SCHOOL NEWS

Standout students at Hills, Valley

BY JOHNSNYDER

OF PASCACK PRESS

HILLSDALE

The Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education lauded high-achieving students at its regular meeting of Dec. 12. Pascack Press congratulates them, their families, and their educators.

National Merit Scholar Semifinalist

Grace Jansen, a senior at Pascack Valley High School, has been recognized as a Semifinalist in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Grace is one of more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.

National Merit Scholar —

Commended Students

Approximately 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Commended Students placed

College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Award: (left to right) Sarah Bilotti with PV student Eva Senande and Joseph Blundo. National Merit Scholar - Commended Students,left to right,back to front:Ciaran O’Brien PV,Daniel Schwartz PV,Jonathan Mathew PH,Zachary Berde PV,Austin Sibley PH,Jake Agranovich PH,Jinsuh Kim PH,Lara Smith PH,Daniel Pellegrin PV,and Sabrina Moe PH. among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2023 competition by taking the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Jake Agranovich PH Jack Benson PV Zachary Berde PV Ethan Chiu PV Rowan Gokhale PV Trayee Jha PH Jinsuh Kim PH Jonathan Mathew PH Sabrina Moe PH Ciaran OʼBrien PV Daniel Pellegrin PV Aditya Pokala PH Daniel Schwartz PV Kareena Shah PV Austin Sibley PH Lara Smith PH Kiera Tracy PV

AP Scholar

The following students from Pascack Hills and Pascack Valley high schools are Advanced Placement Scholars. These are students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams: Gillian Barcus PH Jack Benson PV Zachary Berde PV Jordana Brief PH Dylan Cochin PH

Michael Criscuolo PV Lydia Edelshain PH

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

FROM PAGE 10

•Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 10 a.m.: Winter Story Time, ages 2–5. Hear great stories and enjoy fun songs and coloring. •Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 4 p.m.: Childrenʼs Bingo for prizes! • Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 6 p.m.: January is National Puzzle Month so come out to the library and paint your own puzzle. •Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 10 a.m: Do you love movies and discussing them with others? Join the library Movie Club. This is a watch first, meet later group. Pick up a copy of the movie from the library and watch at your own convenience, then meet at the library on the first Thursday morning of the month for a lively discussion, light refreshments. •Friday, Jan. 6 at 10:30 a.m.: Storytime and Yoga is put together

