Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • February 13, 2013 Waldwick There will not be ice skating at The Oval in Waldwick any time soon, but Councilman Greg Bjork, who has advocated the project for years, is not giving up just yet. The Waldwick Council last week decided not to pursue the project due to safety and maintenance concerns, but Bjork said he’ll try to address all the issues of concern and bring up the project again later this year in plenty of time for next winter’s skating season. “We’ll see if we can get past the safety concerns, and if not, we’ll look elsewhere. We’ll also look to determine community interest, and if there is a good number, we’ll still pursue it,” Bjork told Villadom Times last week. He was not present at the meeting at which the project was discussed, so Councilman Frank Palladino explained Bjork’s proposal to the governing body. Bjork said he had skated with his children at The Oval Council unwilling to approve ice rink at The Oval in the early 2000s when the area next to the Waldwick Pool was refurbished with the amphitheater and the blacktop flooded in the winter for skating. Then in 2010 he sought to bring back the skating aspect as a Lions Club project without much success, and was trying again now .as a councilman. The plan would be to cover the 103 ft. by 40 ft. blacktop area with a filter fabric and then roll out a polyurethane membrane with a 5 1/4 in. lip similar to a plastic pool to hold in the water. In the previous effort water was not contained and dissipated once the ice melted. Palladino said it would take about two hours for DPW workers to roll out the plastic membrane once the cold weather hit. Palladino said that a representative from the Joint Insurance Fund (JIF), which covers the borough, had inspected the area and expressed concern about skaters hitting the concrete sides. Another concern was how to keep the surface somewhat smooth given the use and thawing and refreezing conditions. This would necessitate regular upkeep, including someone adding water as needed, he said. Councilman Tony Celeste said the area would have to be monitored while in use because young people may have a tendency to play rough and would also need to wear helmets to prevent injuries. Borough Administrator Gary Kratz said the area could not be filled from a fire hydrant when it is below freezing, so the water would have to come from the pool’s concession stand. Water service to the stand is shut off in the winter, he said, and it would cost about $500 a month to keep the service on, even though it would be seldom used. The Italian American Social Club of Waldwick will host its Sixth Annual Saint Joseph’s Celebration on March 8. The event will be held from 7 p.m. to midnight at Macaluso’s restaurant in Hawthorne. The evening will feature Italian gourmet foods and drinks, dancing, and entertainment. The prize basket fundraiser will include unusual items like a personal artisanal mozzarella making demonstration by resident expert Vincenzo, a private art lesson by member/artist Andrea Mistretta, a traditional three-tiered Saint Joseph altar, and more. Proceeds from the event will benefit local families in need. Tickets are $75 per person. To purchase tickets, send a check made payable to “IASCW” to: Kathy Scorzelli, 35 Highwood Avenue, Waldwick, NJ 07463. For more information, visit iascw.com. IASCW announces Saint Joseph’s Gala