State Fails to Approve Ash Brook Deer Hunt Manager Tom Atkins Told the Council at Its They Pointed out That the Audubon Society Now Stalled at the State
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
TtBB Serving Westfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood Friday, March 18, 2005 50 cents State fails to approve Ash Brook deer hunt Manager Tom Atkins told the council at its They pointed out that the Audubon Society now stalled at the state. THE RECORD-PRESS Tuesday meeting that it is his understand- earlier this week issued a report arguing "It's outrageous for whatever the reason ing the agency declined to entertain the that deer are creating ecological stress and that this has fallen through the cracks," SCOTCH PLAINS — Mayor Martin township's request. Scotch Plains has yet to urging the state to conduct a more intensive Marks said at the council meeting. Marks and the Township Council have been receive any official notification. deer management program. Atkins said the state's non-action has working for five years to win approval to Atkins said he was told the agency Scotch Plains officials also indicated left local officials "very distressed and per- conduct a deer management program in the declined to act because Fish and Game com- they had not previously been made aware of turbed." Ash Brook Reservation on the township's missioners wanted to explore whether a a 120-day review period. Mayor Martin "When are we going to have someone south side. It appears they'll have to wait a traditional hunt was a viable alternative to Marks said he was in contact with the state severely hurt or heaven forbid killed little longer. a more clinical approach, because of an in January 2004, though Union County did because of a deer problem?" Atkins snid. The council recently awarded a contract apparent 120-day review period, and not conduct a census of the Ash Brook deer Marks said he is pushing for a meeting to a private business to cull the population, because of a concern about a substantial population until November. with a higher-level state official to discuss and the program was scheduled to begin increase in the rise in deer control applica- Marks years ago began urging the coun- the issue. He added he would ask the Pish earlier this week. But the state Pish and tions. ty, which conducts an annual deer control and Game Council to consider the town- Game Council has apparently declined to Local officials were dismissive of those program at the Watchung Reservation, to ship's request an open application, HO that act on the township's application, leaving claims, saying it was infeasible to have a turn its attention to Ash Brook. He has the deer management program might begin the program in limbo. traditional hunt in a suburban setting and been particularly vocal about the issue in in late fall of 2005 rather than winter of The state agency was scheduled to act on that the rise in applications corresponds to the past year. Those efforts won support 20OG. The organized hunt can only be con-, the application March 8. But Township a worsening in the state's deer problems. from the county, but the application has ducted during the cold-weather months. it senior class to remember Westfield Parents, Winning the Union County Tournament this year was just one of board many accomplishments the Lady kids push Raiders seniors, shown here with the UCT trophy, had during their stellar reviews careers. See Sports, Page C-t enrollment for ice hockey THE RECORD-PRESS WESTFIELD — SP-F board says Superintendent William Foley presented the Board of more study needed Education with a sketch of ele- mentary school enrollment pro- jections for the 2005-06 school year at the board's regular meet- THK RECORD PRESS ing Tuesday. SCOTCH PLAINS — A deter- The projections indicate that mined contingent of local par- the biggest enrollment fluctua- ents and young athletes pressed tions will be seen in kinder- the Board of Education to add ice garten and first grade, where hockey to the menu of sports Scouts travel populations are anticipated to available at the high school last change by 100 students or more. week. to Ireland The board attempts to maintain For nearly an hour, self- Boy Stem ftamlhK class alien between 18 and 25 liiwiniiwit hoekay ntoma widdada Westfield spent the last week in students, with the lower range in joined a group of boys and one February exploring the rural quar- the primary grades and the girl demanding that the board ters of Ireland, hiking the rugged higher range in the upper grant them the opportunity to countryside and learning about Irish grades. In Scotch Plains, represent their communities on culture. See the story in Community In the 2004-05 school year, the ice. Pnrents told the board Life, PageB-1. 