex to administer, the services of an enrolled actuary are required. All plan assets must be held in a pooled account, and your employees cannot direct their investments. Certain factors affect an employerʼs contribution for a plan, such as current value of the plan assets, the ages of employees, date
of hire, and compensation. A participating employee with a large projected benefit and only a few years until normal retirement age generates a large contribution because there is little time to accumulate the necessary value to produce the stated benefit at retirement. The maximum annual benefit at retirement is the lesser of 100% of the employeeʼs compensation or $225,000 per year in 2019 (indexed for inflation). This plan design should only be considered with the intention of funding for a minimum of five years. • 401(k) plans. This plan may be right for your company if you want to motivate your employees to save towards retirement and give them a way to share in the firmʼs profitability. 401(k) plans are best suited for companies seeking flexible contribution methods. When choosing this plan type, keep in mind that the employee and employer have the ability to make contributions. The maximum salary deferral limit for a 401(k) plan is $19,000 for 2019. If an employee is age 50 or older before Dec. 31, then an additional catch-up contribution of $6,000 is permitted. The maximum amount you, as the employer, can contribute is 25% of the eligible employeeʼs total compensation (capped at $280,000 for 2019). Individual allocations for each employee cannot exceed the lesser of 100% of compensation or $56,000 in 2019 ($62,000 if age 50 or older). The allocation of employer profit-sharing contributions can be skewed to favor older employees, if using age-weighted and new comparability features. Generally, IRS Forms 5500 and 5500-EZ (along with applicable schedules) must be filed each year. Once you have reviewed your businessʼs goals and objectives, check with your financial advisor to evaluate the best retirement plan option for your financial situation. Written by/for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Eric Kohlmeier, senior financial advisor, managing director—investments in Park Ridge, (201) 5050472. Investments in securities and insurance products are not FDICinsured/not bank-guaranteed/may lose value. Wells Fargo Advisors, LAC, Member SIPS, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate nonbank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.
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Bergen Community College erases $5M in student debt
In its latest initiative to remove barriers for students seeking to complete their Bergen Community College education, the institution will use a portion of funds received from the federal government for pandemic-related relief to satisfy the outstanding balances of current students with past-due tuition bills. In total, the college said it will devote approximately $5 million to the effort, which Bergen leaders estimate will impact more than 2,000 students. In order to qualify for the debt relief, students must have enrolled in classes and incurred a tuition balance during the pandemic (from March 2020 to the present). The college said in a press release it will erase the balances automatically — students will not have to request relief. Eligible students will receive additional information this month. “When I arrived at Bergen in January, I sought to lead with an ʻethic of care,ʼ” President Eric M. Friedman, Ph.D., said. “That philosophy represents the driving force behind this initiative, as
financial concerns often present the most significant barrier to earning a college degree — especially given the pandemicʼs effect on the finances of our students. By erasing past-due tuition, students can return to Bergen to continue their path to a degree without debt hanging over their heads.” The funding Bergen received through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and the American Rescue Plan intends to defray expenses associated with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and make additional emergency financial aid grants to students. Bergensaid it has already distributed over $10 million in direct emergency aid to its students. Financial barriers frequently prevent community college students from remaining in college and completing their degree or certificate program. In addition to the recent federal funds Bergen has allocated to provide tuition relief, students also take advan-
tage of numerous federal, state and college-sponsored initiatives that help them remain enrolled. Among them, students file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which makes them eligible for programs such as the stateʼs tuition-free Community College Opportunity Grant. The program has now expanded to include households making up to $65,000 per year. Additionally, the Bergen Community College Foundation will sponsor a $5,000 initiative — the Bergen VIP (Vaccine Incentive Program) — that will encourage new and continuing students to not only register at the College, but become vaccinated. Similar incentive programs in New York, West Virginia and Ohio have proven effective at increasing vaccination rates and lowering community risk to COVID-19. Under Bergen VIP, the foundation will offer five $1,000 awards for use at the institution by vaccinated students. Students who provide proof of registration and vaccina-
Pascack Press welcomes press releases, birth announcements, wedding announcements and event photographs from all towns in the Pascack Valley. Send all news to pascackpress@thepressgroup.net
tion through a secure web portal will be entered into a scholarship lottery that will take place Aug. 27 via live YouTube stream. Bergenʼs affordable tuition and renowned faculty complement general education classes such as English Composition, General Biology and Statistics that remain ideal for transfer to many four-year colleges. Bergen offers more than 130 degree and certificate programs in
areas such as aviation, criminal justice, dental hygiene, fashion design and hospitality. The College ranks No. 1 in New Jersey for associate degree graduates. The College has now fully reopened its campuses after more than a year of operating via a mostly remote instructional and professional environment. For more information, or to register for classes that begin Sept. 1, visit bergen.edu.
EMERSON
B’Nai Israel Hebrew School enrolling
Congregation Bʼnai Israel is accepting applications for 2021–2022 Hebrew School. The Hebrew School, which begins in September, offers a strong Hebrew and Judaic curriculum for grades K–8 that is innovative, fun, and educational. The two-day-a-week program (Sundays and Tuesdays) includes instruction in reading Hebrew, learning to read and chant the prayers, and gaining skills to lead their Bar/Bat Mitzvah service and beyond. The Judaic curriculum
includes the study of Jewish Holidays, Israel, the Holocaust (for older students), and Jewish History, culture, and identity. The schoolʼs K-2 “Prozdor” program meets on Sundays for two hours. For more information about the Hebrew School or all that the temple has to offer, write office@bisrael.com or call (201) 265-2272. Congregation Bʼnai Israel is an innovative Conservative temple at 53 Palisade Ave. For more information visit bisrael.com.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
PASCACK VALLEY
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Library Calendar
and teens can drop by for snacks, crafts, lawn games, and a space to hang out. If you have a Nintendo Switch, bring it along. Weather permitting. Masks required. • In-person event: Outdoor Story Time meets every Thursday at 10 a.m. Ages 2–5. Register online before attending. Weekly through Aug. 19. • In-person event: Friday Friends—Stroller Stories Edition meets every Friday at 10 a.m. through Aug. 20. Rhymes, songs, and a short story for toddlers. Held in person outside; weather permitting. Register online.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
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WESTWOOD 49 Park Ave. (201) 664-0583 westwoodpubliclibrary.org • In Junior Animal Activists, kids grades 3–5 discover different ways to help animals by learning about animal rights, watching videos, learning about the work of activists, and more. Meets weekly on Mondays via Google Meet, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m., through Aug. 9. Sign up online. • Intro to Scratch Coding (grades 2–4) is on Google Meet
Tuesdays in August, starting Aug. 3, from 3 to 3:45 p.m. Scratch is a block-based visual programming language where children create projects on the web using a block-like interface. Before class, users must have a laptop (Windows or Mac), preload the free software (follow link at registration), and create an account. Register online. • Draw the Missing Half, for grades K–2, will have children drawing the missing half of insects to learn the basics of bilateral symmetry, while challenging them to practice math and identify insects. Activity sheets provided; youʼll need colored pencils or crayons. On Google Meet Tuesday, Aug. 3, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Sign up online. • In-person event: Animal Art: Sea Creatures, a program for kids pre-K to age 5, meets in the libraryʼs parking lot Wednesdays in August from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Starting Aug. 4, this fourweek program reviews animals and the alphabet. Includes a related craft. Register online. • In-person event: In anticipation of Shakespeare in the Park (Aug. 7–8), the library is pleased to provide an opportunity to learn more about the plays to be pre-
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sented. In Get ready for Shakespeare, to be held on the libraryʼs front lawn Wednesday, Aug. 4 at 3:30 p.m., learn more about “Hamlet,” “King Lear” and “Romeo and Juliet,” and have a chance to interact with the plays. Register online. • In-person event: Pop-Up Story Time is at the bandstand at Veterans Park (across the street from the library) Thursday, Aug.
5 from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Stories, songs, and finger plays for kids up to 5. No signup required. • The Bee Club for grades 3–5 meets via Zoom on Thursdays at 4 p.m. to teach children about bees and beekeeping. Games, crafts, more. Next: Aug. 5. Register online. • Take a Virtual Tour of the Battleship New Jersey via Zoom on Thursday, Aug. 5 from
7 to 8 p.m. A fun local trip for the summer! This virtual program gives an overview of the battleship. Register online. • In Intro to Debate, kids grades 4–5 learn basics of debate and boost skills in critical thinking, organization, public speaking, logic, and conflict resolution. On Google Meet every Friday afternoon from 4 to 4:45, through Aug. 6. Register online.
