PASCACKPRESS 7.13.26

Emerson • Hillsdale • Montvale • Park Ridge • River Vale • Township of Washington • Westwood • Woodcliff Lake

T H E 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 30 ISSUE 18

Saving lives

JULY 13, 2026

MUSTANG MAGIC WHAT NED ARBER ROCKS THE TITLE BBUILT PARK RIDGE

7/8 girls earn KSL softball championship PRESERVES with wild walk-off in 10th Son says late

PKRG-TV volunteer believed everyday moments were worth celebrating

BY JOHN SNYDER EDITOR@THEPRESSGROUP.NET

Girl Scout Allison Colla of Montvale going gold on opioid overdose prevention, mental health awareness.

PAGE 29

MONTVALE

“WE ARE YOUR ‘PARENTS’ OF THE BUILDING”

On the ground with district custodians, who could lose jobs in budget squeeze

BY MAYA ZISLIN SPECIAL TO PASCACK PRESS

As costs continue to rise at school districts across New Jersey, the Pascack Valley Regional High School District is weighing whether outsourcing custodial services could help balance its budget while preserving vital educational programs and other staffing.

District officials have identified custodial services as one area

See JOBS on page 154

Members of the 2026 Kinderkamack Softball League champion Montvale Mustangs celebrate after defeating River Dell, 3-2, in 10 innings. Shown are (back, from left) coaches Anthony Ripoli, Kaitlyn Kim, Giuliana Segreto, Lynn Ryan, coach Mike Stankowitz, Madelyn Homberg, Ella-Rose Fuller, coach Rob Brinkman, Adriana Frohlich, Rosanna Plati, Estella Kerr, Soofia Khan, Julia Nagy and coach Eric Aiello; (front) Juliana Cote, Isabella Harcher, Charlotte Brinkman, Kara Aiello, Ariana Ripoli, Taylor Stankowitz, Jaelyn Pawlyk and Alexa Aiello. Riley Trojan is not pictured. Jennifer Stankowitz photo

T

HE MONTVALE seventhand eighth-grade softball team capped a dominant season June 11 with a dramatic walk-off victory, defeating River Dell, 3-2, in 10 innings in Montvale to capture the 2026 Kinderkamack Softball League spring championship.

The Mustangs finished the season 12-1 after posting a 9-1 regular-season record to earn the No. 2 seed in the league playoffs.

The Mustangs opened the postseason June 1 with a 10-2 win over Westwood in Montvale before toppling Emerson, 7-3, in

extra innings June 3, also at home, to advance to the championship game.

Before first pitch of the title game, Montvale Athletic League President Jim Kim performed the national anthem on

Continued on page 20

For years, if something important happened in Park Ridge, there was a very good chance Ned Barber was there to document it. For sure, he would have made much of the color, cheer, and stories spilling out of the Pascack Valleyʼs celebrations around the nationʼs 250th birthday.

Barber, the longtime PKRGTV volunteer and former chairman who died June 14 at age 77 after a five-year battle with vascular dementia, is being remembered for decades spent curating the life of Park Ridge and the Pascack Valley—the meetings, parades, concerts, athletic events, ceremonies and conversations that help define and bind us.

In recognition of those contributions, Park Ridge plans to name the control room at PKRG-TV in Barberʼs honor, according to his son, Mike Barber, and Nedʼs successor, Howard Fredrics.

“He really wanted to see history documented before it was kind of lost to time,” said Mike Barber, a Park Ridge High School

See BARBER on page 124

KINDNESS COUNTS

B ck in time...

Girl Scout Troop 97423 of Hillsdale completes its Kindness Rock Garden at the entrance to Sapienza Gardens as part of the troop’s Silver Award project.

PAGE 3

In 1874, the people of Westwood were excited for what was to be the first community-wide Fourth of July celebration. America was turning 98. What went wrong? Kristin Beuscher reports.

PAGE 4

JULY 13, 2026 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS

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to be back! town. It would generate revenue it home: my family, my friends, make this commemorative year Ianni on Iʼm especially proud to be for the borough while providing my fellow parents, and my neigh- especially meaningful.

Damon and Cynthia Affinito running alongside Dena Toms. the reliable coverage our resi- bors. Dena and I are excited to have generously shared their time meet with residents, share our Dena is thoughtful, approachable, dents deserve.

After the Fourth of her run hardworking, and deeply commit- July storm, itʼs clear this isnʼt just ideas, and listen to yours in the and expertise through their Celeto our community. I know about convenience, this is about months ahead. We hope to earn brating the Semiquincentennial for Hillsdale ted with Historical Speakers for sheʼll make an outstanding mem- public safety. We need to act your trust—and your vote.

Thank you for your support, Seniors lecture series, a six-part ber of the Borough Council. before the next emergency, not program that has brought history letʼs get to work!

Like so many of you, weʼre after it.

Council Gabriella Ianni to life for residents throughout focused on keeping Hillsdale I also support the boroughʼs To the editor: Hillsdale our community. affordable. While many of the bor- ongoing efforts to attract respon!I ʼ . Thank you oughʼs expenses are fixed, that sible economic development. My As educators and historians, to everyone who supported doesnʼt mean weʼre out of options. experience as a 22-year executive H Damon and Cynthia have a me in last yearʼs election for We need to think creatively— in the music industry has taught remarkable ability to make the Hillsdale Borough Council. Your expanding shared services, identi- me how to find practical solu- Three cheers past engaging, relevant, and encouragement and your votes fying new revenue opportunities, tions, manage resources, and accessible. Their presentations meant a great deal to me. While and making smart investments that identify opportunities for growth, to Affinitos have encouraged thoughtful conwe fell just 35 votes short, it only benefit residents. sideration of revolutionary and Iʼll bring that perspective to strengthened my commitment to moments throughout global hisOne example is improving the council. on ‘250th’ serving Hillsdale, and Iʼm excited cell service on the east side of tory and our nationʼs founding, A little about me: Iʼm the while reminding us that local hisproud mother of three wonderful tory plays an important role in children, and since last yearʼs program the larger American story. council election Iʼve had the priv- To the editor: AATJ Termite & Pest What makes this series even ilege of being elected president of W continues celethe Ann Blanche Smith Elemen- Abrating Americaʼs 250th more special is that they volunControl, Inc. tary School PTA. I believe in anniversary, Iʼd like to recognize I

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My commitment to Hillsdale comes from the people who make

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PASCACK VALLEY

Valley marks America 250 with parades, programs

the Pascack Valley are marking Americaʼs 250th anniversary with parades, patriotic displays, historical programs and community celebrations, led by a Tri-Boro July 4 parade that drew hundreds of residents despite triple-digit heat.

The Tri-Boro celebration brought Montvale, Park Ridge and Woodcliff Lake together for a parade from the Montvale Fire Department to Park Ridgeʼs historic Wortendyke Homestead, followed by a barbecue, music, historical displays, tours of the Revolutionary-era property and a community pool party at Woodcliff Lakeʼs Old Mill Pool.

The parade featured veterans, emergency services, marching bands, classic vehicles, local organizations, elected officials and historical figures. Park Ridge Mayor Keith Misciagna marched as George Washington, wearing his late fatherʼs Bicentennial-era tricorn hat.

Other towns joined the spirit.

Emerson held a Summer Kickoff Parade and Patriotic Home Front

den, and drone show.

Westwood is continuing a yearlong America250 program aligned with Bergen250, including a six-part historical lecture series for seniors, planned exhibits at the Westwood Train Station and additional borough events. Hillsdale postponed its July 4 fireworks at

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COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR Ralph H. Donnell Jr. and Kristin Beuscher of the Pascack Historical Society present at Park Ridge’s historic Wortendyke Homestead as part of valleywide celebrations for the nation’s 250th anniversary. For staff writer Michael Olohan’s full coverage, visit thepressgroup.net. Park Ridge boro Decorating Contest, with winners and cultural events. The Township to be recognized July 14. River of Washington will host its Rev 250 Vale is selling a limited-edition Freedom Fest on Saturday, July 11, commemorative tote bag, with pro- from 5 to 9 p.m. at Memorial Field, ceeds supporting community social featuring music, food, a beer gar-

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TO SEE MORE BACK IN TIME FEATURES

On the job: HVS members Mark Richards, Matthew Austin, and John Beatty stood by to render aid at the July 6 FIFA World Cup game at the MetLife Stadium as part of the Bergen County EMS Special Operations Group. Via Facebook

Hillsdale EMTs ready for action: World Cup, downed power line, trauma response

HILLSDALE—Members of the Hillsdale Volunteer Ambulance Service balanced local emergency calls with regional public safety responsibilities over the holiday weekend, assisting with storm-related incidents at home before deploying to support the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On Sunday night, July 5, Hillsdale EMS joined the Fire Department at a standby for a downed primary power line that threatened a structure. Crews remained on scene for approximately 2 1/2 hours until PSE&G arrived and deenergized the electrical grid, allowing firefighters to extinguish the fire safely.

Shortly after clearing that incident, the ambulance crew responded to a fall victim in the borough. The call was upgraded to a partial trauma activation, requiring transport to Hackensack University Medical Center. The trip was complicated by numerous road closures

See HVAS on page 134

‘Downtown’ Westwood in the 1870s. This view looks across the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Main Street (Broadway and Westwood Avenue) toward the Westwood House hotel, built in 1869. This location is now the Westwood Gallery.

FURY FROM ABOVE: The summer when ice wreaked havoc at Pascack

L

BY KRISTIN BEUSCHER BEUSCHER@THEPRESSGROUP.NET

AST WEEKʼs severe weather certainly put a damper on the Pascack Valleyʼs Fourth of July plans. A heat wave that saw temperatures soar into the triple digits was broken only by a severe storm that knocked out power to thousands of people, toppled trees, caused property damage, and canceled municipal fireworks displays. It wasnʼt exactly the spectacular celebration of Americaʼs 250th birthday that we had all hoped for.

SPECIAL TO PASCACK PRESS

By Kristin Beuscher, Historian, Pascack Historical Society, Park Ridge.

