Om Bank Seeks Branch in Westfield •TMUD Ances for Approval
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t-4 I. Q -J h- _J ; a I -t Q: u c »- r. >X' •v i&HQt -( Serving Westfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood Vol. 19, No. 5 Friday, January 30, 2004 50 cents in INSID om Bank seeks branch in Westfield •TMUD ances for approval. In its application, the company present- of this, the report argues that peak storm THE RECORD-PRESS The town's land use ordinance doea not ed a traffic study by Atlantic Traffic and and water runoff rates will be decreased permit parking or paving in the front Design Engineers, Inc. of Watchung. The and that a detention basin is not required WESTFIELD — Commerce Bank is yard, and Commerce seeks a variance study, consisting of traffic counts and a or proposed. seeking to construct a drive-through facil- which would permit it to construct park- review of future traffic conditions, found Attempts to reach a Commerce ity on North Avenue East, and the bank's ing in the front yard. Also, the company that the proposed Commerce Bank will spokesperson were unsuccessful. proposal and site plan will be considered needs a variance to allow it to increase not significantly impact traffic conditions Commerce has opened a number of by the Planning Board at its regular meet- illumination beyond the level permitted in in the vicinity of the site. branches in Union County in recent years, ing Monday night. the land use ordinance. Also, a drainage summary conducted by and now has facilities in Scotch Plains, The construction plan requires the Commerce also requires a number of Bohler Engineering of Watchung on behalf Fanwood, and Cranford. demolition of several masonry buildings variances related to its signage. The free- of Commerce Bank found that the storm At Monday's meeting, the board is also on the south side of North Avenue. At 552- standing sign proposal is larger than per- water piping system for the site was ade- scheduled to hear applications for two 556 and 560 North Avenue, Commerce mitted in the zone, as are the wall signs. quately sized to collect and convey water minor subdivisions. proposes to landscape the property, and Commerce also faces several variances runoff from the site. The report noted that The owners of a property at 606 construct a 3,669-square foot facility with related to pre-existing, nonconfornnng the application proposes to decrease Cumberland St, seek to create two new four drive-through windows. The applica- conditions related to front and side yard impervious, or paved, coverage on the lot tion before the board requires several vari- setbacks. from 96.8 percent to 56.6 percent. Because (Continued on page A-2) Say uncle! C/u/to fiwc/'s p/n of Jesse Milara helped propel Scotch Plains- Board is Township Fanwood to an exciting 32-24 victo- Climbing up the beanstalk ry over county rival Roselle Park Saturday night. The win puts the unnerved to remain Raiders in the driver's seat for the Union County title. See Sports, PageC-1. by Marine involved recruiters with SLAP •yWUDMSHOP program THE HECORD-PRESS SCOTCH PLAINS — Recruitment practices by the THE RECORD-PRESS armed forces may have become SCOTCH PLAINS — The too aggressive for some parents Township Council introduced an and members of the Board of ordinance to continue Scotch Education. At the board's regular Plains' involvement in the Union meeting Jan. 22, members dis- County Sheriff's Labor cussed the issue with Scotch Assistance Program (SLAP) at Stutffltts'aftorts Plains-Fanwood High School its regular meeting Tuesday. Principal David Heisey. The program, now in its third Mi ND$ victims Heisey said that in accordance year of existence in the township, with the National Defense makes non-violent offenders The seventh-graders in Anne Cohen's Education Act, a provision available for various community art classes at Westfield's Roosevelt attached to the No Child Left service-related jobs. Intermediate School have been quilt- Behind legislation, schools are The agreement is a shared Jng for a cause this marking period. now required to provide the services initiative which involves The quilts the students created will names, telephone numbers, and Union County, the Union County be donated to charities that aid the home addresses of high school Sheriff's Office, Scotch Plains, families of children and infants infect- juniors and seniors to military Westfield, and Clark. Workers ed with HIV and AIDS. See the story recruiters. Parents who want made available for the program onPageB-1. that information to remain pri- divide their time evenly between the three municipalities. The SLAP program provides a "They are not providing Sheriffs officer and a daily aver- information, they are age of six SLAP workers five browbeating (young peo- days a week. Each participating municipality receives the service ple)." of the program's workers for two — Betty Anne Woerner The Scotch weeks at a time for each