MILES FOR MEALS
Emerson • Hillsdale • Montvale • Park Ridge • River Vale • Township of Washington • Westwood • Woodcliff Lake VOLUME 24 ISSUE 19
PA S C AC K VA L L E Y ’ S BEST H O M E TO W N N E W S PA P E R
JULY 27, 2020
PARK RIDGE
WHO’S ENGAGED?
Park Ridge native and elementary school teacher April Kaiser is going to tie the knot! SEE PAGE 13
HILLSDALE
STREET CLOSED TO ALLOW FOR OUTSIDE DINING BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
Looking to show support for struggling local eateries, the Hillsdale Borough Council July 14 unanimously approved a resolution to close a portion of Washington Avenue near Broadway that will create a 2,100-square-foot outdoor dining area for a popular Hillsdale restaurant. The new expanded space for al fresco dining—to be topped by a
See DINING on page 114
Park Ridge teen goes the distance for food pantry
Back in June Pascack Press first reported on Park Ridge High School student Richie Weissenborn and the effort he was calling “Miles for Meals,” a fund-raiser for the TriBoro Food Pantry. Richie, a member of the high schoolʼs cross country and track and field teams, intended to put his training to good use by challenging himself to run 100 miles in a month. Along the way, he would collect donations from sponsors. Weissenborn went the distance—and then some. In fact, the 17-year-old ended up running a little over 103 miles and realizing over $5,000 to benefit the local food pantry. He presented the funds to pantry director Janelle Larghi, along with Marc Stutzel, treasurer of the food pantry and pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Woodcliff Lake. “It all started with a conversation in the pool about the long lines at the Tri-Boro Food Pantry,” Richieʼs mother, Theresa Weissenborn, wrote to Pascack Press. “Then came the town newsletter from our mayor. The food pantry was experiencing triple the demand for services. So many people in our own community needed our help.” A surge in unemployment and food insecurity has meant that the pantry, located behind the Pascack Reformed Church at 65 Pascack Road in Park Ridge, has had more clients than ever. During the pandemic the number of people utilizing the food pantry to fulfill their basic necessities increased threefold, resulting in an urgent need for food and monetary donations. The teen set a goal to run 100 miles in 30 days during a campaign lasting from June into July. The community, impressed by his ambition, stepped up with donations. Family, friends, teachers, coaches, neighbors—even total strangers—came forward to contribute. “I never could have imagined how much support both the town and the community had
Richie Weissenborn, 17, ran over 100 miles in 30 days and collected donations from sponsors to benefit the Tri-Boro Food Pantry. Here he shows his grand total: $5,100. He is joined by Pastor Marc Stutzel, food pantry treasurer, and Janelle Larghi, food pantry director.
in store for me. As a result of all [the] encouragement, it made running each mile that much more meaningful,” Richie said. “I was totally shocked when I saw how people were so willing to give and didnʼt think twice about it. If
SWEET SURPRISE
In honor of National Ice Cream Month, Conradʼs Confectionery has been dropping in on some of their downtown Westwood neighbors.
SEE PAGE 12
the cause itself wasnʼt motivating enough to begin with, the support from friends, teachers, neighbors, family members and a number of generous local residents made me feel even more inspired to help those in need.”
B ck in time... The Great Eastern grocery store brought its ‘Gilt Edge’ to Westwood Avenue in 1927.
SEE PAGE 4