Page 20 Thursday, June 25, 2009 The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION

Local Happenings

Village Green Series Begins Thurs., July 9 SCOTCH PLAINS — The Scotch Former Councilman Wants Park Plains Cultural Arts Committee has released the schedule of entertainers participating in the 2009 Village Green Summer Concert Series. The Renamed to Honor Dr. Apgar list is as follows: By CAROLYN FREUNDLICH Town Administrator Jim Gildea, Thursday July 9, Summer Block Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times Monday, said the town is “looking into” Party, 7 p.m.; Thursday, July 16, Eric WESTFIELD – Former Westfield Mr. MacRitchie’s suggestion. At Dasher (magician/comedy), 7 p.m., resident Dr. Virginia Apgar (1909 – present, it is on Councilman Jim Foerst’s and Sound Investment, oldies (40’s 1974) is credited with doing more to Code Review and Town Property and 50’s), 8 p.m. improve the health of mothers and their Committee’s agenda. Thursday, July 23, Eva the Diva babies than anyone in the last century Mr. Gildea said though part of the (children’s singer), 7 p.m., and due to the advent of the Apgar score. grassy area has been dedicated by the Ramblin Dawgs (rock and blues), 8 Now, a former Westfield councilman local Girl Scout troop, an amenable p.m. wishes to honor the doctor at the 100- solution is possible. He said Westfield Thursday, July 30, Randy St. James (magician), 7 p.m., and One Brick year anniversary of her birth by nam- is “eager to do something nice for Dr. Susan M. Dougherty for The Westfield Leader and The Times ing a local park after her. Apgar.” BREAKING GLASS...Various voices of humankind tell their personal tales in Short (classic rock), 8 p.m. Invented in 1952, while Dr. Apgar Mr. MacRitchie proposed several Westfield High School senior Dara Silverman’s original piece, Glass Bangle. Tuesday, August 4, National Night was living in Westfield, the Apgar score renovations to the rundown park – Senior projects were performed for the public on Thursday, June 4, after Out, Winner of High School Battle of is an acronym for the diagnostic tools moving centralized utility poles and presenting them at the Bucks County Playhouse’s competition in Pennsylvania Bands, 7 p.m., and Goodman Brown Dr. Apgar developed to determine a “Curb Your Dog” signs to peripheral the week earlier. Dara won “Best Director” (to read more about the Bucks County (original rock), 8 p.m. newborn’s chance of survival and rate areas, as well as betterment of the park’s Festival, see page 19). Her classmates Colleen McCabe won “Best Actress” and Thursday, August 13, Amazing Bobby O’Rourke won “Best Supporting Actor” honors. Fifteen other students Dave (magic and comedy) 7 p.m., of development. The score is an assess- foliage, including the laying of new from WHS won “Excellence in Acting” awards at the competition in May. ment of the infant’s appearance (skin sod. The existing “half-dead circular and Invisible Sun (Tribute to The color), pulse, grimace (reflexes), activ- hedge should be removed; maintaining Police) 8 p.m. ity (muscle activity) and respiration. and trimming it is more trouble than it’s Senior Projects Rife Thursday, August 20, Mr. Richard, Still used today, it is given one minute worth,” he said. He also wants the “half- Children’s Music, 7 p.m., and High and five minutes after birth. Dr. Virginia Apgar (1909 – 1974) dead silver maple cut down.” Road (Motown and R&B), 8 p.m. Until the Apgar score, doctors were the development of newborn-size re- Mr. MacRitchie suggests adding or- With Absurdities, Parodies All shows are on the Alan August- mainly concerned with the health of the suscitation tools, infant heart-rate moni- namental-size trees, which are more By SUSAN M. DOUGHERTY planning to major in theatre and minor ine Village Green adjacent to the mother, not the baby. There was no tors and neonatal intensive-care units. practical for Windsor Avenue Pocket Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times in religion at Skidmore College, won Scotch Plains Municipal Building. formal evaluation for infants at the time, The doctor also won numerous hon- Park. “Ornamental-size trees would be WESTFIELD – Each year, seniors at the “Best Director” award for this origi- Attendees are reminded to bring chairs and many life-threatening conditions ors and awards throughout her lifetime easier and less