Democratic Party Set to Select New Chair Next Month
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USPS 680020 Published Every Thursday OUR 109th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 52-99 Special Collector’s Edition Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. Thursday, December 30, 1999 Since 1890 232-4407 FIFTY CENTS Joy Vreeland Looks Back Democratic Party On 36 Years as Town Clerk By MELISSA BETKOWSKI Leader. Set to Select New Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Some of her numerous tasks included The longest-serving Town Clerk in handling elections, taking minutes at Westfield’s history begins her retire- the Town Council meetings, swearing ment January 1. in new councilmen and mayors, main- Chair Next Month Joy Vreeland, a lifelong resident of taining parking permits, pet licenses Westfield, became the Acting Town and used car lot licenses, as well as By PAUL J. PEYTON Cohen has been nominated to continue Clerk in November of 1960 and was permits for bingo and raffles. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader to serve as First Vice Chairwoman. named the permanent town clerk on Mrs. Vreeland estimates that there After eight years of leading the local While Mr. Goldman declined to com- April 4, 1963. are more than 2,000 dog licenses is- Democratic Party, The ment pending the offi- As Town Clerk, Mrs. Vreeland was sued every year by the town, with a Westfield Leader has learned cial election of a new often the first person visitors to small number of cat licenses added to that Lawrence A. Goldman is chairman, Mayor Tho- Westfield’s Municipal Building would that. preparing to step down as mas C. Jardim, as well as see and she was known for her friendly Additionally, Mrs. Vreeland has Chairman when the Westfield other members of the lo- and welcoming manner. handled approximately 70 elections in Democratic Committee reor- cal Democratic In her tenure, she served under 11 her time as Town Clerk. ganizes next month. The lead- organization’s nominat- mayors, attended more than 1,000 She said that one of the hardest ing contender to replace him council meetings, worked through nine things about the elections was trying to is former Town Council can- Presidential elections and could have didate Kenneth Rotter. find people to work at the polls. David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader processed as many as 72,000 dog li- She noted that recently, the county HISTORIC MOMENT...The Westfield Bicentennial year time capsule was buried in December of 1996, to be dug up again in The party is expected to censes. has stepped in to help, by sending 50 years. It contains such mementos as The Westfield Leader issue dated December 22, 1994, a local telephone book, Bicentennial elect its new chairman when Mrs. Vreeland, who previously people from Elizabeth and Cranford. patch, and Westfield Board of Realtors multiple listing book. Pictured, left to right, are: Bebbins Yudes, Bicentennial it reorganizes on Monday, worked for the National Cash Register Former Mayor Garland C. “Bud” Commission; Courtney Bender and Peggy Bender, Youth Bicentennial Square Committee; Maggie Cimei and Ann Robinson, January 10. Co. and International Flavors and Fra- Bicentennial Commission; outgoing Mayor Garland C. “Bud” Boothe, Jr.; Donald Mokrauer, President of the Westfield Mr. Goldman has been Boothe, noted that one of Mrs. Lawrence A. Goldman grances, admitted that she could never Vreeland’s strengths was juggling a Historical Society; Linda Maggio, Chairwoman of the Bicentennial Commission; former Town Historian and Commission nominated to serve as Sec- have stayed in private industry as long number of incredibly varied tasks. member Ralph H. Jones; Allan Malcolm and Barbara Lewis, Commission members; Town Administrator Edward A. Gottko; ond Vice Chairman of the committee, as the nearly 40 years she spent with Joan Hogan, Commission member; Fourth Ward Councilwoman Janis Fried Weinstein, Chairwoman of the Time Capsule while former Union County Freeholder Mrs. Vreeland also noted that the Committee, and Town Engineer and Director of Public Works Kenneth B. Marsh. This photo and caption originally appeared in the Town of Westfield. change in administration in the town the December 26, 1996 issue of The Leader. and current County Counsel Carol The variety of the Town Clerk’s tasks, has made her job interesting. however, as well as the change in ad- The town had been governed by a Kenneth Rotter ministrations made the municipal job Republican majority until a few years most interesting, she said. ago when Democrats, although still in Three-Car Accident on Central Avenue Sends ing committee, confirmed the report of The duties of the Town Clerk are the minority, now hold three of eight Mr. Goldman’s intentions. very varied, Mrs. Vreeland pointed out council seats and the office of Mayor. Sources have confirmed that Mr. in an interview with The Westfield CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 Vehicle Partially Through Coffee Shop Window Rotter is expected to gain the appoint- ment at the January meeting. None of By SUZETTE F. STALKER over the sidewalk before