PASCACKPRESS 3.30.26

DIVISION CHAMPS GET THEIR DUE DIVISION CHAMPS GET THEIR DUE

2025 Varsity Owls Showed True Grit On, Off Field; Fanfare Delayed by Weather

HILLSDALE

$3.5M INCREASE ON

School board approves 10%-plus boost as catch-up PARK RIDGE

CHEERSAS BOROUGH LANDS NJ NOD ON FORESTRY PLAN

ʻMajor milestoneʼ on stewardship in Park Ridge

BY JOHN SNYDER OF PASCACK PRESS

The borough has received state approval for its 2025–2029 Community Forestry Management Plan, a designation local officials say strengthens the boroughʼs approach to tree care while opening the door to grant funding, technical support, and long-range planning.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection approval places Park Ridge among a limited number of municipalities statewide that meet standards for managing tree canopy through structured planning, training, and reporting.

See PLAN on page 36

THE PARK RIDGE Board of Education recently honored the Park Ridge High School varsity football team for its championship 2025 season.

The Owls finished with a 4-1 league record to capture the division title, capping a rollicking season school officials said was marked by resilience, discipline, and strong leadership on and off the field.

The recognition, delayed by winter storms, brought together board members,

Continued on page 2

SPRING FLING SET

BYMICHAELOLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS

The Hillsdale school board on March 23 approved a $3.5 million increase to the George G. White Middle School renovation contract, pushing the Dobco Inc. agreement from $33,557,000 to $37,057,700 as the district works to keep the project on track for a September 2027 opening.

School trustees voted 4-0, with member Justin Saxon absent, to approve the added cost, which officials said reflects both unanticipated construction work and added expenses tied to an accelerated project schedule.

According to Resolution 2BG, $1.8 million of the increase will pay for demolition and replacement of the multipurpose room floor slab, along with associated concrete block walls, foundation walls, footings and related soil and fill work. The resolution says that work was not part of the original scope and will be completed under plans prepared by project architect DiCara Rubino.

See BOOST on page 5

This week we go back a century. The new temple of Fulton Friendship Lodge No. 102 had just risen on Magnolia Avenue—now called Kinderkamack Road. Kristin Beuscher reports.

PAGE 4

Judge:No commenting on mayor’s page for now

BY MICHAELOLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS

A Superior Court judge ruled March 16 that a petition to immediately restore Park Ridge resident Howard Fredricsʼability to comment on Mayor Michael Ghassaliʼs Facebook page was “denied,” although Fredricsʼlawsuit against the mayor could proceed.

Fredrics, chairman at PKRGTV serving the Borough of Park Ridge, filed a lawsuit March 3 in Superior Court against Ghassali, alleging that Ghassaliʼs blocking of him from his page was a violation of his First Amendment rights. (See “Park Ridge resident

sues Montvale mayor over Facebook blocking” by Michael Olohan, March 12, 2026, at thepressgroup.net.)

Asked to comment on the judgeʼs decision to deny Fredricsʼ request to have his ability to comment on the page restored, Ghassali said he was “not going to comment.” It remains unclear whether Ghassali had been officially served with Fredricsʼlawsuit. He told us he had not when we reached him for comment for our breaking news story.

Superior Court Judge John OʼDwyer ruled March 16 that Fredricsʼattorney had failed to prove “irreparable harm” from Fredrics not being allowed to comment on the mayorʼs Facebook page. He said Fredrics had

waited nearly a year to file for “injunctive relief” and had not demonstrated that he was precluded from exercising his right to free speech on the boroughʼs Facebook page.

OʼDwyer wrote that Fredrics “failed to demonstrate a reasonable probability of success on the merits,” noting there is a dispute over whether the Mayor Mike Ghassali Facebook page is a personal page or a government page, as Fredrics contends.

Fredricsʼattorney, Kathleen Redpath-Perez, told us, “In practical terms, it [the ruling] means the Court declined to grant immediate, short-term relief in the form of restoring access while the case is pending. Importantly, this ruling is limited to that preliminary issue.”

Redpath-Perez underscored, “It does not address whether Plaintiffʼs constitutional rights were violated. Those issues remain open and will be developed through discovery and ultimately decided on the merits. While this was obviously a disap-

pointing result, it does not affect the viability of the case or the path forward.”

Fredrics contends that the Mayor Mike Ghassali Facebook page is an official government page, not a personal page as Ghassali holds, and should be open to all public commenters.

Fredricsʼlawsuit alleges Ghassali barred him from the Mayor Mike Ghassali Facebook page in March 2025 after he made comments with which the mayor disagreed. These included Ghassaliʼs declaration of a drone “nofly zone” over Montvale, his decision to raise the boroughʼs U.S. flag to full staff for Donald J.

Trumpʼs second inauguration despite the overlapping mourning period for former President Jimmy Carter, and questions the mayor posted about immigration data.

Ghassali on March 20 took to his Facebook page to complain that four news outlets, including ours, “missed the mark” by not immediately reporting the judgeʼs March 16 decision on Fredricsʼrequest. The borough attorney apprised us of the decision Wednesday afternoon, several hours after our print deadline. Ghassali followed up, “When itʼs all over, I will have more to say.”

administrators, coaches, players, and families to celebrate the teamʼs accomplishment. A special acknowledgment was also given to the Class of 2026, whose members were credited with helping lead the Owls to the title and leaving a strong example for the program moving forward.

ARMENIANASSISTEDLIVING PROPOSALNEXTHEARING APRIL 9

BY MICHAELOLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS

EMERSON

A fourth hearing on a proposed 122-unit assisted living facility at the 3.5-acre Armenian Nursing Home site is set for Thursday, April 9 at 8 p.m. at Borough Hall, 146 Linwood Ave.

The hearing is expected to focus on traffic impacts and zoning issues. The prior March 19 session was canceled and rescheduled, according to Land Use Board Secretary Marie Shust. Testimony April 9 is expected from a traffic expert, planner and Aviva

Senior Livingʼs chief operating officer.

It remains unclear whether Aviva is purchasing the site or leasing it from applicant Armenian Home for the Aged Inc.

Residents have raised concerns about the projectʼs impact on emergency services, infrastructure and property taxes. The former nursing home, which closed in April 2021, operated as a taxexempt nonprofit. The borough and Armenian Home Foundation remain in Tax Court over unresolved tax appeals from 2022 through 2025.

A key issue is whether prior

“conditional use” zoning approvals— including a 40-foot height allowance granted to the former nursing home—apply to the new proposal. Board planner Caroline Reiter has questioned that assumption, noting the siteʼs R-7.5 zoning may instead limit height to 32 feet.

The previous facility had 86 beds; the proposed development would include 122 units across three stories (described by the applicant as 2? stories).

Several variances are also being sought, including for building height, floor area ratio and parking dimensions.

Westwood Woman’s Club

WESTWOOD — The GFWC/NJSFWC Westwood Womanʼs Club presented a $2,000 donation to American Legion Post 0206 during its March meeting, funds raised through the clubʼs Dueling Pianos fundraiser.

Second Vice President Jennifer Sirchio presented the check, which was accepted by Post Commander Eddie Dondello on behalf of the American Legion.

Dondello said the American Legion, founded in 1919, is dedicated to supporting veterans, mentoring youth, promoting patriotism, and sponsoring community programs. He added that the organization also works to support its own members in need while contributing to charitable causes, including local police and fire associations

and military organizations. For information on membership and club projects, call (201)

Madeleine Ciocco

Montvale’s Paul Sullivan was recognized as this year’s labor honoree at Cardinal Joseph W Tobin’s annual Business & Labor Recognition Reception.

RECEPTION HONORING

MONTVALE’S SULLIVAN RAISES $260K FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS

MONTVALE

A reception honoring Montvaleʼs Thomas J. Sullivan, president of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 164 and a Bergen County commissioner, raised $260,000 for youth programming across the Archdiocese of Newark.

Sullivan was recognized as this yearʼs labor honoree at Cardinal Joseph W. Tobinʼs annual Business & Labor Recognition Reception, which brings together leaders from organized labor and the business community in support of the archdioceseʼs Catholic Youth Organization and Retreat Center in Kearny.

The fundraiser supports recreational, spiritual, and communitybased programs that serve thousands of young people each year.

Organizers said Sullivan was

See SULLIVAN on page 7

Bckintime... Bckintime...

History sealed in stone

BY KRISTIN BEUSCHER

PRESS

HIS SATURDAY, April 3, is likely to be an occasion long remembered in Park Ridge and vicinity, as the one on which the Masonic Temple cornerstone is to be laid,” reads an article in the Park Ridge Local published on that date in 1926.

SPECIALTO PASCACK PRESS

By Kristin Beuscher, president of the Pascack Historical Society, Park Ridge

Masonry’s humble beginnings at Pascack

Call (201) 573-0307 or visit PascackHistoricalSociety.org

“A copy of this paper is to be placed in the box and sealed in the cornerstone. If ever it is read by the future generation, it may be as old and as far behind that distant day as King Tut is today.”

This week we go back a century. The new temple of Fulton Friendship Lodge No. 102 had just risen on Magnolia Avenue—now called Kinderkamack Road. The large stucco building with its grand front entrance was then, and still is, one of the most impressive

See BIT on page 30

Beginning in 1870, the seven charter members of Friendship Lodge met on the second floor of a woodworking shop off Main Street (Pascack Road) in Park Ridge. Illustration courtesy Pascack Historical Society.

Boost:

The other $1.7 million will pay Dobco to implement and maintain a “Project Recovery Schedule” intended to make up for early delays and deliver the building in time for the start of the 2027-28 school year.

Under that recovery schedule, the district is to gain access to portions of the building by June 15, 2027, and to remaining portions, including the new six-classroom addition, by July 15, 2027. The contract also calls for substantial completion and a temporary certificate of occupancy by Aug. 7, 2027, with final project completion by Sept. 30, 2027.

The resolution says the proj-

ect suffered a 91-day delay at the outset after a local construction official declined to review or approve project specifications, forcing the district to seek oversight from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

In a March 21 update to the community, Superintendent Robert Lombardy said the board made a “strategic decision” to unearth and remove existing foundations and floor slab in the multipurpose room area, though they had originally been expected to remain. He said the district concluded that full removal would help recover lost time and keep the project moving.

Lombardy also said the asbestos abatement schedule was expedited by removal of the boilers, allowing construction crews improved site access.

The superintendentʼs update

did not mention the added project costs. Residents approved a $62.4 million bond referendum in September 2024 to renovate the century-old school after a referendum failed in 2023, and district officials completed final bond borrowing in December 2025.

In related action March 23, the board approved a $9,733.84 change order for plumbing and electrical connections for temporary heat, with the cost deducted from a $900,000 general allowance. That leaves the allowance balance at $889,292.78.

Trustees also approved contract modifications for T&M Associates totaling $6,030 for additional asbestos sampling and for revised boiler room specifications and abatement drawings, increasing that contract to $214,480.

The board approved four change orders for asbestos abate-

ment contractor B&G Restoration totaling $97,080 for emergency cleanup, additional asbestos removal, and related work.

The board also adopted a preliminary 2026–27 budget of $34,301,410, including a general fund tax levy of $26,832,688. The proposal includes an $821,666 adjustment for increased health benefit costs and now goes to the Bergen County executive superintendent for review ahead of a final public hearing scheduled for April 27.

More at thepressgroup.net

WESTWOOD—A 20-yearold Westwood resident pleaded guilty March 24 in Rockland County Court to first-degree murder and two counts of seconddegree murder in the 2025 killings of his two aunts in Spring Valley, N.Y., according to Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II.

