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SCHOOLS TASK FORCE REPORT DUE THIS WEEK
Focus expected to be on app, mental health
MARCH 9, 2020
STUDENTS TAKE THE STAGE ʻInto the Woodsʼreframes life lessons
See TASK FORCE page 114
Life isn’t always a fairytale, the audience discovers in ‘Into the Woods,’ an iconic Broadway production revived at Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan Feb. 27 to March 1.
Itʼs all school musical time in the Northern Valley, and the recent production of “Into the Woods,” performed and produced by students and their teachers at Northern Valley-Old Tappan, revived the classic play by Stephen Sondheim. The performances Feb. 27 to March 1 came one week ahead of the Northern ValleyDemarestʼs production of “The Addams Family,” which weʼll feature next week. “Into the Woods” is a musically sophisticated show about wishes, family and the choices
we make, said show runners. “This show is a labor of love for all of us,” said director and NVOT theater teacher Susan Van Buskirk. “Itʼs one of my favorite shows because it really follows the lifespan of an individual from their teenage years up through the disillusionment of middle age.” Van Buskirk said the production achieves one of her overarching goals: to create works that inspire conversations among students and their families. “Itʼs a chance to real-
PHOTO BY MURRAY BASS
THEY’RE HOOKED!
The Norwood Knightsʼ Legendary Lenten Fish Fry brought a hungry crowd for a meatless Friday dinner.
SEE PAGE 9
NEW JERSEY PREPS FOR CORONAVIRUS BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
A report on school security by the countyʼs Safe Schools Task Force will focus on better helping parents and students cope with mental health concerns and urge more wider adoption of a cell phone app that allows anonymous reporting of suspicious behavior, cyber-bullying and mental health issues. The report, due this week, follows up on an initial report issued March 2019 by Bergen County Prosecutorʼs Office Safe Schools Task Force, a partnership of law enforcement, county government, mental health professionals, school administrators and private individuals with an interest in school safety. The task force was put together by BCPO in April 2018, following the Parkland, Fla., high school shooting. BCPO Chief of Detectives Robert Anzilotti and Supervising Senior Assistant Prosecutor Martin Delaney told Northern Valley Press that the report would highlight the need to increase adoption of a cell phone app called LiveSafe, which allows anonymous reporting of tips and concerns from students, administrators and parents regarding drugs, social media concerns, bullying, at-risk individuals, and individuals in need of counseling to prevent self-harm. Delaney said the LiveSafe app was supposed to be piloted by four schools last year but encountered resistance from school districts and superintendents. He said currently school districts are required to create an anonymous reporting system for students and most have not to
NORTHERN VALLEY
ly talk to [students], and foster dialogue between them and their parents about what their goals and their dreams are…” Van Buskirk said. “Sometimes your dreams donʼt go the way you think they might go.” In addition to packed Friday and Saturday night performances, and a Sunday matinee, the cast and crew also offered a special abridged performance tailored to the youngest audience members that concluded with the
Continued on page 12
A 32-year-old Fort Lee man became the first New Jersey resident to be diagnosed with the coronavirus, which has been found throughout the United States after spreading from its original outbreak in China to 66 nations on every continent, except Antarctica. “I urge residents to remain calm and use resources from the New Jersey Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control to prepare and prevent the spread of infection,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. Prior to the Fort Lee case, in nearby New York City and Westchester County, N.Y., health officials worked to contain community spread of the virus as cases there were confirmed. On March 5, the Centers for Disease Control said there were 100 cases in the United States, resulting in 10 deaths in 13 states. “Most people in the United States will have little immediate risk of exposure to this virus, but some people will be at increased risk depending on their exposures. The greatest risk is to those who have been in close contact with people with COVID-19,” the C.D.C. said. “People with suspected or confirmed exposure should reach out to their state or local public health department.” Travel restrictions were in place and the U.S. Department of State issued updates to travel advisories concerning the nations currently suffering outbreaks of coronavirus. Financial markets tumbled amid fears of a pandemic and the
See CORONAVIRUS page 144
B ck in time...
A 200-year-old real estate ad offers a rare glimpse into early days in the Northern Valley.
SEE PAGE 4