Community Calendar Yoga: 11 a.m.: Largely chair-based poses for all abilities. At noon, Advanced Chair Yoga. Chair poses to make this fun program to get kids moving, brought to you by Miss Shelley from Every Little Thing Yoga. • Friday, Jan. 6 at 1 p.m.: Adelphi Chamber Orchestra Concert in the Community Room. as well as more standing poses and some mat based poses on the ground, depending on the class. Register. •Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 10 a.m. and Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m.: Learn Zoom: In preparation for virtual meetings throughout the winter, T TO OW WN NS SH HI IP P O OF F W WA AS SH HI IN NG GT TO ON N 144 Woodfield Road (201) 664-4586 twpofwashingtonpl.org • Saturday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m.: Celebrate National Tea Month. Enjoy tea and snacks while playing bingo for prizes. • Saturday, Jan. 28 at noon: Third Annual National Puzzle Day Competition: Sign up in teams of two to four people to complete the provided 500-piece jigsaw puzzle. There will be prizes. • Thursday, Jan. 5: Chair learn how to use Zoom to attend lectures, programs, and virtual Township committee meetings. Two chances! • Thursday, Jan. 19: Chair Yoga at 11 a.m.: Largely chair based poses for all abilities. Noon: Advanced Chair Yoga. Chair poses as well as more standing poses and some mat-based poses on the ground depending on the class. Limited space available. • Saturday, Jan. 14 at 10:30 a.m.: Kid Crafts:Meet new people and craft with your child. Together time is fun time! W WE ES ST TW WO OO OD D 49 Park Ave. (201) 664-0583 westwoodpubliclibrary.org •Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 11 a.m.: Rubikʼs Cube Solvers: Bring your own cube to this program and learn different ways to configure a cube and solve it. Itʼs easier than you might think. • Thursday, Dec. 29 at 2:30 p.m.: Open Crafts/Games: Weʼll put out a variety of our leftover crafts from this year and some fun games to play. • Monday, Jan. 2, 2023 at 7 p.m. Garden Club. •Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 10:30 a.m.: Peek A Book Storytime: Storytime has a multitude of benefits, such as helping your child get to know sounds, words and language; developing early literacy skills; instructing in the value of books and stories; and sparking your childʼs curiosity and imagination. Weʼll also sing, dance, and learn fingerplays. At 4 p.m.: Leave your worries behind Story and Worry Doll Craft, grades 4-5: Listen to a child-friendly, funny, and sympathetic book (“Silly Billy” by Anthony Browne) about worrying, then create a Guatemalan worry doll to help you start the New Year fresh and worry-free. • Thursday, Jan. 5, Feb. 2, March 2, and April 6 at 3:45 p.m. Anime Club: Do you love anime/manga, or are you interested in learning more about this genre? Join this new monthly club. Crafts, games, trivia, Japanese snacks, book and movie reviews, and a cosplay contest are planned. •Friday, Jan. 6 at 11 a.m.: Knitting & Crocheting Club: Gather to work on your knitting and crocheting projects as you socialize. Bring your own supplies and trade tips and ideas, share patterns, and create beautiful pieces alongside friends. All skill levels are welcome, Meets weekly with light refreshments served.

Grants: Nearly $760K in county open space funds

FROM PAGE 6

ed by Pascack Press, and a public hearing Oct. 19, and the final commissionersʼvote Dec. 14, all six PascackValley towns received approval on their grants. •Emersonʼs $85,001 grant is for Hillman Field Lighting Improvements and Walking Path. The boroughʼs grant application requested $371,959 for a matching grant, estimating a total project cost of $818,918. • Hillsdaleʼs $85,001 grant is for Beechwood Park Trail, boardwalk replacement, observation platform, and guardrails

•Montvaleʼs $78,625 grant is for Huff Park playground improvements: rubberized safety surfacing at playground. • River Valeʼs $85,001 grant is for Mark Lane Athletic Complex lighting upgrades. •Westwoodʼs $70,000 grant is for Jake Voorhis Parkʼs basketball court replacement with new asphalt surface.

The county said the Trust Fund program is funded through a rate of 1 cent per $100 of total county equalized real property valuation annually, as approved by public referendum in 2013.

The county administers these funds as a reimbursement once the proposed project is completed by the awardee, county officials said.

ʻOne of the greatest tools in our arsenal…ʼ

In a news release, Bergen County Executive James Tedesco III said the Bergen Open Space Grant Program “is one of the greatest tools in our arsenal to advance our shared goals of protecting the environment, promoting sustainability, and preserving open space for future generations to enjoy.”

He said, “My administration remains committed to supporting our partner municipalities through this program and I look forward to celebrating the completion of several of these projects in the months and years to come.”

County spokesperson Lucine Beylerian described the process used to evaluate and award Open Space funds, which “play a crucial role in helping to maintain quality of life in Bergen County.”

Beylerian said the recommended project awards cover open space acquisition, floodplain protection, historic preservation improvements, and improvements to county and municipal park facilities.

The Trust Fund Public Advisory Committee is charged with determining the annual list of projects to be recommended to the commissioners for funding as well as the amount that should be awarded for each project.

In 2021, the county Open Space Trust Fund awarded nearly $19 million for open space grants, which included grants for open space acquisition, historic preservation projects, county park improvement projects, farmland preservation and municipal park improvement projects.

The largest Open Space grant last year in Pascack Valley was a $110,157 grant to Woodcliff Lake for its long-planned Galaxy Gardens passive park.

