Recreation Commission Proposes $3-Mil. Upgrade at Memorial Pool by MARIA WOEHR 7 Meeting, Mr
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Remember D-Day: June 6, 1944 Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, June 7, 2007 OUR 117th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 23-2007 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Recreation Commission Proposes $3-Mil. Upgrade at Memorial Pool By MARIA WOEHR 7 meeting, Mr. Kaufmann said. Recreation Department. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Memorial Pool opened this past The commission also discussed WESTFIELD – The Westfield Rec- weekend. To date, 2,383 residents Houlihan Field. Resident Donna reation Commission announced at have signed up for the pool, officials Panagas said, “It needs to be cleaned its meeting Monday night that it said. up. It looks like a dump; like it’s been would request that the stripped down.” town council look at a “It is one of our $3-million project bud- things our maintenance get proposal for reno- guys have on their list vations to the Memo- to do. We are in the rial Pool. process of discussing Recreation officials the replanting of the said the pool-renova- soccer fields and pos- tions proposal includes sible changes,” Mr. alterations to the large Kaufmann said. pool that would add Officials said that a more steps, allow it to clay conditioner has be used for swim meets, been added to Gumbert create a ramp for handi- Field to help the fields Karen Clarkson for The Westfield Leader cap accessibility and be more playable when STRIKE A POSE...Couples line up at the Kieczykowski home before heading to Westfield High School’s Junior-Senior add a jet pool by push- it rains. The condi- Prom at the Pines Manor in Edison. Pictured, left to right, are: Chrissie Isabella, Adam Rubin, Stephanie Cortinhal, Peter ing the pool out towards tioner, called Turf Face, Rucinsky, Tracy Dalton, Malcolm Allen, Erica Ammermuller, Andy Brill, Gillian Kape, Vince Clark, Jacqui Snyder, Josh the bathrooms. absorbs moisture and Bornstein, Meredith Kender and Jack Trimble. For additional prom photos, visit goleader.com/photos. Officials said renova- helps fields dry quicker tions to the kiddie pool Maria Woehr for The Westfield Leader after the rain. would include misters UPGRADING TOWN POOL…Westfield Recreation Director Bruce In addition, the Kaufmann shows an artist’s rendering of the $3-million improvements ‘Mad Hatter’ Bank Robber Extends in the form of palm trees for the Memorial Pool facility to members of recreation commission commission dis- and other designs, as during Monday night’s commission meeting. At right is a picture of the cussed the condition well as a shaded and improvement plan for Memorial Park. of the tennis courts at Streak to 17 With Montclair Heist seated area for parents Tamaques Park. Two with toddlers. Registration for summer programs years after renovations, the courts By ALLISON GIBBONS merce Bank on 560 North Avenue In total so far, the robber has netted “The council will be looking at the began on June 1. So far 350 kids have are cracking. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader East, Police Chief John Parizeau said around $65,000, Ms. Walsh said. “Sixty- proposal on June 12. Bids for the signed up for the summer camps, “These courts should not be AREA – With another robbery last plainclothes detectives may be inside five thousand (dollars) for 17 robberies project should be out by next week,” bringing in $2,800. “Registration has cracked,” commission member Jim Friday in Montclair, the robber the bank at various times. isn’t that successful,” she said. said Recreation Director Bruce been slow so far,” said Tracy Kastner, Marvin said. “We should look into dubbed the “Mad Hatter” has ex- “We are giving the Commerce ex- On average, the robber has netted Kaufmann. program director for the Westfield the warranty.” tended his disappearing act. tra attention just because of this $3,823.53 for each of the 17 robber- Since the commission does not Since September 2006, the Mad gentleman’s preference for that,” he ies, but most of his hits have only know how much the project will Hatter has hit 17 banks up and down said. gotten him around $2,000, authori- cost at this time, officials said the Route 124, spanning Morris to Union Patrols around all of the banks in ties said. commission would ask for the maxi- Counties. Thus far, police have been the area, however, have been in- Other attempts have been made to mum price to renovate Memorial baffled by his ability to hide in plain creased, he said. catch the Mad Hatter, including the Pool. sight, with only grainy images of the Westfield – much like Cranford use of dye packs and security cam- “We had two diagrams of the kiddie suspect captured on security cam- and