A Woodcliff Lake man and his family continued to profess his innocence before he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the sexual assault of his niece In October, Marcelo Velez, 60, was found guilty of sexually assaulting his 11-year-old niece in January 2021 Before Judge James Sattely of state Superior Court in Bergen County sentenced him April 25 Velez and his family spoke extensively about his innocence submitted 47 letters of support for his client from friends said Velez has shown no remorse for his actions while maintaining his innocence Velez was sentenced to 25 years for first-degree aggravated sexual assault on a victim less than 13 years old and older than 4 and is subject to five years of supervision He was sentenced to seven years for second-degree sexual assault on a victim less than 13 and older than 4 and three years for engaging in sexual conduct with a child by a non-caretaker Velez accused Assistant Prosecutor Natalie Candela of violating his right to due process saying she poisoned the jurors against him with inflammatory statements "Please forgive me for being frustrated with the criminal justice system that allows unfounded allegations from a child to go unchallenged and uninvestigated leading to the conviction of a defendant," Velez said when addressing the court spoke during the sentencing and said he couldn't believe the accusations against Velez calling them "horrible" and "unsubstantiated." Velez's sons also spoke on behalf of their father telling the court he was a fantastic father and pointing to a difficult family dynamic for their cousin and he has never done anything in the slightest to even suggest that these allegations could possibly be true," his son said "I trust the justice system and know you will do the right thing and you must free Marcelo because he is an innocent man." His other son asked Sattely to show his father mercy saying there was no evidence to support his cousin's claims See the list: Several North Jersey programs among reported DOGE cuts saying she was proud of her daughter and that they had waited a long time for this day "We are all witnesses of justice being served," she said said some of the comments made at the hearing and in the letters were "trash talk" and many spoke of "jealousy envy" and a "troubled home." She called them "desperate comments," saying the victim's family loved and trusted Velez She quoted one letter as saying this was what the victim wanted not just for the defendant or for the victim The victim told Velez that she would no longer allow his actions to harm her "Your wife might see you as the love of her life The community might see you as a smart businessman," the victim said I see who you truly are — a sick man who sexually abused me for years During arguments regarding Velez's sentencing very unusual." He asked Sattely to sentence Velez below the requested 25 years N.J.—A couple hundred residents welcomed the municipality’s only borough-owned park — Woodcliff Park — in a grand opening ceremony on Saturday May 3 at the corner of Werimus Road and Woodcliff Avenue The festivities were most welcome following nearly a decade of on-again and most notably children — who used the park’s expansive green space to toss balls and send up kites — celebrated the grand opening Mayor Carlos Rendo — whose three four-year terms have spanned the course of the 2.1-acre site’s acquisition pandemic delays and  ultimate construction — welcomed the park as a gift that will extend to generations yet unborn he told Pascack Press: “Just one word: community.” The park features a 1/6th-mile walking track benches on the path; and a large lawn/greenspace for town events “Today we open up this park — and this is your park for your enjoyment This is only the start of improving Woodcliff Lake We are committed as the council and mayor to continue on this improvement,” said Rendo a candidate for New Jersey lieutenant governor in 2017 with Republican Kim Guadagno He said the park would not have become reality without significant contributions from many people including DMR Planner Frances Reiner and Neglia Engineer Anthony Kurus Rendo recognized all the donors — including resident Marilyn Clark noting the park could not have been built without her contribution.  Rendo thanked those contributing by purchasing benches ($6,000) and trees ($1,000) (Several remain available for residents who move fast Rendo described the timeline leading to the day’s revels: a decade ago he “pleaded” for county Open Space Trust Fund grant money for the then-proposed Galaxy Gardens park and the county came through with approximately $700,000 toward that end Rendo thanked several bench sponsors who have donated $6,000 or more apiece to help fund the park’s construction Rendo thanked borough councils past and present for shepherding the project — and He emphasized that creating the park there cleaned up an “environmentally impacted area” — the site of the former nursery/garden center called Galaxy Gardens The borough purchased the former Galaxy Gardens property in early 2018 for $1.65 million approximately $500,000 was spent on environmental cleanup A legal settlement related to the acquisition added $1.5 million to the total bringing the overall investment to around $6.4 million Rendo said events at the park will include SpringFest on May 17  He said other events could include poetry readings and musical entertainment The name Woodcliff Park was selected following a community naming contest that ran through September 2024 A committee of council members Julie Brodsky reviewed submissions and recommended finalists to the Borough Council which made the final selection later in the fall The goal was to choose a name that reflected the spirit of the community and fostered a sense of belonging Council President Joshua Stern thanked 39th District State Sen He thanked Bergen County commissioners Mary Amoroso And he thanked the Pascack Valley mayors who attended: Montvale’s Michael Ghassali [Township of Washington Mayor Peter Calamari was officiating at his community’s Third Annual Family “Spring into Wellness” 5K Run/Walk & Health Fair at the time Resident and former councilwoman Jackie Gadaleta who played a role in pressing for the park beamed. “I think it is spectacular and something that every person in the town of Woodcliff Lake can enjoy for the rest of their lives,” she said Councilman Benjamin Pollack said the park’s name pays homage to municipality’s original name — Woodcliff — and noted that park is situated on Woodcliff Avenue out of concern for children possibly venturing into traffic on Werimus Road Rendo later told Pascack Press that the borough would soon pursue grant funding to install fencing around park areas aiming to protect children from nearby traffic Council members said they were working with Bergen County on safety improvements at the Werimus Road–Woodcliff Avenue intersection though a traffic signal was unlikely in the near future as county officials are prioritizing busier intersections “I think it’s very nice that we have an additional park in town: It’s right in the middle of town a good place for people to hang out and leisurely stroll instead of a power walk.” “I think it’s a very welcome addition to our town.” Audubon’s Torino talks the bigger picture with ‘The Nature Connection’ Art with heart: Hillsdale’s inclusive show explores belonging and voice All content on this website is the property of The Press Group and is protected by copyright. Reproduction, distribution, or use of any material without prior written permission is strictly prohibited, unless otherwise stated. To report any misuse, please contact us at PascackPress@ThePressGroup.net This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page To the extent that historical press releases reference BMW Manufacturing Co. LLC as the manufacturer of certain X model vehicles the referenced vehicles are manufactured in South Carolina with a combination of U.S Here you can see the webcast of the BMW Group Press Conference at the Auto Shanghai 2025 both Andy Leeds and the Espositos—over 50 years with Ethan Allen,” Mr that had to close because we lost our lease and we thought it was a great location because of the demographics of the area.” Snug in the northwest portion of Bergen County Woodcliff Lake is in a prime position to pull visitors from not just Bergen County there are valid reasons to make the trek to the new store “but we’re really doing more design presentations with the consumer than our regular stores We’ve only been open for five weeks.”  Then the designer tries to find out what she’s looking for So our designers then try to see if they can go and make an appointment with that potential consumer and then they’re able to take photos of what they have.”  He explained that store designers employ 3D technology to produce a model of the consumer’s home effectively allowing the consumer to preview the furniture in their own space before purchasing This includes viewing fabrics on upholstery pieces With over a thousand fabrics and 50 different finishes to choose from “The consumers really have been accepting it We’re getting a lot of design presentations right now.” “We can give [consumers] a tremendous choice for what they would like to make their home look like.” Ethan Allen prides itself on providing customers with custom-made This method presents the utmost luxury shopping experience Furniture is not the store’s only specialty Ethan Allen provides a one-stop shop for all interior design needs Leeds—with a total of six stores owned between them—there isn’t much that either has yet to encounter in the business realm “There were some issues that postponed our opening that were beyond our control there was really nothing that surprised us There’s not too many surprises anymore.” “We’d like to become a permanent part of the community,” Mr “We’ve both been in it for over 50 years each and hopefully this store will be around a lot longer than that for the next generation.” MORE STORIES Governor nominee will challenge two incumbents in Bergen legislative race the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in 2017 told the New Jersey Globe that he will run for State Assembly in the 39th district GOP primary it is imperative that we put forth the strongest ticket possible to represent the residents of the 39th district,” Rendo said “I will bring a strong set of credentials and experience to the legislative ticket.” He touted his three victories in the Woodcliff Lake mayoral race “This shows I have strong cross-over appeal then the lieutenant governor and the GOP gubernatorial nominee The Guadagno-Rendo team won the 39th by three percentage points Phil Murphy headlined a fundraiser for Woodcliff Lake Democrats Rendo came to the United States at age two as his family fled the Fidel Castro regime He’s an immigration attorney who grew up in Union City and began his political career as a Republican candidate for Hudson County freeholder in 1993 He moved to Woodcliff Lake seven years later and won a borough council seat in 2013 The 39th has been on the Democratic radar screen for several cycles but Republicans have a 46-year winning streak in the Bergen County district Donald Trump carried the 39th by two points last year; Joe Biden won it by six points in 2020 Republican Jack Ciattarelli won the district by seven points; State Sen Holly Schepisi (R-River Vale) was re-elected by a ten-point margin in 2023 a 61-year borough resident and longtime leader of the Shade Tree Committee was honored Friday as Woodcliff Lake celebrated Arbor Day at Woodcliff Middle School Mayor Carlos Rendo proclaimed April 25 as both Arbor Day and Clay Bosch Day in Woodcliff Lake recognizing Bosch’s 29 years of service to the committee Bosch presented a Paper Bark Maple tree to the school during a ceremony attended by students The event featured performances by the Woodwind Ensemble Students received seedlings sponsored by the Shade Tree Committee to take home and plant Shade Tree Committee chairperson Marilyn Clark also announced that Woodcliff Lake has been named a Tree City USA community for the 19th consecutive year by the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation The borough additionally received the foundation’s Growth Award for expanded efforts including a new street tree inventory and a public education program on climate change held last May The Tree City USA designation requires municipalities to maintain a shade tree committee and tree ordinance and commit at least $2 per capita to community forestry initiatives Members of the Shade Tree Committee include Kathleen Bagley Dave Linko represents the Department of Public Works with property maintenance manager Lyle Garcia and Councilwoman Julie Brodsky also supporting the committee Residents interested in requesting a street tree planting are encouraged to call Borough Hall at (201) 391-4977 BMW digs recommended as redevelopment areas A Woodcliff Lake man has been found guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child that occurred in January 2021 the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said Marcelo Velez, now 59, was arrested on charges of engaging in sexual acts with a child who was under the age of 13 in his residence in Woodcliff Lake The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and Woodcliff Lake Police Department began their investigation on Jan A jury in state Superior Court in Bergen County found Velez guilty on Tuesday of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct The mandatory minimum sentence range in this matter is from 25 years to life imprisonment with no parole eligibility Velez worked for Columbia University as vice president of its Manhattanville Development group He oversaw the university's West Harlem campus expansion before he was placed on administrative leave during the time of the investigation N.J.