Expert Repairs Performed By An Experienced And Professional Team Certified Foreign & Domestic Collision Experts

WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANIES

• 24 hour emergency towing with our own trucks • Estimates are always FREE • License #02043A • Frame Straightening • Restoration • Custom Painting • Dent & Scratch Removal • Interior Repair

OUR WORK IS 100% GUARANTEED.

Giving: Dorchester kids at work

FROM PAGE 1

session. CFAʼs Weekend Snack Pack Program (WSPP) is designed to fill this gap by providing healthy, kid-friendly, and easy to prepare snack foods to children at risk of hunger.”

Melman told Pascack Press several school adults pitched in — they also went the final distance to deliver the snack packs to a grateful CFA — and singled out Liz Sagat and principal Stephanie Marsich.

According to the Center for Food Action, “The concept of a snack pack program originated years ago when a school nurse noticed that some students were arriving at school on Monday mornings with headaches, dizziness, stomach aches and fatigue. She realized that these were the same students who were receiving free or reduced lunches. The nurse reached out to a local food pantry to organize a way to provide these students with nutritious weekend snacks.”

During a typical school year, CFAsays, “Snack packs are delivered to participating local schools and organizations by CFA and distributed discreetly to children at risk of hunger.”

This past year, it says, “Childhood hunger grew exponentially as children were out of school for months with no access to school meals. During this time, CFA continued to deliver snack packs to partner organizations and schools determined to get food out to struggling students.”

Snacks keep Dorchester students at their best too

Itʼs not just Center for Food Action youth who get an extra burst of brain food: Dorchesterʼs fifth-graders contributed to a solution to a related pressing problem in their own ranks.

According to reporter Ryan E. of The Dorchester Voice — “created by and for the students of Dorchester Elementary School” and advised by Jeff Offerjost — the fifth-graders gained a working snack period effective Nov. 7.

In his article “Snack for the fifth graders”(Dorchester Voice, December 2022), Ryan E. — a fifth grader — notes “The 5th graders were complaining that they didnʼt have enough time to eat their lunches, so the 5th grade teachers put their heads together and came up with a working snack.”

Ryan says, “Students will

be expected to continue working on their lessons while they eat their snacks. The students have to eat their snacks while theyʼre working in school and there are some regulations that principal Marsich posted in the email that was sent out to the parents.”

In the report, Marsich is quoted as saying, “We are hopeful that this addition of a snack relieves some of the stress of the lunch period for the students and provides them with additional energy and focus for their afternoon classes.”

ORDER YOUR TIRES TODAY!

Expires 1/31/23.

Expires 1/31/23.

Expires 1/31/23. Expires 1/31/23.

Wheel Alignment Special

With coupon. Not valid with any other or prior service. Expires 1/31/23.

Full Synthetic

Expires 1/31/23. Expires 1/31/23.

Coventional Oil

Expires 1/31/23.

Expires 1/31/23.

Expires 1/31/23.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Woodcliff Lake poet on pandemic

To the editor: A RESPONSETO the pandemic from a sophomore at Pascack Valley High School:

Momentum Tik… tok… tik… tok. The seconds pass as I wait for it to end, As I wait for my life to begin. Each breath of anticipation, Ending in disappointment with more masks, more shots, more noise. So much noise. Donʼt do this, Donʼt go there. Donʼt think this, Why do you care? Each second that passes loses meaning,

Drip feeding my cry for purpose. Restrictions and regulations being a straight jacket to my mind, To my passions. It will end soon they said, Be normal soon. Normal? What even is normal? What is it if not hugging friends and shaking hands, Laughing out loud and not being afraid to step outside. Or is it what just, is? What if normal is waking up in the morning and not knowing what comes next? What if normal never went away, just changed? What then are we waiting for to come? What then are we waiting for to end? If normal never went away, then my life never stopped. The fire never stopped burning. It was just swaying with the wind. Dancing to the rhythm of life. To the chirping of the birds and the laughing of little children. To the sigh of relief that one takes when the heart lights up.

