Page 22 Thursday, June 14, 2001 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION INSIDE A&E: NY PHILHARMONIC, ON THE BEAT, JAZZ UP YOUR SUMMER READING CrCreativityeativity WWillill AlwAlwaysays bebe FoundFound ArAroundound TheThe BendBend ForFor LindaLinda KKolarolar ofof WWestfieldestfield By MICHELLE H. LePOIDEVIN what I am doing.” so to speak, have made Ms. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times All of the distractions that have Kolar consider painting from WESTFIELD – While working put the creative process on the skids, photographs of her life sub- through some strong emo- jects. This decision, she tions and situations in her knows, might help her life, Linda Kolar was si- focus on her work and multaneously composing weather changes would PenPen && InkInk a life drawing in an art not be a deterrent, but class in Nutley. Ms. Kolar prefers hav- Surrounded by fellow ing the actual subject A Village of Mall Stores, A Sidewalk artists poised at their ea- matter before her eyes. sels, Ms. Kolar took a hard During an interview look at her piece and saw with The Westfield Of Dining: Welcome Restaurant Row that her feelings had Leader and The Times translated onto the can- of Scotch Plains- By MICHELLE H. LePOIDEVIN Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times vas. Everyone else’s Fanwood, she remem- pieces were more sub- The Town of Westfield, which has all of the sounds of a city, certainly has bered the legend left dued. behind by her aunt in changed beyond a village of mom and pop stores. The quaintness has oozed “I was a little embar- the art world. Collabo- away with every snip of a ribbon-cutting, welcoming in a mall store. We’ve rassed,” said Ms. Kolar, rating with Sam got Gap, Express, Foot Locker, Ann Taylor, Nine West, and soon, ladies will admitting that she Goldwyn and Walt be able to purchase their nightwear at Victoria’s Secret on East Broad Street. scrapped the original and Disney in California, All we need is a food court. reworked the subject mat- her aunt worked in a “Peeling Potatoes” by Westfield’s Linda Kolar, Have you ever taken a hard look at Elm Street? I can picture a pile of ter. Thinking back to the less stressful type of raw emotion that inspired an Oil on Pressed Hardwood, 16” x 20” sopping gray trays and plastic utensils at the end of Quimby Street for environment. “There her, however, she believes was no punch in, punch out plyers, brushes and canvases, sent by shoppers to pick up and tote down Elm while choosing between Theresa’s, she should have salvaged system,” said Ms. Kolar, “the a woman who inspired her, meant a the original piece. hours were flexible and she great deal to Ms. Kolar. “Raw feelings do come would go with the other artists From 1968 to 1970, the young artist thrived in the company of Arts out,” the Westfield resident SHE’S A WINNER...Linda Kolar of Westfield won an and enjoy the park remembered when discuss- Honorable Mention for her charcoal with gouache, (Disneyland).” Students League members in New ing art as a creative and “Pygmalion,” at the Salon 2001 Members’ Exhibit held “She sent me my first bunch York City. She returned to the orga- emotional process, “The from Saturday, March 24, to Sunday, April 1. The of art supplies,” she recalled nization as an employee in the stu- best art has a feeling in it.” exhibition was sponsored by the Westfield Art Associa- with sentiment in her voice. dent office, in the mid-1980s. Later, Lia’s, Elm Street Café, Lime, or the up and coming Sweet Waters In fact, the originality tion, of which Mrs. Kolar is a board member. The canvas stretchers, canvas Continued on Page 21 Steakhouse. Restaurant row is alive and kicking in downtown Westfield. and free license afforded An over-glorified version of the food court at the Bridgewater her drive to create is Commons, it is only a matter of time before the smaller shops along strongly valued by Ms. Kolar. She Elm Street are squeezed out by more eateries longing to be part of the confided that she appreciates the food chain. I can hear the squeaking already from across the street. autonomy of being a student of life and her own boss as an artist. While I feel there is nothing wrong with having a variety of restaurants to “No one is telling me what to do, Artist of choose from, because there are a number of palates to entice, the town begins but me,” she explained. Artist of to lose its Colonial, mom and pop appeal when all turns contemporary and There are a lot of demands on Ms. commercial. I would be saddened to watch Elm Street turn into a food court, Kolar’s time, so working on a paint- especially, when there is nowhere to park for anyone to enjoy it. ing is a precious pleasure – almost a WITH J OHN L UERSSEN the Week The more appealing the stores or restaurants become, the more luxury. necessary it will be for diners and shoppers to find adequate parking. Last month, Ms. Kolar positioned her easel on the sidewalk along the If you think you’ve got it bad already, try dropping off your handi- cobble-stoned faced bridge on Lin- Southern Rockers Storm capped grandmother on a bench at night so you can tool around coln Avenue in Cranford to paint Westfield to find a parking spot because there is no handicapped Williams Droescher Mill. The deep parking near any of the restaurants. Gram leaning on