I Teachers serve a scoop dinner. See page A-8. | Briefs | Ministry seeks to build senior complex By CRAIG TURPIN plex, Borough Councilman “A small portion of that bond whatever it takes” to build the of Health and Senior Services to Women’s club issue was used for developing the complex. apply for the funding, state offi­ STAFF WRITER Edward Kubala said Monday. to host fundraiser “The Lutheran (Social) property,” Mayor Gallagher said. “We have already sent the cials said this week. Lutheran SOUTH PLAINFIELD - Ministries needed (the council) to “There was an engineering study $900,000 to Lutheran (Social) Social Ministries was hoping for SOUTH PLAINFIELD - Lutheran Social Ministries is try­ approve a resolution stating that done at the site. We did bore Ministries,” he said. “Right now 9 percent tax credit that would The Junior Women’s Club will ing for a second time to get fund­ we still support tfyeir efforts,” samples to ensure the property what we’re waiting for is for have freed up funding to build hold a fundraiser with ing to partially pay for a senior Kubala said. That resolution was was suitable to be built on.” funding from the state or county the complex. Domino’s Pizza Monday. citizens housing and social com­ approved at last night’s Borough The borough will lease the to complete the project.” However, the state turned that Proceeds from pizza sales plex off Morris Avenue. Council meeting. property to Lutheran Social Mayor Gallagher said the com­ application down even though it will go toward CODE ADAM, a Mayor Daniel Gallagher said Ministries for $1, Kubala said. plex will be open to senior citi­ had been ranked number one by child recovery enforcement act This time the organization the borough has set aside During this year’s election, zens in the borough. He said the the state agency. Kubala said the designed to allow store owners will go to Middlesex County to $900,000 towards the construc­ providing housing to senior citi­ complex will include housing and state decided to give the tax cred­ a plan of action if a child is lost acquire $500,000 in funds from the county’s Housing and tion of the senior complex. In zens had been a key issue. Mayor an area for social activities. it to an urban senior housing pro­ or abducted while in their Gallagher said the borough Lutheran Social Ministries ject rather than a suburban pro­ store. The event will also aid Community Development divi­ 1986 the council sold $2.6 million remains committed to “doing had gone before the state division ject. other children’s charities. sion to be used to build the com­ in bonds to pay for the project. Prizes will be awarded to random callers. O fficials Church to host German-style dinner to rem ove SOUTH PLAINFIELD - An all-you-can-eat German- style Sauerbraten dinner will oil tanks be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. tomor­ row at St. Stephen’s Lutheran By CRAIG TURPIN Church. STAFF WRITER The dinner will feature Sauerbraten, Spaetzel, SOUTH PLAINFIELD - A Knockwurst, Red Cabbage, half-million dollar program to apple cake and more. remove obsolete oil tanks in the Admission is $10 for adults, borough will begin by the spring. $8.50 for senior citizens over 65 The Borough Council intro­ and children ages 3-10 and duced two ordinances last night to children under three will be allow for the sale of bonds to pay admitted free. for the work. A public hearing on All proceeds will benefit the bonds is scheduled for Dec. 17. Seeds of Hope, a Lutheran Mayor Daniel Gallagher said charity. the borough will pay for the pro­ To make a reservation, call ject using grant money. He said the church at (908) 757-4474 or the borough is not issuing bonds George Rudo at (908) 769-7251. for the project, but, using the approved bond ordinances as guarantees to contractors hired to Hoops contest do the tank removal and site set for Nov. 22 clean-up. “We won’t borrow any money,” SOUTH PLAINFIELD - Mayor Gallagher said. “We’re The South Plainfield Elks are introducing the bond ordinances sponsoring the first ever Elks to assure those we hire to do the National Hoop Shoot Contest work that we will have money to for children 1-3 p.m. Nov. 22. pay for the project. The event will be in three “If for some reason the grants age divisions — 8 and 9 year did not come through we would be NICOLE DIMELLA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER olds; 10 and 11 year olds; and able to issue bonds to pay for the 12 and 13 years old. Franklin School kindergartners sing “The Caissons go Rolling Along,” during the school’s annual Veteran’s Day ceremony Friday. For another work.” All are