hnmtrle Vol. 114, No. 10 Thursday, March 7, 2002 50 cents :J. P I I Around Town ss schedule debate flares up scheduling reform. Schlenker was the most vocifer- Schlenker accused school and "four-by-four" block, in which stu- •n Following Brearley Principal ous critic. Noting that parents district administrators of not dents take four classes for one Nancy Baton's statement that a first addressed the board with cooperating with an ad hoc block semester, then a different four . —The debate new schedule could be instituted scheduling concerns in February scheduling committee convened classes in the second semester. o\ ing at David for the 2003-2004 school year at 2001 and that the district is still late last year. "That's despicable, Each class has a "block" of daily Biv-Miiv-j j.*igu ^ohool turned the earliest, several board mem- studying the problem, Schlenker because that's cheating kids," he instruction roughly twice as long ugly again at Monday's Board of bers questioned whether the said, "I just think that's an inad- said. "I think we've been as traditional school periods. Education meeting, as board administration had dragged its equate response to what was very stonewalled, and so have the Critics have charged the "four- members and school administra- feet on reform. clearly a top priority in many public." by-four" system hurts student tors clashed over the pace of Board President George people's minds." The district currently has a (Continued on page A-2) Garwood Cranford getting chiefs ask steakhouse, apartments for more Star wrestler By GREG MARX people Greg Oonofrio of Cranford, on THE CHRONICLE top, won the Region 3 title By GREG MARX Saturday and will shoot for a GARWOOD — The Planning state championship this week- Board approved an application THE CHRONICLE Feb. 27 that will convert the end in Atlantic City. See story CRANFORD — Finance onPageC-1. abandoned Leather Warehouse building into a downtown restau- Commissioner Phil Morin put out rant and bar. the word weeks ago that in this Election deadline especially tight budget year, Monday, March 18 Westfield developer Robert municipal department heads DiStefanis of DeStefanis would be hard-pressed to make CRANFORD — The Properties, LLC, plans to open a their case for new employees. But Township Clerk's Office will be steakhouse on the first floor of that warning did not deter a host open until 7:30 p.m. Monday, the property at 99 Center Street of department heads from March 18, to accept voter regis- by August or September. The requesting extra personnel at trations for the Tuesday, April, restaurant will include 61 seats, Tuesday's special meeting for 16, school election. March 18 is including a 15-seat bar. budget discussion. the deadline for the election. On the second floor, DiStefanis will build two 2-bedroom apart- Leading the way were the pub- ments, which will have a sepa- lic safety departments. Police Hyatt Hills holding rate entrance at ground level. Chief Harry Wilde requested that his current complement of 50 meeting March 14 "I think it's going to beautify officers be expanded by two. the downtown," he said. "The CRANFORD — The public building has been a blight for Wilde produced data showing is invited to an open meeting many years. We're going to be that Cranford's police staffing — on the Hyatt Hills Golf Club renovating the whole building less than 2.1 officers per 1,000 under construction in Cranfofd inside and out." rftsidpnts — is well below th<*. and Clark. county and- even state average. In approving the application, "By Union County standards... The open meeting is 7:30 the board authorized several p.m. Thursday, March 14, in we should have 67 police offi- variances permitting the restau- NICOLE DIMELLA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER cers," he said. Room 107 of the Municipal rant and the small lot size, and Members of the Cranford High School cast rehearse for this weekend's production of "Hello, Dolly!" Building on Springfield The post-9/11 demands for most importantly, waived the emergency management, mutual Avenue. Matters regarding parking requirement. According membership and fees are aid and anthrax scares, along to municipal ordinance the pro- with new commercial and resi- scheduled to be discussed. TV posed development would require Say'Hello, Dolly!' 