Emerson • Hillsdale • Montvale • Park Ridge • River Vale • Township of Washington • Westwood • Woodcliff Lake
T H E 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 30 ISSUE 26
Platinum duo
LOCAL VOICES AT GRIM MILESTONE
Observances set to honor lives lost on 9/11 as new U.S. report looks to threats ahead
TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
‘HE COULD After pup Buddyʼs death, resident raises awareness of leptospirosis BY JOHN SNYDER EDITOR@THEPRESSGROUP.NET
When Joanna Policastro returned from vacation, she expected to find Buddy, her familyʼs 2-year-old golden retriever, waiting to greet her. Instead, she learned that her son had taken Buddy to Westwood Regional Veterinary Hospital on Kinderkamack Road. Buddy had stopped eating and was not acting like himself. At first, the family thought he might simply be missing Policastro. But as he became lethargic, her son brought him to the veterinarian. According to Policastro, an examination and testing showed
See BUDDY on page 344
PASCACK VALLEY
SCHOOL CELLPHONE LIMITS BEGIN
ʻEverybody needs a break,ʼ says governor; local impacts differ BY JOHN SNYDER EDITOR@THEPRESSGROUP.NET
Kenneth DeGraw and the lovely Helen Marie DeGraw of Montvale celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary. PAGE 18
BARELY EVEN WAG HIS TAIL’
SEPTEMBER 7, 2026
T
Park Ridge’s Patriot Day ceremony, Sept. 11, 2025 — American Legion Post 153 led the borough in marking the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks with wreaths, prayer, and candlelight. Photo: John Snyder/Pascack Press security reforms adopted after ment officers. Another 184 peoWENTY-FIVE YEARS after Sept. 11, 2001, the Pas- the attacks and the dangers con- ple were killed at the Pentagon— cack Valley is preparing fronting the nation today. 125 inside the building and 59 to honor those killed in the teraboard Flight 77—while 40 pasINSIDE: For a guide to local rorist attacks and the losses that sengers and crew died near observances this week, and followed, while renewing comShanksville, Pennsylvania, after our look back at a day whose mitments to service, unity, and fighting back on Flight 93. In effects continue to be felt shared civic responsibility. across generations, turn to our total, all 246 passengers and crew The anniversary arrives members across the four center spread. amid public ceremonies and priAt the World Trade Center, hijacked planes lost their lives. vate memories, along with a new 2,753 people died, including 343 Continued on page 28 congressional assessment of the firefighters and 71 law enforce-
As the 2026–27 school year opens, New Jersey students will be expected to keep personal cellphones and other internetconnected devices off and stored throughout the school day. The practical impact will vary by district. Westwood Regional has set different storage expectations by grade level. Pascack Hills High School has outlined a progressive disciplinary system that can lead to detention or suspension. Emerson Public Schools says the statemandated policy update will not change practices already in place. The distinctions reflect the flexibility New Jersey has given local school officials in carrying out the statewide requirement. Then-Gov. Phil Murphy signed P.L. 2025, c.195 on Jan. 8. The law requires public school boards, including the boards governing charter schools and renaissance school projects, to adopt policies consistent with state Department of Education guidelines beginning with the first full school year after enactment.
See LIMITS on page 274
HILLSDALE CHAMPS
B ck in time...
After stumbling through the regular season at 3–6–1 and scoring just 50 runs, men’s rec team Money Green entered the playoffs with new life— then all bets ere off. PAGE 9
The first school in Hillsdale, built in 1856, sat on Pascack Road near its intersection with Hillsdale Avenue. Kristin Beuscher does the homework. PAGE 4