her walker, red building is a historical landmark in the township, dating back to 1740. PNC Arts Center waiting to enjoy her meal was not a comfortable experience for her. So, Darkness crept in as .38 Special, she’s opted to spend her dining dollars elsewhere. Day after day, cars and trucks By JOHN D. LUERSSEN whizzed past her, folks out for a walk Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times one of ’s biggest hit I’ve spoken with police officers, downtown employees, visitors, out- makers, took the stage. Fronted by or children coming home from school HOLMDEL — The PNC Bank Donnie Van Zant, brother of late of-towners and residents about their impressions of the town’s flavor. would stop by her easel to converse. Arts Center’s 2001 sea- A high percentage believe they are visiting a mall. While Ms. Kolar likes being “on son got off to a rousing One of the only differences between mall shopping and our own location” for a painting, she said the start Friday night, as the restaurant row/mall? While your car is parked in a secure spot, you, visitors were often distracting. “Volunteer Jam” south- noshing on a garden salad and eyeing your purchases from Ann Taylor, “It helps to get out of the house,” ern rock caravan pulled she said, “But, in the time I have out into Holmdel. take comfort in the fact that you are less likely to run the risk of getting As daylight faded, there, I need to work.” She later hit by a semi trying to make a turn off East Broad Street onto Elm. fans of the sub genre noted, “I concentrate very hard on took in the sights and sounds of veteran art- David Palladino’s ists like The Charlie Daniels Band, .38 Spe- cial and one-time Allan Ronnie Spector Music Corner Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts, plus rock- By MICHELLE H. LePOIDEVIN ing country upstarts The Charlie Daniels Band Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times Trent Summer & The The voice of Veronica Bennett or Cream of the Corps Pulsate Throughout New Row Mob. Ronnie Spector is alive and well in Taking the stage a few minutes leader Ronnie Van my car. The windows rolled down, ahead of the publicized 6 p.m. start Zant, these self-professed “Wild the breeze in my hair and the Broadway Theater During BLAST time, Tennessee native Summar and Eyed Southern Boys” discharged Grammy-winning “Walking in the his congregation ripped through ma- rousing versions of their biggest Rain” blaring from my radio. At By DAVID PALLADINO terial from their self-titled 2000 al- songs. The dual guitar attack of early Christmas time, it’s the same scene – Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times ’80s tunes like “” except the windows are up, the heat bum. Sporting the type of garb that is on, I’m shopping for presents and NEW YORK CITY — Corps has Summar jokingly touted as “com- and “If I’d Been The One,” was offset arrived. Once relegated to large uni- by soothing bal- “Frosty the Snowman” is crooned fortable Southern by Spector’s sultry and edgy vocals. versity or major sports stadium ven- swag,” the six- ladry like the ues, the enthusiasm, talent, power band’s final chart New York’s Spanish Harlem is piece band offered where Ronnie called home. At 8 or 9, and ultimate glory of Drum Corps an enthusiastic entry, 1989’s has reached a pinnacle of perfor- “Second her uncles crafted her first spotlight performance, in from a coffee can, while Ronnie mance on the stage of the Broadway spite of having the Chance.” Theater in Manhattan. would sing at her grandmother’s venue less than Perhaps the house. The music of Frankie Lyman’s BLAST is the total summation of half full at the most touching “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” and the all that is best in drum corps, but time. moment of the girl group frenzy of The Marvelettes much more — the total fusion of Recalling night was when and the Shirelles made Ronnie gather traditional and cutting edge brass Dwight Yoakam’s Ronnie addressed her cousins Estelle and Nedra and music arrangements, traditional and early output, the Holmdel form The Ronettes. exotic drums, intricate flag, rifle, Summar’s group crowd to thank the While trying to survive the tumul- saber and prop artistry (front), all served up insight- audience for help- tuous eye of the storm that was her combined with impressive dance ful odes to the ing to keep the marriage to record producer Phil work and a flood of awesome color nouveau riche memory of his Spector, Ronnie’s unique sound took and special lighting effects. (“New Money”), brother alive, but over the radios in the 60s. The Not only for die-hard high school plus more typical the most enter- Ronettes’ look, however, was every- marching band and drum corps types, taining five min- thing the other girl groups were not. subjects like de- Ronnie wanted to prove that she BLAST most definitely appeals to votion (“Paint utes in the band’s all those who are interested in the Pinney and Jim Moore, who designed opens with a perfectly chosen and set came during never forget her roots in Spanish and head up the front choreography, beautifully arranged Bolero high- Your Name In Harlem. So, the style of heavy make- drama, power and glory of theatrical Purple”) and the encore, a music. There has literally not been a have been heavily involved in the lighting smooth marching