Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • October 26, 2011 Allendale DPW tractor rescue extolled by borough council by John Koster Mayor Vince Barra and members of the Allendale Borough Council praised the initiative and skill of members of the Allendale Department of Public Works for turning an abandoned tractor into a municipal asset. The tractor, a Ford 1220 diesel model manufactured in the 1980s, had been abandoned in one corner of the equipment yard at the Brookside School when Allendale DPW Crew Chief William Ziegelhofer spotted it and asked school officials if he could try to repair it. The school officials agreed, and the small tractor was hauled away to the DPW Yard on New Street and handed over to DPW Mechanic Dan Richards, a Wyckoff resident who studied at Lincoln Institute and worked for Ramsey before coming to Allendale’s public works department five years ago. “I had to put in some new wiring and you couldn’t steer it at first, but it works,” Richards said, taking the tractor out for a trial spin. He said he would have to replace the pistons and make some other repairs, but the tractor could definitely be rendered functional before the winter snows hit. “We’re going to use it for sidewalks,” Crew Chief Dan Davis added. “Before this we had only snow blowers.” Director of Operations Keith Cauwenberghs, Allendale’s senior official for all exterior functions outside police purview, praised Richards, Ziegelhofer, and Davis for locating and restoring the tractor and said that it would be a useful addition to the fleet. “I can’t say what it would be worth once it’s restored, but if we had to advertise and buy a replacement, the price would probably be in excess of $50,000,” Cauwenberghs said last week. He and Richards estimated that the replacement A DPW worker riding the repaired tractor. parts would probably cost about $1,000. Mayor Barra and the members of the council extolled the crew chiefs, Richards, and Cauwenberghs at the most recent council meeting for showing the kind of initiative and imagination that would help towns like Allendale cope with tough economic times. Trinity Episcopal Church of Allendale has secured Mayor Vince Barra of Allendale to be the auctioneer at its annual Goose Fair on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. The fair features crafters, basket prizes, baked goods, food, crafts for children and pictures with Mayor serves as auctioneer at Goose Fair Santa. Admission is free. The fair will be held at the church located at 55 George Road. For additional information contact Trinity Church at (201) 327-3012.