—A new chapter for open space in the borough begins Saturday with the grand opening of the town’s newest passive park at Werimus Road and Woodcliff Avenue and a commemorative giveaway (while supplies last) “This will be both ceremonial and celebratory with a real feeling of community,” said Councilwoman Julie Brodsky who serves on the Parks and Recreation Committee and a monuments area honoring local veterans The borough bought the property—formerly the Galaxy Gardens Nursery Center—in early 2018 for $1.65 million and turned it into a green space everyone can enjoy Officials speaking at the event include Mayor Carlos Rendo and Assemblymen Robert Auth and John Azziriti Jr There are still ways for residents to leave their mark: park bench sponsorships are available for $6,000 (with a plaque, valid for 10 years), and tree sponsorships are $1,000. Forms are available at wclnj.com and in the March 2025 e-newsletter I’m thrilled we’re giving the people of Woodcliff Lake a beautiful new park to enjoy,” Rendo said “We took an environmentally impacted site Rideshare drivers to rally in Trenton over fair pay PVRHSD BOE appoints Dirk Phillips as interim superintendent starting May 1 The Woodcliff Lake community is rallying to support a teenager who lost three family members in a car crash on the Garden State Parkway over the weekend A GoFundMe created by Max Dryerman has raised $134,000 and counting as of Wednesday night following the deaths of his parents as he returns to college and will also be given to several charities in the victims' memory The Dryermans were killed in a single-car crash in Woodbridge while traveling north on the parkway just before midnight Saturday A preliminary investigation determined David Dryerman was driving a Tesla Model S when it ran off the road to the left and struck a sign The deaths shocked Woodcliff Lake residents many of whom immediately began looking for ways to honor a family that had been so active in the community Valley Chabad: Center for Jewish Life organized a candlelight vigil Sunday evening to share stories and pray for the family Organizers also called on attendees to perform a mitzvah a good deed out of empathy and kindness in the Jewish faith Max Dryerman is considering donating some of the GoFundMe proceeds to Camp Raspberry an after-school program for children with special needs of which Brooke served as co-president at Pascack Hills High School He would also like to support Jewish causes along with an organization dedicated to helping teens battling anxiety and depression Max fondly remembered the qualities of his parents and sister during the family's funeral service Tuesday at Temple Emanuel of the Pascack Valley He recalled his father constantly playing "tricks" on him and his sister; one of his favorites was to ask the children if they wanted to go for a ride with "a surprise at the end." While they hoped for a visit to Dairy Queen or even an impromptu Disney trip the ride would inevitably end with a rather underwhelming stop at ShopRite or the hardware store shared stories about always feeling "the need to look after her" as the two grew up She praised her sister and brother-in-law as "amazing" parents who cared deeply about making sure their children were close with their extended family "She used to be the little girl that followed me around and wanted to be just like me," a tearful Litwin said of Michele "but now I hope to even be just a little bit like her." Brooke Dryerman was someone who was "always dedicated to helping others in any way she could," her brother said She had "always felt a calling" toward teaching and caregiving and had been looking forward to starting a Teacher Cadet program and exploring a career in the field No words can describe it," Max Dryerman said through tears "You touched the heart of everyone you meet and you will always have a special place in mine." WOODCLIFF LAKE—What should be built on two large properties—the former Hilton Hotel site and a 20-acre tract at the BMW headquarters both acquired over the past year by two different developers what could be built if they were redeveloped or designated as “areas in need of redevelopment” That’s the goal of two redevelopment studies approved by the Borough Council at its November and December meetings the council passed resolutions establishing developer-funded accounts to cover the cost of exploring each site’s redevelopment potential authorizing a preliminary redevelopment investigation study by DMR Architects for Block 602 a 20-acre portion of BMW’s headquarters at its larger 80-plus-acre property at 300 Chestnut Ridge Road The resolution notes the study’s $19,160 cost but does not specify who is paying for it Borough Administrator Tom Padilla told Pascack Press that the study will be funded by the property developer Pascack Press has requested a copy of the DMR proposal “The Borough Administrator has reviewed the proposal submitted by DMR Architects for the preparation of the Preliminary Redevelopment Investigation Study for Block 602 Lot 1 without condemnation and recommends the approval of same; and WHEREAS the Chief Financial Officer has certified that funds are available for this expenditure a copy of said certification being attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.” which establishes an escrow fund with Woodcliff Lake Developers to “fund the costs and expenses in connection with exploring the redevelopment of Block 301 Lot 3 (200 Tice Boulevard),” the former Woodcliff Lake Hilton property The resolution does not mention the property’s address or the Hilton name The resolution also does not clarify the principals in Woodcliff Lake Developers an internet search shows Wilf Law Firm LLP purchased the Hilton property at auction in February 2024 Garden Homes—a subsidiary owned by real estate developer Zygmunt “Zygi” Wilf who also owns the Minnesota Vikings—has developed thousands of homes Both redevelopment studies aim to evaluate whether the properties meet the criteria for “areas in need of redevelopment,” a designation that could facilitate rezoning by the Land Use Board and council Officials told Pascack Press that once the studies are completed with future development options considered Both studies focus on non-condemnation redevelopment it is unclear who has contracted for or acquired the 20-acre portion of BMW headquarters under review Officials declined to discuss potential development options until the redevelopment studies are completed Mayor Carlos Rendo has pledged to help the owner of 100 Tice Boulevard find a replacement for tenant Party City which recently moved its headquarters here affecting all of the company’s stores and ending a 40-year run of operations “I hope that Party City works with its workforce for a smooth transition Party City occupies a Class A building in Woodcliff Lake that is now going to be empty to the owners of the building to help attract a new business to occupy the property.” See “Mayor vows to help repurpose Party City HQ as company folds” by John Snyder ‘Galaxy’ park name unveiling set for spring at opening It’s coming: Property reassessment webinar Jan An office building in the affluent suburb of Woodcliff Lake sold this week for $9.8 million — a nearly 19% increase over what it sold for 10 years ago — potentially bucking the trend of companies giving up suburban office space for more urban parts of the country which oversaw the sale of the property at 470 Chestnut Ridge Road touted the site’s proximity to a nearby Whole Foods store as well as building upgrades in the lobby and common area The property and its 53,730-square-foot building are leased entirely to engineering and construction firm Kiewit for its regional Northeast headquarters Kiewit did not respond to several emails on Tuesday seeking comment The property was sold to an investment firm based in Monsey the building sold for $8.25 million to Keystone Property Group which is based in Morristown with a Pennsylvania headquarters More: New commercial real estate projects have slowed in NJ thanks to high borrowing rates “470 Chestnut’s location in one of New Jersey’s premier towns coupled with Kiewit’s recent upgrades to the lobby common areas and building systems made this an attractive opportunity for the buyer,” CBRE Vice Chairman Jeff Bunne said in a statement Suburban office complexes and suburban-based corporate headquarters have become less common amid work-from-home trends coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic more businesses have been flocking to urban centers like Hoboken and Jersey City which sit across the Hudson River from Manhattan when companies fled cities for suburban areas including stretches of Bergen County and the Interstates 80 and 287 corridors in Morris County But the recent past has seen accounting giant Deloitte and drugmaker Sanofi moving into smaller office space in Morristown, the largest city in Morris County, along with the Valley National bank headquarters, in what’s known as the M Station project And former office complexes across North Jersey are being converted into warehouses or a combination of housing and retail Still, some corporate headquarters are sticking it out in suburban offices. Electronics giant Samsung will move its North American headquarters from Ridgefield Park, off the New Jersey Turnpike, to Englewood Cliffs next summer Party City based its headquarters in Woodcliff Lake since a tax break announcement with the state in 2021. Financial technology company Fiserv recently moved 2,000 employees to a headquarters in Berkeley Heights And earlier this year, the maker of Tylenol, Listerine, Neutrogena, Band-Aids and Benadryl announced plans for a global headquarters in suburban New Jersey with over 3,000 scientists and other employees over the next few years Kenvue — a Johnson & Johnson spinoff — is moving its Neutrogena employees from California to Summit in 2025 It will occupy a sprawling 290,000-square-foot headquarters and research and development facility on a 46-acre campus formerly occupied by the pharmaceutical company Celgene labor and the economy for NorthJersey.com and The Record Email: munozd@northjersey.com; Twitter:@danielmunoz100 and Facebook WOODCLIFF LAKE—The grand opening of the borough’s newest and long-awaited passive recreation park located at the corner of Werimus Road and Woodcliff Avenue A highlight of the celebration will be the unveiling of the park’s official name it has been informally known as Galaxy Gardens Park in reference to the former garden center that once occupied the site I’m happy we were able to give the residents of Woodcliff Lake a beautiful park and open space to enjoy,” Mayor Carlos Rendo tells Pascack Press and returned it to residents for their enjoyment.” The borough purchased the 2.1-acre property for $1.65 million in early 2018 and invested nearly $500,000 in remediating soil contamination stemming from its prior use as a garden center and “The Borough of Woodcliff Lake is thrilled to announce that the date for the park’s grand opening is set for Saturday We are very excited about this milestone and look forward to celebrating with the community.” Brodsky noted the day will include “a special unveiling of the park’s official name marking a significant moment for the borough.” She said several distinguished elected officials from Pascack Valley and throughout New Jersey have been invited to attend local musicians and student performers from the Pascack Hills High School band and chorus are scheduled to showcase their talents Brodsky said construction remains on schedule “The borough is very pleased with how the project is coming together and looks forward to welcoming residents to enjoy this wonderful new space,” she said via email March 19 She added that the borough has “received a great response to our park bench and tree sponsorship program Half of the available benches have already been sold though they are expected to go quickly as the grand opening approaches.” There are still “plenty of trees available for sponsorship,” she noted offering a meaningful opportunity “for individuals or businesses to contribute to the community and leave a lasting legacy.” A park bench sponsorship requires a $6,000 donation and lasts for 10 years Tree sponsorships are available for $1,000 each Donors receive a personalized plaque on their sponsored bench or tree Residents can find more information and sponsorship forms on the borough website at wclnj.com Additional details are also available in the borough’s March 2025 e-newsletter “The borough is proud to recognize the Parks and Recreation Committee who have worked diligently to ensure that this celebration will be an amazing experience for all Their dedication has been instrumental in bringing this project to completion.” Township reassessment underway; interior inspections urged N.J.