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 1
Happy Holi
MARCH 20, 2023
‘HELAYNE’S BOND LOSS ‘COMES AS A FIGHTER’ A BLOW,’ Hugs, a granddaughter 20 years after dramatic rescue HILLSDALE
SAYS SUPT.
Lombardy predicts another referendum; lively turnout on middle school question; official tally March 27
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
Woodcliff Lake residents celebrate the Hindu festival of colors, love, and spring. PAGE 33
TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON
FROM ‘CHARLIE BROWN’S’ TO A CAMP, ZBA welcomes Apple Montessori to town; landmark at Paramus line to see new life
PRESCHOOL
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS
The Zoning Board of Adjustment on March 13 approved a 154-student private Apple Montessori School preschool for 95 Linwood Ave., nearly 15 months after the township attempted to buy the 1.5-acre site for public use. The application was approved at its first and only hearing before
See PRESCHOOL on page 144
T
At Park Ridge Police Headquarters on March 8, 20 years after a dramatic rescue: Chief Joseph Madden, Lt. Peter Mauro, Joel Fried, Bailie Fried, Amie Simon Fried, Helayne Simon, Capt. Joseph Rampolla, and Sgt. Anthony DiBlasi. PRPD photo. BY JOHN SNYDER OF PASCACK PRESS HE POLICE DEPARTMENT
describes it as “a miracle 20 years ago this month in Park Ridge,” and it rings absolutely true: tragedy turned miracle turned unexpected and beloved new family. On March 6, 2003 a lateseason sleet storm creates icy driving conditions in Park Ridge. Amid the elements a
woman, 46, from Tenafly, loses control of her 2002 Camry on Brae Boulevard, slides off the snowy road and down a 15-foot embankment, then smacks into a boulder. Physics flips her car over and she splashes down in a creek, where frigid water surges up, around, through the sunroof. The driver drowns. She goes into cardiac arrest. On March 8, 2023, the department says, “Thanks to witnesses, good Samaritans,
and police, she was pulled from the car and revived by officers. Helayne Simon, the victim, came to our headquarters today with her family to thank us again for coming to her aid 20 years ago. We met her 3-yearold granddaughter, her daughter, and son-in-law today. What a special visit by a very special woman and her family. We are so glad to have a true friend in Helayne.”
Continued on page 22
By a nearly 2-1 margin, local voters defeated the $82.7 million school bond referendum to replace the century-old George G. White Middle School, despite a continuous communication and outreach effort for months by school officials to make the case that a new school was needed for local students. Late on Tuesday, March 14, Borough Clerk Denise Kohan told Pascack Press that unofficial vote numbers showed the “yes” or “no” vote to replace the middle school at 1,947 votes against and 1,114 votes in favor. Approximately 63.7 percent voted no and 36.3 percent voted yes. On March 15, Superintendent Robert Lombardy told Pascack Press, “I am personally disappointed by the outcome of the referendum because it means delaying a solution for what many, many people acknowledge as a problem for Hillsdale. But beyond me, I know that this comes as a blow to the Board of Education, our citizens committee, the staff and most of all
See BOND on page 254
COURT OF HONOR
B ck in time...
Congratulations and job well done to Hillsdale Boy Scout Troop 109’s Brady Williams, Michael Pizzella, and Dylan Minneker.
Mail call: Kristin Beuscher delivers a report on a postcard showing Park Ridge’s Century Hook & Ladder firehouse as it appeared 120 years ago. PAGE 4
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