Call (201) 573-0307 or visit PascackHistoricalSociety.org

inside DINING GUIDE

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HEALTH & WELLNESS 17 HOME IMPROVEMENT 25 REAL ESTATE

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SERVICES

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SCHOOL NEWS

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OBITUARIES

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Of course, those who follow history know there really is nothing new under the sun. For this weekʼs story, we go back to the summer of ʼ74.

1874, that is. Americaʼs 98th birthday.

The people of Westwood were excited for what was to be the first community-wide Fourth of July celebration. The rural hamlet was home to only approximately 200 residents, but on this day its streets would be be full. People from all around the Pascack Valley would journey to the village for this important event.

Certainly in those days, the Revolutionary War was a more tangible era in history.

Unlike today, when it is recorded only in artifacts and history books, the lives of older adults in 1874 had overlapped with those of

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING Serving Emerson, Hillsdale, Montvale, Park Ridge, River Vale, Township of Washington, Westwood 201.664.2105 and Woodcliff Lake FAX 201.664.2109 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 335 E-MAIL US AT Westwood, N.J. 07675 pascackpress@thepressgroup.net

A street scene, with ice cream, July 1, 2023. A bench in front of Westwood Gallery, Broadway and Westwood Avenue, makes a respite for pedestrians.

John Snyder photo. our Founding Fathers. In their younger days, lage, turning a sunny day into something some would have known veterans who had more like dusk. What followed was the most violent hailstorm that had ever been known in fought for independence.

In 1870, the Fourth of July became a this section. Those who were there to witness national holiday. In the 19th century, it was the event could still recall it with clarity many the most widely celebrated secular holiday on years later.

One account from the New York Herald the calendar. Months of preparation had gone into Westwoodʼs July Fourth program. So reads as follows: “One of the most extraordigreat was the patriotism in those days that a nary phenomena ever witnessed in this counfull $400 had been raised for a celebration try took place on the Fourth of July in Bergen that was to include sack races, chasing County. About a quarter of 6 oʼclock p.m., in greased pigs, climbing a greased pole, athlet- the village of Westwood, during the celebraic contests, patriotic speeches, and fireworks. tion of the day, a sudden darkness came over From all over Bergen and Rockland the village, and before the alarmed inhabicounties, crowds made their way over dusty tants could seek shelter, a violent storm of roads in horse-drawn wagons. Westwood was hailstones descended upon the heads of the crowd.” the place to be.

Then, in the midst of the festivities, ominous dark clouds began to spread over the vilSee FURY on page 224

PASCACK VALLEY’S HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER

Publisher Staff Writer Editor Contributing Editor Art Director Director of Advertising

John J. DeFina Michael Olohan John Snyder Kristin Beuscher Keith J. Harcher George F. Harcher

(c) 2026 The Press Group, all rights reserved.

Material is developed independently by Pascack Press. Reproduction in whole or in part without express written permission is forbidden. Views printed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. We are neither liable nor responsible for typographical errors. Email us with correction requests.

Pascack Press is published in Westwood and distributed to every household in our circulation area.

Ground broken on $65M rehabilitation center adapted to include a grand lobby with a “main street” design, along with lounges, dining areas, therapy suites, resident amenities and operational space.

Mayor Michael Ghassali said the project represents both an expansion of healthcare services and a long-term investment in the borough.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Montvale Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center at 100 Summit Avenue,” Ghassali said.

“Beyond expanding access to highquality healthcare for our region, this project represents a significant investment in Montvaleʼs future.”

Ghassali said the facility will create jobs during construction and after it opens while providing care for older adults in the region for years to come.

Project organizers said demand for skilled nursing facilities is expected to increase as New Jerseyʼs population ages. According to the Health Care Association of New Jersey,

JULY 13, 2026 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS

MONTVALE — Construction is underway on a new $65 million skilled nursing and rehabilitation center at 100 Summit Ave., marking the latest phase in the redevelopment of the former Western Union headquarters site.

Local officials, healthcare leaders and project partners gathered July 8 for a groundbreaking ceremony for the Montvale Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, a 185,878-squarefoot facility expected to provide longterm care, memory care and shortterm rehabilitation services.

The three-story center will include approximately 180 private suites, addressing what developers say is a shortage of private skilled nursing accommodations and specialized clinical care in Bergen County. Plans call for separate areas devoted to short-term rehabilitation, secure memory care and long-term residential care.

The new building will connect to an existing structure that will be

Among those attending the groundbreaking were state Sen. Holly Schepisi, Councilman Chris Roche, Montvale Chamber of Commerce Co-President Steve Fox, and members of the Montvale Police Department and Montvale Fire Department. Via Mayor Ghassali on Facebook.

Two new turf fields; Moderacki on Baylor Massacre

BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OLOHAN@THEPRESSGROUP.NET

RIVER VALE The Township Council approved installation of new artificial turf fields for slightly over $900,000 at both the Mark Lane and Alexander Fields recreation areas on June 22. The vote was 3-0, with councilors Paul Criscuolo and John Donovan absent.

The turf fields were purchased under the stateʼs Cooperative Purchasing Program. The turf fields will utilize Field Turf Classic HD, with Genius Sensors, for a

total price of $914,752.

The base bid for turf purchase and installation was $860,078, with Alternate No. 1 for $45,000, and a performance bond for $9,674. Resolution 2026-152 says that sufficient funds are available in the General Capital Account.

Baylor Massacre remembered As part of Bergen Countyʼs celebration of Americaʼs semiquincentennial, historian Ed Moderacki will detail the events leading up to and after the Revolutionary Warʼs Baylor Massacre, which occurred Sept. 28, 1778, in River Vale, and the later discovery

5

of some Continental soldiersʼ remains on site in 1967.

Moderacki presents Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Ridgewood Public Library. The presentation is free and part of Bergen250, the countyʼs yearlong series of events commemorating Americaʼs 250th anniversary of independence.

Moderacki called the massacre “the bloodiest engagement of the Revolutionary War in Bergen County.”

Historians note the raid for which this attack was a diversion also included an attack on Ameri-

See BAYLOR on page 144

adults age 65 and older are projected to outnumber children in the state by 2030.

“Campuses like Montvale and other high-quality providers will be essential to meeting that growing need,” said Andy Aronson, the associationʼs president and CEO. The project is being developed in partnership with Marquis Health

Consulting Services.

Among those attending the groundbreaking were state Sen. Holly Schepisi, Councilman Chris Roche, Montvale Chamber of Commerce Co-President Steve Fox, and members of the Montvale Police Department and Montvale Fire Department.

— Staff report

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— Pascack Valley News Briefs — Park Ridge Elks in Veterans Tribute For 250th on July 18 The Park Ridge Elks Lodge will host an Americaʼs 250th Anniversary and Veterans Tribute Celebration on Saturday, July 18, from noon to 3 p.m. at the lodge, 13 Sulak Lane. The event will include guest speakers, music and a light luncheon, with special thanks to veterans for their service and sacrifice. Veterans are encouraged to attend. RSVP to kla.prelks2234@gmail.com.

Bergen Volunteers Opens Registration for Teen LEADS Summer Leadership Program HACKENSACK — Bergen Volunteers is accepting registrations for its 2026 Teen LEADS Summer Exploration Series, a weeklong leadership program

designed for students entering grades 10 through 12.

The program offers two sessions: Aug. 3-7 and Aug. 10-14.

Each runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at host sites throughout Bergen County.

Teen LEADS introduces participants to career opportunities while helping them build confidence, leadership skills and community connections through hands-on experiences.

The program includes discussions with local business leaders and elected officials, tours of area businesses, public speaking workshops, leadership development coaching, career and internship exploration, and three to five hours of community service.

Lunch is provided each day, although students with food aller-

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gies are asked to bring their own lunch.

The registration fee is $350 per week and is nonrefundable. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available.

Because activities take place at different locations throughout Bergen County, parents or caregivers are responsible for daily drop-off at 9 a.m. and pickup at 2 p.m. Transportation is not provided.

The program is sponsored by NJM Insurance Group, Veolia and The Heller Family Foundation.

For more info and to register,

visit bergenvolunteers.org/ teen-leads.

Music at the Barn Returns to Wortendyke Barn Museum PARK RIDGE — The Bergen County Parks Department has announced the 2026 season of its free “Music at the Barn” concert series at the Wortendyke Barn Museum, 13 Pascack Road.

The outdoor Sunday afternoon series features four performances spanning jazz, rock, soul, and bluegrass. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, family, and friends. Picnick-

ing is welcome, and all events are held rain or shine.

The schedule includes: • July 26, 4–6:30 p.m. — Matt Chertkoff Trio & Houston Person (Jazz) • Aug. 30, 4–6:30 p.m. — Jonny Rosch & Friends (Rock & Soul) • Sept. 27, 4–6:30 p.m. — 3rd Annual Bergen All-Star Jazz Blast (Jazz Spectacular) • Oct. 25, 1–3:30 p.m. — 16th Annual “Cider Barn Band” (Bluegrass)

See BRIEFS on page 84

GIRL SCOUT DREAMLAB DISCOVERY DAY FOR YOUNG CREATORS

BY JOHN SNYDER OF PASCACK PRESS

PARAMUS

The Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey will kick off a summer of hands-on learning with DreamLab Discovery Day on Tuesday, July 21, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Girl Scout DreamLab, 300 Forest Ave., Paramus.

Designed for all girls entering kindergarten through third grade, the two-hour program invites participants to explore the DreamLab

through creative maker activities, hands-on challenges, and interactive experiences. Organizers say the workshop is intended to encourage curiosity, creativity, confidence, and friendship while introducing girls to the DreamLabʼs innovation spaces.

The cost is $15 per participant.

The Discovery Day workshop is one of a series of summer programs open to both Girl Scouts and non-members. Throughout July and August, the DreamLab will offer sessions focused on

engineering, media production, podcasting, culinary arts, 3D printing, design, entrepreneurship, and family activities.

