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y Union County^ L o c alSource FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2013_________________________________________ UNIONNEWSDAILY.COM_______________________________________ VOL. 96 NO. 51 50 CENTS Violence, bullying down in most schools By Cheryl Hehl passed in January 2011, the 2012-2013 school year repre­ also could reflect the impact of local school policies and Staff Writer sents the second full year districts reported several of these programs addressing violence, vandalism, substance abuse The state released the annual school violence and van­ offenses in a separate category. and bullying. dalism report this month showing a downward trend of The Public School Safety Law passed in 1982 required New Jersey State Education Commissioner Chris Cerf reported incidents statewide. the commissioner of education to file an annual report said in a statement he was pleased to see positive trends In fact, in some towns the number of harassment, intim­ detailing the extent of violence and vandalism in the states this year, noting that safe and secure learning environ­ idation and bullying incidents dropped significantly over public schools. Districts are required to report incidents ments “are a crucial part of preparing kids for college and previous years. that occur on school grounds during school hours, on a career.” The report is produced each year by the New Jersey school bus or at school sponsored events. “We have invested significant time to providing support Department of Education based on statistics that school While the violence and vandalism report communicated and coaching to districts to reduce incidents of bullying and districts share on reported incidents of violence, vandal­ the changes in self-reported incidents from year to year, the other forms of violence,” Cerf noted. ism, weapon offenses, substance offences, harassment, and report, however, does not identify the reasons for the Part of that training included providing four training intimidation and bullying. changes. sessions for anti-bullying coordinators and specialists from With the enactment of the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights The state stressed that these changes from year to year See, DISTRICTS, Page 8 Teachers union, > *' 1 ’I 'flWW Board of EdEd. ■■■ r* share anger over contract negotiations By Cheryl Hehl Staff Writer CLARK - If there was one thing teach­ ers in the Clark School district wanted for Christmas it was for their union contracts to be wrapped up once and for all. It’s a good thing no one counted on that package arriving in the nick of time. The three-year teacher contracts expired June 30, but neither side has been able to come to a meeting of the minds as of yet. In fact, the issue became a bone of con­ tention in November when teachers, par­ ents and the board of education aired their feelings on the matter. Clark Education Association President Chris Taillefer, a teacher at Kumpf Elemen­ tary School, approached the microphone, accused the board of stalling the negotia­ tions to date and pointing out that the CEA thought the contracts were settled in August. “But here we are Nov. 12 and we have no deal,” he said, adding that teachers were still working. “I know that this has happened before and we have gone this far into the school Photo By David VanDeventer year without a contract and you would EPIC BATTLE CONTINUES IN RAHWAY — The Snow Miser and the Heat Miser have certainly been at qdds lately. Just think we would know better, because it when residents thought they might have a white Christmas, the Heat Miser jumped in as temperatures reached doesn’t benefit any of us,” Taillefer said to recorcl highs in some areas across the county. The snow is nearly all but gone, and despite the best efforts of the Snow Miser, temperatures in the upper 60s have turned any chance of snow into heavy rains, fog and humidity. See CLARK, Page 11 2 — December 27, 2013 — Union County LocalSource B U Y G O O D 1 LOOK 4 DAY AFTER HOLIDAY EVENT THURSDAY THRU SUNDAY MINS BieWIVTI MBIIS SiQWOUT! Sweaters • Dresses Denim Jeans « Casual Pants Fashion Boots Activewear & More 1 0 •K U BltWMTI * Fashion Jeans • Sweaters • Dresses • Fashion Fleece Infant & Todder 2-Piece Sets • Ballet Flats & More m i s niowaan » Polos • Fashion Thermals • Long Sleeve Wovens • Denim Jeans Sweaters • Fleece Tops & Pants • Fleece Hoodies • Twill Pants & More ■■■ — COUPON* ■ — Worrell 1 I NOW THRU NEW YEAR’S DAY! I 1 _________ I ANYONE New Year ___ ___ ITEM I 'M axim um discount $10. Up to $20 ticketed price. 