Alan Abad, also known as Alina Abad, admitted causing the

deaths of Evelyn Aguilar-Agustin and Anabelly Aguilar on Feb. 15, 2025, at a home on Gesner Drive, prosecutors said. The DAʼs office said both women died from blunt force trauma.

Abad is scheduled to be sentenced June 22 and faces 25 years to life in state prison. Prosecutors said they recommended the maximum sentence of life without parole.

Westwood moves to preserve housing immunity

BY MICHAELOLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS

Westwood officials have moved to protect the borough from builderʼs remedy exposure, adopting a new affordable housing overlay zone and related compliance measures even as major disputes remain over how much housing the borough must realistically accommodate—and what may ultimately rise on a contested downtown tract.

The Borough Council on March 13 approved Ordinance 26-08 and three related resolutions tied to the boroughʼs fourthround affordable housing obligations for the 2025–2035 cycle.

Borough officials have said the plan has been deemed “conditionally constitutionally compli-

ant,” but they warned that failure t o meet the stateʼs March 15 deadline would have jeopardized Westwoodʼs immunity from builderʼs remedy lawsuits.

U nder builderʼs remedy exposure, municipal officials say, courts could gain far greater power to determine where and at what density housing may be built.

At the center of the boro ughʼs latest action is a new AHO-3 affordable housing overlay zone applying to Block 907, Lots 2, 3, 4, 5 and 18. The ordinance says the zone is intended to encourage mixed-use low- and

moderate-income housing t hrough inclusionary development, while also allowing developers the option of building under the underlying Central B usiness District zoning standards. Maximum density is capped at 32 dwelling units per acre.

The ordinance also includes detailed engineering, landscaping, architectural and building standards for construction in the overlay zone.

The council also adopted t hree additional resolutions to support the boroughʼs compliance posture: Resolution 26-95 endorsing Westwoodʼs amended ourth-round housing and spending plan; Resolution 26-96 verifying the boroughʼs intent to ond in the event of an affordable housing funding shortfall; and Resolution 26-97 adopting an affirmative marketing plan for local affordable units prepared by Stephen Weinberg.

fourth resolution, 26-98, expressed the councilʼs opposition to the stateʼs amended 2024 Fair Housing Act, which requires municipalities to rezone to address affordable housing obli-

Westwood is one of 29 municipalities in a coalition led by Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali challenging the amended law

According to the article, efforts to halt fourth-round deadlines have so far been unsuccessful.

The boroughʼs immediate legal and planning challenge is not simply whether it must comply, but how its obligation should be calculated. Mayor Ray Arroyo said Fair Share Housing Center objected to Westwoodʼs initial overlay approach, arguing it failed to create an opportunity to address 25% of the boroughʼs “unmet need.”

A rroyo said Westwoodʼs third-round realistic development potential, or RDP, was one affordable unit and that its fourthround “undisputed” RDP is zero because the borough has no vacant land available for future development.

Under the interpretation supported by Fair Share Housing Center, however, 25% of Westwoodʼs unmet need—235 units— would require zoning for 59 units. Under the boroughʼs preferred interpretation, 25% would be calculated from RDP instead, yielding zero units.

In plain terms, the unresolved fight is whether Westwood must zone for dozens of affordable units despite having little or no vacant land, or whether its vacant-land constraints sharply limit what the borough must provide.

Arroyo and Council President Lauren Letizia argued that the vacant land adjustment is meant to prevent overdevelopment that would ignore local land constraints and sound planning principles.

Arroyo also said the legal dispute over how “unmet need” should be calculated is unlikely to be resolved before the compliance deadlines imposed by the state.

Even so, Arroyo said the b oroughʼs overlay ordinances already account for the 59 units that would be required if Fair Shareʼs interpretation prevails.

Also unresolved is the fate of a proposed roughly 300-unit development at 349 Broadway and 1 Westwood Ave., where the borough remains in litigation over a related eminent domain action. Two intervenors and a developer remain involved in the dispute, while Westwood is pursuing acquisition of part of t he property for additional downtown parking.

If the borough succeeds in that action, officials say the developable portion of the site would be reduced from 1.87 acres to 0.97 acre. Under the affordable housing plan, that smaller tract would be limited to a maximum of 31 residential units in a mixed-use format, with retail on the ground floor and residences above.

The eminent domain case remains pending in Superior Court.

Grants top $1.1M; $600K brook award pending

BY MICHAELOLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS

TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON

Township Administrator Mark DiCarlo told council March 23 that a recently announced $600,000 federal grant for Musquapsink Brook streambank restoration is part of more than $1.1 million in grants received, pending, or applied for by the township over the past year.

DiCarlo said the Community Project Funding grant, secured through Rep. Josh Gottheimerʼs office, will help pay for repairs along the brook, including shoal removal, bank erosion repairs, and stabilization of exposed sanitary

Sullivan:

FROM PAGE 4

selected in recognition of both his leadership in the trades and his broader record of public service.

A lifelong Bergen County resident, Sullivan began his career as an apprentice electrician with IBEW Local 164, rising through the ranks to journeyman electrician before being elected vice president in 2010 and president in 2013. He continues to lead the union, which represents electrical workers across the region.

In addition to his labor leadership, Sullivan has served on the Bergen County Board of Commissioners since 2015, including terms as chairman and vice chairman. His committee assignments have spanned areas including public works, transportation, law and public safety, and shared services. He also serves as president of the Bergen County Building Trades.

U.S. history trivia night

April 26

Apropos of the 250th anniversary of the United States this year, the Friends of the Westwood Library will host an American History Trivia Night on Sunday, April 26.

The 21-and-over event begins with doors opening at 5 p.m., followed by trivia at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $50, with a discounted $40 rate available for active Friends volunteers. Light fare, wine and beer will be served.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the library (or its website, westwoodpubliclibrary.org) or scan the QR code on event materials.

line manholes.

He thanked Gottheimer and township grant writer David Biunno of GLD Associates for helping secure the funding.

A contract for the brook work is expected to be awarded April 6 to Downes Tree Service, the lowest responsible bidder, at $669,280. The project would stabilize streambanks near two severely eroded concrete sanitary manholes.

DiCarlo also said the township is working with the Rutgers University Water Resources Program on Phase 2 of a state-mandated Watershed Improvement Plan due to NJDEP by Jan. 1, 2027. He estimated the partnership could save taxpayers between

In 2021, Sullivan was nominated by Gov. Phil Murphy and confirmed by the New Jersey Senate to serve on the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Finance Authority.

Organizers said the annual reception highlights the shared role of labor and business leaders in strengthening communities, with proceeds directed toward programs that provide mentorship, recreation, and faith-based experiences for young people throughout the archdiocese.

For Sullivan, the recognition reflects a career rooted in the trades and extended through public service—linking workforce leadership with ongoing investment in the next generation.

$10,000 and $50,000.

Among pending applications, DiCarlo listed $153,550 for a Memorial Field walking path through the 2026 Local Recreation Improvement Grant program; $80,000 in county Open Space funds for improvements at Memorial and Clark, including

ADA-compliant playground upgrades, seating, ramps, and parking; and $182,320 through the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant program for a mass notification system. Other grants in progress include $19,600 in county Community Development Block Grant

funds for ADA improvements at the library patio area, $10,370 from Firehouse Subs for a firefighter training prop door, a snowstorm reimbursement request to the state, and a $15,000 Recreation Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities grant application.

•

•

Pascack Press

Local Author Spotlight

HOBOKENHOLDS a unique place in American history that few cities its size can match — a one-square-mile stage where industry, immigration, invention and celebrity all took their turns.

River Vale author and journalist Joseph Lauro makes that case in “Lost Hoboken,” a 112page paperback published Nov. 11, 2025, by The History Press, an imprint of Arcadia Publishing. The book traces the cityʼs arc from a Dutch outpost to an Industrial Revolution hub s ynonymous with steampowered ships and trains — and, later, to a hardhit factory town that recovered into a bohemian enclave and a national model for urban renewal.

Lauro is a former newspaper reporter and magazine editor and writer who was born in Hoboken and later covered it as a journalist. A graduate of the University o f South Carolina College of J ournalism, his work has appeared in The New York Times, L os Angeles Times, Newsday, SoHo News, The Village Voice, New Jersey Monthly and The Sporting News, among other publications. He and his wife, Patricia Winters Lauro, are the parents

of three children, and the family has lived in River Vale for more than 30 years.

“I was lucky to be working in Hoboken just as it transitioned from a working class place to the sixth borough of NYC,” Lauro said. “A really exciting time.”

He said he began the project for todayʼs newcomers — including one of his daughters — who know the Hoboken of brownstones and bustling Washington Street, but may not have a feel for the earlier city of docks, factories, tenements and tough-edged neighborhoods.

“At the same time my publisher, The History Press, had a new imprint of books … designed to tell a cityʼs past by things that w ere no longer there,” Lauro said. “So it was a good match.”

In “Lost Hoboken,” Lauro moves from the cityʼs early days into the building of its neighborhoods and institutions, then into the pastimes and public spaces that helped define it. He writes about the waterfront that made Hoboken a port of consequence, the transportation network that tied it to the region, and the industries that left the cityʼs name stamped on products far beyond New Jersey.

Among his favorite discover-

ies, he said, was how many things people still use — or still eat — trace back to Hoboken. Lauro points to inventions “from the ice cream cone to the zipper,” and notes the strong German influence that shaped a local culture of baked goods and candy-making, with products he cites ranging from Wonder Bread and Twinkies to Sno-Balls and Tootsie Rolls.

H e also highlights Hobokenʼs role as a gathering place for famous visitors and residents across eras. Lauro notes that the city hosted luminaries including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Jacob Astor, P.T. Barnum and Edgar Allan Poe.

“Everyone knows Frank Sinatra was born there,” he said, “but so were two of the greatest photographers ever — Alfred Stieglitz and Dorothea Lange.”

H obokenʼs history, he argues, isnʼt just colorful — it is nationally consequential. Lauro writes that when Germanyʼs luxury liners and cargo ships began calling in the 1860s, Hoboken became known as a “German” city whose waterfront connections helped spread the cityʼs name around the world. During World War I, he said, Hoboken was the main embarkation point for American soldiers sailing to

France. He also touches on the cityʼs enduring reputation as a place where people came to cut loose. During Prohibition, Lauro said, Hoboken was known “far and w ide” as a place where you could still get a drink at nearly any hour — “not unlike today.”

A recurring theme is what h as vanished — and what remains if you know where to l ook. Lauro writes about the famed Elysian Fields, which he said served as a green haven for New Yorkers through much of the 19th century, long before Central Park was created. While Hoboken has “lost” historical buildings and businesses over time, Lauro said, it still offers “an incredible amount of living history if you look closely enough.”

The book is organized into nine chapters: “Early Days,” “Building a Community and a Castle,” “Sports and Recreation,” “On the Waterfront,” “Creating a Transportation Network,” “Made in Hoboken,” “A World War Comes to the Mile Square City,” “A Taste of Hoboken,” and “An Entertaining Place.”

Lauro said he has been asked to do a reading at the Hoboken Historical Museum. “Lost Hoboken” is available at select Barnes & Noble stores, on Amazon and online through The History Press.

Book info

Title: “Lost Hoboken”

Author: Joseph Lauro

Publisher: The History Press (Arcadia Publishing)

Publication date: Nov. 11, 2025

Pages: 112

ISBN: 9781467159463

Format: Paperback

Storied 450 Pascack Road nears demolition

BY MICHAELOLOHAN OF PASCACK PRESS

TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON

Township officials expect to move soon on asbestos removal and demolition at the deteriorating homestead at 450 Pascack Road, while also advancing funding for a major Musquapsink Brook restoration project.

Administrator Mark DiCarlo told the council March 23 that contractor pricing was being gathered for asbestos remediation recently found at 450 Pascack Road. He said the work could be done before or as part of demolition of the siteʼs house and barn.