—The borough’s Land Use Board on April 11 voted unanimously to recommend that two major vacant parcels — a 21.2-acre tract at the former BMW headquarters and a 20-acre site at the former Woodcliff Lake Hilton — be designated as areas in need of redevelopment The recommendations will now return to the Borough Council which can debate and vote on whether to accept them the council would create a redevelopment plan for the areas and likely work with developers to meet design and building standards set forth in the plan A developer’s proposal would then be individually approved by the borough While the former Hilton Hotel property was acquired by Short Hills–based Garden Homes at auction for $50.7 million in early 2024 the BMW property is under contract to Russo Development LLC of Carlstadt Council looks at redevelopment options,” by Michael Olohan Mayor Carlos Rendo said the recommendations are a “positive” for the community so these recommendations are beginning a process so that we can control what [future] development goes on them,” Rendo told Pascack Press on April 23 Rendo and Councilwoman Nicole Marsh serve on the board “This is a positive for the municipality as we control our own destiny,” he added Rendo said a council committee is reviewing the entire Tice Boulevard area to determine what future development would best benefit the borough He noted that any redevelopment must also satisfy the borough’s fourth-round affordable housing obligations DMR Architects found that both sites met “Criterion A” of eight statutory conditions for declaring an area in need of redevelopment That criterion indicates the properties are obsolete and no longer suited to their original uses The board’s vote followed two separate investigations by DMR Architects initiated last fall by the Borough Council after both properties became vacant Planner Dan Hauben of DMR Architects provided a detailed overview of conditions at 300 Chestnut Ridge Road (BMW) and 200 Tice Boulevard (Hilton) Hauben said redevelopment designation could allow the borough to enter into a Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement with a future developer PILOT agreements generally provide municipalities with increasing revenue over time the BMW headquarters at 300 Chestnut Ridge Road ceased operations in February 2024 and was vacated in November 2024 when BMW consolidated operations into three other campus buildings The structure was described as “substandard” and “obsolescent,” leading to its redevelopment designation under the state’s Local Redevelopment and Housing Law The property is zoned for Office Research (OR) use which formerly housed a 338-room hotel and conference center investigators found widespread mold and asbestos requiring mitigation prior to the ongoing demolition Hauben noted that no asbestos was found at the BMW site The DMR report cited a steady deterioration at the Hilton property since its closure and included police reports documenting numerous calls to the site Residents can access DMR’s 75-page BMW report and 46-page Hilton report via links on the Land Use Board’s website See “Redeveloper says it’s acquired ‘distressed’ Woodcliff Lake Hilton property; mayor laments job losses,” by John Snyder and Michael Olohan Rendo said the borough would review not only Tice Boulevard but the broader Broadway Corridor to “see what we can do.” That includes exploring ordinances “so that way we don’t keep on losing stores to Montvale,” he said ‘Swampless!’ Selling suburbia in the early 20th century Bosch honored as Woodcliff Lake marks Arbor Day with new tree have sold a combined 190 apartments in Gloucester and Bergen counties for $31 million in an off-market deal arranged by The Kislak Co the portfolio includes the 176-unit Laurelton Village at 601 North Black Horse Pike in Williamstown is a 14-unit building with five retail spaces at 62 Broadway in Woodcliff Lake Kislak CEO Jason Pucci represented the sellers noting that Kamson is a longtime client and one of the largest private owners of multifamily properties in the Northeast an executive vice president with the Woodbridge-based firm “This was an extraordinary deal in that we had a short window in which to transact,” Pucci said “Both parties and their attorneys worked quickly and well together to draft negotiate and sign two contracts while simultaneously completing two detailed property tours in only three days which allowed us to close two months later The timing also enabled the seller to use one of the properties as part of an I.R.C Allen Popowitz of Brach Eichler LLC was the seller’s attorney while Daniel Cohen and Issac Graaf of Jeffrey Zwick & Associates PC provided legal counsel to the buyer IS Realty LLC arranged financing with Trevian Capital “The purchaser’s acquisition of Laurelton Village enabled them to increase their holdings in the local market while entering the strong Bergen County market for the first time through their acquisition of Woodcliff Lake Commons,” Waisbrod said “I expect they will do well with both properties.” Laurelton Village is a two-story brick garden apartment complex with 176 two-bedroom units spread across 14 buildings Recent improvements at the nine-acre property include new exteriors while residents have access to laundry facilities The property is close to the Deptford Mall Interstate 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike It’s also some 23 miles southeast of Philadelphia includes a private lobby entrance with package and elevator service upscale units and on-site assigned parking The local train station is a 10-minute walk from the property and runs on the Pascack Valley line with service to New York Penn Station Kamson acquired Laurelton Village in 2003 in a sale that Kislak also brokered That relationship goes back more than 40 years while the most recent sales marked the 76th and 77th that the brokerage firm has handled for Kamson during that stretch has been covering New Jersey commercial real estate for 13 years Many industry leaders view him as the go-to real estate reporter in the state a role he is eager to continue as the editor of Real Estate NJ He is a lifelong New Jersey resident who has spent a decade covering the great Garden State Restaurant chain Bojangles has opened along a major commercial corridor in Piscataway as part of a previously announced deal brokered by The Goldstein Group All RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright 2023 Real Estate NJ 101 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland Our site uses cookies. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy WOODCLIFF LAKE—It was a sunny day and the perfect time to get outside and enjoy nature Residents of Woodcliff Lake and surrounding towns gathered at the reservoir to celebrate the official opening of Veolia’s new Woodcliff Lake walking path “We made sure to clear out some things on our Saturday agenda so we could come here,” said Evangeline Gomez of Old Tappan who brought her children to the celebration “They are just so excited and want to keep walking right now.” Dozens of families and solo hikers stopped by Saturday morning to experience the recent expansion at the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir trail The path stretches roughly 1.25 miles and offers yet another outdoor activity for members of Veolia’s Watershed Recreation Program who join to hike fish and watch birds along the company’s four reservoirs in North Jersey and New York “Veolia is excited that we have been able to create this path for residents to enjoy and we appreciate the support of the Mayors and Council Members from Woodcliff Lake Hillsdale and Montvale for working with us to make this happen,” said Debra Vial “I encourage residents to join us here at Woodcliff Lake and come learn about our outdoor environmental programs,” Vial added.  member Michael Shields of Hillsdale has been coming to the reservoir for over 10 years to fish “I used to bring my children down when they were younger,” Shields said you look forward to it from April to Thanksgiving weekend To recognize the expansion of the trail in their area Park Ridge and Montvale can enjoy free membership in Veolia’s Watershed Recreation Program which runs from early spring until Nov The annual program includes access to four reservoirs with 12 gates for members to enjoy fishing The parking lot for the new path is at a popular fishing spot with access for residents in wheelchairs Along with the opening of the walking path some families rolled up their sleeves to participate in a cleanup going on that day.  Gomez likes the idea of bringing her children to learn about the watershed “I think it’s wonderful they get to learn about nature,” she said They understand the importance of exercising and get to be little natural scientists They ask me about trees and the watershed and we’re able to impart that information to them which is very important.” The Watershed Recreation Program is open until the end of November. Residents interested in joining the program can email for more information Shields agrees the path is another great addition to the program “I’ve been coming here for over 10 years and enjoy the peace and quiet down here.” Pascack Press Election Guide 2024: Westwood WOODCLIFF LAKE — Some Bergen County mayors hope a small change can fix a big traffic problem for drivers near a Garden State Parkway exit Washington Township Mayor Peter Calamari has shared a notice from Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali urging residents to sign a petition that would allow right turns off Exit 171 at Glen Road in Woodcliff Lake The petition which has already garnered over 1,700 signatures aims to address growing traffic congestion at Exit 171 and on local roads in Montvale Officials believe allowing right turns at Glen Road would help alleviate the issue knowing that this can be solved and made easier for all of us but nothing’s being done about it,” said Montvale resident Nabeel Khurshid Khurshid explained that he often has to make a U-turn to return to his street due to the current traffic flow “They can have one lane go left and the other go right not all residents are in favor of the proposal One resident who lives on Glen Road and did not wish to be named expressed concerns about the potential impact on safety “I don’t think it’ll be safe for our kids anymore,” the resident said “People are already speeding on this road in the morning.” could exacerbate the traffic situation if changes aren't made “Our town is taking on Woodcliff Lake traffic,” Ghassali said “Allowing the right turn would alleviate much of the congestion especially during rush hours.” He added that even some residents living near Exit 171 are forced to make U-turns to return home further contributing to local traffic issues He said his administration is set to meet with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and county representatives to explore options before taking further action Woodcliff Lake Mayor Carlos Rendo voiced opposition to the plan attributing Montvale’s overdevelopment as the root cause of the traffic problems they have permitted massive overdevelopment in their town without appropriately planning for the consequences Permitting the right-hand turn at Exit 171 will only force unnecessary traffic onto Woodcliff Lake roads that were not designed to handle the traffic,” Rendo said “This will lead to negative consequences to many Woodcliff Lake and Park Ridge residents." Calamari also added his voice to the discussion asking Woodcliff Lake officials to reconsider the right-hand turn restriction "I believe it would