August 14, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 3 Allendale Referendum will seek $2.76 million for roof project by John Koster A Sept. 24 referendum will seek voters’ approval of a plan to replace the aging roofs at most of Northern High- lands Regional High School at a cost of $2.76 million. School officials said the cost to residents of Allendale, where the school is based, and Upper Saddle River, which is also part of the regional district, would be about $25 a year over 10 years. Superintendent of Schools John Keenan appeared before the Allendale Borough Council on Aug. 7 with charts and details to explain the referendum for the 35-year warranty roof covering the portions of the school built in 1965 and in 1974. “We’ve been struggling with leaks and repairs for the last several years,” Keenan said. “There’s buckets in the auditorium during any substantial rain. There is a pent- house to the planetarium that has given trouble for the 20 years that I have been there.” The school displays well, Keenan said, except in the aftermath of rain where the state of the roof leads to seri- ous problems. He added that the number of skylights would have rendered the school operable through use of the gen- erator during the last weather emergency after Hurricane Sandy, but that the water conditions were not encouraging. The 2005 science wing at Northern Highlands would not be part of the project, but Keenan said the older roofs on the other two sections were original and in dire need of replacement. The roof replacement received the nod for 40 percent in state aid assistance. Allendale and Upper Saddle River would be the only towns to vote, but Ho-Ho-Kus and Saddle River, which also send students to Northern Highlands, will contribute about $700,000, bringing the bonded money from the two voting districts to just over $1 million. Keenan said the cost to the average Allendale household assessed at $619,000 would be $2.08 per month, or about $25 a year, over the 10- year life of the bond. The roof itself would be under war- ranty for 35 years. Presentations to the public have been scheduled for Monday, Aug. 26 at 8 p.m. in the Northern Highlands School Library; Thursday, Sept. 12 from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. at Back-to-School Night at the high school; Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 9:30 a.m. at the Home and School Meeting in Room 100 of the high school; and Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. in Room 100 of the high school. Course to highlight life-saving skills The Allendale Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the Lee Memorial Library will present Friends & Family CPR classes on Sept. 7. Sessions will be held at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the library located at 500 West Crescent Avenue. This free course teaches the lifesaving skills of adult hands-only CPR, child CPR with breaths, adult and child AED use, infant CPR, and relief of choking. This course is for people who want to learn CPR but do not need a course completion card. The course is ideal for anyone interested in learning how to save a life. The course is limited to 16 students per session. Dona- tions to the Lee Memorial Library or Allendale Volunteer Ambulance Corps will be accepted. To register, call (201) 327-4338.