Emerson • Hillsdale • Montvale • Park Ridge • River Vale • Township of Washington • Westwood • Woodcliff Lake VOLUME 24 ISSUE 10
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
MAY 25, 2020
TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
LEADING THE WAY
River Vale resident Sofia Ricco is selected as an ambassador for The Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business program.
SEE PAGE 10
PASCACK VALLEY
MUCH STILL UNSETTLED ON GRADUATIONS BY HILLARY VIDERS SPECIAL TO PASCACK PRESS
Instead of the time-honored graduation march, “Pomp and Circumstance,” a more appropriate song for this yearʼs graduations should be “Pomp and Unusual Circumstances.” In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, high school graduates and their families will be seeing some major changes in traditional ceremonies. But, there may still be a breath of fresh air.
See GRADUATIONS on page 314
ADMIRED FROM AFAR Our everyday life sure has changed since last year when Robert “Bob” Benden celebrated his 100th birthday. Twelve months ago, over 125 people gathered at the Westwood Elks to celebrate the newly crowned centenarian. Last weekend scores of people gathered again, but instead of hugs and handshakes, there were car horns, sirens, and signs. Benden was born on May 19, 1919 in Brooklyn, New York. At just 4 pounds, and with a heart issue, doctors didnʼt expect him to survive. They recommended he be raised in the country, for the air, so two months after his birth the family moved to Hillsdale. Years before Pascack Valley High
School was built, Benden was one of 13 students in Park Ridge Highʼs graduating class of 1937. Drafted into the Army in 1942, he was stationed in North Africa and Italy in the medical field during World War II. He served until the end of the war. Back in civilian life, Benden went to work for the American Can Company and married a Westwood girl, Viola Bilz. In 1949 they moved to a house on Fern Street in Washington Township. Heʼs lived in that house, where they raised three daughters, for over 70 years. In retirement Bob and Vi traveled all over America, visiting each of the 50 states. He was widowed in 2000.
IHA GIVES BACK
Despite requirements being waived because of COVID-19, IHA students completed nearly 30,000 hours of service during this school year.
SEE PAGE 2
Last weekend, a long procession of cars (some classics, too!) and emergency vehicles lined up on Fern Street and drove past Bendenʼs house to salute the 101year-old in the “social distancing” style that has become so familiar now. He enjoyed the parade of well-wishers from his front walkway. Benden is the Township of Washingtonʼs Memorial Day grand marshal for 2020, but unfortunately the parade has been canceled this year. During the week of Memorial Day, the township will air a “virtual” parade on WCTV featuring residentsʼ photo and video submissions. —Kristin Beuscher
PHOTOS COURTESY FACEBOOK/TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
B ck in time... The final stop on our tour of the Pascack Valley schoolhouses of yesterday takes us to Emerson, then known as the Borough of Etna.
SEE PAGE 4