Emerson • Hillsdale • Montvale • Park Ridge • River Vale • Township of Washington • Westwood • Woodcliff Lake
PA S C AC K VA L L E Y ’ S H O M E TO W N N E W S PA P E R
VOLUME 25 ISSUE 44
Happy campers
JANUARY 17, 2022
STORYTELLING STARTS HERE
PV grad Toledo driving force of ʻWater Warsʼ
PASCACK VALLEY REGIONAL
95 MORE
STUDENTS EXPECTED
District eyes influx from 954 new housing units
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
See MORE on page 174
COUNCIL
BRUSHES BACK ITS MAYOR, A CRITIC
Bylaw changes vex Ruocco; council says $16M center too costly
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
Their covid-friendly Good Vibes Summer Camp has earned local scouts coveted Silver Awards. SEE PAGE 27
Approximately 100 students likely will join the two regional high schools from almost 1,000 new housing units expected to be built over the next five years. Thatʼs according to a new demographics study detailed at the Jan. 3 Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education meeting. The studyʼs author, Dr. Richard Grip of Statistical Forecasting LLC, said Pascack Hills High School, serving families from Montvale and Woodcliff Lake, and Pascack Valley High School, serving families from Hillsdale and River Vale, have enough classroom space and facilities to absorb the students with no negative impacts. Grip told trustees that over the next five years, 95 additional
HILLSDALE
Director Tyler Toledo, a 2021 Pascack Valley High School graduate, behind the scenes of his series ‘Water Wars,’ which was inspired by a PV tradition called Senior Assassin and powered by the school’s video production program. Toledo, of Hillsdale, tells Pascack Press that creating space for students and alumni to collaborate and shine is part of the fun.
T
BY JOHN SNYDER OF PASCACK PRESS
HE SERIES HASNʼT dropped yet, but when it does itʼs going to showcase the best work of many talented former and current students at Pascack Valley High School. We know. Weʼve seen the trailer. “Water Wars,” a six-episode miniseries conceived of and directed by 2021 Valley graduate PHOTO VIA TYLER TOLEDO
Tyler Toledo of Hillsdale leverages a national high school tradition and has its home at the schoolʼs video production program. The synopsis: “Based on the game Senior Assassin, ʻWater Warsʼ follows high schooler Mark (Kyle Towey) as he is thrown into a highstakes water gun game when his friend Nathan (Sean Fei) signs him up to be his partner without
Continued on page 22
Amendments over the mayorʼs role in participating on standing committees, reporting on committee work, and getting the “last word” at every council meeting were approved, 5-1, at an often contentious Jan. 4 Borough Council reorganization meeting. Ruocco has lost “ex-officio” status, no longer an automatic member of standing committees and in most cases is cut out of the loop on their meeting times, agendas, and actions. Councilmembers said the new rules are aimed at giving themselves an equal voice, ensuring “more cohesiveness” on committees, and delivering “good government.” To Mayor John Ruocco, itʼs a “reckless” move meant as punishment and “can only be viewed as a tyranny of the majority.” He said he would stay abreast of developments “by having more frequent meetings with the borough administrator and have regular oneon-one meetings with department heads.” And he said he would work with the borough administrator “to ensure that I continue to be provid-
See HILLSDALE on page 254
MEMBERSHIP RISING
B ck in time...
Congratulations to the Greater Pascack Valley Woman’s Club on the addition of its wonderful new members. The organization performs vital philanthropic work. SEE PAGE 17
While waiting for your car to warm up, say a quick thanks for having it so much better than you might have had it the 1900s. Kristin Beuscher has a horse-drawn carriage ready for you. SEE PAGE 4
