Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • October 5, 2011 Allendale Cauwenberghs recognized for 40 years of service by John Koster Allendale Director of Public Works Keith Cauwenberghs was honored for 40 years of service to the borough as a public works laborer, manager, and director, four decades of service as a volunteer firefighter, and eight years of service on the Allendale Shade Tree Commission. The award was presented at the last Allendale Council session, with the entire Cauwenberghs family looking on from the audience. Born and raised in Allendale, Cauwenberghs was especially cited for the borough’s successful administrative shift, in which the council eliminated the position of borough administrator and divided the responsibilities between Cauwenberghs for exterior functions and Gwen McCarthy for internal office operations. This cost-cutting measure, Mayor Vice Barra said, had been successful due in large part to Cauwenberghs’ hard work and efficient leadership. Mayor Barra recalled that when he and the borough council discussed the option of eliminating the administrator’s job in 2007, he saw Cauwenberghs as a key to the costcutting transition. He quoted his statement to the council in the 2007 closed session: “I want to tell you categorically we have no doubt that this is going to work, and we know it’s At left: Allendale Mayor Vince Barra with DPW Director Keith Cauwenberghs and Nancy Cauwenberghs. At right: Mayor Barra administers the oath of office to Patty Durso, the borough’s newest library board trustee. going to work because Keith is going to make it work.” “He has not let us down,” Mayor Barra added before presenting Cauwenberghs and his wife Nancy with a plaque enumerating the director’s services. Cauwenberghs joined the Allendale Department of Public Works on Sept. 20, 1971, at the age of 19. He became foreman of public works in 1989, and was certified as a public works manager in 1997. He received a number of state and county accolades and, in February of 2008, he was appointed director of operations. Mayor Barra also administered the oath of office to Patty Durso as a new member of the Allendale Library Board. She will replace Adam Keeble, a long-term member of the board and author of a book about parenting. Barra plans to honor Keeble at the next Allendale Library Board meeting. The Allendale Department of Public Works has announced its fall leaf pickup schedule. Bagged leaves will be picked up on streets east of the railroad tracks Oct. 17 to 21, Oct. 31 to Nov. 4, Nov. 14 to 18, Nov. 28 to Dec. 2, and Dec. 12 to 16. The schedule for streets west of the railroad tracks will be Oct. 11 to 14, Oct. 31 to Nov. 4, Nov. 14 to 18, Nov. 28 to Dec. 2, and Dec. 12 to 16. Leaf collection schedule announced All leaves must be left at the curbside for collection in brown biodegradable paper bags only. There will be a limited number of paper bags (10 per customer) available at the recycling center beginning Oct. 18. The recycling center is open Saturdays from 9 to 5 and Sundays from 1 to 5. Please note that the weeks of Oct. 11 and Nov. 21 are shorter due to the holidays. Call (201) 818-4410, extension 100 for details.