moves, forceful run up and high hair (famous on the Corps scene in addition to brass spe- dances and musical arrangement. abandonment “Be streets of Spanish Harlem) were the performance of BLAST that failed to So Blue,” as at- .38 Special through the bring virtually the entire audience to cialist Donnie Vandoren, who cur- Actually, one of the most potent as- antithesis of the 60s look. tendees began to group’s most en- “Be My Baby,” “Do I Love You,” their feet in wild enthusiasm — which rently serves as Associate Producer. pects of the show is the strength of during song, “.” Hugh Vanstone has designed the the musical arrangements. filter into the venue. Notable licks “Baby I Love You,” “The Best Part has also compelled the production to from Mob guitarist Kenny Vaughn Headliners The Charlie Daniels of Breaking Up,” and “I Can Hear extend their stay at the theater until lighting for plays, musicals and op- Principal arranger James Prime cre- Band (CBD) gave concertgoers eras around the world. Mark Hood, ated a sublime arrangement of Simple perked up the ears of those uniniti- Music” were the teen anthems of the next January. ated, and those who managed to catch nearly two hours of southern fried era and Ronnie was behind them all. Originally the brain-child of Tom Morse and Bobby Aitken have Gifts/Appalachian Spring that re- jams and blistering boogie rock. For- been involved with sound design for the show were not disappointed. But, so was her husband, Phil. BLAST Director James Mason, the mains true to Copeland’s original saking much of his usual country tact In her autobiography, “Be My over 50 Broadway productions. orchestral, but adds a whole new Dickey Betts, legendary guitarist production expanded to include some with the Allman Brothers Band, took for the New Jersey rock fans in atten- Baby: How I Survived the Mascara, of the biggest names in both Drum The company can put over 50 mu- human dimension with the addition dance, Daniels “played his fiddle Miniskirts and Madness or My Life sicians, vocalists and front on the of specially designed hand bells for the stage just before 7 p.m. Al- and Bugle Corps and Broadway The- though Betts was fired from that hard” through foot-stomping clas- as a Fabulous Ronette) came out in ater. Jonathan Vanderkolff, George stage at any given time. The show the front and masterfully arranged sics like “The South’s Gonna Do It” 1990, Ronnie related that Phil called vocal sections. group last year, he roared on this evening undaunted. Along with his and “Texas.” up all of the radio stations and told Mr. Prime is one of America’s Dressed in his obligatory cowboy them to give “Walking in the Rain” leading arrangers. He has even col- newly-compiled touring band, Betts less airplay. His jealousy over her took the time to promote and touch hat, Daniels’ well-chosen and dex- laborated with and arranged works terously performed covers like Stevie success and her personality which for such prestigious local ensembles on material from his first post- magnetized the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Allman’s solo album, “Let’s Get Ray Vaughan’s “Pride And Joy” and as the acclaimed and award winning the aforementioned Lynyrd The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, Governor Livingston High School Together,” which is due out Tues- were too much for Phil to take. day, July 31. Skynyrd’s “Freebird” were a wel- Band from Berkeley Heights. Many come surprise. While it took two years for Phil times over, the ensemble has been Still, the bulk of Betts’ 55-minute and Ronnie’s divorce to come set was comprised of the Allman’s By the time The CDB reached it’s through, the ordeal transformed her awarded the title of Northeast Cham- encore, performing “The Devil Went pion. classics that he helped make famous. life. Billy Joel wrote “Say Goodbye Betts gave appreciative fans crystal- Down To Georgia” in a seemingly to Hollywood,” a tribute to Ronnie. Many of the musicians and danc- never-ending version, the band’s most ers are drawn from the Star of Indi- line takes on classics like “Melissa” Cousins Estelle and Nedra opted out and “Blue Sky,” plus the superb en- popular song turned into the night’s of The Ronettes and Ronnie scoured ana Drum and Bugle Corps, who most memorable moments. were initially created in 1984 by the core, “Ramblin’ Man.” Betts, the man Spanish Harlem for some new sing- responsible for singing and writing With four bands performing in ers. Cook Group, Incorporated to serve excess of five hours, The Volunteer In 1986, Ronnie chimed into Eddie young people who had a love for that free-spirited 1973 smash, his former act’s biggest hit, proved he Jam gave attendees, even passive Money’s duet, “Take Me Home To- music and the Corps genre. The age fans, much to smile about. One can night.” To her credit, she is also the of the performers ranges from 19 to thoroughly owned the material. Not surprisingly, the audience response only hope that the summer concert only American singer to have been 30. series in Holmdel will continue to backed by all of the members of The Other highlights of the show in- was phenomenal, some of the loud- est of the night. give music lovers this much satisfac- Beatles. Continued on Page 21 tion. Continued on Page 21 CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK