Emerson • Hillsdale • Montvale • Park Ridge • River Vale • Township of Washington • Westwood • Woodcliff Lake VOLUME 24 ISSUE 15
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 29, 2020
HILLSDALE
School board nixes Cowboy, Indian high school mascots
BLAZING THE TRAIL
Find out how Jordan Windle of the Township of Washington is making history in scouting. SEE PAGE 10
WOODCLIFF LAKE
FORMER ACME WILL BECOME WHOLE FOODS BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
A new Whole Foods Market was approved unanimously June 15 by the Woodcliff Lake Planning Board for construction at 500-520 Chestnut Ridge Road— site of former Acme and A&P supermarkets—and local officials suggested a likely 2021 opening date for the new store. The property was a longtime A&P supermarket before being
See ‘MARKET’ on page 124
Janet Bissinger. The vote was 9-0 to eliminate the Cowboy and Indian emblems. On the boardʼs June 22 agenFollowing two hours of public comment mostly in favor of da, under Old Business, “Discusremoving Indians and Cowboys as sion of School Mascots” was listmascots for Pascack Valley and ed but no mention of a possible Pascack Hills high schools, the resolution or vote was indicated. Pascack Valley Regional Board of According to social media posts, Education voted unanimously the regional district will likely assign new team nicknames at a June 22 to end their use. The sports teams at both later date. The issue of new mascots or Students, parents and alumni gathered outside Pascack Hills on Tuesday, schools will no longer use the nicknames due to their negative logos for the schools was not dis- June 23 to protest the regional school board’s decision to change the high racial overtones and associations, cussed at the meeting, though the school’s Cowboy mascot. Photo courtesy The Trailblazer school officials said. The Cow- district reportedly said it would boys were previously associated assign new names “in a thoughtful Blundo said he was “not “It breaks my heart to change the names, but in todayʼs world, happy” that the vote was taken to and with whatʼs going on in the remove the names because the nation there is momentum to agenda only listed the item as a change them,” said board member “discussion.” He said he was Joseph Blundo, who voted in aware of alumni and members of favor of removing the Cowboys the public interested in speaking and Indians nicknames and logos to retain the mascots, but many were afraid of speaking up and from district sports teams. He said after listening to all being labeled as racist. Both mascots came under fire the public comments against the teamsʼ nicknames, he viewed the for negative racist connotations by vote to remove them “as a battle I speakers at the meeting. “The point of a mascot is to couldnʼt win. You moved my neepromote inclusivity and belongdle...the world is changed.” Blundo said his comments ing. It is time to change the masThe Pascack Valley/Pascack Hills sports rivalry will no doubt continue, were his personal views, not the cot...the cowboy is in no way free but not as the Indians and Cowboys. The regional school board voted views of the regional board or any of bias as it excludes women and last week to pull the mascots that the two high schools have used people of color. Letʼs choose a members. since their founding in 1955 and 1964, respectively. Blundo said the board had mascot that we can all be proud previously discussed removing of,” said incoming Pascack Hills with Pascack Hills High School and expeditious manner,” accord- the controversial nicknames in Assistant Principal Charleen sports teams and the Indian with ing to an article in the Pascack 2015, but decided against it when Schwartzman. the Pascack Valley High School Hills Trailblazer, the schoolʼs many alumni opposed the move. The Trailblazer reported that online student newspaper. The He said he was not aware of what the board hoped to discuss “next sports teams. former slogan costs might be involved in remov- steps” at a retreat scheduled for The motion to abolish the newspaperʼs controversial mascots was made “Reporting the Cowboy way” is ing the mascots from school facilSEE ‘MASCOTS’ PAGE 8 by Arnold Scher and seconded by now “Reporting with Hills pride.” ities or uniforms.
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
A DIGNIFIED END
B ck in time...
When an American flag becomes tattered, torn or faded, Old Glory demands a proper retirement. SEE PAGE 12
Enjoy a vintage view of downtown Westwood in two Fourth of July photos from 1965.
SEE PAGE 4