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BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
NORTHERN VALLEY
BILL TO END RELIGIOUS VACCINE EXEMPTIONS DELAYED Advocates for a bill to eliminate religious exemptions to vaccines—cited by an estimated 14,000 students statewide—vowed to reintroduce the measure soon after coming up one vote short in the last legislative session Jan. 13 after hundreds of vocal anti-vaccine parents and supporters rallied against its passage. The increase in unvaccinated children has jumped more than 600 percent from a decade ago, warned health officials, with measles cases also increasing nationally and a regional outbreak in nearby Rockland County, New York, in early 2019. Opponents said the bill violated their constitutional rights by requiring them to vaccinate their children against their will. Many opponents charge that vaccinations may cause more harm than good, though medical professionals vouch for the value of vaccines to prevent a variety of childhood infectious diseases, which may turn deadly if left untreated. Despite several last-minute attempts to reach a compromise by allowing parents to send unvaccinated children to private schools,
See VACCINES page 34
CHARLIE BROWN’S
Low volume, labor costs cited as 40-year run ends
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BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
OLD TAPPAN
CLOSES
Published in February 10th Edition SEE PAGE 2
JANUARY 20, 2020
Tenakill Middle School fifth and sixth graders and Bot Squad members are pictured with borough leaders: (first row, from left) Rohan Srinivasan, Arjun Kothari, Avinash Sabnani, Avidan Sabnani, Laura Liu, Layla Jamal and Samaaya Agarwal; (standing, from left) Closter Borough Administrator Ed Hynes, Mayor John Glidden and Patrolman Justin Krapels. with a vision of an environmentally-friendly BY MICHAEL OLOHAN transportation future for Closter: an elevated OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS “green” cable-car system to move people around CLOSTER—A group of young robotics experts— town efficiently. Although only a conceptual plan at this fifth and sixth graders known as the “Bot Squad”—presented council members Jan. 15 Continued on page 5
Booker suspends year-long presidential effort BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
NORTHERN VALLEY—After a nearly year-long campaign to make headway in the Democratic Presidential primary, Harrington Park native and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker suspended his campaign Monday, Jan. 13, citing a lack of campaign funds and his failure to make the latest nationally-televised primary debate held last week. Since kicking off his campaign in February 2019, Booker has generated much interest but lagged consistently in polls and fundraising. According to Monmouth Universityʼs latest poll, Booker was polling at 1 percent support in New Hampshire, and about 3 percent in Iowa, the two early
VIEW FROM THE TOP
Entering 2020, Haworthʼs Troop 73 continues its tradition of high adventure and fun, as well as service.
SEE PAGE 14
Democratic primary states. Booker had qualified for the first five presidential debates with polling numbers ranging from 3–5 percent, but failed to qualify for Decemberʼs debate and the January debate. “Itʼs with a full heart that I share this news—Iʼm suspending my campaign for president. To my team, supporters, and everyone who gave me a shot—thank you. I am so proud of what we built, and I feel nothing but faith in what we can accomplish together,” wrote Booker on Twitter Jan. 13 at 8 a.m. Appearing Monday on Rachel Maddowʼs Continued on page 2
Charlie Brownʼs Steakhouse and Grill, a local dining establishment popular for nearly four decades, closed its doors Jan. 12, much to the surprise of customers and the boroughʼs mayor. “It comes as quite a surprise. Iʼm sorry to see it go. Itʼs been a fixture in town for many years,” said Mayor John Kramer on Jan. 15, adding he first heard of the closing by reading about it online. The once-popular restaurant at 203 Old Tappan Road apparently closed due to declining customers, said an employee at a nearby Washington Township Charlie Brownʼs. That location and another Oradell eatery remain open as the last two Charlie Brownʼs locations in northern Bergen County. The restaurant is known for steak, burgers and an unlimited salad bar. Rob Marquardt, a spokesperson for Charlie Brownʼs, told Northern Valley Press that the Old Tappan location was the privately-held companyʼs only location that is slated to close. He said rising labor costs and the restaurantʼs low volume made it more difficult to operate in Old Tappan. He said most employees were opting to transfer to other Bergen County locations or considering their options. He said the Old Tappan Road
See CLOSING page 34
B ck in time...
Before Charlie Brownʼs in Old Tappan, there was Oliver Twist, the Coach House, and Leinʼs Grove.
SEE PAGE 4