The Girl Scout DreamLab is an interactive makerspace and innovation hub where girls can explore technology, arts, media, and leadership through hands-on experiences guided by educators and mentors.

Registration and additional information about DreamLab summer workshops are available through the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey.

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What’s on tap at Hillsdale Free Public Library Friday Movie Matinee featuring Song Sung Blue. Registration is not required.

• Tuesday, July 21, 6:30 p.m.

— Teen Trivia Night. Registration

is required.

• Thursday, July 23, 7 p.m. — Psychic Readings Explained by a Psychic. Registration is required.

• Monday, July 27, 6:30 p.m.

— Teen Bingo Night. Registration is required.

• Wednesday, July 29, 4:30 p.m. — Teen Book Club discussing Better Than the Movies. Registra-

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For more information or to register, visit the Hillsdale Free Public Libraryʼs online calendar or contact the library directly.

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JULY 13, 2026 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS

The Hillsdale Free Public Library has announced a slate of programs for adults and teens throughout June and July, featuring book discussions, games, crafts, fitness, movies and educational programs.

The library is also holding a signed book giveaway throughout June. Patrons may enter by stopping at the circulation desk.

Upcoming events include: • Thursday, June 25, 7 p.m.

— La Charla Spanish Conversation Club. Registration is not required.

• Friday, June 26, 1 p.m. — Fitness Fun with Lois. Registration is not required.

• Wednesday, July 8, 11 a.m.

— Learn to Play Mahjong, a threeweek series. The program is full and has a waitlist.

• Saturday, July 11, 12 p.m.

— Clay Magnet Making. Registration is required, with priority given to Hillsdale cardholders.

• Monday, July 13, 6:30 p.m.

— Patron Picks Book Club. Participants are invited to bring a book about America in celebration of the nationʼs 250th anniversary. Registration is not required. Refreshments will be served.

• Tuesday, July 14, 6:30 p.m.

— Make a Shabby-Chic Rag Wreath for Adults. Registration is required. Hillsdale cardholders receive priority.

• Thursday, July 16, 1 p.m. — Coffee, Cookies and Conversation.

Registration is not required.

• Friday, July 17, 2 p.m. —

7

JULY 13, 2026 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS

8

Briefs:

For more information, contact Bergen Countyʼs Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs at 201336-7292.

FROM PAGE 6

Planning is underway for the Fifth Annual WestwoodFest, set for Saturday, Sept. 12 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park.

Co-hosted by Celebrate Westwood and the Borough of Westwood, the family-friendly event features live music, games, inflatables, arts and crafts, civic organizations, local nonprofits and businesses, and food vendors. This yearʼs event also will recognize Americaʼs 250th anniversary with

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patriotic childrenʼs activities and a historical reenactment.

Sponsors, participating organizations, concession vendors, businesses and volunteers are welcome. For information or to register, visit celebratewestwood.org/westwoodfest or email celebratewestwood@gmail.com Pascack Historical Society to Present Program on Declaration of Independence PARK RIDGE — As the nation marks the 250th anniver-

sary of American independence, the Pascack Historical Society will present “The Story of the Declaration of Independence” at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 12, in the societyʼs lecture hall, 19 Ridge Ave. Revolutionary War historian Joel Farkas will explore the history of the nationʼs founding document, tracing its development from conception through adoption while examining the events and ideas that shaped its creation and its enduring legacy.

Admission is free for Pascack

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Historical Society members and students. Admission for nonmembers is $5 at the door.

Complimentary refreshments will be served. The program is open to all ages, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees are encouraged to arrive before the 2 p.m. start time.

For more information about the Pascack Historical Society and its programs, visit the societyʼs website or contact the organization directly.

Pascack Press welcomes news tips from our readers.

Drop us a line at newsdesk@ thepressgroup.net

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EMERSON POLICE BLOTTER FOR APRIL – MAY

The following arrest summaries were provided by Chief Mark F. Savino of the Emerson Police Department. A charge is not a conviction. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges can be amended or dismissed.

Organized retail theft investigation leads to second-degree charges Emerson police say an investigation into an organized retail theft ring resulted in charges against two Bronx, N.Y., men accused of targeting a local retailer on multiple

Pascack Press Police Blotter

occasions.

According to police, loss prevention personnel alerted officers May 20 to an organized retail theft group believed responsible for thefts at stores throughout northern New Jersey, New York and Delaware.

Following an investigation by Officers J. Schwarz and J. Chichizola, police identified a 43year-old Bronx man and a 46-yearold Bronx man as suspects in shoplifting incidents at an Emerson retailer on March 28, April 11 and May 4. Police estimate approximately $4,300 in merchandise was

stolen from the Emerson store during the three incidents.

Investigators said the retail group is believed responsible for roughly $50,000 in thefts across New York, New Jersey and Delaware.

Officer Schwarz obtained complaint warrants charging both men with three counts of thirddegree shoplifting, conspiracy to commit third-degree shoplifting and second-degree leadership of an organized retail theft enterprise.

Separate shoplifting case filed On May 15, Officer J. Chichizola charged a 46-year-old Bronx, N.Y., man with allegedly shoplifting approximately $1,000 in merchandise from an Emerson retailer after an investigation by store loss prevention personnel.

The defendant was charged on a complaint summons and issued a court date.

Three arrested after alleged $1,500 theft Three New York residents were arrested April 18 after Emerson police responded to a report of a shoplifting in progress at a Kinderkamack Road retailer.

Officers J. Schwarz, J. Chichizola and Sgt. C. Bova arrested an 18-year-old woman from Queens, a 21-year-old woman from Queens and a 19-year-old man from East Meadow.

Police said approximately $1,501 in merchandise had been stolen from the Emerson store.

After obtaining a search warrant for the suspectsʼ vehicle, officers reported recovering approximately $5,776 in additional stolen merchandise believed linked to multiple jurisdictions.

All three defendants were charged with multiple counts of third-degree shoplifting, conspiracy to commit shoplifting, possession of anti-shoplifting devices and receiving stolen property.

Woman charged after allegedly giving false information Officers J. Schwarz and J. Chichizola responded May 12 to a report of a woman soliciting money at a convenience store on Kinderkamack Road.

Police charged a 58-year-old Park Ridge woman with hindering apprehension after determining she

See BLOTTER on page 184

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Advertisement After 14 years of teaching water safety and swimming skills to families across Bergen County, The Swim Gym has opened the doors to its first permanent, dedicated facility in Westwood Plaza.

The move marks a significant milestone for the family-owned swim school, which now operates from a space designed specifically for year-round swim instruction in a comfortable, family-friendly environment.

The new facility features an indoor, heated saltwater pool and offers lessons for children and adults of all ages and abilities.

Programs include private, semiprivate, small-group and swim team preparation classes, with instruction tailored to each swim-

Letters:

teered their time to offer these programs free of charge in partnership with the Westwood Historic Preservation Commission.

Their commitment to education and community service exemplifies the volunteer spirit that makes Westwood such a special place to live.

Americaʼs 250th anniversary gives us an opportunity to reflect on where we've been, how far we've come, and the people who help preserve those stories for future generations. Damon and Cynthia have done exactly that, and our community is better for it.

Thank you both for helping

FROM PAGE 2

For more information about lessons, programs or birthday parties, visit www.theswimgymnj.com, email info@theswimgymnj.com, or call 973-281-1166. make Westwoodʼs America 250 celebration one that educates, inspires, and brings our community together.

Lauren Letizia Westwood Borough Council president; liaison to Westwood Historic Preservation Commission

On that letter on land use…

To the editor: “State bills threaten local planning,” (Letters, R July 6, page 11).

EGARDING

The Park Ridge councilmembers [Greg Hoffman, Will Fenwick, Bruce Goldsmith, and

Council President John Cozzi] offer a sweeping summary of prospective state legislature intrusion on local zoning via three pending bills.

But their brief reference to local land use board activity as “the normal local use-variance process” suggests that consideration of possible variances from established standards is a boardʼs primary job.

Land use board oversight of local development should be much more than a variance process. Variances are requests by developers to ignore some local standards when considering their development proposals.

That should not be the normal main job of a land use board.

merʼs individual needs. The schoolʼs teaching philosophy emphasizes water safety, confidence and long-term skill development through personalized instruction.

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JULY 13, 2026 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS

12

eats Barber:

graduate who now serves as editor in chief of CVille Right Now, a local news organization serving Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Va. Mike Barber and his sister, Ashley Heger, grew up on Queen Court. Both graduated from Park Ridge High School, where their father became a familiar presence through his work with PKRG-TV. Mike Barberʼs own career followed a path that echoed many of the values his father embraced.

After graduating from PRHS, he worked at Major League Baseball and The Star-Ledger before moving to Virginia in 2002 to cover James Madison University football. He later spent more than a decade covering Virginia Tech and

Dining & Cooking Guide

FROM PAGE 1

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In recognition of his contributions, PKRG-TV plans to name its control room in Ned Barber’s honor this summer. Family photo.

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Following a 2024 layoff, he freelanced for The Washington Post, the Virginian-Pilot and the Associated Press before becoming editor in chief of CVille Right Now in 2025.

Mike Barber recalled that his father became involved with PKRG-TV around 1997. Drawing on experience producing closedcircuit television programming for hospitals, Ned Barber volunteered countless hours covering Borough Council meetings, town picnics, parades, school concerts and community events.

Working with the Fire Department, he also documented firefighters responding to structure fires and recorded the communityʼs experience during Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy.

“It was sort of a combination of journalism and, and historian,” Mike Barber told Pascack Press on July 5. “He just really wanted to see history documented before it was kind of lost to time.”

In 2005, Barber founded the Pascack Valley History Project, an oral-history effort dedicated to preserving the memories of longtime residents and local historians.

“What do people see, feel, think in the moment?” Mike Barber said. “Dad was big on that.”

He continued: “Itʼs that firsthand history, right? Itʼs more than just, you know, documenting when something opened or closed.”

Many of those interviews and recordings remain available through PKRG-TV and on Barberʼs YouTube channels.

