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S1Z PI **********CAR-RT L01*»C015 * 1 WSTFirLD Nl NORIAL LIBRARY 560 E BROAD SI WESTFIELD NJ 07090-2116 JC a p fi S t 9b (908) 232-4407 Thursday. July 1, 2004 ISibiMied [ m T M o Ska* IIWU OUR 114th YEAR - ISSUE NO. 43-114 Periodical - Postage Paid al Westfield. N J. www.goleader.com press @ goleader.com SIXTY CENTS WF Council Crafts Fireworks Saturday. .Idly 3 New Providence Referendum Lang. High School. Fireworks at dark following an 8:15 p.m. concert. By LAUREN S. PASS Ward project on Prospect Street. Ac Plainfield's Cedar Brook Park. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader cording to Councilman Caruana, Fireworks at dark. After spending nearly three hours Town Planner Blaise Brancheau has Sunday. Ju ly 4 behind closed doors discussing mul been through the ordinance. Whether Mountainside’s Deerfield tiple topics, including redevelopment the council votes on it on first read School. Fireworks at dark. negotiations with developer Robert ing next week or not. it will go to the Cranford's Nomahegan Park. Powell, the Westfield Town Council Planning Board for review and com Fireworks 9:15 p.m. then spent nearly an hour hammer ment. Summit’s Soldier's Memorial ing out the language for the non During the open public comment Field. Fireworks at 9:15 p.m. binding referendum question for a portion of the meeting resident Allen following a 7:45 p.m. concert. parking garage and redevelopment Solomon said that the total cost of Clark’s Arthur L. Johnson on Prospect and Elm Streets. the garage would exceed $27 million High School. Fireworks at dark. The draft that came out of the over the 30-year period of the bond. Springfield's Thelma meeting is: “Shall the Town of He said that when maintenance, L.Sandmeier School. Fireworks Westfield issue approximately 10 school children and interest are fac- at dark following a 5 p.m. fair. million dollar general obligation CONTtNUED ON PAQE 10 bonds to undertake the construction of a parking structure on municipal parking lots 1 and 8 between Pros WF BOE Still Unsure pect and Elm Streets which would contain approximately 500tota! park ing spaces and which bonds would be supported by revenue derived from On Referendum Cost Horae* R. Corbin for Th» Westfield Leader parking fees and fees resulting from PARTY HAT...A mother and daughter are dressed for fun in pink during the lovely weather for the Westfield townwide mixed use redevelopment consisting By ED COONEY Strategic Plan. celebration Sunday evening. The Downtown Westfield Corporation sponsored the event commemorating the town's of approximately 19 residential units Specially Written for The Westfield Leader The Strategic Plan is the result of Great American Main Street award. and approximately 3,000 square, feet The Westfield Board of Education a collaborative effort between the of retail space?” voted to seek a bond referendum on board, the district's administration, Debate became heated, with First Tuesday. December 14 to fund an and members of the community. The Ward Councilman Sal Caruana say artificial turf field and a restoration group, comprised of approximately Downtown Westfield Offers ing he would propose an amendment of the track at Kehler Stadium as fifty people, met twice this year in to the ordinance from the dais next well as funding extensive restorative order to identify goals the district week because he didn't like the way efforts on the field at Edison Inter should try to reach with its students the wording was. mediate School. over the next five years. Variety, Hometown Atmosphere Some members of the council The total cost of the work at Kehler Dr. Foley talked to the board about wanted it spelled out that the bond stadium comes to approximately goals to be set and steps to be taken By VICTORIA MCCABE community organizations have worked about Westfield. It's a destination would be repaid by fees associated $1,381,000. The work at Edison In during the 2004-2005 school year. In Specially Written for The Westfield Leader to revitalize both the look of the town spot where people want to come - with the redevelopment, while oth termediate School will cost approxi dealing with communications, Dr. Editor's Note: This is part one o f a and the quality goods, services and even beyond shopping. You can sit ers wanted to include language mak mately $419,000. The total cost of Foley told the board that redesigning six-part feature on the business centers entertainment that it provides. outside on benches or just go for a ing it clear that a tax increase would both projects is approximately . the district's website is a top priority. in our area that will include Down Longtime area resident and Gap stroll; it’s a beautiful town.” be used as a last resort to pay back the $1,800,000, a number