benefit people from many towns with better and more direct access to and from their homes as well as more efficiently and effectively distributing traffic in the area," Calamari said have added numerous residential housing units due to housing regulations since the "no right turn" provision was incorporated into Woodcliff Lake’s settlement with the Turnpike Authority "Due to the no right-hand turn restriction the Township of Washington is absorbing an undue traffic volume burden at Exit 168 for the additional housing created in surrounding towns "I am asking that Woodcliff Lake take responsibility for the many additional vehicles necessitated by recent and future housing units in their town by removing the no right-hand restriction." Ethan Allen has leased 4,700 square feet at an upscale retail center in Woodcliff Lake joining more than two dozen tenants at a location just off the Garden State Parkway the space at Tice’s Corner Marketplace will be among more than 170 stores for the home furnishings chain The retailer is leasing the unit at 441 Chestnut Ridge Road under a deal with WS Tice’s Corner / Marketplace LLC the owner of the roughly 120,000-square-foot center Ethan Allen chose to locate its newest location in the thriving Woodcliff Lake/Montvale an executive vice president with The Goldstein Group “The market affords them the opportunity to service their client base and to add additional customers Being located in a well-known center with other retailers and restaurants with the same type of a demographic profile will afford them great potential.” a vice president with the Paramus-based brokerage firm while Sharon Maddern of David Adam Realty represented the landlord The Goldstein Group noted that Tice’s Corner has more than 25 stores with a blend of fashions PASCACK VALLEY—Five council races are contested in the Pascack Valley this Nov with Republicans and Democrats competing for seats Here’s a rundown of the candidates and their views in Westwood and Woodcliff Lake, and a quick look at the incumbents running unopposed in Montvale and River Vale Washington Township gets a breather from council campaigning this year For our report on candidates vying for seats in neighboring towns, see “Pascack Press Election Guide 2024: Emerson, Hillsdale, and Park Ridge” by Michael Olohan We’re also running an Emerson profile piece in this issue to add information subsequently added to the web version of the story Vying are  Republican incumbents Cheryl L We asked the candidates about the $1 million FEMA grant to elevate four flood-prone homes a drone study of Pascack Brook to help mitigate flooding and a $200,000 state-funded study by Stevens Institute of Technology to maximize reservoir capacity and minimize flooding “Grants like these are helpful and needed… However more long-term solutions for the Pascack Valley are still necessary to address climate change and give residents greater relief.” “We support data-driven efforts… We also need access to county resources to dredge waterways across neighboring municipalities.” they said their focus would be on: helping older residents age in place expanding partnerships with businesses and nonprofits and improving communication and transparency “FEMA grants provide a welcome option for residents to remain in their homes… However and acting as general contractors can be daunting.” they said it identified “problem areas” in four towns and will help in collaborating on remediation and seeking grants to restore capacity and flow to reservoirs They called the FIRO study “a first step” that will support legislation requiring reservoir operators to adopt flood mitigation protocols they will focus on parking and pedestrian safety and preserving open space to mitigate flooding incumbent Democratic Councilwoman Jennifer Friedberg Margolis and newcomer Brian J Longtime Councilwoman Jacqueline Gadaleta is not running for reelection Their Republican challengers are newcomers Morgan Mazor and Christopher Bonanno We asked the candidates about Valley Chabad’s move into a commercially zoned building ways to increase tax revenues given the depressed office market and Hilton closure “It’s important to support everyone in our community… I’m glad Valley Chabad found that space for them.” he said the focus should be on attracting new businesses to Broadway and Chestnut Ridge Road and developing a plan to refresh those areas He said his top priorities include: business corridor development and bringing the community together through town events organizations have more options… Valley Chabad found the perfect space.” She suggested creating a chamber of commerce and working with the economic development committee to attract companies to Woodcliff Lake “As a proud supporter of our community’s rich cultural tapestry I’m thrilled Valley Chabad found a new home… I applaud their efforts.” “We have a unique opportunity… Let’s partner with the new owners of the Hilton and BMW property to bring in projects that boost our tax base.” He pledged to focus on revitalizing neglected spaces Mazor echoed support for Valley Chabad and proposed repurposing underutilized office space to attract new businesses Montvale incumbents Dieter Koelling and Ann-Marie Russo-Vogelsang are running unopposed We invite their views on such issues as Montvale’s lawsuit challenging affordable housing obligations and River Vale’s under-construction public safety complex.  Fans flock to new trail at Woodcliff Lake Reservoir Hillsdale’s 125th Anniversary Journal $15 at library WOODCLIFF LAKE—Residents have a busy week ahead with a variety of activities and meetings scheduled Whether you’re looking to get involved in local government or take care of practical needs like document shredding helpful Pascack Press for more events as Woodcliff Lake and the Pascack Valley celebrate community All welcome as seniors host opera star Lucia Wehr in concert Nov Ghassali ‘grandstanding’ on Exit 171 turn petition Neighboring towns tap brake lights on Montvale mayor’s vision for traffic relief With storms expected to deluge New Jersey this week, the water company that owns Woodcliff Lake was planning to lower the reservoir on Tuesday to protect its "structural integrity," Westwood's mayor said In a late afternoon Facebook post Mayor Raymond Arroyo said he and Hillsdale Mayor Michael Sheinfield had been told by Veolia Water that "for the purposes of safeguarding the structural integrity of the dam gates and out of an abundance of caution in that regard they will begin drawing water out of the vessel in advance of Tropical Storm Debbie's arrival." The company plans to get the level down to somewhere between 92 or 93 feet from "the current swollen level of 95+," Arroyo wrote Westwood and other flood-prone Pascack Valley towns have urged Veolia to draw down the lake in advance of storms to help absorb potential rainfall But Veolia and state regulators have both demurred saying the company's mandate was to ensure the water supply Arroyo wrote the company's "specifically stated purpose is not flood mitigation this is the best we are going to do," he added said earlier on Tuesday that the company was preparing for the storm and "ensuring we have emergency staff ready that our backup power is online and taking all necessary precautions to protect the integrity of the dams and the communities we serve." "We continue to be in contact with local and county emergency officials," she said Decisions on drawing down the lake are not made arbitrarily and are based on experience the state told water suppliers to lower the reservoirs several feet but a predicted deluge never came and reservoirs did not recover causing a drought “Letting water pass to protect the dam structure is really the only instance in which we are allowed to release water,” said Vial “Our NJDEP permits do not allow us to lower levels before storms as a flood control measure.” This summer has been “extremely dry” so far forcing Veolia to bring 50 millions of gallons a day from the Wanaque Reservoir just to meet the demand More: Hey New Jersey, get ready for some cooler weather, lots of rain and flood watch Sheinfield and two fellow Bergen County mayors Phil Murphy to order the lowering of Woodcliff Lake ahead of the storm "With several inches of rain expected in the coming days action must be taken as soon as possible," Schepisi wrote in a letter to Murphy and state Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette that Arroyo shared on his Facebook page “With the reservoir at its summer level of 95 feet there is simply nowhere for the water to go,” Schepisi said in the letter “Even a small rain results in runoff and spillover In a response to Schepisi's letter shared by the DEP LaTourette said that while he can "empathize with the wish of some residents that water supply reservoirs could double as a mechanism to reduce flooding that affects their communities," the state must also "mind the appropriate function of this critical infrastructure and the public need to maintain appropriate water levels." Arroyo said on Facebook Monday that he and Sheinfield − along with mayors Peter Calamari of Washington Township and Mark Bromberg of River Vale − have also been in touch with state Assemblyman Robert Auth who put them “in direct contact with the Governor’s Office as well” to request the reservoir be lowered Arroyo said the water levels needed to be drained “when the sun is shining.” “I understand it is a hard call to make because the early indicators suggest the counties to our south will be hardest hit,” Arroyo in his own e-mail to Murphy’s office “But if Debbie [sic] shifts trajectory and comes at us hard there will not be enough time to pre-release it will be too late to take any effective action to mitigate the flood potential.” Pascack Valley towns seek flooding solutionsFlooding in Westwood and surrounding towns has been a longstanding issue. While pushing for more action from the water company, the towns have also commissioned two studies by the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken One is looking at flood-control tools used by other reservoir systems across the country; the second has employed a drone to find waterways clogged with debris that exacerbate local flooding has promoted a bipartisan bill in the state Senate co-sponsored by Paramus Democrat Joseph Lagana that would authorize local emergency management offices to order the reservoir to be lowered in response to bad weather There is a companion bill in the Assembly sponsored by Republicans Robert Auth and DeAnne C which was introduced and referred to the Assembly Environment Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community please subscribe or activate your digital account today Email: noda@northjersey.com Twitter: @snoda11 Keystone Property Group has sold a nearly 54,000-square-foot office building in Woodcliff Lake for $9.8 million The real estate services firm represented the seller in the deal at 470 Chestnut Ridge Road touting its location at the intersection of Tice Road and adjacent to Whole Foods The property is fully leased to Kiewit Infrastructure one of North America’s largest engineering and construction organizations with $13.7 billion in revenue and more than 28,000 employees which maintains its regional Northeast headquarters at the 53,730-square-foot building common areas and building systems made this an attractive opportunity for the buyer,” said CBRE Vice Chairman Jeff Dunne who brokered the trade alongside Doug Rodio WOODCLIFF LAKE—The separation notice from human resources at 1 Celebration Square was brief and stark: Party City Holdings Inc (“PCHI”) has made the difficult decision to conduct a mass layoff at its Woodcliff Lake headquarters stores and ending a nearly 40-year run of operations “The expected date of the first separation will be Dec We regret to inform you that your position will be eliminated on Dec Employees were reminded that “PCHI does not have a job bumping system—that is employees will not be able to displace more junior employees out of their job positions as a result of this mass layoff.” Inquiries were directed to the firm’s assistant general counsel CEO Barry Litwin informed corporate employees on Friday that Party City is “winding down” operations immediately Staff were reportedly told they would not receive severance pay and their benefits would end as the company prepared to cease operations “That is without question the most difficult message that I’ve ever had to deliver,” Litwin reportedly said during a video conference call “It’s really important for you to know that we’ve done everything possible that we could to try to avoid this outcome it’s necessary to commence a wind-down process immediately.” Store-level employees received separate notifications indicating