Community Corner
Car Crash, Getty Closing, House Fire Top This Week's News
Here's a look at the past week in Westwood, Hillsdale and Washington Township.
Washington Twp. Woman Hospitalized After Hitting Tree
A 30-year-old Washington Township woman drove off Pascack Road and hit a tree at about noon Thursday, according to Police Lt. Rich Skinner.
The woman had been driving southbound on Pascack Road and had just passed through the intersection of Ridgewood Road when she veered off the road and hit a tree, Skinner said.
Firefighters responded to the scene to cut open the car to free the driver.
Find out what's happening in Westwood-Hillsdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Washington Township Getty Closing This Month
A corporate bankruptcy has brought the end of the Washington Township Getty gas station and garage. The business will be shutting its doors by February 25, according to Ted Foundopoulos, the owner.
Getty Petroluem Marketing (GPMI), the company which Foundopoulos had contracted with to operate the gas station, declared bankruptcy December 5. As a result, he lost a $58,000 security deposit on the site.
Find out what's happening in Westwood-Hillsdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Dog Killed in Washington Township Fire
A Washington Township family lost their dog in a fire Wednesday, according to Fire Chief Jamie Powell.
There were no other injuries.
Firefighters from the township, Westwood, Hillsdale and Woodcliff Lake were able to quickly extinguish the fire, but the home was already so filled with smoke by the time they arrived that the windows were totally black, Powell said.
Westwood Buying Fourth Flood-Prone Home With Grant
Westwood officials voted to purchase a fourth flood-prone home with grant money during their council meeting Tuesday.
The next house the borough will purchase is 23 Nugent Place. The home was appraised in the mid $400,000s, but the exact price to be paid has not yet been determined, according to Borough Administrator Robert Hoffmann. FEMA's formula, which subtracts some money previously paid for repairs, will have to be applied before the final price is set, he said.
Westwood 7-Eleven Plan Opposed by Neighbors
A decision for an application to build a five-unit strip mall with a 7-Eleven on Kinderkamack Road is expected to come at the Westwood Zoning Board's next meeting.
The board heard comments from the public about the plan during their meeting Monday, including some both against and in favor of the plan for the new 8,051-square-foot mall at the former Chevrolet of Westwood near Emerson.
Washington Township Cell Tower Approved by Board
A plan for a new cellphone tower in Washington Township got the go-ahead from the Planning Board Wednesday night.
Board members voted to approve the plan for a shared 120-foot cell tower to be built on the north side of the Municipal Complex at 350 Hudson Avenue.
The tower will be shared by Verizon and AT&T and include room for as many as two more wireless service carriers in the future. Any other carriers would also have to appear before the board.
Developer Sues Hillsdale Over Apartment Plan Rejection
A developer whose plan to build an apartment building on Orchard Avenue was rejected by the Hillsdale Planning Board last year has sued the board, court records show.
The developer, 100 Park Avenue Associates, had proposed to demolish three Orchard Street homes and build a new 36-unit apartment building in their place, which would have included four low income housing units. The building was designed to match a nearby apartment building on Patterson Street owned by the same developer.
Guy Tozzoli, who founded the World Trade Centers Association and oversaw the construction and operation of the World Trade Center in Manhattan, died in his sleep Saturday, according to an obituary. He was 90.
Tozzoli lived in Westwood for 60 years before moving to South Carolina two years ago, his son, Michael, told Patch.
Washington Twp. Councilman Questions Lack of Discussion on Board Attorney
he Washington Township Planning Board voted 7-1 to appoint a new attorney during their first meeting of the year Wednesday night.
The board appointed attorney Robert Wertalik to the position at a rate of $110 per hour. Wertalik previously held the positon "for many years," according to Chairman Gus Calamari.
Councilman Joseph D'Urso, who also sits on the planning board and voted against the appointment, questioned why there was no discussion among board members beforehand.
Hillsdale Officials Request Faster Sign Law Enforcement
illsdale businesses that violate the borough's sign law may need to make a change soon.
The Hillsdale Council asked Borough Administrator Jonathan DeJoseph Tuesday to come up with a plan to increase the speed with which the borough's most recent sign ordinance can be enforced.
To date, about 26 violators of the ordinance have been notified and six have been dealt with, according to Code Official Keith Durie.
The Pascack Valley Regional Board of Education unanimously approved six professional services during their meeting Monday, but decided to hold off voting on three others until their next meeting.
School board members previously said they wanted to investigate their options for potentially lower-cost services.
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