that is “higher He noted that work has already be town Westfield, Westfield’s South Av- District Manager Tammy Racine "Downtown has ’stroller gridlock' money. Others, such as Third Ward than we thought," according to Board gun on re-designing the Guidance enue corridor, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, said, “The way that the town has everywhere - a lot of young people, Councilman Andrew Skibitsky did Secretary Roben Berman. Department's website, and that the Mountainside and Garwood. evolved in the last 13 years [the Gap a lot of young families are always out not want to include the total cost of The board has yet to determine a site's content should be available to ******* came to Westfield in 1991] has enjoying the town. It’s so refresh the project. final dollar amount to seek in the students and parents by the fall. Dr. To the newcomer to Westfield, the changed the face of Westfield The ing,” said United Fund Executive A general obligation bond means bond referendum. Superintendent of Foley also plans for the administra first glimpse at the downtown com town was always close-knit, but now Director Linda Maggio. "I love .that that tax revenues are used to repay Schools Dr. William Foley said that tion to utilize TV 36 more effectively mercial center forms an experience everybody else knows about it. People community feeling; it really makes the debt. A revenue bond would say he hopes to seek at least partial fund for the purpose of passing along in not easily forgotten. Blocks lined from outside of the area get excited CONTINUED ON PAQE 10 that only the revenues would support ing from community groups that formation on board initiatives to the with attractive and varied stprefronts, the bond, and tax revenues would not would also benefit from an artificial general public. A position may be streets that offer benches while sev be attached. “It’s more than just the turf field. Community leagues will formed within the administration to eral restaurants offer Outside tables revenues that are guaranteeing this be allowed to use the field, an idea deal specifically with this issue. Fi and chairs, the sights and sounds of Many Summer Events bond," Councilman Caruana told The that board member Alice Hunnicutt nally, the district will develop a regu families, visitors and friends enjoy Westfield Leader. said, “seems to be appropriate." lar, streamlined system of communi ing common space... all add up to an An interest rate on a revenue bond The board must decide on what cation from school to school. Dr. impressive picture. Available for Residents would be much higher because secu amount of funding to seek from the Foley also announced plans to visit Downtown Westfield is, if anything, rity behind it is much less. Accord community, as well as the duration each school's Parent-Teacher Orga a huge commercial and business melt By MIRIAM BAMBERGER Commerce (WACC) will open a ing to Sal Caruana, there was not of the bond, by the beginning of nization over the course of the com ing pot. Longtime "Mom & Pop" Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Farmer's Market in the South Av enough revenue with both decks to September. ing school year. establishments, nationally recognized This summer, local towns are of enue train station parking lot on support a revenue bond. According to board member Kim In dealing with curriculum issues, chains and a wide array of restaurants fering a variety of recreational ac Thursdays from 2-7 p.m. beginning The council will vote on the ordi berly Rhodes, if these projects are grammar, writing and communica weave together around equally thriv tivities for residents and families to on July 1. nance under first reading next week. bonded instead of added to the 2005- tion skills will be integrated into ing pockets of professional lawyers, enjoy. The WACC will also host Classic Fourth Ward Councilman Lawrence 2006 district, “we get much more for each class. Teachers will also be beauticians, bankers and doctors. A The Downtown Westfield Corpo Car Shows on Wednesday, July 14 Goldman said that he would be vot the community with much less asked to use techniques that require bundle of community organizations ration (DWC) will sponsor “Sweet and Wednesday, August 11 from 6:30- ing no on the ordinance. It was un money." Bonding the projects has no students to learn to critically assess further knit together the downtown Sounds Downtown” Summer Jazz 9 p.m. on Quimby and Elm Streets known as to how any other council impact on the district’s budget cap, information. This component of the community. This commercial and Festival on Tuesday evenings in July downtown. members will be voting against the which might soon be lowered if pend plan may involve the addition of social center attracts both residents and August.