Fanwood, which also have Com- eras. Thus far, he has mostly man- area, and half chose one and half eras. merce Banks – is taking as many aged to avoid the security cameras, chose the other,” Mr. Kaufmann said. While he has hit more than eight measures as possible to ensure the authorities said. “Depending on the cost of the project, banks in Union County, including ones robberies do not continue. The dye packs were more success- we will know what we can spend for in Springfield and Union, the Mad Lending a greater police presence ful; in the two most recent robberies the spray-park area.” Hatter has yet to strike in Westfield. outside of Commerce Banks, “offic- in Woodbridge and Montclair, dye The $3-million cost would largely Described as a white, middle-aged ers have been directed to park in the lot packs exploded as he escaped. be determined on the price of steel man in his 40s or 50s, he seems to during quiet times,” Chief Parizeau In the Montclair case, the Mad and other materials needed to build prefer Commerce Banks – 13 of the said. Hatter was forced to dump some of the park, according to Mr. Kauffman. 17 robberies have occurred at these Surrounding counties also have the money soaked in red dye down a The commission will meet in July to branches. The Mad Hatter earned his been communicating any informa- storm drain. Ms. Walsh said she did discuss the bids, and the bid may be moniker from his affinity for hats. tion they receive through a task force, CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 awarded at the town council’s August During every robbery he has worn a Union County Assistant Prosecutor different one, ranging from a Yankees Eileen Walsh said. baseball cap to a fisherman’s hat. “Everyone is supposed to be shar- WF Council Unanimously GETTING OUT THE VOTES...Westfield Third Ward candidate for council Westfield Police Department (WPD) ing,” Ms. Walsh said. Matt Sontz receives support from all ages during a party to kick off his campaign officials said they are taking extra Chief Parizeau said the WPD does last Sunday. Pictured, left to right, are: Lillian Sontz, Mr. Sontz, young Maxwell measures to make sure the Mad Hatter receive information from a multi- Adopts $2.7-Mil. Cap. Budget Rotter, Westfield Democratic Party Chair Ken Rotter and Sharon Stockwell. does not strike in Westfield. Along county task force that was established By MICHAEL J. POLLACK $31,345 for municipal prosecutor Chris- with extra patrols outside of the Com- to catch the Mad Hatter. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader tine Nugent, $14,560 for municipal WESTFIELD – The town council defender Michael Panagos, $11,959 WF Democrats Select Full conducted a public hearing on and for planning board legal counsel Russ unanimously passed its $2.7-million Finestein and $12,451 for the board of capital budget, while two council adjustment counsel Vince Loughlin. Committee At Primary members voted against a measure Before the actual business of the By JENNA NIERSTEDT cumbent Nicholas Scutari of Linden, that would increase yearly attorney meeting, Mayor Andy Skibitsky pre- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader who received about 80 percent of the rates. sented a certificate of appreciation to AREA — Tuesday’s state, county Democratic vote to challenger William Various road improvements con- Helen and Peter Rentoulis, co-own- and municipal primary elections in Campbell’s 19.86 percent, according stitute just less than half of the bud- ers of Vicki’s Diner in Westfield. Union County state legislative dis- to the Union County Clerk’s website. get, at $1.3 million. Public works Mrs. Rentoulis contacted authorities tricts 20, 21 and 22 produced fairly The General Assembly write-in can- equipment accounts for just shy of 8 after noticing a regular customer “not expected results in the Democratic didate, Republican activist Robert percent of the budget, at $206,000, coming in as frequently” and appearing and Republican party lines, as most Gatto of North Plainfield, took the with police department expenses to- “disheveled,” the mayor said. Accord- races ran without competitive slates. vacancy on Republican fall ticket with taling just under $145,000. ing to published reports, she notified Voter turnout hit 13.54 percent, ac- 234 votes and will run alongside Bryan The council also set salaries for police after the 88-year-old man, who cording to the Union County Clerk’s Des Rochers against incumbent Demo- certain employees of the police, fire is legally blind, mentioned that new website, in part because so many of crats Linda Stender of Fanwood and and public works departments, in people were handling his finances. the races featured unchallenged can- Jerry Green of Plainfield. addition to non-union employees. Because of Mrs. Rentoulis’s “de- didates.