Officials expect the cost to come in below the municipal bid threshold, about $17,500.

DiCarlo said Beckmeyer Engineering had received the asbestos report and was seeking quotes from contractors experienced in safe asbestos removal and demolition. The materials could be removed in bulk or piecemeal, depending on cost.

The asbestos work follows lead-soil remediation completed behind the house in late January under a nearly $29,000 contract with Renova Environmental Company. Those costs were paid from a $250,000 sellerʼs escrow account established when the township bought the property in

May 2025.

The house and barn remain in hazardous condition. The homeʼs front porch roof has mostly collapsed, the main roof appears to sag, and the barn roof has largely caved in. Officials have urged residents to stay away.

In response to a question from Councilman Michael Ullman, DiCarlo said a $66,000 state Department of Community Affairs local recreation improvement grant will cover demolition and removal of the two structures.

Separately, council introduced an ordinance appropriating $100,000 from capital fund balance to cover the local share of a Musquapsink Brook restoration project estimated at about $700,000. The remaining

MEDIA SALES ASSOCIATE

Join our ever growing sales team as as Sales Associate for the Pascack Press, Northern Valley Press North and South and near future publications. Applicants should be self-starters with drive to succeed. In this position, you will sell advertising space to new and existing accounts into our weekly newspapers and various other publications as well as digital media. Responsibilities will also include cold calling, outside sales and excellent customer service. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 201-664-2105 OR SEND RESUME TO: jobs@thepressgroup.net

The Township of Washington had been trying to acquire 450 Pascack Road, abutting Memorial Field, since the tenure of late mayor Janet Sobkowicz. Asbestos removal and demolition are on the horizon. File.

$600,000 will come from a federal grant secured by Rep. Josh Gottheimer.

When bids were opened March 12, the lowest was Downes Tree Service: $669,280. Bids ranged $894,000 to $2.3 million.

Councilman Tom Sears ques-

tioned whether the low bidder had fully assessed the site, including possible hidden piping near the streambank. DiCarlo said Boswell Engineering had worked with the contractor on similar large-scale projects and would likely provide a letter detailing the scope of work when the bid is awarded.

The project grew out of a “critical sanitary issue” identified in February 2023, when a township-funded drone study found two sanitary manholes severely eroded by stream scouring after heavy storm runoff.

TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON — Westwood Regional Middle School welcomed back author and Marine Corps veteran Craig Grossi on March 12 for a day of storytelling, reflection, and student engagement centered on what he calls “stubborn positivity.”

Grossi, author of the bestselling memoir Craig & Fred, spoke to more than 400 sixth- and eighth-grade students, building on

a visit last year that resonated strongly with the school community.

The timing aligned closely with the curriculum: sixth graders recently completed a unit on Craig & Fred, while eighth graders are working on memoir-writing projects focused on self-reflection and personal growth.

“It was truly an honor to spend the day with the students and staff of Westwood,” Grossi said.

Bethany Community Pool Programs

605 Pascack Rd. Twp. Of Washington, NJ Email:bethanycommunitypool@gmail.com

“The emphasis on self-reflection through writing is a life skill that will serve these students long after theyʼve graduated.”

Grossi, who served in Afghanistan, shared the story that launched his writing career: his encounter with a stray dog named Fred while deployed in Sangin in 2010, and his effort to bring the dog home to the United States. The experience became the foundation of his books and ongoing outreach work.

•

• Reliable post-surgical & chronic wound management with, dressing management, and infection surveillance

•

Healing At Home Starts With The Right Specialist

•

•

Beyond the large-group presentation, the visit included a smaller “Lunch with the Author” session, where students met with Grossi in a more personal setting. Educators said the format created space for deeper conversations, particularly among students who may not typically participate in class discussions.

Teachers observed that students were unusually open in sharing their own experiences and making connections to Grossiʼs story.

The visit was organized by WRMS teacher Melissa Martone, who has developed an ongoing professional relationship with Grossi.

“Our memoir unit digs into self-exploration and developing character,” Martone said. “This was an incredible opportunity to have students see those aspects in Craigʼs story.”

She added that the impact was

immediate, with students engaging more openly in discussions about their writing and personal experiences following the visit.

Westwood Regional School District serves students in Westwood and the Township of Washington.

MONTVALE — St. Joseph Regional High Schoolʼs performing arts program will bring the Tony Award–winning musical Come From Away to its stage this May, pairing a student-led production with a series of events designed to deepen its connection to the reallife story behind the show.

The production, directed by Broadway performer Joseph DePietro (The Phantom of the Opera), with music direction by Richard Todd Adams (Phantom, Les Misérables, Cats) and choreography by Avery Sobczak (Hamilton), marks a milestone for the program: organizers say St. Joseph Regional is the first high school in New Jersey to stage the musical.

Come From Away recounts the true story of Gander, Newfoundland, where 38 planes carrying nearly 7,000 passengers were diverted on Sept. 11, 2001. As U.S. airspace shut down, the small Canadian town became an unexpected refuge, with residents housing, feeding, and supporting stranded travelers in the days that followed.

For St. Joseph Regional, the production is as much about context as performance.

“We look forward to welcoming audiences as we share this inspiring story of hope and humanity,” organizers said, noting that the

showʼs themes—compassion, resilience, and community—align closely with the schoolʼs mission.

To extend those themes beyond the stage, the program has built several special events into the run:

• First Responders Night (Thursday, May 7, 7 p.m.) — Firefighters, police officers, and EMS personnel will receive complimentary admission (with one guest). The evening will include a postperformance talkback featuring first responders who served during the 9/11 attacks.

•“People Who Inspired the Story” Night (Friday, May 8, 7 p.m.) — Individuals who were in Gander in the days following 9/11 are expected to attend and participate in a post-show panel discussion.

• Community engagement with charitable organizations

Representatives from local and 9/11-related charities will be pres-

ent during the run, offering opportunities for audiences to give back in the spirit of the days following the attacks.

• Motherʼs Day performance and brunch (Sunday, May 10) — A 1 p.m. show will be preceded by a brunch at 11:30 a.m.

• The production opens with a senior citizen preview on Wednesday, May 6 at 4 p.m. ($10, including a pre-show “nosh”).

Additional performances include a Saturday, May 9 matinee at 2 p.m. and evening show at 7 p.m., with general admission priced at $25 and student tickets at $15 for

select performances.

Tickets are available at SJR.BookTix.com.

St. Joseph Regionalʼs performing arts program draws student actors from more than 35 towns across New Jersey and New York, along with female performers from over 20 schools throughout the Tri-State Area.

The program has earned consistent recognition, including Best High School Musical at the Metropolitan Theater Awards for its 2024 production of L es Misérables and top honors at the Montclair State Theater Awards

for its 2023 staging of Clue With Come From Away, the program is taking on material that remains emotionally resonant a quarter-century after 9/11—asking student performers not only to carry a demanding ensemble piece, but to help audiences reflect on what organizers describe as “the people we were on 9/12.”

For information, contact Steven Laux at stevenalaux@gmail.com or Susan Van Buskirk, performing arts director, at vanbuskirks@sjrnj.org.

Scouts, volunteers ‘bee-gin’ pollinator project at Centennial

ON ACOLD-BRIGHT Saturday at the edge of spring, a small group of Scouts moved mulch, cleared beds, and helped lay the groundwork for something the borough has been talking about for years: a place for bees.

Members of Oradell Boy Scout Troop 36 — including several Emerson residents — partnered with the Emerson Environmental Commission on March 21 to begin establishing a pollinator habitat and apiary at Centennial

Members of Oradell Boy Scout Troop 36 and the Emerson Environmental Commission prepare a new pollinator habitat and apiary site at Centennial Park on March 21. Courtesy.

EISELE’S Nursery • Garden Center Nursery • Garden Center

Eisele’s Nursery and Garden Center has been a part of the Bergen County community for over 80 years. After four generations, the Eisele Family has made the very difficult decision to retire and permanently close. It has been our privilege to have gotten to know so many of you throughout the years. From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for being a part of our story.

Sincerely, T he Eisel e Fa mil y PARAMUS, NEW

JERSEY

Park.

For the roughly 10 Scouts who turned out, it was a return to outdoor service after a winter that kept many projects on hold. Their work was practical and immediate: transporting and spreading mulch, preparing the apiary site, and cleaning plots in the adjacent community garden.

But the project itself points to something longer-term.

Before getting to work, the Scouts received an introduction to honey bees — how a colony functions, why pollinators matter, and what the new site is intended to support. The borough-backed apiary is expected to host three honey bee colonies later this spring.

The idea of bringing managed hives to municipal property has circulated in Emerson for several years. With support from Mayor Danielle DiPaola and the Environmental Commission, it is now moving from concept to implementation.

Environmental Commission members Megan Quigley and Lindsay Verrico were on hand for the project, along with Scoutmaster Jeff Bernard and assistant scoutmasters Joe Verrico, Mike Davis, and Ashish Gupta.

The effort reflects a collaborative model the borough has leaned into: pairing local volun-

Fire Dep’t Dueling Pianos

The Montvale Volunteer Fire Department will hold its third annual Dueling Piano Night on Saturday, April 18, at fire headquarters, 35 W. Grand Ave.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner will be served at 6, and the show begins at 7. Presented by Shake, Rattle and Roll, the event will feature an all-request format with performers playing audi-

The Emerson Environmental Commission will host a fundraiser,“From Bees to Cheese,” on April 2 at the Emerson Senior Center to support installation of a protective fence around the apiary.The event will include a mozzarellamaking demo and a chance to meet the project’s volunteer beekeeper.

teers and youth with environmental initiatives that serve both educational and practical goals.

In this case, the benefits extend beyond the apiary itself. Officials said the hives are expected to improve pollination for the nearby Emerson Environmental Commission Community Garden while also creating opportunities for residents to learn about pollinators and sustainable practices.

The next step is already on the calendar.

The Environmental Commission will host a fundraiser, “From Bees to Cheese,” on April 2 at the Emerson Senior Center to support installation of a protective fence around the apiary. The event will include a live mozzarella-making demonstration and a chance to meet the projectʼs volunteer beekeeper.

That beekeeper, Emerson resident Sean Flannelly, has already installed empty hives at the site in preparation for the arrival of bees, expected in late April.

For now, the boxes sit quietly at Centennial Park — a visible sign that something is taking shape, with a little help from Scouts, volunteers, and a town willing to make room for it.

ence-selected songs, sing-alongs and crowd favorites.

Organizers describe the evening as part concert, part comedy and part cabaret.

Admission includes a hot buffet, beer, wine, soda, desserts and coffee. Tickets are $75 in advance and $90 at the door

Tickets may be purchased by cash, Venmo or Zelle. For more information, visit the Montvale Volunteer Fire Department Facebook page or email MONTVALEFD100@gmail.com.

To reserve tables for eight to 10, call Mike Sant Anna at 201819-8556.

Easter Celebration April 5, 2026 Easter Celebration April

Young scientists take over Brookside at record-setting fair

Hundreds packed Brookside Elementary School on March 24 as more than 220 students— kindergarten through fifth grade—turned classrooms into labs for the schoolʼs 11th annual Science Fair.

The PTO-sponsored event, now at a record level of participation, filled the building with experiments, displays, and the kind of questions that stop adults in their tracks: Can you see sound? How much weight can a Lego bridge hold? What do different drinks do to tooth enamel?

Students didnʼt just ask—

Left

third-grader

Avila and

Santiago; second-grader

Gomes; fifth-grader Lucas Palmieri; first-grader Thomas Akins; fifth-grader Andrew De Bonis; and kindergartener Kayden Herr. Brookside School photo.

they tested, built, measured, and explained, standing beside tri-fold boards and homemade contraptions as families, classmates, and teachers made their way through the exhibits.