HILLSDALE
Saying goodbye, and thanks, to Haffler
Hillsdale public safety personnel and many other friends are saying goodbye, and thanks, to dispatcher Kimberly Lucia Haffler, who is moving on to new challenges. Referring to her number, the Hillsdale Fire Department posted on June 11, “104 out, something weʼve heard for 23 years, and it seems surreal that 104 is actually out! Good luck in your next journey Kimberly Lucia Haffler, we were so lucky to have you! Best of luck in your next adventure!” On Facebook, hugs and best wishes followed. A few examples: • Ali Dalessandro-Ginestra: “Good luck Kim! You have been such an incredible part in keeping us all safe! Thank you! Xo” • Denise DeSandre Winkler: “She is the best! Good luck Kim!” • Kathryn Soukhanov: “Best of luck!” • Tom Kelley: “Best dispatcher Iʼve ever had the pleasure of working with.” • Nicole Festa Klas: “Thank you for your service!”
• Kathy McDonnell Breitenbach: “Good luck Kim!” • Deborah Regula: “Wonʼt be the same without you!”
• Jim Mawdsley: “Big heart Hillsdale will miss you!” • Naomi Zepeda: “THE BEST!”
Celebrate Westwood is pleased to welcome the Friends of the Bard theatrical troupe to the historic bandstand at Veterans Memorial Park on Aug. 7 and 8 at 7 p.m. for a one-hour production of “Shakespeareʼs Families.” Aiming to make the works of Shakespeare accessible and exciting for a modern audience, and particularly suitable for high-school students and adults, the production stars members of the Bergen County Players in scenes from “Hamlet,” “King Lear,” and “Romeo and Juliet,” with Renaissance vocal music to unite the scenes of endless family drama. There is no rain date. Registration is recommended at celebratewestwood.org. Bring chairs or blankets for your comfort. “Shakespeareʼs Families” is the creation of Westwood resident Jacqueline McElroy-Poquette, who taught music in Woodcliff Lake for more than 25 years and whose Broadway credits include roles in “Pipe Dream,” “Mr. Wonderful,” and “Oh Captain” as well other credits in summer stock productions and with the Bergen County Players (BCP). McElroy-Poquette has directed several dozen productions with BCP in addition to shows at the Elmwood Playhouse in Nyack, Pascack Valley High School, and the Nutley Little Theatre. “Getting Ready for Shakespeare” Aug 4 As a prequel to this Arts on the Avenues event, the Westwood Public Library is hosting “Getting Ready for Shakespeare,” an interactive opportunity to engage with some of Shakespeareʼs greatest dramas, on Wednesday, Aug. 4 at 3:30 p.m. on the lawn of the library. Register at westwoodpubliclibrary.org.
Knights to host dinner Friday, Aug. 27
The St. Thomas More Council #2188 Westwood/Hillsdale will host a Friday Night Dinner on Friday, Aug. 27 at 40 Crest St. The doors open at 6 p.m. The menu includes hot dogs and hamburgers with all the fixings, pulled pork, sausage, peppers and onions, salads, dessert and coffee,
tea, and soda. Bar service is available. The cost is $15 per person and $35 per family (parents with children 12 and under). Reservations must be made by noon on Tuesday, Aug. 24 Prior payment is required to secure a reservation. Payment can be made by check, mailed to the council, by Aug. 27 or
by placing a check in the mail box the main entrance of the Council Hall. For reservations call Mike DeAngelo at (201) 664-5396. All CDC health guidelines are followed to the letter. Monies raised provide the funds for the councilʼs many charitable activities.
problem with this,” he said. DeSena and fellow councilman Steven Cascio said recently they were shocked to see roofers installing sheathing and shingles on a Saturday during a pounding rain and hail storm. Concerns about the new ESB
exceeding its approved height were raised by neighbors at the June 9 and June 21 council meetings and left unresolved. Calamari told Pascack Press on July 27 that roofing will be replaced and the replaced areas reinspected. “Everything except the roof is being done correctly.” He said beyond Conley being
onsite to check on work progress, the township did not feel the need for a full-time inspector for the site. On Facebook on July 26, he said. “Since the project is a function of the town government, it did not require Zoning or Planning Board approval.”
Firehouse: New roof no good FROM PAGE 14
About Celebrate Westwood All Celebrate Westwood events are made possible through individual financial contributions to support artist honorariums and promotional activities, as well as through the unwavering support of the Westwood mayor and council. All programming at Veterans Memorial Park is made possible through partnership with the Westwood Recreation Department. Celebrate Westwood was created in 2018 with the support pf Westwoodʼs governing body in anticipation of the 125th anniversary of the borough of Westwood in 2019. Since then, the volunteer organization has been creating opportunities for performing and visual arts as well as community building and civic pride events to increase interaction between residents and local businesses. The organization functions under the financial auspices of the Westwood Heritage Society, working toward its own 501(c)3 status. For more information visit celebratewestwood.org. — Staff report
The town’s original fire headquarters, seen here in 1938, was in a small wooden building across Washington Avenue from the present headquarters.
PASCACK VALLEY
‘Finding Ourselves’ on Zoom Aug. 2
The Rev. Mack Brandon of the Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church in Ridgewood present a discussion, “Finding Ourselves in C o m m u n i t y,” on Monday, Aug. 2, at 7:30 p.m. He will cover such questions as, Where will our faith lead us? What is our The Rev. Mack role as commuBrandon nity stakeholders? and Shall our histories join or separate us? This hour of discussion is an opportunity to open dialogue about issues, both local and beyond, through the lenses of culture and faith. This webinar is part of Temple Israel & JCCʼs ongoing lecture series. Participation is free
and all are welcome. For the Zoom link, visit synagogue.org/calendar. Brandon has been pastor of the Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church in Ridgewood since 2010. He has also been a professor of music on the faculty of Ramapo College since 1994. He has for the past year hosted a Wednesday evening community zoom conversation interviewing diverse village, state, and national personalities, whose work has promoted goodwill and social justice. At 475 Grove St. in Ridgewood, Temple Israel and JCC offers two worship alternatives within one community: egalitarian Conservative and Reconstructionist. Service schedules and more information are available at synagogue.org.
