Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-March 23, 2011 Issue

Mahwah March 23, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 7 Park improvement contract awarded by Frank J. McMahon Vincent J Construction of Paramus has received the contract to improve Veteran’s Memorial Park on Franklin Turnpike in Mahwah. Preliminary work on the improvement was scheduled to begin this week. The $162,799 contract awarded by the Mahwah Council includes $132,299 for the basic improvements to the park per the plans prepared by Boswell McClave Engineering, the township’s engineering firm, plus $16,800 for decorative street lights, $7,500 for an irrigation system, and $6,200 for a bench. In February, the council approved the design plan by Boswell McClave for the improvement and a $15,000 professional services contract with Boswell McClave for the inspection and construction management of the project. Township Administrator Brian Campion advised that the work was scheduled to begin following a recent pre-construction meeting on March 7, and the project is expected to be completed by the end of May. The upgrade will include new plantings along the park frontage on Franklin Turnpike, and a new walkway throughout the park. Plans also call for the relocation of the existing Veteran’s Park sign to the center of the section of the site that faces Franklin Turnpike. The sign will be illuminated by an up-light. The contractor will install six, eight- to 10-foot tall Leyland cypress trees in an arc behind the sign with Green Mountain boxwoods extending in a curved direction to Miller Road and East Ramapo Avenue. The park will have benches and path lights, and a circular area at the center of the park will have two large monuments with room for two more on a bed of stone with a flagpole at the center of the circular area. The flagpole will be illuminated by two up-lights and the circular area will be surrounded by shrubs and benches. Two pink dogwood trees will be planted on the north and south sides of that circular area. A grouping of cypress trees and shrubs will be located at the railroad end of the park in the same curved manner as the ones along the Franklin Turnpike side of the park. A barrier-free access ramp will be added at the southwestern end of the park to avoid the stepped up walkways in that area. All the landscaping on the site will be irrigated. Concrete stairs will be installed at the railroad end of the park where the curbs will be modified for barrier-free access, and a two- to three-foot high retaining wall will be installed there to create a level area at the west end of the park. The cost of the park project is being funded in part by a Bergen County Open Space grant of $94,500 that has already been received. The balance of the cost will be covered by money that is already in the township’s capital improvement account for the project. The Mahwah Beautification Committee has been trying to improve the Veteran’s Park for eight years, according to Councilwoman Lisa DiGiulio, a long-time supporter of the improvement. The project was previously planned for completion by Veteran’s Day 2010. However, a technical difficulty with the original bidding process resulted in the low bid being rejected due to the contractor’s failure to provide proper paperwork regarding subcontractors and business certificates. As a result, the project was rebid and rescheduled for construction this spring. A lesson from Slim The students at George Washington Elementary School in Mahwah recently had a visit from Slim Goodbody. As part of GW’s health and wellness theme, Slim taught the children the fundamentals of anatomy, nutrition, ﬁtness, and personal hygiene. Through song, dance, and lots of audience participation, the students took home a great message about self respect and motivation to be the best they can be. 112 Greenwood Ave. • Midland Park, NJ 07432 Phone: 201-445-0200 - Fax: 201-891-4407 BENSON VER HAGE ELECTRIC INC. We accept Credit Cards Reliable, friendly neighbor here to help! Lic #1051 Sales • Installation • Service Free Estimates GENERATORS HIC# 13-VH00021900 2 x 2.5” �� 3-23-11 pat/janine �� BensonElectric2x2.5(3-23-11) �� Richard A. Cutler, CFP® Craig R. Cutler, CFP® 48 South Franklin Turnpike Suite # 301, Ramsey, NJ 07446 201-934-6400 www.lpl.com/cutlerfinancial craig.cutler@lpl.com richard.cutler@lpl.com �� 10-13-10 janine CutlerFinancial2x4(10-13-10)