Top honors, awarded by grade for projects demonstrating the scientific method, went to:

•Kindergarten: Kayden Herr, “What agent makes the best slime?”

•Grade 1: Thomas Akins, “How does DNA work?”

• Grade 2: Cecilia Gomes, “Can you see sound?”

•Grade 3: Xander Santiago, “Can magnets make things float?”

•Grade 4: Leah Avila and Everly Spoelstra, “How does the mass of an object affect another object?”

• Grade 5: Lucas Palmieri and Andrew De Bonis, “How do you tell time using a sundial?”

Additional awards recognized standout projects across categories including engineering, environmental science, biology, and food science—from drone weight limits to water filtration to extracting strawberry DNA.

Brookside Principal Christina

Lam told Pascack Press the night reflected something larger than a competition.

“It was wonderful to see the energy and curiosity filling Brooksideʼs halls,” she said. “Seeing our K–5 students transition from learners to mini-researchers is a testament to their bright futures.”

For many students, the fair marked a chance to present months of work—and for the community, a reminder of what early curiosity can look like when itʼs encouraged and shared.

School parent Lauren Letizia said online, “So proud of my ʻFuture Engineerʼ! Angie and James put in a ton of work on this project (with some guidance from the dads). Like so many engineers, they had many failures before their homemade drone could lift off, but their perseverance and patience learning about volts and the scientific process paid off with a win! Thanks for an awesome event, @brookside.pto.”

Winning projects will be on display at the Westwood Public Library through the first week of April.

Staff report

Sweet victory

PARKRIDGE

Palisades District Achievement Day, a New Jersey State Federation of Womenʼs Clubs competition, fairly cooked at the First Congregational Church recently.

Our correspondent says members showcased work across a range of artistic disciplines, including needlework, photography, baking, painting, flower arranging, and quilting.

The event provides an opportunity for participants to present their work for judging, with firstplace winners advancing to the NJSFWC Convention in Atlantic City this May for additional competition.

Madeleine Ciocco (pictured), a member of the GFWC/NJSFWC Womanʼs Club of Westwood — affiliated with the General Federation of Womenʼs Clubs and the New Jersey State Federation of Womenʼs Clubs — claimed first place for her microwave truffles, second place for a photograph of club members participating in a

volunteer project, and third place for cookies.

For more information call (201) 916-1580 or visit westwoodwomansclub.org.

Arts Walk and Wellness Fair seeks artists, vendors, sponsors

WESTWOOD—Celebrate Westwood Arts Hub and the Westwood Board of Health are seeking participants for the Westwood Arts Walk and Wellness Fair, set for Saturday, June 6, from noon to 4 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park.

Organizers invite local artists, musicians, and health and wellness professionals to apply to take part in the event. Applica-

Troop 80 pancacke breakfast

March 29

Park Ridge Boy Scout Troop 80 will hold its annual pancake breakfast on Sunday, March 29, at the Park Ridge Elks Lodge, 2234. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will feature pancakes, sausage, fruit salad, coffee, tea, milk and juice. Tickets are $10 per person, $8 for seniors, and free for children age 4 and under A takeout option is available with advance order.

The fundraiser will also include a tricky tray and 50/50 raffle. For more information, text 201694-0953 or email parkridgetroop80boyscouts@gmail.com.

t ions are available at celebratewestwood.org and will be accepted through April 30. Spons orship opportunities are also

Westwood police earn state reaccreditation

The Westwood Police Department has been re-accredited by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Chief Michael R. Pontillo announced.

The recognition reflects the departmentʼs compliance with professional standards in areas including policies, procedures, training, and overall performance. Department officials said accreditation is a rigorous process designed to ensure agencies meet or exceed established law enforcement best practices.

Pontillo credited the departmentʼs officers and staff for the achievement and thanked Westwood residents for their continued support.

available. There is no fee to apply, though artists and health vendors who plan to sell goods must pay a $20 vendor fee. Organizers said artists from the greater region are welcome, with preference given to Westwood residents of all ages. Participants will be featured on the event website and in social media promotions.

The free outdoor event is intended to highlight creativity and wellness in downtown Westwood. Plans include art, live acoustic music, wellness demonstrations, and opportunities for attendees to meet local artists, wellness professionals, and small businesses.

Its ArtsHub subcommittee has also led projects such as the

annual Gingerbread House Contest and the 2023 Yarn Bomb installation.

For artist, musician, or sponsorship information, email westwoodartshub@gmail.com.

For health vendor information, email westwoodhealthfestival@gmail.com or call the Westwood Department of Health at 201-664-7100, ext. 129.

Easter Celebration April 5, 2026 Easter Celebration April 5, 2026

Catering By Nick brings tailored, full-service dining to Pascack Valley events

Advertisement

INACROWDED c atering landscape, Catering By Nick has built a local reputation on customization, quality ingredients, and end-to-end service for events of all sizes.

Led by Chef Nick Gallo and based at 663 Westwood Ave., the company works with clients to design menus that fit the occasion—whether an intimate dinner, a holiday gathering, a wedding reception, or a corporate event.

T he approach emphasizes collaboration, with menus shaped around client preferences, event themes, and guest needs.

Catering By Nick offers a range of services beyond traditional event catering. Its fullservice option includes menu planning, food preparation, and on-site staff for everything from cocktail parties to large-scale celebrations. For smaller or

more personal settings, the company also offers a private chef experience, bringing a restaurant-style meal directly into the home.

That private-chef option can also serve as a thoughtful gift: a way to treat parents, thank a boss, celebrate a couple welcoming a new baby, or simply e ase the burden on someone going through a difficult season.

The idea is simple—tailor a menu to the moment and take the stress out of dinner for someone whoʼs appreciate it.

A separate meal prep service offers ready-to-eat options focused on convenience and balanced nutrition.

A taste of Easter With Easter approaching, Catering By Nick is offering holiday packages designed to make hosting easier.

•Easter Special #1(feeds 8–10)—$250. Spiral ham,

baked ziti or penne vodka, chicken Francese, roasted potatoes, string beans with shallots, and house or Caesar salad

•Easter Special #2(feeds 1 0–15)—$325. Spiral ham, cheese or meat lasagna, chicken

Francese, mozzarella Caprese platter, grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes, string beans with shallots, and house or Caesar salad

Additional à la carte options include antipasto and mozzarella Caprese platters, mini riceballs, stuffed mushrooms, cheese lasagna, penne vodka, stuffed artichokes, and entrees

such as filet mignon with mushroom demi-glace. Beef rib roast and rack of lamb are also available at market price.

C atering By Nick serves clients throughout the Pascack Valley and surrounding communities.

For Easter orders or event inquiries, call201-300-1140or visitcateringbynick.com.

At 91, Fay Yeager still inspires from the heart

BY TARASCHLUTER

SPECIAL TO PASCACK PRESS

EMERSONʼS FAY YEAGER

has been teaching yoga for more than half her life.

Like most fitness instructors, she is committed to improving the health of her students. Like many instructors, she motivates them to push themselves and grow. And like the best teachers, she practices what she teaches.

What sets Yeager apart is that she continues to teach several classes each week — at 91.

Despite her age, or perhaps because of it, Yeager has developed a teaching style that blends physical technique with deeper self-awareness. Her students say they not only learn proper yoga form but also discover new ways to understand their bodies and minds.

Yeager has taught yoga at HNH Fitness in Oradell for the past 19 years, leading classes that draw students of varied ages, fitness levels and experience. Teaching such a diverse group can be challenging, but Yeager keeps the focus on individual progress, not comparison with others.

She often uses a teaching method she learned from one of her own instructors.

“I start with a simple version of a posture, easy for most,” she explains. “Then I add more challenging elements one at a time. Students can choose to take the challenge or stay where they are. This allows them to progress at their own pace while building confidence.”

For many students, that approach has made yoga accessible later in life.

MaryEllen Miller of Bergenfield says Yeagerʼs Gentle Yoga class helped her begin practicing yoga as an adult.

“She shares her love of yoga and her extensive background with students of all abilities,” Miller said. “She encourages those who are less flexible while offering a challenge to others. She stresses safety, form and breathing, and always reminds us about the often-neglected muscles of the fingers and toes, which are important for strength and balance.”

Chris Contillo of Haworth agrees.

“Fay is a phenomenal teacher,” Contillo said. “She

how we relate to others.”

Her students say those lessons have helped them remain active well into later life.

Hermine Zimmermann of Hillsdale credits Yeagerʼs Gentle Yoga class with helping her remain mobile at age 85.

“Fay explains not only how muscles and joints are affected, but also the mind by living in the moment,” Zimmermann said.

Yeager says the appreciation she receives from students is the greatest reward.

“In ancient times, yoga teachers carried bowls in which grateful students placed rice,” she said. “These days, my bowl is filled with the positive feedback from my students.”

With characteristic humility, she adds: “It is said that the best teachers hope that after a while their students no longer need

Emerson’s Fay Yeager, 91, is a force of nature, teaching yoga across the Pascack Valley. “I start with a simple version of a posture, easy for most,” she explains. “Then I add more challenging elements.” Eileen Johnson photos. them.”

organizes her classes so every part of the body is worked. Even after years of taking her class, I still learn something new each time.”

For some students, the benefits have been life-changing.

Sally Moore of Oradell began taking Yeagerʼs class in 2011 after a friend suggested yoga might help relieve sciatica pain.

“Within a few months I noticed significant improvement,” Moore said. “Within a year I could perform all the poses. Iʼm grateful to Fay for teaching me how to alleviate pain, and I want to be just like her when I am her age.”

Although HNH Fitness is a modern gym environment, Yeager tries to incorporate elements of traditional yoga practice.

“Gyms are typically devoted to physical health — strength training and cardiovascular fitness and many offer yoga with a focus on flexibility,” she said. “Studios, on the other hand, often emphasize meditation, breath awareness, personal growth and spiritual values. I try to incorporate these aspects within a modern fitness environment.”

For students who cannot attend classes in person, the gym also offers virtual sessions.

Cheryl Lombardo of Hillsdale has studied with Yeager for seven years. She now practices yoga from home while caring for her ill husband.

“I hear Fayʼs gentle voice as I move through the postures,” Lombardo said. “She has offered me caring advice during a difficult time. Sheʼs not just my teacher — sheʼs my friend and inspiration.”

Yeager believes yoga should extend far beyond the physical poses most people associate with the practice.

“It should include awareness of breath, balance and digestion, as well as mindfulness and meditation,” she said. “The awareness we cultivate on the yoga mat should spill over into our lives afterward — how we breathe, what we eat, how we move and

In addition to teaching at HNH Fitness, Yeager also leads yoga classes at the Woodcliff Lake Senior Center, continuing to share her practice with the wider community.

HILLSDALE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SPRING FLING APRIL 18

Hillsdale United Methodist Church will host its annual Spring Fling Vendor & Artisan Event on Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Fellowship Hall, 349 Hillsdale Ave.

The event, organized by the churchʼs United Methodist Women, will feature local artisans and vendors offering handmade crafts, jewelry, skincare products, and other gifts. Organizers say the market is timed for shoppers looking ahead to occasions such as Motherʼs Day, Teacher Appreciation Week, and Nurseʼs Week.

WESTWOOD

April 25 townwide garage sale registration is open

Registration is open for Westwood residents who want to take part in the Westwood-Wide Garage Sale on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Proceeds from sponsorship efforts support mission work locally and internationally through the United Methodist Women.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Via Lesa Brinker

Organizers are encouraging residents to mark Earth Day, observed April 22, by upcycling unwanted household goods and keeping usable items out of landfills.

newspapers and on social media, as well as future community programming organized by the nonprofit. Since 2018, Celebrate Westwood has launched events and programs including Music on the Avenues, Arts in the Park, Westwood-Wide garage sale weekends, the Early New Yearʼs Eve Ball Drop, and Westwood Fest.

