www.iiJ.com/iwcordpr^ss Serving Westpeld, Scotch Plains and Fanwood Friday, August 11. 2006 50 cents Judge rules Hillcrest can stay for now though he said he expected it "any a better relationship with the commu- troubled Elizabeth teens, filed an THE RECORD-PRESS day." • nity. appeal with the state Department of The judge's decision does mean "We will do what we can to be a Education arguing it needed one more WESTFIELD — An administrative Hillcrest Academy will likely be in good neighbor, but that's a two-way year in Westfield to have enough time law judge has recommended Hillcrest Lincoln School this September, and street," said Petrino. "We won't sell to find a new home. The case was then Academy South stay at Lincoln UCESC superintendent William the kids short to appease people... but referred to the state's Office of School for one more year, finding Petrino said he doubted he would at the same time where there is room Administrative Law and placed in the Union County Educational Services hear from the state DOE before school to address (neighbors') concerns, we hands of Judge Caridad Rigo. Commission's request was valid starts because of the 45-day period will... and at the same time I hope because it would be "unreasonable" After reviewing each side's argu- the Commissioner has to respond. they'll do the same." ments, Rigo decided Aug. 2 that the that a new location could be found in Petrino said it was "good news" to The outcome of the Commissioner's UCESC's request for emergent relief time for the next school year. hear of the judge's decision, during a ruling will decide the fate of approxi- But the fate of Hillcrest is not yet brief phone interview Tuesday. He mately 88 students and the school's was warranted. Rigo found UCESC set in stone, The Commissioner of the added some measures would be put in faculty. Westfield Superintendent did not have enough time to find a state Department of Education will place for the 2006-2007 school year to William Foley decided last month not new location for Hillcrest Academy have 45 days from the date of receipt improve communication with the to renew Hillcrest Academy's lease for South by the start of the school year, of the judge's decision to adopt, modi- Elizabeth Board of Education in Lincoln School on Westfield Avenue and also decided the issue was not a fy or reject the decision. As of Tuesday determining the needs of students. for the 2006-2007 year, citing the safe- simple landlord/tenant dispute, as the this week, the department had not yet "We want to make sure we get a ty concerns expressed by residents in Westfield Board of Education has SPF 9-yr-olds received the paperwork, according to good fit of the program and students," the neighborhood. Subsequently, the argued in their responding brief. If win league DOE spokesman Rich Vespucci, said Petrino. He also said he hoped for UCESC, which operates the school for (Continued on page A-2) The Scotch-Plains-Fanwood 9-year- old travel baseball team won the Tragedy strikes 2006 Suburban Summer League Championship on July 30. The MISSISSIPPI MISSION Raiders finished their season with an overall record of 14-4-1. For more Westfield family on the team, see Sports, Page C-1. finishing her biology major at THE RECORD-PRESS Montclair State University. The former Westfield High WESTFIELD — Tragedy School student had decided struck a Westfield family this she wanted to go into medi- week, as a 23-year-old cine, and was just getting Westfield student and Miss ready to begin studying for New Jersey pageant contest- medical ' school, said ant was killed Sunday morn- Christopher. ing in a car accident on Route "The last day I saw her, she 22 in Hillside. had just gotten her MCAT Krystle Dixon had been books," said Christopher. driving alone westbound on Dixon was also recently Route 22 when her Plymouth accepted as a contestant in Neon left the road, for the Miss New Jersey pageant, unknown reasons, at 6:19 in line with her mother's pag- a.m., according to police offi- eant history. Dixon's mother, cials. Her car hit a pole in the Karleen is a former Miss Stomp to Shop Rite parking lot. Dixon Jamaica, said Christopher. was transported to Her acceptance into the pag- the music University Hospital in eant made her whole family The Summit Stampers Jazz Band Newark and was pronounced proud, he said. will take part in the Friday Evening dead a few hours later. An "Krystle was getting ready Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18 investigation into the acci- (for the pageant)... she was at the First United Methodist Church dent is ongoing. all about pushing herself and in Westfield. The