To the cries of sorrow and the screams of rage. To the small steps and the big ones. The little actions and the large ones. If I only focused on the leaps of faith I would never move. It is the gentle tip toes without looking. The small shift of weight from the heel to the toe. The bursts of hope that will my feet forward. To learn to block out the noise is to learn to live. To be able to hear something and know it is wrong is to be able to be free. To be able to look at the world and know you are meant to be here is to be able to find purpose. To find meaning. What is meaningful? Itʼs simple. Itʼs life in and of itself. Itʼs finding who you are. Keep going! It has always been moving. Forward. If only I could join it.

Elizabeth S. Huang Woodcliff Lake

PASCACK VALLEY

Towns nab grants in state’s transit push

Park Ridge has been awarded $147,000 from the State of New Jersey to begin restoration of the train station, under a Transit Village Program grant, and the Township of River Vale is awarded a state $447,000 Local Bikeway Program grant.

Park Ridge posted Dec. 13, “We anticipate more funds in 2023 and 2024 to help complete the project. Thanks to Borough Historian Ralph Donnell for all his hard work helping us secure funds for the project.”

On Dec. 12. Gov. Phil Murphy announced critical funding via Safe Streets to Transit grants to expand access to safe transportation and enhance areas around public transit facilities across the state. The awards total more than $24 million across three programs as part of Murphyʼs Fiscal Year 2023 budget.

Funding for the Local Aid and Economic Development Grants line-item increased by nearly 50% over the last fiscal year, representing what Murphyʼs administration said in a statement was its “commitment to a wide range of transportation options and smart, transit-oriented development.”

The Safe Streets to Transit Program will provide $13.4 million in funding to improve access to transit facilities and public transportation in counties and municipalities.

Rendo and Schnoll on 188 B’way

To the editor: W E WOULDLIKE to take this opportunity to address Councilwoman Josephine Higgins and former councilman Craig Marsonʼs letter to the editor in your Dec. 19, 2022 edition concerning our Fair Share Housing and 188 Broadway litigation. [“ʻSpot zoning nightmareʼin WCL,” page 2.]

By way of background, we had settled our affordable housing requirements by agreeing to build 16 affordable housing units on north Broadway and a possible 12 units at the VFW. We had designated a developer and agreed to re-zone the north Broadway site for affordable housing.

During that same time, the developer/owners of 188 Broadway brought an application to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for about 60 apartments in two buildings, an existing building located on Broadway and a back Building.

Then Covid-19 hit. As the cost of construction increased, we received the bad news that the developer of the north Broadway site backed out of the development.

As 2021 started, we diligently searched for a new developer to no avail. Fair Share Housing of New Jersey then brought us back to Court to enforce our fair share housing agreement. We were on the hook for building the units even if it was without a developer. We were faced with funding the whole project and frankly this requirement was something that we could not afford.

As we were dealing with the Fair Share issues, the developers of 188 Broadway sued our Zoning Board and the Borough in state court (mainly for the 2019 denial by the Zoning Board for their 60 units).

In addition, they filed a federal court action based on the 2021 Zoning Board denial of their new application for 53 units and a complaint with the Construction Code of Appeals.

They also filed a tax appeal against the borough in which we had significant exposure.

Our governing body immediately took action to protect the borough. We hired Jeff Zenn, esq. to advise us. We formed a negotiating committee of administrator Padilla, mayor Rendo, councilman Schnoll — an attorney by trade — and Mr. Zenn. Our direction to Mr. Zenn was to start negotiations with Fair Share Housing and 188 Broadway. Our intent was to settle with Fair Share Housing, get the litigation with the 188 developers dismissed, lower the density of 188 Broadway, improve the Broadway corridor, and bring in much needed ratables.

We accomplished all our objectives.

