Ghost hunting Members of Beyond the Grave, a paranormal investigation group, searched the Rahway cemetery for ghosts this month. Page B1 LINDEN, N.J WWW.LOCALSOURCE.COM 75 CENTS VOL. 90 NO. 11 THURSDAY MARCH 22, 2007 Two-way traffic drives questions Course on history of By Kitty Wilder effects of redevelopment projects cur­ aligning Irving with Fulton Street, Rahway offered Managing Editor rently under way downtown, but not improving the poor visibility at the Rahway’s Division of Senior RAHWAY— City Council mem­ the most recent and largest redevelop­ intersection of Irving Street and East Services will offer a new program, bers considered a plan March 13 to re­ ment undertaking, the Rahway Town Milton Avenue. “A History of Rahway” by Rahway establish two-way traffic on Irving Center project proposed for the cur­ The realignment would require historian and author Alexander and Main streets. rent site of City Hall. construction beginning about 300 feet Shipley. Maurice Rached, an engineer with The project had not come before before the Irving and East Milton This unique eight-week program Maser Consulting, recommended sev­ the Redevelopment Agency when the intersection to shift the road toward will focus on different aspects of eral changes to traffic patterns in the study was complete in late 2005. the train station plaza, eventually Rahway history and the people who downtown area, including a return to a On Tuesday, Rached told council meeting Fulton, Rached said. made it. The class is for Rahway two-way pattern. Irving and Main members that a two-way traffic pat­ The realignment, if approved by adults ages 55 and up. Registration streets have been one-way since 1941. tern would slow drivers by eliminating council, would have to wait until con­ is required. Rached studied traffic in the down­ the “highway perception” created by a struction concluded at the Carriage Classes will be at the Rahway town business district at the request of one-way pattern. City Hotel and Tower at the corner of Public Library on Thursdays from the city’s Redevelopment Agency. The new pattern would have mini­ Irving and East Milton. 10 to 11:30 a.m. starting April 12 The engineer examined traffic wait mal effects on efficiency, Rached said, For several weeks, Irving Street and ending June 7. Class will not time, speed, safety conditions and sig- adding, “In my opinion, it doesn’t has been reduced to one lane leading meet May 24. Registration is at the Photo By Barbara Kokkalis nalization under one-way and a two­ have any negative effects on traffic.” up the intersection to accommodate Rahway Senior Center, 1306 Ester­ A pedestrian crosses Main Street in Rahway where city way systems. He also considered the Other recommendations included See POLICE, Page 2 brook Ave., Rahway. For more officials are considering a two-way traffic pattern. information, call the Rahway Senior Center at 732-827-2016. School raises money with fashion show Head Linden Franklin School in Rahway will host a children’s fashion show March 29 at 7 p.m. to raise money of the for an Early Childhood jungle gym race for students. Individuals and organizations interested in supporting this venture class through monetary and/or product is on donations should call Paula Braxton Alum becomes at 732-396-1050. Donors will be mentioned in a program distributed teacher at ACHS Candidates at the event. By Dan Burns Staff Writer square off Family contributes to ROSELLE — Four years ago, community fund Abraham Clark High School senior By Dan Burns Staff Writer As part of this grand opening Luis Vazquez was carrying textbooks LINDEN — The Board of Educa­ Ashley Furniture has donated through the halls at ACHS. Now he tion candidate’s night at the Linden $5,000 to the mayor’s Community carries the teacher’s edition. Elks Thursday revealed one consistent Fund, established to support worth­ Vazquez, a 2002 ACHS graduate, truth about the candidates. They have while causes that are indigenous to is one of the school’s brightest young more similarities than differences. Linden. The home furnishing store math teachers. He learned the teaching All nine candidates like the idea of was recently opened by the Schafer ropes at Kean University and has no random drug testing of students. Eight family. problem explaining mathematic con­ of the nine are in favor of the proposed “It is always a pleasure to have a cepts, but on his first day of work he Photo By Barbara Kokkalis school uniform policy at School 9 and quality store open their doors in Lin­ couldn’t shake the memory of being a Luis Vazquez, a 2002 graduate of Abraham Clark High