Members of the Hillsdale United Methodist Women gather during a recent church event. The group will host the annual Spring Fling Vendor & Artisan Event on Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hillsdale United Methodist Church.

This yearʼs garage sale will be held for one day only, with a rain date of Sunday, April 26, at the discretion of participating sellers.

Events have featured more than 30 registered addresses, with participants keeping the proceeds from their own sales. Registration is $20 per location, with proceeds supporting Celebrate Westwoodʼs advertising for the event in local

Registration is open through April 5. A directory of participating addresses and sale highlights is expected to be posted at celebratewestwood.org by mid-April.

For more information, to register, or to ask questions, visit celebratewestwood.org or email Lauren Letizia and RoseAnn Ciarlante at celebratewestwood@gmail.com.

OUR LADY of GOOD COUNSEL CATHOLIC CHURCH

ONGRATULATIONS! You found the official 2026 Pascack Press Easter egg! We introduced this feature in 2024, to polite feedback, and got carried away the next year and hid it too well, in the April 14 issue. (Give up? It was on page 17, behind a letter to the editor.)

You can clip ʻnʼsave this egg, or give it away or trade with your friends. The possibilities are practically endless. Laminated, or glued to stiffer paper, this article, with the egg, would make an outstanding bookmark.

No matter how you roll with it from here, this is your egg, and we are delighted for you. Feel free to send us a photo of you with the egg and we might print it in an upcoming issue! (Send a high-resolution photo with identifying information to editor@thepressgroup.net.)

Most importantly, however you celebrate the season, we wish you and yours a safe, sunny, and delightful spring.

— Editor

Knights to honor doers at April 25 testimonial dinner

TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON — Knights of Columbus Mother Seton Council #5427 will host its 19th annual Testimonial Dinner on Saturday, April 25, honoring three local residents for their contributions to the community.

This yearʼs honorees are John Sklavounos, president of Township of Washington Little League a nd Youth Wrestling; Francis Sullivan, recognized for work with township youth baseball, softball, basketball and the Knights of Columbus; and Steven Timpanaro, honored for service to Hillsdale youth basketball, Little League and the K of C.

The dinner will be held at the council, 79 Pascack Road, Township of Washington.

Invited guests include repres entatives from federal, state, county and local government, along with Knights of Columbus leaders and representatives of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church.

Those invited include Congressman Josh Gottheimer, state Sen. Holly Schepisi, Assemblymen Robert Auth and John Azzariti Jr., County Executive Jim Tedesco, Mayor Peter Calamari and members of the Township Council.

Also invited are Knights of Columbus State Deputy James Sweeney, District Deputy Marc DePasquale and Grand Knight George Toole, as well as the Rev. Ray Rodrigue, Deacon Bob Glasner and religious education director Jennifer DeCaux of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Founded in 1882 by Blessed Michael McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut, the Knights of Columbus has grown into an international charitable organization with about 2 million members in more than 16,000

ADVERTISEYOURSERVICEINTHE SERVICE DIRECTORY IN THE PASCACK PRESS.

councils worldwide. Mother Seton Council said it contributed $53,612 to charities in 2024 and awarded $5,000 in scholarships. Applications for membership are welcome from qualified individuals. Call 201-664-0422 or visit kofc5427.com.

Faith

Friday, April 3, 2026 Noon to 3 P.M.

THEME: “THE CROSS IN A WOUNDED WORLD”

NOON - LEBANON BAPTIST CHURCH

12:40 - GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH 1:15 - WESTWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

2:00 - PARKSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH (After the first stop all times are approximate) Offering to go to Westwood Area Clergy Council

SPECIAL THANKS TO BECKER FUNERALHOME FOR SPONSORING THIS AD.

—Pascack Valley News Briefs —

Seniors

host expert on A.I. April 2

WOODCLIFF LAKE —

Woodcliff Lake resident Bert Taylor will present “Introduction to AI (Artificial Intelligence)” on Wednesday, April 2 at 12:30 p.m. at the

Woodcliff Lake Senior Center, 411 Chestnut Ridge Road. The program is free and open to the public..

Summer camp registration

HILLSDALE — Registration for Hillsdale Recreationʼs 2026 Summer Camp programs will open

in March for residents and non-residents.

The camps, open to children ages 5–14, will run June 29 through July 31 (no camp July 3) from 8:50 a.m. to 3 p.m. Programs include Camp Little Hawks (kindergarten), Camp Pascack (grades 1–4), Camp Adventure (grades 5–6), and Camp Buesser (grades 7–9).

Resident registration for Camp

Pascack opens March 10 at 8 a.m., and Camp Adventure opens March 11 at 8 a.m. Additional camp registrations begin later that week, with non-resident registration opening March 20 at 8 a.m.

Early registration offers a $50 discount per camper if paid in full by March 20. Additional late fees may apply after April 1.

Volunteer on Economic Development Committee

We invite you to

We invite you to ZION LUTHERAN

To register, visit register.communitypass.net/hillsdale. For more information, visit hillsdalenj.org/summerdaycamp.

For questions, email dconte@hillsdalenj.org or jcohn@hillsdalenj.org.

HILLSDALE — The borough is seeking volunteers to serve on a newly formed Economic Advisory Committee aimed at supporting responsible growth and revitalizing the downtown.

for worship during Holy Week and Easter

for worship during Holy Week and Easter

Dear Friends in Christ, Please join us this Easter season as we are reminded of Christ’s love.

Holy Week begins with our Palm Sunday service at 9:30 A.M. on March 29th. We will have the distribution of palms for all in attendance.

Thursday, April 2nd

Maundy Thursday Service at 7:30 P.M.

Friday, April 3rd

Good Friday Walk of Faith begins at Noon at Lebanon Baptist Church. See the separate ad for complete schedule. At 7:30 P.M. Zion will have a Tenebrae Service.

Easter Eve, April 4th

Easter Eve- Family and Childrens’ service at 4 P.M.

Easter, April 5th

Easter service at 9:30 A.M.

Community center ribbon cutting

HILLSDALE — The borough will celebrate the grand opening of the new Hillsdale Community Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, April 29, at 5 p.m. at the new facility, located at 137 Patterson St. Residents are invited to attend the ceremony, enjoy refreshments, and tour the building. Officials say the center is designed to serve as a gathering place for community programs and events. Building tours will be available afterward.

According to the borough, the committee will help connect local government, businesses, and educational institutions to strengthen Hillsdaleʼs local economy. The Mayor and Council are particularly seeking residents with experience in finance, investment, or business management.

Officials say the effort is intended to help attract and retain businesses, improve infrastructure, and support initiatives that can create jobs, increase home values, and enhance the communityʼs overall economic health.

Residents interested in serving should email Borough Administrator Michael Ghassali at mghassali@hillsdalenj.org with a resume or a brief note describing how they could contribute.

The borough asks that respons-

See BRIEFS on page 22

Easter egg hunts

Church & School of the Savior Easter egg hunt March 28

PARAMUS—Church & School of the Savior, 643 Forest Ave. in Paramus, will continue its annual Easter Egg Hunt tradition on Saturday, March 28, with sessions at 9:30 and 11 a.m. The event is rain or shine; registration is requested.

Families can look forward to songs and activities, refreshments, an Easter egg hunt for children, and a Christian message celebrating Jesusʼlove. Organizers say the longtime event is designed to bring families together in a spirit of joy, hope and community.

For more information, to register, or to learn about 2026-27 school registration and summer camp opportunities, visit churchofthesavior-lutheran.org or email church@cosparamus.org.

Montvale Evangelical Free Church Easter egg hunt March 28

MONTVALE — Montvale Evangelical Free Church will host a Community Easter Egg-Stravaganza on Saturday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to noon at 141 W. Grand Ave. The free event is open to children from walking age through fourth grade and their families.

Activities will include an Easter egg hunt with candy and prizes, music, a bounce house, face painting, crafts, and balloon animals. Children will be grouped by age for the egg hunts and may bring their own baskets. Hot dogs, chips, cookies, and drinks will be served.

The event will be held rain or shine. Registration is requested at montvalechurch.org or by calling (201) 391-6233.

L LOOCCAAL L T TRRAADDEESSPPEEOOPPLLE E G GEET T T THHE E J JOOB B D DOONNE E YOU’LL FIND THEM IN OUR SERVICE

DIRECTORY!

Briefs:

April 1. Interviews

HILLSDALE — The Sundial Garden Club will host a presentation by Suzy Ludwig, “Ferns,” on Monday, April 6, at 6 p.m. at the Hillsdale Library, 509 Hillsdale Ave.

Ludwig, a master gardener, will speak about hardy ferns that grow well in New Jersey, including the conditions they need to thrive. Her presentation will include photos from her garden, and she will also answer audience questions.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF

CHRIST

EASTER SERVICES

The Wonder – The Promise – The Risen Christ

April 2 Maundy Thursday Worship 7:00 p.m.

April 3 Good Friday Taizé Worship7:00 p.m.

April 5 Easter Sunday Early Morning Communion Service 6:30 a.m. In the Memorial Garden Worship for Easter, Sanctuary10:00 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt, Front Lawn11:00 a.m.

ALL are Welcome - We are an Open and Affirming Community

131 Pascack Road, Park Ridge, NJ • 201-391-5800 www.congregationalchurch.net

O UR LADY OF M E RCY C ATHOLIC C HURCH

T

Easter Schedule

TRIDUUM

Holy Thursday, April 2nd

8:00 pm – Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Bi-Lingual)

Adoration after Mass until Midnight

GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL3RD

3:00 pm – Passion of the Lord 7:00 Stations of the Cross & the Seven Last Words of Jesus

EASTER VIGIL, APRIL4TH 8PM (Bi-Lingual)

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL5TH 7:30AM, 9:30AM, 11:30AM, 1:00PM

She worked at Rohslerʼs Allendale Nursery for 13 years, has served as vice president of the New York Fern Society, and now works at Stonehouse Nursery in Wyckoff as a floral and wreath designer, as well as for Portrait Artistry by Linda Marie.

Her work has also included holiday decorating leadership at Skylands New Jersey Botanical Gardens, the Hermitage in Ho-Ho-Kus, and the Fell House in Allendale.

The program is free and open to the public, space permitting. Ludwig also plans to bring a fern to be given away to one audience member.

IHA stages ‘High School Musical’

March 27–29

TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON — Immaculate Heart Academy will present Disneyʼs High School Musical the weekend of March 27-29 in the schoolʼs Performing Arts Center, 500 Van Emburgh Ave. Performances are set for Friday, March 27, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 28, at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 29, at 2 p.m.

According to the school, the family friendly production features student performers from several area high schools, including Immaculate Heart Academy, St. Joseph Regional

High School, Bergen Catholic, Seton Hall Prep, and Saddle River Day School. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at performingartsattheheart.com.

WWFD community service scholarships

WESTWOOD — The Westwood Volunteer Fire Department is accepting applications for its annual Community Service Scholarship Program for the college academic year beginning in September.

Now in its 45th year, the program awards two $1,000 scholarships annually. The awards are paid directly to the college or university the student will attend and may be applied toward tuition, room and board, fees, and books.

Applicants must be current high school seniors who are Westwood residents, Westwood Fire Department members, or children of department members. Winners must provide an acceptance letter from an accredited college or university before the scholarship is paid.

Students must complete the departmentʼs scholarship application, provide a letter verifying volunteer service to the citizens of Westwood, and submit an essay of about 500 words explaining how that serv-

ice affected their lives.