seven musician This week Dixon's family always wanting the best for band plays Dixieland, jazz, blues struggled to find comfort in everyone," he said of his sis- and other old-time favorites. For the midst of the tragedy, but ter. more on the concert, see recalled her shining personal- "She was just an incredible PrimeTime, Page B-2. ity and will to succeed, no person... she was a beautiful, matter what she was doing. tall, athletic, intelligent "It's hard," said Dixon's 24- woman." year old brother Christopher A funeral will be held this in a phone interview Tuesday. Friday, Aug, 11 at 10 a.m. at "She's always been there... the Calvary Roseville United she's been there everyday," he Methodist Church at 400 said, still in shock about the Main Street, East Orange. In tragedy. Dixon and her family lieu of flowers, the family has have lived in Westfield almost asked that donations bo made their entire lives, said to a scholarship fund in Christopher. Dixon's name. Dixon was ambitious and Donations may be sent to: driven, said Christopher. She Krystle Kay Dixon Memorial had a degree in English and Fund, 62'Burnett Terrace, was one semester away from West Orange, NJ 07052. Thank you 15 youths and four adults from the First Baptist Church in Westfield helped rebuild the Hurricane Katrina-ravaged area in Hancock County, Miss., and offered some faith and SP discusses plans Congressman hope to its residents. The group (shown above), led by the Rev. Jeremy Montgomery, Jessica Chernetz, a Westfield resi- spent months raising funds to pay for the trip. dent and a student at California for fixing fields University of Pennsylvania, was recently presented with the Local youth rebuild hurricane-ravaged areas Facilities Committee, Congressional Bronze Medal Award THE RECORD-PRESS Business Administrator by Congressman Mike Ferguson. For Still, he said, "It was the only place in the Anthony DelSordi and mem- more on Chemetz and her award, THE HECORD-PRESS area safe enough for us to stay in. SCOTCH PLAINS — bers of local basebnll and soc- see Page A-7. "I was pretty much like, 'Wow, welcome School officials and local ath- cer associations to seek ways WESTFIELD — As the youth group to hurricane relief,'" said Montgomery. letic organization leaders to make improvements. members rode south into the tattered land- "You could see the destruction... beds have agreed upon some pre- Rob O'Connor, Board of scape that is Hancock County, Miss., some- were flipped over, the roof was caved in," liminary short-term and long- Education member and chair- thing suddenly became very clear to them: said one member of the youth group, Scotch term solutions to address man of the Facilities One whole year later, the devastation left Plains-Fanwood High School sophomore field maintenance problems, Committee, said last week's Fundraislng by Hurricane Katrina is still overwhelm- Gillian Clark. following a Field Sub meeting was successful in ing. Before reaching the Gulf Coast, Clark Committee meeting last finding some solutions, many After spending months raising funds to said, "I thought, 'Oh it happened a year ago, week. of which might be implement- conceit In SP pay for the trip, 15 youths and four adults it must be better.' But upon arriving, she In recent months, resi- ed very soon. A fundraising concert will be held at from the First Baptist Church, led by the realized, "It was worse than I thought it'd dents have packed Board of "During this meeting we Evangel Church, 1251 TerrillRd, in Rev. Jeremy Montgomery, departed on July be." Education meetings, urging discussed short term plans to Scotch Plains at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday 7 to help rebuild the hurricane-ravaged The victims' desperation was evident the board to step up to the make some immediate night. Singer Audrey Assad will per- area and offer some faith and hope to its wherever the group looked. "There were plate and work on better field improvements of our athletic form at the event and donations will residents . some houses that had the word 'Help' maintenance on district fields as well as a regular be collected on behalf ofAllegra The service mission trip took the stu- spelled out on the roofs," recalled Melissa fields. Members of the local field maintenance plan," Baid Chiarielio, a 10-year-old giri with dents through some of the most devastated Virzi, a junior at Westfield High School. soccer and basebnll associa- O'Connor in an email last autism who is in need of an assis- areas of Mississippi. Over the course of six But there was no time to waste, and the tions have argued, with sub- week, adding, "Some of the tance dog.