Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • October 2, 2013 Allendale Highlands roof referendum approved by 5-1 margin by John Koster Voters in Allendale and Upper Saddle River have approved a referendum that will pave the way for the instal- lation of a new roof for large sections of Northern Highlands Regional High School. The proposal, which was presented to voters on Sept. 24, was approved by a comprehensive margin of about 5-1. The total vote was 1,067 in favor of the $2.76 million project and 192 opposed. The vote in Allendale was 483 in favor and 78 opposed, and the vote in Upper Saddle River was 584 in favor and 114 opposed. Located in Allendale, Northern Highlands serves high school students in Allendale and Upper Saddle River, both of which are part of the region; and students in Ho-Ho-Kus and Saddle River, which are sending districts. Residents of the sending districts did not vote on the referendum. The incentive to approve the project, Superintendent of Schools John Keenan said at several meetings, was the opportunity to obtain a $1.1 million Department of Educa- tion grant, which will cover 40 percent of the cost. Tuition from Ho-Ho-Kus and Saddle River will also help cover some of the costs of the project. At a previous meeting, district officials said the cost to residents of Allendale and Upper Saddle River would be about $25 a year over 10 years. The roof, Superintendent Keenan said, will remain under warranty for 35 years. During a recent presentation on the referendum, Keenan said the district has been struggling with leaks and roof repairs for several years. He said it is necessary to place buckets in the auditorium during rain storms, and in a portion of the planetarium that has been an issue for two decades. The sections of the roof that will be replaced were installed in 1965 and in 1974. The 2005 science wing will not be part of the roofing project. District officials provided numerous information ses- sions regarding the need for the new roof in the weeks preceding the vote, and several members of the commu- nity expressed their support for the project in letters to this newspaper. “We keep the school and the council separate, but I think the voters of Allendale are sophisticated enough to look at the facts and judge for themselves,” Allendale Mayor Vince Barra said after the referendum. “They can evaluate the sit- uation. I think that’s reflected in the fact that the Allendale vote was really overwhelming.” Oktoberfest will benefit Fell House The community is invited to support renovations at Allendale’s John Fell House by attending a traditional Oktoberfest on Friday, Oct. 25. The event will take place at the Crestwood Park Red Barn. Join friends and neighbors in this fall celebration, which will feature food catered by the AB&G, seasonal beer donated by the Brooklyn Brew- ery, dancing, and of a friendly game of Pumpkin Bowling. Reservations are $45 per person. To RSVP, mail a check made out to “Concerned Citizens of Allendale” to Maureen Mamunes, 165 Forest Road, Allendale. Once again, CCA will be decking the halls of the Fell House, so come out on Dec. 7 and 8 for the annual John Fell House Holiday Open House. Tickets will be available at the door, so come with friends and family to this Allendale tradition and hear local dignitaries read classic holiday sto- ries. The event will also include a holiday carol sing along. Holiday celebrations will continue with the John Fell House Holiday Tea set for Dec. 10 from noon to 2:30 p.m. Afternoon teas include a full three-course luncheon catered by Passport Café of West Milford, including an individual pot of tea. RSVP to Theresa Salameno at (201) 825-2840 or Linda Schropp at lschropp@optonline.net. Reserva- tions are $45 per person. A check made out to “Concerned Citizens of Allendale” will hold the reservation and is non- refundable. The Saddle River Youth Theater will present a Theatri- cal House Tour, “Grimm’s Scary Tales” at the John Fell House Oct. 11 and 12. Half-hour tours will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. In December, SRYT will present a Christmas themed house tour on Dec. 13 and 14 starting at approximately 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, and $16 for seniors (65+) and for children age eight and younger. Visit www.sryt.com for tickets. The John Fell House is located at 475 Franklin Turnpike, Allendale. It is owned, operated, and maintained by the Concerned Citizens of Allendale, a 501c3 non-profit dedi- cated to the preservation of the John Fell House as a self- sustaining community center through grants, fundraisers, and private donations. For more information about any of these events, volunteer opportunities, or anything related to the John Fell House and the Concerned Citizens of Allen- dale, e-mail TheFellHouse@gmail.com.