Page 4 Thursday, May 28, 1998 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION POPCORN™ The Westfield Leader Godzilla: A Monster for the 90’s The Official Newspaper of the Town of Westfield and the County of Union By Michael S. Goldberger — Established 1890 — Member of the New Jersey Press Association • Member of the National Newspaper Association • One Popcorn, Poor • Two Popcorns, Fair • Three Popcorns, Good • Four Popcorns, Excellent INDENT Periodicals – Postage Paid at Westfield, New Jersey Like people, certain words are very 2 & 1/2 popcorns At command central the team is imme- impressionable. Indent, along with in- “Its foot is as long as this bus.” diately beleaguered by hypercritical denture, dent and dint, are such words. In THE TIMES So reads an ad for Godzilla currently Mayor Ebert (Michael Lerner), a pain- addition to making their mark, they are Official Newspaper of the Township of Scotch Plains and the Borough of Fanwood adorning our public transport. You can’t fully portrayed buffoon whose sycophan- also words that etymologists can “sink — Established 1959 — help but smile. It captures the precise tic aide just so happens to be a balding their teeth into.” Periodicals – Postage Paid at Scotch Plains, New Jersey mood — cinema as media event. guy named Gene (Get it? As in film Hopefully, the obvious trail of clues Exactly the type of exploitative irony critics Siskel and Ebert? But why?). With left in the above paragraph has led you to POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the offices of the newspapers at you’d expect to roll by in the film itself, the stereotypes in place, the rain of terror the conclusion that indent etal comes, P. O. Box 250, Westfield, New Jersey 07091 audaciously celebrating the smirky ca- can begin, you would think. But not via French, from the Latin word dens, chet that this latest bit of motion picture before introducing yet a few more per- meaning “tooth.” The Latin word THE LEADER THE TIMES hucksterism epitomizes. functory players. After all, what self re- indentare means “to make a series of P.O. Box 250 P. O. Box 368 For this Godzilla is a frivolous reflec- specting horror movie is without a whole tooth-like notches.” 50 Elm Street, Westfield, N.J. 07091 Scotch Plains, N.J. 07076 tion of its times, a buff, full-figured mon- set of superficial characters working out At one time, documents were served (908) 232-4407 • Fax: (908) 232-0473 (908) 232-4407 • Fax: (908) 232-0473 ster for the ’90s. But don’t count on him an innocuous soap opera that seems en- in such a way that contractual parties E-mail: [email protected] to truly scare you unless you’re under 10. tirely disassociated from the dastardly could prove their legal participation in While stylishly hi-tech, expectedly cut- doings? Not this one. (We want the mon- an agreement by matching the corre- PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. ting edge and requisitely awesome, this ster!) sponding indentations of the two copies. politically correct Godzilla can’t commit Playing the gal that left Dr. Nick Such a procedure was called “binding by Horace R. Corbin Gail S. Corbin to total terrorization. Victims are blood- behind is Maria Pitillo as ambitious indenture;” a device used to legally bind PUBLISHER GENERAL MANAGER less and nameless. Attempting to be all Audrey, wannabe TV reporter who’s indentured servants to their patrons. Suzette F. Stalker things to all people, the chic behemoth is being harassed by her smarmy boss Today, a dent is generally defined as Paul J. Peyton Joanna B. Marsh only missing a GAP tag on its tail. MANAGING EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITOR MARKETING DIRECTOR (Harry Shearer). Hmm, if only she knew “a depression in a surface made by pres- The gauzy opening sequences pay mi- someone on the inside track of this sure or a blow;” it can also convey the Karen M. Hinds David B. Corbin nor homage to the creature’s 1956 roots. Godzilla thing. Trying to find the act- sense of “meaningful progress.” Dint is OFFICE MANAGER SPORTS Strange doings around French Polynesia ing groove in a horror picture derived from dent, the middle English remind that one too many nuclear tests overstuffed with hype and special ef- version of the Latin word dens, and SUBSCRIPTION PRICE was conducted there. Humanity has tam- fects is an art unto itself — akin to means “force or effort.” THE WESTFIELD LEADER & THE TIMES pered, and will be punished for its folly. hitting a moving target. Unsure where We hope that by dint of our efforts this Switch to a Japanese fishing trawler. word origin has made a dent on your One-year subscription in county $20 to aim her emphasis, Miss Pitillo’s Music director David Arnold unleashes performance is ineffectual, even by etymological storehouse. One-year subscription out-of-county $24 his first volley of horror movie music — One-year college (September to May) $16 schlock movie standards. too loud, too momentous, but comfort- Then there’s Victor “The Animal” ingly hokey. There will be no shocking Palotti, the dauntless news cameraman Epitaph for a King surprises. played by Hank Azaria, who, for some Moving Into Former Warehouse This is unlike my first experience reason or another, must have chosen Who Never Knew Battle with Godzilla, long before Toho sold Leo Gorcey’s Muggs McGinnis (The the rights to Sony, when I hid under