Emerson • Hillsdale • Montvale • Park Ridge • River Vale • Township of Washington • Westwood • Woodcliff Lake VOLUME 24 ISSUE 47
SPECIAL GIFT
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 PASCACK VALLEY
HILLSDALE
EC CENTER VALENTINE’S DAY R‘UNCERTAIN ’ FOR 2021 FOOD DRIVE
District robotics team collecting Feb. 8–13
Youngsters at Temple Emanuel of the Pascack Valley receive prayer books. SEE PAGE 20
PASCACK VALLEY
WHERE’S THE TRAIL? ʻWe need Suez to be on board,ʼ mayors agree
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
Three mayors in towns that encircle a long-awaited Woodcliff Lake Reservoir Nature Trail are ready and willing to work with Suez water to make the trail a reality and hope that occurs soon, no matter who came up with the idea nearly a decade ago. For its part, Suez is referring to COVID-related uncertainties in the timing of the execution of the project. Last week, Pascack Press reported that Woodcliff Lake Mayor Carlos Rendo, Park Ridge Mayor Keith Misciagna, and Hillsdale Mayor John Ruocco said they were frustrated with delays in initiating the long-awaited 1.5 mile walking/nature trail that skirts the
See WHERE on page 294
FEBRUARY 8, 2021
AN ARMY OF young thinkers and doers is raising aid for food pantries in Hillsdale and Park Ridge.
PASCACK VALLEY
The Pascack Valley Regional High School Districtʼs awardwinning robotics competition team—which is as devoted to community causes as it is to preparing young people for the future—has set Valentineʼs Day as its target to deliver much-
needed food and supplies to local food pantries. And you can help. Inviting the Pascack Valley to “Show Your Community Love—Be a Food Pantry Valentine,” FIRST Team 1676, the Pascack Pi-oneers, has arranged nine collection points in Hillsdale, River Vale, Montvale, and
PHOTO BY FIRST TEAM 1676, THE PASCACK PI-ONEERS
Woodcliff Lake. The goods—in terms of their value to recipient families, theyʼll be sweeter and more
Continued on page 34
Ruocco details challenges for residents, council BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
In ranging remarks at the recent Greater Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce Mayors Breakfast, Mayor John Ruocco said the borough is waiting for expressions of interest from developers following the passage of the boroughʼs Patterson Street Redeveloper Plan. He said the borough was thinking about WHAT DO rehabilitating its YOU downtown area T H INK? and said the council was in the “very prelim- • We’d love to inary stages” of add your voice exploring what to the conversation. See that process inside for views should be. from your He did not dwell on the mayor, offered at a recent councilʼs December 2020 valley chamber defeat of his veto event, then see our Letters of the plan, by a policy, Page 2! vote of 5–1, and stressed a need for transparency. Ruoccoʼs remarks touched on further investments for athletic fields; shared services; local infrastructure; Stonybrook Pool; the ideal return of in-person council meetings; the status of the state and county vaccination programs; and the need for volunteers on the fire and
See CENTER on page 114
MEALS FOR HEROES
B ck in time...
Grace’s Gold Ribbon Gang and Caffé Anello are partnering to feed frontline workers at Columbia Presbyterian’s Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, and Transplantation unit. SEE PAGE 18
Get on your horse and plow! Scenes from snowy Colonial Boulevard in Hillsdale in the 1930s. The land is recalled as teeming with wildlife.
SEE PAGE 4