that all U.S at which time store staff will be terminated “Although Party City believes these closings are in the best interest of the company we regret that we have had to take this step and thank you for your valued contributions and service.” CNN also reported that HR chief Karen McGowan addressing employees about the termination of benefits The news hits Woodcliff Lake particularly hard who just three years ago celebrated the company’s relocation of its headquarters to the borough expressed disappointment over the timing and manner of the layoffs “How do you do that in the middle of the holidays without advance notice to employees?” Rendo wrote on Facebook Party City’s relocation to Woodcliff Lake in 2022 was initially met with optimism much welcome in the shadow of the pandemic Rendo and the Borough Council worked to attract the company to the vacant ESAI building at 100 Tice Boulevard Rendo estimated the move would bring 300–400 jobs with salaries averaging in the mid-$90,000 range and a total workforce exceeding 700 employees The company received the first award under New Jersey’s Emerge Program which incentivized job creation and capital investment Party City’s planned $25–$30 million capital investment was touted as a major win for the borough “We’re excited to bring Party City Holdings Inc to Woodcliff Lake,” then-CEO Brad Weston said in 2021 “It’s essential that we provide our team with the right working environment… We anticipate the convenient location and our hybrid approach will support a modern way of working.” Founded in 1986 by Steve Mandell in East Hanover Party City grew from a single store into the largest retailer of party goods in North America The company expanded through franchising and acquisitions while capitalizing on seasonal pop-ups such as Halloween City and Toy City Its heavy focus on Halloween proved pivotal contributing significantly to its profitability Party City filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy but managed to eliminate over $1 billion in debt during restructuring the company continued to face challenges and announced in late 2024 that it would close all U.S Chief Madden retires after 38 years of service in Park Ridge Four new Fifth District Hometown Heroes lead WOODCLIFF LAKE—After seven years of waiting and due to 2025’s wintry weather in January and February the grand opening of the borough’s newest park is delayed again has slowed down progress at the new passive park site at Wierimus Road and Woodcliff Avenue delaying the opening until possibly April or May with piles of melting snow throughout the 2.1-acre property.  Partially completed were areas around the park’s amphitheater and arch-covered entrance with memorial benches placed around the unfinished park Officials said veterans monuments were still to be moved to the new park and would arrive soon Administrator Tom Padilla said officials want to have the entire park “fully operational and complete” for the grand opening Councilman Chistopher Bonanno said the opening date would be moved from late March The new park’s name will also be unveiled at the grand opening Officials also said they would be doing a new traffic study at the busy Wierimus Road and Woodcliff Avenue nexus to provide county officials up to date vehicle counts and volumes Local officials had reached out to county officials to pursue a possible traffic signal at the busy intersection county officials said it could be up to five years Padilla said that he would meet together with the borough engineer to formulate ideas that could be discussed with county engineering said she wondered why the county would not do anything about the intersection when they knew it was a dangerous intersection She said she had responded to a horrible accident at the intersection with the local ambulance squad “It’s just a matter of time before someone is hurt,” said Higgins The council awarded a park installation contract to Applied Landscape Technologies the lowest of two bidders on the long-delayed park project.  Padilla said 11 contractors picked up bid packages but only two contractors submitted bids ‘Next stop: Hillsdale!’ The opening of the Pascack Valley Line Borough says it’s out in front on state obligation  WOODCLIFF LAKE—One Democratic incumbent and a Republican newcomer were sworn in on Jan 6 to new three-year terms on the Borough Council during the reorganization meeting before approximately three dozen residents at the Tice Senior Center Mayor Carlos Rendo reassured residents that he would work with borough professionals to “reduce this number” of 423 affordable units suggested by the state Department of Community Affairs for the 2025 to 2035 fourth round period The borough had the highest number of suggested affordable units of all eight Pascack Valley towns.  the council supported proposed legislation by a statewide local attorneys association to implement a new methodology for calculating affordable units that would reduce obligations up to 80% of the state DCA numbers released last Oct Returning Democratic councilwoman Jennifer Margolis and first-time Republican councilman Christopher Bonanno eked out victories over Republican Morgan Mazor with 25.34% for the two open seats on council Democrat Brian Magrogan polled fourth with 22.83% of the vote Margolis was sworn in by Bergen County Democratic Commissioner Tracy Zur; and Bonanno was sworn in by 39th District Assemblyman John Azzariti the council unanimously selected councilman Joshua Stern as council president The reorganization featured council appointments to a dozen standing committees including the Police Department (Stern & Benjamin Pollack) and Parks & Recreation (Julie Brodsky and Bonanno) as well as Schools K-8 (Pollack & Margolis) and Communications/Outreach (Brodsky & Bonanno; alternate Pollack) council appointments were made to six non-standing committees such as affordable housing Nearly 20 professional appointments were approved including borough attorney (John Schettino); labor attorney (Wiss & Bouregy DMR Architects); special counsel for conflicts (Chasen Mallon & Cappuzzo); and grant writer (Millennium Strategies LLC) Approximately 20 mayoral appointments were made including certified public works manager (David Linko); zoning official (Mark Berninger); Bergen County JIF (Joint Insurance Fund) Commissioner rep (Tom Padilla); and property maintenance official (Lyle Garcia) Rendo appointed five Land Use Board members (and two alternates) Council also approved 22 consent resolutions that established a temporary 2025 budget; a 2025 meeting calendar; and authorized vehicle towing and storage services.  Resolutions approved appointing two probationary police officers including $6,000 for a park bench and $3,000 to begin a tree sponsorship program at the park “This Council will be ready to tackle our many challenges which include meeting our affordable housing mandates of 423 units.  Our professionals will be working together with our Council to reduce this number through our vacant land adjustment to reach a true number of buildable units.  With the expected developments at the Hilton we feel confident that we will meet our requirements and receive our judgment of repose without a significant impact on our schools and community.  We will always keep the residents informed of any upcoming developments once we receive specifics on any projects.” We reported recently that the council approved two resolutions to begin studies on possible redevelopment at the Hilton and BMW sites Rendo said the new passive park will open soon and noted traffic flow is a top issue and that together with Bergen County has authorized a traffic study for the Werimus Road and the Old Mill Traffic flow will also be reviewed at the Broadway-train station intersection “to bring traffic relief to the residents of the east side.” Moreover traffic conditions at the train track crossing will be reviewed by NJ Transit He said the borough will make its last payments in 2025 on the BMW tax appeal settlement and the $1.5 million Valley Chabad settlement “The payments of these settlements will finally close a chapter in our history and allow us to finally focus on reducing debt while investing smartly in our community,” Rendo said “Thank you for placing your trust in each and every one of us.  I look forward to continuing to move this municipality forward as your mayor.” Bootlegger’s roost in a Westwood henhouse Eyes on a disciplinary hearing for HPD chief Smith  WOODCLIFF LAKE—A devastating car crash in Woodbridge has claimed the lives of three members of a Woodcliff Lake family died late Saturday night when their vehicle ran off the road and collided with multiple structures The incident occurred just before midnight at milepost 131.1 on the Garden State Parkway Charles Marchan of the New Jersey State Police said David Dryerman was driving a Tesla Model S northbound when the vehicle veered off the road to the left and then crashed into a concrete bridge support All three occupants of the car were pronounced dead at the scene Rendo offered his condolences on Facebook: “I just received word of this terrible tragedy Please keep the family in your prayers.” The cause of the crash remains under investigation The Dryerman family was deeply rooted in the community and their sudden loss has left a profound impact Jennifer Charnow of Hills Valley Coalition expressed the community’s collective grief: “Today our community experienced a collective unimaginable loss and Brooke Dryerman were known to anyone who met them as authentically kind They were always there to lend a hand and support a friend There is absolutely no way to make any sense of this tragedy What I do know is that we must honor them in the best way we can I am sharing the resources that are in place (as of this moment) for our children and our families.” Yosef Orenstein of Valley Chabad also expressed his heartbreak over the loss and invited community members to join in remembrance: “We are all shocked and in such pain today We will be gathering with the teens to light a candle and do a mitzvah in memory of Brooke and her beloved parents is providing immediate and ongoing support for students and families affected by this tragedy Counselors from the school’s Crisis Response Team will be available today in the PHHS Media Center to speak with students who need assistance Further support will be available beginning Monday morning with counselors from both the District Crisis Response Team and the Bergen County Traumatic Loss Coalition on-site at Pascack Hills High School “Supports will continue to be available all week as we process this tragedy,” Charnow said “Please note that children may be at greater risk due to exposure to the death of a peer If you feel your child is in need of additional assistance beyond the times noted above For those seeking support outside of school resources The community is coming together to remember and honor the Dryerman family through various gatherings and memorial events: Knights ‘Best of the Wurst’ Oktoberfest Dinner Friday WOODCLIFF LAKE—The Woodcliff Lake Senior Association (WLSA) hosts a special performance by local opera singer Lucia Wehr on Nov has graced audiences at venues such as Carnegie Recital Hall She also serves as cantor at Our Lady Mother of the Church in Woodcliff Lake Woodcliff Lake gears up for a week of lively events WOODCLIFF LAKE—The borough is standing firm against allowing right-hand turns at Parkway Exit 171 reaffirming a 1984 legal agreement that requires the borough’s unanimous consent for any changes The Borough Council voted unanimously on Oct 21 to uphold the stipulation in a settlement with the New Jersey Highway Authority and Bergen County citing safety concerns over Glen Road’s narrow winding route through residential neighborhoods in both Woodcliff Lake and Park Ridge Rendo announced he’d just sent the borough’s statement to the Turnpike Authority and Bergen County officials “We will not allow another municipality dictate what we do in Woodcliff Lake!” known as the Stipulation of Settlement and Consent Order was established to resolve a legal dispute surrounding the construction of Parkway Exit 171 Woodcliff Lake agreed to dismiss its pending litigation and make necessary roadway improvements while the Highway Authority agreed to restrict right-hand turns from the northbound exit ramp onto Glen Road unless it received unanimous consent from Woodcliff Lake “The reason for the prohibition against right-hand turns was that Glen Road was and is a narrow and winding road that transverses through residential neighborhoods both in Woodcliff Lake and in Park Ridge,” Rendo said in the letter to New Jersey Turnpike Authority Executive Director James Carone in Woodbridge The issue resurfaced recently when the