35 is scheduled to televise the dential development, have placed 26 spaces, but there is no parking extra demands on his staff, he meeting. available on the site. Members of the Hyatt Hills said. Wilde requested one new Tenants and patrons will be officer for the juvenile bureau — Golf Commission are Paul expected to park in public spaces, this weekend DiGiano, J. Robert Hoeffler where Ve see big problems loom- said DiStefanis, who called the ing," he said — and one for and Carolyn Vollero, all of^ parking requirement "an eco- CRANFORD — Senior citizens are invited to attend Cranford; Richard Donofrio, tonight's dress rehearsal of the Cranford High School produc- patrol. nomic and functional impossibili- But because of the recent res- Robert Ellenport, Robert ty" in his application. He said tion of "Hello, Dolly!" free of charge. The rehearsal begins at 8 Kobryn and Bruce Lipkin, all p.m. at the high school. ignation of a veteran detective, this week the board had put no the township can hire the new of Clark. parking conditions on • the Tickets for the show, which will be performed at 8 p.m. For more information, Friday and Saturday nights, are $6 for general admission and officers while actually lowering approval of the application. the budget, Wilde and Capt. Eric phone DiGiano at (908) 272- In a memo to the board, engi- $8 for reserved seats. Tickets are available at the door. 4823, Hoeffler at (908) 272- The cast includes, Caitlyn Brady, Kevin Kessler, Patrick Mason said. The cost of a replace- neer Victor Vinegra noted the ment officer and one new officer 6114 or Vollero at (908) 276- parking shortage has been the Bither, Glenn Brown, Carolyn P,ender, Jennifer Eisenberg, 4542. Leigh Johnson, John Merkel, Molly Frieri, Beth Casciano and from now until the end of the main cause of the building's year would be $24,000 apiece, Written inquiries may be eight-year vacancy. While he Robert Opacity. » sent to Hyatt Hills Golf Members of the ensemble are Chrissy Kleespies, Rachel they said. The second new officer urged the board to set conditions would not be hired until Commission, P.O. Box 5663, for residential and employee Baker, Kristen Lombardo, Alexandra Orme, Chelsea Lanier, Clark, NJ 07066. Kelly Llegryn, Laura Wagenblast, Jill McCoy Stephanie NICOLE DIMELLA/ December, at $2,400 for 2002. parking, he wrote, "the existing STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Combined, those salaries are structure appears in slight disre- Pearl, Lauren Albert, Lindsay Fisher, Sara Kate Bilman, Stacey McDermott, Michelle McKenny Emily Clader, Gabriele Caitlyn Brady stars as Dolly in this about $20,000 than what the vet- pair and does need revitaliza- weekend's musical production at eran would have made. And tions." Fazio, Katie Meola, Sophia ElKhoury, William Campaign, Todd Wilson, Adam Jenkins, Robert Argen and Kevin Balla. Cranford High School. Wilde said he expects a string of "No matter what' application (Continued on page A-2) comes before the board, there's no parkingf period," said Mayor Michael Crincoli, who sits on the Planning Board but had to recuse himself from the hearing because Second budget question likely in Kenilworth a zoning variance was sought. DiStefanis said no final deci- By GREG MARX Finance and Facilities committee Brearley schools, said Gonnella. will also seek voter approval to sions have been made about the THE CHRONICLE recommended to board members That project includes bleacher use an unspent $253,000 from a exterior appearance of the build- Monday night that the board and track improvements and an previous capital program for the ing. Architectural drawings sub- KENILWORTH — Borough include a $350,000 second ques- expanded playing surface for use field. mitted with the application indi- voters will likely see a second tion to fund capital improvi? by the soccer teams. If the question is approved, cate the building will be repaint- question on the ballot when they ments and computer purchases,! The project will actually cost a "you're getting the whole project ed and the windows replaced. go to the polls for the Board of The majority of that sun}, total of $578,000, Gonnella said. done for less than half the cost" Student Other design features include Education election April 16. $250,000, would be dedicated for But the district was awarded a from new tax revenue, he said. window awnings and mounted Business Administrator improvements to the football $75,000 Union County Field of The other $100,000, if protest exterior lamps. Vincent Gonnella and the field between Harding and David Dreams grant for the project, and (Continued on page A-2) A group of Cranford High School seniors protest a don- key basketball game at the school last Friday night. See Cranford's Tom Dfenny chooses not to run again Page B-1. By GREG MARX reasons behind his decision, Mental Health Planning Council, THE CHRONICLE Want to run? Denny said new professional which oversees Greystone Park opportunities will leave him Psychiatric Hospital. CRANFORD — Commissioner While Tom Denny will not seek re-election to the insufficient time to dedicate to "The increased travel Inside and former mayor Tom Denny Township Committee, he said he will "probably" stay onelected office. An experienced demands are something that I announced this week he will not HIV/AIDS researcher, he has can't avoid, and this limits my as Republican municipal chairman.