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 38
Holiday Shopping Guide
DECEMBER 6, 2021
FUN WITH A PURPOSE
Thinking fast with PV grad Jake Comito
See page 12
RIVER VALE
BIDS SOUGHT ON SCHOOL UPGRADES
Construction projects at Woodside, Fieldstone, Roberge, and Holdrum BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
Contractor bids due by midJanuary 2022 are being solicited for four major school construction projects included in River Valeʼs approved $42.5 million bond referendum, including an addition to the middle school, renovations and HVAC replacement at two elementary schools and entrance canopy upgrades at all three district schools. The $42.5 million bond referendum was approved by voters in April who green-lit two of three public bond questions, rejecting $1.7 million in bonding for mental health wellness centers in two elementary schools. River Vale Public Schools Superintendent Melissa Signore told Pascack Press that the “most significant work will begin this summer [and] we expect to have a more specific project schedule next year.”
See Bids on page 144
J
Jake Comito, who graduated Pascack Valley High School in 2013, has parlayed his love of statistics, whimsy, and time with family and friends into a new company, Games Over Coffee. AKE COMITO GREW UP in Hillsdale, graduated from Pascack Valley High School in 2013, and graduated from Rutgers Business School in 2017. Heʼs also seriously into a good time. Comito recently created a board and card game company, Games Over Coffee, and launched his first card game, “Whatʼs in the PHOTO COURTESY JAKE COMITO
Bank?” He says “Whatʼs in the Bank?” (with its kicker, “Bank Fast, Think Faster!”) is a strategic and easy-to-learn card game for 2–6 players thatʼs perfect for family gatherings, game nights, and trips. He describes it as “a race-to-the-finish game with a twist: the first player to finish and end the
Continued on page 33
WOODCLIFF LAKE
ARCHERY LIMITS GET HEARING
Implications for own-land recreation, deer hunt
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
Council members introduced an ordinance revision in November to prohibit use of a bow and arrow on private property — although concerns were raised about restricting archery practice and its bearing on a possible deer hunt should one be authorized by county or state officials. A public hearing on the ordinance will be held at the Dec. 6 council meeting. Council members discussed the revised ordinance for nearly 15 minutes before its introduction Nov. 8. The ordinance revision (2116) deletes one paragraph, paragraph C, in the boroughʼs Chapter 173 Firearms Ordinance that exempts “the use of firearms when hunting in conformity with the applicable laws and regulations of the State of New Jersey.” Borough Administrator Tom Padilla said that the issue came to light following a request by a homeowner to hunt on his property, followed by police officials reviewing the borough firearms ordinance. He said police found under the existing ordinance that hunting was allowed on private property when following state hunting regulations. He said police noted under
See Archery on page 384
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
B ck in time...
An estimated 200 turned out for the menorah lighting in River Vale on Nov. 30, part of a series. The event featured a huge ice menorah.
It’s the holiday season of 1978. Care to keep it local with shopping in Emerson? Here are two popular Kinderkamack Road locations, recalled by Kristin Beuscher. SEE PAGE 4
SEE PAGE 39