The stationʼs online archive reflects the kind of community record Barber believed was worth preserving. Alongside government meetings are Memorial Day parades, town picnics, school sports, historical lectures, concerts, Veterans Day ceremonies,

wellness programs and interviews—a running chronicle of life in Park Ridge.

His work also became woven into school life. Barber recorded concerts, marching band competitions, theatrical productions, Mr. and Mrs. Park Ridge High School programs, and Athletic Hall of Fame inductions. Mike Barber recalled his fatherʼs close relationships with choir director Dr. Patrick Finley, band director Rick Popolizio and theater director Robert Thoman, who was also Mikeʼs first journalism teacher.

“As a kid, I donʼt think it even registers how much Dad was doing in the community,” Mike Barber said. “You know, for me it was more sometimes he wasnʼt home for dinner because he went to a town council meeting.”

“But then you look back and take the totality of it and you realize, God, he preserved and recorded so much history of our town, of the Pascack Valley,” he said.

“Looking back on it, itʼs very impressive.”

Mayor Keith Misciagna recently called Barber “a gentleman” whose “dedication to PKRG-TV and his love for the Park Ridge community left a lasting impact on our borough.”

Howard Fredrics remembered him as “a good friend and trusted advisor while I was learning the ropes of managing the station.”

He told us July 7, “We are indeed planning on re-naming the control room the Ned Barber PKRG-TV Control Room. I am looking at plaques to design and purchase, and then once we have that plaque, weʼll do a little dedication ceremony. Not sure how elaborate that ceremony will end up being, but I anticipate the process to happen this summer or by early September.”

Moreover, the station invites

all interested to watch a brief video it produced in memory of Ned Barber, “which was made from still images from a range of programs in which Ned was featured. We hope that it captures some of his essence.”

Barber, a published author with a doctorate in psychology, was remembered by his family as generous, funny, hardworking and deeply devoted to education, the arts, photography and videography.

In the obituary he wrote for his father, Mike Barber recalled that before internet search engines, family members “didnʼt Ask Jeeves. They asked Dad.” His son also sees his fatherʼs influence in his own work.

“He thought it was so important to know what was going on in your community and to document it,” Mike Barber said. “Itʼs kind of interesting that at this point in my life Iʼve found myself in a job where thatʼs, thatʼs my role now is to document whatʼs happening in, you know, a different community here in Charlottesville, Virginia, but the same goals really that Dad had.”

His greatest legacy: family.

Ned is survived by his wife Toni; his son, Michael Barber and his wife, Elizabeth; and his daughter Ashley Heger and her husband, Chris. He is also survived by his sister, Elizabeth Kinslinger; grandchildren Evan Barber, Amelia Ballester, and James his niece Karen Heger; Kinslinger, his nephew Richard Kinslinger, his sister-in-law Ann Tempel and her husband, Thomas OʼHanlon.

Editorʼs note: Due to a production error, a brief version of this story that ran in our July 6 print edition carried the wrong photo for Ned Barber. We regret the error.

HVAS:

and detours resulting from the severe storms that swept through the area.

The corps thanked its members, along with the Hillsdale Fire Department, Police Department, Office of Emergency Management and Department of Public Works, for

FROM PAGE 4

Dining & Cooking Guide

what it described as a demanding 24hour period of emergency responses throughout the borough.

The following day, July 6, several Hillsdale EMS members were assigned to the Bergen County EMS Special Operations Group, providing medical standby coverage for the FIFA World Cup match at MetLife Stadium.

The specialized team supports large-scale public events and is

trained to respond when additional manpower or specialized EMS resources are needed for major emergencies anywhere in Bergen County.

Despite sending personnel to the international sporting event, Hillsdale EMS said it maintained full ambulance coverage in town with a four-member crew. That crew handled five calls for service during the day while the special operations members supported countywide pre-

Scouts’ Kindness Rock Garden unveiled at Sapienza

Girl Scout Troop 97423 of Hillsdale recently completed its Kindness Rock Garden at the entrance to Sapienza Gardens as part of the troopʼs Silver Award project.

The garden features painted rocks with words of encouragement, inspiration and resilience, along with creative drawings meant to inspire caring and kindness. Two larger rocks at the center display the gardenʼs name and welcome visitors.

Sapienza Gardens is located at the east end of St. Nicholas Avenue, off Kinderkamack Road between Piermont and Prospect avenues. The property includes three trails through the woods and offers visitors a shaded place to walk, reflect or enjoy time outdoors.

The gardens were established in 2008 after the death of Dr. Barbara Sapienza, a longtime Pascack Valley Regional High School teacher and principal. Since then, volunteer trustees, community members, Scouts and others have helped maintain and improve the property. According to organizers, the site has benefited from count-

less volunteer hours, 12 Eagle Scout projects and one Girl Scout Silver Award project.

Sapienza Gardens is seeking new volunteer trustees. The com-

mitment includes six meetings a year. Those interested may email sapienzagardens9@gmail.com.

— Via Jennifer Frantin

paredness.

“Our community is fortunate to have members who volunteer for the additional training required to serve on the Special Operations Group,”

the corps said, thanking those who helped ensure both local coverage and regional emergency readiness.

— Staff report

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Members of Girl Scout Troop 97423 — Mary, Julia, Ayanna, Leah, and Chloe — at the ribbon cutting for the Kindness Rock Garden at the entrance to Sapienza Gardens in Hillsdale.

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Sc h ool News WCL’S EVANS IS CALDWELL UNIVERSITY HEAD FLAG FOOTBALL COACH

CALDWELL, N.J. — Ted Evans, a longtime educator and coach at Paramus High School, has been named head coach of Caldwell Universityʼs womenʼs flag football program, Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Mark A. Corino announced.

Evans, who has coached flag football, football and basketball, will lead the Cougars in their inaugural season of competition in spring 2027.

In addition to teaching sports marketing and financial literacy at Paramus High School, Evans founded the schoolʼs first flag football team in 2023. In his first year as head coach, he was named the Flag High School Football Coach of the Week Game

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In four seasons at Paramus, Evans compiled a 20-15-2 record, led the Spartans to two Super Football Conference playoff appearances, and guided the team to a 6-5 record in 2026, including victories in four of the teamʼs final six games. His players have earned All-Super Football Conference, All-State and All-American honors, and several have gone on to play flag football at the collegiate club level.

Evans also served as director of the prestigious U.S. Army AllAmerica Flag Bowl Football Game (now known as the Military Appreciation Bowl), held at The Star in Frisco, Texas, showcasing the nationʼs top flag football players.

“Coach Evans brings exceptional experience in this relatively

new sport that will help us immensely in hitting the ground running this year,” Corino told Pascack Press on July 6. “He has built a successful program from scratch, and his work with the U.S. Army Bowl ties him in well to the flag football scene as we open play in the CACC and ECAC.” Evans replaces T.J. Kroncke, who had been named Caldwellʼs head flag football coach earlier this year but was later appointed head sprint football coach and will instead assume those duties.

A native of Woodcliff Lake and graduate of St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, Evans earned his degree from Hofstra University in 1990.

A three-year letter winner for the then-Flying Dutchmen, he began his teaching and coaching career with a stop at his alma mater, where he was part of state championship teams in 2008 and 2009 and coached an undefeated freshman squad in 2010. He was named head football coach at Dumont High School in 2012 before returning to Paramus, where he launched the schoolʼs flag football program.

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can forces that has been described

by Patriot sources as a massacre.

On Oct. 15, Loyalist troops executed a surprise attack on forces under the command of Casimir Pulaski in which 25 to 30 men were killed in what is known as the affair at Little Egg Harbor.

In 1967, the remains of six of the dead — recognized from artifacts such as buttons and clothing remnants — were found in three abandoned vats from Blauvelt's Tannery.

In 1972, facing suburban development, the site was dedicated as a county park and the remains were re-interred there.

Learn much more at the Pascack Historical Society.

FROM PAGE 3

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“I look forward to the challenge of building a brand-new college program and working with collegiate student-athletes,” Evans said. “Iʼm excited that Caldwell University has seen the value of the sport so early in its development at the NCAA level and that Mr. Corino and the staff here have entrusted me to put Caldwell on the flag football map.”

Evans lives in Woodcliff Lake with his wife, Terri. They have three adult children — Matt, Mackenzie and Megan — all of whom attended Rutgers University. His daughters competed as collegiate rowers, while his son played club lacrosse.

Caldwellʼs NCAA Division II teams competing in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference include menʼs and womenʼs soccer, basketball, lacrosse, cross country, and track and field, along with womenʼs volleyball, womenʼs bowling, softball and baseball. Sprint football competes in the Collegiate Sprint Football League, while acrobatics and tumbling competes in the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association.

T

HE GOLDEN AGE Social Club of Park

Ridge honored three members celebrating their 90th birthdays in 2026 during a luncheon party June 30 at Hackensack Golf Club.

Shown in front, from left, are honorees Vi Ruschman, Elisa Randazzo and Myrna Haas, with club president Brenda Yanni at far right.

Standing in back are event organizers Beverly R. Mancini and June Bertini, who presented the awards.

Members offered congratulations during the festive afternoon. The club will resume Tuesday activities in August after a summer recess.

Send us club news!

PascackPress@ ThePressGroup.net

under consideration as they confront increasing health insurance, salary and operating costs. The proposal has prompted concern among custodians, teachers, students and union representatives, who say the districtʼs custodial staff play an important role in both school operations and the broader community.

For years, the Pascack Valley Regional High School District _ serving families from Hillsdale, Montvale, River Vale, and Woodclif Lake — has emphasized creating a safe and productive learning environment for students. Custodians are responsible for preparing classrooms, maintaining buildings, preventing accidents and keeping both Pascack Hills and Pascack Valley high schools ready for students each day.

Their responsibilities extend well beyond the regular school day.

The buildings host elementary and middle school recreation programs, varsity athletics, extracurricular activities, graduations, Board of Education meetings, SAT and ACT testing, blood drives and, at Pascack Valley High School, voting. Custodians often begin work as early as 4 or 5 a.m. to prepare the buildings for students and community events.