Borough of Montvale requested that the New Jersey Turnpike Authority reevaluate the no-right-turn rule Woodcliff Lake’s council voted to reaffirm its commitment to the 1984 settlement expressing concern over potential safety risks if the restriction were lifted Rendo emphasized that the borough’s consent is required for any changes at Exit 171 the Woodcliff Lake Council unanimously reaffirmed our commitment to the Settlement Order which expressly requires Woodcliff Lake’s consent before changes are made to Parkway Exit 171,” Rendo said A copy of the council’s resolution was included with the letter along with documentation of discussions with the Borough of Park Ridge which also supports keeping the restriction in place citing concerns over increased traffic and safety on local roads While acknowledging Montvale’s request for a reevaluation Misciagna told us that allowing such turns would “negatively impact the residents of Park Ridge as well as Woodcliff Lake.” He emphasized that the change would likely worsen congestion and could require millions of dollars to reconfigure the exit Misciagna also dismissed claims that he had proposed installing a traffic light to back up traffic clarifying that he has always viewed the matter as a safety issue Ghassali’s petition to allow right-hand turns at Exit 171 North had yielded more than 1,973 signatures by Oct 24; Rendo and others on his dais said the borough was not budging Woodcliff Lake councilman Joshua Stern in a Facebook Live event recently said Ghassali had no studies to prove allowing right-hand turns would ease traffic congestion at Exit 172 in Montvale or Exit 168 in the Township of Washington Rendo said Montvale should solve its own problems created by its own “overdevelopment.” He suggested they revisit creating another parkway exit or speak with NJ Turnpike Authority officials Ghassali also has pointed out the 1984 agreement initially was saved on what is today outdated technology: a A 5 1/4-inch diskette This isn’t the first time the issue has been raised the New Jersey Turnpike Authority declined a similar request from Montvale stating there were no “negative impacts to the operation of the Parkway in this area resulting from interchange 171” and that the matter was a “local issue and as such should be addressed at the Municipal and County levels.” Woodcliff Lake submitted a copy of the 2015 correspondence as part of its case Rendo also suggested that any traffic study conducted by the Turnpike Authority should examine the broader region including the possibility of an additional Parkway entrance and exit on Summit Avenue in Montvale—a project Montvale has previously indicated it would be willing to pay for “We believe that it should be a regional study and should specifically examine the possibility of an additional Parkway entrance and exit on Summit Avenue in Montvale,” Rendo wrote Copies of the letter were sent to Bergen County Executive James Tedesco; Sen Holly Schepisi (R-39); the mayors of surrounding municipalities including Park Ridge’s Misciagna and Montvale’s Ghassali; and Kevin Dunn and Leo Schaeffer leading operations for the Turnpike Authority The Borough of Woodcliff Lake says it awaits further communication from the Turnpike Authority on the matter Montvale to NJ Turnpike Authority: ‘Request for Re-evaluation of Turn Restriction at GSP Exit 171’ Panthers take their due — three-peat in Rumble for the Rail (sorry Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here WOODCLIFF LAKE—A former Woodcliff Lake man was convicted of aggravated sexual assault and related charges in connection with the assault of a child under the age of 13 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced on Nov was found guilty by a Bergen County jury on Oct Velez was convicted of aggravated sexual assault and Velez faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years to life in prison without the possibility of parole under New Jersey’s Lunsford Act when the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit received a report from the Woodcliff Lake Police Department regarding an alleged sexual assault Prosecutors said the investigation revealed that Velez had engaged in sexual acts with a child at his home in Woodcliff Lake He was arrested soon after by detectives from the Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Woodcliff Lake Police Department Assistant Prosecutors Natalie Candela and Bethany Ventola led the case for the state with support from Detectives James Paolozzi of the Major Crimes Unit and Diane DaSilva of the Special Victims Unit Victim Advocate Angi Mejia-Valerio also provided assistance Velez was represented by attorneys Brian Neary Prosecutor Musella praised the work of his team for their advocacy on behalf of the victim He also commended Detectives Paolozzi and DaSilva along with the Woodcliff Lake Police Department for their professionalism in the investigation This conviction underscores the commitment of Bergen County law enforcement to pursuing justice for victims of sexual assault A second life for the schoolhouse under the cliffs Republicans return to councils; Dems win in WCL Hillsdale; $180K ask for WCL school guards nixed WOODCLIFF LAKE—The borough’s contest to name the passive park under construction at the corner of Werimus Road and Woodcliff Avenue has generated more than 50 potential park names to replace its unofficial moniker of Galaxy Gardens Park Mayor Carlos Rendo tells Pascack Press.  aims to find a fitting and inspiring name for the new park that will resonate with the spirit of the Woodcliff Lake community and foster a sense of belonging Rendo said it was likely that a new park name would be selected in October or November A committee comprising councilors Julie Brodsky will help winnow the suggestions and recommend the top choices to the Borough Council A final vote is expected on the winning name “The Parks and Recreation Committee will review all the submissions and discuss with the council at large and the mayor the best way to announce it,” Margolis tells us The rules state that only one entry per resident is allowed although multiple entries per household are permitted The committee will accept suggestions via a postcard sent to residents and through a form on the borough’s website with nearly 60 residents commenting on the mayor’s Facebook page offering a variety of name ideas that range from the serious to the humorous.  Some notable suggestions include “Bittman Park,” honoring a local land steward; “Jack D’Ambrosi Park,” for a resident who died in the Sept terrorist attacks; “Galaxy Park”; “Old Mill Park”; and the tongue-in-cheek “A Band Shell Is a Waste of Money Park.” An apparent fan of the mayor suggested “Rendo’s Reserve,” which elicited a chuckle from Rendo suggested “RLUIPA Park,” referencing the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 Valley Chabad sued under this law after the borough purchased the site which the religious organization had hoped to use for an expanded house of worship receiving $1.5 million after alleging religious discrimination by the borough Rendo said it was unlikely that the name selection would honor an individual stating that it would more likely be a generic name such as “Woodcliff Gardens.” The final decision will be made by the mayor and council based on recommendations from the naming committee The contest page on the borough’s website notes offers residents a unique opportunity to have a lasting influence on the park’s identity for generations to come by providing a name that will resonate with the spirit of our community.”  Entries must have a connection to Woodcliff Lake or political submissions will be considered.” Mayor Rendo expressed satisfaction with the creativity shown by residents “I’m glad we got more than one,” and adding that people frequently mention the new park during conversations He also highlighted recent fundraising successes “is that people are really stepping up to donate now.” For more information on the contest and donation opportunities residents are encouraged to visit the borough’s website and click on “Park Naming + Donation Opportunities.” The site notes that residents can support the park with donations toward a donor wall near the proposed band shell Benches are estimated to cost $6,000 for a 10-year period Rendo said his top two priorities for 2024 were opening Galaxy Gardens Park and creating a walking nature trail around the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir.  He said he hoped the park might have a “soft opening” later this year possibly in time to celebrate end-of-year holidays and other festivities Mayor updates on borough’s financial integrity in wake of councilwoman’s arrest Knights start kids in fishing: Township’s Mike Fusco gets key assist from nonprofit WOODCLIFF LAKE—The Borough Council unanimously approved an amended settlement agreement on July 25 with Valley Chabad Center For Jewish Life permitting the congregation to move to a new facility in the commercial zone the council approved the amended settlement agreement sought by Valley Chabad to move its shul from its former home—now demolished—at 100 Overlook Drive to a new site on Chestnut Ridge Road The amended settlement agreement was not publicly available before or after the meeting Pascack Press requested a copy but did not receive it by press time Officials said a copy would be released as soon as possible following sign-offs by affected parties Valley Chabad says online it is “a place where Judaism is celebrated joyfully and meaningfully where Judaism sheds relevant perspective to our daily lives our Center offers a wide range of learning where experience is paramount and questions are encouraged and embraced.” It adds that though it’s based in Woodcliff Lake it serves the surrounding Pascack Valley and Saddle River communities “Our center is premised on the idea that every individual has an indispensable contribution to make to the totality of the human experience.” “A shul which is the Yiddish word for a place of prayer and study is a home for any Jew looking for a warm and spiritual place to grow And while the kids are making new friends at their special ‘kid-friendly’ service No matter where in the Pascack Valley you live if you are looking for a place to express your soul this is a win,” the center’s Rabbi Dov Drizin told Pascack Press on July 29 He said putting a 21,000-square-foot synagogue at 100 Overlook Drive did not make sense even though the settlement of a prior religious discrimination lawsuit against the borough allowed the organization to build there Drizin told Pascack Press that when Valley Chabad acquires the office building and 2.95 acres at 530 Chestnut Ridge Road “We’re going to grow our space from a smaller space into a bigger space.” Drizin said the anticipated purchase of 530 Chestnut Ridge Road by Valley Chabad is a “win-win for the town.” He said it’s a “wonderful location” near the center of town He said Valley Chabad is a Jewish educational outreach center that was and is part of the Woodcliff Lake community He noted that Valley Chabad won its prior discrimination lawsuit against the borough during the height of the pandemic Mayor Carlos Rendo said that Valley Chabad’s proposed purchase came after “several months of discussions” between local and Chabad officials over constraints at the 100 Overlook Drive site He said the Chestnut Ridge Road location was a “suitable location that makes sense” for an expanded Valley Chabad He said the amended settlement resolves a longstanding issue in town and praised Rabbi Dov Drizin for working hand in hand with officials to solve it The amended agreement supersedes an original agreement approved by the borough Department of Justice in late 2020 that permitted the organization to expand on its 100 Overlook Drive location to a 21,000-square-foot facility a settlement which rankled many residents at the time the 2020 settlement paid Valley Chabad $1.5 million as a settlement of a 2016 religious discrimination lawsuit filed by Valley Chabad and later joined by the U.S Department of Justice under the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) The lawsuit charged discrimination against the borough and some officials in denying Valley Chabad an opportunity to expand at three locations in town including their home site of 100 Overlook Drive It was estimated to have cost the borough nearly $500,000 in legal fees to defend itself against Valley Chabad One site that Valley Chabad had eyed for its possible expansion in 2017 was 2.1 acres at the former Galaxy Gardens nursery which the borough purchased for $1.65 million in early 2018.  