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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, August 7, 2008 OUR 118th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 32-2008 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Westfield, Conrail Agree On Furthering Quiet Zone By MICHAEL J. POLLACK before entering a crossing. A pattern for Specially Written for The Westfield Leader tion if an emergency arises, or if an blowing the horn lasts until the train animal or person is in danger. WESTFIELD – At the conclusion of clears the crossing. Conrail, which owns, operates and the Westfield council’s sole August However, new rules also provided maintains the line, must install con- meeting, Mayor Andy Skibitsky for- the framework for towns to establish stant-warning time devices and power- mally signed an agreement between “quiet zones,” in which either the horn out indicators to meet the safety re- Consolidated Rail Corporation use is either curtailed during nighttime quirements established under the FRA (Conrail) and the town, authorizing hours or altogether. Quiet zones can be rules. The warning device adjusts for Conrail to perform the work necessary formed provided that certain safety the speed of a train and causes the gates to establish a quiet zone at the Rahway measures are in place and the crossing’s to close when the train is a certain time Avenue grade crossing. The quiet zone accident rate meets FRA standards. away from the crossing. The indicators would ultimately mitigate the effect of Westfield is seeking to create the first tell the engineers that the gates and train noise in the area. 24-hour quiet zone in the state after the bells are not working and that they Effective June 2005, the Federal Rail- aforementioned ruling. should blow the horns. road Administration (FRA) required In a quiet zone, though an engineer is The council went into executive ses- that locomotive horns be sounded at all relieved of any obligation to sound the sion mid-meeting to discuss the con- public grade crossings 15 to 20 seconds horn, he is permitted to use his discre- tract negotiations with Conrail. Upon returning to the dais, Public Safety, Transportation and Parking Commit- tee Chairman Mark Ciarrocca said the town “finally” has its agreement. Westfield is the first town to get this far in the process, and Mr. Ciarrocca thanked Town Attorney Bob Cockren, Town Administrator Jim Gildea and Ben Corbin for The Westfield Leader Assistant Town Engineer Kris McAloon IN WITH THE OLD, OUT WITH THE NEW...Construction continues to turn this 1870’s home into a museum. The Reeve’s for their efforts dealing with “not the house restoration will be entering ‘phase two’ in the coming months, which will focus on internal repairs. See story below. most cooperative folks.” Mr. Ciarrocca warned that it could take upwards of nine months before the Muhlenberg Closing Increases equipment comes in, and the work would take 18 months to finish. Once all work is complete, the town would apply for the final quiet-zone designa- Births at Trinitas and ER Intakes tion. By CHRISTINA M. HINKE women at the clinic, but she said, “I As far as other transportation, Solaris Mr. Ciarrocca said the quiet zone Specially Written for The Westfield Leader didn’t see a decrease, that’s for sure.” and The Plainfield Health Center are would “significantly improve the qual- AREA – Pregnant women who “We need to increase the number of finalizing a voucher system with cab ity of life” for those living near the would have normally had treatment at MDs. We need two to three more MDs companies, where the health center’s Michael Pollack for The Westfield Leader ALL QUIET ON THE WESTFIELD FRONT…Flanked by Town Clerk Claire railroad crossing. Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center’s to be able to adequately provide care,” maternity patients could receive rides Gray and Town Attorney Bob Cockren, Mayor Andy Skibitsky, following Mayor Skibitsky also touted the work OB/GYN services have shifted to Dr. Khazaei said. to Trinitas. Tuesday’s council meeting, signs an agreement with Conrail, authorizing the of Mr. Cockren in navigating a “convo- Trinitas Hospital, as of June 30, a plan He said about five nurses came over According to Fanwood Volunteer company to install necessary safety devices before the Rahway Avenue grade luted, Byzantine process.” Towns are that was introduced by Gary Horan, to Trinitas from Muhlenberg. The hos- Rescue Squad President, John Oatis, crossing can be considered a “quiet zone.” now asking for Westfield’s advice in chief executive officer of Trinitas, when pital also increased its equipment and women in labor that his squad trans- establishing quiet zones. The mayor it was originally proposed to divide adjusted its clinic on Jefferson Avenue ports would most likely go to Overlook called the agreement with