The concern surfaces as the district navigates budget pressures tied largely to rising health care costs. As reported by Pascack Press, the board approved a $72.8 million preliminary budget for 2026–27 that would raise taxes by about

FROM PAGE 1

already asked our principals to be more stringent on building budgets.

We will be in a very similar situation next year. […] We are looking at more significant budget cuts.”

Phillips said the district hopes outsourcing custodial services, if ultimately pursued, could help preserve classroom staffing as well as programs such as clubs, co-curricular and extracurricular activities, and special education initiatives.

At the same time, many employees and community members have spoken publicly in support of retaining the districtʼs custodial staff.

Following the districtʼs required 90-day notice informing employees that outsourcing was under consideration, faculty members wore stickers supporting custodians, and teachers and students participated in designated “wear blue” days.

“Losing them will be losing a part of our family and community,” said one teacher, who requested anonymity. “Everyone knows who they are, and it feels like home.”

The custodian we spoke with added, “I bring my work ethic and my expertise to work every day. Itʼs

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Paul Hildon, president of the Pascack Valley Regional Support Staff Association, said the issue extends beyond finances.

“The question is about what kind of community we want to have,” Hildon said. “Do we want a community of outsiders who may or may not have our best interest at hand? Or do we want to preserve our extended regional family?”

History teacher Debera Horn, who has taught at Pascack Hills for 26 years, expressed similar concerns during a Board of Education meeting.

“What Iʼve learned are the values of our school district,” Horn said. “We value educational excellence, but we also value community and loyalty. Our custodians are part of that.”

She said she believes privatization would challenge those values.

Students have also followed the discussion.

“I donʼt know the custodians 15 personally, but itʼs very clear they are doing a great job at keeping our school running,” said Pascack Hills sophomore Lina Park. “I donʼt understand why we would do this to them after all theyʼve done for us.”

No final decision has been made. District officials have emphasized that outsourcing remains one option under consideration as they continue evaluating ways to address long-term budget pressures.

Under New Jersey law, the district first issued a required 90day notice to affected employees.

Once that period concludes, private companies may submit proposals during a subsequent 20-day window. The Board of Education would then determine whether outsourcing custodial services is in the districtʼs best interest.

Editorʼs note: Maya Zislin is managing editor of the Trailblazer, serving the Pascack Hills High School community.

JULY 13, 2026 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS

Jobs:

5.11% across its four sending towns. [“Custodial staffing concerns spur calls for turnout at April 13 regional BOE meeting” at thepressgroup.net.]

One district custodian, who preferred not to be named citing the sensitive nature of the situation, described the role this way: “We are your ʻparentsʼ of the building. We make sure the facility is safe, both inside and outside. We are responsible for keeping the building maintained so that we prevent sickness and injury while you are all in school. We are your electricians, plumbers and carpenters, movers, and the eyes and ears of the building.”

The districtʼs budget challenges have intensified over the past year. According to interim Superintendent Dirk Phillips, health insurance costs increased by approximately 30%, while the district remains subject to New Jerseyʼs 2% annual property tax levy cap. Energy costs and negotiated salary increases have also outpaced that cap, placing additional pressure on the budget.

“This is a dollars-and-cents situation,” Phillips said. “We have

JULY 13, 2026 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS

16

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Researchers have also found that regular exercise and time in nature are associated with improvements in mood, attention, and cognitive function. While many spend the summer chasing the perfect beach body, the real goal should be developing healthy habits that support both body and mind.

Exercise outdoors whenever possible. Walking, swimming, hiking, paddleboarding, cycling, pickleball, tennis, beach volleyball, kayaking, or simply taking an evening walk all offer meaningful health benefits. The key is finding an activity you genuinely enjoy. If your workout feels like punishment, you probably have not found the right exercise yet. The best exercise program is the one you will stick with.

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walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling strengthen the heart and lungs and improve endurance.

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Research suggests that lifelong learning and novel experiences may help build cognitive reserve, which is associated with healthy brain aging.

Since the sun rises earlier, consider waking a little earlier as well. Morning light helps regulate your circadian rhythm, which plays an important role in sleep quality and alertness. Sunlight also helps the body produce vitamin D, an important nutrient for bone health, muscle function, and immune health.

Of course, enjoying the sunshine should be done wisely. Protecting your skin from excessive ultraviolet exposure is important.

Sunscreen, protective clothing, hats, sunglasses, and seeking shade during the hottest part of the day are all recommended ways to reduce the risk of sunburn and long-term skin damage. If you have questions about which sunscreen is right for you, consult your healthcare provider or dermatologist.

Dehydration is one of the most common summertime problems. According to the CDC and the National Weather Service, thousands of Americans require emergency medical care each year

because of heat-related illness.

Even mild dehydration can reduce concentration, decrease athletic performance, increase fatigue, and contribute to headaches.

Heat may trigger headaches or migraines. As the body loses water and electrolytes through sweating, staying hydrated becomes increasingly important.

Drinking water consistently throughout the day instead of waiting until you feel thirsty is one of the simplest ways to reduce your risk of dehydration.

Many experience lightheadedness during hot weather because heat causes blood vessels to expand, which can lower blood pressure. Individuals recovering from concussions may also find that excessive heat temporarily worsens symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, or fatigue.

People living with conditions that affect the autonomic nervous system, including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), often report greater sensitivity to heat, and those with vestibular disorders may notice increased balance problems, particularly if they become dehydrated.

The healthiest summer is one that balances activity with recovery. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, stay hydrated, exercise regularly, spend time outdoors, strengthen relationships, and create experiences that become lifelong memories rather than simply collecting more possessions.

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Health, Wellness &Fitness Guide

JULY 13, 2026 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS

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Blotter:

allegedly provided false identifying information during the investigation. She also received a borough ordinance summons for peddling/soliciting.

FROM PAGE 10

Motor vehicle stop results in warrant arrest Officer J. Chichizola stopped a vehicle May 11 after receiving an alert that it had a suspended registration. Police determined the driverʼs license was suspended and that the driver was wanted on a $1,000 warrant issued by Bernards Township Municipal Court. The

driver was arrested, issued motor vehicle summonses and later released pending court.

Westwood man arrested on Emerson warrant Later on May 11, Officer J. Schwarz stopped a vehicle routinely operated by an individual wanted in connection with a previous investigation. Police arrested a 48year-old Westwood man on an active $1,500 Emerson Municipal Court warrant. He was processed and released with a new court date.

Domestic incidents lead to assault charges Police reported two domestic violence-related arrests during the reporting period.

On May 8, Lt. R. Sokerka and

Officer K. Cullen arrested a 46year-old Emerson woman following an investigation into a reported domestic dispute. She was charged with simple assault.

On April 19, Officers J. Schwarz, J. Chichizola and T. Solimando responded to another reported domestic dispute. Police said the alleged suspect, a 48-yearold Emerson woman, left the residence before officers arrived and was believed to be driving while intoxicated. She was later arrested and charged with simple assault and driving while intoxicated.

displayed signs of impairment, failed standardized field sobriety tests and was charged with driving while intoxicated along with multiple motor vehicle violations.

Earlier, on April 5, Officer J. Chichizola arrested a 49-year-old Matawan woman following a traffic stop on Kinderkamack Road.

Police said the driver showed signs of impairment and consented to a search of her vehicle, during which officers allegedly discovered suspected controlled dangerous sub-

stances and drug paraphernalia.

She was charged with driving while intoxicated, unlawful possession of CDS, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to make lawful disposition of CDS and several motor vehicle offenses.

Police remind the public that criminal charges are accusations.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Two DWI arrests reported Officer J. Schwarz arrested a 32-year-old Hillsdale man May 7 after a traffic stop on Kinderkamack Road. Police said the driver

Sixteen members of HUMC Retired Nurses Network gather in Midland Park for games and socializing. They’re also committed to mentoring in the field. Courtesy photo.

Retired nurses group going strong on mahjong, pickleball, trips PASCACK VALLEY

The Retired Nurses of Hackensack Meridian Health are welcoming new members, including retired and semi-retired nurses from Hackensack and other North Jersey hospitals.

The active group offers weekly mahjong, a book club launched in 2025, pickleball at North Jersey venues, and monthly social outings. Recent and past activities have included trips to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, plays and concerts, visits to historic homes and gardens, glass- and wine-making activities, and dining at notable restaurants.

Westwoodʼs Carly Cord, a former advanced practice nurse in pediatric oncology, and Carol

Taylor, a former college health nurse, recently joined the group.

Taylor said she joined after reading about the organization in Pascack Press and enjoys playing mahjong, which she said helps keep her mind sharp. Cord, who retired in 2024, said she has found the group welcoming and appreciates that it includes nurses from many backgrounds.

Both said they enjoy the groupʼs camaraderie and the opportunity to take part in activities they might not otherwise experience.

For more information, email humcretirednursesgroup@gmail. com. The group also has a Facebook page, Hackensack University Medical Center Retired Nurses Network.

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The championship proved to be a pitchersʼ duel, with Montvaleʼs Taylor Stankowitz and EllaRose Fuller combining to allow just two hits while striking out 26 batters over 10 innings.

With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 10th, Jaelyn Pawlyk led off with a triple to left field.

Ariana Ripoli followed with a line-drive single to right, driving home the winning run and securing the championship.

Coach Mike Stankowitz credited the teamʼs depth and commitment throughout the season.

“The girls earned this title,” he said. “They played with heart and determination all season. With a 19-player roster, they were the true definition of a team. It was a challenge navigating such a large roster, but the girls bought into the team-first concept and battled through 13 games to bring home the championship.”

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Montvale softball careers with a league championship.

— Rob Brinkman

FROM PAGE 1

New forms for overnight parking and house checks

The Township of Washington Police Department has introduced new online forms for overnight parking requests and vacation/vacant house checks.

Residents who need to park overnight on a township street may now submit requests online through the departmentʼs new parking request form. Residents heading out of town may also register for vacation or vacant house checks through a new online form. Police said the services are intended to make requests more convenient while helping the WTPD keep the community safe.