town Plains Library over a 12-month schedule. Board of Education hosted a pro- Workers participating in the member duction of the program typically perform light classic story labor such as litter pick-up, "Jack and the stream cleaning, or other jobs vate must sign an opt-out form Beanstalk" for which become necessary in the indicating that they wish that local children township. Participating workers information to remain private, on Saturday. Performances have typically been convicted of Prior to No Child Left Behind, certain motor vehicle violations personal information about high from the Youth Stages including some instances of DWI, school students was not available ensemble of if major injuries or damage were to military recruiters unless it Princeton not associated with the convic- was actively provided by stu- came to town tion. Violent criminals convicted dents. The information remained to put on a of sex offenses or weapons Mst Unit call her private due to the Family Privacy show and charges cannot participate in the Act. delight the program. t prlma dtnna Heisey said parents have kids. The program costs Scotch become more concerned about Plains, Westfield, and Clark a Christina Marios, a 1996 graduate of recruitment practices in the high Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, total of $38,298, or $12,766 for school, particularly among each municipality. Officials said is a rising talent in the opera world. Marine Corps recruiters. While The singer takes the stage Saturday that the majority of the costs are at Carnegie Hall, where she will par- all branches of the military related to the necessity of a recruit students at the high JOHN FEI/CORRESPONDENT ticipate in a master class led by opera (Continued on page A-2) legend Marilyn Home. See the story school about once a year, Heisey on Page A-3. said the Marines visit the school • approximately five to eight times per year. Occasionally, representatives Maintenance work continues at Town meeting from the Marines participate in REMINDER physical education classes, pro- viding special instruction as part is cancelled of their Youth Physical Fitness Scotch Hills; fees will rise slightly WESTFIELD — More than Take a trip program. Many schools across six inches of snow fell on central By BRAD BISHOP FTF Construction of Warren annual membership will Union County Tuesday night the state participate in the was awarded the job of replacing increase from $35 to $40, with to the 60s Marine fitness program, while THE RECORD-PRESS into Wednesday, closing schools the clubhouse windows. member's greens fees increasing and canceling the Town Council's "Welcome to the 60s," the 56th others endorse the Presidential SCOTCH PLAINS — Scotch "The country club functions as from $12 to $15. Fitness Program. Scotch Plains- Tuesday conference meeting. show from the parents, teachers and Hills Country Club is slated for a more than a club house," Marks Non-members will pay $22 for Members of the council had staff of Westfield's Washington Fanwood High School is not affil- new round of maintenance, as explained, noting that the club greens fees this year, a four dol- iated with either. been scheduled to receive a pres- School, takes the stage this week- the Township Council approved house is a historic building and lar increase from last year's fee entation from representatives of end, Performances are 8 p.m. Recruiters from the Marines an ordinance to replace the club- serves as a meeting hall for sen- of$18. the library. tonight at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday at also set up informational tables house windows at its regular ior citizens and is also used for Ordinances associated with Also on the agenda was a pro- Roosevelt Intermediate School. For in the high school from time to meeting Tuesday night. various meetings and banquets both the window improvements posed ordinance to raise the more, see Page B-1. time, Heisey said that recruiters "The windows were in bad for township residents. Marks and the membership and greens town's demolition application never appear at the school unan- shape. Some wouldn't open, and added that new windows should fees increases will be heard for fees. Pending rule changes by the nounced, but instead are given some wouldn't close," said make the club house more ener- final reading at the council's reg- state's Council on Affordable permission to set up their opera- Councilwoman Nancy Malool at gy efficient and comfortable. ular meeting Feb. 10. The meet- Housing may increase the town's tions after making a formal the meeting. Membership and greens fees ing is open to the public. affordable housing obligations, request to the school. The council approved $9,850 at the country club will be ris- While the course remains and could result in retroactive Typically, the Marines are told to replace windows in the club- ing, though not because of the popular, last year's rainy sum- charges for demolitions.