encouraged to enter. photo of the ceremony, see page A-3. Mayor Gallagher said the The contest will be at Sacred Democratically-controlled council Heart School. did not wait to introduce the ordi­ For more information or to nances until after the election sign-up, call Joe Servedio at Vets are honored with letters and songs because they wanted to avoid hav­ (908) 668-4566. ing Republicans use the bond By UBBY BARSKY Allegiance and then sang “The Star-Spangled Rome with the 1st Armored Division when his radio truck was blown up and severely injured. ordinances as an issue during the CORRESPONDENT Banner.” Parisi selected and directed the music Elks selling in the program and Joan Stassio conducted the His leg was amputated and he was hospital­ election. “We took action when our SOUTH PLAINFIELD - Franklin School band. ized for two years. Entertainment books (Borough) Administrator John students paid tribute to American veterans in Using the loneliness of a young solider away “He had to learn how to walk again,” Kelly Corica made us aware of the need SOUTH PLAINFIELD - a moving assembly program Friday that fea­ from home, a group of teachers provided a fight said. to do so,” Mayor Gallagher said. “If The South Plainfield Elks tured patriotic songs and poems. note by singing and dancing to popular World “I’m so very proud of what my grandfather it had become an issue we would Veterans Committee is selling The students also read special they wrote to War II songs. While singing “Mr. Postman” they went through,” she said. “He tells us stories have publicly said we are not the Entertainment Book for express their thoughts about what having a handed out student letters and drawings to the about the war and when he tells them I feel as bonding, just setting aside the $30. relative who had been in service meant to veterans on stage. if we are right there. To purchase the book, call Gina Butrico, Taryn Billich, Chelsea Ng and “I will always remember what World War II bonds if we need them.” them. Mayor Gallagher was re-elect­ Lou Peralta at (908) 756-6406. A huge banner proclaiming “Thank You Je’ahna Petties read poems they had written to was like and how scared my ‘pop-pop’ was away ed to the council last Tuesday Veterans” — the theme of the program — hung thank “Dear Veterans.” Alexander Nau read from home and fighting. along with Councilman Dennis outside from the front of the school building. In “The Flag Goes By” and Lee Tetrault, dressed “I pray every night that God will keep us Borough to purchase Cerami and new Councilwoman the gymnasium, a stage had been built to as Abraham Lincoln with a tall stovepipe hat, safe and not let any wars start. If we would just bus for seniors Darlene Pinto. accommodate seating the veterans invited to recited the Gettysburg Address. try to listen and work things out, we wouldn’t In 1996 the borough set aside SOUTH PLAINFIELD - A attend and be honored by the program. The Between the recitations, students sang the have to fight. bonds totaling $296,650 to pay for new senior citizen bus is one stage was decorated with a huge reproduction songs of each branch of the military service. “I hope everyone understands why we cele­ some of the removal of old under­ step closer to reality. of the famous statue of the soldiers raising the While the Marine Corps Hymn was being sung, brate Veterans Day,” Kelly said. “I understand ground gas and diesel storage Last Thursday the Borough flag on Iwo Jima, drawn by art teacher Mary Marine veteran Nelson Duarte stood at atten­ now and I want to thank everyone who ever tanks. The first ordinance sets Council accepted a $50,000 Ellen Kopf. Flanking the drawing on both sides tion from his place on the stage. fought in a war, and I especially want to thank aside an additional $165,000 in Community Development were panels of red, white and blue paper. Fourth-grader Kelly Downes’s personal let­ my grandfather.” bonds for this project. Block Grant to pay for the bus. The program started with a video explain­ ter to “Dear Veteran” explained why she had Another moving letter was written by Mayor Gallagher said the bor­ Borough Councilman always been angry on Veterans Day. When she Nathaniel Udell about his uncle, a veteran who ing that Veterans Day was originally named ough has already replaced some of Edward Kubala said the coun­ Armistice Day, after the anniversary of the was little she had blamed the holiday because recently died. cil applied for the grant to pay her grandfather Dennis Bennigan wasn’t as “That was a really great job,” World War II the underground tanks, which are armistice which ended World War I in 1918.