following $500,000 in environmental remediation it is now turning into a passive park at a cost of $2.75 million See “Stars line up for new park,” Michael Olohan Borough administrator Tom Padilla told Pascack Press that Valley Chabad officials informed them they had changed tack on expanding at the 100 Overlook Drive location and were planning to purchase and move to 530 Chestnut Ridge Road now an office building complex with a tenant Padilla said Valley Chabad told them they were under a deadline to act on the 530 Chestnut Ridge Road property and hoped to close soon on the site He said the council needed to have a special Zoom meeting to meet Valley Chabad’s deadline plus a couple of council members needed to remotely attend as they could not attend in person He said the special session lasted 15–20 minutes and was attended by one resident The resident asked what would happen with the 100 Overlook Drive property Padilla said Valley Chabad agreed to return the property to the tax rolls by Jan He also said any space not used for religious purposes at 530 Chestnut Ridge Road would pay property taxes The judge has to approve it and then it becomes public,” Padilla said He noted that an engineering firm is headquartered at 530 Chestnut Ridge Road Padilla stressed the religious organization would be moving into a commercially zoned area leaving its current site in a residential zone He noted that Valley Chabad’s move to a commercial area from a residential area may be why the Zoom meeting did not draw much attention or opposition “Subsequent to the entry of the Consent Order on Oct Valley Chabad identified a property in the Borough of Woodcliff Lake that it believed was more suitable to be used as a house of worship and better met the congregation’s needs,” states the council’s resolution “Valley Chabad is willing to waive the specific development rights granted to it at the Overlook Drive Property through the settlement agreement and Consent Order; and Valley Chabad is willing to agree that the Overlook Drive Property will return to the municipal and county tax rolls no later than Jan 2025; and the Borough of Woodcliff Lake agrees that the Chestnut Ridge Road Property is better suited for Valley Chabad’s intended use than the [former] 100 Overlook property and that moving the house of worship to the Chestnut Ridge Road Property is beneficial to both Valley Chabad and the Borough of Woodcliff Lake.” A scoop of nostalgia: Huff’s Ice Cream Bar Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Partners with Nine Police Departments for National Night Out NJWhole Foods Market to Open in Woodcliff Lake NJThe newest New Jersey Whole Foods Market is scheduled to open July 27 featuring more than 1,000 locally sourced items will open at 500 Chestnut Ridge Road on July 27 Whole Foods Market will open its newest store later this month at 500 Chestnut Ridge Road in Woodcliff Lake The 47,790-square-foot location is set to open July 27 The new store will feature more than 1,000 locally sourced items from the Tri-State area including produce from more than 10 New Jersey farms which lists 23 stores currently in New Jersey said some New Jersey produce sourced for the store will be hand-picked by the company's local forager for the Northeast region Local Farms that will supply the Woodcliff Lake store include Element Farms Local seafood options also will be available including oysters from West Robins Oyster Company seafood cakes from Lagniappe Foods and smoked salmon from Catsmo Artisan Smokehouse there will be local fresh pasta from Severino Pasta assorted chocolate bars from North South Confections sausages from Brooklyn Cured Sausage and pork from Briarwood Farm will also be available in the store’s Whole Body section The new location’s prepared foods section will feature sushi by Kikka as well as hot and cold food bars and pizza and sandwich stations Opening-day festivities will include giveaways free samples and live entertainment from Western swing band The Brain Cloud Morning refreshments from local suppliers Paper Plane Coffee Co and the first 200 shoppers will receive a Whole Foods Market tote bag and a $10 gift card In support of the Woodcliff Lake community Whole Foods Market plans to support the Woodcliff Lake Parks and Recreation’s Youth Triathlon and Oktoberfest events and will further give back to the community by donating $10,000 to the Woodcliff Lake Educational Foundation’s Run for Education event Whole Foods Market will also make weekly food donations to the Tri-Boro Food Pantry (along with a $10,000 monetary donation) and to Table to Table (along with a $5,000 monetary donation) Registered in England & Wales with number 01835199 Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates Max Dryerman said his final goodbyes to his parents and his younger sister Brooke Dryerman was weeks into her senior year at Pascack Hills High School The college student from Woodcliff Lake lost his entire immediate family in a crash on the Garden State Parkway over the weekend A joint funeral service was held for David and Michele Dryerman Tuesday morning at Temple Emanuel of Pascack Valley A burial service followed at Sharon Gardens on Lakeview Avenue Max, whose LinkedIn shows he's studying engineering at Drexel University in Philadelphia, launched a GoFundMe page to help put himself through school and honor his family the campaign had raised more than $102,000 The Dryermans were active in the area's Jewish community While they were members of Temple Emanuel in Woodcliff Lake Brooke and Max were both active members of Valley Chabad The siblings were particularly active in Valley Chabad's CTeen and Friendship Circle programs noting they were "friends to so many of our teens at the request of friends that Brooke made in CTeen The following is an excerpt from a eulogy shared at the vigil by Gail Gluck who met Brooke freshman year through Valley Chabad three years ago Brooke was weeks into her senior year at Pascack Hills High School and appeared to have been enjoying Sea.Hear.Now in Asbury Park just hours before the crash that claimed the lives of her and her parents David's LinkedIn page shows he was in his tenth year working as the Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasurer for the Continental Grain Company Michele was a member of the Bergen County moms Facebook group who shared her condolences in the group on Sunday "I didn’t know the family personally but Michele was a member of our board our community & our lives," Steinberg-Joachim said encouraging members to reach out for help with fundraising "We as a community must come together during these hard times May her son Max know he just gained 45K new moms PHHS made counseling available to all students Please keep the family in your prayers," said Woodcliff Lake Mayor Carlos A MONTVALE—Mayor Michael Ghassali is urging local residents to support a petition advocating for the allowance of right turns off Garden State Parkway Exit 171 at Glen Road in Woodcliff Lake a change he says could significantly ease local traffic congestion Ghassali highlighted growing frustrations with daily commutes which is often a bottleneck for drivers navigating local roads in Montvale The congestion has worsened as these communities have grown “An effective solution is to permit right turns at Glen Road from Exit 171,” Ghassali said adding that the change would help alleviate the heavy traffic at Exit 172 and provide much-needed relief for local drivers The mayor emphasized that this adjustment would not only benefit individual commutes but would also contribute to more sustainable growth in the region by improving overall traffic flow. He is calling on residents to lend their support by signing the online petition Supporters have shared various reasons for signing the petition grassroots group here to give you the ‘411’ on election success Tenafly to induct 2024 class into Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct established in 2011 as a model of intermunicipal collaboration offering shared facilities and resources to cut costs and streamline operations disputes over leadership and the court’s future have fractured the partnership housed in Montvale’s municipal building at 12 Mercedes Drive was governed by a shared services agreement that placed Montvale in charge of court facilities Montvale handled appointments for court professionals while each municipality retained revenue from cases on its docket The agreement also included an advisory committee with representatives from each town tasked with ensuring operations ran smoothly to move from the joint model to a shared court arrangement would allow Montvale to independently appoint court personnel including a judge and prosecutor—eliminating the collaborative hiring process that some officials say has led to inefficiencies and delays “Our staff has been facing growing frustration with the challenges of securing temporary judges and rescheduling hearings due to a lack of available judges if Park Ridge and Woodcliff Lake choose to participate we will have the ability to select a permanent judge and prosecutor independently without needing approval from the other towns.” Woodcliff Lake Mayor Carlos Rendo expressed frustration with Montvale’s approach calling it a unilateral decision made without prior warning we have operated with a series of temporary judges despite agreeing to work together to get a new permanent judge appointed Montvale has unilaterally and without any prior warning to its neighbors given Woodcliff Lake and Park Ridge formal notice that it is withdrawing from the Court as of Dec 18 to withdraw from the joint court entirely with officials citing Montvale’s withdrawal notice and other factors The borough says it remains open to future shared-service agreements but is also preparing to reestablish its own independent municipal court if necessary The Pascack Valley Joint Municipal Court was initially structured to balance the benefits of collaboration with the independence of each municipality The agreement required unanimous approval for major decisions and provided each municipality with its own court revenue overseeing operations and maintaining the court’s facilities and resources and administrative responsibilities were built into the agreement’s framework but depended heavily on cooperation The advisory committee was tasked with resolving such issues but some officials say the structure created more delays than solutions The next steps for Park Ridge and Woodcliff Lake remain uncertain Both towns have expressed interest in exploring new partnerships potentially with each other or with other nearby municipalities We’ll stay with this developing story Council cuts back police lieutenant positions; hiring motion fails; hearing Jan WOODCLIFF LAKE—Nearly six years after acquiring the 2.1-acre site and spending nearly $500,000 to remediate the former nursery and gas station property the Woodcliff Lake Borough Council unanimously approved a more than $2.75 million construction contract to build a passive park on the former Galaxy Gardens site at the corner of Woodcliff Avenue and Werimus Road Mayor Carlos Rendo announced with evident delight on June 26 that construction was to start Thursday June 27; that by October all landscaping and installation will be in; and that the park will be completed by the end of the year He teased a grand opening for spring 2025 and said “Stay tuned for naming and sponsorship information.” Rendo last week said the $2,753,123 contract was awarded at the June 17 council meeting to Applied Landscape Technologies of Montville the lowest of two bidders on the long-delayed project Borough administrator Tom Padilla said approximately 11 contractors picked up the park’s bid specifications He told Pascack Press that the borough has commitments of close to $1 million from prior grants and donations to help underwrite costs the council approved a $3.5 million bond for park construction based on estimates from the borough engineer (Neglia Engineering) and architect (DMR Architects) and said that the hope was that park construction bids would come in less than that amount Padilla previously said that though the borough could authorize bonding for $3.5 million He said the borough was expecting “a rather sizable donation” from a private source to help offset construction costs plus $246,000 in county grant monies to help fund the park “A good portion of park construction will be reimbursed,” Padilla said.  Rendo previously told us that another source of park fundraising would include the sale of at least 14 personalized park benches and a donor wall for major donors and contributors Padilla said that local professionals and officials hope to have a preconstruction meeting with Applied Landscape Technologies by the end of June and to break ground this summer He was unsure if an official groundbreaking ceremony would take place He said the borough hopes to have some amenities available by spring 2025 such as the bandshell and possibly veterans monuments moved to the site.  