striking the those contacted by The Leader, how- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader exterior wall of the coffee shop, shat- CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 A Scotch Plains woman had to be tering the window and becoming par- extricated from her car last Thursday tially lodged inside the building. morning following a three-vehicle ac- Ms. Garnier was issued a ticket for Publisher’s Note cident which sent her 1998 BMW par- careless driving, Lieutenant Parizeau To distinguish the closing of the tially through a plate glass window of confirmed. It was unknown how fast 20th century, this issue of The Starbucks Coffee shop on Central Av- she was traveling at the time the acci- Westfield Leader is different in enue in Westfield. dent occurred. several respects. Valerie Canter, 40, told authorities Westfield firefighters used the jaws It is printed on wide paper called she was stopped in traffic in the south- of life to remove the driver’s side “broadsheet,” typical of the for- bound lane on Central Avenue with her door of the BMW and, with assis- mat in the 1920’s. The banner on left turn signal on, preparing to turn tance from Westfield Volunteer Res- this front page is a reproduction of into the municipal parking lot adjacent cue Squad personnel, extricated the that used by The Leader in the to Starbucks, when she was struck woman from the vehicle, stated 1890’s. from behind by another vehicle at 7:55 Westfield Deputy Fire Chief Many articles are reprinted from a.m., according to Lieutenant John M. Raymond Luck, Jr. A tree which had past Leader publications as far back Parizeau of the Westfield Police De- been blocking access to the driver’s as 1896. Note, we’ve carried for- partment. side door had to be cut down in the ward production errors and typos Nathalie Garnier, 35, of Springfield, course of the rescue operation. too. The reader is left to discern identified as the driver of the second The victim was transported to Over- which advertisements are from the vehicle, told police she attempted to look Hospital in Summit, where she past. So, if you see an advertise- stop her 1999 Ford Wagon from hitting was treated and released. No informa- ment in which the prices are too the BMW, but failed to avoid a colli- tion was available on her injuries, and good to be true, they probably are. Cheri Rogowsky for The Westfield Leader no other injuries were reported as a Gail S. Corbin for The Westfield Leader sion. RESCUE EFFORT…Westfield firefighters examine a damaged BMW after extri- Our special thanks go to The YEARS OF SELFLESS SERVICE…During last Tuesday evening’s Town Council Lieutenant Parizeau said the impact result of the accident. The section of Westfield Historical Society and meeting, Mayor Thomas C. Jardim presented out-going Town Clerk Joy Vreeland cating driver Valerie Canter, 40, of Scotch Plains, with assistance from the Westfield with a resolution, honoring her 36 years of service. A lifelong resident of Westfield caused the BMW to strike a 1999 Central Avenue in the vicinity of Volunteer Rescue Squad, following an accident last Thursday morning on Central The Westfield Memorial Library and the longest serving Clerk in Westfield history, Mrs. Vreeland has served Nissan vehicle coming northbound, Starbucks was closed for a period of Avenue. The BMW, which was struck from behind by another vehicle, went for their great assistance. under 11 mayors and attended over 1,000 council meetings. She will retire on driven by John Toriello, 47, of time while local units responded to the partially through a window on the Starbucks Coffee building. The driver was We hope you enjoy this issue. January 1. Westfield. The BMW then traveled incident, Lieutenant Parizeau said. transported to Overlook Hospital in Summit, where she was treated and released. Millennium Scrapbook Will be First Night Attendees’ Special Administrator Search Nearly Done By PAUL J. PEYTON it down to,” the Mayor stated. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader He said yesterday morning that he Opportunity to Record Personal and Community Impressions A selection committee completed is still hoping that the committee can second interviews with candidates for make a final recommendation and By SUSAN M. DYCKMAN Individuals and families who wish place. nizers with their proposal. way of cataloging special events and a new Westfield Town Administrator Specially Written for The Westfield Leader bring that candidate before the coun- to be represented in the scrapbook Participants will be able to design Their concept was presented as “Your personal experiences. The Millennium last night. cil prior to the governing body’s As part of Westfield’s upcoming First should bring a photograph with them their own one-third of a page for the Place in Time,” a permanent photo Scrapbook, she added, reflected that Four candidates were brought back annual organizational meeting this Night celebration to herald the coming to Cafeteria A at Westfield High School scrapbook, which can include hand- scrapbook to record the First Night trend as a way to commemorate a for interviews Tuesday and Wednes- Tuesday night, January 4.