my Bowery Boys) as the inspiration for his By Louis H. Clark seat. Sure, he’s big. But I’m big now, curious salute to the blue collar hero. When I’m getting on a plane, I always Marks Milestone for Commission too. I actually want to see the monstros- Last week, the Union County Educational Services enhance their programs during previous relocations. Thankfully rounding out the cast, and buy an apple and a book to read. If I’m not ity. stealing the movie from Broderick when home by 6, the kids have their dinners. Commission (UCESC) held a ceremony to celebrate Westlake, started in a few classrooms at The Presby- Next scene: a lone survivor of the ship he’s not looking, which is often, is Jean When I come home, my wife and I have an event which may be their biggest accomplishment terian Church in Westfield some 30 years ago, is an lies in a hospital bed, staring in space, Reno (The Professional) as the myste- dinner together. We exchange gossip, blank horror in his eyes. “Gojira,” the to date — the opening of their first owned, not leased, experience which founding Principal Dr. Jane P. Padalino rious Frenchman, Phillipe Roache; he and it’s one of the nicest parts of coming shell-shocked victim utters, “Gojira.” says he’s an insurance man. Wink, home. building for the education of severely physically recalled had the staff moving its materials out of the Huh? What’s he talking about, Gojira? wink. The book is to spare me from having to disabled students. rooms every Friday afternoon to make way for the And what if they did understand that he Alas, with the players finally in place, read about all the business executives Through the issuance of $5.2 million in bonds church’s Sunday School program. Also, funeral proces- was saying Godzilla? No one in this film the fashionably late Godzilla enters who appear in those magazines on the knows who or what Godzilla is — yet. stage right. Up until this point the rack when you travel business class. through the Union County Improvement Authority, sions filed by just as students were let out for the day in (We want the monster!) viewer has only been teased with a This time, I just made the plane, grab- the commission purchased, last year, the 60,000 the afternoon. The school then moved to the Baptist Then comes the traditional gathering thundering stomp of a foot or an inad- bing an apple from an open stand and square-foot former Commerce Clearinghouse ware- Church and to the now defunct Columbus School, both of experts and warrior types as director vertently damaging swish of a tail. And paying a buck for it because I would just Roland Emmerich, working from a script make the plane. house building in the Town of Westfield. After the in Westfield, before moving to Berkeley Heights. now, here he is, looking every bit like he co-wrote with Dean Devlin, Ted Elliot a blown-up, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day When I got into my seat, I noticed a and Terry Rossio, begins to set the stage termination of a former lease and with only eight Beadleston has moved twice — from St. Michael’s Parade version of the tyrannosaurus paperback stuck in my seat. The paper- for his enfant terrible. These introduc- back was called “Epitaph for Kings” by months to spare, 48,000 square feet of the building School and Convent in Elizabeth to Clark, and then to tions are poured pell-mell to the dra- rex from Jurassic Park. But, not bad, actually. Not bad at all. someone called de Grammont. It was an was converted into space for the new home of the its permanent home in Westfield. matically synthetic backdrop of hurry- old paperback. There was no front cover. ing helicopters and scurrying govern- Whether the title behemoth got this Westlake Elementary School. The UCESC was the first of its kind when created big through nuclear radiation or by I opened it up to read and was imme- ment types. Everyone’s excited about diately fascinated by the number of syco- After 18 years in Berkeley Heights, where the in the 1960s. Today, there are 10 commissions serving something, though the audience still stumbling over an open bottle of Viagra, there’s no denying the sheer grandios- phants there were at the Court of Louis program flourished through initiatives including Ca- 11 counties in the state. In addition to providing isn’t in on the deal. (We want the mon- XIV, who was called for some reason ster!) ity of its presence. And once the ram- reer Days, a pre-vocational development program, education and therapy for Union County’s most physi- page begins in full earnest, much of it “The Sun King.” Switch to Chernobyl, the Ukraine. People would just about kill them- school supermarket and community service programs, cally disabled students, the program has generated is exciting. Especially when the Nerd biologist Dr. Niko Tatopoulos selves for a compliment from him. For the commission had only 18 months to locate and additional cost-saving initiatives such as transporta- (Matthew Broderick) merrily chants Godzilla hunters learn their pal has instance, one of the dukes at court was “Singing In The Rain” while studying deposited eggs (yup, coming out of the head of the landscaping department at rehabilitate a new building for opening this past fall. tion for non-district public and non-public school closet and outdoing Ellen, the hermaph- A tall order, yes. But not impossible...just ask