Emerson • Hillsdale • Montvale • Park Ridge • River Vale • Township of Washington • Westwood • Woodcliff Lake VOLUME 24 ISSUE 22
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
AUGUST 17, 2020
RAFFLE A SUCCESS
Proceeds from the Joan Angela D’Alessandro Foundation’s online tricky tray will go to several causes helping children. SEE PAGE 15
HILLSDALE
PVBOE CANDIDATES MIXED ON MASCOT ISSUE BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
Several candidates for the Nov. 3 Pascack Valley Regional Board of Education election expressed concerns over the recent unanimous board decision to “retire” the district high schoolsʼ Indian and Cowboy mascots and gradually replace them with more appropriate and inclusive school mascots and nicknames. Except for BOE incumbents Arnold Scher and David Steinberg, others questioned the process and timing of the boardʼs recent decision to nix both the Pascack Hills Cowboy and Pascack Valley Indian mascots. Following its controversial June 22 decision to retire the Cowboy and Indian mascots, the
See MASCOTS on page 264
MONTVALE TAKES CHAMPIONSHIP
Congratulations to the Montvale Athletic League 12U softball team, recently crowned Bergen County Girls Summer Travel League champions! “Covid-19 may have taken away our spring season, but when things eased up to start a summer season, The MAL did not miss the opportunity to do something special (and safely) for our children,” the Montvale Athletic League wrote on Facebook. “And although it was a difficult task, we did it. Winning a championship in the
process certainly makes it extra special!” Montvale played in a division that also included teams from Westwood, Park Ridge, Washington Township, River Edge and Highlands (Allendale). Home games were played at Flagg Field, Memorial School. Montvale banked nine wins and one loss during the series that lasted through the month of July. Going into the semifinals were Montvale, Highlands, Park Ridge and Westwood, with Park Ridge and Montvale squaring off in the
finals on Friday, Aug. 7. “We are very proud of these girls—a pandemic, blackout, and thunderstorm (mid-game) couldnʼt keep them down!” the MAL wrote. Team members are: Hannah Brinkman, Ciara Camarena, Ava Costantino, Olivia Delgado, Giulia DiSalvo, Elizabeth Huang, Lily Kelly, Reese Lauricella, Taylor Pawlyk, Emily Rennie and Kira Zizzo. Coaches are Tom Kelly, Rob Brinkman, and Mike Costantino. PHOTO COURTESY FACEBOOK/MONTVALE ATHLETIC LEAGUE
WFD RESPONDS
B ck in time...
Westwood firefighters were called in when workers spotted smoke at the regional middle school on Third Avenue. SEE PAGE 8
A Westwood Eagle Scout candidate plans to create a fitting tribute for a local hero who lost his life in Vietnam.
SEE PAGE 4