Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • February 24, 2010 Waldwick The Waldwick Library Board of Trustees recently decided to place its building expansion plans on hold as fundraising for a larger meeting space continues. Library officials will proceed with a mid-March installation of a donor board, cited as a major method of raising funds for the project, in the library’s foyer. “There will be no construction project this year,” Waldwick Library Director Patty Boyd said last week. “The Waldwick Library Board will revisit the plans in the fall. The project is still very important to us. It’s a plan we think is sound and good for the community. We’ll get there eventually.” Commenting on the library’s ongoing fundraising effort, Boyd said, “Next year, we’ll be that much closer.” Current estimates place the cost of the expansion at approximately $400,000. The library already has over half of that amount in its capital account. A large portion of that funding consists of a $100,000 estate gift from J. David Kamykoski, Boyd’s predecessor who retired in 2001 after 25 years of service to the Waldwick Library. The library also has approximately $118,000, much of which has been gained through the passport program. That program took off in 2007, when travelers to the Caribbean were required to carry a passport. Since that time, the library’s convenient passport program has been inundated with requests. With $218,000 in hand for the expansion project, Boyd approached the borough council to request $200,000 in capital funds to cover the balance of the cost. She explained that the library would have reimbursed the governing body with the proceeds of its fundraising efforts. The council considered the request, but eventually decided to decline. “I appreciate the mayor and council’s thorough consideration of the project,” Boyd said, explaining that the governing body had looked at various creative ways to fund the project, but ultimately decided that this is too difficult a year to take on a building project, and determined that Expansion project on hold; fundraising proceeds other borough priorities needed to be addressed first. Speaking at a recent public meeting, Waldwick Councilman Dave Marino acknowledged that library officials thanked the council for considering the request for funds and understood that this was a difficult time for the council to commit funds to the project as the governing body works to keep taxes down. Library Director Boyd noted that more information on the project will be mailed to borough residents in the March newsletter. The donor board, which is slated for mid-March installation at the library, will be created from tiles purchased by supporters. The tiles will be engraved to honor or memorialize someone, and then placed on a board inside the library. Boyd explained that the same concept was used to raise funds during the major renovations seven years ago, and the library managed to raise $150,000 at that time. She noted that the 2003 effort had been very popular, and drew more potential supporters than there was room for tiles on the original donor board. The library regularly hosts a wide variety of programs for citizens of various ages and interests, but Boyd is often forced to turn people away due to the limited capacity of the building’s 625 square foot meeting room. Library officials asked Anthony Iovino, the Little Ferrybased architect who specializes in library architecture, to create a design concept for an addition that would double the size of the current meeting space. Iovino also handled the library’s major renovation, which was completed in 2003. The architect proposed a “bump-out” along the east side of the building. The existing meeting space would be converted into a multi-purpose room that would provide storage space for local history materials and would serve as a conference room and an area for quiet study. Planning board approval would be required. The addition would retain the building’s traditional look by maintaining the brownstone façade, and would incorporate 1956-style windows. Due to the bump-out method of construction, there would be no interruptions in the library’s service to the public, the building would not close down, and no off-site storage would be needed. �������������������������������� BAREFOOT ������������������������������������������������ ����������������������������������������������������� ����� ���������������������������������������������� ������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������ � ���������������������� �������������������������������������� ����������������������������� ������������������������������� ���������������������������������� ����������������������������� ����������������������� ���������������������� ������������ ��������������� �������������� ��������������������� & FLOORING �������������� ������������ ������������ Waldwick Girl Scout Troop #793 recently purchased many personal hygiene items for U.S. servicemen and women. The girls, whose effort was aided by donated toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss from a local doctor, the girls were able to assemble 25 bags. These items, along with a townwide collection, will be sent to a local soldier and his troops who are currently serving in Afghanistan. Busy Scouts SHOP LOCAL Sunday, March 7th 2-4pm 6-13 yrs. Camp Pamacka 3-6 yrs. Y‛s Kidz Camp • refreshments & prizes • camp activities & registration FREE! just let us know you‛re coming 201-444-5600 x339 YMCA DAY CAMP OPEN HOUSE Support Your Allendale Merchants Allendale Chamber of Commerce Visit us at www.AllendaleChamber.com Spotlights on new and existing members on a rotating basis. Find out about upcoming events and goings on in Allendale www.ridgewoodymca.org RIDGEWOOD YMCA 112 OAK STREET ®