Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • September 5, 2012 Allendale Borough seeks county funds for Crestwood Lake by John Koster The Allendale Borough Council voted last week to apply for $33,600 from the Bergen County Open Space, Recreation, Farmland, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund with the goal of obtaining county matching funds for a Crestwood Lake improvement project. Councilwoman Amy Wilczynski said the total project would cost about $60,000 and would include a slide into the lake with barrier-free access. The slide would be located near the diving boards. Wilczynski said the funds would also be used to replace the wooden benches at Crestwood, which are showing signs of wear and tear. Mayor Vince Barra predicted that, if the grant goes through, there would be a line all the way around Crestwood Lake to use the slide. He was enthusiastic about the concept, as were the other council members who were present. The council unanimously approved the grant application, which will now be forwarded to Bergen County. In a separate resolution, the council approved a raise of $1 a person for Crestwood Lake employees. That raise will become effective next year. Borough administrative officer Gwen McCarthy and Wilcynzski concurred that staffing the recreational area is becoming increasingly difficult because the wages were not competitive, and believe the extra $1 across the board will help. Staffers are paid based on their certifications as lifeguards, their ability to perform CPR, and for other skills, generally in the range of $8 to $10 an hour. AFEE, The Allendale Foundation for Educational Excellence, Inc., recently received a donation check for $7,428 from Joseph Chinnici, the Allendale branch manager of TD Bank. This check is the first of what will now be an annual contribution from TD Bank to AFEE as a part of the Affinity Program. The Affinity Program is TD Bank’s way of giving back to the community and it is a great way for AFEE to raise money to fund educational enrichment programs and technology for students at Hillside and Brookside schools. The more people who join, the more money AFEE will receive from TD Bank because the amount of the annual check is based on the average balances of all accounts that are linked to AFEE’s Affinity Program. There is no cost involved to join and all banking information is kept completely confidential. For more information, or to join the AFEE Affinity Program, contact Joseph Chinnici at (201) 825-1011 or at joseph.chinnici@td.com. Pictured above: Andrea Pennington, president of AFEE 2011-12; Joseph Chinnici; Audrey Flynn, president of AFEE 2012-13; and Erin Violetti, vice president of AFEE 2012-13. Big payday for AFEE