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 40
Holiday Shopping Guide
DECEMBER 18, 2023
RIVER VALE RAIDERS ROMP
Pee Wee team denies rival Hillsdale the title
See page 11
RUTH
MACELUCH,
Happy birthday and congratulations to Ruth Maceluch, who turned 102 on Nov. 29 and who, on Dec. 5, was recognized with a day in her honor. Mayor Danielle DiPaola posted on Dec. 12 that although Mrs. Maceluch was unable to attend the meeting, her grandson, Steven, was on hand to accept the boroughʼs proclamation on her behalf. “Many Emerson residents continue to live vibrant and active lives after reaching the 100-year mark and we are always grateful and happy to celebrate their life and history,” DiPaola said. Certainly in Mrs. Maceluchʼs case there is plenty to celebrate. The borough noted Mrs. Maceluch, a resident of Emerson for more than 50 years, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Nov. 29,
See RUTH on page 134
COUNCIL LOOK TO FUTURE
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
WHO BLAZED A TRAIL, GETS HER OWN DAY
BY JOHN SNYDER OF PASCACK PRESS
BOROUGH PLANNERS, Work progresses on downtown revitalization initiative; steps laid out with next century in view
EMERSON
Longtime Emersonian turns 102, is honored in family-town fanfare
HILLSDALE
C
With a league title win Nov. 18 at Pascack Hills High School, this is the River Vale Raiders’ sixth BCJFL Super Bowl title in the past five years, across the Pee Wee, Junior, and Senior divisions. Carleen Gaskin photos. the playoffs.” Woodcliff Lake). ONGRATULATIONS TO the In the regular season finale, The league includes the PasRiver Vale Raiders Pee Wee football team, win- cack Valley and Creskill, Closter, Kabobjian said, the 5-2 Raiders ners of the Bergen County Junior Haworth, Northvale, Old Tappan, played a near-flawless game to Football Leagueʼs annual Super Glen Ridge, Montclair, Bloom- beat the 5-2 NVOT Eagles, Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 18 at Pas- field, South Orange, Garfield, 19-0, earning the No. 3 seed in Norwood, Harrington Park, the Bergen County Junior Footcack Hills High School. This is River Vale Raidersʼ Waldwick, Midland Park, and ball Leagueʼs playoffs. “The Raiders traveled to sixth BCJFL Super Bowl title in Dumont. According to Raider coach Cresskill on a cold November the past five years across the Peewee, Junior, and Senior Divi- Richard Kabobjian, “River Vale night and once again took care of found its stride and peaked at the business. The defensive line— sions. The game was played right time of the season. After a Jason Ward, Jackson Ward, Jackagainst the scrappy Hillsdale late season upset loss, the Raiders Continued on page 30 Hawks (Hillsdale, Montvale, faced a must-win game to get into 4SCREENSHOT DETAIL VIA WCTV-NJ
Against the backdrop of this 125th anniversary year of celebration, Fran Reiner of DMR Architects presented to council on Dec. 5 a revitalization plan proposing large portions of downtown as an area in need of rehabilitation. Reiner presented in March to the Planning Board and received recommendations on the rehabilitation plan. Although council is not required to follow the boardʼs recommendations, the governing body agreed to add five properties recommended by the Planning Board. Members disagreed with plannersʼ suggestion to exclude St. John The Baptist Church properties from the proposed rehabilitation zone. The Planning Board recommended including George G. White Middle School; the Maher Field property; and contiguous properties such as 90–96 Patterson St., 80 Patterson St., and 36 Orchard St.
See HILLSDALE on page 144
CHIEF CALAMARI
B ck in time...
Township of Washington Police Capt. John Calamari has accepted an offer to become the town’s next chief of police, replacing fellow department veteran Richard Skinner. PAGE 19
Deck the halls of Westwood High School: it was time for the social event of the season, the annual Christmas Dance, back on a starry night in 1954. PAGE 4