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 12
Fit to print
‘KISSING TREE’ GETS REPRIEVE Science, stewardship give Westwoodʼs iconic copper beech a new lease on life
GFWC/NJSFWC Woman’s Club of Westwood and their colleagues in Park Ridge share “Best Pressbook” honors in convention in Atlantic City. PAGE 16
HERO DOG HONORED IN EMERSON
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN OLOHAN@THEPRESSGROUP.NET
A four-legged Emerson resident was recognized May 19 for his actions on a cold winter night, when his urgent barking alerted his owners to a neighbor in distress. Mayor Danielle DiPaola recognized Yoshi, a 2-year-old retriever, for alerting his owners after neighbor Cathy Frasco fell in her yard and was unable to get up on her own. Alerted by Yoshiʼs insistent barking, owner Annie Ohannesian went outside and heard Frasco calling for help. Ohannesian sent her sons to assist Frasco while she
See YOSHI on page 34
WESTWOOD
SCOUT GIVES US A PLACE FOR WORN FLAGS Wendrychowicz, 17, of Westwood BSA Troop 350 debuts collection boxes; heʼll retire your colors properly BY JOHN SNYDER EDITOR@THEPRESSGROUP.NET
EMERSON
Mayor, council say good boy Yoshi aided neighbor in distress
JUNE 1, 2026
O
Westwood’s celebrated “Kissing Tree” in Veterans Memorial Park — a towering copper beech recently feared to be in terminal decline — may still have years of life ahead after advanced testing found its structural integrity stronger than first believed. Photo by Richard Frant / FrantVisuals LLC. bers of the boroughʼs Shade Tree with catastrophic structural failure BY JOHN SNYDER Committee feared they might be in mature trees. EDITOR@THEPRESSGROUP.NET At the time, officials warned documenting a farewell. N VAL E N T I N E ʼ S Day, Just weeks earlier, borough that the tree could eventually residents once again officials had disclosed that the tow- require removal for public safety gathered beneath West- ering copper beech in Veterans reasons. woodʼs storied Kissing Tree for Memorial Park — believed to be Now, after months of addiphotographs and traditions that among the oldest and largest of its tional testing, consultation, and have unfolded under its canopy for kind in Bergen County — was suf- scientific assessment, borough generations. fering from brittle cinder fungus, officials say the outlook appears But behind the scenes, mem- an incurable disease associated
Continued on page 12
Nolan Wendrychowicz, 17, of Westwood BSA Troop 350 has locked down his Eagle Scout project by installing two flag retirement boxes in the borough. One box is in the lobby of the Municipal Complex, and the other is outside the Fire Department headquarters. The project gives residents a place to properly dispose of worn American flags so they can be retired respectfully. Wendrychowicz was inspired after seeing someone place an old flag in the garbage. His family also has military ties: both his grandfather and uncle served. The projectʼs beneficiary was the Fire Department, though Wendrychowiczʼs family said many community members helped once they understood the significance of the effort, especially as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The boxes already are draw-
See FLAGS on page 134
CTEEN HONORS
B ck in time...
Valley Chabad Center for Jewish Life hots its annual Teen Awards Night, celebrating more than 100 teens for their dedication and contributions to the CTeen program. PAGE 20
On June 4, 1904, the old world and the new collided on Railroad Avenue in Westwood. Buckle up for “Horse vs. horseless carriage” as reported by Kristin Beuscher.
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