Members of the 2026 Kinderkamack Softball League champion Montvale Mustangs celebrate after defeating River Dell, 3-2, in 10 innings. Back to front, left to right: Kaitlyn Kim, Giuliana Segreto, Lynn Ryan, Madelyn Homberg, Ella-Rose Fuller, Adriana Frohlich, Rosanna Plati, Estella Kerr, Soofia Khan and Julia Nagy; (front) Juliana Cote, Isabella Harcher, Charlotte Brinkman, Kara Aiello, Ariana Ripoli, Taylor Stankowitz, Jaelyn Pawlyk and Alexa Aiello. Riley Trojan is not pictured. Jennifer Stankowitz photo

Knights of Columbus award scholarships

TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Mother Seton Council No. 5427 Knights of Columbus presented scholarships to local students during its Scholarship Awards Night, held June 22 at the council hall on Pascack Road.

In one presentation, $1,000 scholarships were awarded to Paul Hakimian, Samantha Kerrigan and Miranda Dougherty through the James Picarella Memorial Scholarship, and to Sofia Kuzma through the Mother Seton Council No. 5427 Scholarship. Pictured with the recipients are John Pimpinella and John Brunelli.

In a second presentation, $500 Mother Seton Council No. 5427

scholarships were awarded to Derek Kaine, Ryan Cambria, Anthony Caporale, Chris Scudieri

and Amanda Picinic. Pictured with the recipients is John Pimpinella. The council said it

was pleased to recognize the students and support their continued education.

21

JULY 13, 2026 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS

JULY 13, 2026 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS

22

P

ASCACK PRESS proudly cele-

brates the ranging accomplishments of our local alumni—young men and women who’ve graduated from area high schools and gone on to meet new challenges with purpose and heart.

We also recognize the families, teachers, coaches, and mentors who helped guide them on their journey.

Through these updates, we honor not just individual achievement, but also the community that helps shape thoughtful, resilient, and compassionate citizens of an interdependent world.

Syracuse University graduate James Stickel of the Township of Washington earned a Bachelor of Science degree summa cum laude.

He also received the 2026 Kate Veley Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility Award after raising more than $75,000 for Upstate Golisano Childrenʼs Hospital in Syracuse, N.Y.

CURATED BY JOHN SNYDER

EDITOR@THEPRESSGROUP.NET to its Spring 2026 Deanʼs List: Kyle Bratcher of Park Ridge, biology, and Alexis Mayer of Woodcliff Lake, neuroscience.

Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) awarded a Bachelor of Arts in strategic communication to Molly Podest of Township of Washington during spring commencement.

Podest was also named to the universityʼs Spring 2026 Presidentʼs List, recognizing students ranked in the top 3% of undergraduates within their academic division.

Hunter Wallace.

Montvale: Preet Patel, Kelly Quinn, Victoria Turelli, and Kate Zydor.

• Park Ridge: Anna Francica, Julianne Havison, Cooper Hinds, Ashleigh McManus, Emily Panagi, Elizabeth Ruvo, and Sofia Ruvo.

• River Vale: Elizabeth Barlow, Ryan Campbell, Victoria Csatay, Bella Klouda, Samantha Polizzi, Abigail Scheer, Emma Scheer, Chloe Socrates, Joseph Tammaro, Hanna Wegner, and Alexandra Whalen.

• Township of Washington: Logan Goldsmith, Mia Kupershteyn, Alyssa Ravennati, Danielle Vinagre, and Colin Whitchurch.

• Westwood: David Alexandre, Amanda Burns, Isabel DiFabio, Nicole Giarratano, and Justin Moallem.

Hamilton College (Clinton, N.Y.) named two local May graduates

Deanʼs List • Emerson: Louden Mazzeo, Kristen Morgan, Gianna Sassi, Nicholas Seretis, and Victoria Sterinsky.

• Hillsdale: Diego Albert, Michael Cacavella, Jake DePaolo, Kelly Donlan, Johanna Evans, Evelyn Jansen, Christopher Londono, Liam OʼBrien, Giavonna Tarabocchia, and

Graduates • Emerson: Kristen Morgan, Bachelor of Science in Special Education, cum laude; Gianna Sassi, Bachelor of Science in Marketing; and Ashlyn Sterinsky, Master of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood/Special Education.

• Hillsdale: Georgia Curcurato, Master of Arts in School Counseling; and Johanna Evans, Bachelor of Arts in English.

• Montvale: Mark Paulillo, Bachelor of Science in Finance; and Kelly Quinn, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, cum laude.

• Park Ridge: Patrick Burns, Bachelor of Science in Finance; Edward LaPadula, Bachelor of Science in Finance; Ashleigh McManus, Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood/Special Education; Emily Panagi, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy; and Allyson Suph, Bachelor of Science in Marketing.

• River Vale: Madeline Campbell, Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Special Education; Victoria Csatay,

The Herald continued, “Hailstones reportedly 2? inches in diameter, and as hard and heavy as cobblestones, came down in a furious shower. The people ran in every direction, seeking shelter wherever they could—in sheds, beneath trees, and under wagons.

Hens and chickens that were outside their coops were killed in large numbers. Cattle in the fields were

bruised, and horses bolted. Windows were smashed, roofs destroyed, and wagon tops torn to shreds.”

Incredibly, no people were killed in this storm. The injuries were plentiful, but they included lacerations and bruises that eventually healed. On the other hand, the property damage was immense.

The storm covered an area 25 miles wide, from Spring Valley to the village of Kinderkamack (Emerson).

In Park Ridge, the railroad station was “completely riddled, as though a battle had been fought in

the neighborhood.”

“To give some idea of the unprecedented weight and fury of this hailstorm, we may state that there is not a slate roof in the track of the storm that was not pounded into fragments, and in some shingle roofs great breaches were made. It not only beat in the lights, but the frames of the windows. Shutters were split into kindling wood.

Fences were stripped of their pickets,” wrote Passaic Countyʼs The Item in its July 11, 1874, edition.

The Rockland County Journal reported, “Grass, grain crops, and gardens were annihilated, and fruit

Dickinson College (Carlisle, Pa.) recognized two local graduates.

Olivia Marian-Eva Burns of Emerson, daughter of Patrick and Maggie Burns, earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and anthropology and is a graduate of Emerson Jr.-Sr. High School. Iris Vivien Susan Marie Ballard of Hillsdale, daughter of Daria Galbo and Adam Ballard, earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental science and biology, graduating cum laude and earning deanʼs list recognition. She is a graduate of Westwood Regional High School.

Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta) awarded Alexandra Spadafino of Hillsdale a Bachelor of Science in computer science with highest honors during commencement exercises May 7–9.

Fury: FROM PAGE 4

New York Institute of Technology (Old Westbury, N.Y.) announced that Anthony Amir of Montvale will enroll as an incoming student for the Fall 2026 semester.

The College of New Jersey (Ewing) announced both Spring 2026 Deanʼs List honorees and graduates:

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Bachelor of Arts in Biology; Isabel Forcellati, Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health Sciences, magna cum laude; and Abigail Scheer, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Secondary Education.

• Township of Washington: Alyssa Ravennati, Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, magna cum laude; Danielle Vinagre, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, cum laude; and Colin Whitchurch, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy.

• Westwood: John Bergen, Bachelor of Science in Economics; Amanda Burns, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, cum laude; Isabel DiFabio, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, cum laude; and Samantha Gerson, College Certificate in Online PostMasterʼs Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

• Woodcliff Lake: Marisa Abbruzzesi, Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education.

University of Hartford (West Hartford, Conn.) awarded degrees to Maxine Cucurullo of Township of Washington, who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in visual communication design, and Grace Mohr of Westwood, who earned a Bachelor of Science in exercise science.

Anthony Amir of Montvale has been awarded the Presidential Scholarship at New York Institute of Technology (Old Westbury).

This is the universityʼs highest scholarship awarded to incoming first-year students.

University of Mississippi named two area students to its Spring 2026 Chancellorʼs Honor Roll, reserved for students earning semester GPAs of 3.75 to 4.0: Michael Fronzaglia of Hillsdale, a student in the B.B.A. in real estate program; and Ava Perrino and forest trees are as bare of leaves today as they were last January. A branch of an apple tree brought over by Irving Stephens [a farmer from Clarkstown] was shown to us and the bark was peeled from it as clean as if done by a knife.”

Especially dire was the damage at the bobbin mill in Park Ridge. The Van Riper Manufacturing Company of Paterson had established its four-story factory off Mill Road in Park Ridge around 1870. It was a major producer of bobbins—wooden spools—for use in textile mills all over the country.

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of Westwood, a student in the Freshman Studies program.

University of Rhode Island (Kingston) recognized area students on both its Spring 2026 Presidentʼs List and Deanʼs List:

Presidentʼs List Katie Tenebruso (Emerson); Elizabeth Jencsik and Lainey Svorec (Hillsdale); Gary Arons, Lauren Kalfus, and Julia Shirvan (River Vale); and Carly Boesch, Grace Haiduk, and Angeline Rodriguez (Township of Washington).

Deanʼs List Paul Coombes, Nick Macaluso and Kayleigh Taub (Emerson); Isabella Yarenis (Park Ridge); Nicholas Bonanos, Jake Crawbuck, Elisabeth Jovanis, Jordyn Massey, and Robert Russo (River Vale); Maya Efraim, Angel Morales, Sienna Rambaldi, and Daniel Sirois (Township of Washington); and Madeline Augsbach-Thompson and Simone Mikhail (Westwood).

University of Tampa graduates included Benjamin Klein of River Vale, who earned a Bachelor of Science in human performance; and Andrew Brodsky of Woodcliff Lake, who earned a Bachelor of Science in management.

Wilkes University (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) named Conner Sklavounos of Township of Washington to its Spring 2026 Deanʼs List.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, Mass.) named Julian Guggino, a computer science major in the Class of 2028, to its Spring 2026 Deanʼs List. WPI does not calculate grade-point averages; instead, Deanʼs List recognition is based on coursework and project work completed at the A level.