Scholarship selections are based on scholastic achievement, extracurricular activities, and community service, not financial need. Applications are available at westwoodfire.org. Submissions must be postmarked by Monday, May 4.

Skip Kelley Outing scholarship deadline April 30

WESTWOOD — The deadline for Skip Kelley Memorial Outing Scholarship applications is Thursday, April 30. The Westwood Community Golf Outing Scholarship Committee said it will award three $2,000 scholarships to Westwood resident high school seniors. Eligible students may attend Westwood High School or a private high school.

To date, the committee said 42 students from six high schools have received SKMO/WCGO scholarships. Over the past 29 years, the outing has raised some $147,000 for charities.

Applications are available in the clerkʼs office at the Westwood

CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

Invites you

PALM SUNDAY9a.m. (contemporary) & 10:30a.m. (traditional)

MAUNDY THURSDAY 7:30p.m.

GOOD FRIDAY Noon & 7:30p.m.

EASTER FESTIVAL SERVICES 9:00a.m. (contemporary) 10:30a.m. Instrumentalists and choirs

32 Pascack Rd., Woodcliff Lake, NJ (Corner of Pascack & Church Roads) 201-391-4224 • office@clc4u.com Worship Online At www.clc4u.com

Academy:

WESTWOOD/TEANECK

Denim &Diamond rallies for Never Alone Resource Center

Local Girl Scouts collected more than 100 pairs of new and gently used jeans for donation at their annual Sweetheart Dance, held Saturday at the Brookside Elementary School gymnasium.

This yearʼs theme was “Denim & Diamonds,” and attendees were invited to “donate their denim” by bringing a pair of jeans to support the Never Alone Resource Center in Teaneck, where organizers said the clothing will be provided to women served by the shelter. Organizers estimated about 230 people attended, including Girl Scouts and a “special person,” such as a dad, grandfather, or uncle.

The event is run each year by Westwood Daisy troop leaders (Girl Scouts in kindergarten and first grade).Leaders pictured (left to right) are Dana Riccitelli, Jess Cetrangol, Jen Pandis, Samantha Smith, Dee Kalman, Cortney Teitell, Danielle Fabi, Sue Casaretto, and Lauren Armstrong

Earth Day Art Supply Swap April 25

WESTWOOD—Celebrate Westwood Arts Hub, in partnership with the Westwood Public Library, will host a community art supply swap on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the library in observance of Earth Day.

The event invites residents to donate unused art materials and pick up supplies for their own creative projects, with no money

exchanged. The swap is intended to encourage reuse, reduce waste, and support sustainable creativity in the community.

Donations of unused supplies — including paints, canvases, skeins of yarn, and brushes — will be accepted inside the library April 20–24. Organizers ask that all items be in “ready-to-create” condition and not dried out/ unusable.

Participants are encouraged to bring supplies to contribute, take only what they need, and be considerate of fellow swappers. The event will be first come, first served. Any items remaining at the end of the day will be donated to the Westwood Public Library. Attendees are encouraged to bring reusable bags. Info:celebratewestwood.org and Heather OʼHara at westwoodartshub@gmail.com.

ZION LUTHERAN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERANNUAL FUNDRAISER APRIL 25

Z ion Lutheran Early

C hildhood Centerʼs annual

Tricky Tray and Live Auction Fundraiser is Saturday, April

2 5, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the school, with this yearʼs theme, “Shining Bright Together.”

The ticketed, adults-only

B YOB event includes a

c atered buffet, multiple tricky tray prize rooms, a live auction and a 50/50 raffle.

P rizes include a 10-foot paddle board, a SoJo Spa experience, a 75-inch-plus TV, and themed gift baskets, coll ectibles, local gift cards and services donated by community supporters. Proceeds support programming and the learning environment for 2 1/2-, 3- and 4-year-olds at Zion Lutheran Early Childhood Center.

Tax-deductible donations accepted through Tuesday, March 31. Donations of gift certificates, auction items, monetary contributions welcome; corporate sponsorship opportunities a v ailable. Request a donation form or arrange a pickup at

ZionWWFundraising@gmail.c om. Tickets are $60. Presale for school families began Monday, March 2. In-person sales for Zion Lutheran Church members began Sunday, March 8, after the 9:30 a.m. service. Digital ticket sales open to the public Thursday, March 12. Find the church or school online.

Club News! Let us promote your organization. Send all news to pascackpress@thepressgroup.net or mail to: Pascack Press, P.O. Box 335, Westwood, NJ 07675

• Programs from 8 weeks - 5 years. We offer year round full day programs.

•Hours of operation 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Breakfast and Lunch included.

•Age appropriate curriculum.

• State of the art security system.

•Fully enclosed age appropriate soft surface playground.

• Our staff are CPR and First Aid Certified.

both locations! Call for details!

Briefs:

FROM PAGE 22

Municipal Center, the Recreation Department at the Westwood Community Center, and on the Borough of Westwood website, or by request from westwoodcgo@gmail.com or through guidance offices.

The 30th annual Skip Kelley Memorial Outing is Thursday, Sept. 10, at Valley Brook Golf Course.

For more information contact Peter Grefrath at 201-913-9598 or Peter.Grefrath@gmail.com, or visit westwoodcgo@gmail.com.

St. Andrew’s 50+Club meets April 1

WESTWOOD — St. Andrewʼs 50+ Club to host April 1 meeting, June 3 luncheon

St. Andrewʼs 50+ Club will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, April 1, at 1 p.m. in the gym. The program will feature a speaker on domestic violence. New members are welcome.

Cake and coffee will be served, and attendees are asked to bring an item or donation for the food pantry For more information about the meeting, call Elaine at 201-664-7037.

The clubʼs spring luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3,

at Seasons in Township of Washington. The cost is $65. Sign-up forms will be available at the April 1 meeting or by calling Angie at 201-666-3888.

OLGC scholarships available

Our Lady of Good Counsel Church is offering two $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors in the Class of 2026. Applicants must be Bergen County residents whose families are parishioners of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. The scholarships must be applied toward tuition for full-time enrollment at an accredited institution of higher education, including a college, business school, nursing school or technical school. Awards will be presented upon proof of enrollment.

Applications and additional details are available at the church or the rectory of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 668 Ridgewood Road, Township of Washington.

Golden Seniors to award $1K scholarships

TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON —The Golden Seniors of Washington Township Scholarship Committee will again award two $1,000 scholarships to township high school seniors continuing their education after graduation.

The scholarships may be used toward tuition for a full-time student attending any accredited institution of higher education, including a college, business school, nursing school or technical school. Awards will be made in a single payment upon proof of enrollment.

According to the committee, scholastic achievement will be an important consideration, along with financial need, community involvement and extracurricular activities.

Applications must be completed in full by the student and accompanied by a high school transcript. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applications are available through the guidance offices at Westwood Regional High School and Immaculate Heart Academy, as well as at the Township of Washington Public Library. Completed applications must be submitted by May 15.

Knights’ lasagna dinner April 10

WESTWOOD— St. Thomas

More Council 2188 of the Knights of Columbus will host a lasagna dinner on Friday, April 10, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 40 Crest St. Doors open at 6 p.m. The menu includes salad, lasagna with meat and vegetarian options, meatballs, dessert, coffee, tea and soda.

A cash bar will also be available. Admission is $20 per person, $35 for couples age 65 and older, and $15 for children 12 and under. The reservation deadline is Wednesday, April 8. Proceeds will support scholarships. Reserva-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 33

Natural Cedar Mulch

Red Cedar Mulch

Black Cedar Mulch

Nutri-Peat Mulch

Supreme Playground Mulch Premium

Fundraiser to mark World Autism Day

The Womanʼs Club of Westwood, in partnership with Alpha Fit Club Westwood, will host a World Autism Day fitness fundraiser on Thursday, April 2, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Alpha Fit Club, 35 Jefferson Ave.

The event is open to the public and limited to 36 participants. Tickets are $25, with proceeds benefiting Autism Speaks to support autism research, advocacy and services for individuals on the spectrum and their families.

Organizers said the event will feature a 60-minute, circuit-style

strength and conditioning workout designed for all fitness levels, with six stations combining cardio and total-body strength training.

The fundraiser is being organized by The Contemporaries, a committee of the Womanʼs Club of Westwood focused on community service and philanthropy.

A second community fitness fundraiser, this one supporting mental health awareness, is planned for May 1.

Ticket information

For more information or to get tickets, visit westwoodwomansclub.org/events-1 or email westwoodwomansclub@gmail.com.

PVHS Beekeeping Club hosts free program

The Pascack Valley High School Beekeeping Club will host a free educational program for Hillsdale and River Vale residents ages 12 and up on Saturday, April 11.

“Buzz Into Beekeeping” will run from 10 a.m. to noon in Room 122 at Pascack Valley High School. The event will include a classroom presentation on the importance of honey bees to the environment, honey bee biology and behavior, and how bees are cared for and managed.

Participants will also have the option of visiting the schoolʼs on-site bee hives for an inside look at the PVHS beekeeping program. Space is limited, and registration is required by Thursday, April 9. Participants may sign up online at tinyurl.com/Buzz-IntoBeekeeping or by using the QR code on the event flyer.

Josh Sallo at Hillsdale Library

March 30

The Hillsdale FrePublic Library invites you to an evening of “strict musical mischief” with musician Josh Sallo on Monday, March 30 at 7.

Sallo will perform acoustic interpretations of familiar songs, with selections by Tom Petty, Pink Floyd, Don Henley, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Sting, Willie Nelson, and others. His familyfriendly live performances draw on song interpretation, rewrites, and occasional collage.

The Hillsdale Libraryʼs free programs are supported by the Hillsdale Free Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Library, and other generous donors. Residents may subscribe to the libraryʼs email alerts for updates on programs.

Questions may be directed to Kristen Lindstrom, PVHS Beekeeping Club adviser, at klindstrom@pascack.org.

Woman’s Club offers $1,000 scholarship

WESTWOOD

— The Womanʼs Club of Westwood is offering a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior. The scholarship is open to female graduating seniors residing in Westwood or Washington Township, regardless of which high school they attend. Applicants must plan to continue their education or career training in the fall.

According to the club, selection will be based on community service, volunteerism, citizenship, and academic accomplishment. Applications are available through high school guidance offices or by emailing westwoodwomansclub@gmail.com for an electronic copy.

Completed applications must be sent to Womanʼs Club of Westwood, 205 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, NJ 07675, Attn: Scholarship Committee, and must be received by May 18 to be considered.

Health,Wellness &FitnessGuide

Move more, sit less — and live healthier

BOOSTYOUR BRAIN POWER

By Dr. Eric Kaplan, DC, DACNB, FACFN, FABVR

Advertisement

WESIT at desks, in cars, on trains, at dinner tables, in waiting rooms, in theaters, at bars, and finally on the couch at the end of the day. It is so built into the rhythm of c ontemporary life that it can feel normal, inevitable, even invisible.

But if there is one lifestyle pattern worth examining more closely, it may be this one.

The issue is not that people are lazy. It is that modern routines are structured around stillness. Work often demands it. Commuting reinforces it. Entertainment extends it. Before long, a day has gone by with very little intentional movement at all.

That is why so many healthminded professionals now return to a simple principle: move more, and move more often.

One of the most useful ideas is also one of the least glamorous. Call it the “20-minute rule.” After about 20 minutes of sitting, stand up and move for a short stretch. Walk to the next room. Loosen your shoulders. Change position. Interrupt the pattern. The point is not to launch into a workout every half hour; it is to remind the body that it was built for motion, not endless stillness.

