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 27 ISSUE 46
JANUARY 29, 2024
PASCACK VALLEY
Catholic School Week
SALUTING A HILLSDALE, ESTWOOD HILLSDALE HERO W IN SHAREDPost 162 flies new colors for Visnu Gonzalez
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
JAN. 28 – FEB. 3
See Page 16 PASCACK VALLEY
Knights’ spelling bee for grades 6–8 seeks sign-ups
Knights of Columbus Mother Seton Council #5427 of the Township of Washington says itʼs e-x-ci-t-e-d to invite the students of the Township of Washington and Westwood to take part in their 2024 Spelling Bee. Council spokesman Jim Dugan tells Pascack Press, “The spelling bee has been a staple on the Knights of Columbus calendar for many years and we are excited to once again hold this special event.” The bee is set for Wednesday, Feb. 21 at the Knights of Columbus hall, 79 Pascack Road, Township of Washington, and is open to all students from these two towns, sharing a school district, in grades 6–8. Contestants sign in at 6:30 p.m. and the bee starts at 7. Dugan said, “In order for things to run as smoothly as possible we ask that all students pre-
See BEE on page 134
COURT PACT
M
M embers of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 162 of Hillsdale recently held a flag raising ceremony at the Hillsdale home of paralyzed United States Marine Corps veteran Visnu Gonzalez, a member of Post 162. Gianna Cesa-Umphlett photo. EMBERS OF the Sons
of the American Legion Squadron 162 of Hillsdale held a flag raising ceremony at the Hillsdale home of paralyzed United States Marine Corps veteran Visnu Gonzalez, a member of Post 162. Gonzalez—who enlisted in the immediate wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks—served in combat with the United States Marine Corps in Iraq. On his second tour he was severely
injured by a sniper. Squadron members George DeRosa and Dennis Cesa coordinated replacement of the flags
NIGHT OF STARS The Washington Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps celebrates its membership—faces both seasoned and fresh—at its annual dinner. PAGE 20
on the flagpole in front of the Gonzalez family home, which was donated to them in 2009 by Homes For the Troops. Post commander Douglas Frank says the home has one of the highest ratings for energy efficiency and is barrier free. Squadron Vice Commander Cesa tells Pascack Press, “We were delighted to have the opportunity to help this family and honor this warrior. Our members responded immediate-
Continued on page 12
The borough councils of Hillsdale and Westwood approved a first-ever shared-service municipal court agreement recently to start the New Year off with savings for both towns estimated at $50,000 to $70,000. The Hillsdale Borough Council approved a shared service agreement with Westwood Dec. 12, 2023 with the mayor noting the agreement will likely save the borough approximately $70,000 yearly by merging the staffs of the two local court systems. The Westwood Borough Council approved the joint municipal court agreement at its sine die meeting Jan. 2. Borough administrator Durene Ayer told Pascack Press that the estimated cost savings for Westwood was “in excess of $50,000.” Hillsdaleʼs Council passed Resolution 23-311 by a 5-0 vote. Councilman John Escobar was absent. Councilor John Ruocco, formerly Hillsdaleʼs two-term mayor, said the court systems would not merge but the staffs of both municipal courts would be combined and become employees of Westwood. The Westwood Municipal Court is in the boroughʼs Municipal Complex on the second floor. The court handles traffic and DWI cases, in addition to certain non-indictable criminal matters, such as shoplift-
See COURT on page 274
B ck in time... 110 years ago, an innkeeper sent a couple of local boys to bring a box of choice liquor from the express office of the train station. Kristin Beuscher reports. PAGE 4