On this building, 1,000 panes of glass had been broken, the shutters were stripped off, and the roof was riddled with holes.

“Through the section of the country where the storm raged a most perfect scene of desolation can be witnessed,” the New York Herald wrote on July 7, 1874.

“During the continuation of the shower the thunder and lightning were incessant, and with the screaming of men, women, and children, and the shrieks of frightened cattle, the scene was one truly awful.”

It was many years before Westwood again attempted a Fourth of July celebration. The hailstorm of 1874 was never forgotten by those who had seen it.

On Independence Day in 1922, it rained so hard in the evening that some of the older residents were reminded of that unprecedented weather they had witnessed in their youth.

“Remember ʼ74?” was heard all around the Pascack Valley that day.

23

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Reader asks: Is long-term care insurance worth it?

Dear Savvy Senior, My husband and I have been thinking about getting a long-term care insurance policy, but we hate the idea of paying expensive monthly premiums for a policy we may never use. Is long-term care insurance worth it?

— Approaching Retirement

Dear Approaching, There are two key factors you need to consider that can help you determine if purchasing a longterm care (LTC) insurance policy is a smart decision for you and your husband. One factor is your financial situation and second is your health history. Currently, around 7.5 million Americans own a policy.

Who Needs LTC Insurance?

As the cost of LTC – which includes nursing home, assisted living and in-home care – continues to rise, itʼs important to know that most people pay for LTC either from personal savings or Medicaid

when their savings is depleted, or through a LTC insurance policy.

National median average costs for nursing home care today is over $100,000 a year, according to the Genworth Cost of Care survey.

Assisted living facilities and home care aides average more than $65,000/year.

While national statistics show that about 70% of Americans 65 and older will need some kind of LTC, the fact is, many people donʼt need to purchase LTC insurance.

The reasons stem from a range of factors, including the fact that rela-

tively few people have enough wealth to protect to make purchasing a policy worthwhile.

Another important factor is that most seniors who need LTC only need it for a short period of time, for example, when theyʼre recovering from surgery. For those people, Medicare covers in-home health care and nursing home stays of 100 days or less following a hospital stay of more than 3 consecutive days.

So, who should consider buying a policy?

LTC insurance make the most sense for people who have investable assets of $500,000 to around $2 million that they want to protect. Anything less, and you will likely deplete your resources and go on Medicaid for LTC coverage.

Anything more, and you can probably afford to pay for care yourself.

Another factor to weigh is your personal health and family health history. The two most common reasons seniors need extended long-term care is because of

dementia and/or disability. And, almost half of all people who live in nursing homes are 85 years or older. So, whatʼs your family history for Alzheimerʼs, stroke or some other disabling health condition, and do you have a family history of longevity?

You also need to factor in gender too. Because women tend to live longer than men, they are at greater risk of needing extended LTC.

Choosing LTC Coverage After evaluating your situation, if youʼre leaning towards buying a LTC policy, be aware that premiums can vary widely. According to the American Association for LongTerm Care Insurance, premiums for a policy bought by a couple who are both age 65 for a benefit pool of $165,000 each, with a 3% inflation rider, ranged from $7,137 to $8,493 a year.

You can buy LTC insurance from an insurance company or through an agent. Or you might also be able to buy a policy at work. Be

sure to get quotes from several sources for the same coverage to compare prices.

There are two main types of long-term care coverage youʼll want to consider. Traditional LTC insurance, which is “use it or lose it.” And hybrid policies that combine LTC coverage with life-insurance benefits. These policies promise that if you donʼt end up needing long-term care, your beneficiaries will receive a death benefit. Both types of policies require medical underwriting to qualify.

Another hybrid product to consider is an income annuity that includes a provision to increase your payout if you need LTC. However, the payout may not cover the full cost of care, and the added cost of this provision, known as a rider, can reduce the standard payout from the annuity.

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Ambulance HQ takes hit from tree; months to repair

HILLSDALE

A large tree limb crashed into the Hillsdale Volunteer Ambulance Service headquarters early Friday morning, causing extensive structural damage and narrowly missing a crew member inside the building.

The incident occurred at approximately 6:15 a.m. Friday, June 26, at the ambulance headquarters, 340 Washington Ave., when a tree split and multiple large branches fell onto the building, according to a statement from ambulance service President Mark Richards and Chief John Beatty.

Officials said the falling tree punched through the roof, damaged the buildingʼs truss structure and crashed into the agencyʼs meeting room. A per-diem ambulance crew member who had been sitting on a couch inside the room heard the tree striking the roof and ran to safety moments before the branches came through.

Mayor Michael Sheinfield said in a statement that “most importantly, no one was hurt.”

Despite the damage, the

Hillsdale Volunteer Ambulance Service fields an unwelcome guest — through the roof — on Friday morning. The building now needs repair. The Fire Department immediately offered space in its firehouse for the ambulance service, relocating its own apparatus to accommodate the ambulance. Boyd A. Loving photos.

agencyʼs ambulance was not struck and was safely removed from the building, allowing emergency medical services to continue without interruption.

The Hillsdale Fire Department immediately offered space in

its firehouse for the ambulance service, relocating its own apparatus to accommodate the ambulance. Firefighters also helped move medical equipment needed to restock emergency vehicles, while the department offered use of its facilities until further notice.

Power and natural gas were shut off to the damaged building while emergency crews assessed the scene. Downes Tree Service was called to remove the fallen tree.

Responding agencies and officials included the Hillsdale Volunteer Ambulance Service, Hillsdale Fire Department, Hillsdale Police Department, Office of Emergency Management, Department of Public Works, Building Department, Mayor Michael Sheinfield, Borough Administrator Michael Ghassali, PSE&G, Downes Tree Service and others, according to the ambulance service.

Ambulance service officials said the process of resolving the damage will likely take many months.

“Although our building is closed until further notice, our service and commitment to the community remains,” Richards and Beatty said. “We will be

actively here to support our residents and visitors alike with the same swift response and care that you have come to expect from Hillsdale EMS.” The borough said the situation remains ongoing and additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

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IHA honors local students as Soaring Eagles

TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON — Three Pascack Valley students were among

nine Immaculate Heart Academy students recognized with Soaring Eagle Awards for the fourth quar-

ter of the 2025-26 school year.

Local honorees were Mia Cucchiara of Woodcliff Lake, the-

ology; Savannah Callea of River Vale, science and technology; and Jenna Circelli of Park Ridge, social studies.

The Soaring Eagle Program recognizes one student from each academic discipline four times a year. Teachers nominate students for achievements that mark significant milestones in their academic careers or for classroom leadership, perseverance and growth.

Quarter-four recipients were celebrated with their families, nominating teachers and IHA staff at a May 28 reception. Principal Kerry Carroll, Class of 2004, pre-

sented the awards.

Also recognized were Fotini Karounos of Paramus, English; Sofia Sanchez of Clifton, mathematics/business; Arianna George of Passaic Park, communications/drama; Natalie Joung of Ridgewood, world languages; Sophia Mahon of Montclair, the arts; and Alexandra Gaglioti of Ridgewood, physical education.

Immaculate Heart Academy, at 500 Van Emburgh Ave. in Township of Washington, is an all-girls Catholic collegepreparatory high school in the Archdiocese of Newark.

OBITUARIES Ethel Irene HARTMANN

Immaculate Heart Academy’s fourth-quarter Soaring Eagle Award recipients are, from left, Fotini Karounos of Paramus, English; Mia Cucchiara of Woodcliff Lake, theology; Sofia Sanchez of Clifton, mathematics/business; Arianna George of Passaic Park, communications / drama; Savannah Callea of River Vale, science and technology; Jenna Circelli of Park Ridge, social studies; Natalie Joung of Ridgewood, world languages; and Sophia Mahon of Montclair, the arts. Not pictured: Alexandra Gaglioti of Ridgewood, physical education.

Ethel Irene Hartmann (née Johnson) of River Vale, better known as Irene, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. She was 83 years old. Irene was born to Ethyl and Elwin Johnson in Teaneck on Oct. 6, 1942.

Irene was predeceased by her parents and her husband, Frank Hartmann, who passed away in December 2017. They were married for 56 years.

Irene is survived by her three children and their spouses, Patti (Joel), Richie (Eve), and Timmy.

She is also survived by her three grandchildren, Stephanie (Jarin), Paul (Jaida), and Nicole, and her great-grandchildren, Jeremiah, Chloe, Jessa, Rhilee, and Sadie.

She is also survived by her sister, Barbara Milone (John); furry family members Holly and Carli; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Outside of her family, Irene will be missed by many friends.

She was a very active and outgoing person her entire life. She worked as a waitress for 25 years in various diners throughout Bergen County. Her job allowed her to talk to everyone, and she made friends with many of the regulars.

She was an active member of the River Vale Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary for more than 45 years, serving as financial secretary for many of those years.

Irene loved bowling and was part of several womenʼs bowling

leagues. She also had a love of gambling. One of her favorite things to do was run monthly casino bus trips to casinos throughout the Tri-State area with 55 of her closest friends.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 1 p.m. at the Reformed Church of Oradell, 641 Church St., Oradell.

Burial will be private.

Xianchen WANG

Xianchen Wang, M.D., of Hillsdale, passed away peacefully at Hillsdale House on May 31, 2026.

Dr. Wang retired as chairman of the Department of Biochemistry at Harbin Medical University.

He previously lived on the Upper West Side of Manhattan near Columbia University, and in Englewood Cliffs, Demarest, and Parsippany, Seattle.

He is survived by his wife, Dr. Yan; his son, Xiaodong Robert; his daughter, Xiaohui; his granddaughters, KW and EW; and his daughter-in-law, MS. A celebration of Dr. Wangʼs life was held June 5 at Rainbow Temple in Seattle.