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AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
Shakespeare in the Park Aug. 7-8
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WESTWOOD
AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
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Health, Wellness &Fitness Guide ADVERTISER CONTENT
DR. KAPLAN: Visit us to test for and illuminate brain injuries
Brain dysfunction that occurs from physical trauma is common. There are many ways someone might sustain a brain injury, as well as DR. ERIC KAPLAN, post-concussion KAPLAN BRAIN & syndrome. There BODY also are a variety of ways that these injuries could affect someoneʼs life. Our priority is to help spread awareness about how these injuries impact patients, and create a deeper understanding of how to help people suffering from a brain injury through applied neuroscience and neuroplasticity. Although most people think that concussions and brain injury just occur when someone sustains a blow to the head, they could also happen with less obvious impacts as well. For instance, it can also occur in a small car accident when there is a slight whiplash. There are brain injuries called coup contrecoup in which the brain is basically tossed around inside the skull and there is a “bruising” injury to the opposite side of the brain. Structural or postural issues due to poor phone or computer habits, as well as musculoskeletal injuries, could also cause strain or cause torsion in the artery in the neck, which could lead to decreased blood flow to the brain resulting in dizziness or lightheadedness. Other musculoskeletal injuries include strain of the muscles in the back, shoulders, or
neck could also pull on the skull, causing pain and headaches. Brain injuries donʼt just cause pain and headaches. They could also cause or lead to other symptoms such as dysautonomia, in which people are in a fight-orflight mode all the time. People might also experience increased stress, dizziness, insomnia, anxiety, as well as linguistic issues. Symptoms tend to be more severe if there were pre-existing health problems. CTE and post-concussion syndrome are very complex disorders which could last for weeks, if not months or years, after a concussion. It is important to understand that a patient who suffered a concussion or brain injury could face diverse types of symptoms. Many people have to take significant amounts of time out of school or work. Memory, focus and energy can decrease, and studying or reading can become a challenge. For some patients, light and sound sensitivity make it difficult to leave the house. Many patients also suffer from insomnia and digestive problems. Adults are more likely to seek help for head injuries, but unfortunately, for many reasons, parents may have a difficult time understanding if their children have had a concussion. Sometimes the child does not report to their parents that they even got hit in the head. A lot of times they hide their symptoms from the parents so they can continue to play or hide the truth from the adults because they do not want to go home or if they are
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playing sports and they do not want to get taken out of the game. If your child plays sports and starts getting headaches, dizziness, double vision, brain fog, anxiety, depression, anger, sleep problems, fatigue, or difficulty with concentration, start to ask some questions about hitting his or her head. If they did hit their head, even if it is a very small hit, it is important to get the proper concussion evaluation to compare it to the baseline testing. With baseline testing, there is never a guess of what happened to the brain. We will know exactly what is wrong and how to fix it so that the child can get back on the field or back to school without physical, social or cognitive effects. Without baseline testing it is harder to determine what damage was done and that makes treatment much harder and less effective. There is no reason you or your children need to suffer from
concussions when these injuries can be totally prevented. One of the most common misconceptions regarding concussion or head injuries is that the best recommendation after the injury is to rest. However, if you sustain a head injury, the latest research shows that too much rest can prolong recovery. The best way to handle a head injury is to participate in a brain rehabilitation program like we do at Kaplan Brain & Body. During these brain rehabilitation programs, we improve the function of the brain specific to the areas that are damaged during the injury. It is sort of like physical therapy but for the brain. This type of treatment protocol may help reduce the symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, pain, brain fog, fatigue, sleeping difficulties, troubles with focus, depression, and anxiety. We also have diagnostic equipment such as qEEG for brain
mapping and a VOG to discover the actual dysfunctions of the brain, and this advanced technology is non invasive, has no radiation, and tells us more information than a still picture like a MRI or CT scan. If you are interested in evaluating your brain to see if you have or ever had a brain injury, call our office at (201) 261-2150 to set up an appointment. To show our commitment to the community, we are offering a complete neurological evaluation using all the latest diagnostic equipment for only $97 to the first seven people that call or email info@kaplanbrainandbody.com. This is normally $300 so take advantage of the amazing offer. At Kaplan Brain & Body, we want you to function better, feel better, and live better. Kaplan Brain & Body is at 85 Kinderkamack Road, Suite 100, Emerson. Visit at www.kaplandc.com.
PARK RIDGE
Stonybrook, EMTs team up THE LIFEGUARDS OF Stonybrook Swim Club partnered with the volunteer ambulance corps of Westwood, Hillsdale, and River Vale on July 14 to train as one. The hourlong “drill” included a demonstration by the lifeguards on the proper response to a suspected head and/or neck injury. A spinal stabilization technique is performed in the water, the the “victim” is backboarded. Once the victim is removed from the water, the EMTs assume responsibility for safely transporting him or her to the hospital. — Stonybrook Swim Club Stonybrook Swim Club photo
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THESAVVYSENIOR: Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care? Dear Savvy Senior, How does Medicare cover in-home health care? My husband has a chronic health condition that BY JIM MILLER makes it very difficult for him to leave the house, so I wonder if he could qualify for Medicare home health care. — Seeking Help
Dear Seeking, Medicare covers a wide variety of part-time or intermittent inhome health care services to beneficiaries in need, if they meet Medicareʼs criteria. Hereʼs how it works. In order for your husband to secure coverage for home health care, Medicare first requires that he be homebound. This means that it must be extremely difficult for him to leave home, and he needs help doing so either from another person or medical device like a cane, wheelchair, walker or crutches. He will then need to have a face-to-face meeting with his doctor to get a home health certifica-
tion confirming that he needs skilled-nursing care or skilledtherapy services from a physical or speech therapist on a part-time basis. His doctor can also request the services of an occupational therapist and a personal care aide to assist with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and using the bathroom. His doctor must renew and certify his home health plan every 60 days. He will also need to use a home health agency that is certified by Medicare. If he meets all of the requirements, Medicare should pay for his in-home health care. But be aware that Medicare will not pay for personal care aide services (for bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, etc.) alone if he does not need skilled-nursing or skilled-therapy services too. Homemaker services, such as shopping, meal preparation and cleaning are not covered either. If your husband has original Medicare, you can locate a Medicare-certified home health agency by calling 800-633-4227 or by visiting Medicare.gov/care-compare. If he has a Medicare Advantage plan, you should contact his plan directly and ask which home health agencies work with the plan
and are within the planʼs network of providers. For more detailed information on how Medicare covers inhome health, see the “Medicare and Home Health Care” online booklet at Medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/10969Medicare-and-Home-HealthCare.pdf.
Other Options If your husband does not qualify for Medicare home health care coverage, there are other coverage options depending on your situation. Here are several that may apply to you: • Insurance: If you happen to have long-term care insurance, check to see if it covers in-home care. Or if you have a life insurance policy, see if it can be utilized to
pay for care. • Medicaid: If your income is low, your husband may qualify for Medicaid, which offers different home and community-based services that can pay for in-home care. To investigate this, contact your local Medicaid office. Also see if PACE — which stands for “Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly” — is available in your area (see NPAonline.org). PACE provides in-home care, including help with activities of daily living, such as meals, dental and medical care, among other benefits. • Veterans Benefits: If your husband is a veteran, the VA also offers some benefits that can help. Two programs to inquire about are “Aid and Attendance or Housebound Allowances” and the “Veter-
an-Directed Care” program. Both programs provide monthly financial benefits to eligible veterans that can help pay for in-home care. To learn more, contact your regional VA benefit office (see Benefits.va.gov/benefits/offices.a sp or call 800–827–1000). To look for these and other programs in your area that can help pay your husbandʼs home care, go to PayingForSeniorCare.com and click on “Find Financial Assistance for Care” to access their Eldercare Financial Assistance Locator tool. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
Health, Wellness &Fitness Guide
HACKENSACK
74 star in online Art in the Park exhibit
Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco and the Board of Commissioners along with the Bergen County Department of Parksʼ Division of Historic and Cultural Affairs, invite the public to view the current 2021 virtual Art in the Park visual art exhibit.
The variety of artwork samples the talent of Bergen County. The exhibit can be found by following the links from the County of Bergen website: co.bergen.nj.us Departments and Services> Parks> Cultural & Historic Affairs> Virtual Art in
the Park Show 2021 74 county resident artists are participating. There are six categories. Cash prizes include 1st place/$175; 2nd place/$150; 3rd place/$125; honorable Mention/$100 in each category and Best in Show.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
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Up Close: Safety town experienced with this age group, having run the townʼs Kindergarten Kamp for nearly a decade. Buckley is a special education teacher and Giordano teaches kindergarten “Safety Town is a priority for the township because itʼs a safety program, and it teaches kids how to react in different environments and it could save a life,” Buckley told Pascack Press on July 27.. She said, “You see on the news where a child called 9-1-1 because their parent was down. Well, where are they going to learn that? Itʼs just important stuff, that kind of thing.” This year topics included: • Poison Safety (NJ Poison Control Center; njpies.org). With the help of porcupine puppet Spike, kids learned “when something is OK and when to stay away.” (When in doubt, weʼre told, stay away and ask a grown up for help.) • Automobile and Pedestrian Safety (AAA;
FROM PAGE 1
northeastaaa.com). This fast-paced presentation featured Otto the Auto, a remote controlled talking car, and Bob the Puppet, who help kids learn about passenger safety in cars, pedestrian safety, current booster seat laws, why they need to sit in the back, and how to behave in the car. Children also learned the basics of parking lot safety, sidewalk safety, and making good choices about where to play. • Stranger Danger Safety and what to do in case of emergencies. How to use 9-1-1, courtesy the River Vale Police Department. • Prescription Drug Safety, Healthy Eating, and Taking Care of Teeth (River Vale Volunteer Ambulance Corps members Noelle Garbaccio and Jake Edelen). “A highlight was when participants went on a scavenger hunt to find items from all of the different food groups so they can power up, grow strong, and fight disease.” • Fire Safety (River Vale Volunteer Fire Department; rivervalefd.org). Firefighter Jerry put on
The River Vale Volunteer Fire Department gives a demonstration at Safety Town in July.
all of his equipment to show the campers what a firefighter looks like on the job. The demonstration demystifies the turnout gear so that if kids find themselves in an emergency theyʼll recognize a
helpful firefighter—and not be frightened. Jerry also talked about not hiding in their house if there is a fire and they should “stay low and go” and meet at their familyʼs emergency meeting place. • Meet a K-9 (Bergen County Sheriff's Office). Participants learned how some dogs are working dogs—and how they can help the police. • Pet Safety (Creature Comfort Pet Therapy). Kids learned the importance of asking an owner to pet an animal first. They also
learned that they should stay S.A.F.E. (stand still, arms crossed, face away, eyes down) should a dog approach. • Taking Care of Teeth (Dr. Mattia DDS of Old Tappan). With the help of a purple dinosaur with realistic human teeth, the campers learned how to properly brush their teeth (and twice a day at that). • Bus Safety and Train Safety. Kids learned to never CONTINUED ON PAGE 27
Otto the Auto, a remote controlled talking car, fits right in at River Vale’s Safety Town.
