100 YEARS YOUNG
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Turning 100 is certainly cause for celebration, and Estelle Greeneʼs milestone was celebrated in grand style on Feb.11 in Englewood Cliffs.
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ALPINE • CRESSKILL • ENGLEWOOD • ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS • TEANECK • TENAFLY ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS
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FEBRUARY 24, 2020
DOCUMENTING LOCAL HISTORY
NORTHERN VALLEY
JUDGE OKs 600AUTH CALLS FOR OPT-OUT UNIT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT Noted filmmaker examined cityʼs Fourth Ward OF INCLUSIVE LESSONS BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
A Superior Court judge approved a developerʼs plans to build 600 residential units—including 120 affordable units—on a 20acre former Unilever campus at 800 Sylvan Ave. following a recent decision to permit 347 affordable units in Englewood Cliffs. Following the original decision to mandate 347 units of affordable housing in mid-January, Superior Court Judge Christine A. Farrington ruled on Normandy Real Estate Partnersʼ “builderʼs remedy” lawsuit against the borough. The judge had stripped the borough of immunity to such suits following her January decision to require 347 units of affordable housing. The development was strongly opposed by borough officials, especially Mayor Mario Kranjac, who made opposition to such high-density development a key theme of his mayoral campaign. Kranjac told Northern Valley Press that the borough would appeal Farringtonʼs mid-January ruling granting 347 units of affordable housing, as well as the recent order. “With Ed Aversa being the only council member to abstain from voting to appeal, we will appeal all her decisions as soon as permitted to do so, and shed light on why hardworking New Jersey taxpayers are being taken advantage of by a system rigged against them in favor of politicians and developers who fund their political campaigns,” emailed Kranjac Feb. 18 to Northern Valley Press. Farringtonʼs order approving the 600-unit development was not unexpected following her January
See CLIFFS on page 124
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
Filmmaker and documentarian Sam Lee (seated, center) received a warm reception from the Rotary Club of Englewood on Feb. 4. BY HILLARY VIDERS SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
Englewood resident Sam Leeʼs documentaries are historical treasures. On Feb. 4, Lee reinforced that reputation at a Rotary Club of Englewood meeting. The group of 40 Rotarians who met at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on North Van Brunt Street
PHOTO BY HILLARY VIDERS
GETTING THE LEAD OUT A plan to subsidize lead water pipe removal on private property by charging all utility rate payers a fee is contested. See page 3
watched a segment of Leeʼs fascinating film, “Remembering the 4th Ward of Englewood,” which he produced in conjunction with his nonprofit organization, Encounters in Black Tradition. The theme was especially relevant because February is Black History Month. The presentation began as Lee talked about
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Before school districts statewide are scheduled to introduce new LGBTQ-inclusive lessons this September, a state Assemblyman introduced a bill Feb. 13 that would allow parents to “opt-out” children from such lessons and receive a voucher to place their child in a private school more in line with their beliefs or religion. The state law to include LGBTQ-inclusive lessons in middle school and high school curricula was signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in January 2019, and mandates all school districts implement such lesson plans in September 2020. Before Murphy signed the LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum law, it was approved by a 52-vote majority in the Assembly and a 27-vote majority in the Senate, drawing wide bipartisan support from state legislators. State Assemblyman Robert Auth (R-Old Tappan) introduced the bill, A-3000, that provides parents “choice” in removing their son or daughter from LGBTQ lessons that they do not want their child exposed to.
See AUTH on page 234
B ck in time...
The old general store and post office was a community gathering place in early Alpine.
See page 4