He said it was possible the site could accommodate Christmas tree and menorah lighting ceremonies this year I am happy to report that last night the council voted to approve the construction of the park at Galaxy Gardens Construction to start within a week or two I thank the council for finally getting this done.” with one saying “So excited!” and another noting “That’s great It’s going to improve the look of our town for sure Nice to have some sort of center area.” Another questioned the apparent lack of a dog run The park’s design was unveiled in summer 2022 by DMR architect Francis Reiner; the conceptual illustrations can be found on the borough website.  DMR provided several concepts for the park noting it explored “various options for passive outdoor space The initial concepts … called for a transformational project including a great lawn park construction estimates have ranged $2.9 million to $3.5 million stressing that much of the construction will be covered by county grants and donations from companies and private individuals At the borough reorganization meeting on Jan Rendo said the two local priorities for 2024 were construction of a new Galaxy Gardens passive park and new walking trails around the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir informally called Galaxy Gardens Park but dubbed Weirmus Road Park and Woodcliff Lake Public Park in concept plans Padilla said the mayor and council hope to solicit public input on that front He said they’ll likely post a survey on the website and social media to ask for suggestions He said the mayor and council will make the final decision on the park’s name councilors approved two contracts for oversight of the construction project A $122,900 construction management services contract with Neglia Engineering to help manage onsite construction and a $60,000 contract with DMR Architects for architectural and landscaping construction administration services were both approved by council The 2.1-acre site was purchased for $1.65 million in January 2018 by the borough had considered the site for an expanded temple building Rendo then broke a 3-3 council tie to approve its purchase; the mayor only votes in case of a tie.  officials said the original price was $1.75 million but that it was reduced by $100,000 due to future environmental remediation costs Valley Chabad later sued the borough for religious discrimination and won the right to construct an expanded temple on its current property Serving with Rendo (R) on the dais is council president Benjamin Pollack (D) with councilmembers Julie Brodsky (R) 25 charges; two families brawled after Westwood graduation Ghassali claims allies on vowed action over affordables while the fourth member of the family was away at college according to police and to social media posts from friends A vigil was held for the family on Sunday night at Valley Chabad, and services have been set for Tuesday morning. (See the obituaries here) "Today our community experienced a collective unimaginable loss. David, Michele and Brooke Dryerman were known to anyone who met them as authentically kind, empathetic and giving human beings," wrote one community member detailing how children were getting support at the schools Brooke attended Pascack Valley High School On her Instagram page, a friend wrote "The sweetest thing...rest in peace angel." "David was a cherished member of our Adult Jam who has also played keys with us for many years." Troopers responded shortly before midnight to the scene at milepost 131.1 on the northbound parkway in Woodbridge Township “I just received word of this terrible tragedy,” Woodcliff Lake Mayor Carlos Rendo said in a Facebook post State police said that David Dryerman was driving a Tesla Model S north when it ran off the road and hit a sign Police said the crash remains under investigation Patch editor Anna Schier contributed to this report. READ MORE: 3 Killed In Parkway Crash Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. WOODCLIFF LAKE/MONTVALE – The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has reaffirmed that the decades-old right-turn restriction at Parkway Exit 171 will remain in place without unanimous consent from Woodcliff Lake 5 letter to the mayors of Montvale and Woodcliff Lake the Authority reiterated that it is bound by a 1984 settlement agreement that prohibits right-hand turns from the exit onto Glen Road unless all parties agree Director of Law for the Turnpike Authority “No right-hand turn from the subject northbound exit ramp onto Glen Road shall be permitted without the written and unanimous consent of Woodcliff Lake “While the Authority appreciates and hears the concerns raised in [Montvale] Mayor Ghassali’s letter the Authority is unable to consider the request as a result of Woodcliff Lake’s position.” originally designed to protect Glen Road’s narrow has faced sharp criticism from Montvale officials and commuters who argue it exacerbates congestion on alternative routes like Washington Avenue citing safety and quality-of-life concerns “We will not allow another municipality to dictate what we do in Woodcliff Lake!” Rendo said earlier emphasizing the importance of preserving the settlement agreement After receiving the Turnpike Authority’s letter “This decision protects the peace and quiet of our neighborhoods and guards against excessive traffic on our roads,” he added Ghassali has advocated for lifting the restriction noting the outdated nature of the agreement and its impact on regional traffic His petition to allow right-hand turns has garnered approximately 2,000 signatures “This isn’t just about Montvale; it’s about addressing the region’s growing traffic and infrastructure needs,” Ghassali said including Park Ridge Mayor Keith Misciagna arguing that allowing right-hand turns would worsen congestion and pose safety risks The restriction at Exit 171 stems from a 1984 Stipulation of Settlement and Consent Order that resolved a legal dispute over the construction of the exit The agreement prohibits right-hand turns unless Woodcliff Lake and the Turnpike Authority all approve the change citing no “negative impacts to the operation of the Parkway in this area” and calling the matter a “local issue.” Woodcliff Lake resubmitted the 2015 correspondence as part of its current defense Rendo has also suggested the Turnpike Authority conduct a regional traffic study to explore adding new Parkway entrances and exits 5 letter has reignited debate among residents As the controversy over Parkway Exit 171 continues residents from neighboring Township of Washington are voicing frustrations about worsening traffic and safety hazards in their area Former councilman Joe Durso suggested on Rendo’s thread that if redevelopment of Exit 171 is off the table the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTPA) should explore creating new Parkway exits near Saddle River Road citing growing overdevelopment and increased population across the region should be revisited as an alternative solution to alleviate congestion Chris Becker raised alarms about dangerous conditions at Washington Avenue and Van Emburgh Avenue What are we waiting for—someone to get killed All because of a 40-year-old outdated agreement?” pointed out that the issues at Washington Avenue and Van Emburgh are separate from Exit 171 concerns Lea noted additional safety risks at Exit 165 describing hazardous left-hand turns and the lack of effective solutions despite prior studies by transportation officials Tenafly celebrates launch of new EV charging stations WTPD arrest resident over unlawful possession of weapons The parent of a Woodcliff Lake public school student has sued the district saying his child has anxiety and fears about attending school after accusing officials of making critical errors when they erroneously found that his son had hurled a discriminatory comment at another student The Woodcliff Lake parent says his and his family's reputation as new immigrants to the country has been destroyed after the Bergen County district and its Board of Education determined that their elementary-school-age son engaged in an act of harassment, intimidation and bullying, also known as HIB filed in state Superior Court in Bergen County which allegedly involved an embarrassing interaction with a teacher that left the boy "scared," and rumors about the incident being spread by students the boy's and his family's sense of peace and stability has been "profoundly disrupted," the suit says The family is seeking unspecified damages for emotional distress reputational harm and the educational impact on their son The family has asked the court to invalidate the HIB decision and remove it from the boy's educational record and wants a judge to order the district to implement procedural safeguards and confidentiality for future HIB investigations Did school improperly handle HIB investigation?On March 1 the boy was in gym class at Dorchester Elementary School when he was accused of calling a classmate "autistic," which school officials later said was perceived by the classmate as a negative comment about his intellectual and developmental characteristics The classmate told the school's anti-bullying specialist that he and the boy were playing basketball and that the boy told him "You're weird" and "You're autistic," causing the classmate to walk away in tears in his own statements submitted in court records denied using the word "autistic," which is a term used for individuals with a complex neurodevelopmental condition and said he did not even know what the word meant The boys had an argument in the class over who was better at basketball and the boy admitted he called his classmate "dumb," the suit says The classmate cried and accused the boy of calling him autistic in front of other students The family cites several discrepancies in the way the school handled the case which the family says did not include actual statements from witnesses to the incident and instead gave interpretations from school staff members of what they were told The family also contends that the "main reporter" of the incident was a paraprofessional who did not hear the interaction between the boys says the school failed at maintaining confidentiality through the investigation and states that the gym teacher should not have been included as a witness because he did not hear the interaction One student reported she only heard the boy use the word "dumb," another student said they heard the word "autistic" and a third student did not remember what the boy said When the school's principal called the boy's mother the mother said she had heard her son use the word "dumb" before but did not believe her son knew the word "autistic." She also said that in prior months she had asked the school to look into an incident in which another boy had called her son a defamatory word and she was disappointed that the school declined to investigate said an alleged "offender" could not be identified She said the latest incident was being investigated only because her son is Muslim was adamant he did not use the word "autistic," but said he was "screamed" at by the gym teacher and was suppressed when he tried to tell his side of the story instead being coerced into admitting he had said the word because he was fearful of his teacher The school allegedly denied repeated requests by the family to review or obtain video recordings showing the interaction between the boy and his physical education teacher Under the state Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act and board policy the individual must be found to have substantially interfered with the alleged victim's rights or have caused the individual emotional harm The family says the HIB report concluded that the classmate's learning at the school was "significantly disrupted," and the family questioned how it was "measured," since there were no reports to show evidence of such the school affirmed its decision in May and found "substantial credible evidence" that supported the HIB finding The school determined that hearsay evidence was "entirely appropriate" and that no procedural or constitutional rights violations occurred The boy's case will be placed in his student record but he was not disciplined for his actions The boy was required to attend after-school sessions to help him better understand autism share his feelings about school and his relationships with his peers and learn how to resolve conflicts and the need to be sensitive to words and phrases used to describe others Email: lcomstock@njherald.com; Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH or on Facebook.