Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • May 11, 2011 Wyckoff Residents ask for details about open space funds by John Koster Residents who attended last week’s Wyckoff Township Committee meeting asked the governing body for details about the impending November referendum to renew the open space set-aside. The vote will be part of the general election. The residents wanted to make sure that at least some of the money garnered by the set-aside would be clearly earmarked for the purchase of undeveloped land for natural parks, rather than seeing it devoted entirely to the refurbishment of existing recreation areas. The word “turfing” came up briefly, and not as a preferred option by the speakers. Mayor Kevin Rooney and Township Committeeman Rudy Boonstra said informally that the money was geared to open spaces, could possibly be used for existing recreation, and probably would not be limited in a specific way because Wyckoff is still involved in negotiations to Danielle Basirico of Glen Rock and Rachel Maus of Wyckoff, both Bergen County high school seniors, received scholarship awards from Skyline Theatre Company. Basirico, a senior at Glen Rock High School, receives the 2011 Harry K. Berkheiser Jr. Scholarship. Skyline Theatre Company created this $1,000 cash scholarship to honor New Jersey educator and founding STC member Harry K. Berkheiser Jr. and to support students of Bergen County who will be majoring in theater, television, film, or communications. Basirico will be pursuing a career in theatrical stage management. She has worked at other local theaters in Bergen County, including Porch Light Productions. She also volunteers for Sharing the Arts, a nonprofit organization that provides performing arts classes for special needs children. Basirico founded a Sharing the Arts club at her high school and has since directed STA’s adaptations of “Alice in Wonderland” and “Peter Pan.” “We are thrilled that we had such a wonderfully diverse County seniors win arts scholarships pool of applicants this year,” said STC Managing Artistic Director Sam Scalamoni. “Through continual generous donations from the family, friends, and colleagues of Harry Berkheiser, we are pleased to be able to continue this scholarship for young people who show a true commitment and dedication to these branches of the arts.” Berkheiser passed away in October 2007. Maus received the Thomas C. Arthur Scholarship. This $500 cash award, named for STC’s first outstanding apprentice, is awarded to an apprentice who shows tremendous dedication to Skyline, maturity, focus, and growth as a young artist. Maus has worked in various technical capacities on STC productions for the past four years. A senior at Ramapo Regional High School, she Maus will pursue a career in film. Skyline Theatre Company brings professional artists from New York City to produce Broadway style musicals and plays in Bergen County. purchase Russell Farms and Maple Lake, and may need the extra money to cover the acquisition costs. Boonstra said the $1.8 million county grant Wyckoff received from Bergen County was not large enough to cover the anticipated $2.8 million purchase price of Russell Farms, and the open space set-side might be important in saving the Sicomac Avenue orchard as open land. “When do you plan to make the public statement of the public question public?” Susan Frick, the lead speaker from the sparse audience, asked the township committee last week. “It’ll be done this month,” said Township Attorney Robert Landel. “We’ll publish the information some time in May and probably adopt in June or early in July.” The ordinance, now being drafted, would extend the open spaces set-aside of a half-cent per $100 assessed property valuation that is now in effect. Voters approved the set-aside in 2006. So far, just over $1 million has accrued in the Wyckoff Open Space Fund, which has not yet been tapped. The fund should contain about $1.2 million at the time of the November referendum. George Pitts, another local environmental advocate, said he and other residents support the extension of the set-aside as a way of preserving green spaces and the rural residential character of Wyckoff. “We really want to see, if you can, that we get the last two or three pieces of land,” Pitts said in conclusion as Wyckoff Township Committee members nodded. BK BOOKKEEPING & PAYROLL SERVICE, LLC SAT LAST DITCH? Your SAT Verbal-Writing-Math scores can go up 100 points or more before the cut-off. We’ve been doing it for years. Verbal-writing $60 per hour. Math $70 per hour. 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