The rules of the road apply at River Vale’s Safety Town.
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AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
Knowing what to do in an emergency saves lives. Thirty campers, 13 teen counselors, and two directors power the 30th annual River Vale Safety Town, held this year July 12-23. There are plans to expand for 2022. — Photos via Township of River Vale walk behind a bus, always wear a seat belt, and not to distract the driver. • Water Safety (Stonybrook Pool). Campers learned the basics of staying safe around and in swimming pools and other bodies of water. Grownups, it takes only moments of distraction to lose a little one to drowning. Spread the word. The fee was $95 per camper. Camp, at the River Vale Community Center, 628 Rivervale Road, ended with a graduation celebra-
FROM PAGE 26
tion.
Buckley told Pascack Press that Safety Town “utilizes different facets to drive home the importance of safety. The campers operated big wheels around a scaled-down makeshift River Vale Township village, adhering to street signs and the rules of street safety around cars and trains.” She said the programʼs cadre of high school volunteers, grades 9–12, are wonderful. “Itʼs noteworthy that they give their time for two weeks for this.” Giordano told Pascack Press her three kids have volunteered
with the camp, and Buckleyʼs son helped behind the scenes. One of Giordanoʼs kids, Nick, who was head counselor at Kindergarten Kamp, said the campers kept him on his toes. And he recommends Safety Camp for little ones and their teen volunteers. “Some of the thing we learned are things everybody needs refreshers on, like not crossing the road when you're on your phone. Sometimes you donʼt even realize youʼre doing it,” he said. For more information, write rvsafetytown@gmail.com. — John Snyder
Firefighters’ turnout gear and equipment look pretty serious. Thanks to Safety Town, these kids will recognize them as a welcome part of helpers’ jobs.
ADVERTISE YOUR SERVICE IN THE SERVICE DIRECTORY IN THE PASCACK PRESS.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
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ON THE ROAD The importance of being seen on the road
As they spend more and more time in their vehicles, drivers tend to grow more comfortable behind the wheel. As a result, drivers may be inclined to take certain things, including how visible they are to approaching motorists, for granted. When drivers think of their vehicle lights, they tend to be most concerned with how those lights impact how they can see the road ahead of them at night. Clearly lit roadways vastly improve driver safety, and the right headlights can go a long way toward illuminating even the darkest of roads. But drivers also must take the necessary steps to ensure theyʼre easily seen by fellow motorists. • Routinely inspect all vehicle lights. Headlights can make vehicles more visible to oncoming traffic, but itʼs important that drivers routinely inspect brake lights, taillights and signal lights as well. Such inspections can ensure that vehicles behind and alongside driversʼ own cars and trucks can see them as they brake or attempt to change lanes. • Upgrade to LED lights. Even lights that are working properly can be a serious safety hazard. Thatʼs because the standard incandescent lights found in many vehicles do a poor job of effectively illuminating vehicles when drivers apply the brakes or put their turn signals on. Lights that fail to immediately alert fellow motorists that drivers have applied the brakes
or are making a turn can contribute to accidents, especially when vehicles are moving at high speeds. The new LED lighting technology, which is used in Philips Ultinon LEDs, makes the lights much brighter and more visible than standard incandescent lights, delivering more dynamic lighting for both exterior and interior vehicle applications. Designed as direct replacements for brake and taillights, signal lamps, back up lights, running lights and side markers, Ultinon LEDs turn on instantly and can reduce braking distance by up to 20 feet at speeds as high as 75 miles per hour. That superior, more immediate light output ensures vehicles are seen more quickly when drivers are turning or applying the brakes. And because their advanced design makes them highly resistant to extreme heat, vibration and other potentially harmful environmental conditions, Ultinon LEDs can provide drivers with the peace of mind that their lights will last longer than standard incandescent lights without exhibiting diminished performance. Lumileds, the exclusive supplier of Philips automotive light products, offers a full range of Ultinon LEDs and has also developed a convenient online Bulb Look Up that helps drivers identify the right LED for their particular vehicles. The Bulb Look Up, available at www.philipsautolighting.com,
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Upgrading brake and tail lights with Philips Ultinon LEDs will make vehicles more visible to other drivers and improve braking response.
even tells them where they can buy the LEDs. • Drive defensively, especially at night. A 2016 analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System found that more than 40 percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths in the United States in 2014 occurred between the hours of 6 p.m. and 3 a.m. Itʼs no coincidence that automotive fatalities spike during
nighttime hours, when driversʼ vision is naturally diminished and darkened roadways make it harder to see fellow motorists. When driving during twilight hours and after the sun goes down, drivers can make a concerted effort to drive defensively. Make sure brakes are applied early enough so other drivers have ample time to react, and flip turn signals on long before making turns. In addition, leave more room
between your own vehicle and those of fellow motorists, which can protect you and your passengers from drivers whose vehicles are still employing outdated lights. When driving at night, drivers must remember that seeing and being seen makes for much safer roads. More information about vehicle lighting technology is available at www.philipsautolighting.com.
Three ways to get more out of your devices on long car trips
Once an uncomfortable means time also saves people without 3. Accessorize your vehicle. to a worthy end, long car trips have unlimited data plans from having to Staring down at a smartphone changed quite a bit since many of pay data overage charges. or tablet for hours on end is no oneʼs 2. Turn your phone into a idea of comfort. Thankfully, comfort todayʼs adults age 30 and over were children. Parents are no doubt famil- WiFi hotspot. need not be sacrificed for entertainiar with the familment. iar cry of, “Are we A headrest there yet?” emamount can be nating from the attached to the backseat. But headrest of a front such queries are seat and accommonow less frequent date a variety of than they once devices, including were. And thatʼs smartphones and thanks in large tablets. part to devices Devices are and the access to simply slipped into data that they prothe mount so pasvide. sengers wonʼt have Devices can to hold them in their help passengers hands as they watch stay occupied on their favorite televilong trips. Access to devices can help digital natives pass the time in more sion shows and Devices vary in comfort. movies. Headrest terms of their mounts may be Smartphones have direct access convenient, but kids might not be capabilities, and that can affect just how useful they are on the road. But to high-speed mobile network con- able to reach touchscreens while the following are three ways for trav- nections that tablets and laptops buckled in. In such instances, parelers to get more out of their devices wonʼt be able to access without a lit- ents can replace their existing headtle handiwork. while on the road. rests with headrests with built-in That handiwork involves con- monitors that come with remote verting a phone into a hotspot, which controls that make it easy to adjust 1. Download, download, download. Downloading prior to a trip can be done easily through the set- volume and other settings without allows travelers to access content tings function in most smartphones. undoing a seat belt. offline. That means service interrup- Once the phone is established as a Access to devices can make tions and Wifi dead zones wonʼt hotspot, other devices can typically long road trips feel less boring and interrupt podcasts, television shows piggyback on its network connec- more entertaining. or movies. Downloading ahead of tion.
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Summer is a season to relax and enjoy the warm weather. Basking in the sun is a great way to relax, but only when the temperatures are safe. Summer heat can compromise the health of humans and their pets. Gardening enthusiasts may need to go the extra mile to keep their plants and gardens from wilting. Extreme heat stress can be very harmful to plants. The resource Gardening Know How notes that some plants can withstand summer heat waves better than others Succulents, for example, conserve water in their leaves, helping them to withstand heat waves. But succulents are unique; many plants will require a little extra help to withstand a heat wave. • Take a proactive approach with mulch. Gardeners need not wait until the heat arrives to protect their plants from searing summer heat. Sustainable living experts at Eartheasy recommend light-colored mulch during heat waves. Such mulch will reflect the sunlight and
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Many plants require a little extra help to withstand a heat wave. When planting new plants, itʼs established plants can provide new important that gardeners recognize it plants with shade that can help takes time for these plants to estab- them survive heat waves. Just lish their roots so theyʼre strong make sure new plants can still get enough to withstand heat waves. In the sun they need to thrive. the meantime, strategic planting can Heat waves are inevitable and help them make it through their first potentially harmful to gardens. heat waves unscathed. Eartheasy Gardeners can help their plants notes that planting by taller, more beat the heat.