the children attending the commission’s schools and other indigenous worms that have grown larger Fontainebleau. as a result of the nuclear accident. Of roditic protagonist is both he and she) Not that he ever did any work, God “special needs” students at Westlake. special education or vocational programs and the course, the guv’mint types are going to somewhere in Manhattan; they have to forbid, but if the King, riding about his Just as the students have refused to let their handi- consolidation of fuel oil and textbook purchase costs. need him for their little project. So they find and destroy the baby Godzillas gardens, said “I would like a bunch of before they hatch. Don’t miss the taxi caps interfere with achieving successful and produc- Of course, the biggest savings to the 22 school confiscate the good doctor and bring yellow over there,” the duke would im- him to the Big Apple, where Godzilla chase scene — delightful shades of mediately gather a hundred workmen. tive lives, the staff and administration of the UCESC districts are the commission’s educational programs will eventually make his grand entrance. Jonah and the whale. It’s this sort of They would then gather up thousands was determined from the get-go to find a suitable for disabled students that would be cost prohibitive There Broderick’s lacklustre lead hu- brazen whimsy that saves the film from of yellow flowers and plant them where home for Westlake. for any one district to tackle by itself. This is what the man joins fellow monster mayvin Dr. predominantly mediocre acting and a the King wanted them, so that the next Elsie Chapman (Vicki Lewis), a pale- plot that seems to lose its place every day he could ride past and say, “I was Not only did they find a home for Westlake with term “shared services” among municipalities and the ontologist who only accepts the biolo- few scenes. Well, at least the voices right about the flowers.” The Duke then space to spare, but the commission was able to move county is all about. gist because he’s cute, and gung ho are in synch this go-round. bowed and said “Your Majesty is correct Beadleston High School from its previous location at The expanded school building includes a full range Colonel Hicks (elicited with just the This time I don’t hide under my seat, about everything.” right tongue-in-cheek sobriety by Kevin so it can’t be that fearsome. The six- His own son did the same thing. One the Brewer Elementary School in Clark to the new of improvements including vocational education, food Dunn) representing the military point of year-old girl in front of me buries her day he said “Your Majesty, I will never facility. Moving is nothing new for the commission, services, industrial arts, pre-vocational education and view. But no full shot of Godzilla yet. face in Daddy’s chest during Godzilla’s learn anything.” The King asked him since both Westlake and Beadleston have continued to education in health. (We want the monster!) scarier parts. What a baby. why. “Every time your Majesty wins a * * * * * battle, my tutor gives me the day off. Godzilla, rated PG-13, is a Tri-Star There have been so many of them.” Local Resident Thanks Communities Pictures release directed by Roland What a compliment that was for a Emmerich and stars Matthew Broderick, King who had never been at a battlefield Letters to the Editor and so could say when he was dying, “I for Support Towards Senior Awards Maria Pitillo, and Jean Reno. Running time: 139 minutes. loved war too much.” I have just come from a wonderful Many of the scholarships are named Council Should Give Diner Site event at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High after special people who have lived among WESTFIELD GIRL SCOUTS School. The Senior Awards were held us and have passed away. What a tribute this past Thursday evening (May 21) and it is for them to be remembered by their Westfield Girl Scouts Conclude Year Owner a Chance to Develop Lot many of the students received generous family and friends. Some of the scholar- Why is the Town Council proposing to the park! scholarships from many community ships bear the names of those that still With Several Milestone Activities spend $100,000 (and possibly more!) to And who will use this park? I, for one, groups. live in our towns and serve as wonderful purchase the site of the former Excellent find it hard to imagine relaxing in a sliver While I do take pride in our graduating role models for our children. Written by Girl Scouts for Girl Scouts seniors, it is the communities of Scotch Diner and turn it into a “pocket park?” of space between a building and a park- To all of them, thank you for caring so As the 1997-1998 this Girl Scouting June 15, to Marget Partridge, 816 Yes, the spot has been an eyesore ever ing lot while inhaling fumes from the Plains and Fanwood that I would like to much for our young people. Special thanks commend. There is an African proverb year draws to a close, there are several Sherbrooke Drive. since the diner was unceremoniously cars on North Avenue. When will the should go to the Scotch Plains-Fanwood important dates to keep in mind. The On June 15 at 7 p.m., Washington shipped off to Germany, but surely there council wake up and realize that this is a that states, “It takes a village to raise a Scholarship Foundation with whom many child.” Tonight I saw that village. major