expensive to maintain Westfield High School (WHS) use their nal work at the Bucks County Theater and/or blankets. went unidentified. The introduction of for her varying achievements. She also than the existing bushes,” he said. “They creativity, ingenuity and talent to pro- Competition in Pennsylvania. Troupe Holds the Apgar score spurred an interest in published more than 60 scientific ar- would also be more consistent with the duce final projects. On Thursday, June The second piece of the afternoon, the health of infants, which led to the ticles and numerous shorter essays for small scale of the park,” which is a 4, that creativity was evident on the compiled and acted by students in drama Auditions for Caesar medical subspecialty neonatology. newspapers and magazines, and was quarter of an acre. stage of WHS in two senior projects teacher Daniel Devlin’s classes, found WESTFIELD – Troupe of Friends Subsequently, this attention led to the first female full professor at Mr. MacRitchie believes that his sug- and a third collective offering by the a belching Stanley Kowalski and south- will hold open auditions for Julius gestions will beautify the area and make drama classes. ern-drawling Blanche Dubois from A Caesar on Monday, June 29, and it safer for Westfield residents. Although When the curtains parted at 3:30 Streetcar Named Desire at a card table Wednesday, July 1, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the town has been receptive to Mr. p.m., a female dance duo revealed a and chairs. the gazebo in Mindowaskin Park on MacRitchie’s proposal, public works tangled web of seven bodies that formed The audience, made up of classmates East Broad Street in Westfield. projects can take years. one mass. The original piece, Glass and a few parents and teachers, enjoyed Show dates are August 28 and 29 Hoping that changes are made Bangle by Dara Silverman, asked a the parody of Streetcar intertwined with at 8 p.m. and August 30 at 2 p.m. “sooner rather than later,” he said, “I series of questions that were held to- portions of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. It was Free performances of the outdoor show up at the town council meetings gether by the use of a visual — a wide, clear that the appreciative audience shows will take place at the gazebo. and push it (improvements for the white bracelet that was passed from knew the inside jokes and literary allu- All roles are open. Besides the two park). I’ve been telephoning mem- one actor to another to weave the fabric sions to plays Glengarry, Glen Ross, wives, other characters will be cast bers of the governing body. Last fall, of the evocative piece. Waiting for Godot and others. as women. The play will be set in I met with the mayor.” The first question posed – “What The last original scene, one by senior ancient Rome. Although Mr. MacRitchie no longer protects our hearts?” – was answered Ross Pohling, was entitled, Apocollapse Rehearsals are twice a week begin- lives in Westfield – he is a Red Bank by the absurdly simplistic, “rib cage.” 2012. Set in an unsavory part of New ning in July, increasing during the resident – he wants to “contribute to the Nine players dressed in black leo- York City in the future, a homeless man last two weeks of August. Vacations community I grew up in.” tards and other midnight-colored cloth- interacts with an artist, a female, Wall are taken into account. Carolyn Freundlich for The Westfield Leader and The Times Mr. MacRitchie served on the ing acted out death, war, patriotism and Street executives, a mother and daugh- For more information, contact Joe BIRTH OF APGAR PARK...? A former Westfield councilman has requested that Westfield town council for five years many of the layers of those complex ter, two young women out on the town Penczak at the above green space at the end of Windsor Avenue, located approximately one- and the Union County Utilities Author- subjects. In this piece, which utilized and a few other stereotypical members [email protected] or quarter mile from Dr. Virginia Apgar’s former Westfield house at 549 Carleton ity in 1987. He is still active in the skills in acting and dancing, Dara clev- of society. (917) 299-5102. Road, be improved with park benches and named after the former Westfield community, with a vested interest in erly wove clichés to make them bounce The underlying theme that