Emerson • Hillsdale • Montvale • Park Ridge • River Vale • Township of Washington • Westwood • Woodcliff Lake
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 26 ISSUE 20
Caring outreach
AUGUST 1, 2022
‘EXTRA’ EXTRA INNINGS
2nd annual tourney, Aug. 6, extends a legacy
TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
PASCACK– WASHINGTON OVERHAUL STARTS AUG. 1 Drivers face detours and delays; construction seen taking six months
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
Dominick Scozzafava, a Boy Scout in Troop 109, seeks donations of comfort items for cancer patients. SEE PAGE 30
PASCACK VALLEY
HEROES HAIL FROM PARK RIDGE, EMERSON, WESTWOOD Pascack Valley shines in Gottheimerʼs Fifth District ʻhometownʼhonors
U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) honored local first responders, veterans, life-saving bystanders, volunteers, community leaders, and residents during his Fifth District Hometown Heroes Ceremony, held at the Hackensack Performing Arts Center July 22. Gottheimer honored more than 35 residents as Fifth District Hometown Heroes, including from Emerson, Park Ridge, and Westwood, to acknowledge their dedication to helping improve the lives of their neighbors, families, and
See HEROES on page 314
T
Ridge Realtor won the first annual Extra Innings Softball Tournament in 2021. This year’s contest, with 12 teams signed on, is scheduled for Aug. 6 at Memorial Field, Park Ridge. There’ll be cornhole, live music, and concessions. they hope to have an even bigger denly in February 2021 amid his HE SECOND ANNUAL Extra Innings Softball turnout this year. Vianna Mattson own project: to raise funds for a Tournament is set for opens with the national anthem at green fabric screen, at the top of Saturday, Aug. 6, on Park Ridgeʼs 8:30 a.m. Live music is by Park the homer fence he installed at the Sulak and Davies/Memorial Ridge native Torie and Nate from senior baseball field at Sulak Lane, noon to 3:30 p.m. The Ice Cream in memory of Kyle Green, a fields. Organizers say the event has Lady will be at the field 1 to 3. PRHS alumnus (ʼ16) and baseball 12 teams signed on and will raise Refreshments and light food are player (#16). Troy carried on the work, funds for field improvements and available for purchase. Extra Innings is led by Troy establishing the Extra Innings support the Park Ridge Athletic Association. All are welcome to Taber (PRHS ʼ13) in honor of his Group. Volunteers rallied to the cheer on the teams, join in on a and his sister, Juliaʼs, dad, Michael “Green Monster Project,” which game of cornhole, and enjoy live — of the Class of 1982 and for- exceeded its goal. The remainder mer PRAA coach and PRHS vol- went to the Park Ridge American music and refreshments. Last yearʼs event was given as unteer assistant baseball coach. Legion and Tri-Boro Food Pantry. a huge success. Organizers say Michael Taber passed away sud— John Snyder 5PARK RIDGE ATHLETICS VIA TWITTER
After years of delay and anticipation, long-needed improvements to the Pascack Road–Washington Avenue intersection — one of the townshipʼs busiest crossroads — is set to begin this week and likely continue for six months, into the fall and winter, county officials told Pascack Press. Local police expect some traffic delays and congestion related to the intersection makeover, which may lead to minor traffic backups, detours, and rerouting for local motorists and those exiting the nearby Garden State Parkway Exit 168, which flows onto Washington Avenue. County and local officials said they hope the intersection remains mostly open, though construction may cause delays, restrict traffic flow, and require closures during certain times. “The primary disruption will be the drainage portion of the project which will go across Washington Avenue between Pascack Road and Meisten Street. There should be prior notice by the contractor with regard to that portion and the Police Department will make efforts to disseminate that information via signage at the scene and social
See OVERHAUL on page 214
DIVISION CHAMPS
B ck in time...
The 11U Montvale Mustangs baseball team win a very competitive NJSBL Central West Division summer championship game.
Who wouldn’t love to go back in time to shop on Westwood Avenue in the 1950s! Kristin Beuscher brings us along for the ride.
SEE PAGE 8
SEE PAGE 4