The Biggest Westwood, Hillsdale, Washington Twp. Stories of 2013

It's been a busy year in Westwood, Hillsdale and Washington Township, but some stories seem to grab readers' attention more than others. Here are some of the biggest local stories from 2013:

5. Last year, Assemblyman Robert Schroeder was arrested and indicted on charges of writing bad checks and stealing money from investors. This year, the case proceeded, but only a little. He rejected a plea deal in the spring and later filed to have the indictment dismissed.

Three of Schroeder's creditors also filed to force the assemblyman into bankruptcy this year. The case is still ongoing. Schroeder's term in office ends December 31.

4. 2013 marked the 40th anniversary of the murder of Joan D'Alessandro, a Hillsdale girl who was just 7 years old at the time of the crime.

Her mother, Rosemarie, has spent years since advocating for laws to protect children, but proposed language for a memorial to Joan raised some eyebrows over the blunt language.

After several back-and-forth revisions that included input from local officials, the Girl Scouts and psychologists, the borough council approved a final wording this month that both officials and Rosemarie D'Alessandro were happy with. The memorial is expected to be unveiled next year.

3. After a scandal emerged late last year over former Westwood Regional Superintendent Geoffrey Zoeller's decision to take home a generator for Hurricane Sandy and leave it there while away on vacation, he ended up taking a leave of absence and resigning at the end of the school year. 

The district was temporarily led by former director of elementary education and technology and testing coordinator Rory McCourt, who also left at the end of the school year to be superintendent of River Vale schools.

The school board's hunt for a new superintendent continues as the district is led by Interim Superintendent James Sheerin.

2. A failed effort to repeal Bergen's Blue Laws was countywide news this year, but the story started in Westwood, where then-resident Rosemary Shashoua founded Modernize Bergen County.

The group gained thousands of signatures from county residents supporting a voter referendum on the issue and their efforts even inspired a rap song, but they ended up falling short by more than 50,000 signatures.

1. HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley opened in Westwood this year, five years after the former Pascack Valley Hospital closed at the same site. The hospital underwent complete renovations and has 128 beds, with an eye on further expansion down the road. It was the first new hospital to receive a license from the state in about 30 years.