Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • October 5, 2011 Allendale Passaic River Coalition recognizes borough’s efforts by John Koster Allendale Mayor Vince Barra recently advised the council and the public that the borough’s environmental initiatives have been recognized by the Passaic River Coalition. The borough was recognized for maintaining the Celery Farm Natural Area on Franklin Turnpike and for the successful acquisition of the 24-acre wetlands tract near Powell Road and Heather Court at the end of Yeomans Lane. Allendale was able to acquire the land on Yeomans Lane from the original owners due to non-payment of taxes. The borough then formally sold the land to the Passaic River Coalition for New Jersey Green Acres and Bergen County Open Space funds, with the understanding that the borough and the coalition would work together to keep the site natural, undeveloped, and accessible to those with a spirit of adventure and a love of nature. Mayor Barra said there would be no playgrounds, no facilities, and no paths at the 24-acre site, and that, at most, Allendale would keep the grass trimmed around the perimeter of the property. “We’ll try to help them out and keep it as pristine as we can,” Mayor Barra said last week. “It’s going to be kept as natural as possible.” He said the borough might ask for help from the Fyke Nature Association, which maintains the Celery Farm, or various Boy and Girl Scout groups to remove litter, but that there are no plans to develop the wetlands site into any sort of landscaped park. Instead, the land will remain part of the natural ecology system in Northwest Bergen County. Allendale’s Celery Farm, which has hiking trails, benches, and three wooden observation towers, is popular with hikers, birders, and nature lovers and is the habitat of more than 200 species of birds, mammals, and other creatures. The land was preserved through the initiative of Stiles Thomas, Allendale’s first marsh warden. PTO begins year with new board The Allendale PTO recently held the first meeting of the school year with the new board presiding. Board members for 201112 are: Tish Mercurio, vice president; Erin Violetti, vice president; Dan Sileo, treasurer; Julie Borst, vice president; Lisa Knutzen, president; Suzy Hanslin, vice president; Kathy Travers, co-secretary; and Tracy Platt, co-secretary. The PTO meets monthly and includes reports from administrators from both Hillside and Brookside schools, PTO Committee reports and PTO business such as important dates, upcoming events, and fundraisers. Visit www.allendaleschoolsnj.com, select Organizations, and then click on PTO. The Allendale Council has unanimously adopted an ordinance increasing the water rate by five percent for residential customers and eight percent for commercial customers. One resident urged the council to try to control water rate increases as they impacted on senior citizens. “We’re paying more than we should as senior citizens,” she said, recalling days when the municipal water bill a Council adopts water rate increases reported $16 a year for people who limited their water use. Mayor Vince Barra, who pointed out that he is also a senior citizen, said that hard-pressed seniors should appeal to the borough for a reduction in their rates, which would have to be documented in terms of low income. The good news, Mayor Barra said, was that despite some consideration, Allendale would not be replacing the (continued on page 16)