This idea becomes even more

PASCACK VALLEY

practical when paired with short walks built into the day. A brisk walk in the morning can clear the mental fog before work. Another in mid-afternoon can help break up the slump that so often settles in later in the day.

For those who want to do more, there is no shortage of options. Some people respond well to steady aerobic activity such as walking, cycling, or swimming. Others prefer resistance work, whether that means weights, machines, or bodyweight exercises that build strength and stability. Still others like shorter, more vigorous interval-style training because it can fit more easily into a crowded schedule.

The point is not that one style of exercise is right for everyone. It is that movement takes many forms, and people are more likely to benefit from the kinds they can sustain.

Eenjoyment is not incidental. It is often the difference between a temporary effort and a lasting practice. If the treadmill feels like drudgery, then maybe the better answer is dancing in the kitchen, taking a fast walk outdoors, joining a pickup game, or making exercise part of a social routine. When movement feels less like punishment and more like participation in life, people tend to come back to it.

There is also a mental and emotional dimension worth acknowledging. Many people notice that regular movement helps them feel clearer, lighter, and more capable of meeting the

Rotary scholarship application deadline

The Park Ridge Rotary Charity Foundation has opened its 2026 scholarship application process for high school seniors who live in Park Ridge, Montvale and Woodcliff Lake.

The service club said it will select recipients based on financial need, scholastic ability, and contributions to school and the community. The foundation also offers one scholarship for an eligible Park Ridge High School senior majoring in education, in memory of Dr. Robert Balentine, a former Park Ridge High School superintendent and longtime Park Ridge Rotary Club member.

Applications and supporting documents are due by April 15.

Students will be notified in early June, the foundation said, with schools notified ahead of scholarship presentations at senior assemblies.

Applications are available through the guidance departments at Park Ridge High School, Pascack Hills High School and St. Joseph Regional High School, or as a PDF through the Park Ridge Rotary website.

For more information, contact scholarship chair Linda Hanlon at (201) 819-8281 or Lindah211@aol.com. The Park Ridge Rotary Charity Foundation is a 501(c)(3); donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 265, Park Ridge, NJ 07656.

us help promote your club or organization. Send all news to pascackpress@thepressgroup.net or mail to: Pascack

day. It can break up monotony, shift mood, and restore a sense of momentum. In that sense, movement is not only about muscles or endurance. It can also be a way of resetting the mind.

So much of daily life now unfolds under artificial light, in controlled interiors, with eyes fixed on screens. Taking movement outside changes the experience. Fresh air, daylight, a different horizon, a little banter with a walking partner or workout buddy: these things can make a routine feel less clinical and more human. Social movement and outdoor movement are often easier to stick with because they offer more

than exertion alone. They add pleasure, connection, and variety.

None of this is a call for perfection. No one is going to eliminate sitting from modern life, nor should that be the standard. The real goal is more modest and more realistic: interrupt long periods of inactivity, build in moments of motion, and choose forms of exercise that make a person more likely to keep going.

That is how change usually happens. Not through one heroic burst of effort, but through repeated, intentional decisions that gradually become part of daily life.

For those interested in taking a closer look at factors that may

relate to focus, stress, or overall well-being, Kaplan Brain & Body offers qEEG brain mapping, a non-invasive scan that provides a snapshot of brain activity.

For a limited time, the practice is offering qEEG brain mapping, regularly priced at $600, for $21.

To learn more, call 201-2612150, email info@kaplanbrainandbody.com, or visit kaplandc.com. Dr. Kaplan also hosts a weekly radio show Saturdays at 8 a.m. on 970 AM and 2 p.m. on 710 WOR.

Modern life makes sitting easy. That is exactly why movement has to be chosen.

THRIVE AT HOME LLC LAUNCHES SKILLEDIN-HOME WOUNDCARESERVICESHERE

Advertisement

BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. —

Thrive At Home LLC, a nurse-led home healthcare provider specializing exclusively in skilled wound care, has launched services for residents throughout Bergen County.

Founded by registered nurse Danielle Thompson, Thrive At Home provides post-surgical and chronic wound management in patientsʼhomes. The company is designed to support individuals transitioning from hospital or post-acute care settings who require ongoing wound treatment and clinical monitoring.

“As a nurse, Iʼve seen how challenging the transition from hospital to home can be,” Thompson said. “Our goal is to provide focused, specialized wound care that promotes healing, helps prevent complications, and supports

patients during recovery.”

Unlike traditional home health agencies that offer multiple service lines, Thrive At Home concentrates solely on skilled wound care. Services include nursing assessments, evidencebased treatment plans, dressing changes and management, infection monitoring, and coordination with physicians and discharge planners.

Wound-related complications remain a common cause of hospital readmissions. Thrive At Home

said it aims to help reduce preventable complications and improve healing outcomes through early intervention and consistent clinical oversight in the home setting.

Thrive At Home is accepting referrals from physicians, discharge planners, and healthcare facilities.

For more information or to submit a referral, visit thriveathomecare.org.

About Thrive At Home LLC

Thrive At Home LLC is a Bergen County–based nursing provider specializing exclusively in skilled wound care delivered in the home. The company partners with healthcare professionals to support safe transitions from hospital to home while prioritizing clinical excellence and patientcentered care.

Young savers should consider a long-term mindset

Advertisement

FOUR key considerations could help young adults create a mindset to succeed with saving and investing for the future.

Michelle Wan, Wells Fargo Investment Institute lead wealth investment solutions analyst, has met many younger clients who have reservations about investing.

“Young investors may find themselves delaying investing for retirement because it seems so far in the future,” Wan says. “Alternatively, they may enjoy trading volatile investment instruments for rapid profits. They underestimate how important it is to methodically develop planning and investing goals at a young age. Time is a young saverʼs greatest ally.”

Here, Wan shares four key considerations for young savers when it comes to prioritizing longterm savings and investment

plans.

1.Adopt a planning mindset

One key factor is having a planning mindset — a positive and proactive stance that could set savers on a path to positive financial outcomes. A planning mindset can provide a roadmap that helps strengthen a personʼs financial future.

2 Start with small changes

Small changes in your financial behavior today could have a big impact on long-term success.

Investment and Insurance Products are:

• Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency

• Not a Deposit or Other Obligation of,or Guaranteed by,the Bank or Any Bank Affiliate

• Subject to Investment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount Invested

Creating a budget, building healthy financial habits, and becoming more comfortable and familiar with investing could go a long way toward achieving longterm financial goals.

Practices to consider include:

•Automatically transferring part of your income into a savings account or an investment account

•Paying down student loans to avoid late fees and damage to credit scores

3 Begin saving and investing now

Start saving for retirement as soon as you can. The sooner you start, the more time every dollar saved has the potential to grow. If dollars saved early in your working years generate investment gains year after year, they can have a much bigger impact on the size of your account balance at retirement than you might think. Thanks to the power of compounding, as invested dollars potentially earn returns, those reinvested returns can begin earning returns as well — year after year

“For younger investors, compounding returns become especially powerful given their longer time horizon, so an early start can make a dramatic difference in helping investors reach their financial goals,” Wan says.

4. Take full advantage of retire-

L.

ment savings plans

If your employer offers a Qualified Retirement Plan (QRP), be sure to participate — and maximize any matching contribution offers. They are the equivalent of free money.

Roth IRAs — to which you contribute after-tax dollars — are also worth a closer look because they offer tax-free growth potential. Investment earnings may also be distributed tax-free in retirement if specific requirements are met.

“Another savings vehicle to consider is a Health Savings Account (HSA), which offers tax benefits to qualified investors,” Wan says.

A discussion with an investment professional about your investment goals can help you develop a long-term plan and strategies to potentially help you achieve those goals.

Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. is a registered investment adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., a bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

Wells Fargo & Company and its affiliates do not provide tax or legal advice. This communication cannot be relied upon to avoid tax penalties. Please consult your tax and legal advisors to determine how this information may apply to your own situation. Whether any planned tax result is realized by you depends on the specific facts of your own situation at the time your tax return is filed.

This article was written by Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Eric Kohlmeier, Senior Financial Advisor, Managing Director – Investments in Park Ridge at 201-505-0472. Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. ©2023 – 2026 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. PM-070320277425974.1.33

P.A. AProfessional Corporation Attorneys at Law

You don’t want any more numbers in your life, what with driver’s license, social security, credit cards, etc. No, you don’t want any more numbers... unless you need the legal services that can ease you through stressful situations... DWI... criminal charges... divorce... bankruptcy... buying or selling a home... protecting your assets... abuse... disputes with neighbors... We’d like to try to provide solutions to your problems, provided, of course, you are willing to handle one more number... our phone number

Experienced Municipal Prosecutors and Defenders 211 Center Ave., Westwood • (201)666-7770

FROM PAGE 4

structures in the borough.

While the building was brand new in 1926, Masonry had a long history in the Pascack Valley. The original Friendship Lodge came together in 1870, a time when the entire area was still a part of old Washington Township, and only a handful of farmers lived in this lated corner of Bergen County.

Bergen County had only wo other Masonic lodges back then: one in Hackensack and he other in Closter. Getting to ither of these locations from P ascack was a hardship in that era of horse-drawn conveyance over dirt roads. The winter season afforded the farmers practically the only time available to attend lodge meetings, and then the roads were frequently

impassable due to snow drifts. They needed a place closer to home.

The front page of the Park Ridge Local newspaper of April 3, 1926, featured the new Masonic lodge. A copy of the paper was included in the cornerstone’s time capsule.

A general store owner, a doctor, and five farmers made up the charter membership. There was Garret F Hering and Owen J. Keenen from Montvale; Dr. Henry C. Neer from Park Ridge; Charles F. Neer from Woodcliff Lake; Henry G. and James G. Hering from Hillsdale; and Garret R. Haring from River Vale.

As Park Ridge historian John C. Storms wrote in 1926, “Let us for a moment consider how widely separated were the homes of the original members of the lodge. Nearly all of them lived in the old Pascack neighborhood, but that was a rather extensive and poorly defined section geographically…Probably the combined population of the entire territory covered did not at the time exceed 500 persons.”

There were humble beginnings, to say the least.

The first meeting location was the upper floor of a carpentry shop. This building was on the west side of Pascack Road, about 100 feet back from the roadway, and nearly across the street from the Pascack Reformed Church. It was where John H. Storms had carried on his trade of manufacturing doors, window sashes, and blinds for local construction in the 1860s. The building was elevated on posts so that a horse could be led into its lower floor. The animal would be attached to a sweep and walked round and round to produce the power for operating the saw and other machinery located on the floor above.

Henry G. Hering was one of the seven charter members of the Friendship Lodge No. 102, and he was the only one still around to see the temple built in 1926. Hering was one of the leading citizens of Hillsdale in the late 19th century. He ran a general store next to the railroad station. He was also a civil engineer and surveyor who laid out most of the roads in Bergen County. At 6 feet, 4 inches tall, he was purported to be the tallest man in the county.

The top floor of this building was not finished and unoccupied. Sample blinds marked where the windows were supposed to be. The founding members of the Friendship Lodge rented this space, and then installed plaster walls and flooring at their own

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

FROM PAGE 30 expense. They made an entrance by cutting a hole in an exterior wall and constructing a stairway down to the ground on the west side. To get to the lodge room, one had to go behind the building and climb those rickety outdoor stairs up to the second floor.

A fraternal group such as the Masons was an entirely new concept in this area. In fact, there was not a single lodge, society, or organization of any sort in the

entire Pascack Valley, with the exception of the Pascack Reformed Church in Park Ridge, and those political groups who formed every spring and fall to get their candidates elected.

Dr. Henry C. Neer became the first master of Friendship Lodge upon its constitution. He had moved to Park Ridge right after the Civil War and was the first physician in the Pascack Valley. Later on, he became the second mayor of Park Ridge.

