Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • April 3, 2013 Allendale “Phantoms of the Ramapos,” a new illustrated ghost story by Allendale author Jim Wright, is now available as a free download. The tale was inspired by local landmarks and events of 75 years ago -- including the old Ho-Ho-Kus Speedway, a bank heist in Allendale, and the Darlington Schoolhouse in Mahwah. The 24-page, full-color story features a crackerjack plot, plenty of archival photographs, and some regional history lessons along the way. Wright is offering the book on his blog www.celeryfarm.net as a free PDF, but asks those who like the book to send a donation to the Concerned Citizens of Allendale, non-profit group that saved the town’s historic Fell House. The house makes a cameo appearance or two in the book. “I thought this was a great way to share some amazing local history,” said Wright. “How many people are aware that four armed robbers held up a bank in Allendale on April 7, 1938 -- and got away with it? How many people know how Race Track Road in Ho-Ho-Kus got its name? They will now.” “Phantoms of the Ramapos” is also available for iPads and as a hard-cover or soft-cover book. For more information, e-mail Wright at celeryfarm@gmail.com. Wright is the author of “In the Presence of Nature” (the coffee-table book on the Celery Farm), “The Ghosts of Allendale” (set during the Revolutionary War), and several other books. He is deputy warden of the Celery Farm Natural Area. ‘Phantoms of the Ramapos’ highlights local landmarks A scene from the Ho-Ho-Kus Speedway in the 1930s. The school budget for the K-8 Allendale school system will increase the property taxes on the average borough house, assessed at $618,093, by $128. The total operating budget for Allendale K-8 is $16,538,232, with a tax levy of $14,094,129. Capital projects include second floor shore-up and Allendale K-8 school budget includes increase of $128 replacement at the Brookside School at $112,600, Brookside classroom carpet replacement in some classrooms at $60,725, an upgrade of heating and air conditioning in two rooms at $197,600, a Brookside hot water upgrade at $35,100, heating and air conditioning upgrades in a number of other Brookside rooms at $116,600, and Brookside par- tial window replacement at $70,100. Capital improvements at the Hillside School include exterior classroom door replacement at $181,350, pre-K and kindergarten heating and air conditioning at $242,600, and Hillside media center upgrade at $153,200. J. KOSTER