The residents of the east side of town wanted a project with less density and the removal of the back building in the initial project. We gave them what they wanted in that the development will have a 20% reduction in the density, not negligible as Councilwoman Higgins and Mr. Marson describe it.

In addition, the back building will be removed and replaced with eight high-end townhomes surrounded by greenery improving the look of the area.

Second, the developers of 188 Broadway will dismiss all four litigations against the borough. Of note is the dismissal of the tax appeal in which we had significant exposure and we saved the borough a lot of money in litigation costs.

Third, the new assessments that will be assessed against the townhome units will bring in additional tax dollars to the borough.

Also, a PILOT program with the developers of 188 Broadway will bring additional tax dollars directly into the boroughʼs coffers without significant impact to our school district.

Fourth, 188 Broadway will pay the boroughʼs affordable housing fund $300,000 to go toward the development of our North Broadway site alleviating the amount that the borough would have to pay to build the affordable housing units.

Fifth, 188 Broadway will make landscaping and on site/sidewalk improvements to their property. Again, the residents of the area wanted to beautify the corridor, this will begin that process.

Sixth, 188 Broadway will pay $50,000 into our Park and Recreation fund allowing the borough to use that money for the benefit of our residents.

As to the Fair Share settlement, the borough will meet its affordable housing requirements without being held in contempt, having to pay attorney fees and costs and avoiding reopening the prior settlement agreement, avoiding the requirement that we build 386 units. Building 24 units is better than building 386, but Councilwoman Higgins and Mr. Marson do not see the benefit of the settlement.

Both councilmember Higgins and Mr. Marson are quick to criticize, but mind you, neither have ever provided a solution to settling both matters or provided a recommendation to improve our corridor.

In short, yes, we took a “victory” lap. We satisfied our requirements with Fair Share Housing, we protected our town against overdevelopment, we reduced the density of 188 Broadway, we will improve the aesthetics of the area, we will bring new tax dollars to the municipality, and we eliminated spending on litigation. We listened to our residents, and we delivered.

Carlos A. Rendo, Mayor

Richard Schnoll, Councilman Woodcliff Lake

FROM PAGE 9

tor Christopher Tietjen resigned in January after two years on the job, leaving for a similar position in Wayne, a much larger community. He had just inked a four-year extension here, in September 2021, starting at $129,000, plus benefits, and annual raises of 2%. Wayne started him at a base pay of $165,000.

Simultaneously, Ruocco had announced the resignation of DPW superintendent William “Billy” Haffler, who alleged he had clashed with Tietjen personally and professionally, and also called out dysfunction on the governing body. (See “BA, DPW Chief Resign,” Pascack Press, Jan. 31, 2022.)

Troast said his departure date is “flexible depending on the search for my replacement,” and reminded council of a vacation scheduled in February. “Depending on the experience of my replacement, I would be open to continuing part time as an employee or a consultant for as long as I may be needed. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.”

Troast pointed out he had tried to line up a mediator to help repair the difficult relationship between the council and mayor. However, he said Ruocco “rejected” the idea.

The council majorityʼs relationship with Ruocco was complicated late in 2021 when Ruocco revealed the $16 million estimate for a new community center and recreational field upgrade in advance of what council members said was a previously agreed-upon release date.

Prior to that, Ruocco and the council majority had fought over council transparency, budgetary matters, and whether to release “advisory, consultative or draft” documents that would be discussed at a public meeting. Generally, councilman Zoltán Horváth votes against the majority. Ruocco, as mayor, votes only in case of a tie vote.

Following the mayorʼs early release of the community center/field estimate, the council changed its bylaws to remove Ruoccoʼs ex-officio role on advisory committees and changed the order of meeting “council commentaries” that required the mayor to speak first.

Councilmembers had often complained that Ruocco got the abrasive and “explosive” last word at meetings, chastising decisions or dinging the council for an alleged lack of transparency.