upcoming events are: the Gold and School will hold its Girl Scout Fly-Up are better uses for the site and for the bad idea?! of these scholarships are entrusted. Silver Award ceremony, the final Ser- ceremony based on the theme “Celebrat- taxpayers’ money! If they’re so eager to spend money on The 57 community representatives who But the most thanks should go to the came and shared the fruits of their labors vice Team meeting of the year and the ing 80 Years in Girl Scouting.” Refresh- As far as I can tell, this proposal came some green space, there are plenty of citizens of Scotch Plains and Fanwood Washington School Girl Scout Fly Up. ments will follow the ceremony. about because of the Union County pro- ways to enhance our existing parks (more with our children were awe-inspiring. who contributed to any and all of the All parts of Scotch Plains and Fanwood The Westfield Gold and Silver Award Leaving us this year are six extraordi- gram granting funds to towns wishing to play equipment, more plantings, etc.). fundraising efforts of these fine organi- ceremony will take place on Wednesday, nary Senior Girl scouts who have dedi- create pocket parks, and someone on the The property owner would like to de- were represented. Many of these groups zations. Your presence was felt at the have spent all year raising money to give June 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel of The cated their time towards making Girl council wants to make sure that West- velop the site for commercial use, which high school. As a parent I am profoundly Presbyterian Church in Westfield, 140 Scouting and its values a priority in their field gets its share, i.e., $100,000. seems much more appropriate for this away to worthy students who will be- grateful to you all. come better citizens because of the gen- Mountain Avenue. The Gold Award, the lives. That’s fine, except that the town will location. Let’s give him the chance to do Mary Ball Cappio erosity of so many. highest award in Girl Scouting, will be The graduating seniors are: Christina have to put up at least that much of our so before we throw our money away! Scotch Plains conferred on Lauren Elizabeth Flynn and Ho, Alice Kelman, Corinne Liebrich, own money just to buy the site, and Deirdre Gelinne Elise Karyn Tate. Michelle Meyn, Marielena Roig, and thousands more to create and maintain Westfield Fourteen Cadette Girl Scouts will re- Heather Simpson. We wish these girls If Issues Cannot Be Addressed ceive the Silver Award, the second high- much success and happiness in college est award in Girl Scouting. These are: and beyond. ‘Centre Boulevard’ Will Only Confuse At-Large, Why Redistrict Board? Sarah Getman Burke, Shannon Eliza- We invite all girls and adults inter- beth Kunath, Elizabeth Ann Madresh, ested in Girl Scouting to become part of Having moved to Union County within date campaigning was a tedious chore the past year, both my wife and I were Molly Rose Orbach, Sarah Elizabeth our organization. For further information Visitors to Scotch Plains Downtown whose necessity should have been allevi- Round, Lauren Elysse Solon, all of Troop contact the Washington Rock Girl Scout anxious to get acquainted with both local ated by incumbency. I object to the Downtown Task Force’s Centre” and leave it at that. issues and candidates. 36, and Rachel Bavolar, Maureen Lynch Council at 201 East Grove Street, or by recommendation that the name “Centre The Task Force also states in its notice As for the other, he could offer no Cooke, Suanne Elizabeth Hutchinson, call Liz Fallon at (908) 233-3484. We were aware that a political shift reason as to why there was a shift from Boulevard” be superimposed over the that their recommendation is not a pre- had occurred at the county level, and that Nicole Leigh Infantino, Rosanne Marie We wish all Girl Scouts and Leaders a existing street names of East Second lude to an expansion of the business a Republican Freeholder majority in the Palatucci, Laura Francis Pregenzer, Bree wonderful summer and one filled with serious issues (particularly the Union early 1990s, no alternative approach for Street, Plainfield Avenue and Westfield zone. This appears to be in the nature of County Utilities Authority incinerator Danielle Sherry, Joanna Grace Todaro, creative planning for the next scouting Avenue. a typical political promise never kept, dealing with the incinerator problem all of Troop 491. year. We look forward to seeing you in (UCUA) in Rahway) needed to be ex- (despite offering the benefit of the doubt No prior notice of this recommenda- since a business district cannot survive plained and addressed. The Westfield Girl Scout Service Team September! tion was given to the residents of these without expansion. on the rationale behind its having been will hold, a brunch, their final meeting of This column may be viewed at the In the course of the campaign I had built in the first place while the board three streets. However, when the recom- The Township Council may consider the opportunity to meet with two of the the scouting year, on Monday, June 8, Westfield Leader Web site at mendation was discovered, residents this issue at one of its meetings in June. was in Republican hands), and no rea- from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. at the home of www.goleader.com/girlscouts. three Republican candidates for