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 52
MARCH 14, 2022
Trusted PICTURE THE HUB: service GIVING TIME Celebrate Westwood spotlights volunteers
TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
DPW PLANNED FOR CHARLIE BROWN’S Council introduces $1.35M appropriation; public hearing March 21
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
Eric Kohlmeier celebrates his 24th year of service with Wells Fargo Advisors, Park Ridge. SEE PAGE 28
EMERSON
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Emerson Station requires 7 offsite units — ʻwhereʼ could wind up in court
SITE DISPUTE
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
Whether Emerson Stationʼs redeveloper needs to get local zoning approval to construct seven offsite affordable units at 129 Kinderkamack Road — now zoned for commercial and mixed-use multifamily — is a question that could wind up in court, be answered by the borough, or be answered by the implementation monitor appointed last year to expedite the downtown development. The next Borough Council meeting is March 15. In early December, the redeveloperʼs attorney appeared before council, after its previous application to the Land Use Board for a
See AFFORDABLE on page 324
C
Left to right and top to bottom: Maria Montana; Andra Bell; Mike Violano; Peter Meany; Nolan Foley and Amanda Sallemi; Lou Scheidler; Jim Gines; Olivia Lionetti, Jackie Poquetter, and Nina Lionetti; Dan Olivier; Lauren Lucanera; Dee Kalman; David and Roei Mendez; Mayo Credel; Michelle Sembler, Michael Pontillo,Andrea Peck, Kristen Pedersen, and Roberta Hanlon; George Tompko;Tom Offerjost;Anthony Greco, Rob Biccochi, Chris Montana, Erin Collins, Cheryl Hodges, Ray Arroyo, and Beth Dell; Janet Dunn; James Drew; Junior Friends of the Library; Sally Roberts; Yash Risbud; Rashida Tewarson; Roseanne and Mark Brill; Jaymee Hodges; Christine Greene; Mike Saul, Jimmy Vorhees, and Scott Vorhees; and Richard Frant. Visit the gallery installation “Picture The Hub: ELEBRATE WESTWOOD invites us all to help laud the countless ways in which volun- Giving Time,” March 14–April 30 at the Westwood teers have improved Westwood and the Continued on page 30 greater Pascack Valley. PHOTO BY RICHARD FRANT/FRANTVISUALS
Mayor Peter Calamari confirmed at the March 7 Township Council meeting that a new Department of Public Works headquarters will be constructed at 95 Linwood Ave., the 1.45-acre former home of a Charlie Brownʼs Fresh Grill, which the township plans to purchase soon. Calamari said the township would purchase the property for $1.35 million, the same amount Apple Montessori Schools put in for the property. Apple Montessori Schools evidently thought it had a deal with the seller sufficient to undertake tens of thousands of dollars on due diligence efforts. Nevertheless it withdrew its offer after the township demanded to purchase the property instead — under threat of “the condemnation route.” On March 7, council introduced a $1.35 million appropriation, including a down payment of $65,000, with $1.285 million authorized in 40-year bonds or notes. Ordinance 22-07 comes up for vote March 21. Council President Desserie Morgan was absent. Members voting for were VP Stacey Feeney, Tom Sears, Steve Cascio, and Daisy Velez. Calamari has said DPW build-
See DPW on page 334
COOKIES WITH DREW
B ck in time...
River Vale Daisy Troop 98287 to appear on “The Drew Barrymore Show” March 14 to help celebrate National Girl Scout Day.
Jill McGuire on the 113th anniversary of the adoption of Emerson’s “new” name; Kristin Beuscher reminds us that superstition can spell big trouble. SEE PAGE 4
SEE PAGE 14