Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-December 9, 2009 Issue

Mahwah December 9, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 Council seeks state aid to widen Ridge Road by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Council has authorized Mayor Richard Martel and the municipal clerk to execute an application for discretionary aid from the state to widen Ridge Road between the Ramapo Ridge Middle School and the library. The action was taken in response to residents’ complaints about the parking of cars along Ridge Road when the Ramapo Ridge students are leaving school each day. The parked cars, residents said, cause traffic to cross the double line in the middle of the road and travel on the left side of the roadway. Mahwah Township Engineer Michael Kelly advised the council that he had met with Lieutenant Robert Sinnaeve, the police department’s traffic safety officer; School Superintendent Charles Montesano; and School Business Young World Day School students collected phone cards, candy, books, toiletries, magazines, CDs and other items to be sent to U.S. soldiers serving in Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Iraq. Gifts from home Administrator Edward Deptula. Together, they agreed to move the striping in the middle of the road more to the east side so cars passing those vehicles parked by the curb can pass without traveling into the northbound lane of Ridge Road. Kelly pointed out, however, that Montesano and Deptula are not sure if widening the road on the west side of the road is advisable, and they would like to wait to review the effect of restriping the road before proceeding with the road widening. Meanwhile, Kelly said the discretionary aid application will be submitted to the state. According to the school district’s website, the Ramapo Ridge Middle School homeroom begins at 8 a.m. and dismissal is at 2:40 p.m., when school buses are loaded and depart shortly afterward. Student drop off in the morning is in the front of the school, and parents are asked to pull forward all the way to the end of the large cafeteria window where a sign indicates that drop off begins. Parents are directed not to drop off students in the parking lot or directly on Ridge Road because there have been accidents and injuries involving students in those areas. In the afternoon, parents are directed to pick-up students in the parking lot or on the school side of Ridge Road and not in the circular driveway, which is reserved for buses. Therefore, many parents park their cars along the western, or school side, of Ridge Road leading up to the school driveway and wait for their children. This section of Ridge Road leads past the high school athletic field across from the Pilot truck stop, which has received zoning board approval for a renovation. Pilot plans to close its access from Ridge Road and install a six-foot high fence with landscaping along that roadway. Christmas T & Wreaths rees • Finest premium trees and wreaths • Best prices in the area November 27 – December 23 Weekday 3pm-10pm Weekend 10am-10pm Ramapo College Baseball Field All proceeds to benefit Ramapo College Baseball Delivery Available �� We Now Carry 9-2-09 joan/janine BestBikes2x(9-2-09) 2 x 2.5” Correction FOR 11-11-09 FROM ALLISON Available in Mahwah store only �� RamapoCollegeBaseball2x2(11-25-09) 2 x 2” �� 11-25-09 joan/janine �� Coupons not accepted for Ugg purchases ��