SCHOOL NEWS

District: State would pay more toward middle school

FROM PAGE 1

Department of Education, which was received in late December.

Lombardy said the districtʼs Road To Referendum website was updated on its frequently asked questions (FAQ) page and “Process” page to offer residents comprehensive information on the bond vote.

He said residents who have questions on the referendum can also email them to referendum@hillsdaleschools.com for answers.

Lombardy said the district had plans to send out a referendum mailing piece to approximately 3,500 residences next week to highlight the upcoming middle school replacement ballot.

He noted the process leading up to the vote has occurred over a four-year timeline, with public input and evaluation of options including renovation.

While lower cost renovation options were available and considered, the Board of Education voted unanimously last June to move ahead with a full middle school replacement.

Trustees noted replacement was needed due to the school being 100 years old and having major structural and physical deterioration and defects.

Moreover, trustees noted any renovation option would need to relocate middle school students into trailers for up to two years, at a cost of nearly $4 million.

In a note to Hillsdale families, Lombardy wrote, “2023 will be significant as the Hillsdale Public Schools embark upon a bond proposal to replace the aging middle school with a new, state-of-the-art learning complex. That leap forward would include appropriately sized classrooms, dedicated space for the arts and STEM instruction, a properly sized gymnasium, a new synthetic turf field, and plenty of space for student and community use. Importantly, a new school would have efficient and reliable building systems and it would meet modern security standards,” said the superintendent.

If voters approve the bond referendum, a new middle school would be constructed across the street from the existing middle school, with plans to open in September 2026.

Moreover, a new synthetic multi-use turf field would be built on the site of the old school, likely to open a year later, said school officials.

Lombardy said residents can ask questions and get more information about the referendum by visiting the Road To Referendum website and at two upcoming public information sessions.

On Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. a virtual forum on the referendum will be held to answer public questions.

On Saturday, Feb. 11, from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. the public is invited to walk through George G. White, hear about the replacement plans and ask questions.

The Road To Referendum includes a section on voting information with details on registering, deadlines, and requesting a mail-in ballot.

Tuesday, Feb. 21 is the voter registration deadline. March 7 is the deadline for Bergen County Clerkʼs Office to receive your mailed request for a mail-in ballot; March 13, 3 p.m. is the late date for an in-person request to the County Clerk for a vote-bymail ballot.

Election officials note mailin ballots cannot be turned in at polling places. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, March 14, or if submitted inperson, hand-delivered to the County Clerkʼs Office, 1 Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, before 8 p.m. on March 14.

PASCACK VALLEY

WHS alum joins ownership group

Anna Lui has become a principal at Modera Wealth Management LLC as of this January. In addition to being a principal, Anna is the senior marketing manager, responsible for external firm communications and supporting growth initiatives. She has worked at the Westwood-based firm since 2013.

Anna graduated from Westwood Regional Junior and Senior High School in 1996 and Johns Hopkins University in 2000.

She worked in New York City from 2000-2013 prior to returning to her native hometown to work at Modera and to be closer to family.

Moderaʼs offices on Jefferson Avenue, facing the Community Center building, which Anna visited regularly in her youth when it was the Westwood Borough Hall.

In 2015, Anna served as president for the Greater Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce. In 2016, she served on the executive board of the Paskack Junior Womenʼs Club as board

secretary.

Since then, Annaʼs involvement in the community is primarily focused on her childrenʼs school district and Trinity Reformed Church of Old Tappan.

Anna resides in Old Tappan with her husband and two young children.

Modera provides fee-only, comprehensive wealth management for individuals, families, retirement plan sponsors and nonprofit institutions.

In addition to portfolio management, Modera provides clients with financial planning services, including retirement planning, design, and implementation, estate planning, income tax planning and risk analysis.

Modera has maintained a client-first commission-free philosophy since its inception in 1983 (Oradell) when its predecessor firm established itself as one of the countryʼs first fee-only advisory firms. Since then, Modera has grown its geographical footprint while adding depth and breadth to its advisory staff. Modera now has offices in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida, and serves clients in cities and states throughout the country.

LUI

FROM PAGE 10

clear that we will not tolerate criminality in our municipality. To address this issue, I organized a community meeting together with our police department to discuss our crime fighting efforts. We increased our patrols, we solidified our supervisory structure, we applied for grants for cameras and invested in crime prevention tools for our police. In Woodcliff Lake, we support and fund our police.”