things are citizen, known as the founder of the medical specialty of neonatology. “proposing civic-minded things for the with freshness. out of control in the world was punctu- Stony Hill Players Columbia’s College of Physicians Sur- town of Westfield.” “Be thankful; count your blessings,” ated by America’s impending nuclear St. Helens Offers geons. He has been vigilant about changing chanted various actors. As the actors war with Russia. Through the collapse Conducting Auditions Dr. Apgar lived at 519 Charleston the name of Windsor Avenue Pocket formed a circle to entangle two or three of human civilization and the count- SUMMIT – Stony Hill Players of Summer Night of Song Street in Westfield; three generations of Park to Virginia Apgar Park because he actors inside the sphere, one lone teen down to our eventual death, the play- Summit are conducting auditions for WESTFIELD – Soprano Maureen Apgars resided there – her grandpar- hopes to “commemorate a great per- outside the circle told a poignant story wright asks, “Do we accept the path a November 2009 production of Gil- Francis, a Westfield resident, will be ents, her parents and eventually her. son, a great Westfielder and someone of an aspect of her life. laid out for us?” bert and Sullivan’s The Sorcerer. joined by Kyle Gonyea, baritone, and Located at the corner of Carleton Road who did a great service to humanity.” At the end of May, Dara, who is Again, in this play, clichés of “God is The auditions will be held on Sat- Kathryn Olander, piano, for an and Park Street, the house is one quarter dead” and “Sticks and stones will break urday, June 27, at 2 p.m. and Tuesday, evening of opera, light opera and of a mile from the Windsor Avenue my bones…” are given new life. The June 30, at 7:30 p.m. musical theatre classics to benefit Pocket Park. Kids Are In the Spotlight audience is encouraged to “stop think- For possible additional auditions, Helping Hands And Hearts as well as “The place is a mess,” said former ing and start living.” call (908) 464-6879 and leave a mes- The American Guild Of Musical Art- Westfield councilman Kenneth It is clear that these energetic, tal- sage. All auditions will be held at The ists (AGMA) Relief Fund. MacRitchie, referring to the park. “The At the 2009 Workshop ented WHS teens are doing both simul- Oakes Center, located at 120 Morris The event takes place on Sunday, need for park improvements is obvi- WESTFIELD – The 2009 Westfield grades 6 to 8 can work on character taneously. Avenue at Russell Place in Summit. June 28, at 7:45 p.m. at the St. Helen’s ous,” he said. Summer Workshop (WSW) gives development, timing, movement and Church in Westfield. The suggested For the past eight years, Mr. children the opportunity to explore dialogue as they write, direct and donation is $30. A wine reception MacRitchie has proposed detailed im- their talents in the many offerings of perform their own scripts. follows the concert. provements for the park, including the Drama and Theater Department. In the course Whose Line Is It? The concert will begin with arias changing its name from Windsor Av- Adventures in Drama encourages students in grades 4 to 8 can enjoy and duets from Rossini, Donizetti, enue Pocket Park to Dr. Virginia Apgar children, in grades 2 and 3, to enjoy acting and reacting to improvisational Bellini and Mozart operas followed Park. He chose Dr. Apgar because her acting out recited stories and poems situations as they create characters by a selection of light opera pieces 100th birthday just passed. in class. They will make props to and scenes responding to unscripted such as The Merry Widow, The New “She was born here, lived here and is accompany their scenes. cues. Moon, Rose-marie and Naughty buried in Fairview Cemetery,” he said. In Children’s Theater, participants The experience of being part of a Marietta. The second half begins songs Friday, June 7, 2009, would have been in grades 4 and 5 will learn acting full musical theater production awaits from Lerner and Lowe’s Camelot and her 100th birthday. “Naming it after her techniques, study scenes and develop aspiring actors, in grades 6 through My Fair Lady, continues with Rodgers will remind the community of its heri- characterization while they gain poise 12, who may enroll in the Summer and Hammerstein’s Carousel, Show- tage. Some important people have lived and confidence. Stage