Conrail a patients to three or four different hospi- in Elizabeth to handle increased deliv- Hospital in Summit. Reeve Committee Updates “big step in creating a much-needed tals. It was reported that Trinitas would eries. He said in the last two years the quiet zone.” see an expected 800 additional births Trinitas has 20 post-partum rooms squad has slowly taken patients to Over- Mr. Ciarrocca also spoke of improve- per year, and Dr. Kamran Khazaei, and “we have an extra floor that has look, which takes about 12 to 15 min- Council on Project’s Status ments to occur along the Central Av- chairman of the OB/GYN department opened up. It has a capacity for another utes, instead of the six-minute drive By MARISA STOTTER in the style of a carriage house, will enue corridor. Pedestrian-activated at Trinitas, told The Westfield Leader on 20,” Dr. Khazaei said. time to the Plainfield hospital. Trinitas Specially Written for The Westfield Leader contain the society’s archives and lights at crossings near Clover Street, Monday that this number is approxi- The hospital’s maternity floor has is even further away. Recently 50 per- WESTFIELD – At last week’s con- records. Cambridge Road and Belmar Terrace mate. two operating rooms, seven laboring cent of all calls were sent to Muhlenberg, ference meeting, the Historical Soci- Bill Shepherd, head of the Reeve are planned. Lights on Sycamore Av- As of Friday, 41 deliveries have oc- rooms and three triages equipped to where just two years ago it was at about ety of Westfield gave an update on the House Project’s financial committee, enue, Grove Street and Park Street will curred at Trinitas, according to Rudine perform deliveries. 75 to 80 percent, Mr. Oatis said. renovation of the Reeve House presented a breakdown of the project also be upgraded. Because Central Av- Smith, president and chief executive Pregnant women who call 911 will As of August 1, according to the project. costs. enue is a county road, county engineers officer of The Plainfield Health Center, not necessarily get dispatched to Trinitas, letter Senior Vice President and Chief The society plans to restore the According to Mr. Shepherd, the are working on the designs, which a community clinic for residents of but transported to the nearest hospital. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 1870s Italianate-style house to its restoration of the Reeve House will should be completed by the end of this Plainfield that is working in collabora- original architecture and convert it cost a total of $800,000. The con- month. Mr. Ciarrocca said the project is tion with Trinitas. The six midwives at into a museum. While money for the struction of the carriage house will “well underway,” and construction the health center do rounds at Trinitas Mayor Says Petition Drive home’s restoration has been raised, cost $500,000. Mr. Shepherd said should be done by next summer. to help cover shifts, and the center is nearly a half-million dollars is needed $870,000 has already been raised to Plans to establish a dedicated left- recruiting to fill one or two more open to cover the cost of an adjacent car- cover the restoration of the Reeve turn arrow for cars turning from Central positions. Trinitas has two part-time Dishonors Volunteers riage house. House. Avenue onto South Avenue and head- midwives and four that are full time. By JOHN MAGUIRE place to live. “The total cost for the Karrie Hanson, chairman of the Mr. Shepherd said the Historical ing west might need more time because “The transition has gone relatively Specially Written for The Westfield Leader event will be less than $1 per house- building design committee project, Society has applied for a number of of the complexity of the intersection, smooth,” Ms. Smith said. “The staff is MOUTAINSIDE – Mayor Robert hold,” he added. gave an update on the restoration of grants to pay for the construction of according to Mr. Ciarrocca. The corri- happy with the hospital and patients Viglianti took offense at Tuesday night’s Frank Masella, director of the the house since the project began one the carriage house, and plans to launch dor should be “significantly enhanced” have echoed the same sentiment.” She borough council meeting to a petition borough’s recreation department, said year ago. a fundraising campaign in Westfield by the start of the 2009-2010 school said she was not sure if there was an filed in opposition to the borough’s the date was chosen because it is tradi- The Reeve House, located at 314 to raise funds for the project. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 increase in the number of pregnant planned first annual Volunteer Appre- tionally one of the slowest times of the Mountain Avenue, has been fully Second Ward Councilwoman ciation Day set for Saturday, August 16 season at the pool.

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