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boxes and getting rid of items they may not need in their new homes.
It should come as no surprise that the warm weather kicks off one of the busiest times of year in the housing market. Warm weather makes it more comfortable to see and display homes, leading to more listings and open houses. Bureau, the average person in the United States changes residences more than 11 times in his or her lifetime. With each move, the process of moving may become more familiar. But even the most practiced nomad can find moving to be an overwhelming experience. Those on the cusp of moving and nervous about packing up and leaving can employ a few tricks to make moving much easier. Research areas carefully Buyers are advised to do their research when seeking new towns or cities to call home. There are many factors to consider, including school district ratings, proximity to shopping, distance from work/commute times, availability of transportation, climate, and crime ratings. Before falling in love with a particular home, potential buyers can visit the area in which the home is located during a typical weekday to get a feel for the atmosphere. Check out shopping centers, observe the residents and drive by the schools and businesses. This can help paint an accurate picture that may or may not differ from that depicted in the real estate listing.
Get estimates and verify licensing The BBB advises consumers to verify all licensing for movers. Solicit at least three inhome estimates and get those figures in writing. Confirm insurance coverage for the company chosen, and be sure to have all agreed upon information spelled out explicitly in a written contract. Red flags to consider include movers who donʼt make on-site inspections for estimates and those who demand payment in advance before the move.
Even the most practiced nomad can find moving to be an overwhelming experience. Those on the cusp of moving and nervous about packing up and leaving can employ a few tricks to make moving much easier. ness Bureau. your new home and give you time Stack the deck to figure out decorating schemes Working with qualified proSecure temporary storage while ensuring clutter wonʼt get It can help to put some in the way of renovation projects. fessionals who have gone through the moving process before can belongings into a storage center New homeowners also can make for easier work for buyers prior to moving, and then gradu- take their time sorting through and sellers. Ask for recommenda- ally take items from the storage ADVERTISE YOUR SERVICE IN THE tions regarding real estate compa- unit to your new home. This will nies, real estate attorneys, home free up space to make repairs to SERVICE DIRECTORY IN THE PASCACK PRESS. inspectors, insurance agents, and all of the other people who will assist with buying, selling and moving. Carefully vet these professionals, relying on third-party reviews as well as any information provided by the Better Busi-
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32
REAL ESTATE & BUSINESS The process of buying a home can be unlike any experience prospective buyers have ever had. After finding a home they like and coming to an agreement on a sale price with the seller, buyers can expect to add many items to their to-do list. One of the first things to jot down on that list is scheduling a home inspection. Home inspections are a vital
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What is a home inspection? The American Society of Home Inspectors defines a home inspection as an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a house. Inspectors will conduct visual examinations from the roof to the foundation of the home. Additional structures on the property, such as sheds or detached outdoor
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Understanding the home inspection process can help buyers during an exciting yet potentially nerve-wracking time in their lives. living areas, are not typically included in the examination.
What do inspectors examine? The ASHI notes that inspectors will examine the condition of various parts of the home. The heating system, central air conditioning unit, interior plumbing and electrical systems, roof (though inspectors will not climb onto the roof), attic and insulation will be examined. Inspectors also will examine walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, the foundation of the home, basement (or crawl space), and structural components. Can a home fail inspection? Homes cannot fail home inspections, which are just assessments of a home's existing condition. Municipal inspections are separate inspections conducted by government agencies to verify that a property is in compliance with local codes. Home inspectors will provide detailed reports describing the condition of a home and indicate if any repairs are in order.
Do I really need a home inspection? A home inspection is a vital component that can help buyers make the most informed decision possible. Forgoing an inspection can leave buyers vulnerable to potentially costly repairs and issues with a home that might have been detected with a proper home inspection. In addition, some lenders insist that buyers have home inspections conducted before they will allow them to borrow money. Home inspections can protect home buyers as they prepare to make the most significant financial investment of their lives. More information about inspections can be found at www.homeinspector.org.
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REAL ESTATE & BUSINESS With weather forecasts calling for a warmer than normal summer and social distancing encouraging us to spend more time at home, we could all benefit from boosting our homeʼs energy efficiency to save on energy bills. Here are some big and small changes that could help: Start with a solid foundation. If youʼre adding an extension to your home, a pool to your backyard or even planning a custom-built dream home, choose sustainable materials that promote energy conservation. Instead of traditional wood-framing, consider insulated concrete forms from Nudura. The eco-friendly alternative features thermal mass walls that can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 60 percent a year. Work on your windows. Did you know that about 15 to 20 percent of your homeʼs surface is windows? This means any issues with them can have a major impact on your energy consumption. Take time to caulk any gaps or air leaks, and consider upgrading to energyefficient windows. Double-paned windows boost your insulation and help ensure your cooled, air conditioned air doesnʼt escape. Switch to outdoor energy sources. Take advantage of the gorgeous weather to spend more time
outside. Instead of cooking meals in your energy-intensive oven that also heats up your home, break out the barbecue and enjoy dinner al fresco. You can also ease up on the clothes dryer by setting up a line and some pins in the backyard and use the wind and sun for drying power. Install a smart weather station. Technology can help you make sure youʼre consuming energy wisely. A smart thermostat is a great idea, but a smart weather station can work with it and other devices to go a step beyond, programming them around current and predicted weather patterns. For example, it can ensure your scheduled sprinkler wonʼt go off in the middle of a downpour. Be mindful of your refrigerator. If you arenʼt careful, a lot of energy can be used by your fridge. First, make sure the one in your kitchen (and basement) is a newer model, as older ones can cost hundreds more a year to power. Then, clear it out so the shelves and drawers arenʼt overcrowded, which makes the fridge work harder to pump cool air throughout. Finally, if you let leftovers cool on the counter before putting them inside, your fridge will use less energy. Find more information at nudura.com.
With forecasts calling for a warmer than normal summer and social distancing encouraging us to spend more time at home, we could all benefit from boosting our home’s energy efficiency to save on energy bills.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
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In a continuing effort to protect Bergen County property owners from fraud, the office of County Clerk John S. Hogan offers a Property Alert System. This free service provides Bergen County property owners with an immediate email alert whenever a document is recorded with the clerkʼs office under the ownerʼs name or property (municipality/lot/block). “Sadly, property and mortgage fraud is a fast growing crime in our
country. Scammers record fraudulent documents (like fake deeds) or record fake liens against property owners. In some instances, fraud on real property may not be discovered until the owners seek to sell their house,” Hogan said in a press release recently. Bergen County property owners can sign up for the service by visiting the Bergen County Clerkʼs website (bergencountyclerk.org), go to the “services” drop down, select “land records” and click onto “Property Alert.”
“Itʼs as simple as registering your name or business name and your email address and you will be notified electronically if a document is recorded with your name or property,” Hogan said. He added, “Any tools, such as this early warning system, that can help protect Bergen County residents from fraud are useful and beneficial to our property owners. Iʼm pleased to offer them this free service as way to protect one of their most important assets.”