Theater. boat and South Pacific and ends with in Westfield who have done great things Also part of the department is Jun- This season these performers will Bernstein and Porter. for humanity.” ior Acting Workshop, where those in present the sci-fi musical spoof Little Shop of Horrors. With book and lyr- ics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken, this show will be di- rected by Kenneth M. Horn, with musical direction by Karen Greenstein and choreography by Irene Ulesky. Little Shop of Horrors will be presented on July 29 and 30. No audi- tion is needed to become part of the ‘BUCKING’ THE TREND…Westfield High School students who competed at cast. the Bucks County One Act Play Festival received 15 “Certificates of Excellence” In addition to the Drama and The- and claimed three of the six top honors, including Best Director Award to senior ater Department, the program in- Dara Silverman, on right, Best Supporting Actor Award to Bobby O’Rourke and cludes courses in arts, crafts, com- Best Actress to sophomore Colleen McCabe. munications, dance, music and spe- cial interests for students from pre- school to grade 8. Verdict Opens Free County Summer Concert Series COUNTY – The Union County July 8 – Mustang Sally (country); at Summer Arts Festival 2009 concert Oak Ridge Park. series begins a new season on Wednes- July 15 – Joe Arminio and The Fam- day evening, July 1, with a perfor- ily; at Echo Lake Park. mance by Verdict. The public is in- July 22 – The British Invasion Trib- vited to attend this free concert, which ute (rock); at Oak Ridge Park. begins at 7:30 p.m. in Echo Lake Park July 29 – Jobonanno and the God- in Mountainside. sons of Soul (rock); at Echo Lake Park. NOBODY COULD BEAT THE WIZ…2008 WSW Summer Stage The- Verdict is a group from Neptune. August 5 – Parrotbeach (Jimmy ater cast members presented four per- They started playing music together in Buffett tribute), free; at Oak Ridge formances of the funk-rock musical 1993, specializing in a large selection Park. Extra feature: 5th Annual “Party The Wiz. of reggae and calypso music. Verdict in the Park” to benefit Runnells Spe- returns to Echo Lake Park accompa- cialized Hospital (purchase tickets in Classes at the WSW are taught by nied by international recording star and advance); at Oak Ridge Park. professionals and degreed and certi- producer Roland Richards on keyboards August 12 – The Ed Palermo Big fied instructors. A registered nurse is and vocals for the opening of the Sum- Band with Rob Paparozzi (blues and on staff during regular workshop hours. mer Arts Festival concert series. jazz); at Echo Lake Park. The 2009 Westfield Summer The Union County information van August 19 – The Nerds (Jersey Shore Workshop, open to residents of all will be at the concert site to answer party band); at Oak Ridge Park, spon- communities, will be held from June questions and offer information about sored by the Union County Democratic 29 until July 31 at Edison Interme- interesting programs that are available Committee. diate School on Rahway Avenue in to Union County residents. August 26 – The Sensational Soul Westfield, from 8:30 a.m. until The Summer Arts Festival concerts Cruisers; at Echo Lake Park, sponsored 12:30 p.m. daily. are held throughout July and August on by the Union County Education Asso- Early morning drop-off and an Wednesdays beginning at 7:30 p.m. ciation. afternoon program in collaboration The location of this summer’s concerts In case of rain, concerts will be held with the Westfield Area “Y” are also will alternate each week between Echo at the air-conditioned auditorium at available. Lake Park in Mountainside and Oak Cranford High School, on West End For additional information on the Ridge Park in Clark. Lawn chairs, blan- Place off Springfield Avenue in 2009 Westfield Summer Workshop, kets and picnic baskets are encouraged. Cranford, at 7:30 p.m. For rain infor- a division of the New Jersey Work- Refreshments and snacks will be avail- mation, call the Union County Depart- shop for the Arts, call (908) 518- able from vendors. ment of Parks and Community Re- 1551, visit the NJWA studios at The other free concerts in the Union newal at (908) 558-4079 or visit the 150-152 East Broad Street or log on County Summer Arts Festival series Union County website at ucnj.org/ to njworkshopforthearts.com. include: parks/summerarts.html.