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 25
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
SEPTEMBER 6, 2021
PLAYERS BOUND FOR PHILLY Softball standouts represent at Pitch, Hit, Run
MONTVALE
DISTRICT
AIMS FOR UPGRADES
Cites pressure on class sizes; votes $50K on bond referendum PR BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
Kathleen Cuffe of Hillsdale celebrates her 90th on Sept. 10. She’d love cards from readers. SEE PAGE 24
PASCACK VALLEY
VALLEY
GETS EARLYVOTE SITES River Vale, Woodcliff Lake host for county
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
Two of Bergen Countyʼs first-ever early voting polling places, ahead of the Nov. 2 General Election, are in River Vale and Woodcliff Lake. According to Bergen County elections officials, there will be eight early voting locations countywide, and anyone registered to vote in the election in Bergen County can avail themselves of the sites to cast their ballots in person nine days ahead of other in-person voters. The addresses are: • River Vale Senior and Community Center, 628 Rivervale Road
See VALLEY on page 314
G
give ʻem heck to the three young athletes from Westwood who are bound for the Major League Baseball Pitch Hit & Run regionals at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, on Saturday, Sept. 11. On Aug. 8, Westwood Softball Association held a local contest for the event. Girls ages 7–14 competed in timed running, throwing accuracy, and hittingdistance events. Scores were calculated according to the contest rules and submitted to Major League Baseball, where they were compared with those of girls from New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. The top three girls at each age group were then selected to attend regionals. For Westwood Softball,
the challengers are Lucy Dickinson (ages 7-8), Eve Ricciardella (9-10), and Kaitlyn McKay (11-12). Mike Meisten of the Westwood Softball Association told Pascack Press on Aug. 31 that McKay posted the best score of all competitors in the region for her age group. MLB Pitch Hit & Run, presented by MLB Network, is the official youth skills competition of MLB. This free program allows baseball and softball participants the opportunity to advance through increasing competition culminating at the MLB World Series. Local competitors earned gift cards to Conradʼs Confectionery. Contest finalists will receive an allexpenses-paid trip for two to the World Series. — John Snyder
Westwood Softball Association’s Kaitlyn McKay, Lucy Dickinson, Eve Ricciardella. OOD LUCK AND
TOP PHOTO BY ERIN COLLINS-RICCIARDELLA
The Montvale Board of Education on Aug. 30 cleared spending up to $50,000 this year, with an option for annual reappointment, on a communications firm specializing in bond referendum communications. The resolution notes the firm, Laura Bishop Communications, LLC, of Cherry Hill, will “provide communication specialist and public relations services for the Referendum Projects.” No additional information on “referendum projects” was initially provided by the Montvale Public School District, which includes Memorial Elementary School and Fieldstone Middle School. According to Superintendent Dr. Darren Petersen, following calls from Pascack Press, much more information will be presented to taxpayers soon and the public will have ample time for input. It is not yet known if any such referendum is expected with the Nov. 2 general election. We had noted the resolution approving the communications contract and its related Aug. 31 legal notice. The resolution sets a billable rate of $115 per hour, with a maximum of $35,000 from Aug. 16 though Dec. 31, 2021. It adds
See DISTRICT on page 324
GOT THEIR BACKS
B ck in time...
Local kids from Valley Chabad CTeen pack school supplies for students in need with partner Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.
“This was the student body of the Hillsdale Public School in 1898...” Kristin Beuscher has the story.
SEE PAGE 19
SEE PAGE 4
