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 25 ISSUE 24
STIRRING BUSINESS
Hillsdale PO Matt Soltes gives a young entrepreneur’s stand his top rating. SEE PAGE 14
TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
EASIER DRIVE SOON IN TOWNSHIP?
Court win primes final intersection easement
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
The township plans to acquire the last of 16 property easements needed for Bergen County to undertake an intersection overhaul at the often-congested Pascack Road-Washington Avenue nexus. Thatʼs according to Township attorney Kenneth Poller, who told Pascack Press on Aug. 24 that he would file a declaration of taking following an Aug. 18 Superior Court hearing with a final property owner who declined to negotiate for an easement on two small pieces of property. Poller said the court agreed with the townshipʼs position that an easement should be granted to
See EASIER on page 274
AUGUST 30, 2021
‘EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE’ C
Hillsdaleʼs own is county Teacher of the Year ONGRATULATIONS
AND
job well to Hillsdale resident Kim Clancey, recognized on Aug. 25 as the Bergen County Teacher of the Year for 2021–2022. Clancey, a second-grade teacher and professional development facilitator at Ridge Ranch Elementary School in the Paramus School District, considers herself a lifelong learner, always exploring and participating in groups and activities that push her thinking and learning. “I teach because it gives me the opportunity to put a sparkle in an eye, a smile on a face, hope in the heart, knowledge in the mind, and a chance to make a difference in the life of a child,” she said. The award was bestowed during a virtual awards ceremony as part of the Governorʼs Educator of the Year Program, which promotes positive school culture by acknowledging the hard work and dedication of outstanding teachers and educational service professionals. The County Teachers of the Year will network with educators throughout the state and serve as ambassadors for New Jerseyʼs public schools throughout the upcoming school year. Clancey took her masterʼs in elementary education from Long Island University and was the recipient of the Distinguished Performance Award for Academic Achievement in Education. Her motivation to become an
RIVER VALE
40-YEAR
BOND ON SAFETY SITE Tax hit still up in the air on a $14 million total cost BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
Hillsdale’s Kim Clancey, a proven top educator, considers herself a lifelong learner. educator was due to wanting to be herself a lifelong learner, always the kind of teacher who children exploring and participating in need, a teacher who appreciates groups and activities that each child, she told Pascack advances her thinking and learning. She strives to always learn Press. Throughout her career as an something new, revise something educator, Clancey has taught sec- old, try something different, and ond and fourth grade, as well as to share, teach and discuss ideas kindergarten to grade-four enrich- with others who share her enthument. Continued on page 39 Clancey said she considers CLANCEY FAMILY PHOTO
The Township Council approved a $13.3 million, 40-year bond issue in July to construct a new 18,000-square-foot public safety complex on 3.25 acres at the corner of Rivervale Road and Prospect Avenue at an annual tax increase yet to be determined. The total project cost was about $14 million, including a $700,000 down payment on the bonds. Council approved the bonding, 4-0, with council vice president Paul J. Criscuolo absent. Administrator Gennaro Rotella told Pascack Press on Aug. 25 that no bonds have yet been issued and so no annual impact on taxpayers could be estimated. He said though the township will be bonding for $13.3 million, actual construction costs for the new public safety building were closer to $12 million, plus “soft costs” such as engineering and construction management. A couple years ago, Mayor Glen Jasionowski estimated that a $7 million complex might cost an average taxpayer about $175 extra in annual taxes, while a $10 million complex might cost a taxpayer over $200 annually for a 30year bond. However, due to the approved $13.3 million bondʼs 40-year time span, and current lower bonding
See BOND on page 344
YOU’RE INVITED
B ck in time...
The River Vale Volunteer Fire Department and Vounteer Ambulance Corps invite the public to two open houses in September.
The people of Woodcliff Lake have gotten their money’s worth on their borough hall, dedicated this week in 1939. Assistant editor Kristin Beuscher has the story. SEE PAGE 4
SEE PAGE 13