School, now teaches at ACHS. making teachers pay for part of their den, but couple that with having an student there four short years ago. health benefits, with one candidate in owner like the Schafer family who “At first it was a tough adjust­ dents. He’s very funny. He’ll under­ behaved and more diligent when he ceed. He was interested in the subject each case saying they weren’t sure yet. truly care about the community in ment,” Vazquez said. “Once I walked stand things that other teachers can’t,” graduated from high school. and focused,” Fischer said. “He’s All candidates listed improving Lin­ which they do business, and it in I still had that mentality of ‘wow, I Quinn Croom, 15, said. “He can make “The kids don’t show the same grown into a very respectable young den’s test scores as one of their goals. equates to a double win for our was just here four years ago.’ I still something seem easy by making it level of respect. A lot of them don’t man.” The debate was held as part of the city,” Gerbounka said. saw all of my former teachers as seem fun.” take school seriously,” Vazquez said. Vazquez was never an A-student. teachers, not as colleagues,” Irene Calamito, 17, also embraces “I want to show them that this is seri­ He worked hard for the Bs and B plus­ Linden Citizen’s Association meeting. More than 100 people attended. Mod­ Adopt a pet in Linden Vazquez grew from that jittery Vazquez’s light-hearted attitude. “He’ll ous. You can do something good with es that usually appeared on his report young teacher into a confident one goof around, but he knows when to your life.” cards and that’s something he tries to erator Daniel Roberts consolidated Adoption hours at the Friends of during the past seven months. He is take it seriously,” Calamito said. Vazquez decided he wanted to be a get his students to do. questions from the association’s mem­ Linden Animal Shelter are Monday particularly good at getting through to Henricka Jean-Louis, 15, had prob­ math teacher when he was a student at “Some kids think, ‘I’m not a bership and asked eight of them. to Friday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; week­ students who put in adequate effort, lems understanding her math home­ Leonard V. Moore Middle School. He straight-A student. I can’t be anything Mothers Deborah Smith-Bennett, ends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; or by but are still struggling. work so she wasn’t getting good had a string of good math teachers at in life,’ Vazquez said. “I tell them I Lisa Ormon and Dawn Beviano are appointment. Plenty of cats, kittens, Vazquez teaches Algebra I and grades. For a short period of time, she L.V. Moore and ACHS that reinforced wasn’t either and I’m here making a running as a team. dogs and puppies are looking for Geometry to ninth through 12th stopped paying attention in class. his decision. difference.” Peter Brown, Leonard Williams and good homes. graders. After school, he runs the Then she went to homework help with “They made it so easy to under­ Vazquez smiles often in school and Bryan Tomko are also running as a slate. Friends of Linden Animal Shel­ ACHS homework help program. Vazquez. stand. I thought, ‘I could see myself says he’s happy with his lot in life at Incumbents Nicholas Nigro and ter Inc., a non-profit volunteer The homework help program is “Now I’m doing well in math,” doing this one day,” Vazquez said. the moment. Susan Hudak and newcomer Bryan organization. available for all students. Vazquez Jean-Louis said. One of those teachers was current “This is where I envisioned myself Heasman DaCruz are running inde­ helps them will all subjects, not just Vazquez believes he can relate to ACHS principal Nathan Fischer, going. I feel like I can make a differ­ pendently. math. Students in the program said many of the students because he is whom Vazquez had when Fischer was ence here,” Vazquez said. School 9 mother Dawn Beviano they have fun when they come to the close to their age, but even after four a math teacher at L.V. Moore in 1997. Dan Burns can be reached at 908­ said she believes parents who current­ program in the cafeteria after school. years, he notices a generational differ­ “Luis was always the type of stu­ 686-7700, ext. 120, or theprogress@the- ly have children in school should be “He’s really good with helping stu­ ence. He thinks students were better dent who did what he had to do to suc­ localsource.com. See FORUM, Page 11 New policies bring healthier options to students This is Part 3 of a four-part series By Kitty Wilder into school and be shocked to see Managing Editor their sweets are gone.