His family shared their belief that Dr. Wang “has gone to heaven and has already started a new journey,” and concluded their remembrance with the Buddhist prayer “Om Mani Padme Hum” and the invocations “Namo Vairocana” and “Namo Avalokiteś vara Bodhisattva.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), co-chair of the Democratic AI Commission, joined on July 1 with reps Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-7) and Sam Liccardo (CA-16) to announce bipartisan legislation requiring that all AI-generated content carry a built-in label embedded in its metadata — giving consumers, platforms, and regulators a reliable way to know whatʼs AI and whatʼs not.

Under the bill, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), working in coordination with the National Institute of Standards

and Technology (NIST), would establish the technical rules governing exactly how the AI-generated label must appear within a fileʼs metadata. The FTC would then enforce those requirements as it does any other consumer protection violation.

“Americans deserve to know if what theyʼre seeing, reading, or hearing was made by a machine,” said Gottheimer in a statement shared with Pascack Press.

“This is a commonsense, bipartisan fix — weʼre simply requiring that AI content come with a built-in label, so platforms,

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journalists, and everyday people can tell fact from fabrication. Getting this right matters,” he said.

Kean said, “As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated, identifying whatʼs real and whatʼs artificially generated has become a real challenge. The Spot the Fakes Act will bring muchneeded transparency by ensuring

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AI-generated content can be clearly labeled, giving Americans the transparency they need to verify the authenticity of the content they view.”

Liccardo added, “The Spot the Fakes Act provides an essential tool in a much larger toolbox that we will need to empower American consumers to distinguish fact from AI fiction.”

The legislation builds on and

reinforces momentum from the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) — a voluntary industry technical standard already backed by Adobe, Microsoft, Google, the BBC, Intel, and others. The bill would help social media platforms more easily identify AI-generated content and take appropriate action, complementing the work already underway across the tech sector.

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28

Cannabis business here as a balm for tax bite?

BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OLOHAN@THEPRESSGROUP.NET

HILLSDALE

Almost five years ago, in the summer of 2021, all eight Pascack Valley municipalities voted to opt out of permitting any of the stateʼs six classes of cannabis business licenses—including retail dispensaries—with potential tax revenue not a major consideration at the time.

However, at a late-June town hall here, where the average property tax bill in 2026 has increased by more than $1,400 on a home assessed at $500,000, Mayor Michael Sheinfield raised several possible revenue-generating ideas, among them the possibility of allowing a hypothetical cannabis retail dispensary.

No such dispensary has been proposed in Hillsdale, however, nor did Sheinfield advocate for one during the June 30 town hall on local taxes.

Pascack Press also reached out to the boroughʼs newly formed Economic Development Committee to ask whether a question about a possible cannabis dispensary might be included in an upcoming survey of residents and businesses. The committee did not respond by press time.

The Economic Development

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Committee, composed of Councilmembers Melissa MazzaChiong, John Ruocco and Anthony DeRosa, plans to survey residents and businesses about the types of future development they would like to see in town.

Sheinfield repeatedly emphasized that he was not advocating for a dispensary. Instead, he said he was raising the topic alongside another potential revenue source—a monopole cell tower— as examples of ideas that have largely been dismissed because of public opposition.

During his June 30 presentation, the mayor estimated a dispensary could generate as much as $500,000 annually in local tax revenue, plus a one-time local licensing fee of approximately $100,000. Sheinfield also suggested that the first municipality in the Pascack Valley to permit a dispensary would likely enjoy the greatest economic benefit.

The Borough Council recently voted against allowing a fourth cell tower at the Stonybrook Swim Club following several public meetings where residents voiced concerns about property values, health impacts and aesthetics.

However, residents in the boroughʼs eastern section argued that unreliable cell service poses a public safety risk by making it difficult to contact police, fire or

emergency medical services during emergencies.

Sheinfield said a monopole cell tower could generate roughly $100,000 annually for the borough, including a $48,000 lease payment from the first wireless carrier, with additional lease revenue possible from other carriers.

No councilmember has publicly expressed interest in pursuing a dispensary or studying the potential tax revenue it might generate. Under the boroughʼs 2021 opt-out ordinance, however, officials may reconsider any of the stateʼs six classes of cannabis business licenses at any time. The same is true of every Pascack Valley municipality that opted out in 2021.

In May 2023, Woodcliff Lake established a Cannabis Exploratory Committee to study the possibility of allowing a dispensary, including pros and cons.

After a public meeting where residents overwhelmingly opposed the idea—and some argued that a dispensary would attract crime—the proposal stalled. No other Pascack Valley municipality has publicly explored or discussed permitting a cannabis dispensary since then.

A countywide review by Pascack Press found that only six of Bergen Countyʼs 70 municipalities currently allow or host

cannabis dispensaries: Carlstadt, Fort Lee, Garfield, Lodi, Rochelle Park and Saddle Brook.

In addition to discussing a possible cannabis dispensary, Sheinfield outlined several other ideas for increasing municipal revenue, including: rezoning portions of Broadway for mixed-use development from downtown to the Woodcliff Lake border; increased tax ratables associated with the stateʼs fourth-round affordable housing obligations (2025–35); and redevelopment of the recently remediated Alexander Cleaners property.

Bergen Parishes Join Sacred Heart Mass NEWARK

Bergen County parishes were among the 211 Archdiocese of Newark churches represented June 12 at a bilingual Mass of Thanksgiving celebrating the consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Parish banners included Our Lady of Mercy Church in Park Ridge, Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Emerson, St. Michaelʼs Church in Palisades Park, St. Elizabeth of Hungary

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HELP WANTED BOROUGH OF HILLSDALE - Part-Time Administrative Assistant (2 Positions Available) The Borough of Hillsdale is seeking two organized, detail-oriented individuals to serve as Part-Time Administrative Assistants. These positions will work approximately 25 hours per week and provide support for a variety of municipal office functions.

Salary Range: $21.00 - $25.00 per hour, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Responsibilities Include: • Answering and directing telephone calls • Assisting residents and visitors • Processing payments and maintaining records • Filing and document management • Data entry and general clerical support • Assisting with correspondence and office communications • Performing various administrative and office duties as assigned Qualifications: • Strong organizational and multitasking skills • Excellent attention to detail • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications • Strong verbal and written communication skills • Ability to work independently and as part of a team • Prior municipal or office experience preferred but not required Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to: Denise Kohan, Borough Clerk dkohan@hillsdalenj.org Applications will be accepted until June 29, 2026. The Borough of Hillsdale is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected classification under applicable law.

HELP WANTED RIVER VALE PUBLIC SCHOOLS Employment Opportunities 2026-2027 School Year The River Vale BOE is seeking candidates for the following substitute positions: • Substitute School Secretaries • Substitute Night Custodians • Substitute School Nurses View individual postings on district website at www.rivervaleschools .com To Apply: Forward a cover letter, current resume to: Email: HR@rivervaleschools .com River Vale Public Schools Office of the Superintendent EEO/AA

Sheinfield said that every additional $110,000 in annual revenue equates to roughly a 1% reduction in the local tax levy. An archived video of the mayorʼs June 30 tax town hall is available online.

According to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, 58% of New Jersey municipalities allow at least one type of cannabis business to operate locally. The stateʼs Business Action Center has published an 18-page Cannabis Municipal Guidebook 2026 for local officials.

PRAYER HELP WANTED The River Vale BOE is Thank you Blessed seeking candidates for the Mother and St. Jude. GL. following part-time posiWANT BUSINESS? tions: CALL (201) 664-2105 • School Bus/Van Driver FOR SALE • School Bus/Van Aide FOR SALE- 2014 John View individual postings Deere 310SK Front end on district website at Backhoe loader, 4,800 www.rivervaleschools Hours, Excellent Cond. .com. To apply: Forward a Air-conditioned cab, Fully cover letter, current Maintained by John resume, to email: Deere, Forks, Quick conHR@rivervaleschools nect bucket,Hydraulics .com. River Vale Public for tool carrier. $42,900 Schools Office of the obo. Call or text (201) 615 Superintendent. EEO/AA. 9316.

Church in Wyckoff, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Ridgewood, St. Francis de Sales Church in Lodi, and Church of the Madonna in Fort Lee. The Mass drew some 2,000 to the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, presided. The liturgy included a procession with parish banners and American flags, and the Universal Prayer was proclaimed in nine languages.

— Via Sean Quinn

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HELP WANTED RIVER VALE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Employment Opportunities 2026-2027 School Year. The River Vale BOE is seeking candidates for: • School Lunch Aides • Special Education Aides View individual postings on the district website: www.rivervaleschools .com To Apply: Email a cover letter, current resume to: HR@rivervaleschools .com River Vale Public Schools Office of the Superintendent. EEO/AA FOR SALE FOR SALE- Commercial lawnmowers, 36 inch and 48 inch Scag belt drive machines. Very well maintained.

Prices between $800-$1500.

Call or text Larry: (201) 697-3458.

HELP WANTED CROSSING GUARDS Woodcliff Lake, Crossing Guards. Sept thru June (1) AM and (1) PM post.

Starting $22/hour, must be 18 or older. For further information email admin@wclpd.com or stop by Police headquarters.184 Pascack Rd. Woodcliff Lake.

Professional Offices 180 Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan – For Rent, $450/month. Call 201768-0218.

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29

MONTVALE

Pascack Hills High School rising senior Allison Colla has distributed more than 380 naloxone (Narcan) kits across the community as part of Spray Safe, her Girl Scout Gold Award project focused on opioid overdose prevention and mental health awareness.

Colla, a Montvale resident and longtime Girl Scout, partnered with the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition to become a certified community distributor of Narcan. Her outreach has included classroom presentations at Pascack Hills, community education at the Montvale Street Fair, social

media awareness campaigns, and free training for more than 70 lifeguards and swim instructors at

Life Time Bergen County.

The project has also involved partnerships with several Bergen County organizations working in substance-use prevention and mental health education. Materials developed through the program will remain available for future Pascack Hills health classes after Colla graduates.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the organizationʼs highest honor, recognizes sustainable community service projects that address the root causes of local issues.

For more of the story, visit thepressgroup.net.

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