SPEAKING FOR TREES Chestnut Street residents worry as affordable unit eyed
Emerson • Hillsdale • Montvale • Park Ridge • River Vale • Township of Washington • Westwood • Woodcliff Lake
PA S C AC K VA L L E Y ’ S BEST H O M E TO W N N E W S PA P E R
VOLUME 23 ISSUE 49
SWIMMING IN PRAISE
FEBRUARY 24, 2020
PASCACK VALLEY
LAWMAKER CALLS FOR OPT-OUT OF INCLUSIVE LESSONS
Proposal comes ahead of new lawʼs implementation
Preston DeMarco of Park Ridge is a top swimmer for Marist College. SEE PAGE 20
PASCACK VALLEY
RATEPAYER ADVOCATE SAYS SUEZ
PROPOSAL ‘JUST WRONG’ BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
A state ratepayers advocate filed a motion in mid-February that charges Suez North Americaʼs proposed customer lead line replacement program “is contrary to both federal and state law that has existed for more than a century” and that public utilities are only allowed to charge ratepayers for investment in utility property “that is used and useful in the public service.” The Suez customer lead replacement proposal offers to replace lines for $1,000—payable in a lump sum or over a year-long installment plan—with Suezʼs 200,000 ratepayers picking up the cost difference via a long-term surcharge on bills. Suez estimates most replacements cost $3,000 to $5,000, with some up to $8,000.
See LEAD REMOVAL on page 114
PHOTO COURTESY DENNIS CESA
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
CHESTNUT STREET NEIGHBORS are worried about their quality of life, and that of mature trees and associated native animals, as the borough is poised to convey a small pristine green to Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County. Residents in the area say no, and point to a BY JOHN SNYDER copse of 20 fully mature trees and the wildlife and OF PASCACK PRESS swaying respite it nurtures as their reason why. Watching with interest is Habitat for HumanHILLSDALE—Just because you can build on something does it follow that you should? The borough ity of Bergen County, which is considering the says yes in this case, eyeing the 2 Chestnut St. boroughʼs land offer to help it help a family of no green, near the Township of Washington border, great means set down roots in the community. The property, 50 feet by 100 feet at a dead for a unit of affordable housing per its courtordered obligation. Continued on page 3
Cardinals Pfeuffer, Fernandez pin 100th career wins TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Congratulations to the Westwood Cardinals for advancing to the state sectional wrestling finals with a 37–28 win over Newton. Special congratulations to Ty Pfeuffer on his 100th win, which he posted at the Feb. 12 contest. The next stop, Feb. 14, was at High Point for the championship, and there, Ethan Fernandez posted his 100th career win. The team said that night, “We wrestled our butts off but came away with the loss. Final score was 44–19, but that score does not represent the heart, grit, and toughness these guys displayed.”
Tommy Eboli, Keon Fraser-Morrison, Logan Garcia, and Ethan Fernandez all recorded wins for the Cards. Head Coach Paul Castellini added, “Having to compete with one of the top programs in the state year in and year out has only made us better.” After giving High Point its due, he said, “Tonight was just not our night.” The program posted, “Pretty cool to have two teammates, drill partners, and friends achieve 100 wins two days apart. A great regular season for
Continued on page 33
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 their children out 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 curriculums 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. “My bill is about allowing parents choice and tolerance for all views,” Auth told Pascack Press on Feb. 14. Auth introduced legislation
See AUTH on page 84
SILVER SCOUTS
B ck in time...
Westwood Cub Scout Pack 350 takes second place at this year’s Annual Three Rivers Klondike Competition, held at Alpine Scout Camp. SEE PAGE 21
We slip back to February 1913 for this tale of a nearly tragic sleighing accident in the Pascack Valley.
SEE PAGE 4