ʻI have tried…ʼ

Said Troast, “I have tried with my experience and mediation skills to bridge the divide, with no lasting success. I have grown frustrated and at times complicated the situation with my own actions. The idea of bringing [retired] Judge [Alexander] Carver as a mediator was considered approved by the council and sadly rejected by the mayor making it evident that change would not take place.”

He added, “The lack of trust with the mayor/council and attacks in the media create hostility and disharmony in the Borough, which is difficult to overcome.”

Troastʼs Dec. 16 resignation letter provides brief notes on several ongoing projects: • The Patterson Street Redevelopment Plan; •Centennial Athletic Complex; •Community space proposed at Stonybrook Swim Club; • A downtown rehabilitation study; •Ongoing shared-service discussions for ambulance, court, and public works; •Preliminary evaluations of DPW facility alternatives; •Ongoing grants; •The 2023 budget; and •Labor contract negotiations.

When Ruocco announced Troast was replacing Tietjen, the mayor lauded Troastʼs many yearsʼexperience in the private and public sectors. His professional planning and consulting firm specialized in community redevelopment, and heʼs been project manager for architectural and engineering firms. He served many years in Sparta Township, including as its township manager and in directing their community development and planning.

More recently he served the residents of Hackensack as city manager. He holds degrees in horticulture, landscape architecture, and planning from SUNY, Colorado State University, and CUNY respectively, and has studied public administration and redevelopment planning at Rutgers. He is certified as a civil mediator in the New Jersey courts system.

Ruocco said Troast has taught and lectured at Rutgers, the New Jersey League of Municipalities, Morris County Community College, and at many professionally organized conferences.

Troastʼs LinkedIn headline reads “Professional planner, landscape architect, and civil mediator.” His career objective is “to continue to serve in government by enhancing the quality of public services for all people.”

Ruocco blames the council majority

Asked about Troastʼs allegations, Ruocco said he “could not defend” spending $5,000 of public funds “to mediate what was essentially a political disagreement caused by the councilʼs own action … the unprecedented removal of the mayor from standing committee participation through revisions to the (council) bylaws.”

He added, “My view was that the bylaw changes should first be reversed so that the mayorʼs role would be comparable to that in other municipalities, and then I would be open to any discussions on how to improve communication and transparency without spending taxpayer funds to do so.”

Ruocco declined to comment on Troastʼs letter on the grounds that the administrator quitting is a personnel matter. He said the borough would move to find a replacement as soon as possible. Filling the key slot, he said, “depends on how many individuals are interested, what their qualifications are, and how quickly they can make themselves available. Obviously, they must be able to convince at least four members of the [governing body] that they can do the job.”

Asked Dec. 18 about Troastʼs resignation, which Ruocco had recently announced via an email to residents, Councilwoman Abby Lundy, who voted against Troastʼs initial hiring, as well as his mid-October contract extension, said Troast spoke for himself. “The letter very explicitly explains his reasons for resigning.”

PARK RIDGE

KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION/REGISTRATION

Park Ridge children who will be 5 years old by Oct. 1, 2023 will be eligible for full day kindergarten registration for the 20232024 school year.

Children living west of Pascack Road will attend West Ridge Elementary School. Children living on or east of Pascack Road will attend East Brook School.

Kindergarten orientation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 2 as follows: East Brook – 6 p.m. and West Ridge – 6:30 p.m. Kindergarten orientation is for parents only.

Kindergarten registration will be held Monday, Feb 6, through Friday, Feb. 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at both schools.

Access the on-line portion of registration at: parkridgeschools.org/domain/17 starting on Friday, Feb. 3.

You can access and print the following required forms which you will need to bring into the school during registration hours. • New student medical forms •New student home language form • New student owner/landlord affidavit form

In addition to the forms listed above, the following documents are also required when you register your child for kindergarten: • Original and a copy of your childʼs birth certificate • Proofs of residential identification •Most recent immunization history from pediatrician

For assistance, call Mrs. Syring at East Brook School at (201) 573-6000, ext. 2000 or Ms. McCarthy at West Ridge at (201) 573-6000, ext. 3000.

