FUTURE LEADERS
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An empowering youth summit taught students about the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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ALPINE • CRESSKILL • ENGLEWOOD • ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS • TEANECK • TENAFLY
JANUARY 27, 2020
Free Dinner MARCH, SERVICE Y MARK MLK DAY
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for 2 at
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MAYOR DEFIANT AS JUDGE RULES 347 AFFORDABLE Kingʼs historic push for equality still resonating UNITS PERMITTED
SEE PAGE 6 FOR DETAILS*
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
ALPINE
HISTORIC SITE HAS BUYER
ʻThe Christmas Church,ʼ local landmark, sells for $2.1M BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
A nearly 150-year-old historic church in Alpine on Old Closter Dock Road—which has laid vacant for several years following its acquisition by the United Methodist Church after a protracted legal battle for ownership—was sold in December for $2.1 million to a Presbyterian congregation in nearby Rockland County, N.Y. The sale of Alpine Community Church ends nearly a year of angst by public officials, preservationists and members of its former congregation as to the historic churchʼs fate, given that the church is not protected from demolition despite being listed on the state and national historic registers. A fundraising effort by members of a local United Methodists congregation that once worshipped at the church but then split away and lost the church after a legal battle for ownership, was unsuccessful in raising funds to re-purchase the property, said Charles Yannetti, an Alpine Community Church board member.
See CHURCH on page 64
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS
Numerous community and religious leaders gathered in front of City Hall on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 20. BY HILLARY VIDERS SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the citizens of Englewood joined people throughout United States and around the world in honoring the the non-violent civil rights leaderʼs legacy. Early that morning, Rev. Preston Thompson of Ebenezer Baptist Church addressed over 100 people PHOTO BY HILLARY VIDERS
PACKED WITH LOVE
Over 60 volunteers came together in a Day of Service, creating snack packs for children facing food insecurity.
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who had gathered in front of City Hall, reciting a prayer and calling for the community to uphold Kingʼs fight for equality, dignity, and freedom. This year marked the 50th year of Englewoodʼs MLK march, and for the first time, the event included rabbis and congregants from five local synagogues. They arrived holding both the American flag
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A Superior Court judge ordered Englewood Cliffs to provide for 347 units of affordable housing Jan. 17, including 100 units at 800 Sylvan Ave. and a 57unit 100%-affordable complex to be built on borough property. Mayor Mario Kranjac said the borough will appeal the decision. “The Borough will appeal all the Judgeʼs decisions and prevail. In 2019, after the Democratic Council Majority led by Ed Aversa, Gloria Oh and Deborah Tsabari abandoned my 2018 plan for 100% affordable housing, I am still pushing to implement that plan with enhancements and continue to satisfy our obligations,” emailed Kranjac to Northern Valley Press on Jan. 20. The borough is only the second municipality to go to trial in New Jersey since state Superior Courts were given authority over affordable housing obligations in 2015 by the New Jersey Supreme Court, said Fair Share Housing Center, a statewide intervenor and advocate for fair share housing. Since 2015, Englewood Cliffs has faced a lawsuit brought
See CLIFFS on page 154
B ck in time...
Enjoy a view on Palisade Avenue from a time when automobiles and horses shared the road.
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