Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • October 3, 2012 Wyckoff Group to help plan Russell Farms development by John Koster The Wyckoff Township Committee has formed an advisory group to help the governing body plan for the development of the five-acre Russell Farms tract on Sicomac and Russell avenues into a recreational area. Last week, the township committee approved a resolution to form the Russell Farms Citizen Advisory Committee. The group, which will be organized immediately, will remain in existence for no more than a year. The nine members of this committee will include two members of the Wyckoff Township Committee serving as liaisons. Wyckoff Department of Public Works Manager Scott Fisher will be one of the members. Other appointments are yet to be announced, but one member will be a member of the Wyckoff Senior Citizens Club and one will be a member of the Wyckoff Garden Club. The other members will be chosen from interested applicants. Applications may be dropped off with Township Clerk Joyce Santimauro. Wyckoff Township Committee members will have the right to review all applications before making official appointments. Township Administrator Robert Shannon will be the advisory group’s recording secretary. The township acquired Russell Farms with a combination of Bergen County Open Space money and local funds. The former fruit orchard and farm stand was once targeted for a townhouse development, and was later considered for large single-family homes. In other business, the township committee approved a resolution to apply for Bergen County Open Space Bergen County recently celebrated the opening of a Zen Buddhist Center in Wyckoff. Eternal Flow Temple, Eiryu-ji, is housed within Aikido Dojo of Ramapo Valley at 400 West Main Street. Fifth Dan Aikido Master, Rev. Eran Junryu Vardi, Sensei, who runs the center, is also a Buddhist priest and lineage-holding Zen teacher. “Our doors are open to both beginners and long-time practitioners who are genuinely interested in exploring Zen meditation and deepening their understanding,” Reverend Vardi said. “Our practice is not intended to provide an escape from everyday challenges, but rather serves as a model by which one can engage more deeply in all aspects of life. We practice with an understanding of a busy lifestyle, and work with individuals on incorporating the way of Zen with their ongoing commitments.” Rev. Vardi, Sensei is a Dharma Successor of Roshi Paul Genki Kahn and Eiryu-ji is a Member Temple in the Zen Garland Order. The ceremony was led by Roshi Genki, founder of Zen Garland, a community and order for Zen practice, education, and service. “Rev. Vardi is bringing a holistic approach to spiritual practice to Wyckoff which is open and useful to anyone of any religion,” Genki said in his opening remarks. The ceremony began outside with a procession around the building of priests and the members led by children strewing flower petals. A new statue of Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen, was carried in the procession and installed in the temple. Inside, Genki and Rev. Vardi performed naming rites and established the temple with the members. Follow- grants in the amount of $450,000 for the acquisition of the Maple Lake site as part of the Wyckoff Land Acquisition program. New Zen Buddhist Center now open Yvonne Myogen Vardi and Reverend Eran Junryu Vardi ing the naming ceremony, Rev. Vardi ordained Yvonne Myogen Vardi as Eryu-ji’s first novice Buddhist priest. Eiryu-ji offers meditation periods open to the public Mondays from 7 p.m. to 7:25 p.m., Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8 p.m., Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., from Saturdays 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and Sundays from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. For more information, call (845) 547-2008.