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REAL ESTATE & BUSINESS
Township rejected on $1M bid for private swim, rec club BY MICHAEL OLOHAN AND JOHN SNYDER OF PASCACK PRESS
TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
When the votes were tallied, the Townshipʼs hopes for purchasing the Swim and Recreation Club at 464 Ridgewood Boulevard North were sunk. The Townshipʼs $1 million bid to acquire and operate the private, not-for-profit, 6.4-acre club—closed in the pandemic and not reopened for 2021—was rejected by the clubʼs voting members by an almost 3:1 margin, according to unofficial results. Councilman Michael DeSena told Pascack Press that he learned the Townshipʼs offer came in a distant second. He said of 72 families eligible to vote, 49 ballots were cast. A summer camp outfit won on 35 votes, the townshipʼs bid won 13 votes, and Superdome Sports netted one vote. Mayor Peter Calamari took to his Facebook page on July 24 to say that he had just been informed by the club that a final vote took place and members had accepted another offer. “Obviously I, and I am sure a great majority of residents will share in my disappointment by this decision. The offer the town made
was exactly what the board asked for. I am, however, proud and grateful for the level of enthusiasm and motivation shown by the public in contacting the elected officials to express their opinions.” He told Pascack Press later that he was thinking “99% optimistically” when he put in the $1 million bid, adding, “We tried. You donʼt win them all.” However, in his Facebook post, he laid the blame at the feet of councilmembers Michael DeSena—who has challenged him for mayor this year—and Steve Cascio. Calamari asserted “It bears mentioning that I was informed a deciding factor in their choice was the underwhelming interest and enthusiasm and apparent lack of commitment shown by some council members during the councilʼs vote to acquire the property and make a good faith effort to make a town pool viable.” He said Council President Stacey Feeney and members Desserie Morgan and Tom Sears “were firmly in favor of the purchase.” In contrast, he noted “Councilman Cascio voted no twice. Councilman DeSena initially voted no on the first vote … I then asked the swim club for an extension and the second vote was taken. Councilman DeSena then
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voted yes but made it clear he did not support any efforts to make a town pool viable.” Calamari said, “It showed a lack of commitment to the terms of the purchase and the vision that so many of our residents and constituents expressed and shared.” We reached out to the swim clubʼs board for comment after hearing a vote on Monday, July 12 had rejected the townshipʼs offer. We also reached out to it for a reaction to Calamariʼs characterization via his Facebook post. Club officical Loretta DeTitta said July 15, “The vote is not complete by any means. A very small portion of membership were at the meeting. We are still taking votes. The process at the moment is still private and confidential.” On the question of Calamariʼs post—and who the winning bidder is—she said, “We are in contract with our buyer and not planning on a public statement until that process is complete.” DeSena told Pascack Press turnout was low and that the administrationʼs lack of vision for a pool operation beyond two years, including its lack of interest in a feasibility study, were reasons members voted not to entrust the club to the township. “Mr. Mayor, you are a liar. That would be my quote,” DeSena concluded. Peter Tasca, general manager and director of operations for the third-place vote getter, Superdome Sports, a subsidiary of HFZ Capital Group, told Pascack Press on July 27 that his organization had “expressed interest in the club a couple of years ago” but did not hear back and moved on to a $5 million expansion acquisition in Brick. Also unclear is what this means for the placement of any DPW equipment the administra-
tion had been intending to store on the grounds of its intended acquisition amid soil remediation at the longstanding DPW site, at the municipal complex. Calamari did not respond to a Pascack Press request for comment on an email thread from Aug. 30, 2019 that appears to show him soliciting support from his campaign partners and others on council, all on private email addresses, for “an opportunity to purchase a sizable piece of property (a little over one acre) in a perfect non-residential location for $600k for a new, larger DMF facility.” He cited “a constant parking issue at town hall. On regular days the lot is pretty full. Add any other activities like the Senior Exercise class and the Senior Meetings and it fills up past capacity, forcing our Seniors to clog up Hudson Ave and walk further to the building.” He said “It would also enable us to add more desperately needed handicap parking. I have seen Seniors not able to attend the meetings because they couldn't walk that far, especially up the incline on Hudson. Think of the space we would have if the DMF building, equipment and employee cars were not taking up space.” He added, “The larger location would give us an option to do our own Trash Collection for the residents, something weʼve been hearing from them for a while.” That effort evidently did not pan out. The thread was provided to us, prior to the swim clubʼs board vote, by Councilman Steven Cascio, who appears to reply to Calamari simply: “I am not a fan of this specific property regarding this plan at this time.” Feeney appears to say only, “I am in favor of this also [along with the late Art Cumming]. This only benefits our town. Also the temporary location for the DMF is an
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added bonus. I also agree showing the seniors they are thought of (which they say they are not), by putting in more handicap parking is a great plan and very visible.” DeSena appears to separate out the swim club bid from public works activities: “The swim club acquisition is priority one followed by dmf in my opinion.” In the debate on bonding for the swim club, DeSena disagreed with Feeney over how many members would be required for the facility to break even and told the mayor that he also did not want to have DPW vehicles parked at the site should the town purchase it. DPW vehicles are stored behind the Valley Bank, in the municipal lot, and on 35 spaces at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church for up to two years at a total cost of $60,600. At the July 24 meetingʼs start, DeSena said he would vote for the clubʼs acquisition if the agreement stipulated that the pool would be immediately shut down and evaluated, that no DPW trucks would be parked there, and that the offer be for $1 million instead of $600,000 plus $400,000 for capital improvements. Moreover, he said he wanted a feasibility study on the site to be conducted this year. None of those conditions appeared to be in a draft motion read by the town attorney and presented to the council. The administration has negotiated with the clubʼs board since at least early April, though the volunteer board had asked the township, and other potential saviors, for help years earlier. (See “Swim club seeks a way forward: Dragging unpaid taxes, stalled reimbursements,” Pascack Press, Sept. 30, 2019.) By a 3-0 vote, the council authorized Calamari to spend up to the $850,000 he said was the negotiated amount for the site. That morphed into $1 million: $600,000 for the property purchase, and $400,000 for improvements. On June 21, the council voted, 3-2, to submit a $1 million offer on the club. According to Township Attorney Kenneth Poller, the council needed a 4-1 majority to approve bonding for $1 million. At that meeting, although three council members voted in Cascio and DeSena favor, opposed the offer and said they were unlikely to change their vote. In advance of the June 24 meeting, Calamari took to Facebook to make a last-minute case for the purchase. After a lengthy public comment session, the council voted, 4-1, with DeSena changing to an CONTINUED ON PAGE 38
AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
38
POOL: Bid rejected aye, at its budget hearing of June 24 to support a $1 million bond. Calamari, who had said the town has no feasibility studies on the club, said June 24 that the town was agreeing to a two-year effort to operate it and if it wasnʼt viable by then he “would be the first one to pull the plug.” He has said he would want to site some other recreational use at the property if a town pool should fail. For most members, including DeSena, preserving the open space that the pool property
FROM PAGE 34
NORTHERN VALLEY
encompasses was the main reason to acquire the site. Doing so, they said, would prevent a developer from purchasing it. After Calamari agreed and Poller said he could structure a utility board to include 50%of members appointed by council and 50% by the mayor, along with other stipulations, DeSena swung his vote to the majority. He noted he was “contemplating all my pros and cons going through my head. [Iʼm] really not in favor of running the pool but if thatʼs what itʼs got to be for two years, Iʼll vote yes.”
RIVER VALE
Seed library is on the grow!
The River Vale Library is proud to announce the launch of its new Seed Library. Request a variety of herb, vegetable, and flower seeds to plant and grow at home. The Seed Library offers free seeds and resources for planting, growing, harvesting, and seed saving. The library says, “Our Seed Library is about empowering community members to grow their own food, and reconnecting
Call 201.358.9500 to place your classified ad today!
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HELP WANTED
TEAM PLAYER WANTED
Professional Junk Removal Company seeks an enthusiastic and energetic individual to help join their growing team. Drivers license & transportation required. Call (201) 661-4940 for more details. HELP WANTED DPW P/T Seasonal Laborer: Township of (Bergen Washington County) E.O.E. has the need to hire P/T Seasonal Laborers for the Department of Public Works. All applicants must have a high school diploma or a GED, possess a valid N.J. Driver’s License and be capable of lifting heavy objects or equipment. Salary $16 to $18 per hr. Submit resume by email to William Lawlor at dpwsuper@twpofwashington.us or mail to the Township of Washington, 350 Hudson Ave., Twp. of Washington, NJ 07676.
Want Business? Call (201) 664-2105
the community to the outdoors and the tradition of growing tasty, healthy food. Check with the River Vake Public Library on books about gardening. Donors are Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Burpee High Mowing Organic Seeds, Hudson Valley Seed Company, and Territorial Seed Company. For more information, visit rivervalelibrary.org/seed-library.
