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 41
DECEMBER 25, 2023
Soccer USED TOYS where standout they’re SO NEEDED
PARK RIDGE
KUDOS TO PRPD
ROOKIE PVHS Environmental Clubʼs win–win tradition JULIA MANNING
First female officer in borough was a leading voice, and scholarship recipient, on DARE
Emerson High School graduate Gia Mandile makes First-Team All NCAA D-2 Eastern Region. PAGE 17
BY JOHN SNYDER OF PASCACK PRESS
PASCACK VALLEY
‘TIS THE SEASON FOR GIVING (GRANT AWARDS)
Township of Washington, Park Ridge lead in valley on Bergen County Open Space funds
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
A unanimous Bergen County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 13 approved slightly more than $2.1 million in Open Space grant funding for 14 towns in the Pascack and Northern valleys. Among the largest grants in the Pascack Valley: $550,000 for land acquisition of 450 Pascack Road in Washington Township, and $412,150 for historic preservation of the train station in Park
See GRANTS on page 94
T
Back to front and left to right: Vincent Torres, Jake Wawra, Brayden Ottomonelli, Tyler Seferian, Jake Wawra, Mrs. Michela Piccoline (advisor), Ethan Platt, Eric Welter, Charlotte Moy, Liv Carpenter, Brianna Deutsch, Isabella Manessis, Madeline Wu, Sophia Mordekahy, Jenna Arregui, Katelynn Park, Alexa Commerford, Luke Dargan, Nick Giordano, Sophia Donofrio,Aleaxandra Siller, and Isabelle Witkowski. Via Mary C. Doherty, mathematics teacher and PVHS publicity advisor. HE PASCACK Valley High School Environmental Club has joined for a ninth time with the nonprofit organization Second Chance Toys “to keep used toys out of landfills and instead brighten the holidays of children in underserved areas of the state.” This December, PVHS Environmental Club members
donated more than 250 used toys to deserving children. 4COURTESY PHOTO
Each year, as the club tells Pascack Press, Second Chance Toys pairs Pascack Valley High School with a local homeless shelter, womenʼs shelter, or house of worship in an area of need. This yearʼs toys were donated to the Sayad Community Center in Newark. “The benefits of our toy drive are twofold. We can bring Continued on page 30
Her career move was inevitable and wonderful. Naturally, residents and others, when the Park Ridge Police Department invited congratulations for its newest officer— also its first female officer, and a proven ally of the boroughʼs families and schoolchildren—jumped at the chance. Posting Dec. 15, the department said, “We are thrilled to announce and congratulate Julia Manning on her recent graduation from the Bergen County Police Academy! We are incredibly proud to have Julia as part of our team, and we are confident that she will excel in her duties while fostering positive relationships within our community.” The department said, “Please join us in congratulating Julia Manning on her graduation and welcoming her to the Park Ridge Police Department!” Nearly 80 folks did so within days, adding their cheers, warm wishes, and, in Melanie EhrhartPowersʼ words, “Congratulations
See KUDOS on page 194
FROM THE HEART
B ck in time...
Generous Knights of Columbus Councils in Northern New Jersey come through anew for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots program. PAGE 8
More than 200 years’ worth of Christmases have been celebrated at the Pascack Reformed Church, the earliest church in the Pascack Valley. PAGE 4