The original meeting place was demolished in 1880 and another constructed in nearly the same location on Pascack Road. By this time Dr. Neer owned the property,

PARK FLOORING PARK FLOORING PARK FLOORING PARK FLOORING

and so it was loaned to the lodge rent-free.

The final “borrowed” space was Foresters Hall, the home of another fraternal organization called the Ancient Order of Foresters. Built in 1893, this meeting place was on Kinderkamack Road opposite Madison Avenue (across the street from The James today). The lodge met at Foresters Hall from 1903 through 1925.

Ground was broken for the new temple at Kinderkamack Road and Perry Street in 1925, and the lodge moved in during the summer of 1926. Of the original seven charger members, only 88-year-old Henry G. Hering of Hillsdale, the first secretary of the lodge, lived to see the building.

On Saturday, April 3, 1926, a large parade led by the New Jersey & New York Volunteer Firemenʼs Band marched through Park Ridge, drums beating and trumpets sounding.

Arriving at the new lodge building, an impressive sight unfolded. Visiting Knights Templar members from the Ridgewood and Hackensack commanderies lined both sides of Kinderkamack Road.

April 3, 1926, the cornerstone laying took place at Friendship Lodge No. 102 on Kinderkamack Road in Park Ridge. The impressive structure has stood for more than a century.

Holding their swords high, they created an arch. Members of the Park Ridge lodge passed underneath to reach the speakerʼs platform.

The afternoonʼs ceremony culminated in the laying of the cornerstone with a time capsule

inside. In addition to the aforementioned copy of the Park Ridge Local, placed in the copper box were various documents related to Masonry and the history of the Park Ridge lodge, as well as was an American flag and a collection of U.S. coins minted in 1926.

Briefs:

tions: John Perfetto at 201-2457555; johnperfettopgk@gmail.com.

Checks payable to Knights of Columbus 2188.

CPR, heart health seminar

The Woodcliff Lake Senior Association will host a seminar for members on Wednesday, April 16, at 12:30 p.m. at the Senior Center, 411 Chestnut Ridge Road. The program will cover CPR, how to help someone who is choking, and medications commonly used to support heart health. The seminar will be led by Woodcliff Lake resident Josephine Higgins, a nurse and longtime EMT with the Tri-Boro Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Higgins has served with the volunteer

corps for more than 50 years. The seminar is free, but open to Woodcliff Lake Senior Association members only.

Online literacy volunteer training

Make a difference in your community by volunteering to teach English as a Second Language.

Help spin Pinwheels for Prevention

WESTWOOD —In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, the GFWC/NJSFWC Womanʼs Club of Westwood is inviting residents and businesses to take part in its Pinwheels for Prevention campaign.

The effort is intended to raise awareness and support for children and families in need. Since 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America has used pinwheels as a symbol of childhood joy and the belief

that all children deserve to grow up in safe, healthy and supportive communities.

Through the local campaign, participants may purchase five pinwheels for $5 to display during April or throughout the spring. Proceeds will support child abuse prevention awareness efforts.

Orders may be placed through the clubʼs website at westwoodwomansclub.org/events-1 or by texting 201-403-6305.

The Womanʼs Club of West-

wood has served local communities for more than 105 years through volunteer service, charitable giving and educational programs. Its Contemporaries committee, founded in 2023, works to engage a new generation of members through collaborative fundraising with local businesses and nonprofits.

For more information, visit westwoodwomansclub.org or follow @westwoodwomansclub on Facebook and Instagram.

Since 1982, Literacy Volunteers of Pascack Valley has trained volunteers to teach English to adults in their communities.

The online workshop is led by a certified trainer. Upon completion, LVPV matches each volunteer with an appropriate student.

The workshop is open to residents of Allendale, Cresskill, Dumont, Hillsdale, Lodi, Midland Park, Montvale, New Milford, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, River Vale, Teaneck, and Westwood.

Most tutoring takes place in person at local libraries, though

online tutoring is also available. Literacy Volunteers of Pascack Valleyʼs next four-session online Tutor Training Workshop will be held April 28, May 5, May 12, and May 19, 2026, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Volunteers must be 18 or older.

To register, contact Cheryl Chang, coordinator, or Gail Misha, assistant coordinator, at literacyvolunteerspv@gmail.com. Registration is also available online at l iteracyvolunteerspv.org/tutortraining-workshop-form.html.

REAL ESTATE PASCACK VALLEY

Bergen County golf in full swing

HACKENSACK—Bergen

County officials have announced that all six county-owned golf courses are open for the 2026 season, with online tee times now available.

The Bergen County Parks System operates courses in Mahwah, Paramus, Teaneck, Rockleigh, Emerson, and River Vale, offering a range of play for beginners through experienced golfers. County officials said more than 335,000 rounds were played across the system in 2025.

“Weʼre excited for this yearʼs season,” County Executive James Tedesco III said, noting continued strong interest from both residents and visitors. He also pointed to the anticipated late spring opening of the new clubhouse at Overpeck

P Paassccaacck k P Prreesss s welcomes press releases, birth announcements, wedding announcements an event photographs from all towns in the Pascack Valley. Send all news to pascackpress@ thepressgroup.net

Golf Course in Teaneck. Commissioner Chairman Steve Tanelli called the countyʼs courses “a true gem,” inviting golfers back for a season of recreation and outdoor activity.

The county system includes Darlington Golf Course (Mahwah), Orchard Hills (Paramus), Overpeck (Teaneck), Rockleigh (Rockleigh), Soldier Hill (Emerson), and Valley Brook (River Vale).

Officials encourage golfers to register for membership, which offers discounted greens fees and early access to tee times. Membership registration must be completed in person at the Golf Main

Office at Soldier Hill Golf Course in Emerson. For information, including tee times and rates, visit golfbergencounty.com or call (201) 3367259.

Forestry:

FROM PAGE 1

“Itʼs kind of the framework of a good local urban forestry program,” said Ryan Bellinger, a forester with the state Urban and Community Forestry program, in a phone interview with Pascack Press.

The plan requires municipalities to inventory and assess their trees, set maintenance and planting strategies, and commit to ongoing training and annual reporting. Participation also brings practical benefits, including eligibility for grants supporting tree removal, pruning, and planting.

Councilman Gregory Hoffman shows off the borough’s forestry plan certificate of approval from the State of NewJersey in a Facebook photo.

Borough of Park Ridge

Bellinger said Park Ridgeʼs certification can also provide liability protection by showing a municipality is actively managing its public trees.

In announcing the approval, Park Ridge officials offered special thanks to longtime volunteer Jim Hespe, the Park Ridge Shade Tree and Green Team Committee, and Green Team Council Liaison Greg Hoffman for their work on the effort.

The borough described the certification as “a major milestone

for Park Ridge,” saying it reflects the dedication, planning, and volunteer commitment behind responsible tree care and longterm environmental stewardship.

Local officials say the approval is also a sign of a more organized and proactive approach.

“Itʼs just a great way to kind of see how weʼre continuing to stay organized, keep track of our inventory, and we can even expand upon that a little bit,” said Hoffman, who has been involved in both the boroughʼs Shade Tree and Green Team efforts.

Hoffman told Pascack Press the borough wants to use the plan not only to guide municipal tree care but also to improve public education and staff knowledge.

“Our goal is to just overall increase the public education, and also our DPWʼs professional employees, their knowledge,” he said, pointing to training, canopy management, and better identification of trees that could become hazards.

A recent tree fall near the corner of Rock Avenue and Mayo Drive helped sharpen that focus, Hoffman said. The tree appeared sound from the outside but was rotted in the middle and fell into a house.

“I think that woke up some other residents in town to hire some people to just take a look at their trees,” he said.

Hoffman said the borough would like to become more of a resource for residents, whether by sharing information on warning signs of tree decline, linking people to arborists, or helping them understand the difference between private-tree and public-tree responsibility

Last year, he said, the borough implemented an MS4 tree planting ordinance requiring replanting when certain trees are removed. Now, officials are looking at ways to make compliance easier.

“One of the things that weʼre looking to do, and we have preliminary council approval for, is developing some sort of an

exchange on the boroughʼs website,” Hoffman said.

Under that idea, the borough would act as a middleman connecting residents removing trees with approved vendors. Homeowners could choose from a list of town-approved trees at a fixed price that would include the sapling and planting labor.

The borough is also planning a tree replacement project in part of the downtown area, Hoffman said. Roughly 25 years ago, Bradford pear trees were planted from Park Avenue (near the diner) to Hawthorne, Madison, and Kinderkamack. Some have since died, leaving gaps, and the borough plans to remove the remaining older trees and replace them.

For Arbor Day, Park Ridge also plans new plantings at Depot Square and at the Wortendyke House property, which the borough acquired last year. Hoffman said the Green Team is also looking to expand public outreach, including through social media and our pages and a possible “Green Tip of the Week” feature with practical advice on recycling, lawn care, tree stewardship, water conservation, and energy use.

Across the Pascack Valley, participation in the forestry program varies. Park Ridge and Woodcliff Lake have approved plans, Hillsdale is working toward certification through a grant.

“Urban forestry is really about balancing development and natural beauty,” Bellinger said.

We reported March 3 that the Borough of Westwood adopted a new five-year Community Forestry Management Plan aimed at expanding its street and park tree canopy, sharpening maintenance practices, and reducing public-safety and liability risks associated with aging or hazardous trees. Westwood has maintained a formal community forestry plan since 1999.

Bather needed, Tuesday thru Saturday at The Woof Furry in Ridgewood. Call Elizabeth 201-444-0656.

LABORER, DEPT OF PUBLIC WORKS. The Borough of Westwood seeks to hire an individual for full-time position with the Public Works Department. Preferred applicants would have experience and knowledge in tree removal, trimming, tree pruning, while operating a bucket truck. Applicants should have experience in snow plowing and other Public Works tasks. High School diploma required. Must have CDLor temporary CDLlicense and good driving record. May be required to submit to drug testing. Send applications to the attention of Richard Woods Superintendent, Department of Public Works, 101 Washington Ave., Westwood, NJ 07675. EOE, M/F

Forever

Seniors invited to Forever Young yoga, tai chi

certified instructor Tori Karach, is a 60-minute class for beginners through advanced participants. The class is designed to build flexibility, improve balance and posture, boost mood, increase muscle tone and help ease aches and pains. Yoga meets Thursdays from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. at the Westwood Community Center. The program is free for Westwood residents age 55 and older; the fee for nonresidents is $20 per month.

Forever Young tai chi is taught by instructor Hasmig Mekjian. Tai chi, a Chinese martial art, features slow, continuous movement from one pose to the next and is often practiced to reduce stress and anxiety.

Classes meet Tuesdays at 8 a.m. and Thursdays at 1 p.m. Tai chi is free for Westwood residents; the nonresident fee is $30 per month and includes both classes. To register, adults 55 and older may visit the Westwood Community Center office, 55 Jefferson Ave., Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or call 201-664-7882.

C A L L F O R P R I C I N G O N D Y E D I N S T A L L A T I O N S ! 1 0 % O F F H A R D W O O D I N S T A L L A T I O N S 1 5 Y a r d s o r m o r e , i f o r d e r e d b y 4 / 1 5 / 2 6

T O P S O I L A N D M U L C H D E L I V E R I E S

C A L L F O R P R I C I N G O N D Y E D I N S T A L L A T I O N S ! T O P S O I L A N D M U L C H D E L I V E R I E S H a r d w o o d M u l c h I n s t a l l e d$ 5 0 p e r y a r d1 0 Y a r d M i n i m u m

H a r d w o o d M u l c h I n s t a l l e d$ 5 0 p e r y a r d1 0 Y a r d M i n i m u m