Tenafly Summer Concert Series celebrates artists
The Borough of Tenafly and Tenafly Presents announce this yearʼs Summer Concert Series, Tuesdays and Thursdays in downtown Tenaflyʼs Huyler Park across from the historic Tenafly Railroad Station, corner of Hillside Avenue and Piermont Road, starting at 7 p.m. The concerts are free to the public. Twelve performances are lined up, including rock, Latin, jazz, classic, reggae and Celtic. Tenafly is one of the few towns in Bergen County to have held a full concert line during the pandemic. This yearʼs concerts series is a celebration of the artists who have struggled this past year and of the loosening of restrictions. In case of rain, no concerts will be held indoors; instead, every effort will be made to reschedule those performances on rain dates that have been reserved. Concertgoers should bring their own seating. Led by Councilman Jeff Grossman, the Tenafly Presents committee has curated this yearʼs series to include a variety of musi-
cal styles. The lineup of exciting acts ranges from jazz drummer Richard Barattaʼs Gotham City Latin/Jazz ensemble and the Anthem reggae band to original acoustic trio End of America and the Screaming Orphans bring Celtic-Rock all the way from Ireland. “We are thrilled to be presenting a concert series again this year,” says Mayor Mark Zinna. “It has been a tough year for live entertainment; this yearʼs lineup is designed to get people safely out of the house and to enjoy some great sounds and talent.” The bands and dates for Tuesdays concerts: • July 13. Anthem (summertime reggae beats) • July 20. Divinity Roxx (hip-hop bassist and rapper) • July 27. Gotham City* (Richard Barattaʼs Septet, featuring Vincent Herring, Paul Bollenback, Bill OʼConnell, and Rogerio Boccato) • Aug. 3. Screaming Orphans (fusion of pop/folk from Donegal, Ireland) • Aug. 10. End of America
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HELP WANTED F/T Landscape help wanted - $16-$23 hr based on EXP. Paid W e e k l y. 4 0 1 k & Employee Match Career Growth Plans Call 201.664.4022. HELP WANTED River Vale Public Schools School Nurse, Holdrum Middle School, FullTime/10-Month. Valid NJ School Nurse Certificate. Valid NJ RN License. Experience Preferred. Required criminal history check. Send letter of interest, your current resume and your certification to HR@rivervaleschools.com. River Vale Public Schools 609 Westwood Avenue River Vale, NJ 07675. EOE/AA.
River Vale Public Schools Part Time Nurse Aide & Substitute School Nurse. Valid NJ RN License. Experience Preferred. Required criminal history check. Send letter of interest, your current resume and your license to HR@rivervaleschools.com. River Vale Public Schools 609 Westwood Avenue, River Vale, NJ 07675 EOE/AA.
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HELP WANTED River Vale Public Schools Middle School BSI/SE Teacher. LOA: Sept. 1 to Nov. 23, 2021. Appropriate NJDOE Certification. Public school experience preferred. Required criminal history check. Send letter of interest, your current resume and your certification to HR@rivervaleschools.com. River Vale Public Schools, 609 Westwood Avenue, River Vale, NJ 07675. EOE/AA. HELP WANTED P/T Personal Assistant Cook, shop, drive, errands. Tenafly, 2-7 p.m., 5 days. Refs. required. Call (917) 374-1033.
Help wanted - Teenager with bike for summer job in Hillsdale. 6 days a week (no Fridays) to skim pool, empty skimmer baskets @ 10 a.m., $40/week. Call (201) 2944623 for interview. HELP WANTED FT LANDSCAPE help needed, EXP perferred, driver lic. preferred, not necessary. Hourly $15 to $22 based on experience. Call or text 201-697-3458
HELP WANTED Help Wanted - Labor position, good pay & good hours. Experience a plus - but willing to teach. Opportunity for growth in the company. Call (201) 664-3130.
HELP WANTED Lawncare Operator Full & Part time positions available Flexible hours. Call (201) 664 1665.
HELP WANTED Missionary Franciscan Sisters, Tenafly: Registered Professional Nurse, responsible for planning, directing, implementing, coordinating and evaluating nursing care for the Infirmary/ Transitional Care. • Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Nursing • 2 years Geriatric/Nursing Care experience preferred •IV and Phlebotomy certified • NJS RN License is required. For more information, please contact Christine Barlisan at 201-568-2171.
HOME HEALTH AID HOME HEALTH AIDE — Looking to take care of your loved ones. Loving caring, genuine and competent. Over 19 years experience. References available (201) 993-4748.
HELP WANTED CLEANING PERSON WANTED- 2X A MONTH FOR MY HOUSE IN WESTWOOD. $13/HR. MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE & REFS. CALL 201 615 7744 LV MSG.
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SITUATIONS WANTED A POLISH WOMAN will CLEAN YOUR HOME, apartment, office, etc. Experienced, own transportation, good English. Please call 201-893-2145.
Home health aide seeks eight hours a day, five days a week. Good references, honest, and willing to work at a reasonable rate. 201-257-7003. SITUATIONS WANTED
PROFESSIONAL/HOME OFFICE CLEANING. Over 20 years experience. Call Lourdes at 201-6748198. SERVICES YOU NEED
(amazing original acoustic vocal trio) • Aug. 17. Abby Zachko* (contemporary jazz funk) • Aug. 24. Keith Kenny (singer/songwriter and multiinstrumentalist) • Aug. 31. Van Martin (salute to the Rat Pack) The bands and dates for Thursdays concerts: • July 8. Odelia Abergel (singer/songwriter) and Nelson Riveros Trio (contemporary Latin/jazz) • July 15. Hadar Baron (singer/songwriter-indie/pop) and Allen Farnham (jazz pianist/composer) • July 22 and 29. Open rain dates • Aug 5, 12. Open rain dates • Aug. 19. Rennie 2 Pincus (indie alt and classic rock) and The Cart Boys (metal/pop and punk) • Aug. 26. Open rain date • Sept. 2. Open rain date For more information about the 2021 Tenafly Presents Summer Concert Series, visit tenaflynj.org.
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Join our ever growing sales team as as Sales Associate for the Pascack Press, Northern Valley Press North and South and near future publications. Applicants should be self-starters with drive to succeed. In this position, you will sell advertising space to new and existing accounts into our weekly newspapers and various other publications as well as digital media. Responsibilities will also include cold calling, outside sales and excellent customer service. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 201-664-2105 OR SEND RESUME TO: jobs@thepressgroup.net Cleaning Service - Silva European cleaning service Husband & wife, 35 yrs. exp. Great refs. Homes, office & apts - weekly. Call (973) 7960613 or 1 (973) 779-3328. SERVICES YOU NEED
Tutoring Reading Specialist Tutor, Orton Gillingham Trained, 25yrs. Teaching Exp. All Subjects. Contact Patricia Terrents (201) 724-1588.
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MOVING SALE MOVING SALE Saturday, August 7. 15 Highwood Court, Hillsdale NJ 9-4. Everything must go, furniture, collectibles, household items.
Professional Cleaning Service. Will clean house, office, or apartment. Free estimates. 201-681-6170. GARAGE SALE SERVICES - CLEANING
Eagle Scout Garage Sale Fundraiser - Sat. July 31. 21 Large Ave., Hillsdale. 10a.m.-4p.m. Bargains & More!
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2 ECHO HILL RD., MONTVALE NJ. Fri. 7/30 & Sat. 7/31, 9am4pm. Household items, womens, mens & baby clothing,home decor, baby toys & childrens items & more.Tons of deals. Come early for best selection. EVERTHING MUST GO!
FOR SALE Picnic/patio table for deck or lawn, with umbrella and six chairs. $125. (201) 391-8461.
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Virginia A. “Ginger” Hachadourian (Olson), 78, a longtime resident of Hillsdale, passed away on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Before retiring, Virginia worked for Hackensack University Medical Center and was a member of St. Leonʼs Armenian Church in Fair Lawn. Cherished wife of 46 years to her late husband Nolan. Beloved mother of Michael and his wife Elizabeth, Kathryn and her husband Christian, and Marc and his partner Oscar. Treasured grandmother of Jack, Mia, Ryan and Juliana. Dear sister of Arthur Olson, Eric Olson, Kathy (Olson) Vanderweit, and the late Janet (Olson) Rubino. Internment, Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, N.Y. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions in Virginiaʼs memory may be made to St. Leonʼs Armenian Church, 12-61 Saddle River Road, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410, or to the Valley Hospital Bereavement Program through the Valley Hospital Foundation, 223 North Van Dien Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450 (valleyhospitalfoundation.org).
Dr. Michael G. KAILAS
OBITUARIES
a member of the Board of Directors and member of the Medical Executive Committee at Holy Name. Interment, George Washington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Anthonyʼs Orthodox Church, 385 Ivy Lane, Bergenfield, NJ 07621.
