August 10, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 7 Ho-Ho-Kus Community to mark tenth anniversary of 9/11 by Jennifer Crusco Next month, the nation will mark the tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. In Ho-Ho-Kus, the community, led by the Ho-Ho-Kus Historical Association, will remember those who died, including borough residents Neil Shastri and Richard “Woody” Woodwell. Association members Nancy and Kevin Pianfetti and Stan Kober recently provided the borough council with an update on next month’s ceremony. At present, plans call for the community to gather at Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Hall at 333 Warren Avenue, at 8:15 a.m. on Sept. 11. The Ho-HoKus Garden Club has been asked to prepare a memorial wreath, and members of the local Boy and Girl Scout organizations, the Community Emergency Response Team, the Ho-Ho-Kus Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary, and various clergy members will participate in various ways. The association is also making arrangements for light refreshments to be served. Moments of silence will be observed at the times the hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, and when Flight 93 crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Plans call for solemn musical selections including “Echo Taps” and “Amazing Grace.” Nancy Pianfetti, who made the presentation to the council, asked Mayor Thomas Randall to prepare a short speech for the ceremony. Mayor Randall readily agreed to do so. Last fall, Kevin Pianfetti and Pat Cancilla received the Ho-Ho-Kus Council’s permission for the historical association to take an active role in the tenth anniversary 9/11 memorial. Acknowledging that 9/11 is a part of the borough’s history, the group’s members said they wanted to get involved in the annual remembrance and encourage more people to attend. In a 2010 letter, the Pianfettis told the council, “The general goal in forming this association is twofold: to preserve and honor the vibrant and rich history of Ho-Ho-Kus and to offer Ho-Ho-Kus residents access to information and artifacts relating to that history. The events of 9/11 are now part of Ho-Ho-Kus history, and the annual 9/11 memorial offers Ho-Ho-Kus residents an opportunity to reflect and come together as a supportive and caring community to honor those lost.” They indicated that they intended to work on a memorial event that would be a source of com- munity pride. Councilman Kevin Crossley had been the governing body’s liaison to the Ho-Ho-Kus Historical Association, but he has since tendered his resignation due to his recent move to New York. Councilman John Mongelli has been asked to step in and work with the association. An amended shade tree ordinance has received the unanimous approval of the Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Council. The measure, which updated the borough’s 2003 shade tree ordinance, was adopted at a recent meeting without any comments or opposition. At present, no person is allowed to plant a tree in a public park or on a public street without a permit. Permits are available at $20 each. The newly-approved ordinance includes a permit fee schedule that outlines the following charges: tree planting -- one to five trees, $25 each, over five trees $10 for each additional tree; tree pruning -- one to five trees, $50 each, over five trees, $25 each additional tree; tree removal -- one to five trees, $100 each, over five trees, $50 for each additional tree; excavation inspection fee, $75 per hour; and general tree inspection, $75 per hour. The amended ordinance defines what constitutes a drip line and a tree protection zone, and clarifies what is considered a tree. According to the ordinance, the term “tree” refers to any tree, shrub, or plant, or any root, branch, flower, or other part thereof that is located in or on any street, park, or public property. The previous ordinance defined a tree as “(a)ny shade tree or other part thereof, that is located in or upon any street or part of within a public right of way which shade tree shall consist of any deciduous or coniferous species which reaches a typical mature height of 12 feet or more, and has a typical diameter at breast height of four Council gives nod to tree ordinance inches or greater at maturity.” Drip line is defined as a boundary on the soil surface delineated by the branch spread of a tree or group of trees. Permits are now required for anyone who plans to excavate under the drip line. A tree protection zone is an area designated by the HoHo-Kus Shade Tree Commission to be free of equipment, supplies, or building materials. Tree protection zones will be surrounded by orange construction fences. The updated ordinance states that the following duties are to be carried out locally: “regulation, planting, care, and control of shade and ornamental shrubbery upon and in the streets, highways, public places, parks and parkways of the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus, except state highways, unless the State Department of Transportation (NJDOT) shall assent thereto.” The language of the ordinance states that Bergen County does not have a Shade Tree Commission, but the Bergen County Department of Public Works will remove dead or hazardous trees and will prune hazardous trees if requested. “Since no County Shade Tree Commission is operative and gives assent thereto, such functions shall be exercised by and under the authority of the Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Shade Tree Commission…” The borough prohibits anyone without permits to carry out any of the following actions: spray with any chemical any tree or near a tree to cause injury or death to said tree; (continued on page 15)