Mahwah November 16, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 15 The Joyce Kilmer School in Mahwah hosted a special event to honor veterans. Principal Michael DeTuro opened up by welcoming Interim Superintendent Dr. Karen Lake, school trustees, Mahwah police officers, Mayor-elect Bill Laforet, Bergen County Freeholder Hermansen, Mahwah Councilman Roth Joyce Kilmer community honors local veterans and seven veterans ranging from WWII to Desert Storm. Bill Howe, fifth grade teacher at JK, led the salute to the flag, and spoke to the students on the meaning of Veterans Day. An “Honorary Diploma” was given to WWII Veteran Lawrence Lomolino by young educators from the Mahwah High School. Kerry Mullen, MHS senior, talked about how Lomolino had to leave high school at 18 to go to war. The fifth grade chorus and the JK trumpeters performed a musical tribute to the veterans. This event was made possible by Bill Howe, Joan Garris, and the young coordinators from Mahwah High School. Board seeks court’s input (continued from page 5) the Crossroads application, but the developer submitted the application one day before the adoption of that ordinance “in an attempt to beat the clock” and have the application heard according to the retail zoning that was in effect before the property was rezoned back to office park use. Scandariato states in the complaint that the provisions of the repealing ordinance are applicable to the Crossroads application and a use variance is required, which the planning board cannot consider under the state’s land use law. Acknowledging a substantial, bona fide, actual, and justifiable dispute regarding the interpretation of the repealing ordinance and its applicability to the Crossroads application, Scandariato stated in the complaint that the planning board is unable to determine or judge its obligations, if any, to consider and act upon the Crossroads application. The recent history of this dispute began on March 31, when the township council adopted three ordinances relating to the Crossroads property, one of which rezoned the property from office park to mixed use, including retail, which eliminated a need for a use variance to develop the site for retail use. The ordinances were adopted over the objections of more than 400 attendees at the public meeting of the governing body. Objectors then obtained a petition with more than 2,000 signatures demanding a public referendum on the issue. As a result of that opposition, the township council introduced an ordinance on Aug. 11 to repeal the ordinances that rezoned the property. One week later, at a special meeting, the council voted 6-1 to place a non-binding referendum on the November ballot to determine the voters’ opinion regarding the rezoning of the Crossroads property. However, the developer submitted plans one day before the repealing ordinance was adopted. Last week, Mahwah voters narrowly rejected the rezoning of the Crossroads site to a retail mall use by a vote of 2,955 to 2,723. The referendum was non-binding, and it is unclear what effect, if any, it will have on the future of the retail development of the property, which is scheduled for a public hearing before the township’s planning board at the end of this month. Left:Board of Education President Patricia Shada presents WWII veteran Lawrence Lomolino his Honorary HS Diploma. Center: Bill Howe, fifth grade teacher at JK, speaks to students on the meaning of Veterans Day. Right: Mahwah High School Senior Kerry Mullen with JK fifth grade students and WWII veteran Lawrence Lomolino.