280 students attended kinder- they were willing to foot the bill garten classes, but next year, a breakfast for the entirety of the program's that number is expected to climb cost, including equipment, ice to 371, an increase of nearly one fit for a lion time, and coaches' salaries. third. To accommodate for the After listening to the district surge in population, the district The Scotch Plains Liont Club held Its annual parents and students at the expects to add four class .sections pancake breakfast fundraiser at Scotch Hills March 10 meeting, school offi- to maintain class sizes between Country Club on Jerusalem Road Sunday . cials outlined the roadblocks and 17 and 21 students. morning. Above, Lance booth, a business challenges complicating the The impact will be felt most owner in Scotch Plains, made the drive from establishment of a team, adding shnrply at Washington his Hunterdon County home to serve up flap- gray tones to what residents Elementary School, which has jacks to hungry residents. At right, Trent viewed as a black and white one 25-student section during Miller digt into hia breakfast while his moth- issue. the currant year but will have er Gwinn and father Ken look on. For more "These players practice three sections and 53 total stu- information on the Liont Club and its chari- together already, and in their dents attending kindergarten table efforts, call (908) 889-1953. minds and hearts there is next year. New sections are also already a team," said Scotch planned for McKinley and BROOKS CRANDALL/CORRESPONDENT Plains resident Nancy Bnuer. Tmnuques Elementary Schools, officials said. Her husband Frit/, told the One night. board that the number of kids In the first grade, whore total playing hockey in New -Jersey 25 years ol shows student population will drop Judge approves Verizon tower has tripled in the last live years. from 483 students in 2004-05 to Residents offered n listt of nearby On Broadway, Edison Intermediate ,'*94 students in 2005-06, the dis- Patterson Road, Elm and North in legal costs to content the appli- comminutii'K that currently offer School's spring musical, will celebrate trict expects to cut six sections to THK HECOHD I'KKSS avenues. In the borough's unique cation, and said her personal the sport, including nearby Broadway shows that have been per- allow for elass sizes ranging land use ordinance, residents can inclination i.s to accept the deci- Wcstfield and ("ranford. They formed at the school over the last quar- between 20 and 24 Htmk'iits. FANWOOD — A Superior appeal board decisions to the sion and move on. also promised to subsidize the ter century. Performances will be held At Franklin Elementary Court judge has overturned a council for further consideration. "While I don't technically hnvc high cost of participation for kids at 4:00 p. m. and 7:00 pm. March 17 School, the number of students \H 2003 Borough Council deciKion After vigorous debate, the n vote on what the council will from tower-income f ami lies. and 18 and 7:30 p.m. March 19. For anticipated to drop from 1 IH stu- thnt denied a Verizon WirdosH Planning Bonn) approved decide to do, we've invented a Kiiitwood resident Alan more, sec Page 9- / dents l<» just H4, necessitating application to place cell phone Verizon's application in June tremendous amount of time and DiMicn said allowing a HCIIOOI- the diminution of two nections. antennas mi an existing i'SK&G 2003, finding that the wirek'HH money on thin," she said, Himctioned team would provide a Student population in firHt grade utility tower. service provider had doiiiimntrat- Planning Hoard Chairman healthy extra-curricular activity is ('X|)t'('U'(l to (ll'flillC tHTOHH till1 The court ruling, delivered by ed a Her vice gap and chow un (Jreg Cuniriiings miid the conn- for it variety of kids, though ho hoard, except nt Wilson judge Walter liarisnuck hint appropriate site lor the cull til'H 200!) decision, handed down asked the board to consider ono Klemi-nlnry School, which will week, piivi'H the wny for Verizon antennas. under coiiHidorablc resident sloilent whd IIIIM already missed manage n slight increase with to proceed with an application On Oct. 2», 200:1, however, the pressure just lour day*4 before n a chance to represent the district Ised books llic Hfiitii* ntnnher of sections as t hfit wan stridently opposed by council vetoed the. ruling, argu- contentioiiH municipal election, his non (Mii'istnpher. tlic current year. neighbors and occupied the ing that Verizon could have clm- find more, tn do with garnering "Christiipher will not have tho for sale Second through fifth grades I'liuinini; hoard's attention for Hen any of tour other locutions to votes thurt ii careful analysis* ol opport unity ti> |'luv on a high ure expected to see lrnn nigiiifi iii-iirly a Vi-itr.