Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • June 12, 2013 Allendale The downtown business district in Allendale has been upgraded with the recent installation of park benches and planters, an Allendale Chamber of Commerce project spearheaded by Allendale State Farm Agent Ed Kalpagian. The Beautification Committee’s vision and mission, according to Kalpagian, was to have the chamber get further involved in supporting and serving the town. To that end, the first 10 benches and seven planters were installed, and an official ribbon cutting celebrating the occasion was held on June 1. “I think they are an attractive addition to the downtown Main Street - we on the chamber board are pleased,” said Chamber President Nickie Lisella. “I was delighted to see people sitting on the benches shortly Chamber celebrates downtown beautification project after they were installed. A lady with a baby stroller taking a break, people in front of “Clydes Italian Ices” - the public seems to have taken to them right away! Then the planters were delivered and they look beautiful near the benches,” she added. Lisella said she has gone around to the merchants and asked them to keep an eye on the planters and water them if dry. Kalpagian said 16 planters are still available for sponsorship at $350 each. Anyone interested may contact him at his State Farm office. Kalpagian said that while it is nice to have the first project underway, the important thing to convey is that the Beautification Committee will continue to have other projects and fund raisers to help the town. “This is by no means intended to be a (continued on page 22) District seeks bids for upgrades The Allendale Board of Education is seeking re-bids for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades at the district’s Brookside and Hillside schools. Bids are due on June 18. School board officials said the original bids from qualified contractors had to be rejected on a material deficiency because the names of the subcontractors on the projects were not included. New bid packages were to be picked up for an $8 fee and returned with a deposit for 10 percent of the work, not to exceed $20,000. The board is also seeking sealed bids for the Brookside School floor replacement. Bids for this project are due to the Allendale Board of Education office by June 20. The school board reserves the right to reject any or all bids and waive any informality in the bidding process in accordance with the law if it is in the best interest of the board of education. The contracts, if awarded, shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder whose bid is responsive in all material respects to the bid requirements. No bid shall be deemed accepted until the adoption of a formal resolution by the Allendale Board of Education. Mayor Vince Barra cuts the ribbon celebrating the chamber of commerce’s beautification effort. Pictured from left are committee members Councilwoman Amy Wilczynski, Michele Grimstad, Adrienne Tenbekjian, Mayor Barra, Chamber President Nickie Lisella and project Chairman Ed Kalpagian. (Not pictured are committee members Mark Borst and Bruce Rohsler)