RIVER VALE PICKELBALL COURTS LAUDED BUT LAND COSTLIER

Pickleball! File photo.

River Valeʼs four new pickleball courts at the Mark Lane Athletic Complex off Piermont Avenue — in daily use from 8 a.m to 3 p.m. — have ended up costing nearly $7,000 more due to a project change order approved at the Nov. 28 meeting.

The change order increase of $6,760.27 was added to the original contract sum of $137,400, upping final project cost to $144,160.27. The borough received a 2021 county Open Space grant of $77,340, about half the projectʼs cost.

Business Administrator Gennaro Rotella said a security system ordered for the new courts was likely due in six to eight weeks.

Councilwoman Denise Sieg said that the courts came out beautifully and questioned whether current users used the “honor system” to share the courts.

Rotella said the township would use an honor system for court users, generally limiting court time to one hour, noting there would be a signage and registration process.

Rotella said soon there would be registration for in-town and out-of-town players, which would include a $10 fee for out-of-towners.

Councilman Paul Criscuolo told residents that pickleball was now the fastest-growing sport in the United States.

For more, see “Pickleball, by popular demand, inbound at Mark Lane,” Michael Olohan, March 6, 2022.

FROM PAGE 19

Justin Glazer PH Rowan Gokhale PV Nicole Golub PH Shaina John PV Nupur Karnik PV Minche Kim PV Grace Misha PV Aditya Pokala PH Jessica Ponce PV Alex Rothenberg PV Sabrina Schmoyer PV Daniel Schwartz PV Aastha Shukla PH Austin Sibley PH Caitlin Slasinski PV Grace Zak PH

AP Scholar with Honor

The following students from Pascack Hills and Pascack Valley high schools are Advanced Placement Scholars. These are students

National Merit Scholar Semifinalist: (left to right) Sarah Bilotti,PV student Grace Jansen,and Joseph Blundo.

Bergen County Band: (left to right) Sarah Bilotti,Ming-Lang Qin PV trombone,Carolyn Veit PV trumpet,and Joseph Blundo. Advanced Placement Scholar (left to right, back to front):Sarah Bilotti,Daniel Schwartz PV,Caitlin Slasinski PV, Grace Misha PV,Jack Benson PV,Nupur Karnik PV,Zachary Berde PV,Austin Sibley PH,Jordana Brief PH,Grace Zak PH, Alex Rothenberg PV,Aastha Shukla PH,Shaina John PV,and Joseph Blundo.

who receive scores at least 3.25 on all Advanced Placement Exams taken and scores 3 or higher on four or more of these exams: Tala Atkinson PH Alexis Ban PV Ethan Chiu PV Aimee Hoffman PV Trayee Jha PH Grant Linardic PH Jonathan Mathew PH Sabrina Moe PH

Treshan Nilaweera PV Francesca Sanelli PV Matthew Yakir PV Hana Yu PV

AP Scholar with Distinction

The following students from Pascack Hills and Pascack Valley high schools, are Advanced Placement Scholars with Distinction. These are students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more on these exams: Jake Agranovich PH Grace Jansen PV Cameron Schmidt PH Kareena Shah PV qualify for this award.

College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Award

Eva Senande, a senior at Pascack Valley High School, was honored for the College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program award this summer. Eva did an outstanding job on her PSAT and AP exams in order to

Bergen County Band

The following students from Pascack Hills and Pascack Valley High Schools were accepted into the Bergen County Honors Band: Ming-Lang Qin – PV Trombone

Ariel Sharon – PH Percussion

Carolyn Veit – PV Trumpet

Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction: (left to right) Sarah Bolotti, PH student Jake Agranovich,PV student Grace Jansen,Joseph Blundo.