Emerson • Hillsdale • Montvale • Park Ridge • River Vale • Township of Washington • Westwood • Woodcliff Lake
T H E PA S C AC K VA L L E Y ’ S H O M E TO W N N E W S PA P E R
VOLUME 30 ISSUE 11
Here for our vets
IS ANYBODY LISTENING?
MAY 25, 2026
PASCACK VALLEY
39th District lawmaker presses federal officials on Teterboro Airport rules, routes
CHEERS TO EAGLE SCOUT, GOLD AWARD U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer honors 58 high achievers from Fifth Legislative District
RECIPIENTS Bergen County honors vets, military families during a Military Appreciation Month ceremony ahead of Memorial Day. PAGE 14
WESTWOOD
DETECTIVE ROCKS POLICE UNITY TOUR
Danielle Neuberger rides for two officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty
Chief Michael R. Pontillo and the Westwood Police Department congratulated Detective Danielle Neuberger on successfully completing this yearʼs Police Unity Tour. During the ride, Neuberger rode in honor and memory of Deputy Sheriff Mellissa Pollard of the Woods County Sheriffʼs Office in Texas, whose end of watch was Jan. 9, 2025, and Sgt. Kevin D. Nuckels of the Nassau County Sheriffʼs Office in New York, See TOUR on page 124
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A small jet aircraft flies over the Township of Washington in fall 2025. Air traffic connected to Teterboro Airport is a near-constant presence — and to many a tiresome intrusion — over the Pascack and Northern Valley areas. Credit John Snyder.
BY JOHN SNYDER OF PASCACK PRESS
S S E M B LY M A N Robert Auth is pressing federal transportation officials to explain whether operations at Teterboro Airport comply with longstanding federal restrictions intended to keep the airport from functioning as a commercial passenger hub. In a May 12 letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Auth argued that increasing private jet traffic over Bergen County communities may con-
flict with congressional limits historically intended to preserve Teterboro as a general aviation airport rather than “a de facto commercial facility.” “These provisions were enacted to close public-charter loopholes, prevent de facto scheduled airline service, and ensure that Teterboro remains a general aviation airport rather than a commercial facility,” Auth wrote. The letter, forwarded to Pascack Press by Park Ridge activist Audrey Herget and later confirmed by Authʼs office, references federal restrictions includ-
ing prohibitions on scheduled charter operations, preservation of Te t e r b o r o ʼs longstanding 100,000AUTH pound aircraft weight limit, and limits on FAA preemption authority. Auth asked the Department of Transportation to clarify how it intends to ensure
Continued on page 10
U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer recently held the annual Fifth District Scout Honor Ceremony recognizing Scouts who earned the rank of Eagle Scout or the Girl Scout Gold Award after completing community service projects throughout North Jersey. Gottheimer recognized 58 Scouts from across the Fifth Congressional District during the ceremony, highlighting projects that included creating banners honoring veterans, building community gardens for local food pantries and other service initiatives. “I am honored to celebrate the hard-earned achievements of all these Scouts whoʼve attained the highest rank in the Scouting programs — the rank of Eagle Scout and the Girl Scout Gold Award,” Gottheimer said. “Thank you to the young leaders — all of our Scouts here today — for your dedication to bettering our community and country.”
See AWARD on page 134
ART ILLUMINES
B ck in time...
Artwork and great vibes filled the room as Hillsdale’s Access for All Committee hosted its annual inclusive community art show at the Hillsdale Free Public Library. PAGE 20
As Westwood celebrated Memorial Day 80 years ago, it must have been with heavy hearts, remembering the fallen — lost so recently, their young lives cut short before they had really begun. Kristin Beuscher reports. PAGE 4