HILLSDALE, N.J.—More than 100 residents gathered at Veterans Park on Saturday, May 17, to celebrate the final event of Hillsdale’s 125th Anniversary celebration with the dedication of a paved walkway featuring more than 500 bricks honoring residents—past and present—who have helped make Hillsdale a thriving community for 125 years.
Geraldine Beatty, 125th Anniversary Committee chair, tells us the event marked “an extraordinary milestone in the life of our community” with the dedication of a new walkway “that will stand as a lasting tribute to our shared history, our values, and our vision for the future.”
Local officials attending the ceremony included Mayor Michael Sheinfield; Councilman and former mayor John Ruocco; and councilmembers Janetta Trochimiuk and Melissa Mazza-Chiong.
“This walkway connects the past, the present, and the future,” said Beatty. “The 531 bricks in the new section of the pathway connect to the bricks that were laid in 1998 for the Centennial Anniversary, and both lead to the main pathway in the park.
“Bricks in the new section represent current residents who love Hillsdale, people who no longer live in Hillsdale but who love this community and will always consider it home; and loving memorials to parents, grandparents, spouses, children, and siblings who will always be tied to Hillsdale.”
She recognized clergy in attendance, including Father Peter Smutelovic, pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church; Pastor Julie Lee, of Hillsdale United Methodist Church; Norm Illian, elder at Pascack Bible Church; and Debbie Shapiro, a resident who practices the Jewish faith. All participated in a blessing of the new pathway.
“This walkway is more than a path through our town; it is a symbol of the journey we’ve taken together as a community,” said Beatty. “Each stone beneath our feet represents the generations who built Hillsdale with dedication, hard work, and care. And just as they walked with purpose and perseverance, so too will those who follow in their footsteps—families, neighbors, visitors, and future leaders—walking this same path in hope and unity.”
Beatty noted that bricks in the new pathway also represent places of worship, schools, and local businesses, along with organizations including the Soccer Association, Boy Scouts, the Hillsdale Volunteer Ambulance Service, the Fire Department, Friends of the Pascack Brook, and the American Legion.
Throughout the hourlong dedication ceremony, many attendees wandered along or near the newly constructed pathway, searching for bricks they had sponsored as part of the 125th Anniversary celebration. The committee sold commemorative bricks for $40 apiece as part of its fundraising efforts.
“Today’s ceremony is not only a celebration but a blessing,” Beatty said. “It is a moment to honor the past, give thanks for the present, and look forward to all that is still to come. We’re grateful to everyone who helped bring this vision to life—volunteers who served on the Hillsdale 125th Anniversary Committee, donors, community members, town leaders, clergy, Raymond Brothers Landscaping, and the Hillsdale DPW. Your commitment is what makes Hillsdale such a special place.”
She added, “Thank you all for being here to mark this meaningful occasion. Now, let us dedicate this walkway with joy, pride, and prayer—together, as one Hillsdale community.”
Beatty told Pascack Press she plans to post photos from the dedication and blessing on both the committee’s website and the borough website.
About our featured photo: Geraldine Beatty of the Hillsdale 125th Anniversary Committee explains that our cover photo tells a story spanning generations. It features the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Marjorie and Frank Shovlin. Marjorie, 93, still resides in Hillsdale. Her daughter, Linda Shovlin, married Paul Harder (pictured), a former Hillsdale police officer, who retired as a sergeant in 2003 after 25 years of service. Together, Linda and Paul raised three children—Brett, Laura, and Sara (all pictured). Sara married Mark Bellavita, son of John Bellavita. John’s parents, Julia and Giancarlo Bellavita, owned Villa Cesare, a beloved Hillsdale restaurant that operated from 1933 to 1996.
Linda passed away in 2018. Her siblings purchased commemorative bricks—one for her family and one for their parents. John Bellavita also purchased bricks honoring both his family and the Villa Cesare legacy. Pictured: Paul Harder, Mark Bellavita, Laura Sarsten, Sara Bellavita, Brett Harder, and the grandchildren of Paul and Linda—Natalie, Peder, Hannah, Finn, Dylan, Rowan, and Taylor.