He said the recent settlement with Fair Share Housing Center and 188 Broadway LP to build 24 units of affordable housing and settle lawsuits against the borough will bring “much-needed improvements to the Broadway corridor and the potential of thousands of tax dollars to our municipality.”

He said, “Some may say that we took a victory lap, and yes we did. Just look around what the surrounding municipalities are building and compare it to our settlement of just 24 affordable housing and 46 market units. We succeeded in controlling overdevelopment.”

He said the borough passed an updated Master Plan that is a blueprint for development, and noted whoever is mayor in 2025 must continue to work with council to control overdevelopment.

He said to increase transparency with residents he will host a monthly coffee event at Whole Foods Market cafe. For those unable to attend, he said he would restart a FaceTime live Q&A session on Sundays after the meeting of the mayor and council.

Beautification in the works

“My next initiative is to continue our borough beautification program. This year I will engage our grant writers to aggressively seek funds for streetscape improvements along the Broadway corridor. I will engage New Jersey Transit and Veolia to enter a private/public partnership on improving the look of the west side of the Broadway corridor. We cannot stop what we started,” he said.

The mayor said he was eager to work with council president Jennifer Margolis and councilwoman Nicole Marsh to implement a recreation master plan to improve recreation areas and athletic fields, in concert with local baseball and softball associations.

He said, “Finally, I thank you for giving me seven years as your mayor and I am looking forward to my eighth year. It is a pleasure representing you. Thank you and God bless Woodcliff Lake.”

Other reorganization notes

The meeting featured appointments to 11 standing committees including Finance & Audits; DPW & Sanitation; Police Department; Fire Department; Parks and Recreation; Shade Tree Committee; Legal; Board of Health; Seniors; Schools (K-8); and Schools (High School).

Also, the meeting featured 17 annual professional appointments including Borough Attorney (John Schettino); Borough Engineer (Neglia Engineering); Borough Auditor (Lerch Vinci & Bliss, LLP); Labor Attorney Wiss & Bouregy, PC; Bond Attorney Rogut McCarthy LLC; and Borough Planner Phillips Preiss Grygiel Leheny Hughes.

Other professionals appointed for one-year terms included Redevelopment Attorney Cullen & Dykman, Jeff Zenn, Esq.; Grant Writer Millennium Strategies, LLC; and Landscape Architect DMR Architects.

During the meeting, Rendo made 19 appointments and designations to municipal offices, plus five Planning Board members and three Zoning Board members, according to the meetingʼs agenda.

Comfort: Center

FROM PAGE 4

tells Pascack Press in a statement, “In the early days, when the subject of mental health issues was hardly ever mentioned, the center remained what we fondly called it:the bestkept secret in Park Ridge. Now, with most communities being considered ʻstigma-free,ʼmental health issues are no longer forbidden topics and our inconspicuous metal door proudly has our name displayed over it.”

The Pascack Mental Health Center (the Center) is an independent, not-for-profit agency offering psychotherapy. Its skilled, compassionate clinicians have been trained in various disciplines and offer informed, collaborative, and highly personalized treatments.

In celebration of its 50 years of service to the community, the PMHC was fortunate to be chosen as the charity beneficiary of For The Benefit Of Inc., a 501(c)3 charitable organization that “provides the foundation to structure a fundraising event and bring it from idea to fruition.”

Its mission is “to financially assist families with healthcare costs and educational needs and to support organizations that have a significant impact on the communities our families live in.”

This fundraising event was held on Oct. 23, 2022 and made what the Pascack Mental Health Center board called “a wonderful opportunity for attendees to learn more about the center. ”

Dougherty said, “Somebody once referred to the center as “The little agency that could.ʼWell, we could, we can, and we will.”

As the Pascack Mental Health Center is solely supported by fees and the generosity of a concerned community, donations are gratefully accepted and are tax-deductible. Checks may be made out to PMHC and sent to PO Box 126, Park Ridge, NJ 07656.

For more donation options and for more information about Pascack Mental Health Center, call (201) 391-1355 or visit

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Pascack Mental Health Center’s Board of Trustees,from left to right:secretary Ron von Autenried,assistant treasurer Shaji Procida,executive director Jorge Becerra,Lauretta Miller,president Jonelle von Autenried,Sharry Friedberg, vice president Diane Dougherty, treasurer Gene Vinci, and Richard Beattie. Not pictured: Karen Bonnell.

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