witwtb www.iti.com/recordpfws Serving Westfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood Vol. 21, No. 37 Friday, September 15, 2006 50 cents A SOMBER TRIBUTE TO LIVES LOST Rsvlt. decision is due Monday Facilities group endorses library, cafeteria project ByGMQMftJIX THE RECORD-PRESS WESTFIELD — What's the best measure of fairness? We Mfesflfctf Mjpr) School football How long should a less-than- team fought hard but could not ideal situation be allowed to overcome Linden in its home open- persist? And — perhaps most er Saturday. Scotch Plains- importantly — what will local Fanwood's football team fared bet- taxpayers agree to pay for? ter, beginning its season with a vic- Those were the questions tory overShabazz. For more on on the minds of Board of these two games, and for season Education members Tuesday previews of Westfield High School's night as they convened for cross country teams, see Sports, another discussion of a pro- Page C-1. posed renovation and expan- sion of Roosevelt Intermediate School. The board has already decided to ask local residents to author- ize about $6 million in bonds at a special referendum in January to pay for the cre- ation of an early childhood center at Lincoln School; that project would put the kinder- garten and pre-K classes in one location and thus free up The fifth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist more classroom space for attacks was marked with memorial ceremonies across grades 1-5 at the six local ele- the area. In Westfield, more than 100 residents gathered mentary schools. But board Monday night for an interfaith service at First United members must now also Methodist Church. Local clergy offered prayers on decide whether to ask voters 1H0 HMQMNNfc behalf of the attacks' victims and also those seeking to approve additional funds Matthew Viscidoand Michael peace In current war zones in Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel for upgrades at Roosevelt — Paglialunga made the walk to their and Palestine; one speaker said that In the midst of the and if so, how much money first day of kindergarten at attacks, God's presence waa in "the untold acts of brav- Westfield s Jefferson Elementary ery and compassion" performed by rescue workers snd School together last week. For more ordinary citizens. Above, Mary Jennings and her daugh- "How can you pictures from the first day of ter Olivia light candles In remembrance of Mary's broth* school, and to read about what ris- er Andy Alameno, a Weatfield resident, who worked for create more debt... ing first grade enrollment means for Csntor Fitzgerald and died on September 11th. Right, when we're still pay- Westfield, see Page A-8. after the service residents processed scross the street for a vigil at the town's memorial, where a wreath waa ing for the science laid and the names of the local victims were recited. wing at the high JOHN FEI/CORRESPONDENT school?" — Dolores Sherry should be asked for and how extensive those upgrades Proposed office building draws criticism should be. on the site. The brothers' construction At Tuesday's meeting, the Board members: Project is too 'intense' for small lot firm would occupy at least one of the board's Facilities Committee board's objections or make amendments floors, and the other might be rented out endorsed the most compre-! to the plan; it's possible the property to a local attorney or realtor, he said. hensive version of the project, THE RECORD-PRESS owner will scrap the proposed office Even before Monday's meeting, the which calls for renovating the SCOTCH PLAINS — About 20 resi- building and ask for permission to build proposal had met with criticism from school's hallways and stair- dents from the Jersey Avenue neighbor- a residential structure instead. the board's consultants. Engineer Tom wells, enclosing the breeze- hood came out to Monday night's Depending on the course of action, the Quinn filed a report stating that "vehicle way that connects the old and He's got game Planning Board meeting, ready to hearing could be transferred to the circulation... appears to be very prob- new wings and expanding protest the proposed construction of an Board of Adjustment. lematic" and adding, "It would appear both the cafeteria and library. Westfield resident Eric Hewitt is a office building on an undersized lot near The lot in question, 2376 South Ave., that the proposed development is too That project, which haB also rising star in the burgeoning field of their homes. is a vacant, triangular, treed property at intense for this location." In her report, been endorsed by top district professional video gaming. Read The residents didn't get a chance to the corner of Jersey Avenue, across the planner Mary Moody also said the build- administrators, carries an about Hewitt's expertise at "Halo 2" address the board — but as far as street from a facility owned by Union ing was out of place, noting that "Jersey estimated price tag of $3.2 in Community Life, Page B-1. they're concerned, that may not be a bad County and near the Westfield border. Avenue is the entrance to a well-estab- million. thing. The hearing was halted after less Though the property is located in a busi- lished residential neighborhood of well- The board is also consider- than an hour of testimony when board ness zone and abuts a gas station, there maintained residential dwellings." ing smaller versions of the members made it clear they were not are numerous homes in close proximity. At the hearing, Villane said the plans project, including just the about to approve the proposal. Don Villane, one of the principals in for the proposed building were modeled hallway and stairway renova- The applicant, D. Villane the construction firm, said the property closely off a structure that sits on a sim- tions ($1.1 million) or the ren- Construction, asked that the hearing be has been in his family for three genera- ilar property not far down the road — ovations and an expansion of carried until the board's Oct. 11 meet- tions; he and his brother David were the law offices of Darin D. Pinto, at only the cafeteria ($2.2 mil- ing. Between now and then, the appli- seeking permission to construct a two- lion). The board could also cant will either prepare responses to the story, 1,600-square foot office building {Continued on page A-2) choose not to add the Experience Expo Roosevelt project to the The JCC of Central NJ, located at upcoming referendum. But 1391 Marline Aw. in Scotch Plains, board members must make a will host its annual "Experience Town: New traffic light working smoothly decision at a special meeting next Monday night in order to Expo" from 11 a.m.-3p.m. Sunday. By OREO MARX The next step to be undertaken is an Members and non-members are evaluation of whether the new light give state officials enough invited to sample the JCC's pro- THE RECORD-PRESS should be synchronized with the traffic time to review the proposal gram offerings and enjoy a free WESTFIELD — The fountains in signal at East Broad and Elm streets. At and get it on the ballot in brunch. Immediately following the Mindowaskin Park... the steeple of the one point Tuesday night, a driver turn- January. Expo, the JCC will host a free chil- Presbyterian Church... and the officer ing north from Elm onto East Broad had Amortized over 20 years at dren's concert featuring Alex & the directing traffic at East Broad Street to wait at a green light because traffic current interest rates, the Kaleidoscope Band. and Central Avenue. waa backed up to the intersection. Lincoln School renovations One of these familiar images is no Said Gildea, "It's going to be awhile would amount to $45 per year more, as the new traffic signals at the before we really know how {the new sig- on a home assessed at the intersection of East Broad, Central and nal) works." And getting all the details local average of $180,000, Mountain Avenue finally become opera- fine-tuned is a challenge, he said, said Business Administrator tional about two weeks ago. And though Early evening traffic moves along East because "the volume of traffic that goes Bob Berman. When the entire a few tweaks to the new system have Broad Street In downtown Weatfield, through there on a daily basis is off the Roosevelt School project is Commentary A-6 already been made and a few more may where a new traffic signal regulates charts." added in, the annual cost be needed, local officials say the transi- the Intersections at Central and Stiir, he agreed with Parizeau that rises to about $69 on the Community Life B-1 tion is going smoothly. Mountain avenuea. traffic has been running smoothly since average home, he said. "So far, it's been working good," said traveling to and from schoql. the signal became operational. "It's been Though no vote was taken Sports C-1 Police Chief John Parizeau. "Everyone In the first few days after the light very positive so far." Tuesday night, five of the I've talked to downtown likes it." became operational, the town did In addition to the new traffic light, nine board members spoke in Prime Time B-2 Parizeau said he continued to assign receive some complaints, especially the town made several traffic-related Tavor of the full $3.2 million an officer to the intersection until about traffic backing up on Central moves this week.