1 item only. 1 per customer. Coupon must be presented to cashier to receive discount Cannot be combined with other offers. Not valid on gift certificates or layaway. Fresh Hem Fashions % Cannot be used on previous purchases Valid now through 1/1/1 4 a t all Forman M ills. 1AIE lAf Il_i_ VIEW ER B E U N D ER SO LD ___EWER ! Totowa, NJ East Orange, NJ Elizabeth, NJ Bronx, NY 670 Union Blvd. Main & S. Harrison 647 Newark Ave. 156th & Third Ave. YoufllS 973-785-3118 973-677-7163 908-353-0100 646-224-0575 1.800.994.MILLS • formanmills.com • FRI-SAT 9AM-9:30PM • SUN 9AM-8PM • MON 9AM-9:30PM • NEW YEAR’S EVE 7AM-8PM • NEW YEAR’S DAY 9AM-9:30PM • THURS 9AM-9:30PM Union County LocalSource — December 27, 2013 — 3 County to begin deer hunt in January Nomahegan Park, Passaic River Park, Watchung Reservation among parks to be closed for hunt By Cheryl Hehl hunters, along with the Ash Brook Reservation in Clark and “The hunters who participate in the program are very Staff Writer Scotch Plains, which previously hosted hunts by a private responsible members of the community, have been careful­ If hunting is something you enjoy, the county recently contractor and hunting club. ly selected based on their experience in hunting deer and authorized a free deer hunt in local parks on Mondays At the request of Linden, the county will administer and have successfully passed a marksmanship test adminis­ starting in early January. However, not just anyone can coordinate a deer management activity in conjunction with tered by the Union County Police,” he said, adding that pick up a rifle and join the hunt. a shared service at the city’s Hawk Rise Sanctuary. “deer management is extremely important to maintaining The resolution approved by the freeholder board contin­ All costs for the deer management hunts will be borne the safety of our residents and their property.” ues the annual deer removal effort as a solution to over­ by the county and individual hunters. However, according According to information obtained from the county, the population. The actual hunt will take place on Mondays to Union County Public Information Director Sebastian deer population has increased significantly requiring the starting Jan. 6 and ending Feb. 3 and comes at no cost to D’Elia, there will be no cost to the taxpayers of the involved need to bring down the population to levels that are more hunters, who must be marksmen selected by and acting as municipalities. All harvested deer will be transported to a in balance with the ecosystems, or 20 deer per square mile agents of the county. secure site within the Union County Park System, county or less. Approximately 40 licensed hunters were selected to If it happens to rain on a Monday, the hunt could be officials explained, where agents will eviscerate the deer participate in the hunt, all who demonstrated proficiency in moved to a Wednesday or Friday that week, so going for a and complete reports on the age, sex and weight. But marksmanship. However, the hunt is not intended to pro­ walk in Lenape Park, located in Cranford, Kenilworth, hunters can keep the carcasses of the deer they shoot, vide sport or recreational opportunities. Springfield and Union might be out on those days. which is expected to be about 50 percent of the kill. According to the county, the number of hunters used If Nomahegan Park is a favorite jogging place, that too Hunters can butcher their own deer or have it processed by and number of days of the operation are based on remov­ has been included in this year’s hunt. Hunters will be in the a butcher contracted by the county, at the hunter’s expense, ing 75 deer from the Watchung Reservation, 75 deer from parks from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m. in separate morning and and at a price negotiated by the county: Lenape and Nomahegan parks, eight deer from Passaic evening shifts, but shooting will only occur during daylight It is expected that about half the venison coming from River Park in Summit, 50 deer from Ash Brook Reservation hours, which is defined as a half hour before dawn and after these hunts will be used to feed the needy and homeless and 15 from Hawk Rise Sanctuary in Linden sunset. through the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. Hunters will be required to purchase their own permit Passaic River Park in Summit, the Watchung Reserva­ Although many local hunters might want to participate for the zones they will hunt and anyone desiring to target tion, located in parts of Summit, Mountainside, Berkeley in the month long event, D’Elia said there are tight restric­ an antlered buck must also buy an additional special per­ Heights, Springfield and Scotch Plains will also be open to tions on who will be allowed into the program. mit. Linden considers hiring a business administrator Mayor says change is neccesary for position By Cheryl Hehl Staff Writer LINDEN - Does Linden need a municipal business administrator? A recent ad hoc com­ mittee seemed to think so and unanimously recommended creating the position, echoing what another committee said 43 years ago.

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