Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • May 15, 2013 To celebrate Earth Day, Tisdale School in Ramsey held a ‘Reduce Your Footprint Snack Challenge.’ Each class was challenged to bring in an Earth-friendly snack such as an apple or banana. Some children even brought snacks in reusable containers and cloth napkins. All the students enjoyed their snacks in the courtyard while listening to a book. Snacks reflect regard Plan approved (continued from page 3) Architect William Perry described some of the work already done on the exterior of the building, such as the replacement of the cedar shingles and the glass in the windows. He also described the architectural plans for the interior, which will include the restoration of the grand stairwell, several employee offices, a conference room for occasional large meetings, and a public hospitality room on the first floor of the addition that is planned for the rear of the building. Plans call for the addition to contain a retail sales area, the community room, and a restroom. A dividing door between the existing building and the addition will permit the addition to be opened to the main building for public access on weekends. Professional engineer and planner Tibor Latincsics also testified and confirmed that 27 parking spaces would be provided on the site where 41 are required by ordinance. He said the county has shown renewed interest in upgrading the culvert under Ramapo Valley Road, and that project would include sidewalks that would permit the future use of the college parking lot. Latincsics described the low-level bollard lights that will be provided along pedestrian walkways, to the front and side of the building, and on the boardwalk and bridge, if that becomes the access to the parking at Continental Soldiers Park. The use variance was justified, according to Latincsics, because the trail conference is an inherently beneficial use, it is a public service organization and provides a meaningful public benefit, and the headquarters is particularly suited for this site. He asked the board to approve waivers from the ordinance requirements to provide 9 by 20 parking spaces, the installation of curbing, a loading space, an environmental impact study, and a topographical survey of properties within 200 feet of the trail conference site. There were no questions or comments from the public. However, prior to the board’s unanimous vote of approval, Barbara Shanley, the chairwoman of the Mahwah Historic Preservation Commission, voiced support for the project. “This is an amazing project,” Shanley said. “We support it and we hope you will approve their application.” The trail conference and the Township of Mahwah became joint owners of the Darlington Schoolhouse in November 2007 after a four-year effort and with support from the Morris Land Conservancy, Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Program. Part of the cost of preserving the building is being covered by matching grants from the Bergen County Historic Preservation Trust Fund and the state’s Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund. Goodell advised that the renovation of the schoolhouse has been proceeding with various fundraising events and face-to-face solicitations and about $1.2 million of the estimated $2.5 million needed has been raised thus far. In addition, he advised that the Bolger Foundation of Ridgewood might provide a grant of $500,000 if his organization can raise $1 million by Nov. 1, and that would cover most of the cost of the project.