Free- son for voting Republican beyond serv- voiced their objection before the Town- I urge the residents of the three streets holder and came away singularly unim- Merry Wisler, 726 Tuxford Turn. This column is prepared monthly, Sep- ship Council, and now a dialogue has concerned to attend the meeting and voice ing as a minority check on Democratic All troops accepting the early registra- tember through May, by Westfield Girl pressed. spending. been created. their opposition. I realize that public service can be a tion option are reminded that registration Scouts for the scouting community and In a recent letter to property and busi- Taxation has been flat under the Demo- materials should be returned by Monday, the public. Thomas J. Denitzio burden for those in the private sector, but crats and an attempt has been made to ness owners, the Downtown Task Force Scotch Plains that said, it seemed that for one candi- presents its case for using “Centre Bou- deal with the incinerator financing. These levard.” The creative efforts of the Down- are county-wide issues that transcend SPFHS ‘Festival of Music’ Draws town Task Force to enhance the Scotch Cellular Phone Service for Westfield eastern-versus-western Union County Plains business district should be ap- and party line. Kudos for Talent and Presentation plauded. However, the recommendation If the Republican Party cannot speak Crossing Guards Too Costly to them, there is no point in Assembly- I had the privilege and honor of attend- The changing of the pianists — one regarding the overlay of “Centre Boule- ing the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High great accompanist to another – also vard” on top of our established street I must admit I was surprised to read Talk about quality of life. No wonder man Alan M. Augustine, Richard H. Bagger and Union County Republican School “Festival of Music” on Thursday, amazed me, plus the fact that they also names should be rejected. that Gail Vernick was responsible for Ms. Vernick noted at the budget hearing May 14. What a great pleasure it was. played other instruments in the band. The Task Force claims that yet an- providing cell phones for crossing guards. that “residents have an idea their tax Committee Chairman Frank X. McDermott attempting to guarantee a The talent was just unbelievable. No As usual, our real “pro,” Vincent other name for the three streets in ques- After questioning several guards I real- increases...every year”. Let me suggest one could imagine the effort and practice Turturiello, handled the various bands tion will lessen confusion. To the con- ized that I wasn’t sure which “selected buying 2-way radios hooked up directly Republican presence on the Board of Freeholders by restructuring and redis- that had to be made to produce such a and especially the Moonglowers, which trary, it will add to any confusion which few” had the phones. Then I received to police headquarters. That should save show. have been in existence for around 50 may exist. word that Ms. Vernick was requesting about $20,000 dollars in four years. tricting. If issues cannot be framed and ad- It started off with a solo group, then years. As justification for the designation that people donate their old phone. This While on the subject of budgets and the percussion special feature, next the I also want to thank all the assistants “Centre Boulevard,” the Task Force re- was her way to improve the “quality of surplus... I would like to point out that I dressed on an at-large basis in an area as small (though diverse) as Union County, Barbershop Quartet, the xylophone group who helped to put such a delightful con- fers to the dual names of Avenue of the life” in Westfield. do not benefit from a $9 million surplus with new variety sound, then the Scotch cert together. There also was a delightful Americas and Sixth Avenue in New York I would like to point out that a new (which you may try to use to purchase cell the question is not whether the voice of the electorate would be better heard with Plains-Fanwood High School Sensations, comedy routine, put on by a male group, City, without any evidence that the two phone is cheap. Some special offers will phones.) I benefit from money in my then to the The Moonglowers. No, we are using a push broom, and who did a great names are not confusing. give you the phone for free if you sign up pockets, a direct result of paying fewer sectoral representation on the board, but rather whether the entire framework for not forgetting the concert choir. rhythm in banging to the beat. Adding another name to the existing for their service. Service is provided for taxes. When will the old guard ever Can you imagine 300 students being Congratulations to all those involved, street names will not create additional about $20-30 a month. Multiply that by learn? county government is relevant on the face. together on the stage at the same time? and God bless them all for a beautiful job business or more clearly identify the the number of crossing guards (let’s say Our choir leader, handled the large group, well done. business center. It is sufficient to refer to 20) x 12 months. Wow! That is almost Michael C. Wolski Michael Lewis who were all so well trained and handled James F. Denny the center of Scotch Plains as “Town $5,000 per year! Westfield Fanwood so professionally by Laurie Wellman. Fanwood