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 26 ISSUE 3
Welcome, Aletheia
APRIL 4, 2022
BROTHERHOOD RESPONDS
Valley crews give from the heart in Ukraine drive
PVRHSD
DISTRICT
INTRODUCES
$65.3M
Vote April 25; more teachers, staff; $6.6M spend on facilities
BUDGET
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
Aletheia Hazel Griffith is born to Joseph and Kathryn Griffith of Westwood. SEE PAGE 6
HILLSDALE
FORUM ON GEORGE G. WHITE OPTIONS APRIL 11 Architect presents; session first in a series
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
Build on site, build across the street, or just renovate the place? Those are the options facing school board trustees and administrators as they move toward an upcoming special meeting on the fate of the century-old George G. White Middle School. The special meeting will be held April 11 at 6 p.m. at Ann Blanche Smith School on Hillsdale Avenue to discuss options for middle school replacement, including a completely new middle school facility directly across from the
See FORUM on page 334
Fire departments from the Pascack Valley and Northern Valley have joined a call raised by Clifton firefighter Oleg Skachko, native to Ukraine, to send used turnout gear and other still-serviceable tools of the trade for delivery to the humanitarian catastrophe abroad. The Township of Washington (above) and Park Ridge (right) are represented. In the Northern Valley, we’ve confirmed Closter and Old Tappan as well.
F
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
ire departments in the Pascack Valley and Northern Valley have joined a mammoth undertaking in donating used firefighting gear and equipment to Ukrainian fire departments and rescue services under siege. With Russian forces bombing key cities daily in hopes of seizing control of Ukraine, and millions of women and children fleeing the country, Ukraineʼs firefighting personnel need equipment and gear desperately.
The drive, “PPE 4 Ukraine — Firefighters Helping Firefighters,” was launched by Clifton firefighter Oleg Skachko, who was born in Central Ukraine and joined the Clifton department three years ago. Heʼs fielded donations from more than 100 firefighting companies from throughout New Jersey and the United States whoʼve been alerted to it on social media and cable news. The drive is sending materiel to Poland, from where it will make its way into Ukraine. Itʼs being powered by a
COURTESY PHOTOS
crowdfunding campaign. Assemblyman Robert Auth (R-39) said many of the 23 fire companies in his district had stepped up. Fire departments from the Township of Washington and Park Ridge in Pascack Valley,
Continued on page 39
The Pascack Valley Regional High School District board introduced a tentative $65.3 million budget for 2022-2023 at a special meeting March 21. The amount us up 1.59% over last year. The vote was required before the budget is submitted to the county superin- RELATED tendent for review. The budget New superintendent was introduced by a 7-0 vote at a spe- starts July 1 — Page 10 cial nine-minute meeting. Trustees Kelly Blundy and Debra Stephans were absent. Board business administrator and secretary Yas Usami provided a brief breakdown of changes from last year, including a $331,525 jump in additional state aid. The brief budget breakdown shows a general fund of $62,461,993, a special revenue fund of $845,241, and debt service of $2,031,275 for a total of $65,338,509. The amount to be raised by taxation is $54,431,192, which includes the general fund and debt service. The budget includes a capital
See PVRHSD on page 164
MATZAH STUDIES
B ck in time...
With Passover near, students from the Bar Mitzvah group at Valley Chabad in Woodcliff Lake visit Shmura Matzah Bakery in Rockland County. SEE PAGE 20
The corner of Broadway and Campbell Avenue in Woodcliff Lake once was home to an auto dealership called Lakeview Motors. The site has seen some changes. SEE PAGE 4
