SHOW OF SOLIDARITY
Emerson • Hillsdale • Montvale • Park Ridge • River Vale • Township of Washington • Westwood • Woodcliff Lake VOLUME 24 ISSUE 13
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
JUNE 15, 2020
PASCACK VALLEY
TRAVELING GRAD
Recent college grad Sarah OʼReilly of Hillsdale has already had a lifetimeʼs worth of adventures.
SEE PAGE 14
PARK RIDGE
JUDGE TO
Hearings await as borough fights high-density housing
DECIDE
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
By the end of June, residents may have a much better idea of whether high-density multifamily development—with affordable housing—will be coming to Park Ridge. Two important upcoming June dates—a June 19 virtual hearing of oral arguments to disqualify the special master and a June 29 affordable housing trial
See HOUSING on page 64
Peaceful protests come to Hillsdale, Westwood
Pascack Valley residents showed their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and expressed contempt for racism and police brutality at peaceful demonstrations set in Hillsdale and Westwood. On the afternoon of Thursday, June 4, a crowd assembled at Veterans Memorial Park in the center of Hillsdale, wearing their masks and holding homemade signs. Organizers including Hillsdale residents Karina Downey, Sachiko Goodyear, Kathleen Pedicano, and Jennifer Diaz Young partnered with the Hillsdale Police Department for the event, which took place 10 days after the murder of 46-year-old George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. On May 25, Floydʼs death was captured on video by a horrified bystander as an officer spent nearly 9 minutes with his knee on the restrained manʼs neck. The The March of Solidarity on Westwood Avenue, Sunday, June 7. widely circulated footage sparked and to help ourselves and be better Understanding that many res- boroughʼs former mayor, John outrage that led to many days of neighbors, and be better citizens, idents might not have felt comfort- Birkner Jr. protests, as well as nights of riot- this will be a better America,” able attending the protest due to “At 3 p.m. on Saturday, June ing and tremendous property dam- Brandon told the crowd. ongoing Covid-19 concerns, 6 at Veterans Memorial Park in age, in major American cities. The He referenced Dick Gregory, organizers also arranged to have Westwood, for one hour I will four officers involved have since the late comedian and civil rights the boroughʼs fire alarm sounded. stand, I will kneel, and I will sit in been arrested on murder charges. As protestors took a knee in the a peaceful, non-violent demonactivist. In Hillsdale, the tone was “I remember that in 1973 he park, the sirenʼs wail reached all stration of unity, acceptance, uplifting and positive. said, ʻYou know what, guys? You over Hillsdale, bringing the whole equality, and justice. Will you?” Among the dayʼs speakers have a big job.ʼ And all these years borough into the fold. Birkner posted on Facebook June was Rev. Mack Brandon of the later, we still do. But, like Joshua, The weekend brought a simi- 3. Ridgewood A.M.E. Zion Church. The post was shared far and I think weʼre going to get over the lar event to neighboring West“If we will work together, if mountain.” wood, this one organized by the wide on social media. Come we will work to help each other, See PROTESTS page 16 PHOTO BY ANDREA PRUYN/ANDREA JAMIE STORYTELLING PHOTOGRAPHY
CALLED TO HELP
The Tri-Boro Food Pantry, now struggling to keep up with the demand amid Covid-19, got a boost from Park Ridgeʼs bravest.
SEE PAGE 19
B ck in time... 2020 has been a challenge, but so was 1920. This week a century ago, Park Ridge’s school burned to the ground on the morning of final exams.
SEE PAGE 4