Anthony J. SCIOSCIA
Anthony “Tony” Joseph Scioscia, 79, passed away on July 21, 2021 at his home in Montvale. Tony was born on May 20, 1942 in New York City to Hugo “Reggie” and Angie Scioscia. He attended high school in the Bronx and worked as a first pressman for Local I for his entire career. Tony loved playing golf, watching football and baseball, spending time with family and friends, especially coaching his son Stephen. He was a devoted husband, wonderful father and grandfather, and trusted confidant. He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia Scioscia, his son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Erica Scioscia, his grandchildren, Jack and Katie Scioscia, his sister, Anna Sorrentino, brother-in-law, Philip DeIacova, sister-in-law, Lucille and husband Steve Storms. While flowers are welcome, the family invites guests to consider making a donation to St. Jude Childrenʼs Research Hospital in the name of Anthony Joseph Scioscia (giftfunds.stjude.org/Anthony_Scioscia).
Michael G. Kailas, M.D., 74, of River Vale, formerly of Closter and New York City, passed away peacefully on July 23, 2021. Beloved husband of Linda Kailas. Devoted Mary H. father of Elisa M CGRATH Kailas. Dear brother of Angie Kailas Mary Helen McGrath, 100, of Nellos, Leo and Emerson passed away peacefully Spiro. on July 14, 2021, surrounded by Born and raised in New York loved ones. City, he studied at Columbia She is survived University, graduated medical by daughters school at the University of Kathleen (Michael Bologna, and studied Neurology at Dennis) Falotico, UMDNJ Newark. Maryellen (Peter) Michael was a member of the Martinasco and Bergen County Medical Society, Patricia; daughterpast president of the medical staff in-law Carolina at Holy Name Hospital, as well as (Greg Ronkainen)
McGrath; grandchildren Christine (Brian) Fitzgerald, Brian (Gerard Mazzara) Falotico, Sharon Falotico, Michael (Kristin) Falotico, Diane (Phillip) Fitzgerald, Maureen (Keith) Tyhanic, Michael (Viviana) Pascarella, Anthony (Allison) McGrath, Whitney McGrath, Jordan (Michael de Leon) McGrath, and James McGrath III; 15 greatgrandchildren; and beloved nieces and nephews. She was welcomed into heaven by her husband, James McGrath; her son, James McGrath Jr.; and seven siblings. Mary was born in 1921 on the Lower East Side of New York City. An early indication of her extraordinary survival skills was that she learned how to swim in the East River and made it out unscathed. She worked for Bell Telephone, and her daily walk to and from work brought her past the local fire station. This is where Jimmy came in. The firehouse captain suggested often that Mary was a nice-looking young woman, and Jimmy should ask her out. He finally worked up the courage, and though she did not make it easy for him at first, they began dating. They were married on June 24, 1944, and they moved to the Highbridge section of the Bronx to start a family. In 1955, Mary, Jimmy and their four children moved to Emerson. Mary and Jimmy soon became active in parish life at Our Lady of the Assumption, where Mary was a Columbiette and a Rosarian. For many years, she worked for Vic Sibilia at Emerson Pharmacy, and as a crossing guard for Assumption School. When they retired, Mary and Jimmy moved to Holiday City in Toms River. She and Jimmy were founding members of St. Maximillian Kolbe Church, and Mary volunteered as a lector and a Lay Eucharistic Minister. They purchased a home in Boynton Beach, Florida, and were snowbirds for several years. After Jimmy passed away, Mary moved to Florida full time. She returned to New Jersey to be closer to her family, buying a home in Lakewood. Four years ago, Mary moved in with her daughter Kathleenʼs family in Emerson. Maryʼs love of chocolate was legendary, and she credited it for her long years of good health. She
had it stashed all over the house, and the family is still engaged in a scavenger hunt trying to find it all. Weʼre sure she is having a good laugh over that, and her laugh was one of the very best things about her. Mary also loved the Yankees, unless they lost. In her final years, her favorite shows were “Knight Rider” and “CHiPs.” She thought The Hoff was a real looker. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Our Lady of Victories parish.
Frank MISERENDINO
Frank Miserendino, 72, of Park Ridge passed away on Saturday, July 24, 2021. Frank is survived by his brother and best friend, Thomas Miserendino of Woodcliff Lake, his sisters, Nancy Worfolk of Seminole, Florida, and Patricia Franson of Emerson. Frank was predeceased by his parents, Angelina and Thomas Miserendino Sr., and was the favorite uncle of Jessie, Tommy, Billy, Michael, and Lauren. A racing fanatic, Frankʼs best times were spent with family and friends dialing up horsepower on the 92 Racing Team, and later on, the fastest laps at the speedway ran on the brothersʼ Mez Power. Interment, St. Joseph Cemetery in Hackensack.
Barbara Ann GUARNERI
Barbara Ann Guarneri (née Schibler), 85, of Westwood passed away peacefully at home on July 26, 2021. Barbara was born in Passaic on May 26, 1936, to Robert and Dorothy Schibler. She graduated from Passaic High School in 1954 before completing the nursing program at Hackensack Medical in 1957. Barbara is pre-deceased by both of her parents and her brother, Robert. After graduating she went on to have a 40-year career in nursing
at Hackensack Medical Center and Passaic Valley Hospital until her retirement. In 1959 she married Joseph Guarneri, of Montvale. They were married for 62 years. They lived in Clifton, Lodi and Passaic before settling in Westwood in 1967 where she was an active member of the Firemanʼs Ladies Auxiliary as well as a Cub Scout den mother. B a r bara was an amazing and loving wife, mother and grandmother. She is survived by her loving husband, Joseph of Westwood, beloved mother of Keith Guarneri and his wife Kerrie of Flanders, Christopher Guarneri and his wife Susan of Boulder City, Nevada, Patricia Inserra and her husband Michael of River Vale, and Victoria Auslander and her husband Jeremy of Wood Ridge. She leaves behind nine grandchildren, Jeffery Koenig and his wife Jennifer, Kristin Forrest and her husband Corey, Ashley Moore and husband Kevin, Michael Inserra and his wife Rosanne, Giovanna Inserra, Zina Auslander, Jennie Rose Guarneri, Nicholas Auslander and Nathaniel Auslander, as well as four great-grandchildren, her brother Richard V. Schibler and his wife Susan from Scottsdale, Arizona, and numerous nieces and nephews. Interment, Ascension Cemetery, Airmont, New York.
Richard W. BANKART
Richard Ward Bankart, 78, of Westwood, formerly of Wellesley, Massachusetts, passed away on Saturday, July 25, 2021. Richard is survived by his brother William and his his wife Joy; nephew Hunter and niece Shannon Shay; as well as many grandnieces and grandnephews. Richard graduated with his bachelorʼs from Colby College and masterʼs from Tuck School of Dartmouth. He worked 20 years, most recently for Airwick in product development, retiring to travel the world. His most cherished place on Earth was Camp Becket in the Berkshires.
Get ready fo the Westwood Charity Golf Outing Sept. 9
The Westwood Charity Golf Outing will return in 2021 and the 25th annual Outing will be held on Thursday, Sept. 9 at Valley Brook Golf Course. The committee says that members are planning on hosting the Outing in the same manner they have for many years: in a manner that has made it an anticipated fall tradi-
tion. Over the past 24 years, the WCGO has raised and distributed more than $125,000 for local charities. Since 2006, it has been presenting college scholarships to deserving Westwood resident high school seniors who are Westwoodʼs future leaders. Despite the Outing being
cancelled last year, the WCGO received contributions from Richard Breitweiser, David Rutherford, Thomas DeVita, John Colin, Beth Dell, Ray Albano, Grace Damino (a nonparticipant who simply wanted to help out), and Gary Vinci, as well as co-founders Skip Kelly and Peter Grefrath. Said the Outingʼs Peter
Grefrath, “The result permitted us to give out a $2,000 scholarship to a senior from the class of 2020.” This yearʼs winner is Abigail Hill of Westwood High School. Grefrath said the committee plans to distribute its annual letter to former participants in early July.
For an application or information about the WCGO, write westwoodcgo@gmail.com. The WCGO organizers would like to maintain the Outingʼs positive momentum, thank everyone for their continued support, and look forward to a successful 2021 Outing.
AUGUST 2, 2021 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
Virginia A. HACHADOURIAN
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